Rehabilitation medicine summit: building research capacity Executive Summary

The general objective of the "Rehabilitation Medicine Summit: Building Research Capacity" was to advance and promote research in medical rehabilitation by making recommendations to expand research capacity. The five elements of research capacity that guided the discussions were: 1) researchers; 2) research culture, environment, and infrastructure; 3) funding; 4) partnerships; and 5) metrics. The 100 participants included representatives of professional organizations, consumer groups, academic departments, researchers, governmental funding agencies, and the private sector. The small group discussions and plenary sessions generated an array of problems, possible solutions, and recommended actions. A post-Summit, multi-organizational initiative is called to pursue the agendas outlined in this report (see Additional File 1)

Geometry-dependent scattering through quantum billiards: Experiment and theory

We present experimental studies of the geometry-specific quantum scattering in microwave billiards of a given shape. We perform full quantum mechanical scattering calculations and find an excellent agreement with the experimental results. We also carry out the semiclassical calculations where the conductance is given as a sum of all classical trajectories between the leads, each of them carrying the quantum-mechanical phase. We unambiguously demonstrate that the characteristic frequencies of the oscillations in the transmission and reflection amplitudes are related to the length distribution of the classical trajectories between the leads, whereas the frequencies of the probabilities can be understood in terms of the length difference distribution in the pairs of classical trajectories. We also discuss the effect of non-classical "ghost" trajectories that include classically forbidden reflection off the lead mouths.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Assessing the Efficacy, Effectiveness, and Cost-Effectiveness of Assistive Technology Interventions for Enhancing Mobility

© 2007 Taylor & FrancisPURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to highlight the contributions that complementary efficacy, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness studies can make to assessing the outcomes of assistive technology interventions for enhancing mobility. METHOD: The terms, 'assistive technology outcomes research' and 'assistive technology interventions', are defined. Several bases are examined for the shortage of outcomes research pertaining to mobility-related assistive technology interventions. Three presuppositions are described for the research strategy of interlocking studies being recommended. They are assigning priority to evaluating both recently developed assistive technologies and ones that have long been available, acknowledging the complexity of assistive technology as an intervention, and appreciating the trade-offs necessary for strengthening studies' internal and external validity. Some key study preparations are considered, including treatment theory, treatment specification, and the selection of outcome domains and measures. The essential features of efficacy, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness studies are outlined, and their interdependence is stressed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: To assess the outcomes of assistive technology interventions for mobility in ways that are both methodologically sound and relevant to stakeholder needs, a research strategy is required involving mutually reinforcing efficacy, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness studies. Collaborative arrangements and funding methods are discussed for fostering the needed research

Cognitive ability in childhood and cognitive decline in mid-life: longitudinal birth cohort study

Objective To examine the association between cognitive ability in childhood and mid-life cognitive decline in the normal population. Design Longitudinal, population based, birth cohort study. Participants 2058 men and women born in 1946. Main study measures Ability in childhood measured by AH4 and test of verbal comprehension at age 15 years. Ability in adulthood measured by the national adult reading test (NART) at age 53 years. Outcome measures were decline in memory (word list learning) and speed and concentration (timed visual search) from age 43 to 53 years. Results Ability in childhood was significantly and negatively associated with decline in memory (β = 0.09, P = 0.005, for men; 0.10, P < 0.001, for women) and search speed (β = 0.13, P < 0.001, for men; 0.08, P = 0.01, for women), independent of educational attainment, occupational social class, and a range of health indicators. The adult reading test was also significantly and negatively associated with decline in these outcomes (for memory β = 0.21, P < 0.001, for men; 0.17, P < 0.001, for women; and for search speed β = -0.05 for men; 0.10, P = 0.008 for women) independent of educational attainment, social class, and childhood ability. Conclusions Ability in childhood can protect against cognitive decline in mid-life and beyond. Results for the adult reading test indicate that the protective effect of ability may also be acquired in adulthood

Effect of a tailored assistive technology intervention on older adults and their family caregiver: a pragmatic study protocol

Background: Many older adults with mobility limitations use assistive technology to help them perform daily activities. However, little attention has been paid to the impact on their family caregivers. This neglect produces an incomplete portrayal of the outcomes of assistive technology provision. This paper describes the protocol for a study that examines the impact of a tailored assistive technology intervention that is inclusive of assistance users and their family caregivers. Methods/design: This research will use a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative portion will be an experimental, single-blinded study in which participants are randomly assigned to either an experimental assistive technology intervention or a standard care group. We will enroll 240 participants (120 dyads) into the study from three Canadian sites. Participants will include older adults (>55) and family caregivers who provide ≥4 h per week of assistance with daily activities and social participation. The primary outcome measure for the older adults will be the Functional Autonomy Measurement System, and the primary outcome measure for the caregivers will be the Caregiver Assistive Technology Outcomes Measure. Qualitative data will be collected through detailed records of the therapists’ interventions, as well as through interviews with dyads and therapists following the interventions. Data collection will occur at baseline (T0) with follow-ups at 6 weeks (T1), 22 weeks (T2), and 58 weeks (T3) after baseline evaluation. Discussion: The findings from this study will help service providers and clinicians to move forward with assistive technology recommendations that are more attuned to the needs of both older adults with mobility limitations and their family caregivers. Additionally, the study’s findings will enhance our conceptual understanding of the spectrum of assistive technology outcomes and set the stage for econometric studies assessing cost-effectiveness. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01640470 . Registered 11/21/2011.Medicine, Faculty ofOther UBCNon UBCOccupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Department ofReviewedFacult