scholarly journals Kinetic Values, Mobility (in)equalities, and Ageing in Smart Urban Environments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaana Parviainen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Phenomenological Theory ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Technological Infrastructure ◽  
Mobility Impairments ◽  
Assistive Robots ◽  
Government Documents ◽  
The Right

AbstractThe idea of the right to mobility has been fundamental to modern Western citizenship and is expressed in many legal and government documents. Although there is widespread acceptance regarding the importance of mobility in older adults, there have been few attempts to develop ethical and theoretical tools to portray mobility (in)equalities in old age. This paper develops a novel conceptualisation of kinetic values focusing on older adults whose ability to move has been restricted for internal and external reasons. Informed by the phenomenological theory of kinaesthesia, I suggest that kinetic values are related to four principal dimensions: self-motion, being-moved, co-motion, and forced movement. I assume that these dimensions can address the key dilemma of human dignity among older adults who suffer from losing their autonomy and agency through their mobility impairments and who are at risk of being confined to their homes. To concretise the formulation of kinetic values, I study movement as part of technological equipment and urban infrastructure to examine what kinds of kinetic values mobility services and assistive robots convey for older adults in smart urban environments. By bridging disciplines, the phenomenological approach provides a novel understanding of mobility and the interplay among assistive technologies, kinaesthesia, and urban technological infrastructure. The approach suggests that kinetic values should be interpreted more comprehensively so that kinaesthesia can become better identified as a positive life-promoting practice.

scholarly journals ONE-LEGGED STANCE BALANCE OF OLDER ADULTS WITH AND WITHOUT FALLS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S470-S470
Author(s):  
Edgar R Vieira ◽  
Márcio Oliveira ◽  
Andre Gil ◽  
Karen Fernandes ◽  
Denilson Teixeira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Test Duration ◽  
Mobility Impairments ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Falls In Older Adults ◽  
Elliptical Area ◽  
Age Range

Abstract Balance impairment is a common problem among older adults. Poor balance in older adults is often associated with mobility impairments, activity limitations and fear of falling in older adults. Thus, balance assessment is useful for early detection of postural control deficits to prevent mobility impairments and falls in older adults. The aim of this study was to assess if balance measures based in center of pressure (COP) parameters during one-legged stance could differentiate between older adults with and without falls in the past 12 months. One-hundred and seventy older adults (50 fallers and 120 non-fallers, age range: 63-72 years) performed three 30s one-legged stance trials with eyes open on a force platform with 30s of rest between each trial. The following variables were evaluated: COP 95% elliptical area, COP velocity in the anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions, and test duration (how long the participant was able to stay in one-legged stance, up to 30s). Fallers had poorer balance than non-fallers (P ≤0.004). The COP parameters presented an area under the curve between 0.65-0.72, with sensitivity varying from 66 to 78% and specificity from 54 to 68%. There were no significant differences between fallers and non-fallers on test duration (17 vs. 18s, respectively). The findings showed that the fallers had similar duration time, but poorer balance than the non-fallers during one-legged stance. The COP parameters were able to differentiate the balance between fallers and non-fallers with acceptable area under curve, sensitivity and specificity.

A-9 Examining Neural Variability during Dual-Task Walking and Cortical Thickness in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1048-1048
Author(s):  
Daliah Ross ◽  
Mark E Wagshul ◽  
Meltem Izzetoglu ◽  
Roee Holtzer
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Mobility Impairments ◽  
Neural Variability

Abstract Objective Greater intraindividual variability (IIV) in behavioral and cognitive performance is a risk factor for adverse outcomes but research concerning IIV in neural signal is scarce. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we showed that IIV in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) levels in the prefrontal cortex increased from single task (Single-Task-Walk–STW; Single-Task-Alpha–STA) to Dual-Task-Walk (DTW) conditions in older adults. Herein, we predicted that, consistent with the neural inefficiency hypothesis, reduced cortical thickness would be associated with greater increases in IIV in fNIRS-derived HbO2 from single tasks to DTW when adjusting for behavioral performance. Method Participants were right-handed older adults without dementia recruited from the community (N = 55; M(SD) age = 74.84(4.97); %female = 49.1). Neuroimaging included fNIRS for HbO2 levels in the prefrontal cortex during tasks and MRI for cortical thickness. IIV was operationalized using the SD of fNIRS-derived HbO2 observations assessed during a 30-s interval in each experimental condition. Results Moderation analyses, assessed through linear mixed effects models, revealed that in several frontal (p < 0.02), parietal (p < 0.02), temporal (p < 0.01), and occipital (p < 0.01) regions, thinner cortex was associated with greater increases in HbO2 IIV from the single tasks to DTW. Conclusion Reduced cortical thickness was associated with inefficient increases in IIV in fNIRS-derived HbO2 from single tasks to dual-task walking. Worse IIV in gait performance under DTW predicts adverse mobility outcomes. Reduced cortical thickness and worse IIV of fNIRS-derived HbO2 during DTW are possible brain mechanisms that explain the risk of developing mobility impairments in aging and disease populations.

scholarly journals The Experience and Perception of Physiotherapists in Nigeria re: Fall Prevention in Recurrent-Faller Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perpetua Obi ◽  
Henrietha Nwankwo ◽  
Diaemeta Emofe ◽  
Isreal Adandom ◽  
Michael Kalu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Fall Prevention ◽  
Developing World ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Rehabilitation Professionals ◽  
History Of

Background: Effective fall prevention practices are essential for reducing falls among older adults. Rehabilitation professionals like physiotherapists are essential members of the fall prevention team, yet little is known about the experiences of physiotherapists practicing fall prevention in developing nations. Objective: To explore the experiences of physiotherapists in Nigeria who practice fall prevention among older adults. Method: We adopted a phenomenological approach to the traditional qualitative design in this study. We purposefully selected and conducted face-to-face interview with twelve physiotherapists who have treated at least one older adult who reported falling two or three times within last six months. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Four themes emerged from our participants: characteristics of recurrent fallers, fall prevention practices, hindrances to fall prevention, and strategies to promote fall prevention practices. In practice, understanding the characteristics (risk factors) of older adults with a history of recurrent falls is important for effective fall prevention practices among physiotherapists. Among other characteristics, our participants believed that older adults who have patronized “traditional bone setters/healer” are at the higher risk of having multiple falls. Conclusion: This study adds to the sparse amount of literature concerning the experience of physiotherapist in fall prevention practices in the developing world. More importantly, the findings of this study will strengthen or stimulate discussion around development of fall prevention strategies specific to the developing world context.

scholarly journals A Dialogue-Based System with Photo and Storytelling for Older Adults: Toward Daily Cognitive Training

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiki Tokunaga ◽  
Kazuhiro Tamura ◽  
Mihoko Otake-Matsuura
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Question Answering ◽  
Design Method ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Assistive Robots ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
At Home

As the elderly population grows worldwide, living a healthy and full life as an older adult is becoming a topic of great interest. One key factor and severe challenge to maintaining quality of life in older adults is cognitive decline. Assistive robots for helping older adults have been proposed to solve issues such as social isolation and dependent living. Only a few studies have reported the positive effects of dialogue robots on cognitive function but conversation is being discussed as a promising intervention that includes various cognitive tasks. Existing dialogue robot-related studies have reported on placing dialogue robots in elderly homes and allowing them to interact with residents. However, it is difficult to reproduce these experiments since the participants’ characteristics influence experimental conditions, especially at home. Besides, most dialogue systems are not designed to set experimental conditions without on-site support. This study proposes a novel design method that uses a dialogue-based robot system for cognitive training at home. We define challenges and requirements to meet them to realize cognitive function training through daily communication. Those requirements are designed to satisfy detailed conditions such as duration of dialogue, frequency, and starting time without on-site support. Our system displays photos and gives original stories to provide contexts for dialogue that help the robot maintain a conversation for each story. Then the system schedules dialogue sessions along with the participant’s plan. The robot moderates the user to ask a question and then responds to the question by changing its facial expression. This question-answering procedure continued for a specific duration (4 min). To verify our design method’s effectiveness and implementation, we conducted three user studies by recruiting 35 elderly participants. We performed prototype-, laboratory-, and home-based experiments. Through these experiments, we evaluated current datasets, user experience, and feasibility for home use. We report on and discuss the older adults’ attitudes toward the robot and the number of turns during dialogues. We also classify the types of utterances and identify user needs. Herein, we outline the findings of this study, outlining the system’s essential characteristics to experiment toward daily cognitive training and explain further feature requests.

scholarly journals Religion and Economy: How the Act of Rational Economy Dominates Muslim Entrepreneurs

INFERENSI ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-90
Author(s):  
Dede Nurohman ◽  
Evi Muafiah
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Community Empowerment ◽  
Business Decisions ◽  
Rational Choices ◽  
Microfinance Institution ◽  
The Right ◽  
Economic Motives ◽  
Data Extracting

This research aimed to explore the motives that encouraged Muslim entrepreneurs to make business decisions in running businesses, and also to examined the effects of their religions as well as the business logics they used toward their trading behaviors. The subjects of this research were the Muslim entrepreneurs running the business of apparel convection in Botoran, Tulungagung. This research used qualitative method with phenomenological approach. The data extracting technique was conducted by documentation, observation, and interviews. The results showed that Muslim traders based their business behaviors on the consideration of rational choices. Such behaviors were manifested in the forms of: choosing to partition their houses as the place of production (home factory); choosing to procure capital through the Chinese; choosing temporary sewing workers; choosing to replace the procurement of computer embroidery machines; dun-dunan rego (decreasing the costs); nembak (lighting); and reluctant to establish a cooperative to accommodate them. Meanwhile, religion, morals, and other values are not considered by them in running their business. The implication of the findings is that religious and economic motives always appeared in a person's business processes. The dominance of one of them was determined by the environment and experience. Sharia financial institutions in the vicinity, such as Sharia Banks and BMT (Baitul Mal wa Tamwil, a sharia-based microfinance institution or cooperative), as well as Islamic organizations, with the right kinship approach, were required to be present to pay attention to business development and community empowerment.

scholarly journals Different Modulatory Effects of Cognitive Training and Aerobic Exercise on Resting State Functional Connectivity of Entorhinal Cortex in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
NanNan Gu ◽  
Hechun Li ◽  
Xinyi Cao ◽  
Ting Li ◽  
Lijuan Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Exercise Group ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Index Score ◽  
Angular Gyrus ◽  
The Right ◽  
Left Angular Gyrus

The entorhinal cortex (EC) plays an essential role in age-related cognitive decline. However, the effect of functional connectivity (FC) changes between EC and other cerebral cortices on cognitive function remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the modulation of two interventions (cognitive training and aerobic exercise) on EC-FC in community-dwelling older adults. In total, 94 healthy older adults aged between 65 and 75 years were assigned to either the cognitive training or aerobic exercise group to receive 24 sessions over 12 weeks, or to a control group. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed at both baseline and 12-month follow-up. Compared to the cognitive training group, the aerobic exercise group showed greater EC-FC in the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, right supramarginal gyrus, left angular gyrus, and right postcentral gyrus. Compared to the control group, the cognitive training group had a decreased EC-FC in the right hippocampus, right middle temporal gyrus, left angular gyrus, and right postcentral gyrus and an increased EC-FC in the bilateral pallidum, while the aerobic exercise group showed increased EC-FC between the right medial prefrontal cortex(mPFC), bilateral pallidum, and right precuneus. Baseline EC-FC in the mPFC was positively correlated with the visuospatial/constructional index score of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. In the cognitive training group, EC-FC value changes in the right hippocampus were negatively correlated with changes in the RBANS delayed memory index score, while in the aerobic exercise group, EC-FC value changes in the left angular gyrus were positively correlated with changes in the RBANS attention index score. These findings support the hypothesis that both cognitive training and aerobic exercise can modulate EC-FC in aging populations but through different neural pathways.

PHENOMENOLOGICAL THEORY OF HIGH Tc SUPERCONDUCTORS

1987 ◽  
Vol 01 (03n04) ◽  
pp. 997-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.P. Das ◽  
A.G. Saif
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Mean Field ◽  
Phenomenological Theory ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Order Parameters ◽  
High Tc Superconductors ◽  
High Tc ◽  
Field Approach ◽  
Superconducting Ceramics ◽  
The Mean

We present a phenomenological approach in terms of two coexisting macroscopic order parameters correponding to the superconducting and the insulating states relevant to the high. temperature superconducting ceramics. On using the mean field approach we discuss the electrodynamical responses and from the fluctuations of the order parameters we obtain results for the electrical conductivity, which is shown to possess anomalies as in the granular materials.

It’s Time to Retire Ageism against Older Workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-168
Author(s):  
Raza M. Mirza ◽  
Lynn Mcdonald ◽  
Laura Tamblyn-Watts
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Workplace Diversity ◽  
Institutional Practices ◽  
Workplace Policies ◽  
The Right ◽  
The City

Ageism in the workplace can have significant implications for older adults. While every individual should feel equal and have the right to employment free from discrimination due to age, many practices and policies do not appear to uphold this right in the labour market. Institutional practices and policies seem to perpetuate stereotypes about older people. A “pro-aging” campaign to raise awareness about ageism in the workplace was run in the City of Toronto in 2019. The campaign included posters and pop-up advertising of a fake aging cream and research on attitudes toward aging and understanding the “too old” narrative as part of inclusive workplace policies. Workplace diversity policies often do not include age considerations, and understanding the factors that lead to ageism may allow for the development of strategies to help combat it. Age-diverse workplaces may gain competitive advantage by learning to harness the power of intergenerational relationships.

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