by Ivan M. Lang

Received: 17 August 2020;  Published: 02 November 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.2004052

Several digestive tract reflexes involving the esophagus and its sphincter muscles have been identified, but to date, no comprehensive review has addressed most of these reflexes. The current review presents the known physiology of different esophageal reflexes in which either the esophagus or its sensory or motor portion of the reflex response is elaborated. The current review comprehensively examines the known and possible mechanisms underlying major esophageal reflexes, highlights the huge gaps in current knowle [...]

by Daming Zhang

Received: 21 January 2022;  Published: 07 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2201008

In this paper, a method for operating AC microgrids in both off-grid or standalone and grid-connected modes is proposed to minimize the use of energy storage by increasing the number of PV panels and curtailing their output power. When the intensity of daylight decreases, power is imported from the main grid through an AC/DC/AC converter or solid-state transformers in parallel to compensate for the shortage. By using a three-phase transformer in Δ-Y connection with Y’s neutral connected to its local grounding syste [...]

by Inmaculada Zarzo  , Nadia San Onofre  and Jose M. Soriano

Received: 17 November 2023;  Published: 03 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2402005

The relationship between obesity and weight loss treatments has run parallel throughout history; however, not all diets are suitable for improving one’s health. This review aims to categorize diets according to the new classification of hazardous diets established in 2021. A search was conducted across grey, white, and black literature. The results reveal a study of 179 diets, of which 35 are effective, while the rest are hazardous to health. Looking at the geographical distribution of these diets, the USA, the UK, [...]

by Rie Sasaki  , Hiroto Ito  and Masami Okamoto

Received: 01 March 2022;  Published: 14 June 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2202155

In this study, we examined the effect of a combination of surface topographies (fiber alignments) and different stiffness of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) substrates on the direct relationship between anti-cancer drug (CDDP) sensitivity for MDA-MB-231 cells and mesenchymal properties under both normal and hypoxic conditions. In addition, we studied the induction of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). The CDDP treatment under hypoxia indicated poor adhesion of MDA-MB-231 cells as well as significant repression of [...]

by Julia Caldwell  , Pamela Meredith  , Koa Whittingham  and Jenny Ziviani

Received: 07 March 2022;  Published: 20 July 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2203028

Positive perceptions of pregnancy are associated with better postpartum outcomes, including stronger relationship with baby. Although better self-reported emotional availability (EA-SR) is associated with greater attachment security with infants, research has not yet explored the relationship between prenatal maternal factors and EA-SR. The aim of the study was to explore the associations between prenatal variables (adult attachment, shame, compassion) and EA-SR at 3- and 6-months postpartum. A cross-sectional surv [...]

by Krzysztof Wierzcholski

Received: 08 October 2020;  Published: 02 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2102023

This paper aims to highlight the result of a new progression of mathematical estimation methods of stochastic bio-hydrodynamic lubrication parameters for arbitrary, curvilinear, non-rotational, co-operating, living biological surfaces coated with phospholipid bi-layers. Movable, non-rotational, co-operating surfaces occur in various biological friction nods like the collar bone, the blade bone, the jump joint, and the wrist joint. Specifically, the author presents a synthetic and comprehensive estimation of stochas [...]

by Brian C. Keller  , Sadia Z. Shah  and Amy Pope-Harman

Received: 24 April 2020;  Published: 15 June 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2002113

Systemic capillary leak syndrome is a disorder characterized by recurrent, life-threatening episodes of acute capillary hyperpermeability resulting in edema and hypovolemic shock. We report a case of systemic capillary leak syndrome in a lung transplant recipient who developed recurrent episodes of volume overload, respiratory failure, and acute kidney injury in association with hypotension and hypoalbuminemia. Initiation of monthly high dose intravenous immunoglobulin prophylaxis effectively abrogated the syndrome [...]

by David J. Ross  , Abbas Ardehali  , Christine Natori  and John A. Belperio

Received: 19 September 2019;  Published: 07 November 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1904090

Introduction: TH-17 and IL-6 interactions and detrimental biologic effects have been shown in rodent models of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD). Similarly, these pathways have been found to be upregulated in human CLAD. Tocilizumab (TCZ), a humanized monoclonal antibody targets the IL-6 receptor subunit alpha and prevents binding of IL-6. We herein report our preliminary experience with adjunctive TCZ therapy for human CLAD. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our initial experience with TCZ given after o [...]

by Jennifer A. King  , Megan R. Holmes  , Kylie Evans  , Anna E. Bender  and Dakota King-White

Received: 28 February 2023;  Published: 07 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2303036

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the long-standing issues of stress and burnout in the education sector, with teachers and education staff facing unprecedented challenges including significant adjustments to teaching methods and balancing the mental health and academic needs of their students. The resulting challenges have contributed to heightened levels of stress and burnout among teachers and education staff. The impact of the pandemic on teachers and education staff has highlighted the need for greater support [...]

by Mariya Shiyko

Received: 17 July 2018;  Published: 08 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804029

What is meditation? A tool that empowers you to create your life through working it from inside out, beginning with a thought. There is a story. A father had two sons: one felt a victim of life. He viewed his life through the prism of “My childhood was difficult. My father was an alcoholic. The reason my life is failing is because of that. I was not loved enough.” This is his inner mantra – a cycle of a repetitive thought patterns that he continuously told himself. His life followed that very mantra. He didn’t try [...]

by Layachi Guelmine  and Hadda Hadjab

Received: 27 March 2021;  Published: 09 August 2021;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2103033

The present study investigated the effect of reused rubber particles (RRP) on the deicer salt durability of ordinary concrete. Four mixtures were designed, a control concrete (CC) and three other rubber concretes obtained by partial substitution of natural dune sand aggregate with reused rubber particles with 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% w/w. All studied concretes were subjected to the combined effect of freeze/thaw (56 and 120) cycles with the deicer salt solution of 3% NaCl. The results indicated that RRP improved the deic [...]

by Kurt Grüngreiff  , Thomas Gottstein  and Dirk Reinhold

Received: 15 March 2019;  Published: 13 June 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1902023

Acute and in particular chronic liver disease of viral, alcoholic and non-alcoholic genesis is a large, often unnoticed health hazard around the world. It can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the course of decades. Liver fibrosis, conversion of functional parenchyma to connective tissue (scar tissue) as a consequence of chronic liver damage, is a connecting pathogenic process in all chronic liver diseases. Zinc is an essential micronutrient in human health, playing a fundamental role in cellu [...]

by Gerhard Litscher

Received: 14 May 2024;  Published: 15 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402027

Laser acupuncture, a rising complementary therapy, applies a low-intensity laser to acupuncture points, yet its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Proposed hypotheses include modulation of cellular signaling, tissue repair, and immune modulation. Laser acupuncture may stimulate energy flow, neurotransmitter release, cellular changes, immune regulation, and neuroendocrine activity. Additionally, the biophoton theory suggests an involvement of ultra-weak photon radiation from cells. Litscher et al. explore these m [...]

by Rama Jaiswal  , Melad Shaikh  and Kalluri V. S. Ranganath

Received: 01 June 2023;  Published: 21 November 2023;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2304028

A surface modification approach has prepared a nanostructured organic framework connecting two metal oxide NPs. The surface modifier attached two metal oxide NPs via molecular interaction to generate modular structures of fiber, rod, or sponge materials. Thus, obtained hybrid systems have been confirmed through FT-IR, TGA, PXRD, and SEM. Metal oxides such as Fe3O4 and MgO generated mixed materials via the surface modification approach. Thus, obtained materials have been successfully used to dehydrate biomass-derive [...]

by Robert M. Sullivan  and John P. Hileman

Received: 15 November 2021;  Published: 22 February 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2201009

Our study sought to identify a regional explanation for declining fertility in stocks of co-occurring salmonids in the upper Trinity River, northern California, USA. We focused on evaluating the relationship between thermal variance in river water and hatchery-measured estimates of female fertility as a function of highly managed annual flow regimes. We evaluated annual and seasonal variation in volume of flow and water temperature in response to managed flows associated with annual in-river restoration actions. We [...]

by Kazuyuki Suzuki  , Akinobu Kato  and Yasuhiro Takikawa

Received: 04 February 2019;  Published: 16 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1903027

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome showing a wide spectrum and one of the serious complications seen in patients with acute and chronic liver disease or spontaneous portal-systemic shunting. Recently, HE has been classified into two categories: covert HE, which involves minimal HE and is identified solely through psychometric or neurological tests, and overt HE (coma grade II-IV). Although recent therapies based on evidence-based results have improved the therapeutic outcomes of HE patients, [...]

by Darcy A Hille  , Sverre E Kjeldsen  , Stevo Julius  , Kristian Wachtell  , Peter M Okin  and Richard B Devereux

Received: 30 December 2021;  Published: 24 February 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2201189

We aimed to assess some readily available patient characteristics such as urinary albumin excretion as predictors of a primary composite event of myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke, and cardiovascular death among patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, and develop risk algorithms for the outcomes. A “Cox proportional hazards” model identified the baseline variables that significantly affected the occurrence of the composite endpoint in 9193 elderly hypertensive patients with lef [...]

by Mario Lefebvre

Received: 26 September 2022;  Published: 08 December 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2204049

A filtered Poisson process is proposed as a model for river flows. With the help of real-life data, the model parameters are estimated. Mathematical formulae are derived in order to estimate the various return periods of the river. An application to two rivers shows that the point estimates are very close to the corresponding values computed by hydrologists, based on historical data. Moreover, by modifying the values of the parameters in the model, we can see the potential effects of climate change on the return pe [...]

by Nora B. Henrikson  , Paula R. Blasi  , Marlaine Figueroa Gray  , Lorella Palazzo  , Aaron Scrol  and Stephanie M. Fullerton

Received: 09 August 2022;  Published: 31 October 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2204167

People choose how and if to generate and disclose not just personal genomic data, but also multiple other types of personal health and non-health related data. To contextualize choices about genetic testing and genetic data disclosure, we explored perspectives of genomic data privacy and disclosure compared to other types of data. We conducted a qualitative focus group study with adult members of an integrated U.S. health system, using administrative data to stratify our sample by age and by race/ethnicity. Discuss [...]

by Glauce Kelly Silva do Nascimento  , Tatiane Monteiro dos Santos  , Irene Andressa  , Vivian Machado Benassi  , Nathalia de Andrade Neves  and Marcio Schmiele

Received: 08 May 2024;  Published: 05 September 2024;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2403013

Bread stands out for its versatility and accessibility, appealing to individuals across various ages and social classes. Consequently, it presents an attractive opportunity for incorporating ingredients that offer health benefits to consumers. In this context, the current study aimed to evaluate the technological properties of sandwich bread (specific volume, water activity, moisture, instrumental color, and texture) prepared with a partial substitution (5% w/w) of wheat flour (WF) with purple corn cob flour (PCF) [...]

by Emma Larsen  , Simon Ghanat  and Scott Curtis

Received: 11 February 2022;  Published: 07 May 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2202020

The urban heat island (UHI) effect is not well understood, especially within the cityscape. This editorial is from the perspective of an undergraduate student Cadet Emma Larsen, as she comes to understand the UHI through mentorship from professors Simon Ghanat and Scott Curtis, personal experiences as a cadet at a military academy in Charleston, SC, USA, and active learning through participation in a national heat observation campaign, the NOAA HeatWatch, and related independent research. HeatWatch seeks to underst [...]

by Kenji Amagai  , Hiroto Kotake  , Masahiro Munemura  , Sawako Shigeto  and Masayuki Horio

Received: 10 October 2022;  Published: 02 February 2023;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2301005

This paper describes the development of low-speed electric community buses (LSECBs) designed by the author's group and their spread situation in Japan. LSECBs are electric vehicles that can travel on public roads at speeds of less than 5.56 m/s (20 km/h). The university, local government, local businesses, and residents with a co-design approach developed the LSECBs. They have various advantages such as safety due to low speed and low energy consumption. In particular, the LSECBs have features not found in ordinary [...]

by Imogen Crook  , Richard J. Brown  and Tobyn Bell

Received: 05 March 2025;  Published: 19 May 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2502022

Depression is a leading cause of disability with many individuals experiencing recurrent episodes of depression across their lifetime. Existing treatment approaches have varied degrees of effectiveness, and the value of social prescribing practices is being recognised. Given the persistent nature of depression, many individuals seek out alternative methods to manage their own symptoms. Open-water swimming is becoming increasingly popular as a means of supporting mental health. There is an emerging evidence base ind [...]

by Albena Staynova  , Ljubomira Hadjiiska  , Valeria Hadjidekova  and Rositsa Hristova

Received: 14 August 2018;  Published: 22 October 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1804043

Background: The purpose of study was to assess the cytogenetic effect of chronic low dose radiation exposure of nuclear power plant workers using the micronucleus centromere assay. This method allows the differentiation between centromere-positive micronuclei containing whole chromosome and centromere-negative micronuclei containing acentric fragment pointing to clastogenic action of ionizing radiation. Methods: The effect of low dose occupational exposure was estimated in 32 nuclear power plant workers using in si [...]

by Alyson Holland  and Amanda Lorbergs

Received: 29 October 2019;  Published: 12 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904093

Beliefs about the daily experience of a disease are used to identify risk and motivate participation in prevention. For osteoporosis, a disease that is affected by health behaviours throughout the lifecourse, individual perceptions of the disease can affect health decisions and future disease prevalence. Understanding how the experience of osteoporosis is perceived by women at different stages of life can illuminate factors that influence engagement in prevention. Women representing three life stages - young adults [...]