Differences in physical-fitness test scores between actively and passively recruited older adults: consequences for norm-based classification

This study investigated differences in physical-fitness test scores between actively and passively recruited older adults and the consequences thereof for norm-based classification of individuals. Walking endurance, grip strength, hip flexibility, balance, manual dexterity, and reaction time were measured in participants age 57 years or older: 1 sample recruited through media announcements (passively recruited) and 1 sample recruited through personal contact (actively recruited). Classifications on a 5-point scale based on norms were cross-tabulated. Compared with the actively recruited sample, performance of the passively recruited sample was significantly better on all tests except, for women, hip flexibility and manual dexterity. Cross-tabulation of the 2 classifications showed that percentages of agreement varied from 27.4% to 87.4%. Cohen's Kappa varied from. 11 to .84. Caution should be used when giving feedback on test performance and subsequently making physical activity recommendations if norms are based on the performance of passively recruited older adults

Export Prices, Trade Dynamics and Economic Development

This thesis focuses on international trade and the economic development of the Philippines. The Philippines is a country that is often said to be stuck in the Middle-Income Trap. Indicating that the Philippines has been unable to move up to the highest income group. The author constructed a new Philippine firm level panel dataset with the help of the Philippine Statistical Authority. Using the new dataset the thesis makes novel contributions to the International Trade literature on topics such as product quality, product switching and export pricing. In the process questions related to the economic development of the Philippines are answered

Barriers, motivators, and facilitators of physical activity in dementia patients:A systematic review

Purpose: Physical activity (PA) has the potential to slow the progression of dementia patients' cognitive and physical decline. A better understanding of the factors that facilitate or hamper dementia patients' PA participation will increase the success rate of implementing PA in dementia patients' daily care. We systematically screened the barriers, motivators, and facilitators of PA participation in dementia patients, complementing previous analyses of quantitative correlates of PA in community-dwelling dementia patients. Methods: Systematic searches yielded 78 potential studies of which seven met the eligibility criteria including 39 dementia patients and 36 caregivers (33 spouses and three daughters). Results: We identified 35 barriers, 26 motivators, and 21 facilitators related to PA. We reduced these factors to six themes within the social-ecological model. Prominent barriers to PA were physical and mental limitations and difficulties with guidance and organization of PA by caregivers. Motivators included the motivation to maintain physical and mental health and participate in preferred PA options. Facilitators included strategies to avoid health problems, providing support and guidance for PA, and access to convenient and personalized PA options. Conclusions: The emerging picture suggests that dementia patients' PA participation will increase if service providers become familiar with the health benefits of PA, the characteristics of PA programs, methods of delivery, and the concepts of how such programs can be personalized to and synchronized with patients' individual needs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Vibration detection:Its function and recent advances in medical applications

Vibrations are all around us. We can detect vibrations with sensitive skin mechanoreceptors, but our conscious awareness of the presence of vibrations is often limited. Nevertheless, vibrations play a role in our everyday life. Here, we briefly describe the function of vibration detection and how it can be used for medical applications by way of whole body vibration. Strong vibrations can be harmful, but milder vibrations can be beneficial, although to what extent and how large the clinical relevance is are still controversial. Whole body vibration can be applied via a vibrating platform, used in both animal and human research. Recent findings make clear that the mode of action is twofold: next to the rather well-known exercise (muscle) component, it also has a sensory (skin) component. Notably, the sensory (skin) component stimulating the brain has potential for several purposes including improvements in brain-related disorders. Combining these two components by selecting the optimal settings in whole body vibration has clear potential for medical applications. To realize this, the field needs more standardized and personalized protocols. It should tackle what could be considered the "Big Five" variables of whole body vibration designs: vibration amplitude, vibration frequency, method of application, session duration/frequency, and total intervention duration. Unraveling the underlying mechanisms by translational research can help to determine the optimal settings. Many systematic reviews on whole body vibration end with the conclusion that the findings are promising yet inconclusive. This is mainly because of the large variation in the "Big Five" settings between studies and incomplete reporting of methodological details hindering reproducibility. We are of the opinion that when (part of) these optimal settings are being realized, a much better estimate can be given about the true potential of whole body vibration as a medical application

Is severity of motor coordination difficulties related to co-morbidity in children at risk for developmental coordination disorder?

Aim of the study was to investigate whether 7-9 year old children with severe motor difficulties are more at risk of additional difficulties in activities in daily living, academic skills, attention and social skills than children with moderate motor difficulties. Children (N=6959) from a population based cohort, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), were divided into three groups based on their scores on the ALSPAC Coordination Test at age 7: control children (scores above 15th centile; N=5719 [82.1%]); children with moderate (between 5th and 15th centile; N=951 [13.7%]); and children with severe motor difficulties (below 5th centile N=289 [4.2%]). Children with neurological disorders or an IQ<70 were excluded. Logistic regression was used to compare children with moderate and severe motor coordination difficulties with each other and with control children regarding their risk of co-morbidity defined as significant (<10th centile) difficulties with activities of daily living (ADL); academic skills (reading, spelling and handwriting); attention; social skills (social cognition and nonverbal skills). Children with severe motor difficulties demonstrated a higher risk of difficulties in ADL, handwriting, attention, reading, and social cognition than children with moderate motor difficulties, who in turn had a higher risk of difficulties than control children in five out of seven domains. Screening and intervention of co-morbid problems is recommended for children with both moderate and severe motor difficulties

Crystal structure and spectroscopic characterization of a cobalt(II) tetraazamacrocycle: completing a series of first-row transition-metal complexes

The tetraazamacrocyclic ligand 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetra-decane (TMC) has been used to bind a variety of first-row transition metals but to date the crystal structure of the cobalt(II) complex has been missing from this series. The missing cobalt complex chlorido(1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-κ^4N)cobalt(II) chloride dihydrate, [CoCl(C_(14)H_(32)N_4)]Cl·2H_2O or [Co^(II)Cl(TMC)]Cl·2H_2O, crystallizes as a purple crystal. This species adopts a distorted square-pyramidal geometry in which the TMC ligand assumes the trans-I configuration and the chloride ion binds in the syn-methyl pocket of the ligand. The Co^(II) ion adopts an S = 3/2 spin state, as measured by the Evans NMR method, and UV–visible spectroscopic studies indicate that the title hydrated salt is stable in solution. Density functional theory (DFT) studies reveal that the geometric parameters of [Co^(II)Cl(TMC)]Cl·2H_2O are sensitive to the cobalt spin state and correctly predict a change in spin state upon a minor perturbation to the ligand environment