36 research outputs found
Categorical and continuous - disentangling the neural correlates of the carry effect in multi-digit addition
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recently it was suggested that the carry effect observed in addition involves both categorical and continuous processing characteristics.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the present study, we aimed at identifying the specific neural correlates associated with processing either categorical or continuous aspects of the carry effect in an fMRI study on multi-digit addition.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In line with our expectations, we observed two distinct parts of the fronto-parietal network subserving numerical cognition to be associated with either one of these two characteristics. On the one hand, the categorical aspect of the carry effect was associated with left-hemispheric language areas and the basal ganglia probably reflecting increased demands on procedural and problem solving processes. Complementarily, the continuous aspect of the carry effect was associated with increased intraparietal activation indicating increasing demands on magnitude processing as well as place-value integration with increasing unit sum.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In summary, the findings suggest representations and processes underlying the carry effect in multi-digit addition to be more complex and interactive than assumed previously.</p
Interprofessional education: a necessity in Alzheimerâs dementia careâa pilot study
Introduction: Interprofessional collaboration is seen as an indispensable
prerequisite for high-quality health services and patient care, especially for
complex diseases such as dementia. Thus, the current project aimed to extend
interprofessional and competency-based education in the field of dementia care
to the previously understudied therapy professions of nutrition, speech-language
pathology, and physiotherapy.
Methods: A three-day workshop was designed to provide specific learning
objectives related to patient-centered dementia care, as well as competences
for interprofessional collaboration. Teaching and learning approaches included
case-based learning in simulated interprofessional case-conferences and peerteaching. A total of 42 students (nâ =â 20 nutrition therapy and counseling, nâ =â 8
speech-language pathology, nâ =â 14 physiotherapy), ranging from first to seventh
semester, finished the whole workshop and were considered in data analysis.
Changes in self-perceived attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration and
education were measured by the German version of the UWE-IP. An in-house
questionnaire was developed to evaluate knowledge and skills in the field of
dementia, dementia management and interprofessional collaboration.
Results: Participation in the workshop led to significant improvements in the total
scores of the UWE-IP-D and the in-house questionnaire, as well as their respective
subscales. Moderate to large effect sizes were achieved. All professions improved
significantly in both questionnaires with large effect sizes. Significant differences
between professions were found in the UWE-IP-D total score between students of
speech-language pathology and physiotherapy in the posttest. Students of nutrition
therapy and counseling revealed a significant lower level of self-perceived knowledge
and skills in the in-house questionnaire pre- and post-testing.
Discussion: The pilot-study confirms the effectiveness of interprofessional
education to promote generic and interprofessional dementia care competencies
and to develop positive attitudes toward interprofessional learning and
collaboration in the therapy professions, thus increasing professional diversity
in interprofessional education research. Differences between professions were
confounded by heterogenous semester numbers and participation conditions.
To achieve a curricular implementation, interprofessional education should
be expanded to include a larger group of participants belonging to different
professions, start early in the study program, and be evaluated over the long term
Interdisciplinary Approaches to Deal with Alzheimerâs Disease : From Bench to Bedside: What Feasible Options Do Already Exist Today?
Alzheimerâs disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the western
population. The incidence of this disease increases with age. Rising life expectancy and the resulting
increase in the ratio of elderly in the population are likely to exacerbate socioeconomic problems.
Alzheimerâs disease is a multifactorial disease. In addition to amyloidogenic processing leading to
plaques, and tau pathology, but also other molecular causes such as oxidative stress or inflammation
play a crucial role. We summarize the molecular mechanisms leading to Alzheimerâs disease and
which potential interventions are known to interfere with these mechanisms, focusing on nutritional
approaches and physical activity but also the beneficial effects of cognition-oriented treatments with
a focus on language and communication. Interestingly, recent findings also suggest a causal link
between oral conditions, such as periodontitis or edentulism, and Alzheimerâs disease, raising the
question of whether dental intervention in Alzheimerâs patients can be beneficial as well. Unfortunately, all previous single-domain interventions have been shown to have limited benefit to patients.
However, the latest studies indicate that combining these efforts into multidomain approaches may
have increased preventive or therapeutic potential. Therefore, as another emphasis in this review,
we provide an overview of current literature dealing with studies combining the above-mentioned
approaches and discuss potential advantages compared to monotherapies. Considering current
literature and intervention options, we also propose a multidomain interdisciplinary approach for
the treatment of Alzheimerâs disease patients that synergistically links the individual approaches. In
conclusion, this review highlights the need to combine different approaches in an interdisciplinary
manner, to address the future challenges of Alzheimerâs disease
Mit Menschen mit Demenz forschen â ethische Reflexionen einer qualitativen Forschungspraxis zur MobilitĂ€t im öffentlichen Raum
In diesem Beitrag reflektieren wir ethische Fragen der qualitativen Forschung mit Menschen mit Demenz anhand konkreter Projekterfahrungen und stellen theoretische BezĂŒge her. In dem Forschungsprojekt "Demenz in Bewegung: Studie und Handlungsempfehlungen fĂŒr demenzfreundliches Unterwegssein im öffentlichen Verkehrssystem" partizipieren Menschen mit Demenz am Forschungsprozess. Im Rahmen des Forschungsprojektes wurden narrative Interviews zu Alltagserfahrungen und MobilitĂ€tsbedĂŒrfnissen, eine Begehungsstudie mit SpaziergĂ€ngen sowie eine Machbarkeitstestung von bestehenden technischen Hilfsmitteln durchgefĂŒhrt. Zentrale ethische Herausforderungen zeigten sich sowohl in der theoretischen Fundierung als auch bei Vorbereitung und DurchfĂŒhrung der Untersuchung. Wir diskutieren den Grundsatz des informierten EinverstĂ€ndnisses als prozessorientierte Einwilligung (process consent) vor dem Hintergrund von Anforderungen institutionalisierter PrĂŒfverfahren durch Ethikkommissionen. DarĂŒber hinaus zeigen wir, dass unsere Entscheidung, "Demenz" im GesprĂ€ch mit betroffenen Menschen offen anzusprechen, im Spannungsfeld zwischen transparenter Information, dem Risiko zu verletzen und der Chance, ermĂ€chtigend zu wirken, steht
Lung diffusing capacity for nitric oxide and carbon monoxide in relation to morphological changes as assessed by computed tomography in patients with cystic fibrosis
Background
Due to large-scale destruction, changes in membrane diffusion (Dm) may occur in cystic fibrosis (CF), in correspondence to alterations observed by computed tomography (CT). Dm can be easily quantified via the diffusing capacity for nitric oxide (DLNO), as opposed to the conventional diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO). We thus studied the relationship between DLNO as well as DLCO and a CF-specific CT score in patients with stable CF.
Methods
Simultaneous single-breath determinations of DLNO and DLCO were performed in 21 CF patients (mean ± SD age 35 ± 9 y, FEV1 66 ± 28%pred). Patients also underwent spirometry and bodyplethysmography. CT scans were evaluated via the Brody score and rank correlations (rS) with z-scores of functional measures were computed.
Results
CT scores correlated best with DLNO (rS = -0.83; p < 0.001). Scores were also related to the volume-specific NO transfer coefficient (KNO; rS = -0.63; p < 0.01) and to DLCO (rS = -0.79; p < 0.001) but not KCO. Z-scores for DLNO were significantly lower than for DLCO (p < 0.001). Correlations with spirometric (e.g., FEV1, IVC) or bodyplethysmographic (e.g., SRaw, RV/TLC) indices were weaker than for DLNO or DLCO but most of them were also significant (p < 0.05 each).
Conclusion
In this cross sectional study in patients with CF, DLNO and DLCO reflected CT-morphological alterations of the lung better than other measures. Thus the combined diffusing capacity for NO and CO may play a future role for the non-invasive, functional assessment of structural alterations of the lung in CF
Interprofessional education: a necessity in Alzheimerâs dementia careâa pilot study
IntroductionInterprofessional collaboration is seen as an indispensable prerequisite for high-quality health services and patient care, especially for complex diseases such as dementia. Thus, the current project aimed to extend interprofessional and competency-based education in the field of dementia care to the previously understudied therapy professions of nutrition, speech-language pathology, and physiotherapy.MethodsA three-day workshop was designed to provide specific learning objectives related to patient-centered dementia care, as well as competences for interprofessional collaboration. Teaching and learning approaches included case-based learning in simulated interprofessional case-conferences and peer-teaching. A total of 42 students (nâ=â20 nutrition therapy and counseling, nâ=â8 speech-language pathology, nâ=â14 physiotherapy), ranging from first to seventh semester, finished the whole workshop and were considered in data analysis. Changes in self-perceived attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration and education were measured by the German version of the UWE-IP. An in-house questionnaire was developed to evaluate knowledge and skills in the field of dementia, dementia management and interprofessional collaboration.ResultsParticipation in the workshop led to significant improvements in the total scores of the UWE-IP-D and the in-house questionnaire, as well as their respective subscales. Moderate to large effect sizes were achieved. All professions improved significantly in both questionnaires with large effect sizes. Significant differences between professions were found in the UWE-IP-D total score between students of speech-language pathology and physiotherapy in the posttest. Students of nutrition therapy and counseling revealed a significant lower level of self-perceived knowledge and skills in the in-house questionnaire pre- and post-testing.DiscussionThe pilot-study confirms the effectiveness of interprofessional education to promote generic and interprofessional dementia care competencies and to develop positive attitudes toward interprofessional learning and collaboration in the therapy professions, thus increasing professional diversity in interprofessional education research. Differences between professions were confounded by heterogenous semester numbers and participation conditions. To achieve a curricular implementation, interprofessional education should be expanded to include a larger group of participants belonging to different professions, start early in the study program, and be evaluated over the long term
IntersektionalitĂ€t und weiĂsein
Die vorliegende Masterarbeit befasst sich mit der Frage, inwieweit die einfuÌhrende Rezeption von IntersektionalitĂ€t in den deutschsprachigen Gender Studies von weiĂer Dominanz geprĂ€gt ist. Von konkreter Bedeutung ist dabei die Frage, welche Rolle die Kritik an weiĂer feministischer Wissensproduktion in diesen Texten spielt.
Als theoretische Grundlage fuÌr die Beantwortung dieser Frage dient die Kritische WeiĂseinsforschung sowie eine ErlĂ€uterung der aktivistisch geprĂ€gten Entstehungskontexte von IntersektionalitĂ€t im deutschsprachigen Raum und in den USA. Dabei wird in dieser Arbeit der Fokus auf die Darstellung Schwarzer feministischer Entstehungskontexte und der KĂ€mpfe von Feminist*innen of Colour und feministischen Migrant*innen gelegt. Zentral darin ist hier die Thematisierung der Ăberschneidung von Rassismus, Sexismus, Heterosexismus und Klassismus sowie die Kritik an den AusschluÌssen weiĂer feministischer Bewegungen.
Die methodische Herangehensweise dieser Arbeit sind Textanalysen von fuÌnf verschiedenen einfuÌhrenden Texten uÌber IntersektionalitĂ€t, die innerhalb der deutschsprachigen Gender Studies vermehrt zitiert werden. Dabei soll der Fokus der Fragestellungen an den Text darauf gelegt sein, wie IntersektionalitĂ€t in den Texten definiert wird, wie der Entstehungskontext beschrieben wird und inwieweit ZusammenhĂ€nge zu intersektionalen KĂ€mpfen aus dem deutschsprachigen Raum hergestellt werden. Von zentraler Bedeutung wird auch immer die Frage sein, wer zitiert
wird. Dabei soll herausgearbeitet werden, inwieweit die Entstehungskontexte, welche ich im theoretischen Teil meiner Arbeit erlÀutere, in diesen Texten verhandelt werden