User Involvement in Additive Manufacturing: a Quantitative Study

Objectives The main objectives of this study were to find and measure the factors affecting how consumers intend to utilise additive manufacturing and to analyse how consumers can be involved in additive manufacturing activities with businesses, keeping in mind the opportunities and weaknesses of the technology. Summary Opportunities and weaknesses of additive manufacturing as well as opportunities for user involvement were examined in light of existing literature, while a quantitative survey was used to measure the factors that influence consumer 3D (three-dimensional) printing adoption. Conclusions The research showed 3D printing use of consumers is positively influenced by the technology having benefits for consumers, easy-to-use products and support being available, and 3D printing products having a good value. Consequently, these factors help consumers to co-create or co-design products with companies or utilise 3D printing in entrepreneurial capacity

Neurofilament light level correlates with brain atrophy, and cognitive and motor performance

Peer reviewe

Synergistic associations of cognitive and motor impairments with functional outcome in covert cerebral small vessel disease

Background Cognitive and motor impairments are the key clinical manifestations of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), but their combined effects on functional outcome have not been elucidated. This study investigated the interactions and mediating effects of cognitive and motor functions on instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and quality of life in older individuals with various degrees of white matter hyperintensities (WMH). Methods Participants of the Helsinki Small Vessel Disease Study (n = 152) were assessed according to an extensive clinical, physical, neuropsychological and MRI protocol. Volumes of WMH and gray matter (GM) were obtained with automated segmentation. Results Cognitive (global cognition, executive functions, processing speed, memory) and motor functions (gait speed, single-leg stance, timed up-and-go) had strong interrelations with each other, and they were significantly associated with IADL, quality of life as well as WMH and GM volumes. A consistent pattern on significant interactions between cognitive and motor functions was found on informant-evaluated IADL, but not on self-evaluated quality of life. The association of WMH volume with IADL was mediated by global cognition, whereas the association of GM volume with IADL was mediated by global cognition and timed up-and-go performance. Conclusion The results highlight the complex interplay and synergism between motor and cognitive abilities on functional outcome in SVD. The combined effect of motor and cognitive disturbances on IADL is likely to be greater than their individual effects. Patients with both impairments are at disproportionate risk for poor outcome. WMH and brain atrophy contribute to disability through cognitive and motor impairment.Peer reviewe

Ruotsissa tehdään pajusta sähköä ja lämpöä

vokKA

Olosuhteet kuntoon - työ miellyttäväksi ja tehokkaaksi

vokKA

Reed canary grass in Finland

vokKA

Gör arbetsmiljön trygg på din grönsaks- eller potatisgård

vokKA

Työturvallisuus perunan ja avomaavihannesten tuotannossa

vokMaatalousyrittäjien eläkelaitos. Yksikön huom.: KA

Subjective vs informant-reported cognitive complaints have differential clinical significance in covert cerebral small vessel disease

Objective: Subjective cognitive complaints are common in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD), yet their relationship with informant evaluations, objective cognitive functions and severity of brain changes are poorly understood. We studied the associations of subjective and informant reports with findings from comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and brain MRI. Method: In the Helsinki SVD Study, 152 older adults with varying degrees of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) but without stroke or dementia were classified as having normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) based on neuropsychological criteria. The measures also included continuous domain scores for memory and executive functions. Cognitive complaints were evaluated with the subjective and informant versions of the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) and Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX); functional abilities with the Amsterdam Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (A-IADL); and depressive symptoms with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Results: Subjective cognitive complaints correlated significantly with informant reports (r=0.40–0.50, p<0.001). After controlling for demographics, subjective and informant DEX and PRMQ were not related to MCI, memory or executive functions. Instead, subjective DEX and PRMQ significantly associated with GDS-15 and informant DEX and PRMQ with WMH volume and A-IADL. Conclusions: Neither subjective nor informant-reported cognitive complaints associated with objective cognitive performance. Informant-evaluations were related to functional impairment and more severe WMH, whereas subjective complaints only associated with mild depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that awareness of cognitive impairment may be limited in early-stage cSVD and highlight the value of informant assessments in the identification of patients with functional impairment