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 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 Yash Aryan  and Anil Kumar Dikshit

Received: 26 July 2022;  Published: 09 November 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2204035

Electric vehicles are becoming popular among consumers while BS-VI norms have been introduced and mandated for conventional vehicles in India. In the present study, the environmental impacts from the use phase of electric two-wheeler (EV) and gasoline two-wheeler (GV) have been evaluated and compared using the life cycle assessment (LCA) perspective. The functional unit adopted was 1000 km driven by one vehicle under Indian road and traffic conditions. CML 2001 and ReCiPe 2016 methods were used for the assessment u [...]

by Aaron R. Dezube  , Ashley L. Deeb  and Michael T. Jaklitsch

Received: 25 June 2021;  Published: 15 October 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2104109

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by antibody mediated blockade of neuromuscular transmission. Up until the last decade, evidence suggesting benefit of thymectomy for myasthenia gravis has been based on non-randomized control studies. Our paper serves as an expert narrative review of new literature pertaining to surgical management of myasthenia gravis based on review of articles from PubMed and Cochrane database from date of inception through June 14, 2021. We used the MeSH search [...]

by Marcus A. Henning  , Tae Joo Park  , Fiona Moir  , Chris Krägeloh  , Christopher Mysko  , Jennifer Hobson  and Craig S. Webster

Received: 25 May 2018;  Published: 26 October 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804027

Background: The purpose of this systematic review was to appraise the empirical evidence pertaining to medical students and the integration of mindfulness and physical exercise regimens. Methods: A systematic review was undertaken. Five databases were used to survey the salient literature. Results: The initial search identified 353 potentially relevant articles of which 17 articles were considered for the final review. The findings indicated that the research was mainly conducted in the USA with some research origi [...]

by Julian Gross  , Karin Matko  , Jill Vennemann  and Holger Carl Bringmann

Received: 31 July 2021;  Published: 14 December 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104054

Meditation-Based Lifestyle Modification (MBLM) is a complex eight-week mind-body intervention based on the traditional eight-fold path of classical yoga. MBLM was developed for mental health care, and it combines ethical living, physical yoga, and meditation. In this qualitative study, the subjectively perceived efficacy of MBLM was compared to the perceived efficacy of an individually tailored, multi-professional psychiatric treatment (MPT) in a psychiatric outpatient clinic. Twelve patients were interviewed for t [...]

by Carol Tran  and Laurence J. Walsh

Received: 28 September 2021;  Published: 26 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2104046

Subsurface remineralization can be promoted by the topical application of nanoparticles of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP). To assess changes in enamel white spot lesions, an in situ proof-of-concept investigation was performed using 5 subjects (all of whom were healthy young adults) with a cross-over study design. Custom orthodontic brackets were attached to the buccal surfaces of the maxillary second premolar and first molar teeth. Each bracket had a recess that held a slab of enamel w [...]

by Fubara Gift Evans  , Ukoima Hudson Nkalo  , Dokuboba Amachree  and Morufu Olalekan Raimi

Received: 12 May 2024;  Published: 05 November 2024;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2404023

The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of various bioremediation approaches on microbial diversity in crude oil-contaminated soil over three to six months in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The objective was to assess the impact of different bioremediation strategies on microbial populations, particularly focusing on hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria and fungi. Microbial populations were quantified using serial dilution and microbial count techniques. The vapor phase transfer mechanism was employed to estimate hydrocarbon-u [...]

by Kate M. Waldie  and Sriram Katipamula

Received: 31 December 2021;  Published: 22 February 2022;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2201006

Fuel cells based on renewable synthetic fuels are promising alternatives to fossil fuel combustion for efficient electricity production. Much focus has been placed on hydrogen as a chemical fuel, but being a flammable gas, there are challenges with its safe handling. Formic acid is an attractive liquid fuel for use in direct formic acid or formate fuel cells, and it can in principle be produced from the thermal or electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. Over the past ten years, advances have been made in the d [...]

by C. Aris Chatzidimitriou-Dreismann

Received: 31 March 2020;  Published: 23 June 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2002015

Current developments of non-relativistic quantum mechanics appear to predict, and reveal, counter-intuitive dynamical effects of hydrogen in nanostructured materials that are of considerable importance for basic research as well as for technological applications. In this review, the experimental focus is on H2O and H molecules in carbon nanotubes and other nanocavities that have been experimentally investigated using the well-established technique of incoherent inelastic neutron scattering (INS). For instance, the [...]

by Sumail Bhogal  , Matthew Minn  , Pranay Krishnan  and Reena C. Jha

Received: 18 February 2019;  Published: 18 November 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1904092

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the common locations of perihepatic fluid collections after liver transplantation, assess their complexity, and understand their natural history and clinical significance. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 189 postoperative orthotopic liver transplant patients with a mean age 49.6 years was performed using serial CT or MRI to characterize perihepatic fluid collections. Location, size, complexity of the collections, and clinical course were evalua [...]

by Nagarajan Paramasivam  , Martin Granzow  , Christina Evers  , Katrin Hinderhofer  , Stefan Wiemann  , Claus R. Bartram  , Roland Eils  and Matthias Schlesner

Received: 24 October 2017;  Published: 16 April 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1802017

Background: With genome sequencing entering clinics as a diagnostic tool to detect genetic disorders, there is an increasing need for bioinformatics-based solutions that enable precise causal variant identification in a timely manner. Workflows for the identification of candidate disease-causing variants usually perform the following tasks: i) identification of variants; ii) filtering of variants to remove polymorphisms and technical artifacts; and iii) prioritization of remaining variants to provide a small set of [...]

by Subodh K. Mital  , Steven M. Arnold  , Brett A. Bednarcyk  and Evan J. Pineda

Received: 23 January 2023;  Published: 20 June 2023;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2302025

The behavior and response of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), in particular silicon carbide fiber reinforced silicon carbide matrix (SiC/SiC), is affected by many factors such as variation of fiber volume fraction, residual stresses resulting from processing of the composites at high temperature, random microstructures, and the presence of matrix flaws (e.g., voids, pores, cracks etc.) as well as general material nonlinearity and heterogeneity that occurs randomly in a composite. Residual stresses arising from the [...]

by Mostafa T. Mohammed  , Esmat Al Sharkawy  , Amel M. Kamal Eldin  , Emad Allam  , Manal M. Saber  , Anthony Nassar  , Nour Younis  , Christa Deban  , Ahmad Jaser  , Indira Guleria  , Basset El Essawy  , Anil Chandraker  , Mahmoud Nasr  and Jamil R. Azzi

Received: 15 March 2023;  Published: 06 November 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2304201

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are unique proteins expressed on the surface of human cells, playing a pivotal role in the immune system, particularly in the contexts of infection, cancer, and transplantation. The widespread adoption of HLA typing methods has become an essential component in assessing donor-recipient compatibility, a crucial limiting factor in solid organ transplantation. In general, the greater the disparity between a donor's and recipient's HLA types, the higher the likelihood of provoking an allo [...]

by Emory Ryan  , Tiffany Jong  and Ellen Sidransky

Received: 20 July 2022;  Published: 26 September 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2203165

Gaucher disease (GD) is one of the most common lysosomal storage disorders resulting from biallelic mutations in the GBA1 gene, causing a dysfunction of the lysosomal hydrolase, glucocerebrosidase (acid-β-glucosidase; E.C 3.2.1.45). Clinical manifestations are heterogenous and can include splenomegaly, anemia, and neurological impairments in the case of neuronopathic Gaucher disease types 2 and 3. Newborn screening, arguably the most important public health initiative to date, has been regularly conducted on n [...]

by Shoshana H. Bardach  , Christina Moore  , Sarah D. Holmes  , Richard R. Murphy  , Allison Gibson  and Gregory A. Jicha

Received: 15 June 2018;  Published: 26 July 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1803006

Background: Given the stigma and fear associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), combined with the progressive nature of the disease, the diagnosis of AD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is often very difficult; yet, there may still be ways to experience some positive outcomes following diagnosis. We aim to assess the psychological impact of a diagnosis of MCI or early dementia on positive well-being. Methods: Individuals with a diagnosis of MCI or AD were mailed surveys with the Silver-Lining Questionnaire. Resul [...]

by Ioannis Syros  , Aggeliki Karantzali  and Xenia Anastassiou-Hadjicharalambous

Received: 16 December 2020;  Published: 13 September 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2103106

The effects of pathological anxiety on public health have led to the realization that anxious children might experience significant limitations in their lives. Evidence-based cognitive-behavioral (CB) interventions are now being implemented in schools at a group level to combat anxiety.Childhood emotional health should be considered a national and global priority for an effective strategy promoting the prevention of mental health. The aim of this study is the description of novel data on the effectiveness of preven [...]

by Miguel Mayo-Yáñez  and Irma Cabo-Varela

Received: 29 June 2020;  Published: 08 September 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2003072

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia in the world. This manuscript attempts to review the current knowledge of neurolaryngology and speech and language therapy in Alzheimer’s disease in order to distinguish it from other neurodegenerative diseases. Only a limited number of studies carried out on Alzheimer’s disease patients with speech or laryngeal disorders are found in the literature. Laryngeal (dysphonia, dysphagia, dry mucosa…) and speech symptoms (aphasic, rhythm alterations…) appear to exis [...]

by Andrew C. Chien  , Eric Y. Lin  and Nicole J. Ye

Received: 26 April 2021;  Published: 11 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2102024

The metallic copper, alkaline earth metal oxide, boron, and perovskite were incorporated on the surface of a Ni-cermet anode, and the performance of the modified Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) anode was evaluated. The cell performance was analyzed by voltage-current characteristics (V-I curve) and H2-CH4 step reactions (P-t curve) in a potentiostatic mode. Besides, we also determined if a metallic phase or high electronic conductivity of the anode is important for a cell to perform well when H2 is used as a fuel, whe [...]

by Heath Murray  and Mehdi Khaki

Received: 23 October 2020;  Published: 29 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2103019

Inland water bodies are crucial for supporting human life in various parts of the world. Therefore, it is essential to accurately monitor its spatiotemporal variations for better water management. The main objective of this study is to investigate the application of remote sensing data for quantifying the surface area changes and the impact of climatological variabilities over Lakes Mead and Chapala. Historical time series of monthly surface area dynamics were developed using Landsat 1-8 scenes and the climate vari [...]

by Michael Fossel

Received: 29 January 2019;  Published: 30 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901031

Telomere Editorial-Perspectives on Telomeres and Aging

by Khatib Zada Farhan  , Ayman Sabry Shihata  and Adams Balade Abubakar

Received: 27 March 2024;  Published: 22 July 2024;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2403017

Over the past decade, developing geopolymer mixes to replace ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) composites has yielded positive results, leading to extensive research. The incorporation of fibers in geopolymers, besides impacting the mechanical properties, has also significantly impacted durability, mainly when dealing with the most pernicious forms of deterioration resulting from chloride attack, water penetration, sulfate attack, acid attack, as well as freeze-thaw, which occurred through chemical transgression. This [...]

by Francisco V. Muñoz  and Linda Larkey

Received: 20 May 2020;  Published: 27 July 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2003035

Breast cancer survivors (BCSs) report decrements in cognitive functioning. A Meditative Movement (MM) program (Qigong/Tai Chi Easy) combines meditation and exercise, practices known to improve cognitive function. Method: Using a single group, pre- to post-intervention assessment design, a pilot study was conducted in BCSs to test the effects of an 8-week MM intervention on cognitive functioning, sleep and mood and to explore changes on selected gene expression factors, BDNF, NF-kB1, and TP53, expected to improve wi [...]

by Navya Uppu  , Kelly McMahen  , Tasneem Khasru  and Mark A. DeCoster

Received: 02 August 2022;  Published: 17 October 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2204020

Green synthesis of nanomaterials endeavors to reduce the use of high energy methods with those that may include lower temperatures and pressures, use of natural products, and bottom-up self-assembly. Here we describe the generation of metal-organic biohybrids (MOBs) with nanoscale features synthesized at physiological (37°C) and room temperature (25°C). These MOBs utilized the naturally occurring amino acid dimer cystine as the biological component, and a series of metals, including copper, silver, and cobalt. The [...]

by Tiziana M.P. Cattaneo  , Laura Marinoni  , Stefania Mura  and Massimo Brambilla

Received: 24 December 2021;  Published: 15 February 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2201008

Soil is a very complex medium made of minerals, organic matter, microorganisms, air, and water. Vibrational spectroscopy techniques are exceptionally well-suited to be used with portable and hand-held devices. In this study, NIR spectroscopy was applied using portable instrumentation and the holistic Aquaphotomics approach to identify the differences in three Mediterranean soil profiles from Sardinia (Italy). The soil samples (95) collected from alluvial and loess-sampling sites in the three study areas of North Sa [...]