Field assessment of stream/aquifer interaction under semi-arid conditions and problems with computer representation

June 1994.Also listed online under Open file reports list as no. 6.Revision of Bissett's thesis (M. Eng.--Colorado School of Mines, 1994).Includes bibliographical references (pages 59-60).Financed in part by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Geological Survey

Anodic dissolution growth of metal-organic framework HKUST-1 monitored:Via in situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy

In situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy (ec-AFM) is utilised for the first time to probe the initial stages of metal-organic framework (MOF) coating growth via anodic dissolution. Using the example of the Cu MOF HKUST-1, real time surface analysis is obtained that supports and verifies many of the reaction steps in a previously proposed mechanism for this type of coating growth. No evidence is observed however for the presence or formation of Cu2O, which has previously been suggested to be both key for the formation of the coating and a potential explanation for the anomalously high adhesion strength of coatings obtained via this methodology. Supporting in situ electrochemical Raman spectroscopy also fails to detect the presence of any significant amount of Cu2O before or during the coating's growth process

Advisory panel review on the feasibility of three intervention programmes for children with autism spectrum disorder

Introduction: The prevalence of children with autism spectrum disorder is increasing each year. Intervention programmes towards improving the occupational needs such as daily activities of these children are limited. This study aimed to collect opinions from advisory panel for the content validation of the three developed intervention programmes to be implemented among children with autism spectrum disorder aged between 6 to 12 years. The intervention programmes are; i) self-regulated learning, ii) sensory integration intervention and iii) activity-based intervention. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Twenty occupational therapists with more than three years’ experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders were recruited as advisory panel members. Re-searchers-developed questionnaire was used. The questionnaire consists of nine to eleven items. Each item consists of a five-point Likert scale for quantitative responses and open-ended questions for qualitative responses. Results: Advisory panel ratings of ‘Good’ to ‘Excellent’ was reported across most items in all three intervention programmes. Overall results suggested that the intervention programmes content was rated to be suitable for children with autism spectrum disorder. Constructive comments were adopted to clarify the activities and structure of the intervention programmes. Final development of the intervention programmes is presented. Conclusion: This study provides confidence for the interventions to be incorporated into the future randomised controlled trial

Efficacy of cognitive remediation on activities of daily living in individuals with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Instrumental activities of daily living are essential for ageing well and independent living. Little is known about the effectiveness of cognitive remediation on instrumental activities of daily living performance for individuals with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immediate and long-term carryover effects of cognitive remediation on improving or maintaining instrumental activities of daily living performance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and early-stage dementia. Methods: Randomized controlled trials published from 2009 to 2022 were identified in OvidSP versions of MEDLINE and Embase, EBSCO versions of CINAHL and PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. A narrative synthesis of the findings was reported on the outcomes of the included studies. Relevant data was extracted and analysed using R software’s ‘metafor’ package with a random effect model with 95% CI. Results: Thirteen studies, totalling 1414 participants, were identified in the narrative analysis. The results of meta-analysis, inclusive of 11 studies, showed that cognitive remediation elicited a significant improvement in the instrumental activities of daily living performance (SMD: 0.17, 95% CI 0.03–0.31). There was insufficient evidence of any lasting effect. Discussion: Cognitive remediation is effective in improving instrumental activities of daily living performance immediately post-intervention in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and early-stage dementia. It appears that individualized interventions with a short duration, such as 10 hours, might be beneficial. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD4201604236

Multifunctional Biocomposites Based on Polyhydroxyalkanoate and Graphene/Carbon Nanofiber Hybrids for Electrical and Thermal Applications

Most polymers are long-lasting and produced from monomers derived from fossil fuel sources. Bio-based and/or biodegradable plastics have been proposed as a sustainable alternative. Amongst those available, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) shows great potential across a large variety of applications but is currently limited to packaging, cosmetics and tissue engineering due to its relatively poor physical properties. An expansion of its uses can be accomplished by developing nanocomposites where PHAs are used as the polymer matrix. Herein, a PHA biopolyester was melt blended with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) or with a 1:1 hybrid mixture of GNPs and carbon nanofibers (CNFs). The resulting nanocomposites exhibited enhanced thermal stability while their Young's modulus roughly doubled compared to pure PHA. The hybrid nanocomposites percolated electrically at lower nanofiller loadings compared to the GNP-PHA system. The electrical conductivity at 15 wt.% loading was ~ 6 times higher than the GNP-based sample. As a result, the electromagnetic interference shielding performance of the hybrid material was around 50% better than the pure GNPs nanocomposites, exhibiting shielding effectiveness above 20 dB, which is the threshold for common commercial applications. The thermal conductivity increased significantly for both types of bio-nanocomposites and reached values around 5 W K-1 m-1 with the hybrid-based material displaying the best performance. Considering the solvent-free and industrially compatible production method, the proposed multifunctional materials are promising to expand the range of application of PHAs and increase the environmental sustainability of the plastic and plastic electronics industry.Comment: 26 page

Graphene-Polyurethane Coatings for Deformable Conductors and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Electrically conductive, polymeric materials that maintain their conductivity even when under significant mechanical deformation are needed for actuator electrodes, conformable electromagnetic shielding, stretchable tactile sensors, and flexible energy storage. The challenge for these materials is that the percolated, electrically conductive networks tend to separate even at low strains, leading to significant piezoresistance. Herein, deformable conductors are fabricated by spray‐coating a nitrile substrate with a graphene–elastomer solution. The electrical resistance of the coatings shows a decrease after thousands of bending cycles and a slight increase after repeated folding‐unfolding events. The deformable conductors double their electrical resistance at 12% strain and are washable without changing their electrical properties. The conductivity–strain behavior is modeled by considering the nanofiller separation upon deformation. To boost the conductivity at higher strains, the production process is adapted by stretching the nitrile substrate before spraying, after which it is released. This adaption meant that the electrical resistance doubles at 25% strain. The electrical resistance is found sufficiently low to give a 1.9 dB µm−1 shielding in the 8–12 GHz electromagnetic band. The physical and electrical properties, including the electro magnetic screening, of the flexible conductors, are found to deteriorate upon cycling but can be recovered through reheating the coating

Development and feasibility of first- and third-person motor imagery for people with stroke living in the community

Background: Impairment of arm movement occurs in up to 85% of people post-stroke, affecting daily living activities, and quality of life. Mental imagery effectively enhances hand and daily function in people with stroke. Imagery can be performed when people imagine themselves completing the movement or imagine another person doing it. However, there is no report on the specific use of first-person and third-person imagery in stroke rehabilitation. Aims: To develop and assess the feasibility of the First-Person Mental Imagery (FPMI) and the Third-Person Mental Imagery (TPMI) programs to address the hand function of people with stroke living in the community. Methods: This study comprises phase 1—development of the FPMI and TPMI programs, and phase 2—pilot-testing of the intervention programs. The two programs were developed from existing literature and reviewed by an expert panel. Six participants with stroke, living in the community, participated in the pilot-testing of the FPMI and TPMI programs for 2 weeks. Feedback collected included the suitability of the eligibility criteria, therapist’s and participant’s adherence to intervention and instructions, appropriateness of the outcome measures, and completion of the intervention sessions within the specified time. Results: The FPMI and TPMI programs were developed based on previously established programs and included 12 hand tasks. The participants completed four 45-min sessions in 2 weeks. The treating therapist adhered to the program protocol and completed all the steps within the specified time frame. All hand tasks were suitable for adults with stroke. Participants followed the instructions given and engaged in imagery. The outcome measures selected were appropriate for the participants. Both programs showed a positive trend towards improvement in participants’ upper extremity and hand function and self-perceived performance in activities of daily living. Conclusions: The study provides preliminary evidence that these programs and outcome measures are feasible for implementation with adults with stroke living in the community. This study outlines a realistic plan for future trials in relation to participant recruitment, training of therapists on the intervention delivery, and the use of outcome measures

A semantic-based cognitive training programme on everyday activities : a feasibility and acceptability study among cognitively healthy older adults

Background. During the normal ageing process, a person’s cognitive functions and memory gradually decline, which can affect their ability to perform everyday activities including cooking, cleaning, managing finances, and shopping. Semantic memory encoding strategies benefit older adults’ cognitive and functional performance. Such strategies can be taught by an accessible, cost-effective, and flexible app-based programme. Currently, no studies examine such an app-based programme focussed on everyday activities. Objectives. To determine if an app-based programme constructed on the principles of semantic memory encoding strategies, targeted towards older adults, called Enhancing Memory in Daily Life (E-MinD Life) is (1) feasible by examining acceptance, engagement, and attendance and (2) acceptable by examining the perceived effectiveness, relevancy, clarity, and convenience. Methods. Eleven participants were recruited to a nine-week (18 sessions) programme using E-MinD Life. Feasibility was measured by collecting data on recruitment and retention rates, attendance, and duration of sessions. Acceptability was measured via a Likert scale questionnaire and free comments. Likert scale responses were analysed using descriptive statistics; open-ended responses were categorised qualitatively via constant comparative approach. Results. Nine participants completed the programme. Overall, most participants found the programme relevant, convenient, logical, and easy to understand and perceived it to be effective to address functional cognitive problems impacting performance of everyday activities. The results from the qualitative analysis showed that participants found the programme enjoyable and the interaction with the research team throughout the intervention beneficial. Conclusion. E-MinD Life shows promise as the focus of further research to determine the effectiveness of the programme and sematic-based cognitive strategies in maintaining cognition and performance in everyday activities among older adults with and without cognitive impairment

Effectiveness of action observation and motor imagery on relearning upper extremity function after stroke : a systematic review and meta-analysis

The effectiveness of action observation (AO) and motor imagery (MI) in high-quality studies with less risk of bias is rarely reported together. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of AO and MI on improving upper extremity function among people after stroke by combining evidence of studies with high methodological quality. Randomised controlled trials, with a score of 6 or above in the PEDro Scale, that examined the effects of AO or MI for people with stroke were selected. A narrative analysis and meta-analysis were conducted using the PRISMA guidelines. Ten randomised controlled trials from 11 articles met the inclusion criteria. The results of meta-analysis showed that AO had a small to moderate statistically significant effect on improving upper extremity motor function (standardized mean difference, SMD=0.34; confidence interval, CI=0.08, 0.59; P=0.35; I2=0.00%) and no significant effect on MI (SMD=0.08; CI=-0.26, 0.42; P=0.65; I2=0.00%) when compared with the control intervention. Evidence was found in support of AO and it is recommended for people with acute or sub-acute stroke