by Felicity Saunders  , Jane Vosper  , Stuart Gibson  , Rhiann Jamieson  , Jill Zelin  and Janet Barter

Received: 16 October 2021;  Published: 14 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2202017

Genito-Pelvic Pain Penetration Disorder (GPPPD) affects between eight and twenty percent of women. There is recent evidence that compassion focused therapy (CFT) can help those with general health conditions and persistent pain. This study aims to investigate application of CFT techniques to an existing psychosexual therapy group of women with GPPPD and establish an effect size that could be used in a fully powered trial in future. The study took place within a routine clinical setting. Women who attended a group w [...]

by Anne Galarneau  , Lucie Desmurs  , Cyril Vaulot  , Habiba Nouali  , Benedicte Lebeau  , T. Jean Daou  , Vasile Hulea  , Claudia Cammarano  , Isabelle Batonneau-Gener  and Alexander Sachse

Received: 26 January 2022;  Published: 14 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2202009

It is important to elucidate the role of the surface areas and pore volumes of hierarchical zeolites to understand their behavior as catalysts. Micro-and mesopore surface areas and volumes of the hierarchical MFI (Mobil Five zeolites) were assessed following several methods: (i) N2 adsorption at 77 K using classical and corrected t-plot analyses methods, (ii) pre-adsorption of n-nonane was followed by the study of the N2 adsorption at 77 K, and (iii) non-local-density functional theory (NLDFT) analysis using either [...]

by Recent Progress in Materials Editorial Office

Received: 11 April 2022;  Published: 14 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2202007

An Interview with Prof. Vincenzo M. Sglavo.

by Hossein Akbari  , Seyed Mojtaba Hosseinnia  , Mikhail Sorin  , Christopher Reddick  and Dominic Laperle

Received: 13 January 2022;  Published: 12 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2202013

Heat integration techniques such as pinch analysis can play a significant role in saving energy in the design of buildings. The application of pinch analysis in this sector encounters difficulties due to the highly time-dependent behavior of energy streams such as waste heat and solar thermal collectors, as well as the possible need for heat storage units (HSUs). The existing pinch models in the literature either bear little relation to reality because they ignore the time dependency of the streams, or they do not [...]

by Masahiro Sato  , Issei Saitoh  , Yuki kiyokawa  , Eri Akasaka  , Shingo Nakamura  , Satoshi Watanabe  and Emi Inada

Received: 21 January 2022;  Published: 11 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2202151

Adipose tissue is distributed throughout the body as fat depots. The amount of adipose tissue increases with age. In mice, epididymal fat depots in males and gonadal fat depots in females are associated with the reproductive system. Regarding fat depots in females, the adipose tissue under the skin can be easily exposed via surgery when the ovary, oviduct, and uterus are pulled out and exposed. As handling adipose tissue is relatively easy, adipocytes might be good targets for genetic manipulation (including gene d [...]

by Étienne Cusson  , Jean-Christophe Mougeot  , Mélanie Maho  , Florian Lacroix  , Ali Fazli  and Denis Rodrigue

Received: 01 March 2022;  Published: 11 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2202012

Recycled styrene butadiene rubber (rSBR) from waste car tires was used as a filler in poly(lactic) acid (PLA) to modify its properties. The compounds were prepared via twin-screw extrusion and molded by injection with different rSBR contents (0 to 25% wt.). Additionally, recycled rubber particle size was controlled between 125 and 1000 μm to determine the effect of this parameter. From the samples produced, a series of morphological, physical and mechanical characterizations were performed. As expected, rSBR additi [...]

by Akash Dakhane  and Narayanan Neithalath

Received: 03 February 2022;  Published: 08 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2202006

The influence of different levels of alkalinity, expressed using M2O-to-binder ratio (n) and activator SiO2-to-M2O ratio (Ms), (M being the Na+ or K+ cation) on the reaction kinetics, compressive strength development and the reaction product formation in slag-based systems activated using alkali powders are discussed. The fundamental idea is to better understand one-part, “just-add-water” type alkali activated binders that are easy-to-use than the systems that rely on liquid activators. The difference in the behavi [...]

by Rui Wang  , Dong Lin  , Minghuan Gao  , Linna Guo  , Tiesheng Li  and Minghua Liu

Received: 29 January 2022;  Published: 07 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2202008

A series of novel Bi2MoO6/Ag/Ag2CrO4 heterostructure photocatalysts (denoted as BA-X, X = 1, 3, 5, 10) were synthesized using a coprecipitation method. These photocatalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and their photocatalytic properties were investigated. Compared with pure Bi2MoO6 or Ag2CrO4, BA-5 exhibited a higher photocatalytic property and broader light absorption. In addition, the surface pla [...]

by OBM Neurobiology Editorial Office

Received: 02 April 2022;  Published: 07 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2202118

by Joanna E. Witkin  , Ekaterina Denkova  , Anthony P. Zanesco  , Alexandra B. Morrison  , Joshua Rooks  , Jane Carpenter  , Michael Baime  and Amishi P. Jha

Received: 24 August 2021;  Published: 06 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2202016

Mindfulness training (MT) has been shown to benefit sustained attention and mind wandering. Yet, few studies have examined whether benefits differ as a function of individual differences in mind wandering. The sustained attention to response task (SART) measured task accuracy (A'), response time variability (response time intraindividual coefficient of variation, ICV), and self-reported mind wandering in participants before (T1) and after (T2) a 1-month MT retreat (n = 56), as well as in a control group (n = 32) wh [...]

by Lotta Lounasmeri

Received: 26 November 2021;  Published: 06 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2202012

This paper examines the building of a new nuclear plant as a greenfield operation in Pyhäjoki, Finland. A newly-founded energy company, Fennovoima, was granted a license by the Finnish parliament to build a new power plant in 2010. In the years following this Decision in Principle the project faced several obstacles. Through interviews with key actors, this paper identifies the interests and core beliefs associated with building the plant. It posits that, in Finland, the underlying ideas and values surrounding nucl [...]

by Aditi Gupta  , Bor-Jang Hwang  , Daniel Benyamien-Roufaeil  , Sara Jain  , Sophie Liu  , Rex Gonzales  , Robert A. Brown  , Michal Zalzman  and A-Lien Lu

Received: 22 July 2021;  Published: 02 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2202196

Telomeres consist of special features and proteins to protect the ends of each chromosome from deterioration and fusion. The telomeric DNA repeats are highly susceptible to oxidative damage that can accelerate telomere shortening and affect telomere integrity. Several DNA repair factors including MYH/MUTYH DNA glycosylase, its interacting partners Rad9/Rad1/Hus1 checkpoint clamp, and SIRT6 aging regulator, are associated with the telomeres. MYH prevents C:G to A:T mutation by removing adenine mispaired with a frequ [...]

by Mitsuro Chiba  , Satoko Tsuda  and Haruhiko Tozawa

Received: 23 December 2021;  Published: 02 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2202012

A modern lifestyle, including dietary westernization, has increased the prevalence of constipation. The authors developed a plant-based diet for inflammatory bowel disease. This study investigated whether a diet containing a high amount of dietary fiber is also effective for constipation. Consecutive patients with constipation were recruited in this study from April 2003 to March 2004. Their constipation was unresponsive to a conventional laxative. The patients were provided a plant-based diet during hospitalizatio [...]

by David Feinstein

Received: 27 January 2022;  Published: 01 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2202015

The vague or controversial use of the term energy in the clinical subdiscipline known as "energy psychology" has been an obstacle to the field's acceptance. This paper discusses five forms of energy and explores the role of each in energy psychology treatments. While patterns in (a) electrical signaling, (b) brain waves, and (c) electromagnetic fields are presumably shifted in any form of effective psychotherapy, a strength of energy psychology interventions is shown to be in their ability to initiate such effects [...]

by Sheila Lucía Rodríguez García  and Vijaya Raghavan

Received: 17 February 2022;  Published: 01 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2202011

Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) to obtain phenolics from vegetable wastes has been of recent interest. Broccoli is one of the most globally produced vegetables, and around 43% of the harvest is considered waste. Thus, given the significant quantity of broccoli waste generated, the objective of this work was to optimize the MAE, to maximize the total phenolic content (TPC) from broccoli by-products (leaves and stems) and broccoli florets. The Response Surface Analysis was used in the optimization model to evalua [...]

by Rosita Borlimi  , Greta Riboli  , Mattia Nese  , Matilde Buattini  , Marella Colombardo  and Gianni Brighetti

Received: 07 November 2021;  Published: 01 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2202014

The length of the menstrual cycle (MC) varies among women, with an average regularity between 21 and 40 days. Six temporal frames can be observed within the monthly cycle, based on the fluctuations of the hormone levels. These fluctuations are accompanied by alterations in the central nervous system (CNS) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) and can be quantified using psychophysiological techniques. In this systematic review, we discussed the studies conducted with healthy females that examined aspects associated wi [...]

by Musa Itopa Yakubu  , Nuhu Mohammed Danjamu  , Mohammed Garba Magaji  , Sani Malami  , Axel Becker  , Medinat Yakubu Abbas  and Ben Ahmed Chindo

Received: 25 February 2022;  Published: 31 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2201013

Preparations of Zingiber officinale are used in Nigerian folk medicine to manage colds, pain, arthritis, nausea, and epilepsy. The ameliorative effects of co-administering aqueous Zingiber officinale extract (GE) and sodium valproate (SDV) on pentylenetetrazole-kindled mice were evaluated regarding cognitive deficits, neuronal cell loss, and seizure severity. GFAP was also quantified. Male mice were pretreated with GE (50 mg/kg), SDV (100 and 200 mg/kg), and GE + SDV before kindling. After kindling, the mice underw [...]

by Tina Rawal  , Jean W.M. Muris  , Vijay Kumar Mishra  , Monika Arora  , Nikhil Tandon  and Onno C.P. van Schayck

Received: 10 January 2022;  Published: 30 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2201010

COVID-19 greatly affected the lives of adolescents through restrictions such as less playtime, more screen time, and limited interaction with peers. In this study, we assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dietary and physical activity-related behavior of school students aged 10–16 years. This cross-sectional study was conducted with adolescents recruited from seven randomly selected private schools in Delhi, India, during 2021. A self-administered web-based survey was conducted to evaluate the behavio [...]

by Arnold Hendharto Widdhiarta  , Yousuke Shimaura  , Ichiro Nagai  , Takayuki Shibata  and Yutaka Moritomo

Received: 15 February 2022;  Published: 30 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2201011

We fabricated three thermo-rechargeable batteries using low-cost transition metal hexacyanoferrate and determined the thermal voltage (Vcell) and discharge capacity (Qcell) per unit weight of the total active material in the cathode and anode. The obtained values were compared with the calculated values, which were determined by analyzing the temperature and capacity coefficients of the redox potential.

by Joseph S. D'Arrigo

Received: 08 December 2021;  Published: 29 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2201117

Cerebrovascular atherosclerosis, and several other cardiovascular (or "inflamm-aging" type) diseases, are more frequent and advanced in subjects with Alzheimer's disease compared with normal aging. In addition, the observed pathogenic link to dementia (and its associated cerebral microvascular damage) is readily explained by alterations of arterial elasticity. A therapeutic strategy to delay dementia could be based upon localized drug delivery, using lipid nanocarriers (i.e., biobased nanoemulsion technology), targ [...]

by Zhen Liu  , Li Yang  , Abhishek Lahiri  , James F Rohan  and Frank Endres

Received: 26 December 2021;  Published: 27 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2201010

Herein, we report the coating of nanostructured germanium using a polypyrrole (PPy) polymer coat as a composite anode material for the fabrication of lithium-ion batteries. The Ge/PPy composites were synthesized following the direct electrochemical deposition method in an ionic liquid (IL). The results revealed that the coating of PPy on Ge helped realize stable battery cycling and reversible capacities, which were not observed in uncoated Ge. The PPy layers could effectively inhibit side reactions between the elec [...]

by Najam A. Sharif

Received: 24 January 2022;  Published: 22 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2201116

Glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) associated with different forms of glaucoma and chronic ocular hypertension (cOHT) is characterized by progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells and their axons in the optic nerves that project to the brain to transmit visual information. The resultant thinning of the optic nerves cause loss of peripheral vision, which if not halted or slowed, can lead to irreversible blindness. Whilst the precise triggering insult(s) for the primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), the most prevalen [...]

by Anand Kumar  , Ningthai Longmei  , Pardeep Kumar  and Prashant Kaushik

Received: 25 July 2021;  Published: 21 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2201150

Maize is consumed as a food and used as an industrial product in the form of starch, pharmaceuticals, alcoholic beverages, oil, cosmetics, and textiles. In ancient times, landraces were more popular due to the presence of high genetic variability, resistance to biotic and abiotic factors, and the heterogeneous nature of maize; however, it has been replaced by improved and uniform cultivars with a higher yield. Modern maize has more homogeneity that enhances its vulnerability to biotic and abiotic stresses. Thus, we [...]

by Patricia Gabrielli Vassão  and E-Liisa Laakso

Received: 03 February 2022;  Published: 21 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2201012

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for minimal to moderate Kellgren and Lawrence grade knee osteoarthritis has significant evidence for effectiveness. The effect of PBMT in severe grades of osteoarthritis is less clear; and no studies have investigated the effect of PBMT before and after knee replacement surgery. This small study (n=4) aimed to understand the potential feasibility of undertaking a future randomised controlled clinical trial of a self-administered, home-based light patch system before and after total [...]

by Sonal Mishra  , Neha Kumari  , Donat-P. Häder  and Rajeshwar P. Sinha

Received: 03 January 2022;  Published: 16 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2201011

Cyanobacteria are the most ancient phytoplankton that first appeared at least 2.5 billion years ago and have a prolonged evolutionary history. They can form impenetrable and toxic blooms in aquatic ecosystems such as freshwater and marine environments. Cyanobacterial blooms produce cyanotoxins that endanger ecosystem functioning and deteriorate water quality used for recreation, drinking, and in fisheries, thus, adversely affecting human health and the economy. Some bloom-producing genera are Aphanizomenon, Plankto [...]