scholarly journals An experiment of double dynamic lighting in an office responding to sky and daylight: Perceived effects on comfort, atmosphere and work engagement

2021 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2199119
Author(s):  
Ellen Kathrine Hansen ◽  
Thomas Bjørner ◽  
Emmanouil Xylakis ◽  
Mihkel Pajuste

The experiment was targeted to develop design strategies and methods by testing the complex interplay between the dynamics of daylight and electrical lighting in an office. The double dynamic lighting design concept is based on the idea of adding task lighting, with a directionality referring to the daylight inflow and a variation on direct/diffuse lighting and respective changes in colour temperature respond to sky conditions and daylight levels. The experiment was conducted in an office space at Aalborg University in Copenhagen from September to December 2019. Four participants moved in and worked in the office with four-week periods of respective standard static lighting as a baseline, and dynamic lighting. In a parallel mixed method approach with interviews and questionnaires, the dynamic lighting was compared to the baseline and to a control group. The results indicate that the dynamic lighting periods had a positive effect on visual comfort, perceived atmosphere and work engagement. The studies helped to develop the definition of five dynamic light settings. Seasonal changes, time of day, dynamic sunscreens and individual needs for task lighting can be implemented in future field experiments as additional dynamic parameters to meet individual needs and circadian potentials for double dynamic light.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabella Bablok ◽  
◽  
Harald Binder ◽  
Dominikus Stelzer ◽  
Klaus Kaier ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Most people with dementia (PwD) are cared for at home, with general practitioners (GPs) playing a key part in the treatment. However, primary dementia care suffers from a number of shortcomings: Often, diagnoses are made too late and therapies by GPs do not follow the guidelines. In cases of acute crises, PwD are too often admitted to hospital with adverse effects on the further course of the disease. The aim of this study is to implement and evaluate a new GP-based, complex dementia care model, DemStepCare. DemStepCare aims to ensure demand-oriented, stepped care for PwD and their caregivers. Methods/design In a cluster randomized controlled trial, the care of PwD receiving a complex intervention, where the GP is supported by a multi-professional team, is compared to (slightly expanded) usual care. GPs are clustered by GP practice, with 120 GP practices participating in total. GP practices are randomized to an intervention or a control group. 800 PwD are to be included per group. Recruitment takes place in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. In addition, a second control group with at least 800 PwD will be formed using aggregated routine data from German health insurance companies. The intervention comprises the training of GPs, case management including repeated risk assessment of the patients’ care situation, the demand-oriented service of an outpatient clinic, an electronic case record, external medication analyses and a link to regional support services. The primary aims of the intervention are to positively influence the quality of life for PwD, to reduce the caregivers’ burden, and to reduce the days spent in hospital. Secondary endpoints address medication adequacy and GPs’ attitudes and sensitivity towards dementia, among others. Discussion The GP-based dementia care model DemStepCare is intended to combine a number of promising interventions to provide a complex, stepped intervention that follows the individual needs of PwD and their caregivers. Its effectiveness and feasibility will be assessed in a formative and a summative evaluation. Trial registration German Register of Clinical Trials (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien, DRKS), DRKS00023560. Registered 13 November 2020 - Retrospectively registered. HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00023560.


Author(s):  
Nicole Blackburn ◽  
Mathias Skjodt ◽  
Mark Tully ◽  
Ilona Mc Mullan ◽  
Maria Giné-Garriga ◽  
...  

Background: The SITLESS programme comprises exercise referral schemes and self-management strategies and has been evaluated in a trial in Denmark, Spain, Germany and Northern Ireland. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand the implementation and contextual aspects of the intervention in relation to the mechanisms of impact and to explore the perceived effects. Methods: Qualitative methodologies were nested in the SITLESS trial including 71 individual interviews and 12 focus groups targeting intervention and control group participants from postintervention to 18-month follow-up in all intervention sites based on a semi-structured topic guide. Results: Overarching themes were identified under the framework categories of context, implementation, mechanisms of impact and perceived effects. The findings highlight the perceived barriers and facilitators to older adults’ engagement in exercise referral schemes. Social interaction and enjoyment through the group-based programmes are key components to promote adherence and encourage the maintenance of targeted behaviours through peer support and connectedness. Exit strategies and signposting to relevant classes and facilities enabled the maintenance of positive lifestyle behaviours. Conclusions: When designing and implementing interventions, key components enhancing social interaction, enjoyment and continuity should be in place in order to successfully promote sustained behaviour change.


1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive Ballard ◽  
Ian McKeith ◽  
Richard Harrison ◽  
John O'Brien ◽  
Peter Thompson ◽  
...  

Visual hallucinations (VH) are a core feature of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), but little is known about their phenomenology. A total of 73 dementia patients (42 DLB, 30 Alzheimer's disease [AD], 1 undiagnosed) in contact with clinical services were assessed with a detailed standardized inventory. DLB was diagnosed according to the criteria of McKeith and colleagues, AD was diagnosed using the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Autopsy confirmation has been obtained when possible. VH were defined using the definition of Burns and colleagues. Detailed descriptions of hallucinatory experiences were recorded. Annual follow-up interviews were undertaken. The clinical diagnosis has been confirmed in 18 of the 19 cases that have come to autopsy. A total of 93% of DLB patients and 27% of AD patients experienced VH. DLB patients were significantly more likely to experience multiple VH that persisted over follow-up. They were significantly more likely to hear their VH speak but there were no significant differences in the other phenomenological characteristics including whether the hallucinations moved, the time of day that they were experienced, their size, the degree of insight, and whether they were complete. VH may be more likely to be multiple, to speak, and to be persistent in DLB patients. These characteristics could potentially aid accurate diagnosis.


2007 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret A. LeMone ◽  
Fei Chen ◽  
Joseph G. Alfieri ◽  
Mukul Tewari ◽  
Bart Geerts ◽  
...  

Abstract Analyses of daytime fair-weather aircraft and surface-flux tower data from the May–June 2002 International H2O Project (IHOP_2002) and the April–May 1997 Cooperative Atmosphere Surface Exchange Study (CASES-97) are used to document the role of vegetation, soil moisture, and terrain in determining the horizontal variability of latent heat LE and sensible heat H along a 46-km flight track in southeast Kansas. Combining the two field experiments clearly reveals the strong influence of vegetation cover, with H maxima over sparse/dormant vegetation, and H minima over green vegetation; and, to a lesser extent, LE maxima over green vegetation, and LE minima over sparse/dormant vegetation. If the small number of cases is producing the correct trend, other effects of vegetation and the impact of soil moisture emerge through examining the slope ΔxyLE/ΔxyH for the best-fit straight line for plots of time-averaged LE as a function of time-averaged H over the area. Based on the surface energy balance, H + LE = Rnet − Gsfc, where Rnet is the net radiation and Gsfc is the flux into the soil; Rnet − Gsfc ∼ constant over the area implies an approximately −1 slope. Right after rainfall, H and LE vary too little horizontally to define a slope. After sufficient drying to produce enough horizontal variation to define a slope, a steep (∼−2) slope emerges. The slope becomes shallower and better defined with time as H and LE horizontal variability increases. Similarly, the slope becomes more negative with moister soils. In addition, the slope can change with time of day due to phase differences in H and LE. These trends are based on land surface model (LSM) runs and observations collected under nearly clear skies; the vegetation is unstressed for the days examined. LSM runs suggest terrain may also play a role, but observational support is weak.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
L.F. CIESLIK ◽  
R.A. VIDAL ◽  
A.B. MACHADO ◽  
M.M. TREZZI

ABSTRACT Grass weeds are common in summer crops and strongly decreases the grain yield of the common bean crop. The time of herbicide application influences the variability of environmental conditions and affects the product performance. The objectives of this work were to identify the time of fluazifop-p-butyl (fluazifop) application which gives best grass weed control in the common bean crop and to elucidate the environmental variables most important for the efficacy of this herbicide. Field experiments were conducted involving five application times (2 a.m., 6 a.m., 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.) and five doses of fluazifop (80, 110, 140, 170 and 200 g ha-1), with additional no-herbicide control. At the time of the herbicide application it was determined the air temperature, relative humidity, the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and the leaf angle, whereas the weed control and the dry mass of the weed Urochloa plantaginea was assessed at 20 days after treatment (DAT). Efficacy on grass control with fluazifop was dependent on the herbicide dose and on the time of day that the product was applied. Spray at early morning hours (6 a.m.) showed better efficacy on weed control in relation to periods during warmer conditions of the day (11 a.m. and 4 p.m.). Nocturnal fluazifop application had better weed control when compared to herbicide sprayed in the afternoon. The air temperature, relative humidity and PAR were correlated to weed leaf angle, which correlated the most with fluazifop performance.


2003 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 303-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana Ignjatovic

Although the use of troponin to diagnose acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been previously proposed, the Committee on Standardization of Markers of Cardiac Damage (C-SMCD) of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) made a recommendation in 1999 to expand on the enzyme diagnostic criteria for AMI to include cardiac-specific proteins. In September 2000, a joint committee of the European Society of Cardiology and the American College of Cardiology (ESC/ACC) published a new definition of AMI that for first time officially included troponin. According to these criteria, as the best biochemical indicator for detecting myocardial necrosis is "a concentration of cardiac troponin exceeding the decision limit (defined as the 99th percentile of a reference control group) on at least one occasion during the first 24 hours after the onset of clinical event". The use of creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), measured by mass assays, is still considered as an acceptable alternative only if cardiac troponin assays are not available. It is very important to standardize the clinical use of troponin in diagnosis and management of acute coronary syndromes and to clearly define decision thresholds. Two strategies have competed as the most appropriate for the use of new markers. The first relies on the use of a combination of two markers - a rapid rising marker such as myoglobin, and a marker that takes longer to rise but is more specific, such as cardiac troponin - to enable detection of AMI in patients who present early and late after symptom onset. In the second strategy, only measurement of cardiac troponin is suggested. One of the most important problems in the practical use of the cardiac-specific troponin is the right definition of decision limits. As diagnostic cut-off for clinical use, the IFCC C-SMCD recommends for troponin assays a total imprecision, expressed as coefficient of variation (CV), of <10% at the 99th percentile of a reference control group. For troponin assays that cannot presently meet the 10% CV at the 99th percentile value, a predetermined higher concentration that meets this imprecision goal should be used as cut-off for AMI until the goal of a 10% CV can be achieved at the 99th percentile. It is very important that clinically relevant biomarker, such as cardiac troponin, on which critical decisions will rest, can be measured with highly reliable and standardized methods. There are problems in assay standardization, imprecision interference, and of pre-analytical variability. Cardiac troponin is currently the most sensitive and specific biochemical marker of myocardial damage and is the best marker for diagnosis, risk stratification, and guidance of therapy in acute coronary syndromes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Andrea Rossi ◽  
Antonino Lo Giudice ◽  
Camilla Di Pardo ◽  
Alberto Teodoro Valentini ◽  
Francesca Marradi ◽  
...  

Background. Recent clinical guidelines have extended indications for oral appliances to subjects affected by moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The aim of this systematic review covering this important issue for public health is twofold: updating and summarizing the best available scientific evidence by selecting RCTs of quality only, and identifying the therapeutic pathways that can be transferred to the current clinical practice. Methods. All the abstracts which were published before February 18, 2019, have been identified in three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane). The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias was used as an assessment tool in order to evaluate the quality of the selected studies. Results. The search strategy yielded 2,260 studies. After removing duplicates and studies that did not comply with the inclusion criteria, 32 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, and 17 RCTs were finally included in the qualitative synthesis. The 17 selected studies were very heterogeneous in the type of included RCTs in terms of patient inclusion criteria, sample size, distribution of the two genders in the various groups, duration of treatment, and definition of primary and secondary outcomes, without any restriction on the definition of the control group. A common finding was the positive responsiveness of oral appliance treatment in subjects affected by mild-to-moderate OSA with some evidence for cases of severe OSA. Conclusion. Higher-quality studies are needed in order to provide additional useful guidelines for dental clinicians for OSA management.


Author(s):  
Hyaeyeong Seon ◽  
Suyeon Kim ◽  
Miae Lee ◽  
Jinkook Tak

This study was designed to examine the effects of strengths coaching program on strengths self efficacy, positive affect, self efficacy, work engagement, and organizational commitment based on Korean employees. Participants were 43 Korean employees, 21 for the experiment group and 22 for the control group. Data were collected across three times(pre, post, follow-up). To measure overall effects, strengths self efficacy, positive affect, self efficacy, work engagement and organizational commitment were measured. Results showed that there were significant interaction effects between time interval and groups for all the dependent variables, confirming the effects of the coaching program. Also, there were non significant effects of time interval(post and follow-up) for all the dependent variables, confirming the duration of the program effect across time. Finally, implications and limitations of the study were discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Song ◽  
Xin Xu

Objective Purpose:Downhill running can causes muscle damage, called delayed muscle damage and induced oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction, causing abnormity of skeletal muscle morphology, changing in blood biochemical indexes, and decreasing in function of skeletal muscle systolic. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, is degraded by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1). There were new evidences demonstrated that DDAH1 is an important regulator of cell redox state and apoptosis. In summary, the study shown that DDAH1 is an important regulator of cell redox state and apoptosis. Emerging evidences suggests that DDAH1 controls cellular oxidative stress and apoptosis via a miR-21-dependent pathway. However, the effect and mechanism of DDAH1 on damage of skeletal muscle caused by downhill running is not clear enough. Thus,the purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect and mechanism of DDAH1 in downhill running. Keys: downhill running; delayed onset muscle soreness(DOMS); eccentric exercise; skeletal muscle. Methods Method: The experimental mice were 24 female C57 mice of 10 weeks old and 24 female DDAH1 hybrid knockout mice of 10 weeks old. DDAH1 KO mice used for this study was knockout of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 compared with WT mice. Animals were fed standard laboratory chow and had access to water ad libitum. C57 mice were divided into 3 groups: C57 control, C57 48H, C57 120H; DDAH1 KO mice were divided into 3 groups: DDAH1 control, DDAH1 48H, DDAH1 120H. C57 and DDAH1 KO mice used for this study completed a single bout of downhill running exercise (20°, 17 m/min, 60 min), and gastrocnemius muscle, soleus muscle and quadriceps femoris muscle were collected 48 and 120 hours (H) postexercise (PE). C57control group and DDAH1 KO control group dose not exercise. Speed on the treadmill was gradually increased from 10 to 17m/min during a 7-min warm-up period (increased of 1m/min every minute). All experiments were conducted at approximately the same time of day. Maximal grip strength was measured ifor each groups. Grip strength testing was completed to detect post-eccentric exercise injury in C57 and DDAH1 KO mice. All results were analyzed by means of methods of histological and molecular biological. Results Method: The experimental mice were 24 female C57 mice of 10 weeks old and 24 female DDAH1 hybrid knockout mice of 10 weeks old. DDAH1 KO mice used for this study was knockout of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 compared with WT mice. Animals were fed standard laboratory chow and had access to water ad libitum. C57 mice were divided into 3 groups: C57 control, C57 48H, C57 120H; DDAH1 KO mice were divided into 3 groups: DDAH1 control, DDAH1 48H, DDAH1 120H. C57 and DDAH1 KO mice used for this study completed a single bout of downhill running exercise (20°, 17 m/min, 60 min), and gastrocnemius muscle, soleus muscle and quadriceps femoris muscle were collected 48 and 120 hours (H) postexercise (PE). C57control group and DDAH1 KO control group dose not exercise. Speed on the treadmill was gradually increased from 10 to 17m/min during a 7-min warm-up period (increased of 1m/min every minute). All experiments were conducted at approximately the same time of day. Maximal grip strength was measured ifor each groups. Grip strength testing was completed to detect post-eccentric exercise injury in C57 and DDAH1 KO mice. All results were analyzed by means of methods of histological and molecular biological. Conclusions Conclusion: The DDAH1 knockout has a protective effect on delayed onset muscle soreness(DOMS) caused by downhill running, and accelerate the injury recovery.     


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-83
Author(s):  
Павел Токарев ◽  
Pavel Tokarev ◽  
Алексей Шулаев ◽  
Aleksey Shulaev ◽  
Ринат Салеев ◽  
...  

Subject. The article describes the child's speech passport, as one of the important mechanisms of the rehabilitation and speech recovery in children with congenital cleft lip and palate. Purpose of the study ― evaluation of the treatment outcome in children with cleft palate with the use of a speech passport at the stage of rehabilitation. Materials and methods. The article presents the experience of the rehabilitation of more than 2,000 patients with congenital maxillofacial defects from 1998 to 2017. Results. The features of speech development were studied in 93 patients divided into two groups. The main group consisted of 56 people, in whom the definition of the algorithm of medical and logopedic aid was carried out using a speech passport, then the rehabilitation measures complex developed by us for restoring and correcting the speech function was applied. The control group included 37 people: patients who did not receive medical and speech therapy in the postoperative period, and patients who underwent rehabilitation measures in outpatient clinic at the place of residence. The speech activity indicators in patients of the compared groups had significant differences (p = 0,026), due to a more pronounced positive dynamics of speech activity recovery in the main group - the percentage of patients increased 3,6 times ― from 17,9 to 64,3 %, while in the control group the rate increased only 1,9 times ― from 21,6 up to 40,5 %. Conclusion. The developed speech passport involves a multidisciplinary approach to the child, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation. It is also can be defined as a link between health care, speech therapy and pedagogy. The child's speech passport data can be filled by a pediatrician, neurologist, maxillofacial surgeon, orthodontist, speech therapist and speech therapist defectologist at various stages of treatment and rehabilitation.


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