by Katrien Steenmans  and Rosalind Malcolm

Received: 20 December 2022;  Published: 10 March 2023;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2301024

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) places liability, physical, financial, and/or informative responsibility for a product throughout its life cycle on its producer. Implementing such schemes is expected to result in many environmental and social benefits. Yet, academic and practitioner discussions on the mechanisms focus on environmental impacts, whereas social dimensions of EPR are often side-lined. This short communication contributes to addressing this gap by establishing a research agenda for the justice di [...]

by Mariana P. Koss  and Luiz E. M. Lima

Received: 14 February 2022;  Published: 24 May 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2202019

In gas-liquid flows, droplets that detach from the liquid film lining the internal walls of a pipe and merge with the gas flowing through the pipe follow an annular flow pattern. This work analyzes correlations for estimating the entrainment fraction of such droplets contained in the literature by comparing their predictions with experimental data also from the literature. The results of this comparative study demonstrate that the analyzed correlations do not accurately reproduce experimental conditions. This is du [...]

by Otar Tsagareishvili  , Archil Mikeladze  , Roin Chedia  , Tamaz Batsikadze  and Levan Chkhartishvili

Received: 21 March 2024;  Published: 26 August 2024;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2403021

Tungsten carbide WC-based materials characterized by high hardness and wear resistance have long been widely used in manufacturing cutting and mining tools. They are alloyed or modified with different ceramic phases to improve operational characteristics further. There are obtained the hard tungsten carbide–cobalt WC–Co and tungsten carbide–titanium carbide–cobalt WC–TiC–Co metal-ceramic alloys ultradispersed powders modified with quasieutectic ceramic alloy B4C–30wt.%TiB2 [...]

by Jeanneane Wood-Nartker  , Emily Beuschel  and Denise Guerin

Received: 28 August 2019;  Published: 16 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904095

As people age, environments supporting changing needs can potentially impact their quality of life. Aging often leads to a decrease in the ability of people to interpret sensory cues within their environment. Using Pastalan's Empathic Model as a framework, a list of guidelines for the physical environment was established to address the extrinsic risk factors affecting falls. Attention to these items may not prevent all falls but will mitigate some of the external risks that cause falls for older adults. It is the g [...]

by Myia S. Williams  , Keyla Ordonez  , D’Arcy King  , Jeffrey Solomon  , Suzanne Ardito  , Jennifer Polo  , Sindee Weiss  and Negin Hajizadeh

Received: 21 April 2024;  Published: 18 October 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2404060

We explored the feasibility of a virtual-reality delivered mindfulness training intervention on burnout symptoms among corporate employees and clinicians in the Intensive Care Unit and Palliative Care Unit (PCU). To develop the VR mindfulness intervention we leveraged the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior model (COM-B) as a guide for the design and implementation of the VR mindfulness training intervention. Using a pre-posttest within subjects design we assessed burnout syndrome, job stress and work-rel [...]

by Ali Aldubaisi  and Jorge Valenzuela

Received: 26 April 2021;  Published: 04 August 2021;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2103036

Aging models are important input into wind farm maintenance and financial viability models. Aging of wind turbines depends on many factors, including both ambient and usage conditions. This paper presents a virtual age based maintenance model for wind turbines considering the effect of wind speed and ambient air temperature on turbine aging. Two maintenance thresholds (i.e., corrective threshold and preventive threshold) and three repair actions (i.e., unscheduled corrective, scheduled corrective and preventive act [...]

by Bradley Jorgensen

Received: 24 October 2022;  Published: 18 January 2023;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2301009

The Contingent Valuation (CV) Method, like other stated preference techniques, seeks to measure economic preferences for public goods. Throughout the development and application of this non-market procedure, the accuracy of the measured preferences has been front-and-centre among practitioners and potential users. The most important issue of debate has been the extent to which the method can reliably measure economic preferences. In this article, a new methodology is described that enables multiple indicators of la [...]

by Racha El-Hajj Ghaoui  , Dorothy Hung  and Bhavna Padhye

Received: 24 December 2018;  Published: 17 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1902073

Hypodiploidy has a low incidence in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Patients are usually stratified into three subgroups, to allocate the correct treatment according to their ploidy level: high hypodiploidy (40-45 chromosomes), low hypodiploidy (33-39 chromosomes) and near haploidy (23-29 chromosomes). In this paper, a case is presented of near-haploid childhood ALL where fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) provided an insight into the near-haploidy chromosomal aberration initially missed on ro [...]

by Luana Góes Soares  and Annelise Alves

Received: 14 December 2022;  Published: 17 April 2023;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2302016

The synthesis of fibers by electrospinning allows for obtaining nanostructures of one-dimensional materials with good flexibility, optical and catalytic properties, high surface area and porosity. They can be used in applications such as: catalysts, solar cells, fuel cells, membranes, and hydrogen batteries, among others. Here we emphasize that few reports in the literature describe the existing synergism between the optical and photocatalytic properties of TiO2, and the influence of this synergism on the formation [...]

by Jonathan Manh Dang  , Luma Bashmi  , Stephen Meeneghan  , Janet White  , Rebecca Hedrick  , Jelena Djurovic  , Brigitte Vanle  , Dennis Nguyen  , Jonathan Almendarez  , Paula Ravets  , Yasmine Gohar  , Sophia Hanna  , Itai Danovitch  and Waguih William IsHak

Received: 28 March 2018;  Published: 25 June 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1802011

Background: An increasing number of patients and practitioners are using mindfulness meditation programs despite uncertainty about the evidence supporting these programs’ health benefits. Aim: To review the current evidence on the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) on depressive symptoms and quality of life (QOL) among patients with depression comorbid medical conditions and those with major depressive disorder. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and PsycINFO was performed [...]

by Florence Durand  , Noomane Bouaziz  , Sonia Braha-Zeitoun  , Clémence Isaac  , Palmyre Schenin-King Andrian  and Dominique Januel

Received: 12 March 2018;  Published: 11 June 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1802005

Background: Mild Cognitive Impairment [MCI] is a transition stage between normal aging and dementia. It seems to be useful to treat MCI before the onset of early dementia, though no pharmacological treatment is recommended [1]. These case studies aimed to assess the efficacy of long-term repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation [rTMS] treatment on cognition, and clinical changes, in elderly MCI patients. Methods: Three patients with MCI were treated by rTMS with different parameters of stimulation, targeting th [...]

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 Alexandra Koulouris  , Kathleen Dorado  , Christina McDonnell  , Robert R. Edwards  and Asimina Lazaridou

Received: 27 June 2018;  Published: 05 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803018

Background: This paper presents a review of the evidence regarding the efficacy and impact of Yoga and mindfulness with meditation among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients who suffer from RA express a variety of symptoms that negatively impact their physical functioning and performance in social roles. Yoga and meditation-based therapies have been previously used to manage chronic pain conditions and other persisting disorders in affected populations. The suitability and effectiveness of these practi [...]

by Angela Q Maldonado  , Kristoffer Sjöholm,  , Joshua Lee  , Håkan Olsson  , Christian Kjellman  and Darren E Stewart

Received: 01 April 2021;  Published: 03 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2102143

Prioritization in the US Kidney Allocation System (KAS) has led to an improvement in the rates of transplantation in highly sensitized (HS) patients. However, there is a subset of HS patients who are at a disadvantage, despite prioritization under KAS. The purpose of this study was to describe the transplant rate (TR) by calculated panel reactive antibody (CPRA) of HS candidates before and five years post-KAS to characterize their access to deceased donor transplants and quantify the number of HS candidates who are [...]

by Marcus A. Henning  , Xuan Joanna Feng  , Yan Chen  , Fiona Moir  , Christian U. Krägeloh  , Jennifer Hobson  and Craig S. Webster

Received: 17 May 2021;  Published: 09 October 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104033

This review examines the quality of the research exploring mindfulness within tai chi chuan and the way this integrative practice benefits health and learning for higher education students. A narrative review based on a systematic search was conducted. Ten English and three Chinese databases were utilised to appraise the relevant literature. The initial search identified 874 potentially appropriate English articles and 265 Chinese articles. A final review of 52 Chinese and 8 English articles was conducted. We used [...]

by Kokila Jeyamurugan  and Ratna B Basak

Received: 12 May 2020;  Published: 17 July 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2003034

Child life specialists (CLS) are trained providers who form part of a pediatric multidisciplinary and pediatric palliative care team. Their role is invaluable to mitigate the stress and anxiety of children during hospitalization. They may use various strategies in children like play, art and music therapy and pet therapy, to help self-express and cope with painful procedures. We present a brief narrative on CLS with a case of a 10- year- old Hispanic boy who had metastatic osteosarcoma. The case illustration is f [...]

by Minako Ito  , Tanakorn Srirat  , Toshihiro Nakamura  , Kyoko Komai  and Akihiko Yoshimura

Received: 13 January 2019;  Published: 27 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1901023

Inflammation and immune responses after stroke, including ischemic cerebral infarction, play pivotal roles in the pathology, resolution of inflammation, and neurological recovery. Regulatory T (Treg) cells are the cells responsible for immune tolerance, usually activated by secondary lymphatic tissues, which subsequently regulate effector T cell activation and dendritic cell activation. Recently, Tregs that are present in tissues, called tissue Tregs, have been shown to exhibit tissue-specific functions in addition [...]

by Ashley Schnackenberg  , Géraldine Bidar  , Valérie Bert  , Patrice Cannavo  , Sébastien Détriché  , Francis Douay  , René Guenon  , Liliane Jean-Soro  , Alice Kohli  , Thierry Lebeau  , Karen Perronnet  , Laure Vidal-Beaudet  , Christophe Waterlot  and Aurélie Pelfrêne

Received: 11 November 2021;  Published: 08 February 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2201004

Moderately contaminated garden soils can benefit from gentle remediation options such as soil amendments, which improve soil functions and agronomic potentialities while decreasing environmental and human risk. This study aimed to analyze the effects of doses of various common soil amendments generally applied by gardeners on the predicted bioavailability (i.e., extractability) of metal(loid)s (i.e., As, Cd, Pb, and Zn) in contaminated kitchen garden soils. Fourteen different amendment mixes (i.e., a green waste co [...]

by Stephanie Bryan  and Maryellen Hamilton

Received: 20 October 2023;  Published: 10 January 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401008

This paper provides an overview of gratitude as a concept and as a mind-body-spirit practice, impacting health and human functioning throughout the lifespan, that can be integrated into daily life to great benefit at no cost. Current society is rife with increases in stress, anxiety, depression, lifestyle-related diseases, and social isolation. The practice of gratitude and its interrelated pro-social, health-enhancing, resilience-building effects suggest that promoting gratitude from childhood through adulthood ma [...]

by Gerhard Litscher

Received: 03 May 2020;  Published: 07 May 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2002026

The present moment lacks any reliable vaccine or treatment for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the resultant disease COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease-2019). Laser medicine like photobiomodulation (PBM) or photodynamic therapy (PDT), and laser acupuncture may possess some potential to interact and relieve the symptoms of this disease. PubMed lists only two results for the search term ‘PBM or PDT and COVID-19’, indicating the paucity of validated scientific clinical studies on the subject. On the contrary, it does not mean th [...]

by Feliciano Villar  , Montserrat Celdrán  , Rodrigo Serrat  and Valentina Cannella

Received: 07 November 2018;  Published: 26 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1804027

Active aging is a concept used to describe and promote lifestyles that contribute to a healthy aging process. However, these lifestyles vary widely, and the concept of active aging encompasses many activities. This paper considers two axes to classify the range of activities that can contribute to active aging: the resources needed to carry out such activities (low and high-resource needs) and the main orientation of the activities (self-oriented vs. activity with others). To illustrate this classification, three t [...]

by Minato Nakamura  and Yoshinori Murakami

Received: 17 August 2021;  Published: 13 September 2021;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2103002

The photocatalytic reaction involved in TiO2 photocatalysis was investigated using a microreactor coated with TiO2 film on the glass plate attached on one side of the microreactor. It was confirmed that the effect of H2O2 on the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of azo dyes (acid orange 7, acid red 151, and acid yellow 23) was dependent on the polymorphs (anatase and rutile) of TiO2 coated on the glass plate of the UV-irradiated microreactor. Scavengers of holes (KI) and electrons (p-benzoquinone) were added to [...]

by Misirkhan A. Talybov  , Lala A. Azizova  and Ilmutdin M. Abdulagatov

Received: 24 September 2019;  Published: 24 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/jept.1904006

Background: In the present study, vapor-pressures of three geothermal fluids from Baden-Baden geothermal field (Kirchenstollen, Friedrichstollen, and Murquelle, southeastern region of Germany) were measured over the temperature range of 274-413 K. The combined expanded uncertainty of the temperature and vapor-pressure measurements at 95% confidence level with a coverage factor of k = 2 were estimated to be 0.01 K and 1-3 Pa at low and 10-30 Pa at high temperatures, respectively. The measured values of vapor-pressur [...]

by Maddaloni Valeria  , D'Arco Daniela  , Morano Francesca  , Pepe Nicola  and Atripaldi Luigi

Received: 30 May 2018;  Published: 12 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1804048

Infectious diseases are one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality around the world and have a substantial impact on the health of communities. These diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. The antibiotics that are currently available are generally considered to be safe and well-tolerated. However antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious concern in the treatment of infectious diseases. An understanding of epigenetics now contribut [...]

by Pooam Khatri  , Kamalakanta Sahoo  , Richard Bergman  and Maureen Puettmann

Received: 18 June 2021;  Published: 15 December 2021;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2104048

Raw materials for buildings and construction account for more than 35% of global primary energy use and nearly 40% of energy-related CO2 emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emphasized the drastic reduction in GHG emissions and thus, wood products with very low or negative carbon footprint materials can play an important role. In this study, a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) approach was followed to quantify the environmental impacts of laminated strand lumber (LSL). The inven [...]