by Elisabeth M. Sebesta  and Roger R. Dmochowski

Received: 17 May 2023;  Published: 05 October 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2304251

The evaluation and treatment of mixed urinary incontinence receives relatively little attention as compared to other forms of incontinence. Mixed incontinence, however, defined as the combination of stress and urgency incontinence, accounts for the largest proportion of incontinence, with an increased incidence in older women. The condition can be very challenging to manage due to the coexistence of multiple pathologies. Treating either component can worsen the other, which means careful discussion of the risks and [...]

by Igor Val Danilov

Received: 20 June 2023;  Published: 05 October 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2304185

The theoretical article aims to develop knowledge about the modulation of shared intentionality at the cellular level. A hypothesis about the neurobiological processes during shared intentionality argues that this pre-perceptual communication occurs through nonlocal neuronal coupling in an ecosystem that can be described as the mother-fetus communication model. The current theoretical study analyses literature to discuss recent findings on the effect of oscillations on neuronal temporal coordination to verify wheth [...]

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 [...]

by Sadmanul Hoque  , Md. Rashidul Islam  , Md Shafiullah  , Saymun Adnan  and Md. Samiul Azam

Received: 18 June 2023;  Published: 28 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2303030

In an electric power system operation, the main goal of economic dispatch (ED) is to schedule the power outputs of committed generating units efficiently. This involves consideration of relevant system equality and inequality constraints to meet the required power demand at the lowest possible operational cost. This is a challenging optimization problem for power system operators that can be dealt with efficient meta-heuristic algorithms. This article uses a recent meta-heuristic approach named the generalized norm [...]

by Domenic John DiPietro  and Maria Gabriela Bidart

Received: 02 March 2023;  Published: 28 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2303039

Worldwide, human population growth has led to a higher demand for urbanization. While this development is in accordance with our gregarious lifestyles, our availability and contact with nature has consequentially been minimized. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether sounds from nature versus urban environments affect vital signs (i.e., heart rate and respiration rate) and mood states of female college students. Emotional states were assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) questionn [...]

by Hehe Zhang  , Ruihan Xu  and Shasha Zheng

Received: 03 March 2023;  Published: 28 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2303019

Uric acid (UA) metabolism, which includes uric acid production controlled by purine metabolism and uric acid excretion controlled by the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys, is the primary way to maintain the concentration of uric acid in the body. Abnormal functionalizing of the metabolism may cause hyperuricemia, gout, kidney injury, and other diseases. Over the last decade, numerous studies have been conducted on the effect of natural products, including active ingredients of medicinal plants, natural compounds, [...]

by Somaye-Sadat Heidari  , Nooshin Dalili  , Shiva Samavat  , Shiva Kalantari  , Leonard Foster  , Kyung-Mee Moon  and Mohsen Nafar

Received: 12 July 2023;  Published: 25 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2303196

Acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a severe complication affecting kidney allografts' long-term survival. Timely detection and appropriate treatment of AMR are crucial for improving graft outcomes. This study aimed to discover non-invasive urinary biomarkers that can predict the response to therapy in patients with AMR. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, urine samples from 21 biopsy-proven AMR patients underwent proteomics using label-free quantification. The patients were divided into two g [...]

by Ashley Lahr  , Nadene Henderson  , Lee Williams  , Georgianne Arnold  and Damara Ortiz

Received: 14 June 2023;  Published: 25 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2303194

Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are caused by enzymatic failure to degrade specific cellular byproducts of metabolism within the lysosome. They have a wide range of presentations involving multiple body systems and can manifest from infancy through adulthood. As treatments have become available for many of these disorders, newborn screening has been adapted for early identification and pre-symptomatic treatment. This article will review some of the LSD that are now being added to newborn screening panels, includi [...]

by Anita Padmanabhanunni  and Tyrone Pretorius

Received: 26 April 2023;  Published: 25 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2303184

The COVID-19 pandemic was characterized as a continuous traumatic stressor and associated with high levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examines the associations between demographic factors, COVID-19-related factors (fear of COVID-19 and perceived stress), and PTSD, as well as the associations between PTSD and indices of mental health. The participants in the study were university students (n = 322) who completed the PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5), the Fear [...]

by Michel Z. Fidelis  , Elaine Trojan de Paula  , Eduardo Abreu  , Maria E.K. Fuziki  , Onelia A. A. dos Santos  , Rodrigo Brackmann  and Giane G. Lenzi

Received: 18 September 2023;  Published: 22 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2303023

Due to its similar characteristics to titanium, niobium has become an attractive alternative in photocatalytic processes. Research indicates that titania has an optimal percentage of phases resulting in a commercial catalyst, P25, that contains more than 70% anatase with a minor amount of rutile and a small amount of amorphous phase. On the other hand, for Nb2O5, percentage optimization was little explored in the literature, which consists of studying the phases obtained via heat treatment individually and in diffe [...]

by Nirasha Nundkumar  , Sooboo Singh  and Moganavelli Singh

Received: 14 June 2023;  Published: 21 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2303193

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have interesting properties and structures that enable them to carry nucleic acids, such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). This study synthesized LDHs using the co-precipitation method and functionalized with the amino acids arginine (Arg) and histidine (His) to promote proton-sponge activity for enhanced transgene expression. The LDHs were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). The interaction of [...]

by Elisa Martinelli  , Angelo Di Stefano  , Pietro Gareri  , Pasqualina Sapone  , Rosaria Carlucci  , Massimo Brandino  , Ettore Maina  , Sara Piscioneri  , Giada Cagnoli  and Antonino Maria Cotroneo

Received: 05 March 2023;  Published: 19 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2303250

As the older population increases, there is an increase in age-related chronic diseases, especially heart failure. It affects 25% of over 75-year-old outpatients and represents the leading cause of hospitalization and death in older people. This review aimed to point out the main characteristics concerning heart failure in older people, taking into account clinical symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. An extensive search on heart failure was made on PubMed and Google, using the keywords older people, heart failure, [...]

by Raúl E. Cian  , Antonela G. Garzón  , Micaela Albarracín  and Silvina R. Drago

Received: 14 April 2023;  Published: 19 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2303018

This work aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, bioactive compounds (phenolics and γ-aminobutyric acid, GABA), and antioxidant properties of different barley varieties (Overture, Charles, Sinfonía, Montoya, and Andreia) and their malts to weigh up them as potential ingredients for producing new bio-functional foods. For this, five barleys and five malts obtained from them were studied. Regarding chemical composition, total starch was the main component (≈62%) of barleys followed by total di [...]

by Matthew Kostek  and Siyu Liu

Received: 28 March 2023;  Published: 19 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2303192

Human skeletal muscle exhibits remarkable plasticity, being responsive to chemical, mechanical, metabolic, and inflammatory stress. When the homeostatic disturbance is below a threshold of significant damage, the muscle responds by modifying metabolic activity, cell size/shape, and structure, thereby normalizing cellular function. If the disturbance causes significant damage, skeletal muscle, along with a precisely choreographed response from the immune system, can regenerate. Very few pathological conditions inhib [...]

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. [...]

by Tobyn Bell  , Jane Montague  , James Elander  , Matthew Pugh  and Paul Gilbert

Received: 01 July 2023;  Published: 19 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2303037

Chairwork is a central component in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). Despite its importance, there has been no prior research on the relational factors underpinning the application of chairwork in CFT. There is also a general paucity of research on the role of the therapeutic relationship in chairwork across modalities. This paper analyses data from interviews with 21 clients following a CFT chairwork intervention to ascertain how relational factors influenced their experience of this method. An Interpretative Phe [...]

by Kenneth J. McLeod

Received: 24 April 2023;  Published: 18 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2303249

Chronically low blood pressure in older adults is associated with significantly increased long-term risks of dementia and all-cause mortality risk. Yet low blood pressure is generally not treated until an individual begins to experience the acute symptoms arising from very low cerebral perfusion. However, these acute symptoms, such as dizziness, balance difficulty, syncope, increased fall occurrence, vision impairment, and nausea, begin to occur only at very low blood pressure levels, such that mean arterial pressu [...]

by Ann Lee  and Shaokoon Cheng

Received: 26 March 2023;  Published: 18 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2303029

In the context of decarbonization efforts, heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) offer an attractive solution over conventional electric resistance type hot water systems due to their 2-3 times higher efficiency. However, the high manufacturing costs and taxes associated with using hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant make HPWHs expensive. As a means to tackle this issue, this paper explores the use of propane (R290) as a refrigerant in HPWHs. The study involves an experimental comparison of R290 and R134a, with refrigera [...]

by Mimi Mun Yee Tse  , Shamay Sheung Mei Ng  , Vivian Lou  , Raymond SK Lo  , Daphne Sze Ki Cheung  , Paul H Lee  , Shuk Kwan Tang  , Siu Hang Leung  and Percy Poo-See Tse

Received: 02 August 2023;  Published: 15 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2303183

The COVID-19 pandemic started at the beginning of 2020. It significantly impacted the older adults in Hong Kong, with most of the community centers and elderly centers being closed down under various restrictive measures. Thus, community-based health promotion activities were temporarily paused, which decreased older adults’ health-promoting behaviors and motivation to stay active. This research aimed to improve the quality of life and the health of older adults with chronic pain through the pain management program [...]

by Divakar Dahiya  and Poonam Singh Nigam

Received: 19 July 2023;  Published: 14 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2303017

Usually, everyday meals constitute materials and ingredients for food preparation derived from different agricultural sources. Although most customers are aware of the benefits of a balanced diet, they mainly focus on a diet based on the daily requirements of protein, fat, and carbohydrates in their meals. However, the vital aspect of the including dietary fibers in diets is overlooked, which is equally important as is the daily requirement of calories and protein intake for maintaining the muscle mass. Some societ [...]

by Mahdi Yousefi  , Scott Donne  , Shabnam Bahremand Abrasi  and Mohammad Yousefi

Received: 10 April 2023;  Published: 13 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2303028

The thermal cracking of methane (TMC) is a significant reaction occurring above 850°C, which proceeds in two stages: non-isothermally and isothermally. However, most existing studies have focused on obtaining reaction rates under isothermal conditions [1], limiting their applicability to practical industrial reactor conditions. This novel research aims to determine the overall thermal decomposition rate of methane to hydrogen and carbon in adiabatic conditions, covering the range of unstable industrial reactor temp [...]

by Ciro Comparetto  and Franco Borruto

Received: 31 August 2023;  Published: 13 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2303248

In the United States (US), menopause occurs at an average age of 52. Menopausal symptoms tend to be maximal during the few years before and the year after menopause (during perimenopause), except for symptomatic vulvovaginal atrophy, which may worsen over time. Up to 20% of bone density loss occurs during the first 5 years after menopause, followed by an age-related bone loss rate similar to that in men. Menopause should be considered confirmed if an age-appropriate woman who is not pregnant has not had a menstrual [...]

by Zakkoyya H. Lewis  , Ryan N. Harrison  , Brian D. Clocksin  , Alexandra T. Auslander  and Lara Killick

Received: 05 July 2023;  Published: 12 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2303016

Within the US, people are experiencing longer life expectancy, yet these extended lifespans have not necessarily translated into years living in good health. Musculoskeletal degenerative diseases are particularly prevalent amongst older adults. Research shows that regular resistance exercise carries preventive health benefits to combat these conditions. This study evaluated the impact of an innovative hand-held device (OYO) on the physical function of older adults compared to a traditional chair fitness program (CF [...]

by Carsten Unglaub  and Andreas Jess

Received: 27 June 2023;  Published: 12 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2303022

Accumulation of wax inside the catalyst pores during transient cobalt-catalyzed Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) leads to unfavorable product distribution and low activity by imposing internal mass transfer limitations. The condensation of paraffin severely changes the apparent product stream that actually leaves the reactor before the catalyst pores are filled completely and the steady state is reached. Thus, the product distribution of the transient FTS is less complex than expected in comparison to the steady-sta [...]

by Nour Ben Abdeljelil  , Rimmel Yosra Kanoun  , Roua Hsasna  , Rabeb Jaied  , Sabrine Mekni  , Siwar Frigui  , Lamia Torjemane  , Dorra Belloumi  , Ines Turki  , Rihab Ouerghi  , Insaf Ben yaiche  , Wafa Achour  , Saloua Ladeb  and Tarek Ben Othman

Received: 12 April 2023;  Published: 12 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2303195

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a common and severe complication following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and requires effective preemptive antiviral therapy. Both oral and intravenous (IV) antiviral agents effectively reduce CMV viral load and achieve viral clearance. Studies comparing oral and IV anti-CMV preemptive treatment in ASCT patients with CMV reactivation showed a potential difference in treatment response and safety profiles between the two administration routes. We retrospectively compa [...]