Bio plastics are polymers prepared from renewable materials. In this study, maize-derived cornstarch and milled corn husk were used as the base material and filler, respectively. Corn husk powder with two-grain sizes of 150 mesh and 200 mesh, respectively, were used. Chitosan was used at concentrations of 0.02 %, 0.04 %, 0.06 %, 0.08 %, and 0.1 % by weight at a constant ratio of 1:1 to cornhusk powder and maize for improving the mechanical properties of bio plastics. The mixture was diluted using a solution containing 2.5 mL of acetic acid (25 %), 1.75 mL of sorbitol, and 70 mL distilled water. Optimum mechanical properties were observed using a cornhusk grain size of 150 meshes with 0.04% of chitosan by weight. This sample exhibited a tensile strength of 11.7164 MPa, elongation of 10.05 %, a Young’s modulus of 1.1668 MPa, and tear strength of 763.86 mN. A biodegradability of 70–100 % was achieved in 21 days with the evidence of fungal growth after 14 days. In addition, the sample was able to withstand a temperature of 140 °C for 1 h.

Introduction. Lack of physical activity is a risk factor for dyslipidemia. Office work is a job associated with low physical activity. Wellness programmes in the workplace might increase physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness.Objective. This study aimed to determine the effect of a wellness programme on aerobic physical exercise adherence and blood lipid profile changes among government employees.Methods. This study used a randomized controlled trial design, with the intervention (wellness programme)conducted for six weeks. Thirty participants who were office workers in a government institution were allocated into two groups. The intervention group (n = 15) received health education, aerobic physical exercise (30 minutes on a treadmill, three times/week for six weeks), reminders, and a logbook. The control group (n = 15) received education only. The outcomes were adherence to the exercise programme and lipid profile levels.Result. The intervention group showed more adherence to aerobic exercise than the control group (OR 42.2, 95% CI 5.1, 346.9). The mean (SD) total cholesterol level in the intervention group was decreased by 9.9 (21.1) mg/dl, while in the control group, it was increased by −16.0 (14.5) mg/dl at the end of the study (p = 0.010). The mean (SD) of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the intervention group was also decreased by 0.9 (17.2) mg/dl while in the control group, it was increased by -14.8 (11.6) mg/dl (p = 0.007). No significant mean differences were observed for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride.Conclusion. A workplace wellness programmes can enhance employees’ adherence to physical exercise and decrease their total blood cholesterol and LDL level.

Bamboo (Gigantochloa apus) is a potential material for wood substitution. However, the bamboo uses are limited according to the dimensions. Therefore, it needs modification technology such as transform bamboo into laminated bamboo boards. The combination of bamboo strips and zephyr as well as different fiber directions affected the physical and mechanical properties of laminated bamboo boards. The study was carried out on Gigantochloa apus, which were made into strip and zephyr manually. Each strip and zephyrs are dried and then formed into a laminated board, then glued using isocyanate adhesive in a double spread with a weight of 300 g/m2. Arrangement of laminated bamboo boards perpendicularly between face/back and core (Ply bamboo) and the parallel between face/back and core (Laminated Bamboo Lumber/LBL). The laminated bamboo board was cold pressed at a pressure of 22.22 kgf/cm2 for 1 hour. Physical and mechanical properties have been evaluated. Laminated bamboo boards have an average moisture content and density that meet JAS standards. The face/back of the strip has better dimensional stability value compared to zephyr. The combination of raw materials on the face/back and variations in the direction of the fiber can improve the mechanical properties of the bamboo laminate board.

Introduction: One of the most common chlorinated solvents in the world is tetrachloroethylene (TCE) because it is widely used in various industries. Exposure to tetrachloroethylene can cause health problems so biological monitoring is necessary to do. The aim of this research is to assess which one is more feasible to use among the various types of biological monitoring for tetrachloroethylene exposure, based on the evidence-based literature. Methods: The literature searching was performed via electronic databases from PubMed, Scopus, and Proquest. The keywords used were “biological monitoring”, “biomonitoring”, “tetrachloroethylene”, “perchloroethylene”, “work” and “occupation”. The articles were chosen based on the given inclusion and exclusion criteria. Selected articles were then critically appraised. Results: Initially 29 papers were collected, but only6 cross-sectional articles were selected after the screening process and manual searching. Based on the selected evidence-based literatures, statistically meaningful associations were found between tetrachloroethylene exposure and tetrachloroethylene in blood in pre- and end-of-shift, in urine at end of shift, and in exhaled air at end-of-shift. Moreover, micronucleus frequency and DNA damages between dry cleaning workers and the controls differed significantly. Conclusion: The level of tetrachloroethylene in blood, urine, and exhaled air becomes an appropriate biological exposure index for assessing tetrachloroethylene exposure in dry-cleaning workers. In Indonesia, biomonitoring that is more feasible to be implemented is micronucleus frequency evaluation from buccal mucosal epithelial smears since it is a simpler, faster, and less expensive procedure.Keywords: biological monitoring, biomonitoring, occupational exposure, tetrachloroethylene