by David C. Gaston  and Marwan M. Azar

Received: 14 November 2018;  Published: 29 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1804037

The approach to diagnosing fungal infections following solid organ transplantation (SOT) is patient-specific. An assessment of an individual’s risk for particular infections, also understood as the pre-test probability, should guide appropriate diagnostic testing whereas diagnostic stewardship is needed to produce interpretable, actionable and cost-sensitive results. This review provides a cognitive framework for practitioners aiming to diagnose fungal infections in recipients of SOT, taking into consideration the [...]

by Mariella Di Stefano  , Sonia Baccetti  , Elio Rossi  , Maria Valeria Monechi  , Barbara Cucca  , Sergio Segantini  , Elisabetta Barbara Cortesi  , Fabio Voller  , Eleonora Fanti  , Alice Berti  and Stefano Bravi

Received: 27 September 2018;  Published: 28 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1902029

Background: According to the international literature, users of Complementary Medicine (CM), Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) are physically more active, less overweight and have healthier lifestyles than the average Tuscan population. Aim: To evaluate the socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyles of patients of CM public clinics in the region of Tuscany and to define their profiles in terms of physical exercise, smoking habits, diet, intake of alc [...]

by Victoria M. Dahl  , Alyssa L. Chimiklis  , Sarah Peralta  , Yasmin Siddiqui  and Anil Chacko

Received: 15 August 2024;  Published: 18 March 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2501015

Schools have made commendable efforts to incorporate yoga and mindfulness programs to address the wellbeing of students; however, research on the efficacy of school-based yoga and mindfulness programs is still in its infancy, particularly with school-aged students at risk of developing externalizing disorders. Much of the research has also focused on evaluating interventions implemented by researchers, rather than evaluating those implemented by the school and its staff. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate [...]

by Joachim Andrassy  and Antje Habicht

Received: 05 November 2018;  Published: 27 June 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1902070

In recent years, the potential of hematopoietic stem cells, regulatory T-cells, and mesenchymal stem cells have brought about a variety of clinical tolerance trials. Every approach has yielded promising results; however, the riddle of transplant tolerance has not been solved as of yet. The results of the ongoing trials in this field will provide additional information regarding the risks and benefits of these therapy approaches.

by Jose A. Morillas  and Sherif Beniameen Mossad

Received: 24 October 2019;  Published: 18 November 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1904091

Toxoplasmosis in liver transplantation (LT) is uncommon, especially in the current era of universal prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP). Here we present a case of a 55-year-old woman LT recipient, on dapsone or PJP prophylaxis due to sulfa allergy, who presented on day 25 after LT with fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Initially she was diagnosed with cytomegalovirus-associated colitis and was treated with intravenous ganciclovir, with good clinical [...]

by Barbara Schmidt  , Teresa Deffner  and Jenny Rosendahl

Received: 11 December 2019;  Published: 28 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2002025

Patients in the intensive care unit are confronted with an extreme situation that may cause stress and anxiety. The negative experiences may cause patients to suffer for the long-term after leaving the intensive care unit. One such stressor in the intensive care unit is non-invasive ventilation. Positive therapeutic suggestions under hypnosis can help patients in intensive care to enhance their well-being by helping them to deal with specific stress like being ventilated. The aim of our study is to assess the effec [...]

by Clara L.e Silva  , Bárbara H.S. Miranda  , Maria L. Vilela  , Jair F. Rodrigues  , Thainá G. Cunha  , Jhonatan A. Dias  , Gabriela A. Soares  , Vinicius Freitas  , Rodrigo de Q. Vilaça  , Luana Wouk  and Diego Bagnis

Received: 07 March 2022;  Published: 04 July 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2203023

The lifetime and stability of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are the key factors that influence the technology used to scale up and commercialize OPVs. High-performing and reliable devices are used to fabricate the devices of choice. Materials and methods that can be used to prevent the degradation of organic materials, enabling better OPV applications, are being increasingly researched in recent years. Herein, we present the surface modification process of a commercial, flexible barrier film based on polyethylene te [...]

by Camila Sandoval  , Colleen A Lambo  and Michael Carey Satterfield

Received: 01 June 2018;  Published: 28 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1804058

Understanding the pathophysiology of disease can be an essential step to determining where and how to intervene for preventive or corrective health. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has been defined in livestock species as impaired gestational development of a fetus or its parts [1]. This broad category of ailments described by low fetal weight is accompanied by susceptibility to adult onset of chronic disease through fetal programming of numerous organ systems and their functions. This concern affects humans [...]

by Fariba Moradipour  , Andreas Markert  , Thomas Rudszuck  , Niklas Röttgen  , Gerald Dück  , Martin Finsterbusch  , Felix Gerbig  , Hermann Nirschl  and Gisela Guthausen

Received: 04 August 2023;  Published: 02 November 2023;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2304032

Charge transfer and mobility are essential for electrochemical processes in batteries, which need to be understood in detail for optimization, especially in the case of all-solid-state batteries. Wide line NMR is well-known in solid-state NMR and allows the quantification of ion mobility in ordered crystalline and amorphous structures. Temperature-dependent 23Na-NMR is sensitive to ion mobility via longitudinal relaxation, but also via line analysis and transverse relaxation. As 23Na is a spin 3/2 nucleus, 23Na-NMR [...]

by Thiago Rodrigo Barbosa Barros  , Thianne Silva Batista Barbosa  and Meiry Gláucia Freire Rodrigues

Received: 24 October 2023;  Published: 26 December 2023;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2304031

This work focuses on preparing NaY zeolite using alternative sources of silica and modifying the zeolite with the surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Two different hydrothermal synthesis routes were employed: the conventional method using sodium silicate as the silica source, and the other is a sustainable approach using vermiculite clay as the silica source. In traditional zeolite synthesis, sodium silicate is often used as the source of silica. However, . The vermiculite was subjected to an acid treatment, [...]

by Pan Xie  , Dongdong Du  , Cheng Xue  and Sanshan Shi

Received: 01 April 2022;  Published: 10 May 2022;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2202014

The process of light-induced C-H oxygenation is of high interest as it can be used for the construction of oxygenated compounds. Herein, we report a mild and general method for the efficient synthesis of aromatic ketones following the process of metal-free C-H oxygenation. With air as the oxidant, high functional tolerance was demonstrated, and the desired ketones were obtained in moderate to excellent yields at room temperature (25 oC). Mechanistic studies suggested that the oxidative transformation potentially oc [...]

by Daniel Foltuț  and Viorel-Aurel Șerban

Received: 30 June 2024;  Published: 04 November 2024;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2404026

This review examines the latest developments in the study of how Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) elastomers behave in peripheral applications of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs), specifically on the cathodic side. The review highlights the crucial role of EPDM in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of PEMFCs in challenging conditions characterized by varying temperatures, humidity, and acidic environments. The study examines the impact of various additives and vulcanization procedures on EP [...]

by Max F. Platzer  and Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn

Received: 28 January 2020;  Published: 29 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2002005

The current status of a project is described which aims to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of converting the vast wind energy available over the globe’s oceans and lakes into storable energy. To this end, autonomous high-performance sailing ships are equipped with hydrokinetic turbines whose output is stored either in electric batteries or is fed into electrolysers to produce hydrogen which then is compressed and stored in tanks. In the present paper, the previous analytical studies which showed [...]

by Ushma J Patel  , Madeline K Moureau  , Joan M Neuner  and Heidi W Brown

Received: 12 May 2023;  Published: 05 October 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2304252

More than 60% of adult women in the United States have urinary incontinence (UI), with the prevalence increasing to over 80% in women over age 65. Despite its high prevalence, most patients do not seek care and few clinicians screen for UI. The Medicare Health Outcomes Survey queries patients about satisfaction with their provider’s discussion and management of UI, but formal recommendations about screening, diagnosis, and treatment are lacking. This review presents a practical algorithm for primary care providers [...]

by Maud Gits-Muselli  , Stéphane Bretagne  and Alexandre Alanio

Received: 04 December 2018;  Published: 17 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1901060

Pneumocystis jirovecii is an atypical fungus transmitted via the airborne route between humans. This fungus is exclusively associated with humans and almost each individual has encountered it at least once before reaching the age of two. P. jirovecii can be cleared and spontaneously resolutive in immunocompetent, whereas it can be responsible for severe Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in immunocompromised patients. In the next decades, the putative increase of the population of immunocompromised patients is likely to [...]

by Malcolm Voyce

Received: 22 July 2020;  Published: 16 November 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2004124

This article aims to describe the relationship between donors and their recipients in the context of organ transplants. This analysis is made in the light of Marcel Mauss’s work, offering an expansion on an analysis of his discussion on the “spirit of the gift” and his idea that gifts require reciprocation. It is argued that some recipients of donated organs receive a personal element from the donor in that there is a transfer or sharing of the donors’ personality and spiritual qualities. The article examines the n [...]

by Firas AL-Rshoud  , Lina Almahmoud  , Nagham Younis  , Rnad AL. Ajarmeh  and Ahmad M. Fares

Received: 02 January 2024;  Published: 07 March 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2401222

This study aims to assess the Trophectoderm (TE) biopsy practice in Jordan in terms of the following effectiveness parameters: timing of zona breaching, risk of inner cell mass herniation if zona breaching was done on day 3, timing of TE sampling, method of biopsy (pulling or flicking), number of laser pulses, assessment of embryo survival after biopsy, and degeneration rate. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in November 2022. The collected data presented the perception of embryologists (>10 years e [...]

by Alberto Arias-Pérez  , Daniel Ramírez-Torres  , María E. Rodríguez  , Silvia Portela-Bens  , Emilio García-Suarez  , Manuel A. Merlo  , Aglaya García-Angulo  , Ismael Cross  , Thomas Liehr  and Laureana Rebordinos

Received: 31 July 2018;  Published: 24 October 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1804044

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that play a very important role in gene expression by regulating mRNA cleavage and translation. The Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis (Kaup 1858), is a flatfish species that shows great potential for marine aquaculture. Nevertheless, the existence of sexual dysfunction of males reared in captivity, high larval mortality, and diseases have hampered its production. The integration of sequence information with data on chromosomal physical location is useful f [...]

by Kristopher M. Struckmeyer  , Alex J. Bishop  , Brenda J. Smith  and Brandt C. Gardner

Received: 27 August 2018;  Published: 27 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901037

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine discrepancies in self-proxy agreement of biopsychosocial factors and the influence of objective well-being and psychosocial resources self and proxy appraisals of subjective well-being in older adults. Methods: Seventy-two older adult-proxy dyads rated the biopsychosocial health of non-cognitively impaired older adults. Results: Proxies underestimated functional ability, psychosocial factors, and overrated negative health outcomes compared to older adults. Older [...]

by Ganga R. Neupane  , Amrit Kaphle  , David N. Mcllroy  , Elena Echeverria  , Prasanna Sankaran  and Parameswar Hari

Received: 12 May 2021;  Published: 04 August 2021;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2103035

Iron doped ZnO (Fe-ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized using two techniques that are economical as well as scalable to yield tunable properties of nanoparticles for facilitating down conversion in an absorbing layer of a solar cell. To evaluate the suitability of Fe-ZnO nanoparticles prepared by two deposition methods, we present a comparison of optical, electrical, and structural properties of Fe-ZnO using several experimental techniques. Structural properties were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy a [...]

by E. Papaconstantinou  , V. Quick  , E. Vogel  and S. Coffey

Received: 09 August 2019;  Published: 31 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1904044

Background: Post-secondary students are at increased risk for sleep problems and poor eating behaviours that overtime may lead to negative health outcomes later in life. However, limited research has examined associations of sleep quality with eating behaviours and eating competence (e.g., being positive, flexible, and comfortable with eating and getting enough enjoyable and nutritious foods) among Canadian post-secondary students. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, participants completed an online surv [...]

by Em V. Adams  , Marieke Van Puymbroeck  , Heather S. Torphy  , Brian C. Helsel  , Karen A. Kemper  , Cheryl Dye  and Arlene A. Schmid

Received: 03 October 2019;  Published: 03 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001097

Falls have negative consequences for older adults, but falls can be reduced through interventions that target the reduction of fall risk factors. Cognitive behavioral education programs and therapeutic yoga are two interventions that have independently been used as a means to reduce the risk of falls. The purpose of this study was to determine if adding therapeutic yoga following an education intervention improved well known fall risk factors. Potential participants were recruited through a senior center for a 12-w [...]

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 Pavel Ustin  , Fail Gafarov  and Andrey Berdnikov

Received: 27 April 2023;  Published: 24 August 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2303180

The emergence of the social networking phenomenon and the sudden spread of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) around the world have significantly affected the transformation of the system of interpersonal relations, partly shifting them towards virtual reality. Online social networks have greatly expanded the boundaries of human interpersonal interaction and initiated processes of integration of different cultures. As a result, research into the possibilities of predicting human behavior through the characteristic [...]

by Ryan Sweeney  , Alvaro J La Rosa  , Nina Sheade  , Rachael C. Olson-Marszewski  , Ryan Bergren  and Edwin Meresh

Received: 12 January 2020;  Published: 01 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2002054

Case studies have associated catatonia with withdrawal from benzodiazepines and clozapine, both of which have been shown to increase GABA activity. Long-term use of GABAergic medications could result in GABAA downregulation and sudden discontinuation of the GABAergic drug could lead to a GABA hypoactive state which could predispose the patient to catatonia. The anticonvulsant topiramate, is known to increase brain GABA activity. Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic imprinting disorder characterized by lack of e [...]