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Recent work with young adults has shown that, depending on study context access, selective memory retrieval can both impair and improve recall of other memories (Bäuml & Samenieh, 2010). Here, we investigated the 2 opposing effects of selective retrieval in older age. In Experiment 1, we examined 64 younger (20–35 years) and 64 older participants (above 60 years), and manipulated study context access using list-method directed forgetting. Whereas both age groups showed a detrimental effect of selective retrieval on to-be-remembered items, only younger but not older adults showed a beneficial effect on to-be-forgotten items. In Experiment 2, we examined 112 participants from a relatively wide age range (40–85 years), and manipulated study context access by varying the retention interval between study and test. Overall, a detrimental effect of selective retrieval arose when the retention interval was relatively short, but a beneficial effect when the retention interval was prolonged. Critically, the size of the beneficial but not the detrimental effect of retrieval decreased with age and this age-related decline was mediated by individuals’ working memory capacity, as measured by the complex operation span task. Together, the results suggest an age-related dissociation in retrieval dynamics, indicating an earlier decline of the beneficial than the detrimental effect of selective retrieval with older age. (APA PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Introduction
Joint contractures are characterized as impairment of the physiological movement of joints due to deformity, disuse or pain and have major impact especially for older individuals in geriatric care. Some measures for the assessment of the impact of joint contractures exist. However, there is no consensus on which aspects should constantly be measured. Our objective was to develop a standard-set based on the ICF for describing functioning and disability in older individuals with joint contractures in geriatric care settings, giving special emphasis to activities and participation.
Methods
The ICF-based standard set was developed in a formal decision-making and consensus process and based on an adapted version of the protocol to develop ICF Core Sets. These are sets of categories from the ICF, serving as standards for the assessment, communication and reporting of functioning and health for clinical studies, clinical encounters and multi-professional comprehensive assessment and management.
Results
Twenty-three experts from Germany and Switzerland selected 105 categories of the ICF component Activities and Participation for the ICF-based standard set. The largest number of categories was selected from the chapter Mobility (50 categories, 47.6%).
Conclusions
The standard set for older individuals with joint contractures provides health professionals with a standard for describing patients’ activity limitations and participation restrictions. The standard set also provides a common basis for the development of patient-centered measures and intervention programs. The preliminary version of the ICF-based standard set will be tested in subsequent studies with regard to its psychometric properties.
Objective:
Patient reported outcomes (PROs) are relevant in rheumatology. Variable accessibility and validity of commonly used PROs are obstacles to homogeneity in evidence synthesis. The objective of this project was to provide a comprehensive library of “validated PROs”.
Methods:
A launch meeting with rheumatologists, PROs methodological experts, and patients, was held to define the library’s aims and scope, and basic requirements. To feed the library we performed systematic reviews on selected diseases and domains. Relevant information on PROs was collected using standardised data collection forms based on the COSMIN checklist.
Results:
The EULAR Outcomes Measures Library (OML), whose aims are to provide and to advise on PROs on a user-friendly manner albeit based on scientific grounds, has been launched and made accessible to all. PROs currently included cover any domain and, are generic or specifically target to the following diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, spondyloarthritis, low back pain, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, osteoporosis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Up to 236 instruments (106 generic and 130 specific) have been identified, evaluated, and included. The systematic review for SLE, which yielded 10 specific instruments, is presented here as an example.
The OML website includes, for each PRO, information on the construct being measured and the extent of validation, recommendations for use, and available versions; it also contains a glossary on common validation terms.
Conclusion:
The OML is an in progress library led by rheumatologists, related professionals and patients, that will help to better understand and apply PROs in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.
This research studies effects that the average increase in travel times due to road traffic congestion has on characteristics of an existing distribution network. It presents the most detailed estimate of ‘on-the-road’ effects on distribution network characteristics up to now, from the network modelling perspective and from the processed data point of view. A concrete network model allowing for the representation of all relevant transportation flows is presented. The processed traffic information relies on navigation service data. The use of such data allows the requirements that arise for the traffic analysis of a whole distribution network to be met. It is shown that this data source may considerably contribute in forthcoming research. The effects of traffic congestion are quantified to get insights into the extent to which regular traffic congestion affects distribution network characteristics and to understand the mitigating effect when the number of distribution centres is increased.
There are growing concerns in the food industry about how supply chains can be managed in a more sustainable way. When distribution activities are outsourced to a logistics service provider (LSP), shippers need to evaluate the LSPs they may (potentially) engage in order to ensure that supply chain sustainability goals are met. In this paper, we present a methodology for LSP evaluation and focus on the ecological dimension of sustainability. We examine how the network carbon footprint of a real-world distribution system is affected by the LSP network that is chosen to forward goods from production facilities to customers. To do this, we analyze the shipment data of an existing Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) manufacturer. A quantitative distribution network model is set up to study the network carbon footprint of 125 scenarios. Real-world shipments are forwarded via five generic, idealized types of LSP networks. In total, 625 network carbon footprints, specified by three distribution logistics variables and the structure of the LSP network, have been calculated. The results show that LSP structures practicing a geographically decentralized consolidation of shipments are most efficient in reducing of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Furthermore, the effects of changing the manufacturer's and the LSP's strategies for deciding on the tonnage to be forwarded via the LSP network or moved by direct transports are quantified. Finally, we estimate the GHG effect of improving the capacity utilization of the vehicles that move the products.
Background: Joint contractures are common problems in frail older people in nursing homes. Irrespective of the exact extent of older individuals in geriatric care settings living with joint contractures, they appear to be a relevant problem. Also, the new emphasis on the syndrome of joint contractures, e. g. by the German statutory long term care insurance, led to an increase in assessment and documentation efforts and preventive interventions in clinical care.
However, more attention should be paid to the actual situation of older individuals in nursing homes with prevalent joint contractures, particularly their experience of related activity limitations and participation restrictions.
Thus, the aim of this study is 1) to develop a tailored intervention to improve functioning, and especially participation and quality of life in older residents with joint contractures in nursing homes and 2) to test the feasibility of the intervention accompanied by a rigorous process evaluation.
Methods: The complex intervention, which will be developed in this project follows the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) framework and integrates the perspectives of all potentially relevant user groups, from the affected individuals to clinicians and researchers. The development process will comprise a systematic literature review, reanalysis of existing data and the integration of the knowledge of the affected individuals and experts.
The developed intervention including a comprehensive process evaluation will be pilot tested with residents with joint contractures in three nursing homes.
Discussion: The projected study will provide a tailored intervention to improve functioning, participation and quality of life in older residents with joint contractures in nursing homes. With this focus, the intervention will support patient relevant outcomes. The pilot study including process evaluation will offer a first opportunity to indicate the size of the intervention’s effect and prepare further studies.
Objectives
The objective of this study was to assess the objectivity, cross-cultural validity, and convergent validity of the Vestibular Activities and Participation (VAP) questionnaire among four countries, Germany, United States, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
Study Design and Setting
This was a cross-sectional study conducted in four specialized outpatient dizziness clinics in Germany, United States, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
Results
A total of 453 participants were included in the study. The Rasch analysis revealed two separate subscales. Subscale 1 items included focusing attention, lying down, standing, bending, lifting and carrying objects, and sports. Subscale 2 items included walking long distances, climbing, running, moving around within buildings other than home, using transportation, and driving. The Pearson product–moment correlation between the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and the summary score of the VAP subscale 1 was 0.66 and was 0.64 for subscale 2.
Conclusion
Owing to its shortness and intercultural adaptability, the new two-scale version of the VAP questionnaire lends itself to clinical practice and research across countries to estimate the effect of vertigo and dizziness on activity limitation and participation restrictions. Psychometrically sound summary scores can be calculated. More extended versions of the VAP can be used for comprehensive clinical assessment where summary scores are not needed or a more detailed documentation is warranted.
In this paper, we propose a combined methodology for the selection of distribution centres (DCs) by integrating and balancing economic, environmental and social sustainability aspects. The analytic network process (ANP) permits to systematically evaluate possible DCs on the basis of a situation-specific decision structure. A systematic development of the decision networks, which is one of the core challenges using the ANP, is supported by the process analysis method which we extend for that purpose. The validity and soundness of the proposed framework are demonstrated by means of a case study. The case study results reveal that omitting aspects of sustainability can lead to unfortunate results.
The occupational therapy community has been receptive to the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) published in 2001. Building upon results of a survey (2008–2009) and subsequent workshop (2010) conducted by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists on the use and utility of the ICF for occupational therapists, this paper addresses some of the opportunities and challenges to strengthening the use of the ICF in occupational therapy practice. Attaining further clarity on the relationship of occupational therapy concepts and the ICF and developing crosswalk tables to exemplify linkages between occupational therapy terminology and the ICF will strengthen utility of the ICF for occupational therapy. Enhanced clarity about the concepts within occupational therapy that correspond to the ICF will ultimately assist other professions and disciplines in their understanding about occupational therapy and occupational therapists’ roles in health and related systems.