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Stepping into the Future: A Narrative Review of Technology-Assisted Devices in Motor Rehabilitation
No full textBackground Motor impairments resulting from stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, and musculoskeletal injuries may present challenges in rehabilitation. While conventional therapeutic approaches are effective, they often lack real-time monitoring, instant feedback, and individualized treatment. Technology-assisted rehabilitation devices (such as wearable sensors, biofeedback systems, robotic exoskeletons, and virtual reality therapies) provide an alternative by facilitating continuous data tracking, increasing patient engagement, and allowing for personalized rehabilitation plans. However, their widespread implementation in clinical settings remains constrained by factors like awareness, cost, and the need for clinician training. Objective The use of technology-assisted rehabilitation devices in motor rehabilitation has the potential to improve patient outcomes. This study seeks to outline their clinical applications and advantages, emphasizing their impact on motor function and providing insights into their integration into rehabilitation programs. Methods Through a narrative review, this study compiles existing research on technology-assisted rehabilitation devices for motor recovery. Peer-reviewed studies and emerging research is explored to provide an overview of their effectiveness and current clinical applications. Results/Implications Technology-assisted rehabilitation devices allow clinicians to develop targeted treatment strategies. For instance, smart insoles and inertial measurement units aid in gait analysis, while biofeedback systems support neuromuscular re-education. Exoskeletons and soft exosuits help restore mobility, especially for stroke survivors and individuals with spinal cord injuries. Additionally, virtual reality and haptic technologies create immersive rehabilitation experiences that enhance patient motivation and therapy adherence. However, widespread adoption is limited by high costs, data security concerns, and the need for specialized clinician training. Keywords: technology-assisted rehabilitation, digital health, motor impairment, rehabilitatio
Nursing Perspectives of Family-Centred Rounds in Critical Care Units
No full text['UNSDG 3: Good Health and Well-being (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal3)']Viable, Healthy and Safe CommunitiesBackground: In critical care settings, many patients cannot speak for themselves for various reasons, leaving the family to communicate and make decisions on their behalf. Since families assume the lead role in care planning and decision-making in these situations, family-centred care is of focus in this setting. Family-centred rounds are often seen as a component of family-centred care and generally consist of bedside work rounds where the patient and family share control in managing the plan and evaluating the process. Nurses have an important role in the execution of family-centred rounds and their active participation is crucial. There is a current lack of rigorous and consistent literature that strictly explores nursing perspectives of family-centred rounds in adult critical care areas. PurposeThe purpose of this research is to explore nursing perspectives of family-centred rounds in adult critical care units. This multisite research study will span four Southwestern Ontario Hospitals, including six critical care units, and is mainly descriptive in nature. An online survey will be distributed via email following ethics clearance to critical care nurses currently working in adult critical care units. ResultsThe final results of this research are still pending. Preliminary results will be available by the time of the conference. Conclusion: More research is needed in the area that explores nursing perspectives of family-centred rounding in adult critical care areas and the support of nurses is foundational to effective implementation. This research will provide information that can improve family-centred care, investigate facilitators and barriers to implementation and contribute to the development of evidence-based best practices for family-centred rounds
Session 5: Concern for Animal Care and Safekeeping as a Barrier to Leaving Abusive Relationships: Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence and Animal Welfare Service Providers
No full textPracticeIntimate partner violence, animal care, service providers, rural communitie
E-cigarette Consumption in North American Schools
Get PDFE-Cigarette use has grown at an unprecedented rate in North America. Studies are being conducted to understand the social and health-related implications of this phenomenon. Teenagers are at the center of the discussion when e-cigarette consumption is researched and examined. Understanding the rate of growth and consumption relative to school settings is important to understanding this phenomenon. A knowledge synthesis is provided to direct the following questions: (1) Where are teenagers consuming e-cigarettes? And why? (2) What are some current North American policies that address smoking and vaping in schools? (3) Why is the consumption of e-cigarettes school property problematic for administrators? How can they prevent the usage of e-cigarettes in their schools? As e-cigarette consumption continues to grow in numbers, research must be conducted to understand its role, impact, and social construct within a North American school system
The Influence of Media Framing in a Participatory Democracy: The Genetic Non-Discrimination Act
No full textGenetic Non-Discrimination legislation arrived in Canada almost a decade after the US, UK, EU and Australia. Its birth was fraught: it took 5 legislative attempts, and finally succeeded against the opposition of a majority PM, Justice Minister, and Cabinet, not to mention a Supreme Court of Canada Challenge. This important legislation received little coverage in the press, and when it did, it was often at the urging of two opposing factions: civil society groups (Huntington's Society Canada, the Centre for Jewish and Israeli Affairs, Breast Cancer Canada) versus the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA). Intense political lobbying was conducted by both parties, but a unique element of the civil society organizations was to promote a citizen writing campaign. In an analysis of media covering the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act (GNDA), or Bill S-201 (2017). I aim to investigate the effects of media framing in adequately informing the public about the GNDA. To do so, I conducted a literature review to identify key features of a participatory democracy and features impacting framing. Then, I developed a corpus of 88 articles, and identified 9 key pieces of media, including articles, YouTube videos, and opinion pieces. I analyzed how media framing influenced the dissemination of information regarding the GNDA. By shedding light on the media's pivotal role in creating an informed public within the realm of health policy, I underscore the importance and responsibility of media, and its potential impact on effective participatory democracy from flourishing
Functionalizable molecular tubing synthesis combining self-immolative polymers and rotaxanes
Get PDFCarbon nanotubes are used daily for many applications such as support for automotive parts, water filtration and energy storage, due to their high tensile strength and lightweight nature. However, a limitation lies in their structure since pure carbon does not allow for easy nor high yielding ways to add functional groups in the molecular structure. A variation of organic molecular tubing with modifiable groups can be constructed from synthesizing polyrotaxanes, which are repeating units of interlocked self-immolative polymers (SIPs) and macrocyclic compounds. SIPs are molecules which are specifically end capped for stability until it encounters a specific environmental condition that causes the polymer to spontaneously degrade. Endcaps can be selectively chosen to destabilize under certain stimuli such as enzymes, UV light and chemical analytes allowing for SIP's to be used in a variety of functions such as drug delivery. Currently, most research focus on linear SIP's to form spheres encapsulating drug molecules that deliver into cancer cells. Our work introduces a novel benzimidazole-backbone, resulting in a SIP that includes blocky ends which physically locks functionalized macrocycles in place to allow for cross linkage and any post-modifications. Application of a specific stimulus would allow for the inner bulky groups to degrade and ultimately leave a hollow molecular tube with the specific functionalizations desired
Energy intensity of human transportation
No full textHumans are a mobile species, and transportation technology has been one of the primary enablers of our current shared, globally-connected society. Transportation is also one of the largest categories of human energy use, and this energy use correlates with a diverse range of environmental impacts. Different modes of transportation have different energy intensities, with increasing speed being associated with greater energy intensity. This study reviews the fundamental relationships and energy requirements of human-powered and wheeled ground transportation. Relevant data for modeling energy efficiency of walked, running and wheeled transport in the context of engineering design are compiled and presented. It is shown that increasing energy intensity facilitates greater speed and movement of more people. In general, people are able to travel anywhere at any speed, if they are willing and able to pay the energy price. At the same time, a willingness to accept reduced speeds would greatly reduce the energy intensity and environmental impact of transportation. Finally, several design implications for low energy ground transportation are examined in the context of energy efficiency
Equity-Focused Palliative and End-of-Life Care in a System Not Designed for it: Qualitative Insights from Service Providers and Recipients
No full text‘Equity-focused care’ has gained attention in recent years. With widespread use, concepts take on different meanings creating confusion for service providers. This study examines what people experiencing homelessness with life-limiting illnesses value in equity-focused care, and how service providers—who identify their work as equity-focused—describe their roles within a care system that relies on, yet often undervalues, this kind of work. We conducted 11 interviews with service providers and seven with people experiencing homelessness with a life-limiting illness and who received care from a community-based palliative care team in Western Canada. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed via thematic analysis. We constructed three themes: Adapting to Individual Needs; Service Provider Orientation to Practice; and Being Present with People. Themes aligned with two spheres of influence from the Education Training Research’s Health Equity Framework: Relationships and Networks and Systems of Power. Findings highlighted that service providers deliver equity-focused care by developing strong relational care networks challenging existing power structures –making this model incongruent with existing individually-focused biomedical care models. Findings transform the theoretical concept, ‘equity-focused care’, into tangible knowledge that highlights areas for policy change to support equity-focused care
A Review of Judgments of Learning and Executive Functions in Spaced Learning: The Enemy of Spacing?
No full textThe benefit of the spacing effect is inherently hindered by perception bias in making judgments of learning (JOLs), but more insights might be found in the context of executive functions (EF), where it correlates with metacognitive strategies and cognitive loads. Thus, this article attempts to address the dilemma of the spacing effect by synthesizing both existing JOL and EF perspectives. This paper yields various mechanisms related to memory performance in spaced learning: delayed JOLs, JOL reactivity, overt retrieval, inhibition control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. All of these factors associate with the theory of mind, an important yet understudied social-cognitive skill in spaced learning which could shift our ways of thinking about spacing
