Search results for "Activities"

Do shifts in life strategies explain microbial community responses to increasing nitrogen in tundra soil?

2016

Subarctic tundra soils store large quantities of the global organic carbon (C) pool as the decomposition of plant litter and soil organic matter is limited by low temperatures and limiting nutrients. Mechanisms that drive organic matter decomposition are still poorly understood due to our limited knowledge of microbial communities and their responses to changing conditions. In subarctic tundra large grazers, in particular reindeer, exert a strong effect on vegetation and nutrient availability causing drastic nutrient pulses in the soils located along the migratory routes. Here we studied the effect of increased nitrogen (N) availability on microbial community structure and activities by lab…

Physical capacity in performing daily activities is reduced in scleroderma patients with early lung involvement

2015

Background and Aims Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) often complain reduced capacity at submaximal exercise; conversely, physical capacity in performing daily duties has never been measured in SSc. The aim of this study is to evaluate this performance and its correlates, in patients with SSc compared with healthy controls, in a free-living setting. Methods Twenty-seven outpatients with stable SSc and 11 controls were recruited. Physical activity was assessed by portable multiple sensor device (SenseWear Armband) worn for at least 6 days. Physical activity duration (PAD; in minutes) for non-sedentary activities and physical activity level (PAL = total daily energy/resting energy expend…

Return to Sports and Recreational Activity After Single-Stage Bilateral Short-Stem Total Hip Arthroplasty: 5-Year Results of a Prospective Observatio…

2019

Background:Single-stage bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) is an alternative to staged unilateral THA in patients suffering from bilateral hip arthritis; however, there is still broad concern regarding the safety and reliability of this procedure. Short-stem THA has emerged in recent years. To date, no data are available on sports and recreational activity levels after single-stage bilateral short-stem THA in the general patient population.Hypothesis:Patients who have undergone single-stage bilateral short-stem THA return to a satisfying level of sports and recreational activity at midterm follow-up.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:A total of 54 consecutive patient…

2019

Background Little is known about the modulation of cortical excitability in the prefrontal cortex during fear processing in humans. Here, we aimed to transiently modulate and test the cortical excitability during fear processing using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and brain oscillations in theta and alpha frequency bands with electroencephalography (EEG). Methods We conducted two separate experiments (no-TMS and TMS). In the no-TMS experiment, EEG recordings were performed during the instructed fear paradigm in which a visual cue (CS+) was paired with an aversive unconditioned stimulus (electric shock), while the other visual cue was unpaired (CS-). In the TMS experiment, in addit…

Mapping effective connectivity between the frontal and contralateral primary motor cortex using dual-coil transcranial magnetic stimulation

2019

AbstractCytoarchitectonic, anatomical and electrophysiological studies have divided the frontal cortex into distinct functional subdivisions. Many of these subdivisions are anatomically connected with the contralateral primary motor cortex (M1); however, effective neurophysiological connectivity between these regions is not well defined in humans. Therefore, we aimed to use dual-coil transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to map, with high spatial resolution, the effective connectivity between different frontal regions of the right hemisphere and contralateral M1 (cM1). TMS was applied over the left M1 alone (test pulse) or after a conditioning pulse was applied to different grid points co…

Exploring the profiles of children with autism spectrum disorder: association with family factors.

2019

This study aimed to identify different profiles of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without intellectual disability (ID) and maternal factors characteristic of these profiles. Participants were 89 children between 7 and 11 years old and their mothers, distributed in two groups, 52 children with ASD and 37 with typical development (TD). Based on the children’s adaptive, behavioral, and pragmatic manifestations, three clusters were obtained in the ASD group. Children with the most serious difficulties in all the domains assessed were assigned to Cluster 1, whereas the children in Cluster 3 were characterized by relatively minor problems. Cluster 2 comprised children with moderate …

Enhancing daily living skills in four adults with autism spectrum disorder through an embodied digital technology-mediated intervention

2019

Abstract Background The acquisition of daily living skills is fundamental in the education of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), especially of those with Intellectual Disability (ID), because this can significantly contribute to their autonomy, self-confidence and overall life satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an embodied Digital Technology (DT)-mediated intervention, compared to a Treatment-As-Usual (TAU) intervention, for enhancing two daily living skills: washing dishes and doing laundry. Method Four males of between 25 and 37 years old with ASD and ID participated in the study. The two interventions were based on audio and picture prompting ins…

Validation of Using Smartphone Built-In Accelerometers to Estimate the Active Energy Expenditures of Full-Time Manual Wheelchair Users with Spinal Co…

2021

[EN] This study aimed to investigate the validity of using built-in smartphone accelerometers to estimate the active energy expenditures of full-time manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI). Twenty participants with complete SCI completed 10 5-min daily activities that involved the upper limbs, during which their oxygen consumption and upper limb activity were registered using a portable gas analyzer and a smartphone (placed on the non-dominant arm), respectively. Time series of 1-min averaged oxygen consumption and 55 accelerometer variables (13 variables for each of the four axes and three additional variables for the correlations between axes) were used to estimate three mu…

Teaching Children with Intellectual Disabilities: Analysis of Research-Based Recommendations

2016

<p>The purpose of this qualitative study was to produce an overview of topics and practical recommendations that have been presented for teaching for students with intellectual disabilities in educational research articles published from 2000 to 2013. The sample of peer-reviewed research articles considering this topic was selected using a database search of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC). To represent the richness of this research area, the topic was purposely left broad, and the outline was made by focusing on the practical implications of research articles. These recommendations were identified, classified, synthesized, and evaluated. The implications for pract…

A Review of the State-of-the-Art of Assistive Technology for People with ASD in the Workplace and in Everyday Life

2019

Part 8: Digital Divide and Social Inclusion; International audience; Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is an incurable brain-based disorder that refers to a wide range of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterised by marked difficulties in communication and social skills, repetitive behaviour, highly focused interests and sensory sensitivity. Autism can present challenges for affected people at the work environment and in everyday life. The barrier for individuals with ASD increases further with changing environmental situations. Individuals with ASD have limited abilities to isolate their Five senses and often experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch…