by Anna Karmazina  and Brent S. Steel

Received: 18 November 2019;  Published: 24 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/jept.1904005

The 2013 Pacific Coast Action Plan on Climate and Energy signed by the Governors of Oregon, California, and Washington and the Premier of British Columbia, launched a broadly announced public commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through multiple strategies. Those strategies include the development and increased use of renewable energy sources. The initiative recognized that citizens are both a central component to abating greenhouse gas emissions with regard to their energy use behaviors, and are important [...]

by Deewakar Poudel  , Benjamin Belfore  , Shankar Karki  , Grace Rajan  , Sina Soltanmohammad  , Angus Rockett  and Sylvain Marsillac

Received: 28 October 2020;  Published: 06 January 2021;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2101001

The effect of water ingress on the surface of the buffer layer of a Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cell was studied. Such degradation can occur either during the fabrication process, if it involves a chemical bath as is often the case for CdS, or while the modules are in the field and encapsulants degrade. To simulate the impact of this moisture ingress, devices with a structure sodalime glass/Mo/CIGS/CdS were immersed in deionized water. The thin films were then analyzed both pre and post water soaking. Dynamic second [...]

by Peta Stapleton  , Craig Buchan  , Ian MItchell  , Yasmin McGrath  , Paul Gorton  and Brett Carter

Received: 11 December 2018;  Published: 15 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901010

Background: This pilot randomised clinical trial investigated the effect of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on brain activation in response to food craving stimuli using functional magnetic resonance imaging. EFT is a brief stress reduction technique which involves stating a cognitive statement with stimulation of acupressure points with a tapping technique. Method: Fifteen overweight/obese adults were allocated to a four-week group EFT treatment or control condition and completed a measure of food crav [...]

by Patrick Weber  , Cathia Rausch  , Annina Scholl  and M. Cristina Cardoso

Received: 22 July 2018;  Published: 25 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1901062

Background: Genetic repeat elements (interspersed or tandem repeats) have diverse functions within cells and at different phases of the cell cycle. However, their investigation at a genome-wide scale is challenging due to their repetitive nature. Here, we describe a method to study the DNA replication kinetics of different repeat elements in single cells throughout the S-phase of the cell cycle. Methods: Mouse major satellite, minor satellite and telomere repeat elements as well as human LINE-1 and Alu repeats were [...]

by Udeme Udokpoh  and Chidozie Nnaji

Received: 02 September 2022;  Published: 12 January 2023;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2301006

The several furniture-making phases, from cutting to processing to polishing, produce a significant volume of sawdust of differing grades. The extraction and disposal of such waste in developing countries with no established or sustainable methods is an increasing problem, frequently posing environmental challenges. Sawdust is one of the most underused wood waste portions, with mounds dispersed around the region, detracting from its visual appeal and causing other ecological concerns. This study investigated potent [...]

by Rebecca MacDonald  , Carol Wiebe  and Gilles Comeau

Received: 17 March 2023;  Published: 05 July 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2303026

The arts offer many health benefits and can be especially impactful in hospital or continuing care facilities through group art interventions or personalized art activities. Arts can also be socially prescribed to fulfill social needs, improve emotional well-being, and have a positive impact of the social determinants of heath. This feasibility study explores the value of a pilot program that brought personalized virtual 1-on-1 art performances to residents in long-term care (LTC) during the Covid-19 pandemic which [...]

by Felipe Jimenez Pastrana  , Paul Dargusch  and Genia Hill

Received: 09 February 2022;  Published: 27 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2202016

The private sector plays an important role in the global climate goals and the 1.5°C target set during the Paris Agreement. Through investment in green projects and technology and energy efficiency initiatives, their carbon management strategy is paramount to achieve sustainability and good business practices. It is crucial to understand the proposals that the industry has established to reduce its environmental impact by applying supply chain optimization and technological advances or by participating in th [...]

by Melodee Harris  , Priya Mendiratta  , Gohar Azhar  , Ruofei Du  and Jing Jin

Received: 24 November 2020;  Published: 15 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2102172

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) occur in almost all persons living with dementia. Antipsychotic medications are often prescribed inappropriately for persons living with dementia who experience NPS. Adverse side effects of antipsychotic medications include falls, sedation, cognitive dysfunction, prolonged QTc interval, extrapyramidal side effects, cerebrovascular events, metabolic changes, infection, and mortality. The purpose of this descriptive quality improvement project was to test the feasibility and preliminar [...]

by Michael K. McMullen

Received: 09 July 2018;  Published: 28 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803022

The metabolism of fructose by the liver produces uric acid and elevated serum uric acid levels are an independent risk factor for hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Fructose occurs in fruits and fruit juices, honey as well as in the sweeteners sucrose (common white sugar) and High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). Dietary fructose may be considered a naturally occurring toxin because it is largely metabolised by the liver with little fructose reaching the systemic blood circulation. Uric acid i [...]

by Michel Ravelonandro  and Pascal Briard

Received: 16 January 2023;  Published: 25 July 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2303189

In order to sustain productivity, growers are implementing fruit trees to provide plum pox virus (PPV) resistant varieties. Unfortunately, classical breeding approaches have failed to develop resistant varieties. RNA interference (RNAi) silencing, as an alternate strategy, has been shown to be an efficient approach to combat PPV disease (sharka). PPV resistance based on RNAi has been demonstrated in natural conditions for over 10 years. Experiments using graft inoculation in high-containment greenhouses show that s [...]

by Carol Krucoff  , Kimberly Carson  and Mitchell Krucoff

Received: 13 August 2020;  Published: 07 January 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2101150

Teaching yoga to seniors is often considered an entry-level job for a yoga instructor since older adults are unlikely to attempt complicated, “advanced” postures. Unfortunately, this ill-informed attitude puts the most vulnerable students with the least-trained instructors who may unknowingly put their students at risk. Even experienced yoga instructors often do not understand the vulnerabilities of older adults, and many commonly taught yoga poses may present risks for seniors. This could explain why participants [...]

by David Feinstein

Received: 01 February 2021;  Published: 19 April 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2102014

The impact of psychological factors on illness is, in recent years, being biochemically mapped. The subspecialties of psychosomatic medicine, health psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, and integrative medicine work with mind and body in concert to promote health and healing. A specialized set of mind-body approaches, collectively called “energy psychology,” is being utilized within these and related clinical frameworks to facilitate beneficial changes in the neurological underpinnings of (1) mental states that imped [...]

by Lucia D. Willems  , Stefania V. Vacaru  , Hannelies Hokke  and Paula S. Sterkenburg

Received: 30 May 2022;  Published: 24 August 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2203037

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at a higher risk of shame and self-criticism and tend to make downward social comparisons. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is commonly used to address these issues in the general population, however, information on the adaptability and effectiveness of CFT for individuals with ID is limited. Thus, we conducted a scoping review of studies on CFT for individuals with ID, to accumulate and consolidate the information and provide a basis for future studies to further [...]

by Mitsuro Chiba  , Satoko Tsuda  and Haruhiko Tozawa

Received: 23 December 2021;  Published: 02 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2202012

A modern lifestyle, including dietary westernization, has increased the prevalence of constipation. The authors developed a plant-based diet for inflammatory bowel disease. This study investigated whether a diet containing a high amount of dietary fiber is also effective for constipation. Consecutive patients with constipation were recruited in this study from April 2003 to March 2004. Their constipation was unresponsive to a conventional laxative. The patients were provided a plant-based diet during hospitalizatio [...]

by Francesco Di Lorenzo  , Giovanni Dinelli  , Ilaria Marotti  and Grazia Trebbi

Received: 11 May 2021;  Published: 12 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2103020

Modern agriculture must meet the changing needs of society both in terms of food quality and with regards to the environmental issues related to primary production (e.g., biodiversity, habitats, the quality of water and air, and climate change). In this context, win-win solutions at the farm level are required, with more sustainable food production, as well as, a reduction in air, water, and soil pollution, and loss of biodiversity and natural resources. To address these issues, a new emerging discipline called “sy [...]

by Loren Pickart  and Anna Margolina

Received: 08 June 2018;  Published: 14 August 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1803009

Background: Stem cell technology is a promising research area with a potential to create effective therapies for many degenerative diseases. However, to apply stem cell technology, we need to be able to identify and understand mechanisms that distinguish healthy regeneration processes from processes, which may result in chronic inflammation, scarring, fibrosis or cancer. GHK-Cu (glycine-L-histidine-lysine) is a small copper-binding peptide, which has a remarkable and well-documented ability to improve wound healing [...]

by Amy Spallone  and Marion Hemmersbach-Miller

Received: 29 January 2021;  Published: 02 May 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2102141

Donor-derived infections (DDI) are an infrequent event in solid organ transplant (SOT) due to advances in screening recommendations, prophylaxis, and surveillance of common infections. However, unexpected pathogen transmission can still occur when a donor is not known to be infected prior to organ procurement, which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in the organ recipient. Solid organ donors with central nervous system (CNS) pathogens are an uncommon but deadly source of unexpected DDI. Clinically rec [...]

by Taise M. Manhabosco  , Shaul Aloni  , Tevye R. Kuykendall  , Sara M. Manhabosco  , Ana Bárbara Batista  , Jaqueline S. Soares  , Ana Paula M. Barboza  , Alan. B. de Oliveira  , Ronaldo J. C. Batista  and Jeffrey J. Urban

Received: 06 September 2019;  Published: 29 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.1904005

Tin telluride (SnTe) ultrathin films were deposited electrochemically on polycrystalline and monocrystalline gold substrates using the electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy (ECALE) method. The electrochemical behaviors of Sn and Te were studied systematically by means of cyclic voltammetry. Cyclic voltammetry curves for Sn displayed a broad peak in the region between -0.15 V and -0.35 V, which was related to the under-potential deposition (UPD), while the curves for Te displayed a peak at 0.3 V for Te UPD. X-ray pho [...]

by Roberto De Vivo  , Luigi Zicarelli  , Roberto Napolano  and Fabio Zicarelli

Received: 03 March 2023;  Published: 15 August 2023;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2303044

The environmental impact of emissions appears to be increasingly important for food, particularly those of animal origin. The LCA (Life-Cycle Assessment) method, an internationally standardized method used to calculate the environmental impact of goods or services, in the carbon footprint, does not take into account the carbon set and consequently the subtraction of carbon dioxide by the plant biomass whether or not aimed at the production of food of animal origin. This methodology could overestimate the carbon dio [...]

by Shuvajit Ghosh  , Udita Bhattacharjee  , Subhajit Bhowmik  and Dr. Surendra K. Martha

Received: 30 June 2021;  Published: 10 January 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2201002

lithium-ion battery (LIB) is at the forefront of energy research. Over four decades of research and development have led electric mobility to a reality. Numerous materials capable of storing lithium reversibly, either as an anode or as a cathode, are reported on a daily basis. But very few among them, such as LiCoO2, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (Li-NMC) variants (LiNi0.33Mn0.33Co0.33O2, LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2, LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2, and LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2), LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2, LiFePO4, graphite, and Li4Ti5 [...]

by Jeffrey T. Apter  and Kaylee M. White

Received: 01 December 2019;  Published: 29 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2002116

The Amyloid and Tau Hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease once thought to be the key have shown marginal results but are bolstered by the recent revival of the Aducanumab study and some positive data on some anti-Tau drugs. It still behoves us to look at other mechanisms which include whole blood transfusions, an Epigenetic approach, a-derivative of a Parkinson's drug a low dose of an anti-epileptic drug, an antibiotic against P Gingivitis and many new approaches not directly involving Amyloid and Tau. Other newer appr [...]

by Marika Haritos Paul  , Mary Beth Arensberg  , Judy R. Simon  , Satya S. Jonnalagadda  , Suzette L. Pereira  , Jamie S. Partridge  and Joseph A. Rosenthal

Received: 10 April 2020;  Published: 22 May 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2002120

Poor nutrition is linked to frailty and both poor nutrition and frailty are recognized risk factors for falls. This study examined the association between dietary protein intake and subsequent reported falls in community-dwelling older Americans with a history of falls. Other nutritional, functional, and sociodemographic-related variables were also considered in our model. This was a retrospective analysis using data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and Health Care and Nutrition Study (HCNS), both fu [...]

by John Hanna

Received: 30 April 2023;  Published: 21 February 2024;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2401006

The main weakest point of concrete is its exposure to cracks, and concrete structure repair is expensive, especially for infrastructure maintenance, which is difficult to access. The ability of self-healing concrete (SHC) to successfully heal fractures without the assistance of humans has received much attention since it increases operational life and lowers maintenance expenses. This paper reviews various techniques and technologies of autogenous and autonomous self-healing concrete. Much more attention is given t [...]

by Ayodeji Folorunsho Ajayi  , Oluwole Tolulope David  , Adelakun Ademola Ayodele  , Ajayi Lydia Oluwatoyin  , Oyowvi Mega Obukohwo  , Oyedokun Precious  , Akanbi Grace Bosede  , Dare Sarah Nene  and Adeniran Adebola Magret

Received: 11 January 2024;  Published: 03 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2402276

This review aims to bring attention to the growing issue of andropause, a condition that affects men as they age. The literature was identified by searching the major bibliographic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Studies were included if they focused on strategies for reducing and preventing andropause, published between 1980 and 2023. Andropause, which is often overlooked and misconceived, is the result of a decrease in testosterone production and can result in p [...]

by Ana Jessica Alfaro  , Soledad Argüelles-Borge  , Ashley M. Stripling  and Paula M. Brochu

Received: 17 September 2018;  Published: 29 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901043

Background: The world’s aging population is growing and diversifying at an unprecedented rate. In preparation for this, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued calls to improve the overall health of older adults. A promising avenue of research to improve health in late life has been dedicated to subjective aging; the way people perceive their own aging process. The main objective of this empirical study was to investigate subjective aging in late life among e [...]

by Loren Pickart  and Anna Margolina

Received: 20 January 2021;  Published: 06 April 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2102128

The human copper-binding peptide GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring small plasma tripeptide (glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine) with a high affinity for copper (2+). GHK-Cu has multiple biological effects. It is known to stimulate regeneration of skin, nervous tissue, bones, lungs and liver, protect liver from oxidative damage, restore activity of irradiated fibroblasts, reduce inflammation and increase levels of antioxidant enzymes. Recent studies established that GHK modulates activity of a number of genes. It has been sho [...]

by Jeet Chand  , Shiva Jha  and Sameer Shrestha

Received: 29 August 2022;  Published: 25 November 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2204026

Water recycling is a potential tool for reducing the dependency on traditional water sources, which would eventually reduce the likelihood of volumetric restrictions and their impacts on the water sector. Therefore, exploration, development, and use of alternative water sources are required for sustainable development. Scientific studies on the efficient and economical use of nontraditional water sources developed using the recycling process have attracted the attention of agriculturists, planners, and engineers fo [...]

by Laura Ryan  , Harriet Beer  , Ella Thomson  , Edward Philcox  and Clive Kelly

Received: 04 October 2022;  Published: 16 February 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2301155

Chronic musculoskeletal pain is an increasingly frequent feature in young people. Many exhibit a range of additional physical and psychological features and fulfil criteria for fibromyalgia. Hypermobility, irritable bowel syndrome and migraine are frequent comorbid conditions. These are all in part mediated by dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system and commonly include fatigue, poor sleep and brain fog. Anxiety, social withdrawal and a range of autistic traits are frequently described by those with chronic mus [...]

by Ioannis Syros  , Aggeliki Karantzali  and Xenia Anastassiou-Hadjicharalambous

Received: 11 April 2022;  Published: 15 November 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2204146

PTSD is a serious mental health condition with a lifetime prevalence of 1% to 14% in the general population. Several studies have evaluated evidence-based treatment approaches for children and adolescents. Interventions focusing on trauma are considered first-line treatments. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and a similar type of group intervention, the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention on Trauma in Schools (CBITS), have received the most empirical support from randomized controlled trials. More [...]

by Suzanne Fleming  , Mary Beth Arensberg  , Kirk Kerr  and Robert Blancato

Received: 22 November 2022;  Published: 10 March 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2301227

Older adults have a heightened risk of malnutrition that occurs with age. Many factors can increase their risk for malnutrition, including factors associated with disease, function, social and mental health, and hunger and food insecurity. Risk for malnutrition is also linked to disparities and may disproportionately impact people living in rural areas. This Perspective paper outlines the issue of malnutrition and its impact on health outcomes and health disparities as well as summarizes existing evidence on malnut [...]

by Gary Stanton

Received: 18 August 2024;  Published: 22 October 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2404061

The Shenmen Point is an auricular acupuncture point that is also known in France as the Cosmonaut Point. It is widely utilized therapeutically for its property of reducing stress. In some ways it is a controversial point. Differences of opinion exist regarding the most appropriate name of the point, who discovered it first, its location within the triangular fossa, its best method of detection, its best method of stimulation, its actions, its indications, its contraindications, its therapeutic effects, and even its [...]

by Tom DeWeerdt  , Paul Dargusch  and Genia Hill

Received: 10 January 2022;  Published: 10 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2201010

Awareness of the challenges of sustainable development, and in particular the risks of climate change, is leading to inevitable restrictions on Greenhouse gas emissions. True carbon risk management must be introduced into the strategy of companies that will increasingly operate in a global low-carbon economy. Indeed, companies are now called upon to be accountable and transparent about the environmental consequences of their business activities. Carbon risk is one of several new emerging risks for companies associa [...]

by Muhammad Qasim Zafar  , Ramisha Sajjad  , Muhammad Tuoqeer Anwar  , Muhammad Salman Mustafa  , Naveed Husnain  , Anas Bin Aqeel  and Muhammad Bilal Khan

Received: 01 October 2024;  Published: 10 February 2025;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2501006

Metal Additive Manufacturing (MAM) process has been established as an industrial process for customized and intricate metallic components. It is one of the growing technologies proving its potential in numerous fields by introducing the latest processing methods. The significant growth in this technology is partially fueled by its ability to manufacture parts that could be performance-beneficial and commercially utilizable in various industries. The adaptability of metal AM processes has prompted innovation across [...]

by Mary Beth Arensberg  , Bethan E. Phillips  and Kirk W. Kerr

Received: 20 March 2024;  Published: 10 September 2024;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2403014

Wound prevalence is increasing as the global population ages. Older adults are at risk of wounds from falling and from other medical conditions that contribute to wound development and slowed healing (e.g., diabetes, cancer, chronic infections); they often experience health conditions that necessitate surgery and therefore post-surgical healing. Poor nutrition status, which includes deficiencies in macro- and micronutrients, is recognized as a key contributor to impaired wound healing in older adults. As such, the [...]

by Nicole Thibodeaux  and Matt J. Rossano

Received: 16 July 2018;  Published: 02 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804032

As alternative forms of medicine have become increasingly popular, research on the health benefits of meditation has grown. Specifically, Mindfulness Meditation, Transcendental Meditation, and Qigong have been shown to be effective in treating psychological disorders, enhancing immune function, and in delaying disease progression in patients diagnosed with HIV, the varicella-zoster virus, and dermatomyositis. This paper briefly reviews the historical background of the many forms of meditation and examines in detail [...]

by Yuyun Wang  , Paul Dargusch  and Genia Hill

Received: 10 January 2022;  Published: 26 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2202015

Carbon emissions are a major factor influencing climate change. Climate change also has ecological impacts, such as loss of biodiversity and loss of ecosystem functions and services. Starbucks is a large multinational company which aims to reduce their environmental impact. Starbucks’ carbon emissions in 2018 were 16,706 thousand metric tons, including 320 thousand metric tons of direct scope 1 emissions, 1,094 thousand metric tons of indirect scope 2 emissions and 14198 thousand metric tons of indirect scope 3 emi [...]

by Yamunadevi Puraikalan  and Michelle Scott

Received: 29 October 2022;  Published: 06 July 2023;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2303010

A literature review was conducted to present an overview of sunflower seeds, nutritional value, and health benefits. Sunflower seeds are inexpensive, readily available, and nutritious all year long. Some of the most important nutrients for humans are found in them in particularly high concentrations. There are several vitamins in sunflower seeds, including vitamin B1 and B5, vitamin E and folate. Additionally, they contain important minerals like copper, magnesium, selenium, and phosphorous. The fats in sunflower s [...]

by Dimitrios N. Konispoliatis

Received: 09 December 2023;  Published: 07 February 2024;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2401005

The main challenge in designing offshore renewable energy structures is to ensure their structural integrity on a life cycle basis while operating in harsh environments and, in parallel, being financially competitive and environmentally friendly concerning other types of energy systems. The Oscillating Water Column (OWC) converters are among the first energy converters to be developed and deployed into the sea due to their relative simplicity of operation and relatively small number of moving parts. This review pro [...]

by Suchandra Goswami  , Shivangi Saxena  , Shalini Yadav  , Diptendu Goswami  , Koushik Brahmachari  , Sruti Karmakar  , Biswajit Pramanik  and Sunil Brahmachari

Received: 22 May 2022;  Published: 27 December 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2204057

Curcumin, the yellow principle of the Indian Turmeric, ‘Haldi’ has recently attracted renewed interest in the field of experimental medicine with pleiotropic activity. This review has emphasized three pharmaceutical studies of interest: the pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, and pharmacodynamics of curcumin. In this review, we attempted to review the general pharmacokinetics profile, pharmacokinetic interactions, and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic interactions of curcumin and its formulations. Different species of tu [...]

by Jason W. Tate  , Bruce F. O'Hara  and Sainan Wei

Received: 23 April 2022;  Published: 15 June 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2202156

The term chimera refers to an organism with cell lines from two or more distinct zygotes. Human chimerism may occur naturally or artificially. Although rare, advancements in genetics and genomics have resulted in the identification of additional natural human chimeras. Three forms of naturally occurring chimerism have been documented in humans: blood group chimerism, microchimerism, and fusion chimerism. Fusion chimerism may occur through several means. Sex-chromosome discordant chimerism refers to individuals with [...]

by Gunasekaran Singaravelu  , Calvin B Harley  , Joseph M Raffaele  , Pratheesh Sudhakaran Sudhakaran  and Anitha Suram

Received: 27 January 2021;  Published: 29 April 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2102168

TA-65 is a small molecule telomerase activator extracted from Astragalus species. A previous observational study suggested that TA-65 decreased the number of immunosenescent cells in healthy subjects. Here we examined the impact of TA-65 in a much larger randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. This study aims to evaluate the effects of TA-65 on senescent CD8+CD28- T cells in healthy subjects. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and multi-arm parallel trial in 500 healthy subject [...]

by Renata Mancopes  , Pooja Gandhi  , Sana Smaoui  and Catriona M. Steele

Received: 24 November 2020;  Published: 19 January 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2101153

Research suggests there are age-related changes in swallowing that do not constitute impairment (“presbyphagia”). The goal of this study was to explore the influence of age on quantitative measures of healthy swallowing by controlling for the effects of sex and sip volume in order to determine the specific characteristics of presbyphagia. Videofluoroscopy recordings of thin liquid swallows from 76 healthy adults (38 male), aged 21-82 were analysed. Blinded duplicate ratings of swallowing safety, efficiency, kinemat [...]

by Michael Takacs  , Michael Frass  , Anja Pohl-Schickinger  , Philippa Fibert  , Peter Lechleitner  , Menachem Oberbaum  , Ilse Leisser  , Peter Panhofer  , Kavita Chandak  and Petra Weiermayer

Received: 04 May 2024;  Published: 06 August 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2403045

In some patients, coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause symptoms that last weeks or even months after the infection has gone. Long COVID-19 was defined as a confirmed initial COVID-19 infection, the presence of signs and symptoms more than four weeks after initial infection, and the persistence or appearance of signs and symptoms that another condition cannot explain and did not exist before infection. This study aimed to describe the effect of adjunctive individualized homeopathic treatment delivered to Long COVID-19 p [...]

by Eunise M. Aquino  , Miles C. Benton  , Larisa M. Haupt  , Heidi G. Sutherland  , Lyn R. Griffiths  and Rodney A. Lea

Received: 12 February 2018;  Published: 11 April 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1802016

DNA methylation involves the covalent transfer of a methyl group to the C-5 position of the cytosine ring on a DNA strand. DNA methylation is both heritable and modifiable and can affect gene expression. In recent years, epigenome-wide association studies using high-throughput technologies have associated variation in DNA methylation levels with normal and pathological aging processes in human populations. DNA methylation patterns have been used to construct epigenetic clocks which can serve as potential biomarkers [...]

by Anna Koczwara  , Lingfan Jiang  and Shasha Zheng

Received: 29 November 2023;  Published: 11 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2402009

Gout is an increasing metabolic disease due to the buildup of uric acid. The buildup of uric acid due to inadequate excretion leads to uric acid crystal formation. Treatment for gout aims to eliminate the uric acid crystal formation so that inflammation decreases. Traditional gout medication is usually allopurinol, but increasing studies have proven that herbal remedies may be promising. Over the past few years, studies have demonstrated that Simiao powder, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is more effective th [...]

by Srinivasan Periasamy  , Se-Ping Chien  , Bing-Fang Lee  , Dur-Zong Hsu  and Ming-Yie Liu

Received: 31 March 2019;  Published: 17 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1903033

Background: Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome is caused by an injury to the liver induced either by accidental ingestion of pyrrolizidine alkaloid monocrotaline or by chemotherapeutic drug oxaliplatin used for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome is characterized by rounding and swelling of the sinusoidal endothelial cell, which leads to obstruction of blood vessels, leukocyte infiltration, and oxidative stress. Melatonin, a powerful antioxidant, prevents acute liver injury. We investig [...]

by Saikat Banerjee  , Naveen Prasad  and Sivamani Selvaraju

Received: 27 September 2021;  Published: 13 January 2022;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2201004

Biogas is an alternative to gaseous biofuels and is produced by the decomposition of biomass from substances such as animal waste, sewage sludge, and industrial effluents. Biogas is composed of methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and oxygen. The anaerobic production of biogas can be made cheaper by designing a high throughput reactor and operating procedures. The parameters such as substrate type, particle size, temperature, pH, carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, and inoculum concentration play [...]

by Randye J. Semple  and Christine Burke

Received: 20 August 2018;  Published: 04 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901001

Background: Research support for a variety of health benefits of mindfulness-based interventions for adults is robust. These include management of stress, anxiety, and depression; as a supportive treatment for eating disorders, PTSD, and psychosis; improved sleep; chronic pain management; support for tobacco, alcohol, and substance abstinence; and as adjunctive treatments for serious or chronic medical illnesses such as HIV, cancer, and heart conditions. As is typical with newer interventions, mindfulness intervent [...]

by Ann Lee  and Shaokoon Cheng

Received: 26 March 2023;  Published: 18 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2303029

In the context of decarbonization efforts, heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) offer an attractive solution over conventional electric resistance type hot water systems due to their 2-3 times higher efficiency. However, the high manufacturing costs and taxes associated with using hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant make HPWHs expensive. As a means to tackle this issue, this paper explores the use of propane (R290) as a refrigerant in HPWHs. The study involves an experimental comparison of R290 and R134a, with refrigera [...]

by Janika Epe  , Rudolf Stark  and Ulrich Ott

Received: 29 June 2021;  Published: 18 September 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2103031

Yogic breathing techniques are fundamental to the physical and mental practice of yoga. They are closely connected to meditation, which involves the observation of breath. There are many yogic techniques based on the active regulation of the breath. Breathing practices influence many processes in the body, e.g. heart rate variability, and the mind, e.g. relaxation and stress, through their impact on the autonomic nervous system. This study intended to investigate differential effects of four yogic breathing techniq [...]