Discriminable Height Differences of Raised Lines

2020 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 198-211
Author(s):  
Wataru Toyoda ◽  
Ryo Miyamoto ◽  
Susumu Oouchi ◽  
Takenobu Inoue
Keyword(s):  
Older Persons ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Active Touch ◽  
Psychophysical Experiment ◽  
Paired Stimuli ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Participant Group ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Height Data

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the discriminable height differences of raised lines printed on paper, as assessed by people who are blind, with or without years of tactile experience. Methods: Ten younger and 10 older tactile readers with blindness and with rich tactile experience; and 10 blindfolded, older, sighted participants with little tactile experience discriminated paired raised-line stimuli of different heights using the fingers of their preferred hand by active touch in a psychophysical experiment. Results: There was a significant main effect of the height of the stimulus, F(2, 54) = 56.446, MS = .060, p < .001, [Formula: see text] = .676, [Formula: see text] = .341, and participant group, F(2, 27) = 13.717, MS = .064, p < .001, [Formula: see text] = .504, [Formula: see text] = .357; however, there was no significant main effect of the width of the lines, or any interactions. The younger and older tactile readers had virtually similar thresholds and Weber fractions, and they could discriminate paired stimuli more accurately and efficiently than the older, sighted participants. We provided the discriminable height data of the raised lines based on the mean and 95th percentile values of the Weber fractions. Discussion: The results indicate the importance of tactile experiences for height discrimination in active touch. For older persons with recently developed blindness, raised lines with larger height differences should be used. Information for practitioners: These data will be helpful for developing new braille embossers that can print raised-line graphics for people with visual impairments, with or without years of tactile experience.

A Longitudinal Analysis of Functional Disability, Recovery, and Nursing Home Utilization After Hospitalization for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions Among Community-Living Older Persons

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron J Gettel ◽  
Arjun K Venkatesh ◽  
Linda S Leo-Summers ◽  
Terrence E Murphy ◽  
Evelyne A Gahbauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Ambulatory Care ◽  
Functional Recovery ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Functional Disability ◽  
Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions ◽  
Disability Score ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Monthly Probability

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) are considered potentially preventable. With little known about the functional outcomes of older persons after ACSC-related hospitalizations, our objectives were to describe: (1) the 6-month course of postdischarge functional disability, (2) the cumulative monthly probability of functional recovery, and (3) the cumulative monthly probability of incident nursing home (NH) admission. METHODS: The analytic sample included 251 ACSC-related hospitalizations from a cohort of 754 nondisabled, community-living persons aged 70 years and older who were interviewed monthly for up to 19 years. Patient-reported disability scores in basic, instrumental, and mobility activities ranged from 0 to 13. Functional recovery was defined as returning within 6 months of discharge to a total disability score less than or equal to that immediately preceding hospitalization. RESULTS: The mean age was 85.1 years, and the mean disability score was 5.4 in the month prior to the ACSC-related hospitalization. After the ACSC-related hospitalization, total disability scores peaked at month 1 and improved modestly over the next 5 months, but remained greater than the pre-hospitalization score. Functional recovery was achieved by 70% of patients, and incident NH admission was experienced by 50% within 6 months after the 251 ACSC-related hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS: During the 6 months after an ACSC-related hospitalization, older persons exhibited total disability scores that were higher than those immediately preceding hospitalization, with 3 of 10 not achieving functional recovery and half experiencing incident NH admission. These findings provide evidence that older persons experience clinically meaningful adverse patient-reported outcomes after ACSC-related hospitalizations.

Is the subcutaneous route an alternative for administering ertapenem to older patients? PHACINERTA study

2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
pp. 3546-3554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Roubaud Baudron ◽  
Rachel Legeron ◽  
Julien Ollivier ◽  
Fabrice Bonnet ◽  
Carine Greib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Patients ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Population Pharmacokinetic ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Data ◽  
Antibiotic Administration ◽  
Subcutaneous Route ◽  
Final Model ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pharmacodynamic Data

Abstract Background Antibiotic administration by subcutaneous (SC) injection is common practice in French geriatric wards as an alternative to the intravenous (IV) route, but few pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data are available. Ertapenem is useful for the treatment of infections with ESBL-producing enterobacteria. Objectives To report and compare ertapenem pharmacokinetic data between IV and SC routes in older persons. Methods Patients >65 years of age receiving ertapenem (1 g once daily) for at least 48 h (IV or SC, steady-state) were prospectively enrolled. Total ertapenem concentrations [residual (C0), IV peak (C0.5) and SC peak (C2.5)] were determined by UV HPLC. Individual-predicted AUC0–24 values were calculated and population pharmacokinetic analyses were performed. Using the final model, a Monte Carlo simulation involving 10 000 patients evaluated the influence of SC or IV administration on the PTA. Tolerance to ertapenem and recovery were also monitored. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02505386. Results Ten (mean ± SD age=87±7 years) and 16 (age=88±5 years) patients were included in the IV and SC groups, respectively. The mean C0 and C2.5 values were not significantly different between the IV and SC groups (C0=12±5.9 versus 12±7.4 mg/L, P=0.97; C2.5=97±42 versus 67±41 mg/L, P=0.99). The mean C0.5 was higher in the IV group compared with the SC group (C0.5=184±90 versus 51±66 mg/L, P=0.001). The mean individual AUCs (1126.92±334.99 mg·h/L for IV versus 1005.3±266.0 mg·h/L for SC, P=0.38) and PTAs were not significantly different between groups. No severe antibiotic-related adverse effects were noted. Conclusions SC administration of ertapenem is an alternative to IV administration in older patients.

Environmental Information Required by Individuals with Visual Impairments Who Use Orientation and Mobility Aids to Navigate Campuses

2020 ◽  
Vol 114 (4) ◽  
pp. 263-276
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Papadopoulos ◽  
Konstantinos Charitakis ◽  
Eleni Koustriava ◽  
Georgios Kouroupetroglou ◽  
Rainer Stiefelhagen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Environmental Information ◽  
Repeated Measures Analysis ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Mobility Aids ◽  
Orientation And Mobility ◽  
Information Safety ◽  
Convenience Sampling ◽  
Tactile Maps

Introduction: This study investigated the user requirements of individuals with visual impairments regarding the information to be included in orientation and mobility (O&M) aids in order for optimally useful audio-tactile maps of campuses to be developed. In addition, this study aimed at investigating the importance (usefulness) that individuals with visual impairments attribute to environmental information of campuses. Methods: The researchers listed 213 pieces of environmental information concerning campuses and address them in survey by conducting a respective questionnaire. Participants were asked to evaluate the information, regarding the importance or usefulness of the information in regard to safety, location of services, and orientation and wayfinding during movement. Through convenience sampling 115 adults (aged from 18 to 64 years) with visual impairments from four countries (Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, and Germany) took part in the research. Results: Pieces of environmental information, sorted in descending order starting with the most useful ones, have been listed. A repeated measures analysis of variance yielded a significant main effect for the type of information (safety, location of services, and wayfinding and orientation): F(2, 228) = 70.868, p < .001. Discussion: This study resulted in the specification of the most significant or useful information that should be included in O&M aids of campuses for individuals with visual impairments. Implications for practitioners: The results of this study will hold the interest of developers of O&M aids, O&M practitioners, rehabilitation teachers, and instructors who design and construct O&M aids. Moreover, the context for appropriately designed tactile or audio-tactile maps for campuses is provided, and campuses around the world could rely on this study for the creation of a valuable accessibility aid.

Psychophysical Methodology: Comparisons within the Method of Limits

1969 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 503-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Herrick
Keyword(s):  
Stimulus Intensity ◽  
Present Method ◽  
Psychophysical Experiment ◽  
Psychophysical Data ◽  
Threshold Distribution ◽  
The Mean

Assume that, in a “Yes”—“No” psychophysical experiment, the probability of a “Yes” response increases as the stimulus intensity increases. Then, on the basis of probability considerations (a) the mean threshold of the descending method of limits (DML) is greater than the mean threshold of the ascending method of limits (AML) and (b) σ of the DML threshold distribution may be greater than, equal to, or less than σ of the AML threshold distribution. The implications of these and other deductions are considered with respect to analyses of psychophysical data. For example, one deduction indicates that the present method for evaluating errors of habituation and expectation is wrong. Data that support the deductions are included.

Color difference formulae evaluation by method of adjustment

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Abbasi ◽  
M. Vik ◽  
M. Vikova
Keyword(s):  
Color Difference ◽  
Psychophysical Method ◽  
Psychophysical Experiment ◽  
Statistical Measures ◽  
Color Differences ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Different Color ◽  
Method Of Adjustment ◽  
Visual Results ◽  
Test Color

This experiment was carried out to test color difference formulae by method of adjustment. 6 different color centers (Red, Yellow, Green, Blue-Green, Blue and Violet) were chosen for this psychophysical experiment. 336 virtual sample pairs were prepared. The mean color difference was three CIELAB units. Each pair was assessed by a panel of 15 observers using psychophysical methods called Method of Adjustment. These visual data were used to test color-difference formulae: CIELAB, CMC, CIE94, DIN99d and CIE2000 with the help of simple statistical measures i.e., PF/3 and Stress. It was found that the visual results obtained from psychophysical method of adjustment show that CIE94 as well as DIN99d still perform well for small color differences.

scholarly journals Predictors of drug prescription in nursing home residents: results from the INCUR study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Calcaterra ◽  
Marco Proietti ◽  
Edoardo Saporiti ◽  
Vanessa Nunziata ◽  
Yves Rolland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Drug Prescription ◽  
Frailty Index ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Independent Association ◽  
Post Hoc

AbstractPolypharmacy represents a major clinical and public health issue in older persons. We aimed to measure the prevalence of polypharmacy, and the main predictors of drug prescription in nursing home residents. Post hoc analyses of the “Incidence of pNeumonia and related ConseqUences in nursing home Residents” (INCUR) study were conducted. Polypharmacy was defined as the prescription of 5 or more drugs. A frailty index (FI) was computed according to the model proposed by Rockwood and Mitnitski using 36 health deficits, including diseases, signs, symptoms, and disabilities. Linear regression models were performed to identify the main predictors of the number of prescribed drugs. The INCUR study enrolled 800 patients (mean [SD] age 86.2 [4.1] years, 74.1% women). The mean number of medications prescribed at the baseline was 8.5 (SD 4.1). Prevalence of polypharmacy was found 86.4%. The mean FI was 0.38 (SD 0.10). A fully adjusted linear multivariate regression model found an inverse and independent association between age and number of prescribed drugs (beta − 0.07, 95% CI − 0.13, − 0.02; p = 0.005). Conversely, the FI was independently and positively associated with the number of medications (beta 4.73, 95% CI 1.17, 8.29; p = 0.009). The prevalence of polypharmacy is high among older persons living in nursing home. Age and FI are significantly associated with the number of drugs. The number of prescribed drugs tends to decrease with age, whereas a direct association with frailty is reported.

scholarly journals The Effect of Flow Mind Map on Writing Accuracy and Learning Motivation at Islamic Higher Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 146-161
Author(s):  
Sabarun Sabarun ◽  
Aisyah H.S. Muslimah ◽  
Slamet Muhanif ◽  
Tazkiyatunnafs Elhawwa
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Predictor Variable ◽  
Learning Motivation ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Writing Accuracy ◽  
And Control ◽  
Value Of Learning

The investigation attempted to explore the influence of flow mind map on writing accuracy and learning motivation at Islamic Higher Education. There were two variables: flow mind map as a predictor variable; writing accuracy and learning motivation as the outcome variables. The study involved L2 participants at higher education in Kalimantan. The participants was 37 students, consisting of two groups: experiment class and control class. A main effect of one way Anova was used to measure an effect of flow mind map on learners’ writing score and learning motivation. The finding revealed that the value of writing accuracy at F (1,36) = 44.861, SS 3591.045, MS= 3591.045, p= 0.000; and the value of learning motivation at F (1,36) = 40.925, SS 2006.600, MS= 2006.600, p= 0.000. The significance value was below 0.050, meaning there was a statistically difference in the mean of using flow mind map on learners’ writing accuracy and learning motivation. It was recommended that language instructor motivate learners during the learning process. Due to the limited number of sample size, the further investigations with broader scope and larger sample size were needed to validate the research findings.

Normative Rugby Data of the SARTS Tests: Comparison of Elite and School Players

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margie Olds ◽  
Pradnya Gadkari ◽  
Thomas Adams
Keyword(s):  
Normative Data ◽  
External Rotation ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Factorial Anova ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Rugby Players ◽  
Dominant Side ◽  
Push Up

AbstractThis study aimed to examine the normative data for the SARTS rugby tests in elite and schoolboy rugby players. A second aim was to examine differences between level of sport and position of play in the SARTS rugby tests. Elite (N = 57) and Schoolboy (N = 63) rugby players performed the SARTS tests relevant to rugby players each for 1 min, with 1–2 min rest between each test. A 2×2 factorial ANOVA was used to assess for the main effect of player position and player level of play. Results showed that elite players performed more Ball Abduction External Rotation (BABER) (dominant and non-dominant), Side Hold Rotations (dominant and non-dominant), Ball Taps (dominant and non-dominant), and Overhead Snatch than schoolboy players. Heavier players performed fewer Push-up Claps. Injured rugby players should perform at least the mean value of the repetitions of the SARTS tests before returning to contact training after an injury.

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