Self-Efficacy to Perform Activities of Daily Living Predicts Independence in Activities of Daily Living in Subacute Stroke Patients

This study was purposed to investigate the characteristics of self-efficacy to perform activities of daily living (ADL), characteristics of independence in ADL, and correlation between self-efficacy to perform activities of daily living (ADL) and independence in ADL in subacute stroke patients. The study was a descriptive correlation design. Forty- eight participants were recruited with mean age 57.23 (7.80) years, mean days of stroke onset 6.06 (5.00) days, who diagnosed with ischemic stroke. Modified Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (MSSEQ) measured self-efficacy to perform ADL and Functional Assessment Measure (FIM+FAM) measured independence in ADL. The influencing variables of participant such as age, gender, BI Score, side stroke and participant knowledge were not significantly correlated to self- efficacy to perform ADL and independence in ADL. The mean score of self-efficacy to perform ADL was at a moderate level (67.7%) and the mean score of independence in ADL was at a moderate dependence (50.5%). A positive and significant modified correlations were found between self-efficacy to perform ADL and independence in ADL (r = .30, p = .05). Self- efficacy to perform ADL predicted 7% of the variance in the independence in ADL. This finding indicates higher self- efficacy to perform ADL of subacute stroke patients contributes to more independence in ADL. The description of initial level of self-efficacy to perform ADL in early phase rehabilitation following stroke as a reference to design continuous intervention to enhance self-efficacy and functional independence for stroke patients

Green composites based on wheat gluten matrix and posidonia oceanica waste fibers as reinforcements

[EN] In this work, green composites from renewable resources were manufactured and characterized. A fibrous material derived from Posidonia oceanica wastes with high cellulose content (close to 90 wt% of the total organic component) was used as reinforcing material. The polymeric matrix to bind the fibers was a protein (wheat gluten) type material. Composites were made by hot-press molding by varying the gluten content on composites in the 10¿40 wt% range. Mechanical properties were evaluated by standardized flexural tests. Thermo-mechanical behavior of composites was evaluated with dynamic mechanical analysis (torsion DMA) and determination of heat deflection temperature. Morphology of samples was studied by scanning electronic microscopy and the water uptake in terms of the water submerged time was evaluated to determine the maximum water uptake of the fibers in the composites. Composites with 10¿40 wt% gluten show interesting mechanical performance, similar or even higher to many commodity and technical plastics, such as polypropylene. Water resistance of these composites increases with the amount of gluten. Therefore, the sensitiveness to the water of the composites can be tailored with the amount of gluten in their formulation.The authors would like to acknowledge the Wallenberg and Lars-Erik Thunholms Foundation for the economical support through the concession of a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forest related. Authors would also like to thank Marcos and Elena for helping in collecting P. oceanica balls.Ferrero Penadés, B.; Boronat Vitoria, T.; Moriana Torró, R.; Fenollar Gimeno, OÁ.; Balart Gimeno, RA. (2013). Green composites based on wheat gluten matrix and posidonia oceanica waste fibers as reinforcements. Polymer Composites. 34(10):1663-1669. doi:10.1002/pc.22567S16631669341

Effect of lignin removal on the properties of coconut coir fiber/wheat gluten biocomposite

UMR IATE AXE 2; Contact: [email protected] effect of fiber lignin content on biocomposite properties was investigated. Coconut fiber was treated with 0.7% sodium chlorite to selectively decrease amounts of lignin. The fiber lignin content was then reduced from 42 to 21 wt.%. The composition and mechanical properties of the individual modified fibers were characterized. Gluten-based materials reinforced with modified fibers were prepared by compression molding. Then, the mechanical properties, water sensibility, matrix glass transition and infrared spectra of biocomposites prepared with fibers containing various amounts of lignin were evaluated. This study showed that the addition of coconut coir fiber significantly improved properties of wheat gluten biomaterials. In addition, the variation of lignin content in the fibers, in the investigated range, had no significant effect neither on matrix deplasticization nor fiber/matrix adhesion, suggesting that a partial lignin removal is not an efficient way to improve the properties of natural fiber/plasticized protein biocomposite

Chemical Composition, Sources, and Health Risk Assessment of PM2.5 and PM10 in Urban Sites of Bangkok, Thailand

Of late, air pollution in Asia has increased, particularly in built-up areas due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. The present study sets out to examine the impact that pollution can have on the health of people living in the inner city of Bangkok, Thailand. Consequently, in 2021, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM10) chemical composition and sources are evaluated at three locations in Bangkok. To identify the possible sources of such particulates, therefore, the principal component analysis (PCA) technique is duly carried out. As determined via PCA, the major sources of air pollution in Bangkok are local emission sources and sea salt. The most significant local sources of PM2.5 and PM10 in Bangkok include primary combustion, such as vehicle emissions, coal combustion, biomass burning, secondary aerosol formation, industrial emissions, and dust sources. Except for the hazard quotient (HQ) of Ni and Mn of PM2.5 for adults, the HQ values of As, Cd, Cr, Mn, and Ni of both PM2.5 and PM10 were below the safe level (HQ = 1) for adults and children. This indicates that exposure to these metals would have non-carcinogenic health effects. Except for the carcinogenic risk (HI) value of Cr of PM2.5 and PM10, which can cause cancer in adults, at Bangna and Din Daeng, the HI values of Cd, Ni, As, and Pb of PM2.5 and PM10 are below the limit set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Ni and Mn pose non-carcinogenic risks, whereas Cr poses carcinogenic risks to adults via inhalation, a serious threat to the residents of Bangkok