by Le Thanh Mai Pham  , Kai Deng  , Trent R. Northen  , Steven W. Singer  , Paul D. Adams  , Blake A. Simmons  and Kenneth L. Sale

Received: 26 July 2022;  Published: 20 September 2022;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2203028

Lignin is the most abundant renewable source of aromatics on earth, and conversion of it to chemicals and fuels is needed to build an economically viable renewable biofuels industry. Biological routes to converting lignin to fuels and chemicals involve depolymerizing lignin using lignin-degrading enzymes that catalyze the breaking of ether and carbon-carbon bonds in the phenolic and non-phenolic subunits of lignin. Laccases are a crucial class of lignin-degrading enzymes and are copper-containing enzymes capable of [...]

by Irina Udina  , Yurii Vasiliev  , Vladimir Volobuyev  , Olga Gulenko  and Alesya Gracheva

Received: 24 December 2021;  Published: 27 June 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2202158

In this study, we investigated VNTR polymorphisms in intron 2 of the IL1RN gene (rs2234663) and intron 3 of the IL4 gene (rs8179190) related to the development of caries in school children (N = 196) with mixed bite dentition from Krasnodarskii Krai. The genotypes A1/A1 and L/L (L-"long" alleles) (rs2234663) provided resistance to the most intensive form of dental caries. The groups of children with DFC (decompensated form of caries) were significantly different from the pooled group SFC (subcompensated form of cari [...]

by James Hackley  , Alison Dixon  , Carol Royle  , Christopher Moss  , Richard Brown  and Tobyn Bell

Received: 29 January 2024;  Published: 27 March 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401021

Compassion-focused chairwork has become a recent focus of empirical investigation. This study extended this area of research by exploring how participants with depression experienced the ‘compassionate other’ imagery exercise enacted via chairwork methods. Eight individuals from primary care NHS mental health services were interviewed about their experience of the practice. The resultant data were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Three group experiential themes were identified: care that [...]

by Ashley Rosenberg  , Gilles Dongmo  , Pallavi Yadav  , Nathaniel Lee  and Kunal Yadav

Received: 13 August 2018;  Published: 21 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1803020

Even though renal ectopia is common, there have been very few reports of these kidneys being used for transplantation. The concerns with using such kidneys are subnormal function, ureteral anomalies and complications and anomalous arterial supply which makes arterial reconstruction challenging. Majority of reports are for use in living donor transplantation where good preoperative imaging is available. There is very scant literature reporting use of ectopic pelvic kidneys from deceased donors. We report a case of a [...]

by Anastasia Skonta  , Elena Gkantzou  , Konstantinos Spyrou  , Stamatia Spyrou  , Angeliki Polydera  , Dimitrios Gournis  and Haralambos Stamatis

Received: 31 July 2022;  Published: 08 October 2022;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2204032

3D printed PLA has already been demonstrated for several biotechnological applications, including enzymes immobilization. The prerequisites for an efficient screening assay include using small volumes of reagents, low cost, and rapid screening of large numbers of compounds and extracts. Hence, assays based on microtiter plates are predominant. Thus, designing and fabricating scaffolds on a similar scale, which could serve as immobilization carriers, and their recruitment in inhibitors screening studies is of great [...]

by Toshiaki Suzuki  , Makiko Tani  , Kaito Takamori  and Maki Yamada

Received: 21 January 2017;  Published: 20 February 2017;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1701001

(1) Background: Acupoint stimulation physical therapy (ASPT) is a novel method of physical therapy that combines physical and acupuncture methods. This study aimed to examine the effect of ASPT in three hemiplegic patients with cerebrovascular disease using F-wave as a measure of the excitability of spinal neural function. (2) Methods: Subjects included three hemiplegic patients with cerebrovascular disease who presented with three types of neurological findings. All patients had moderate hypertonic muscles on the [...]

by Virginia M.R. Menezes  , Gustavo M. Paula  , Liliane A. Lima  , Meiry G.F. Rodrigues  and Fabiano A.N. Fernandes

Received: 05 May 2022;  Published: 16 August 2022;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2203023

In this study, we investigated the oligomerization mechanism of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyzed by a cobalt-based catalyst supported by SBA-15. The Co/SBA-15 catalyst contained 20% w/w of cobalt. It was prepared by the wet impregnation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), and scanning electron microscopy coupled to X-ray energy dispersion spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The FT synthesis was conducted in a slurry bed reactor operating [...]

by Lars-Gunnar Lundh

Received: 27 July 2021;  Published: 15 February 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2201008

Experimental phenomenology is the investigation of phenomenological practices and their effects. To engage in a phenomenological practice means to focus attention on aspects of one’s experiences (e.g., sense impressions or body sensations) while adopting a specific kind of attitude (e.g., an explorative attitude) according to some set of instructions. The basic assumption is that the regulation of attention and attitudes involved in such practices may have effects on people’s health and quality of life. The present [...]

by Agegnehu Kitanbo Yoshe

Received: 03 September 2024;  Published: 06 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2501003

Managing water resources offers crucial information about the availability of water supplied from catchments into water bodies, which plays a vital role in water resource engineering. However, due to changes in the global climate, hydrological modeling of river catchments is critically crucial for socio-economic development and livelihoods. Numerous models evaluate runoff from precipitation, but the SCS-CN method is fundamental and the most widely recognized for calculating runoff. This research evaluates runoff de [...]

by Jordan Ensz  and Changiz Mohiyeddini

Received: 06 March 2023;  Published: 19 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2303038

Burnout is a chronic state of exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. Medical training has been shown to leave many medical students vulnerable to burnout, which can negatively impact their health and patient care. While resilience has been associated with lower burnout, the mechanisms through which resilience reduces burnout are not well established. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether difficulties with emotion regulation mediate the relationship between resilience and burnout among medical students. [...]