by Jack Deacon  , Clare Northover  , John King  and Chris Irons

Received: 21 September 2021;  Published: 23 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104050

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) has increasingly been shown to have a positive impact for people experiencing a range of difficulties, and online self-help formats could provide a way of increasing its accessibility and scalability. This study explored adult participants’ subjective experiences of engaging with online self-compassion training drawn from Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) and CFT. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants who had completed online self-compassion training, [...]

by Holly Hazlett-Stevens

Received: 26 July 2021;  Published: 23 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104049

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an evidence-based health education program for medical patients with a variety of chronic conditions. MBSR also benefits health care providers themselves, decreasing work-related stress and preventing burnout. The objectives of this study were to describe an abbreviated MBSR curriculum developed for health care providers and to present initial program evaluation data assessing acceptability and outcomes. This program was implemented outside the research context with an o [...]

by Daphne Owens  and Gerald H Tomkin

Received: 18 August 2021;  Published: 22 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104048

Obesity and Diabetes are leading causes of cardiovascular disease and mortality. They are closely linked because of insulin resistance. Hypertension and dyslipidaemia together with poor exercise drive atherosclerosis. Early treatment of blood sugar, dyslipidaemia and hypertension reverse the atherosclerosis process. Bariatric surgery and low calorie diets have in recent years been shown to reverse or improve blood sugars lipids and blood pressure. The risk of premature myocardial infarction and death should no long [...]

by Roland Pässler

Received: 17 June 2021;  Published: 22 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2104042

The well-known classical heat capacity model developed by Debye proposed an approximate description of the temperature-dependence of heat capacities of solids in terms of a characteristic integral, the T-dependent values of which are parameterized by the Debye temperature, ΘD. However, numerous tests of this simple model have shown that within Debye's original supposition of approximately constant, material-specific Debye temperature, it has little chance to be applicable to a larger variety of non-metals, e [...]

by Sean J. O’Sullivan

Received: 17 June 2021;  Published: 17 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2104143

Advances in clinical psychiatry have been less than hoped for relative to the achievements in neuroscience. However, developments in neuromodulation and psychedelic therapy are promising. The efficacy of such treatments and canonical pharmacotherapies benefit from genetics and personalized medicine. Moreover, recent studies on the perturbation of transcription, including chromatin remodeling, in mental illness emphasized the importance of single-cell qPCR as an investigatory method that bolstered psychiatry. This t [...]

by Dorothy S Greene

Received: 17 July 2021;  Published: 16 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104047

Yoga is increasingly becoming a strategy for wellness in the United States. A 2016 survey found that nearly 37 million Americans practice yoga and an additional 12 million say they intend to try it in the coming year. Yoga is also being studied as an intervention for a number of physical and behavioral health disorders. This short report examines yoga’s utility as a treatment or adjunctive tool for addiction recovery. Because addiction is characterized as a biopsychosocial-spiritual disorder and yoga is a holistic [...]

by Kelsey Madison Dietrich  and Maria Gabriela Bidart

Received: 15 July 2021;  Published: 12 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104046

College students experience increased stress levels that could predispose them to develop mental and physical health conditions throughout adulthood. Yoga is an ancient mind-body practice including breath techniques, body exercises, and meditation that may be a useful strategy for enhancing college student health. Likewise, exposure to nature has been shown to have beneficial impacts on human health. This study investigates physiological and psychological responses of college students to yoga practiced in outdoor v [...]

by Despina Vamvuka  , Maria Deli  and Antonios Stratakis

Received: 06 September 2021;  Published: 11 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2104047

In this work, the conducted chemical, mineralogical, fusibility, and thermogravimetric analyses and calculated the slagging/fouling indicators for predicting deposition tendencies in boilers to study the ash fusibility behavior of selected agricultural residues and their blends with lignite. Two additives, bauxite, and clinochlore, were used at varying amounts to reduce ash melting, followed by examining their anti-fusion mechanisms. Initial deformation and softening temperatures of biomass materials were low for c [...]

by Maggie MacKinnon  , Maibritt Pedersen Zari  and Daniel K. Brown

Received: 13 August 2021;  Published: 09 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2104029

The practice of reconciliation ecology in urban environments relies heavily on urban green space as the primary source of vegetated habitat in cities. However, most cities lack the quantity, connectivity, and accessibility of green space needed to provide essential ecosystem services for the health, well-being, and resilience of human and non-human species. In reaction to urban densification and the increasing frequency and severity of climate change impacts, this study argues that architecture could strategically [...]

by Éilish A. Burke  , Rachael Carroll  , Angela W. Ding  , Melisa Yaman  , J. Bernard Walsh  , Philip McCallion  and Mary McCarron

Received: 23 June 2021;  Published: 08 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2104182

Globally between 30-40% of all osteoporotic fractures occur among men, with a quarter of all hip fractures, the most serious complication of osteoporosis, occurring in men. Among men of 50 years of age or older, osteoporotic fracture risk reaches an alarming 20%. What is of great concern is that associated mortality is greater among men when compared with women. For hip fractures specifically, mortality for men is two to three times that in women which may be attributed to the fact that osteoporosis is often consid [...]

by Clément Dumont  , Madeleine Lefèvre  , Quiterie Aussedat  , Pierre-Louis Régnier  , Alexandra Masson-Lecomte  , Evanguelos Xylinas  , Hélène Gauthier  , Virginie Fossey-Diaz  , Amélie Arégui  and Stéphane Culine

Received: 23 July 2021;  Published: 08 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2104183

Cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (C-NAC) has been the standard of care in localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). However, the feasibility and benefit of C-NAC in elderly patients remain uncertain since this population has always been underrepresented in pivotal trials and is often barred from chemotherapy in routine practice because of their perceived frailty. Therefore, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of C-NAC in elderly patients with MIBS, we retrospectively reviewed the medical files of [...]

by Michelle Szucs  , Miguel Angulo  , Carlos Costa  and Mª Carmen Márquez

Received: 12 May 2021;  Published: 08 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2104045

Five different commercial proteases (Alcalase 2.4L, Flavourzyme 1000L, Neutrase, Protamex, and PTN) were evaluated for the simultaneous recovery of protein and lipids through hydrolysis. The hydrolysis reaction was monitored using the pH-stat procedure, in which samples were collected after 240 min of hydrolysis using each enzyme. The samples were analyzed for the degree of hydrolysis, protein hydrolysate, collagen, lipids, and fatty acids. A clear relationship was observed between the degree of hydrolysis and the [...]

by Francesco E. Negro  and Francesco V. Marino

Received: 26 April 2021;  Published: 07 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104045

The 19th century saw an explosion of serious epidemic diseases, such as smallpox and scarlet fever, which led to the development of an alternative system of medicine called homeopathy. Under this system, S. Hahnemann developed a rigorous methodology based on repeated observations on the field, leading to successful results. The aim of this work is to depict the birth and evolution of his thought. The correct understanding and application of this methodology became the reference model for subsequent generations of h [...]

by Francesco E. Negro  and Francesco V. Marino

Received: 26 April 2021;  Published: 07 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104044

The 19th century saw an explosion of serious epidemic diseases, such as smallpox and scarlet fever, which led to the development of a new medical system called homeopathy. Under this system, S. Hahnemann developed a rigorous methodology based on repeated observations on the field, leading to successful results. The aim of this work is to depict the birth and evolution of his thought. The correct understanding and application of this methodology became the reference model for subsequent generations of homeopaths, wh [...]

by Karen E. Atler  , Deana Muñoz  , Carly Knowles  , Angie Noe  , Christine A. Fruhauf  , Kathryn McGirr  , Tracy L. Nelson  and Arlene A. Schmid

Received: 18 May 2021;  Published: 05 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104043

If proper self-management behaviors are not maintained, diabetes may lead to reduced quality of life (QoL), decreased engagement in everyday activities, disabling health complications, and even death. Less advantaged adults with limited income, lower education, and fewer resources find diabetes self-management (DSM) particularly challenging due to healthcare and social inequalities. DSM education is important to understanding diabetes-related behaviors and improving QoL. There are few evidence informed DSM educatio [...]

by Foad Haeri  , Deepak Tapriyal  , Christopher Matranga  , Dustin Crandall  and Angela Goodman

Received: 05 September 2021;  Published: 05 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2104046

Contact angles were measured for CO2-brine interactions on 20 different rocks that represent the properties of various CO2 storage depositional environments to characterize the wettability during geologic carbon storage. Three different CO2 phases (gaseous, liquid, and supercritical) were considered to investigate the effect of pressure and temperature. Bubbles were studied in two groups of larger and smaller than 500 μm, the latter being more relevant to pore scale. Variation was observed among contact angle measu [...]

by Erina White  , Farzane Mohseni  and Meisam Amani

Received: 28 August 2021;  Published: 04 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2104028

The vitality of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is threatened by many human-made impacts. Monitoring this ecosystem makes it possible to study the general condition and the health of the GBR. However, due to the large extent of the GBR and limited accessibility in the ocean environment, mapping and monitoring this ecosystem has been always challenging task and connived. In this regard, Remote Sensing (RS) is an effective technique that provides valuable information for mapping and monitoring this ecosystem. In an atte [...]

by Masahiro Sato  , Yuki Kiyokawa  , Emi Inada  , Eri Akasaka  , Satoshi Watanabe  and Issei Saitoh

Received: 15 March 2021;  Published: 04 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2104155

Although the aging process expands the adipose tissue habitation in mice and due to its close association with the female reproductive system, it can be easily exposed surgically under anesthesia when reproductive organs (including ovary, oviduct, and part of the uterus) are pulled and exposed onto the dorsal skin. This study aimed to consider the suitability of adipose tissue as a target for manipulation, particularly for the grafting of cells or small-sized tissue sections due to its ease of handling. Subsequentl [...]

by Richard B. Kreider

Received: 01 April 2021;  Published: 03 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104041

Obesity has historically been thought to simply be related to an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. Weight loss recommendations have traditionally focused on reducing energy intake, maintaining either a high-carbohydrate low-fat diet or vice versa, and increasing physical activity typically through low to moderate intensity exercise. More recently, genetic, physiological, and behavioral factors have also been found to play a significant role in the etiology of obesity. For this reason, the prevention [...]

by Sarah Long  , Roanna Lobo  , Peter O'Leary  and Jan E. Dickinson

Received: 07 September 2021;  Published: 03 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2104142

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for a panel of 25 single gene disorders became available in Western Australia in 2020 and potentially may be able to test for panels of hundreds of disorders as is the case with reproductive carrier screening. How this information would be used by parents in a population screening model is unknown. We used a phenomenological approach to explore retrospectively whether mothers of children with single gene or chromosomal disorders would have wanted to know about their child’ [...]

by Alice Walton  , Mustafa Faruk Usta  , Melissa Wong  and Wayne Hellstrom

Received: 01 August 2021;  Published: 02 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104042

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is considered a risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED), and ED is almost three times more prevalent in men with MetS. Vascular pathologies are a significant factor for the development of ED, and many experts suggest endothelial dysfunction (EnD) as a likely explanation for the association between ED and MetS. Studies also show that corporal vascular and trabecular smooth muscle dysfunction leads ultimately to corporal veno-occlusive dysfunction. Different functional system abnormalities [...]

by Scarlett Puebla-Barragan  , Britney Lamb  , Serenah Jafelice  and Gregor Reid

Received: 16 June 2021;  Published: 01 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104040

Vaginal care products are widely used by women to relieve discomfort such as pain, itching and malodour, all of which are commonly caused by conditions resulting from microbiota dysbiosis. Previous studies showed that probiotic strains Lacticaseibacillus (formerly Lactobacillus) rhamnosus GR-1 (LGR-1) and Limosilactobacillus (formerly Lactobacillus) reuteri RC-14 (LRC-14), can aid in restoring homeostasis in the vaginal microbiome when taken orally. A topical product containing these strains could be of value for r [...]

by Yang Zhang  , Jiawen Chen  , Xiaowen Hu  , Wei Zhao  , Dirk J. Broer  and Guofu Zhou

Received: 17 August 2021;  Published: 01 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2104044

The reverse mode polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) is an emerging smart window technology. Unlike traditional PDLCs, a reverse mode PDLC can be transparent and opaque in the absence and presence of an external electric field. This report provides a brief introduction to several reverse modes PDLC smart window technologies, focusing on polymer-stabilized liquid crystals (PSLCs). The systems based on electrohydrodynamic instability (EHDI) of liquid crystals have also been discussed. The working principles, mode [...]

by Jean Golding  , Rosie Clark  , Steven Gregory  , Genette Ellis  , Matthew Suderman  , Yasmin Iles-Caven  and Marcus E. Pembrey

Received: 17 May 2021;  Published: 29 October 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2104141

The FRAXE section of the FMR2 gene, located on the X chromosome, contains varying numbers of trinucleotide repeats; boys with over 200 repeats tend to have mild cognitive impairments, though this is rare. Little is known, however, concerning the phenotypes of individuals with smaller numbers of repeats. Here we answer the research question as to whether the health of ancestors of boys from whom the relevant X chromosome was inherited differed in any way according to the number of FRAXE repeats. Numbers of FRAXE rep [...]

by Ernest Ilisca

Received: 18 June 2021;  Published: 29 October 2021;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2104045

Most of the hydrogen storage vessels meant for vehicles to run the electric motor via a fuel cell during transport are designed for drives of only a few tenths of kilometers per day. The present report, however, describes a vessel model that is conceived to hold the hydrogen energy only for short periods during transport, such as a few hours. This would include transport via a light-duty vehicle, a taxi, or a bus, which would load liquid hydrogen at a station every morning for the day. This is a simple model based [...]