FOOT DROP AND FATIGABILITY IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

People with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) often experience walking impairments such as foot drop which can lead to trip and falls. Foot drop can be either transient and is often induced by exercise (fatigability) in pwMS whose walking ability is not affected and can become more fixed with disease progression. The overall aim of this PhD was to explore foot drop, its presence in pwMS with different disability levels and the psychometric properties of outcomes used to evaluate walking impairments. The first study in this thesis was a systematic review into the level of evidence for the psychometric properties of walking measures that have been used to evaluate the effect of assistive technology such as FES for foot drop in MS. Moderate to strong psychometric evidence was found for the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale, Timed 25 Foot Walk, 6 minute and 10 meter walk tests. There were no psychometric studies for three-dimensional (3D) gait kinematics in pwMS even though it was one of the most frequently used outcome measures. The second study assessed the test-retest reliability of 3D ankle kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters in pwMS, with low Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS < 3.5) and in those with moderate to high EDSS (EDSS: 4-6). Reliability was excellent for ankle kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters in both groups, with lower minimal detectable change (MDC95%) values in the low EDSS group compared to the higher EDSS group. The third study investigated transient exercise induced foot drop in highly physically active pwMS (EDSS < 3.5) and health controls using 3D kinematics. It was found that 6 out of 15 pwMS and none of the healthy controls presented this phenomenon. The fourth study examined the direct orthotic effect of FES during dual-tasking (i.e. walking combined with a cognitive task) and after inducing fatigability. Low to moderate effect sizes indicated that the direct orthotic effect was higher under dual-task and fatiguing conditions but this needs to be confirmed in appropriately powered studies. In conclusion, the studies in this thesis have contributed to the psychometric evidence of gait kinematics in pwMS, have objectively documented the presence of transient foot drop in highly physically active pwMS and orthotic effect of FES under a variety of conditions simulating the perceived benefits in ‘real life’ reported by FES users. Key words: multiple sclerosis, foot drop, fatigability, FES, psychometric properties, 3D gait kinematic

Green Informatics : ICT for Green and Sustainability

Green Informatics constitute a new term in the science of information that describes the utilization of informatics in the interest of the natural environment and the natural resources regarding sustainability and sustainable development. Nowadays, ICT has introduced the convergence of e-services with broadband network infrastructure, wireless technologies and mobile devices. The revolution of ICTs introduction in daily average life has also resulted in the increase of GHG, since the ’’carbon footprint’’ is continually increasing. The dimensions of Green Informatics contribution are: the reduction of energy consumption, the rise of environmental awareness, the effective communication for environmental issues and the environmental monitoring and surveillance systems, as a means to protect and restore natural ecosystems potential. EU has reinforced the environmental sector with focus on high level of protection and improvement of the quality of environment through the enacting of strategies, initiatives and measures. Future EU strategy aims to a low carbon European society by 2050 and to green/sustainable development, ICTs can play a key role in the environmental protection and sustainability, however, green behavior is still critical

A Web Information System Application on Forest Legislation: The Case of Greek Forest Principles

AbstractThe Greek forest legislation is a very complicated issue, because of the existence of too many laws concerning the same topic. The definition of forest is critically important as it controls the scope of forest science. Numerous legitimate definitions of forest and forestlands have been published by the Greek authorities. A need to categorize and classify some complex parts of the Greek forest legislation is obviously essential. Nowadays new web technologies and Information and Communication Systems (ICTs) offer amazing capabilities for settlement of such projects. This paper presents a Web based Information System (WIS) that attempts to become a source of information about the Greek forest legislation. The WIS was named Gre.Fo.L (Greek Forest Legislation) and at this version (v.2.1) represents the definitions of the basic forest principles, located in the Greek legislation, through a historical review. The findings relate to the legitimate definitions since the establishment of the Greek state. Gre.Fo.L is designed to also study other environmental issues as it intends to expand in later versions

e-Learning and the aspect of students in forestry and environmental studies

The new information technologies (ICTs) and the services they provide, is a tool that can transport data with high speed and allow the diffusing of vast amount of knowledge and information, to lay the groundwork to redefine a new improved relationship between person and environment with benefits that are important for both recipients. The need for a sustainable natural environment, based on sustainable facts, has led to the resurgence and support of systems such as agroforestry, whose services are vital to the life of modern man. This work will therefore focus on a presentation of modern technology and tools of e-learning, describes the current situation in in the European Union and Greece, but also examine the need for the participation of these tools in agriculture and forestry courses, particularly those of agroforestry systems and the aspects of students in forestry and environmental studies. For that reason, finally presents results from a survey that took place amongst students of Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment</jats:p

On the use of subjective HTRF evaluations for creating global perceptual similarity metrics of assessors and assessees

Presented at the 21st International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD2015), July 6-10, 2015, Graz, Styria, Austria.In the absence of a well suited measure for quantifying binaural data variations, this study presents the use of a global perceptual distance metric which can describe both HRTF as well as listener similarities. The metric is derived based on subjective evaluations of binaural renderings of a sound moving along predefined trajectories in the horizontal and median planes. Its characteristics and advantages in describing data distributions based on perceptually relevant attributes are discussed. In addition, the use of 24 HRTFs from two different databases of origin allows for an evaluation of the perceptual impact of some database-dependent characteristics on spatialization. The effectiveness of the experimental design as well as the correlation between the HRTF evaluations of the two plane trajectories are also discussed

Strategic planning and decision support in small-medium wood enterprises using database technology

As the enterprise management plays vital role in the overall performance of a company, it is recognized the need for application of quality improvement tools and techniques such as database technology. A DataBase Management System (DBMS) is an IT application, which contains information about the company in various levels. Enterprises can use DBMS to plan and standardize their practices and increase overall efficiency in the company. It is an essential management tool for Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) because in such companies the entrepreneur-owner is personally responsible for managing the activities of the company without being an expert. This modern information technology tool is the basis of the application of marketing principles and techniques via electronic media and more specifically the internet. The purpose of this paper is to explore how implementation of modern information technology tools, such as DBMS, simplifies SME management. That DBMS design approach can be a useful tool while designing similar applications in SME in wood sector and also in various issues in primary and secondary production sector

Wood Tracking Information Systems To Confront Illegal Logging

This paper examines the current wood tracking information systems used in international wood trade aiming to prevent and control illegally logged timber and wood products trade. Moreover, innovative log tracking mechanisms and technologies are also described and assessed. Wood tracking can add value to the wood product, by establishing an information system aiming to recognize and locate legal wood and wood products. Apart form the traditional punching and painting log-tracing methods, there are various digital wood traceability information systems for recognition, log tracking and monitoring, including barcodes, QR codes, RFID, microchips etc. Furthermore, various innovative wood tracking systems are also presented and discussed. The aim of the paper is to describe and quote those methods used in wood trade sector, to identify current trends and perspectives and to quote them as to their reliability, practicality, level of information provided and cost. Further it provides insight from log-traceability methods used in Greek Forests.</jats:p

Stress-related asthma and family therapy: Case study

This paper applies the Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM) of stress- related illness to the study and treatment of an adolescent with intractable asthma. The model is described, along with supportive research findings. Then a case study is presented, demonstrating how the model is clinically applied. We tell the story of an asthmatic adolescent presenting for therapy due to her intense asthmatic crises, and the case is presented to exemplify how the BBFM can help understand the family-psychobiological contribution to exacerbation of disease activity, and therefore guide treatment towards the amelioration of severe physical symptoms. Facets of the patient’s intra-familial interactions are consistent with the BBFM, which support clinical validation of the model. In the case described, it is likely that additional asthma medications would not have had the desired ameliorative effect, because they did not target the family relational processes contributing to the symptoms. The recognition of the influences of family relational processes on the disease was crucial for effective intervention. The therapy incorporates and weaves together BBFM understanding of family patterns of interaction and physiological/medical concerns integrated with Bowenian intervention strategies. This case study validates the importance and usefulness of BBFM for intervention with stress-sensitive illnesses such as asthma

Wood trade perspectives in greece during economic crisis and and new technologies challenge

In wood trade sector, the supplier is the forest and the product is round wood. The quality, the quantity and value of wood depend heavily on the practices that are applied in the early stages of the supply chain. The aim of the paper is to present the perspectives of wood trade in Greece and also to study how the economic crisis has affected the forest production and trade (imports and exports). Finally, we will discuss the challenge of using new information technologies, such as databases, digital timber traceability systems, sustainable timber and wood products, in collaboration with the traditional methods employed in wood trade sector contemporarily.</jats:p