by Niklas Gudowsky  , Ulrike Bechtold  , Leo Capari  and Mahshid Sotoudeh

Received: 31 January 2019;  Published: 27 June 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1902058

Background: Quality or healthy aging refers to well-being in an older age. In the light of recent changes in the discourse on approaches on positive aging, we aimed to study the way “quality aging” is understood, expressed, and dealt with as a part of contemporary technology assessment (TA), since the nexus between demographic and technological changes has remained a staple topic in TA for at least three decades. Methods: A bottom-up qualitative content analysis was performed to identify the concepts of [...]

by Sonia Baccetti  , Elisabetta Barbara Cortesi  , Maria Valeria Monechi  , Mariella Di Stefano  , Barbara Cucca  , Tommaso Conti  , Antonella Traversi  , Filippa Terranova  , Sylvie Yvonne Barberousse  , Roberto Montelatici  , Federica Sabatini  , Catia Vuono  , Christian Bini  , Elio Rossi  and Francesca Martella

Received: 27 September 2018;  Published: 25 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1904061

Background: Pain and vasomotor symptoms are the common side effects experienced by breast cancer patients undergoing conventional oncology treatments. Traditional Chinese Medicine might represent a key treatment option for these side effects in a multidisciplinary pathway. Aim: The present study with a retrospective design was aimed at confirming the effectiveness of acupuncture, plum blossom, and auriculotherapy in reducing hot flashes and the intensity and frequency of pain in women with breast cancer. Materials [...]

by Natalia Sylvia Ramos Díaz

Received: 23 August 2018;  Published: 14 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901017

One of the objectives of psychological intervention is to help patients manage their emotions effectively by providing them with the necessary skills to accompany their own emotional states. To this regard, there seems to be a current lack of therapeutic resources aimed at helping patients assimilate and regulate emotions. This article proposes the application of a new technique which incorporates mindfulness, building on the premises of the model of psychological flexibility which defines "mindfulness" as a practi [...]

by Ahalapitiya H Jayatissa  , Omer Ahmed  , Bodhi R Manu  and Adam M Schroeder

Received: 13 August 2020;  Published: 22 January 2021;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2101003

The tribological properties of ZnO thin film coated on an aluminium work piece by RF magnetron sputtering were studied as a function of deposition power, substrate coating temperature, heat treatment and rotation speed. The variation in the coefficient of friction of ZnO films produced under various levels of coating parameters and conditions were experimentally determined using a pin-on-disk tribometer. The results showed that with change in deposition conditions and heat treatment, there are significant microstru [...]

by G. Kevin Randall  and Alex J. Bishop

Received: 24 August 2018;  Published: 06 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1804018

Background: This study investigated the influence of positive psychological predictors, religiosity and forgiveness, on subjective and objective successful aging outcomes among incarcerated males. Methods: Male prison inmates (N=261), aged 45 to 82 and incarcerated in eight state-managed correctional facilities, were sampled from the prison census database (Oklahoma Department of Corrections or DOC). Exclusion criteria, per the Oklahoma DOC, were those housed in medical or psychiatric units, currently in solitary c [...]

by Georgianne L. Arnold

Received: 14 June 2023;  Published: 18 October 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2304197

Newborn screening can now detect more than 50 disorders, providing early and often life-saving treatment. Inborn errors of metabolism account for the majority of these disorders. This review will consider the more common metabolic disorders identified on newborn screening, including history, technique and management of these disorders.

by Taofiq O. Mohammed  , Mohammad Zunaied Bin Harun  , Jian Liu  and Ebenezer O. Fanijo

Received: 04 June 2025;  Published: 04 September 2025;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2503013

The high carbon footprint of cement production and the cost and environmental impact of steel reinforcement make conventional concrete unsustainable for long-term use. Reducing cement consumption and identifying sustainable, cost-effective alternatives to steel are critical for lowering construction’s ecological and economic burden. Bio-based supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as rice husk ash (RHA), and natural plant fibers show promise, but prior studies have mostly tested them separately or with v [...]

by Kazushige Kimura  , James F. Reichert  , Omid Ranjbar Pouya  , Ahmad Byagowi  , Xikui Wang  , Debbie M. Kelly  and Zahra Moussavi

Received: 25 May 2018;  Published: 09 August 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1803007

Background: In this paper, we describe the design of a virtual environment (VE) using Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) to scan and replicate a real environment (RE) in a virtual domain. Compared to using a CAD software, SLAM allows for the replication of an RE quite easily and quickly. Methods: To test the user’s performance in a SLAM-based VE, we developed an immersive virtual reality setup using a specialized wheelchair (VRNChair) and a head mounted display (Oculus Rift DK2), and employed a knowledge [...]

by Sylvie Langlois  and R Douglas Wilson

Received: 01 August 2017;  Published: 26 September 2017;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1703007

Prenatal genetic aneuploidy screening approaches are designed to identify pregnant patients at increased risk of having a fetus affected. Conventional prenatal screening has consisted in providing women a risk estimate of having a pregnancy affected with trisomy 21 or trisomy 18 based on maternal age and analysis of serum markers and ultrasound nuchal translucency (NT) measurement. In 2011, the introduction of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) based screening into clinical practice has provided new options for aneuploidy scree [...]

by Joel J. Lee  , Hyunho Song  , Jaeyoung Park  and S. Joon Lee

Received: 14 August 2023;  Published: 03 October 2023;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2304046

Decomposition of spent coffee grounds (SCGs), a byproduct of brewing coffee, in disposed landfill sites releases significant amounts of potent greenhouse gases. This study aims to investigate the maximum recycling proportions of SCGs, a nonconventional filler material, for permeable interlocking concrete paving (PICP) blocks. These blocks have a porous structure that helps mitigate surface ponding while maintaining sound structural performance. Using Scanning Electron Microscope image analysis, the water absorbency [...]