Search results for "Volunteers"
showing 8 items of 248 documents
Imaging photoplethysmography for assessment of chronic pain patients
2019
In present pilot study application of multi-spectral imaging photoplethysmography for assessment of chronic pain patients during topical skin heating test was proposed. Photoplethysmography signal was recorded at 420nm, 530nm and 810nm illumination from the skin and corresponding perfusion indexes and perfusion maps were calculated. The novel parameter-PPGflare index was introduced and compared in neuropathic patients and healthy volunteers. Preliminary results suggest that neuropathic patients exhibited significantly lower PPGflare index, and that local heating substantially change PPG waveform at heat exposed skin region. Present study emphasizes advantages of imaging photoplethysmography…
Influence of voluntary work intervention on the mood status of older volunteers
2012
The aim of this study was to investigate the positive and depressive mood changes in older volunteers after a three-month voluntary work intervention through a one-group experimental research design. The participants were drawn from the Volunteering, access to Outdoor activities and Wellbeing in older people (VOW) project. The participants were recently retired group, aged 50 and above (N=47, 42 female). Prior training sessions were arranged for the participants before the intervention period. Pre and post assessment of depressive mood was measured through applying the original form of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and positive mood was measure through the positi…
An Optoelectronic System for Measuring the Range of Motion in Healthy Volunteers: A Cross-Sectional Study.
2019
Background and Objectives: Within the clinical evaluation of multiple pathologies of the lower limb, the measurement of range of motion (ROM) of its joints is fundamental. To this end, there are various tools, from the goniometer as a reference to more recent devices such as inclinometry-based applications, photo capture applications, or motion capture systems. This study aimed to assess the validity, intra-rater, and inter-rater reliability of the VeloFlex system (VS), which is a new camera-based tool designed for tracking joint trajectories and measuring joint ROM. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five healthy volunteers (16 females
Effects of muscle activation on shear between human soleus and gastrocnemius muscles
2015
Lateral connections between muscles provide pathways for myofascial force transmission. To elucidate whether these pathways have functional roles in vivo, we examined whether activation could alter the shear between the soleus (SOL) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscles. We hypothesized that selective activation of LG would decrease the stretch-induced shear between LG and SOL. Eleven volunteers underwent a series of knee joint manipulations where plantar flexion force, LG, and SOL muscle fascicle lengths and relative displacement of aponeuroses between the muscles were obtained. Data during a passive full range of motion were recorded, followed by 20° knee extension stretches in both pass…
Oxidative stress and antioxidant levels in patients with anorexia nervosa: A systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis.
2015
Objective To systematically review and meta-analyze oxidative stress and antioxidant markers in anorexia nervosa (AN). Methods Electronic PubMed search from database inception until 12/31/2013. Out of 1062 hits, 29 studies comparing oxidative stress/antioxidant markers between patients with AN and healthy controls (HCs) with a total of 1,729 participants (AN-=-895, HCs-=-834) were eligible. Data about oxidative stress and antioxidant markers, independent of their source, were extracted. We calculated random effects standardized mean differences (SMDs) as effect size measures for outcomes reported in ≥5 studies; others were summarized descriptively. Results Compared to HCs, AN patients showe…
Psychometric properties of the Assessment Tool for Perceived Agency (ATPA-22) - utility for the rehabilitation of young adults not in education, empl…
2020
Background: Promoting and supporting agency have been at the heart of the debate multidisciplinary. To promote self-awareness of young people’s agency and identify persons in need of support the Assessment Tool for Perceived Agency (ATPA-22) was developed. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the ATPA-22. Participants were young adults not in education, employment or training (NEETs) and students in higher education (HEI). Materials and methods: The main data analysis was implemented by Many Faceted Rasch (MFR) analysis. Results: The ATPA-22 items defined a unidimensional construct with reasonable internal consistency and separation ability. The ATPA-22 was capabl…
Vapaaehtoistyöntekijöiden kokemuksia vastavuoroisuudesta ikääntyneiden ihmisten vapaaehtoistyössä
2019
Sosiaalisen vaihdon teorian mukaan vastavuoroisuus on tärkeää ikääntyneiden ihmisten suhteissa. Vapaaehtoistyössä vastavuoroisuus on oleellista, mutta sitä ei ole juuri tutkittu eläkeikäisten vapaaehtoistyöntekijöiden kannalta. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on selvittää, kuinka eläkeikäiset vapaaehtoistyöntekijät kokevat vastavuoroisuuden vapaaehtoistyössä. Kolme kuukautta kestäneen toimintajakson aikana vapaaehtoistyöntekijät auttoivat liikkumiskyvyn ongelmista kärsiviä ikäihmisiä osallistumaan kodin ulkopuoliseen toimintaan osana Vapaaehtoistyö, ulkoliikunta ja vanhusten hyvinvointi (VAU) -tutkimushanketta. Tämän laadullisen osatutkimuksen 17 osallistujaa olivat 61 - 72-vuotiaita. Tutki…
Work commitment and engagement in south Italian volunteers
2009
Objectives. Recent research on volunteering has increased its interest in integrating different theoretical models such as motivational and socio-psychological ones. The current research replicates and extends a Swiss survey (Guntert, 2008) among a sample of Italian volunteers. The aim was to examine the antecedents (mainly in terms of motivational factors and identification) of outcomes such as commitment and engagement towards volunteering. Methods. To examine these antecedents and the outcomes, a questionnaire was administered to a sample of 165 young Italian adults who were engaged in various voluntary associations in south Italy (Campania and Sicilia). Results. Our analyses, underlinin…