Integrated multimodal interaction framework for virtual reality foot reflexology stress therapy

Frameworks in interaction research have seen varying compositions from numerous researchers, and have been applied for either a specific or general purposes in several domains. Previous studies have highlighted virtual reality (VR) in stress therapy, and revealed the potential of foot reflexology therapy using VR technology. However, the interaction framework for foot reflexology through virtual reality requires further investigation. This study presents the design and evaluation of an integrated multimodal interaction framework for virtual reality foot reflexology stress therapy. The components of the proposed framework were identified from the literature review and previous research, which included design principles, technology, structural components, multimodal interaction architecture, and segment composition. This formed the proposed integrated multimodal interaction framework for virtual reality foot reflexology stress therapy. The proposed framework was then validated using expert reviews. This was followed by prototype development, which explored the effectiveness of the virtual reality foot reflexology therapy application on relaxation and stress relief using Smith Relaxation States Inventory (SRSI-3). A pre and post-test intervention quasi experiment was employed in the study for the evaluation. The findings revealed that Virtual Reality Foot Reflexology Stress Therapy (VR–FRST) effectively evokes the relaxation state categories of transcendence, mindfulness, positive energy, and basic relaxation, and also reduces users stress state. This research provides a concise, organized, practical and validated integrated multimodal interaction framework for the design and development of foot reflexology therapy in a virtual environment. This contributes to the field of interaction design for virtual reality developers and complementary therapy for the alternative medical practitioners

Virtual Reality and Its Potential for Stress Therapy

VR technology is the combination of AI technology, multimedia technology, computer networks technology, computer graphics technology and designed into a new HCI technology through which users can experience and interact with 3D environment using visual, auditory, haptic, taste, and so on interactions, similar to real-world experience. This paper explored the virtual reality and its potentials for stress therapies. Implications and future researches were also discusse

Innovative Evidence-Based Assessment and Treatment of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia and Communication Disorders in Infants and Young Children at High Risk of Cerebral Palsy

Infants with cerebral palsy (CP) have concomitant feeding and communication disorders with lifelong detrimental consequences, including premature death. Early detection and intervention for these deficits is under-researched. This thesis investigates evidence, current practice, innovative assessment, and novel intervention for these domains. To critically appraise evidence for all interventions for children with CP, a large-scale systematic review was conducted. There is high level evidence to support the use of electrical stimulation alongside oral sensory motor interventions, and Functional Chewing Training. Low positive evidence exists supporting direct intervention for literacy, parent training and augmentative alternative communication for language and communication disorders. An international survey of dysphagia practice revealed lack of alignment with evidence, with few patients receiving gold standard assessments, adaptation over direct treatment, and children receiving less-intensive treatment than adults. Ultrasound and Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing were piloted as novel instrumental assessments of OPD in infants with CP. These tools show promise for safe early detection of OPD and warrant more research to establish psychometrics. A second systematic review was undertaken to determine evidence for OPD interventions specifically for infants with CP. Results found that neuroplasticity and motor learning-based interventions are most promising. The Baby Intensive Early Active Treatment (BabiEAT) program was then designed to harness plasticity and was tested against standard care in a pilot randomised control trial. Results showed that BabiEAT was feasible and acceptable, and conferred superior gains in feeding and parental quality of life while maintaining health and safety. To limit preventable death and optimise outcomes, speech pathologists must keep abreast of evidence, upskill, and implement new successful approaches

Investigating Phantom Motor Execution as treatment of Phantom Limb Pain

Phantom Limb Pain (PLP) is commonly suffered by people with amputations and even though it has been studied for centuries, it remains a mysterious object of debate among researchers. For one thing, despite the vast number of proposed PLP treatments, no therapy has so far proved to be reliably effective. For another, studies attempting to provide a mechanistic explanation of the condition have produced mixed and inconsistent results, thus providing unreliable guidance for devising new treatment approaches. Phantom Motor Execution (PME) – exertion of voluntary phantom limb movements – aims at restoring control over the phantom limb and the exercise of such control has been hypothesized to reverse neural changes implicated in PLP. Preliminary evidence supporting this hypothesis has been provided by clinical investigations on upper limb amputees. The main purpose of this doctoral thesis was to provide high quality and unbiased evidence for the use of PME as a treatment of PLP, by probing its efficacy with a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) on both upper and lower limb amputees. However, the implementation of this clinical investigation required of additional technology development related the extraction of motor volition via Myoelectric Pattern Recognition (MPR). In practice, this doctoral work consisted in the extension of PME technology to lower limb amputations by proposing and validating a new and more user-friendly recording method to acquire myoelectric signals. The use of PME was then shown to be efficacious in relieving PLP even in the lower limb population with a case study.Another necessity for providing unbiased evidence was to ensure that the highest standards were met when designing, conducting, analysing and reporting the results of the RCT. For this reason, the protocol for the RCT and the prospective Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP) were designed and published. The RCT was established as an international, multi-center effort in 2017 and it is expected to reach its conclusion in September 2021. Preliminary results of the RCT regarding the primary outcome showed reduction of PLP above what is considered clinically relevant, and whereas a higher reduction was obtained with PME, this was not statistically significant over the control treatment. The available evidence at this stage indicates that the RCT will not be able to rule out the role of contextual factors other than PME in providing pain relief. Having at hand a way to alleviate PLP provided a unique opportunity to investigate and identify its neural correlates, therefore this became a secondary aim of this thesis. In particular, patients suffering from PLP were followed regarding their pain trajectory through the therapy and brain imaging studies with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) were performed. The present doctoral thesis reports part of this work by showing the early results of a cross-sectional study on the EEG correlates of PLP. The results show that it is possible to use machine-learning techniques to discriminate EEG recorded from patients with and without PLP. The findings further point to this technique as a promising target for future longitudinal research aiming at elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying PLP

Psychology Case Record

UNDIFFERENTIATED SCHIZOPHRENIA: Mr. N was reported to be normal 7 years back, he was found to be preoccupied and not communicating well with his family members. When asked about his behaviour he gave no answer. He was found to be talking and laughing to self. When asked he said that he heard voices speaking to him and he was replying to it. Gradually his sleep decreased and he would sleep only for 3 to 4 hours at night. He did not take care of himself. He would not bath or change his clothes. This continued for 2 months after which he started to be abusive and assaultive for no reason. He did not allow any of his family members to enter into house. So he was taken to a psychiatrist, was admitted for 10 days and treated with ECT. After discharge he would discontinue medications on and off during which his symptoms would get exacerbated.5 months back after death of his father he discontinued medications. He became abusive and assaultive and did not sleep. He was taken to a psychiatrist but he refused to take medications. During the past 1 month he became disinhibited. He was found disrobing his clothes and just kneeling in front of the wall naked. He did this on three occasions and gave no answer for this behaviour. He also exhibited suicidal gestures on three occasions in the form of carrying kerosene and match box inside the bathroom. Hence he was brought to IMH and admitted. No H/O sad mood, crying spells. No H/O tall claims, spending spree. No H/O thoughts being known to others or withdrawn. No H/O substance use. No H/O head injury, LOC, seizures, fever or any prolonged drug intake. SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION–FAILURE OF GENITAL RESPONSE: Mr A was reported to be normal 8 years back when he use to work regularly and maintaining well. He use to masturbate regularly. After one year when he pushed a heavy lorry he felt that his penis has decreased in size and not able to get full erection. He continued to masturbate for the next one year during which his penis further decreased in size. He stopped to masturbate and felt guilty about his masturbatory behaviour. He frequently doubted whether he will be able to perform after marriage. These thoughts continued but he was regular to work and use to communicate well with his friends. When patient was 22 years of age, his mother died in an accident. He was compelled by his paternal aunt to get married. He was not ready for marriage and planned to get treatment first but he was forced to marry. During the first night he felt fearful but he was able to overcome this fear and able to penetrate, perform the sexual act for a minute and ejaculate. On the third day he developed an ulcer over his penis and got cured in 7 days. He felt that was due to his masturbatory behaviour. He felt sad and did not communicate with his family members. He was just lying down in bed and did not go for any work. His wife exhibited irritability and anger towards him because of his behaviour. After 45 days she went to her mother place. His symptoms worsened and developed sleep disturbance. He took treatment in government hospital at Madurai, his condition improved and he went for work. He discontinued treatment on his own. After 4 months his wife asked for a divorce from his wife, to which he silently consulted. He started to develop all his symptoms again and had loss of interest, sleep disturbance, multiple somatic complaints, guilt feelings, anxiety, reduced self esteem and loss of weight. H/O smoking beedi for past 5 years. H/O alcohol consumption for, 3 years back. No H/O suicidal ideas or attempts. No H/O tall claims, spending spree, elated mood. No H/O local injury, drug intake, sexual perversions, gender identity problems. No H/O head injury, LOC, seizures. RECURRENT DEPRESSIVE DISORDER WITH PSYCHOTIC FEATURES: Patient was reported to be normal 6 months back. She developed memory disturbance in the form of unable to recognize distant relatives, searching for her belongings in house, repeating work which she had already completed, way finding difficulty and forgetting if she has taken food or not. For the last 3 months she was found to be talking to self and lamenting about past incidents. She would walk restlessly inside the house, gesturing and moving her hands constantly. She tries to go out of the house and has to be forced to comeback inside. She had difficulty in initiating and maintaining sleep and would get up many times or keep talking irrelevantly. After death anniversary of her husband she started to remove her sari and remained nude inside in the room. She did not take bath or take her food and has to be forced to do so. She passed urine and motion in dress itself and did not care about it. She did not do any household chores, did not communicate with her family members. H/O giddiness and leg pain on and off. No H/o sad mood, suicidal ideation. No H/O drug intake, seizures, substance use. No H/O headache or symptoms suggestive of TIA. No H/O hearing voices, tall claims, spending spree. OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER: According to the patient, about 7 year back she started to worry about her routines and started to wash repeatedly her hands and used to take bath for long hours to keep herself clean. Though she preferred to keep herself clean, she excessively indulged in these acts only in recent times. The thoughts of cleanliness occurred repeatedly as intrusive ones in her mind and got partial satisfaction only after performing these acts. This also resulted in disturbance in her work time, resulting in absenteeism and she was left feeling helpless over this issue. She doubted about matters like whether she had locked the door, switched off the lights and would keep checking repeatedly even though she felt it was excessive. She also had disturbed sleep at times pondering over these issues. She felt low over this problem and consulted IMH OP, and was put on Clomipramine and Amitryptiline, following which she showed improvement. No h/o hearing voices, suspiciousness. No h/o tall claims. No h/o head trauma or seizures. MENTAL RETARDATION: The patient was born of a non consanguineous marriage, full term normal delivery. Mother’s age at time of conception was 24 years and father’s age was 28 years. No history of any drug intake, fever or exanthematous eruptions in antenatal period. No antenatal checkup. No history of radiation, injury, malnutrition, vaginal bleeding. Delivery was conducted by an ayah. Cried soon after birth, breast fed after a short while. No history of neonatal seizures or difficulty in feeding. No history of jaundice. Breastfed up to 1 year. No weaning difficulties

Evidence Synthesis of Shoulder Pain Among Canadian Firefighters

Injury or degeneration of rotator cuff tendon leads to rotator cuff disease (subacromial impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tears). Shoulder pain – pain in the upper arm close to the deltoid muscle insertion has been reported as the most common symptom for subacromial impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tears. However, the current state of evidence on treatment effectiveness of rotator cuff disease is indeterminate. The shoulder function is essential for many of the physically demanding tasks that firefighters perform on the fire ground. For fire services and firefighters, the preservation of active duty is critical for their continued service to their communities. However, the prevalence of shoulder pain among Canadian firefighters has not been synthesized. Further, high quality randomized clinical trials (RCTs) provide the highest level of evidence and assist in clinical decision making. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendation of RCT trial registration in public trials registry has been made to improve the reporting, transparency, rigor and reproducibility in RCTs. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the proportion of RCTs with proper trial registrations in the field of rehabilitation therapy. Therefore, the purposes of this thesis were 1) to assess the effects of arthroscopic versus mini-open rotator cuff repair surgery on function, pain and range of motion at in patients with rotator cuff tears; 2) to quantify the effects of surgical vs conservative interventions on clinical outcomes of pain and function in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome; 3) to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among Canadian firefighters, 4) to examine the proportion of RCTs that were reported to have been prospectively, retrospectively registered or not registered in the field of rehabilitation therapy, and 5) to use the synthesized evidence to inform the design of a single center (fire-station), investigator-blinded, randomized, 12-month, parallel-group, superiority trial for the evaluation of the efficacy of a shoulder exercises on clinical outcomes in firefighters with shoulder pain. From the existing literature, we found evidence that both arthroscopic and mini-open techniques to rotator cuff repairs with post-operative rehabilitation exercises were effective in improving clinical outcomes of function, pain and shoulder range of motion in patients with rotator cuff tears. However, the between-group differences in outcomes were too small to be clinically important. The effects of surgery plus physiotherapy (exercises) vs physiotherapy (exercises) alone on pain and function were too small to be clinically important at 3-, 6-months, 1-, 2-, 5- and ≥ 10-years follow up. This further highlighted that rehabilitation exercises be considered as the first treatment approach in patients with shoulder pain. We also identified high point-prevalence estimates (1 in 4 firefighters) of shoulder-, back-, and knee-related MSDs among Canadian firefighters (shoulder pain was 23%). Our review study indicated that fifteen years after the introduction of standards for RCT registration by ICMJE, only one-third of the RCTs in the field of rehabilitation therapy were prospectively registered. Subsequently, the emergence of further evidence (observational studies in firefighters and RCTs in active-duty military personnel) indicating the clinical effectiveness of occupation-specific rehabilitation exercises along with our evidence syntheses provided the rationale for the design and conduct of an RCT to assess the effectiveness of firefighter-specific rehabilitation exercises among Canadian firefighter with shoulder pain

Stinging the Predators: A collection of papers that should never have been published

This ebook collects academic papers and conference abstracts that were meant to be so terrible that nobody in their right mind would publish them. All were submitted to journals and conferences to expose weak or non-existent peer review and other exploitative practices. Each paper has a brief introduction. Short essays round out the collection