The EuroSTARRS-2001 aircraft campaign of the European Space Agency in support of the SMOS Mission

Ponencia presentada en: III Congreso de la Asociación Española de Climatología “El agua y el clima”, celebrado en Palma de Mallorca del 16 al 19 de junio de 2002.This work was carried out in the framework of the ESA-ESTEC contract no: 15949/02/NL/SF, and the Spanish National Space Research Programme Project no: PNE-009/2001-C-03

Functional Cognition in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Dementia: Validation of the Large Allen's Cognitive Level Screen

Assessment of everyday function is essential to diagnose dementia and distinguish Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) from dementia. The term ‘functional cognition’ links the two constructs of function and cognition, integrating the literature. It is defined as “the observable performance of everyday activities resulting from a dynamic interaction between motor abilities, activity demands and the task environment, which is guided by cognitive abilities” (Wesson et al. 2016). This thesis examines functional cognition and its assessment in older adults with MCI or mild dementia living in the community. A systematic review of performance-based measures was completed: no consensus in assessment of either functional cognition or complex everyday activities exists, and a “gold standard” is lacking. Psychometric properties are inadequate, and based on these alone, no single instrument can be recommended. Considering the influence of clinical utility on instrument choice, the Large Allen’s Cognitive Level Screen version 5 (LACLS-5) was cautiously recommended, and cross-sectional and longitudinal studies examining its construct validity and responsiveness were conducted. Findings support the validity of the LACLS-5 as a performance-based measure of functional cognition, and its use with older adults with mild dementia. The LACLS-5 did not reliably distinguish MCI from normal cognition, suggesting it is less able to detect subtle impairment, and change in LACLS-5 scores over 12 months was minimal, suggesting low responsiveness. Responsiveness patterns differed between MCI and dementia, and according to type of responsiveness evaluated. Recommendations to strengthen psychometric properties of the LACLS-5 are made, and the need for further examination of change in functional cognition and evaluation instruments is highlighted. Research directions are provided to improve understanding of functional cognition and complex everyday activities in older adults with MCI or mild dementia

Wind speed effect on L-band brightness temperature inferred from EuroSTARRS and WISE 2001 field experiments

The results from two field experiments in the Mediterranean Sea are used to study the wind speed dependence of brightness temperature at L-band. During the EuroSTARRS airborne experiment, an L-band radiometer made measurements across a large wind speed gradient, enabling us to study this dependence at high wind speed.We compare our results with a two-scale emissivity model using several representations of the sea state spectrum. While the results are encouraging, unfortunately the accuracy of the measurements does not permit us to distinguish between the so-called twice Durden and Vesecky spectrum and the Elfouhaily spectrum above 7 m s 1. The effect of foam is certainly small. During the WISE 2001 field experiment carried on an oil rig, we studied this dependence at low wind speed, finding an abrupt decrease of the wind speed effect on the brightness temperature below 3 m s 1

Memory encoding processes in young and old adults

Context: Information processing requires a series of mental operations from encoding to storage and retrieval. A large number of studies have examined the retrieval process, but less attention has been paid to the encoding process. Evidence Acquisition: The aims of this paper were to provide an overview of perceptual and semantic encoding processes as well as identify and compare the structural and functional changes in the memory encoding process of young and old adults. A review of encoding was conducted based on findings from two recent memory encoding studies and a literature search on memory encoding. It included studies published from January 1980 to December 2013 and appeared in the databases of CINAHL, MEDLINE, AMED, Journals@Ovid and the ISI Web of Science. Results: Five stages of encoding were identified. They were: 1) early perceptual processing; 2) prelexical feature detection and early lexical processing; 3) initial selection of information from competing information for processing in the working memory; 4) semantic, syntactic, or lexical processing; and 5) updating of working memory with the newly created item representation and elaborate processing. Perceptual encoding appears to be modulated by sensory cortices, in which stimuli are initially perceived and processed, whereas semantic encoding involves the left prefrontal cortex temporal regions by both verbal and nonverbal stimuli. Conclusions: Early perceptual processing and the selection of information processes associated with memory encoding are comparable between young and old adults. However, they showed differences in semantic processing, updating of working memory, and elaborate processing. These differences might be due to reduced volume and functional capacity of the hippocampus and frontal lobes, shrinkage in the white matter and its associated tracts, as well as inability of the aging brain to produce levels of dopamine comparable to its previous levels

Memory training program using perceptual- and semantic-based strategies for people with mild dementia

Background: people with mild dementia often have problems in memory encoding. A training programme targeting memory encoding (including perceptual- and semantic-based encoding strategies) using daily tasks as the training context was developed. This paper will present the results of a pilot study evaluating the effectiveness of this programme in enhancing daily functioning for people with mild dementia. A randomised controlled trial (RCT) is underway to extend the findings and will be completed in September 2014. Method: in the pilot study, 20 elderly participants were taught memory encoding strategies (perceptual- and semantic-based) for 10 weeks by an occupational therapist and care givers. Pre- and post- neuropsychological tests (Digit Span Forward Test, Word List Memory test, Cognistat) and functional assessment (disability Assessment for Dementia instrument and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale) were administered. In the current RCT, participants with mild dementia are recruited and randomised into one of three groups: perceptual training, semantic training or control. Discussion/Outcome: participants in the pilot study showed improved attention (Digit Span Forward: p≤0.05), memory (Word List Memory: p≤0.05) and other cognitive functions as measured by the naming (p≤0.05), construction (p≤0.01), memory (p≤0.05) and similarities (p≤0.01) subtests of the Cognistat. Preliminary findings of the current RCT will be reported and discussed. Conclusion: a training program targeting memory encoding was first developed and piloted. These results provide initial evidence for the current larger RCT and to guide occupational therapy practice in supporting the use of perceptual- and semantic-based strategies in daily task functioning for people with mild dementia

EuroSTARRS: campaign description

National audienc

Can a tailored exercise and home hazard reduction program reduce the rate of falls in community dwelling older people with cognitive impairment: protocol paper for the i-FOCIS randomised controlled trial

The rate of falls in community dwelling older people with cognitive impairment (CI) is twice that of a cognitively intact population, with almost two thirds of people with CI falling annually. Studies indicate that exercise involving balance and/or a home hazard reduction program are effective in preventing falls in cognitively intact older people. However the potential benefit of these interventions in reducing falls in people with CI has not been established. This randomised controlled trial will determine whether a tailored exercise and home hazard reduction program can reduce the rate of falls in community dwelling older people with CI. We will determine whether the intervention has beneficial effects on a range of physical and psychological outcome measures as well as quality of life of participants and their carers. A health economic analysis examining the cost and potential benefits of the program will also be undertaken