by Diego Alves de Moro Martins  , João Rodrigo Andrade  , Carlos Antonio Ribeiro Duarte  , Ricardo de Vasconcelos Salvo  and Francisco José de Souza

Received: 31 January 2022;  Published: 06 May 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2202017

Cyclone separators are widely used in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units due to their lack of moving parts and relatively low-pressure drop. However, cyclone separators are prone to erosion-related issues, which is a major drawback. In this paper, a large eddy simulation (LES) of the particle-gas flow in a cyclone separator is investigated using a four-way Euler-Lagrange approach to model inter-particle collisions and the exchange of momentum between particles and fluid. The effects of inter-particle and particle [...]

by Alison Knoblauch  and Paul Dargusch

Received: 24 January 2022;  Published: 05 May 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2202018

The earth’s climate is warming, increasingly straining the Earth’s human and environmental systems. Organisations are increasingly committing to net zero emissions by mid-Century to set and communicate their ambition to limit global warming to the peak temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. However, for many companies, the pathway to delivering against this ambition remains unclear – and significant investment in technical, social and economic systems required before this target becomes a reality. This paper ana [...]

by Sai Vamsi Krishna Vissa  and Mileva Radonjic

Received: 21 March 2022;  Published: 29 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2202017

Oil and gas wellbores that are drilled into the earth’s crust need to be plugged and abandoned, to restore the geological seals once they are no longer producing. The main aim of Plugging and abandonment (P&A) is to ensure that there is no leakage of hydrocarbons into the environment. Since offshore P&A is challenging due to subsurface temperature and pressure conditions, testing zeolite as an additive for improvement of cement properties is an intriguing research topic. This initial research aims to [...]

by Trenton Cersoli  , Muneer Barnawi  , Kerry Johnson  , Edward Burden  , Frank Li  , Eric MacDonald  and Pedro Cortes

Received: 17 February 2022;  Published: 29 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2202009

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are smart materials that can respond to certain thermal, chemical or electrical stimuli by inducing a structural conformation change into a temporary shape. In this work, a 3D printing process based on a Vat Photo-polymerization of a shape memory polymer (SMP) was investigated to produce customized smart and complex morphable antennas. The mechanical and material properties were examined through a tensile, flexural and rheological testing for different polymer mixture ratios. It was obs [...]

by Felipe Jimenez Pastrana  , Paul Dargusch  and Genia Hill

Received: 09 February 2022;  Published: 27 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2202016

The private sector plays an important role in the global climate goals and the 1.5°C target set during the Paris Agreement. Through investment in green projects and technology and energy efficiency initiatives, their carbon management strategy is paramount to achieve sustainability and good business practices. It is crucial to understand the proposals that the industry has established to reduce its environmental impact by applying supply chain optimization and technological advances or by participating in th [...]

by Shangkun Deng  , Yini Lei  , Yiyu Deng  , Yilan Lai  and Xingyuan Gao

Received: 29 January 2022;  Published: 26 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2202012

The use of the dry reforming of methane (DRM) to convert the two principal greenhouse gases, methane and carbon dioxide, to syngas (a mixture of H2 and CO) has attracted increasing attention in recent years. However, the DRM reaction suffers from the twin disadvantages of carbon deposition and sintering, so a highly efficient and robust catalyst with superior anti-deactivation properties is required. One way to meet this need is to incorporate active metals into crystalline oxides, such as perovskite. In this paper [...]

by Yuyun Wang  , Paul Dargusch  and Genia Hill

Received: 10 January 2022;  Published: 26 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2202015

Carbon emissions are a major factor influencing climate change. Climate change also has ecological impacts, such as loss of biodiversity and loss of ecosystem functions and services. Starbucks is a large multinational company which aims to reduce their environmental impact. Starbucks’ carbon emissions in 2018 were 16,706 thousand metric tons, including 320 thousand metric tons of direct scope 1 emissions, 1,094 thousand metric tons of indirect scope 2 emissions and 14198 thousand metric tons of indirect scope 3 emi [...]

by Lynne Uhl  , Taye H. Hamza  , Terry Gernsheimer  and Sherrill J. Slichter

Received: 30 December 2021;  Published: 26 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2202158

In the multi-institutional platelet dose trial (PLADO Trial), there were 1,077 hematology/oncology patients ≥18 years of age who received at least one platelet transfusion. These patients were analyzed for types and severity of organ system bleeding based on baseline patient characteristics, laboratory assays, primary diagnosis, and type of treatment. Patients were randomly assigned to receive one of three different prophylactic platelet doses for morning platelet counts of ≤10 × 109 /L. Daily assessmen [...]

by Florence Naillat

Received: 25 August 2021;  Published: 26 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2202153

In the last four decades, transgenic and knockout mouse models have helped to understand the mechanisms of mammalian sex determination, germ cell development, and adult gonad functions. We have gained crucial insights into molecular factors and pathways of the cells generating either the supporting gonadal cells or germ cells of both sexes. In this review, we highlighted some of the main gene networks and regulatory mechanisms involved in the plasticity of sex-determining pathways that help to establish a functiona [...]

by Bernard R. Baum  and Douglas A. Johnson

Received: 07 January 2022;  Published: 24 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2202152

We have investigated the utility of the 5S nrDNA, a conserved, multicopy gene family organized into tandem repeats as a tool for genetic analyses in a wide variety of genera. Previous work in the Triticeae (Poaceae) demonstrated that the prior identification of unit classes based upon the 5S nrDNA NTS, greatly facilitates analysis. We investigated the potential of defining unit classes in other plant genera and several animal genera as a step towards future phylogenetic analyses. Our results demonstrate that in in [...]

by Ashley Schumaker  , Rachel Klauber  , Margaret Aasen  , Michael Padua  and Edwin Meresh

Received: 07 December 2021;  Published: 24 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2202121

Catatonia and malignant catatonia may result in devastating and life-threatening complications like pulmonary embolisms, pneumonia, deep venous thrombosis, rhabdomyolysis, and even death. There have been documented cases implicating alcohol withdrawal as a significant culprit in catatonia. Here, we provide a unique case report of a patient with a complicated medical course, who subsequently developed malignant catatonia secondary to severe alcohol withdrawal, and was successfully treated using both first line treat [...]

by T V Ramachandra  , Bharath Setturu  , Karthik R. Naik  and Jagadessha B Pai

Received: 29 December 2021;  Published: 22 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2202014

Ecologically susceptible zones (ESZs) are endowed with the distinct bio, geo, climatic, hydrological, and ecological integrity that sustain natural resources to support the livelihood of dependent populations. However, globalization and consequent anthropogenic activities have led to the erosion of the natural resource base and enhanced the levels of pollutants, triggering global environmental change, evident from changes in the climate. Alterations in the structure and the ecological integrity of ESZs may lead to [...]

by Em V. Adams  , Brandi M. Crowe  , Jasmine Vanadore  , Marieke Van Puymbroeck  and Arlene A. Schmid

Received: 06 February 2022;  Published: 22 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2202020

The purpose of this descriptive survey was to explore how, and for what purpose, health care practitioners use yoga in clinical practice. A survey was administered to professionals who identified as healthcare practitioners who used yoga in their practice. There were 205 completed responses from a combination of healthcare practitioners including occupational therapists, physical therapists, yoga therapists, recreational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and mental health counselors. Practitioners worked in [...]

by Kai-Yang Liu  , Li-Xia Yin  , Xu Lin  and Shun-Xing Liang

Received: 20 March 2022;  Published: 21 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2202008

Biomaterials have always been the focus of material scientists and engineers. Titanium and its alloys have favorable properties, such as high strength, low density, good corrosion resistance, non-toxicity, low elastic modulus, biocompatibility, etc. Thus, Ti alloys have received much attention from scientists and engineers who work with biomaterials. Among these properties, the elastic modulus is a very important property for implant biomaterials because it avoids the “stress shielding” effect. In this study, we su [...]

by Mouhamad Rachini  , Mira Jaafar  , Fatima Al Ali  , Zahraa Slaiman  , Mohamad Kassem  , Eugene Bychkov  , T. Jean Daou  , Joumana Toufaily  and Tayssir Hamieh

Received: 29 January 2022;  Published: 21 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2202011

The use of Pd-Cu bimetallic catalysts in the reduction of aqueous nitrate ions by hydrogen was studied. The catalysts were supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), activated carbon (AC), and Titania, and the influence of the support on the nitrate reduction activity in water was then investigated. The catalysts were characterized before and after use by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDX, and Laser Granulometry. It was found that the surface characteristics of the support have an influence on the catalyst activity, w [...]

by Joshua A Vova

Received: 21 February 2022;  Published: 20 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2202120

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most frequent cause of childhood disability. CP occurs in 1 out of every 345 children in the United States. CP is primarily a motor disease that is the result of an insult to the brain that occurs during the prenatal or early postnatal period when the brain is still developing. CP is not a single disease but a physical description of motor impairments that originate from multiple etiologies. This article briefly discusses the etiologies, classification and management of the neurologic med [...]

by Kory Floyd  , Nathan Woo  , Benjamin Custer  , Dana Dinsmore  , Kaylin Duncan  and Jeannette Maré

Received: 07 January 2022;  Published: 19 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2202119

Loneliness is a common condition that poses substantial risks to morbidity and mortality. Cacioppo and Cacioppo’s [1] evolutionary theory of loneliness (ETL) provides that loneliness serves a social signaling function and also manifests in hypervigilance to threat, which we propose can influence person perception. In this experiment, 480 observers evaluated videotaped self-presentation messages from speakers who scored either high or low on a measure of loneliness. On the basis of ETL, we hypothesized that observer [...]

by Angharad Vernon-Roberts  and Andrew S Day

Received: 23 January 2022;  Published: 19 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2202013

Children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency secondary to factors such as malabsorption and decreased intake. In recent years the benefits of optimal vitamin D status have been highlighted for their potential to improve the disease course and long-term outcomes in this population. Clinical benefits have been seen to bone health, the immune system, and gut health, with further improvements to disease and treatment outcomes. Recommendations for vitamin D treatment p [...]

by Michael Hales  and Robert Marx

Received: 10 January 2022;  Published: 19 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2202019

Service-user volunteers in a National Health Service (NHS) Mental Health Trust in the UK have made an unusual contribution to mindfulness teaching, training, research and governance as ‘advocates’ of mindfulness-based therapy interventions. We explore the nature of what has been named internally as the ‘wisdom’ of the ‘advocate’ group in this NHS Trust, and its impact on mental health provision. A clinician (clinical psychologist) and an advocate (anthropologist) conduct an investigative conversational journey usin [...]

by Udaya Kahangamage  , Yi Chen  , Chun Wah Leung  and Tung Yan Ngai

Received: 02 January 2022;  Published: 18 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2202016

The lean-burning limits of hydrogen-enriched Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) have been studied using a Bunsen burner. The lean-burning limits under different conditions are important design considerations in developing gas-fired domestic appliances. In this study, the lean-burning limits of hydrogen-enriched LPG have been obtained across a wide range of Reynolds numbers (600 to 1800) and H2 volumetric fractions (0% to 25%). The results show that the lean-burning limit is increased, on average, by 4.0% to 7.2% for eve [...]

by Simon Calles  , Paul Heitjans  and Alexander Börger

Received: 09 November 2021;  Published: 18 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2202015

Prismatic PHEV2 form-factor lithium-ion cells with a nominal capacity of 25 Ah (as used for automotive applications) have been studied with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The data was evaluated using electrical equivalent circuits. Mathematical modeling, system identification, and the determination of model parameters of the lithium-ion cell were also carried out. While a study of the influence of temperature and state-of-charge (SOC) performed using pristine lithium-ion cells showed a nonlinear rela [...]

by OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine Editorial Office

Received: 02 April 2022;  Published: 18 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2202018

Interview with Dr. James David Adams. The skin is where pain is sensed and where chronic pain is created. The safest and most effective treatment for pain is topical plant medicines. Chronic pain can be cured with topical plant medicines. Transient receptor potential cation channels in the skin sense pain. Chronic pain involves a pain chemokine cycle. Monoterpenoids and diterpenoids from plants can stop this pain chemokine cycle and cure chronic pain.

by Annie Keleher  , Paul Dargusch  and Genia Hill

Received: 13 January 2022;  Published: 15 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2202013

With scientific consensus on climate change and growing public concern, firms are recognising the multiple risks associated with inaction on their Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Entertainment & Media (E&M) sectors provide essential communications services, that are foundational for much of the modern world's social and economic systems. The ICT sector has already demonstrated success in innovations that enable emissions reductions. At the same tim [...]

by Mingyu Wang  , Jie Liu  , Jinpeng Li  and Tiesheng Li

Received: 21 March 2022;  Published: 14 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2202010

A new chiral cyclopalladated ferrocenyl imine catalyst (called 4a2) was designed and synthesized, and its self-assembly catalytic polymeric brush supported on silicon (denoted as Si@PB4a2) was also fabricated by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and characterized. The catalytic properties of monomer 4a2 in homogeneous and Si@PB4a2 in heterogeneous in Heck and Suzuki cross-coupling were investigated, respectively. They exhibited higher catalytic activity in Heck, and Suzuki coupling react [...]

by Meenal Jain  , Meenakshi Mital  and Matt Syal

Received: 21 November 2021;  Published: 14 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2202014

India is a rapidly developing nation and is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Renewable energy presents an attractive solution to the growing challenges concerning energy needs. Solar energy is abundant in India, and thus, its application and use are rapidly advancing. This study assesses various government initiatives for off-grid Solar Photovoltaic/Solar Water Heating systems for commercial establishments in India and elucidates the need for improvements in their implementation, highlighting the problems in avai [...]