Hasil untuk "Miscellaneous systems and treatments"

Prof. Dr. Joseph F. Zayas

Qasim Khadim, Peter Manzl, Emil Kurvinen et al.

The precision, stability, and performance of lightweight high-strength steel structures in heavy machinery is affected by their highly nonlinear dynamics. This, in turn, makes control more difficult, simulation more computationally intensive, and achieving real-time autonomy, using standard approaches, impossible. Machine learning through data-driven, physics-informed and physics-inspired networks, however, promises more computationally efficient and accurate solutions to nonlinear dynamic problems. This study proposes a novel framework that has been developed to estimate real-time structural deflection in hydraulically actuated three-dimensional systems. It is based on SLIDE, a machine-learning-based method to estimate dynamic responses of mechanical systems subjected to forced excitations.~Further, an algorithm is introduced for the data acquisition from a hydraulically actuated system using randomized initial configurations and hydraulic pressures.~The new framework was tested on a hydraulically actuated flexible boom with various sensor combinations and lifting various payloads. The neural network was successfully trained in less time using standard parameters from PyTorch, ADAM optimizer, the various sensor inputs, and minimal output data. The SLIDE-trained neural network accelerated deflection estimation solutions by a factor of $10^7$ in reference to flexible multibody simulation batches and provided reasonable accuracy. These results support the studies goal of providing robust, real-time solutions for control, robotic manipulators, structural health monitoring, and automation problems.

Rudra B. Bhandari, Nidhi Chaudhry

Background: In his Yoga Sutras, Patanjali delineates the principles, processes, practices, and impediments of personal excellence (PE). Unlike Patanjali's perspective, existing conceptualizations and measures of PE are centered on quantifying well-being, leadership effectiveness, professional competence, academic and sports performance, and motivation. However, no yoga-based operationalized model or measure of PE exists to date. Objectives: This study aimed to develop and validate a novel self-report yogic personal excellence inventory (YPEI) with constructs derived from the PYS. Materials and methods: The research was conducted in three rigorous phases to establish YPEI's reliability and validity. Firstly, the YPEI's items were framed and validated for their content by ten experts. Secondly, the first draft of the YPEI was administered to 721 participants for exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The YPEI was then administered to 364 participants to confirm the explored factor structure. Lastly, YPEI's inter-instrument convergent and discriminant validity were assessed by computing correlation with three criteria measures―the vikruti subdosha questionnaire, the vedic personality inventory, and the personal efficacy scale. Conclusion: The model was a good fit with eight factors (psychic incompetence, attachment, despair, existential thinking, somatic illness, laziness, indulgence, and instability). As hypothesized, PE was positively associated with personal efficacy and vedic personality but negatively with vikruti. YPEI will be applicable to measure the psychic and physical morbidities and comorbidities of healthy/unhealthy individuals and prescribe the required personalized bio-psycho-socio-spiritual protocol to minimize them and maximize PE.

Ümit Karakaş

Amaç: Lavanta yağı, Lamiaceae ailesinin önemli bir üyesi olan lavanta bitkisinden elde edilen ve çeşitli terapötik etkilerle öne çıkan bir uçucu yağdır. Tarihsel olarak, antik medeniyetlerden günümüze kadar antibakteriyel, antienflamatuar, anksiyolitik, antifungal ve yara iyileştirici özellikleri nedeniyle geniş bir kullanım alanı bulmuştur. Lavanta yağının temel bileşenleri olan linalool ve linalil asetat, sinir sistemi üzerinde yatıştırıcı etkiler gösterirken, inflamasyonu ve oksidatif stresi azaltarak çeşitli kronik hastalıkların tedavisine yardımcı olabilmektedir. Yapılan araştırmalar, lavanta yağının nörolojik bozukluklardan kansere kadar uzanan geniş bir etki spektrumu olduğunu ortaya koymuş, ancak bu etkilerin moleküler düzeyde nasıl gerçekleştiği henüz tam olarak anlaşılmamıştır. Çalışmanın amacı güncel literatürü mikroRNA’lar çerçevesinde derlemektir.Yöntem: Çalışmanın içeriği “Lavanta yağı”, “miRNA”, “epigenetik”, “gen ifadesi” anahtar kelimelerinin kombinasyonları ile PubMed, Google akademik, Web of science ve Science direct veri tabanlarından yapılan taramalarla oluşturulmuştur.Bulgular: Son yıllarda, esansiyel yağların genetik ve epigenetik düzeydeki etkileri üzerinde durulmakta ve miRNA'lar ile olası etkileşimleri incelenmektedir. miRNA'ların gen ekspresyonunun düzenlenmesindeki kritik rolü göz önüne alındığında, lavanta yağının özellikle stres, depresyon ve inflamasyonla ilişkili miRNA'ları etkileyerek genetik mekanizmaları modüle etme potansiyeli büyük bir araştırma alanı olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Ancak, bu alandaki literatür eksikliği dikkat çekmektedir. Lavanta yağının terapötik etkilerinin daha iyi anlaşılması, özellikle miRNA'lar üzerindeki etkilerine odaklanan moleküler çalışmaların artmasıyla mümkün olacaktır.Sonuç: Gelecekteki çalışmalar, lavanta yağının moleküler biyolojideki yerini sağlamlaştırabilir ve klinik kullanımı genişletebilir. Bu doğrultuda, lavanta yağının biyolojik mekanizmalarını aydınlatmak, onu hastalıkların tedavisinde daha etkili bir araç haline getirebilir.

J. Hurdman, R. Condliffe, C. Elliot et al.

Elham Baradari and, Ozgur B Akan

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and it is caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia (BG). Currently, there is no definite cure for PD, and available treatments mainly aim to alleviate its symptoms. Due to impaired neurotransmitter-based information transmission in PD, molecular communication-based approaches can be employed as potential solutions to address this issue. Molecular Communications (MC) is a bio-inspired communication method utilizing molecules for carrying information. This mode of communication stands out for developing bio-compatible nanomachines for diagnosing and treating, particularly in addressing neurodegenerative diseases like PD, due to its compatibility with biological systems. This study presents a novel treatment method that introduces an Intelligent Dopamine Rate Modulator (IDRM), which is located in the synaptic gap between the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and striatum to compensate for insufficiency dopamine release in BG caused by PD. For storing dopamine in the IDRM, dopamine compound (DAC) is swallowed and crossed through the digestive system, blood circulatory system, blood-brain barrier (BBB), and brain extracellular matrix uptakes with IDRMs. Here, the DAC concentration is calculated in these regions, revealing that the required exogenous dopamine consistently reaches IDRM. Therefore, the perpetual dopamine insufficiency in BG associated with PD can be compensated. This method reduces drug side effects because dopamine is not released in other brain regions. Unlike other treatments, this approach targets the root cause of PD rather than just reducing symptoms.

Joseph Nyangon

Climate change significantly increases risks to power systems, exacerbating issues such as aging infrastructure, evolving regulations, cybersecurity threats, and fluctuating demand. This paper focuses on the utilization of Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) to strengthen power system resilience in the face of extreme weather events. GETs are pivotal in optimizing energy distribution, enabling predictive maintenance, ensuring reliable electricity supply, facilitating renewable energy integration, and automating responses to power instabilities and outages. Drawing insights from resilience theory, the paper reviews recent grid resilience literature, highlighting increasing vulnerabilities due to severe weather events. It demonstrates how GETs are crucial in optimizing smart grid operations, thereby not only mitigating climate-related impacts but also promoting industrial transformation. Keywords: Climate change, power systems, grid enhancing technologies (GETs), power system resilience, extreme weather

Aryel Ken Murasaki, Sandra Maria Galheigo

Jovens mulheres trans compõem um grupo populacional invisibilizado que enfrenta desafios para inserção escolar, no trabalho e no acesso a saúde, estando sujeitas a processos de discriminação, preconceito e violência. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo conhecer as experiências de vida de jovens mulheres trans e os desafios para a participação social e acesso aos direitos. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa utilizando entrevistas abertas com quatro jovens mulheres trans de 20 a 26 anos, residentes na cidade de São Paulo. As entrevistas foram transcritas e textualizadas, tendo sido realizada análise temática reflexiva. Foram elaboradas 2 categorias temáticas das quais uma é apresentada neste artigo: Eu vou procurando esses lugares mais fáceis de conviver com as pessoas: reconhecimento, acesso a direitos e participação social. Os resultados da pesquisa refletem sobre as experiências de ser trans no que se refere: às vivências escolares com suas potências e discriminações; às experiências de trabalho, que implicam em relações de discriminação, informalidade e precariedade e; à atenção à saúde e aos processos de violências, discriminações e saúde mental. A pesquisa afirma a importância do desenvolvimento de práticas sociais e de saúde mais acolhedoras e emancipatórias, que se baseiem no melhor conhecimento de suas experiências de vida.

Xingshuang Song, Yizhi Zhang, Ziyan Tang et al.

Objective: To find a viable alternative to reduce the number of doses required for the patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and to improve efficacy and patient compliance. Methods: In this study, we used ginger oil, a phytochemical with potential therapeutic properties, to prepare ginger oil patches. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify the main active component of ginger oil, 6-gingerol. Transdermal absorption experiments were conducted to optimize the various pressure-sensitive adhesives and permeation enhancers, including their type and concentration. Subsequently, the ginger oil patches were optimized and subjected to content determination and property evaluations. A PTSD mouse model was established using the foot-shock method. The therapeutic effect of ginger oil patches on PTSD was assessed through pathological sections, behavioral tests, and the evaluation of biomarkers such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and melatonin (MT). Results: The results demonstrated that ginger oil patches exerted therapeutic effects against PTSD by inhibiting inflammatory responses and modulating MT and BDNF levels. Pharmacokinetic experiments revealed that ginger oil patches maintained a stable blood drug concentration for at least one day, addressing the rapid metabolism drawback of 6-gingerol and enhancing its therapeutic efficacy. Conclusions: Ginger oil can be prepared as a transdermal drug patch that meets these requirements, and the bioavailability of the prepared patch is better than that of oral administration. It can improve PTSD with good patient compliance and ease of administration. Therefore, it is a promising therapeutic formulation for the treatment of PTSD.

Vanessa Maria Panozzo, Carolina Araujo Londero, Taís Lopes Pereira et al.

Introdução: A relação de trabalho na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) com os serviços de média complexidade baseiam-se na interprofissionalidade e no trabalho colaborativo. Assim, conhecer o perfil destes profissionais é fundamental para o subsídio de novas abordagens de qualificação do cuidado, por meio de ações de educação permanente em saúde. Objetivo: Analisar o perfil dos trabalhadores da APS e serviços de média complexidade da Coordenadoria Oeste de Saúde do município de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Metodologia: Pesquisa observacional transversal, com coleta de dados realizada por formulário eletrônico, entre novembro de 2021 e março de 2022. Os participantes do estudo foram trabalhadores da saúde vinculados à Coordenadoria Oeste. As variáveis pesquisadas relacionaram-se com características do perfil dos profissionais/gestores. As análises foram realizadas no software R. Resultados: A amostra foi constituída por 84 participantes, sendo 63 (75%) pessoas brancas, 20 (23,8%) pessoas pretas e uma (1,2%) se declarou indígena. Ainda, 65 (77,4%) eram mulheres cisgênero e 16 (19%) homens cisgênero. A maior parte dos respondentes tinha 40 anos ou mais (48,8%) e ensino superior, com um número maior de enfermeiros (27,4%), médicos (23,8%) e técnicos de Enfermagem (15,5%). A grande maioria (65,5%) tinha realizado cursos de pós-graduação, especialmente especialização (36,9%). Eram profissionais que atuavam na assistência à saúde (76,2%), por um tempo de até 3 anos (75%). Conclusão: O estudo encontrou a predominância de mulheres cisgênero e brancas. Houve pequena participação de determinadas profissões, o que pode sugerir um baixo número destes profissionais na rede de saúde, afetando a integralidade do cuidado. O tempo restrito de atuação dos profissionais nesta Coordenadoria pode ser explicado pelo fim do Instituto Municipal da Estratégia da Saúde da Família (IMESF) e da terceirização da APS, sendo necessário analisar as relações de trabalho e sua interferência na produção do cuidado.

Gioele Zardini, Nicolas Lanzetti, Giuseppe Belgioioso et al.

The evolution of existing transportation systems,mainly driven by urbanization and increased availability of mobility options, such as private, profit-maximizing ride-hailing companies, calls for tools to reason about their design and regulation. To study this complex socio-technical problem, one needs to account for the strategic interactions of the heterogeneous stakeholders involved in the mobility ecosystem and analyze how they influence the system. In this paper, we focus on the interactions between citizens who compete for the limited resources of a mobility system to complete their desired trip. Specifically, we present a game-theoretic framework for multi-modal mobility systems, where citizens, characterized by heterogeneous preferences, have access to various mobility options and seek individually-optimal decisions. We study the arising game and prove the existence of an equilibrium, which can be efficiently computed via a convex optimization problem. Through both an analytical and a numerical case study for the classic scenario of Sioux Falls, USA, we illustrate the capabilities of our model and perform sensitivity analyses. Importantly, we show how to embed our framework into a "larger" game among stakeholders of the mobility ecosystem (e.g., municipality, Mobility Service Providers, and citizens), effectively giving rise to tools to inform strategic interventions and policy-making in the mobility ecosystem.

Zijian Feng, Xin Chen, Zijian Lv et al.

Deep learning (DL) algorithms have been widely applied to short-term voltage stability (STVS) assessment in power systems. However, transferring the knowledge learned in one power grid to other power grids with topology changes is still a challenging task. This paper proposed a transferable DL-based model for STVS assessment by constructing the topology-aware voltage dynamic features from raw PMU data. Since the reactive power flow and grid topology are essential to voltage stability, the topology-aware and physics-informed voltage dynamic features are utilized to effectively represent the topological and temporal patterns from post-disturbance system dynamic trajectories. The proposed DL-based STVS assessment model is tested under random operating conditions on the New England 39-bus system. It has 99.99\% classification accuracy of the short-term voltage stability status using the topology-aware and physics-informed voltage dynamic features. In addition to high accuracy, the experiments show good adaptability to PMU errors. Moreover, The proposed STVS assessment method has outstanding performance on new grid topologies after fine-tuning. In particular, the highest accuracy reaches 99.68\% in evaluation, which demonstrates a good knowledge transfer ability of the proposed model for power grid topology change.

Hye-Youn Kim, Seyoung Yu, Yo Jun Choi et al.

Since the first publication on generating kidney-like cell aggregates from pluripotent stem cells, various modifications have been made to develop more complex and detailed kidney structures. In contrast to earlier models that featured nephron-like structures, these advances have improved the differentiation efficiency and similarity to the human kidney. Presently, kidney organoids contain not only nephrons and ureteric buds but also stromal cells. These organoids mimic the structural similarities and developmental processes of the kidneys, while reflecting their physiological properties. Kidney tubuloids derived from adult stem cells offer the advantage of long-term culture and expansion, but they include only tubular structures and lack glomerular components. In this review, we discuss the induction protocols for kidney organoids and tubuloids, as well as their potential applications in understanding kidney development, renal pathogenesis, and drug screening.

Natália Borges Martins, Tatiana Reidel

Em 2022, 33,1 milhões de pessoas são atingidas pela fome, e o acesso à alimentação pela população em situação de rua é dificultado ainda mais no contexto pandêmico da COVID-19. Este artigo busca compreender como está preconizado o acesso à alimentação da pessoa em situação de rua na cidade de Porto Alegre. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa em que as entrevistas foram guiadas por um roteiro com questões abertas. As entrevistas aconteceram pelo método bola de neve em que cada entidade sugeriu outra para a entrevista. Assim, foram totalizadas 10 entidades relacionadas ao tema, cujos dados foram analisados por meio da análise de conteúdo. Como critério de inclusão está "a entidade que trabalha com população em situação de rua e alimentação em Porto Alegre". Como resultados, evidencia-se que há quatro formas de acesso à alimentação: ações individuais, de terceiros, do Estado e de projetos sociais. Destaca-se, também, o desmonte de políticas públicas vivenciado no Brasil e a consequente ausência do papel do Estado na garantia do direito à alimentação, o que faz recair sobre a sociedade civil uma responsabilidade que é do Estado. Conclui-se que a alimentação da pessoa em situação de rua é mais proporcionada pelas ações voluntárias, o que sinaliza a transferência de papel do Estado à sociedade civil. Há necessidade de reconhecer a insegurança alimentar como problema emergente e que requer enfrentamento por meio de melhor distribuição de renda, emprego e direitos trabalhistas, assim como políticas sociais públicas, com medidas que ultrapassem a perspectiva filantrópica de entidades. Reitera-se a importância da pesquisa e da produção de conhecimento com vistas a visibilizar a falta de acesso ao direito à alimentação e os desafios de pensar sobre o tema considerando a população em situação de rua.

Thainá Josiane Cavinatto, Vivian Aline Mininel, Marina Peduzzi et al.

A educação interprofissional em saúde (EIP) é um modelo de formação, cuja finalidade é preparar estudantes e profissionais da saúde para que desenvolvam habilidades para o trabalho colaborativo em equipe. Este estudo teve o objetivo de avaliar a adequação psicométrica da Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS-40), a disponibilidade e as experiências dos estudantes de cursos de graduação em saúde para o aprendizado interprofissional. Tratou-se de uma pesquisa do tipo survey correlacional realizado em uma universidade federal brasileira. A amostra contou com 168 estudantes da graduação de cursos da saúde que responderam à RIPLS-40. Os dados foram submetidos à análise fatorial confirmatória, seguidos de análise estatística comparativa. A RIPLS-40, com três fatores, foi confirmada como uma escala com índices aceitáveis para avaliar a disponibilidade de estudantes para a aprendizagem interprofissional (CFI=0,91, TLI=0,91 e RMSEA=0,058). Atividades de ‘extensão’ (n=22; 13,5%) e ‘atividades extracurriculares diversas’ (n=25;15,7%) foram indicadas pelos estudantes como experiências interprofissionais na graduação. A EIP foi predominante em atividades extracurriculares. Os estudantes mostraram atitudes positivas para o aprendizado interprofissional, o que indica um cenário favorável para a implementação e fortalecimento da EIP nos currículos dos cursos de graduação da saúde. A RIPLS-40 demonstra indicadores psicométricos favoráveis, porém, com menor coeficiente de consistência interna no fator 2 – ‘identidade profissional’.

T. H. Alarabi, A. Mahdy

Boundary layer analysis is introduced for providing a numerical treatment of steady state free convection flow of non-Newtonian fluid of micropolar type through an isothermal vertical permeable cone under impacts of variable thermal conductivity and thermophoretic force. Both heat generation or absorption and viscous dissipation are considered. The resulting altered boundary layer flow equations are numerically tackled by the help of the implicit finite difference approach. Two states are addressed: one corresponds to constant thermal conductivity, and the other is variable thermal conductivity. The skin friction, couple stress coefficients fluctuations, and Nusselt number for miscellaneous significant sundry factors are presented graphically and argued. From the calculated outcomes, the coefficient of couple stress reduces for larger values of vortex viscosity parameter R, while the reverse trend is noticed through the surface temperature exponent m factor. Augmentation in thermophoretic factor ω leads to the thermophoretic forces that encapsulates the mass transmission. As a certain case, the system flow equations of a classical Newtonian liquid are gained, by dropping the micropolar factors consequences.

Hillal M. Elshehabey, A. Mahdy

The current research introduces a numerical treatment of MHD laminar convection flow within chamfers cavity containing adiabatic obstacle. Both the flow domain and the magnetic field are inclined with miscellaneous angles and the impacts of the heat absorption (generation) are conducted. The mathematical model of the considered problem is formulated and the finite element (FE) approach is developed to simulate the governing system. The prime outcomes detected that the growth of the chamfers ratio decreases the heat transfer rate within the cavity whereas increasing the aspect ratio affects the isotherms distributions which result in enhancing the average Nusselt numbers. Moreover, the presence of the magnetic field or the nanoparticles leads to slow fluid movement. An enhancement in the heat transfer with a relative of percentage of 16.6 is achieved with nanofluid of $ \phi =6\% $ ϕ=6% compare to the case of pure fluid at Ha = 100. Also, the highest percentage of the relative Nusselt number is about $ 258\% $ 258%, concluded in the absence of magnetic field with Ra varies from $ 10^3 $ 103 to $ 10^6 $ 106.

S. H. Park, A. Koutsospyros, D. Moon

Recent natural disasters, such as typhoons in South Korea and other countries around the globe, have resulted in loss of human life and damage to property, often causing contamination of nearby soil environments. This study focused on the emergency recovery of soil contaminated by heavy metals following a disaster such as typhoon flooding by applying a soil washing technique that used high-pressure water rather than chemical cleaning agents. Artificially contaminated soil containing 700 mg/kg Cu, 530 mg/kg Pb and 900 mg/kg Zn, was used. All three metals were present at levels higher than the Korean Warning Standards (500 mg/kg Cu, 400 mg/kg Pb, 600 mg/kg Zn) for region 2 (miscellaneous area). A high-pressure soil washing device was designed to treat 0.6 tons/h and optimal treatment was sought for varying levels of pressure (1, 3, 5 MPa), solid to liquid ratios (S/L) (1:1, 1:3, 1:5), and number of washing cycles (1, 2, 3). The high-pressure soil washing results showed that a 5 MPa washing pressure, 1:1 solid-liquid ratio, and one washing cycle were the optimum conditions to generate the highest heavy metal removal rates. Under optimal conditions, high-pressure soil washing attained removal efficiencies of Cu (37.7%), Pb (36.6%), and Zn (45.1%), and the residual concentrations of heavy metals in the remediated soil satisfied the Korean Warning Standard (Region 2). A comparison of the changes in particle size showed that after high-pressure washing, the mass fraction of coarse sand (CS, 2–0.42 mm) decreased by 23.3%, while that of fine sand (FS, 0.42–0.074 mm), silt, and clay (SC, <0.074 mm) increased by 4.2% and 19.1%, respectively. In addition, 31.1–34.6% of the CS heavy metal mass loading shifted to FS and SC fractions after washing. A comparative analysis of the soil surface morphology before and after washing using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the particles in the remediated soil became noticeably cleaner after high-pressure washing. This study demonstrated the feasibility of emergency recovery of heavy metal-contaminated soil using high-pressure washing without a chemical cleaning agent.

Shakiru Ademola Salami, Hussein Mofomosara Salahdeen, Babatunde Shuaib Anidu et al.

Objectives: Aqueous leaf extract of Tridax procumbens (ALETP) has potent relaxant activity. However, this relaxant activity in respiratory smooth muscle remains uninvestigated. This study investigates the effect of ALETP on the contractile activity of tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) in adult male Wistar rats.Methods : Twelve male Wistar rats divided into 2 groups and were treated with either 100 mg/kg of ALETP (ALETP treatment group) or vehicle (distilled water; control group) through oral gavage for 4 weeks. Dose responses of TSM from the 2 groups to acetylcholine (10–9 to 10–5 M), phenylephrine (10–9 to 10–5 M), and potassium chloride (KCl; 10–9 to 10–4 M) were determined cumulatively. Furthermore, cumulative dose responses to acetylcholine (10–9 to 10–5 M) after pre-incubation of TSM with atropine (10–5 M), L-NAME (10–4 M), indomethacin (10–4 M), and nifedipine (10–4 M), were determined.Results : Treatment with ALETP substantially inhibited TSM contraction stimulated by cumulative doses of acetylcholine, phenylephrine, and KCl. Furthermore, preincubation of TSM from the 2 groups in atropine significantly inhibited contractility in TSM. Incubation in L-NAME and indomethacin also significantly inhibited contractility in TSM of ALETP-treated rats compared to that of controls. Contractile activity of the TSM was also inhibited significantly with incubation in nifedipine in ALETP-treated rats.Conclusion : ALETP enhanced relaxant activity in rat TSM primarily by blocking the L-type calcium channel and promoting endothelial nitric oxide release. ALETP contains agents that may be useful in disorders of the respiratory tract.

Saikripa Raman, Priyanshu Sharma

Abstract Self-efficacy is an important indicator of psychological wellness, devoted to prescribed medications, along with pain-coping strategies in individuals who have chronic pain, a psychological concept described as one’s confidence in performing a specific activity. Poor self-efficacy is an impediment to rehabilitation and predicts long-term impairment. Higher self-efficacy can improve function and prolong physical well-being in people who have chronic pain. Recent findings show that coping mechanisms play a major role in chronic pain adaptation. SE beliefs are a significant determinant of coping habits. This article reviews the theory of SE, the importance of application of SE in treating chronic pain and disability.