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Use it or lose it: a four-year follow-up assessing whether physical activity near one's capacity reduces the risk of functional decline among older adults
No full textBackground Physical capacity (PC) defines the limits for physical activity (PA), while activities in daily life typically remain submaximal. Older adults whose daily activities approach their physical capacity may experience less functional decline, though prospective evidence is limited. This study compared changes in physical function over a four-year follow-up between community-dwelling older adults categorized based on their combined baseline physical capacity and physical activity. Methods 312 community-dwelling older adults (75-85 years, 60% women) participated in this study. Baseline physical capacity was measured using the 5-second Mean Amplitude Deviation (MAD) during a maximal 10-meter walking test. Physical activity was assessed based on individuals' similar to 99.25th percentile MAD values from free-living accelerometry (representing an intensity equivalent to 75 min/week of physical activity), which were then used for group categorization into lowPC-lowPA, lowPC-highPA, highPC-lowPA, and highPC-highPA profiles. Physical function was assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and the 5x Sit-To-Stand (5xSTS) test. Analyses used nonparametric tests and generalized estimating equations. Results Significant changes in SPPB and 5xSTS were observed in all profiles (p < 0.05) except for the lowPC-highPA profile. The decline in SPPB was greater for low versus high physical activity profiles in both PC profiles (high PC: B -0.61, SE 0.24, 95% CI -1.08, -0.15; low PC: B -0.96, SE 0.35, 95% CI -1.62, -0.32), but no significant difference was found for the decline in 5xSTS time between physical activity profiles in either physical capacity profile. Conclusions Engaging in physically demanding activities, irrespective of baseline physical capacity, may help slow functional decline in old age. Older adults should be encouraged to engage in physically demanding activities to enhance their functional capacity.Funding
This study was funded by the Juho Vainio Foundation in Finland (Grant to A.L.) and Finnish Cultural Foundation (Grant to A.L.). The AGNES-study was financially supported by an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council (Grant 693045 to T.R.), the Academy of Finland (Grant 310526 to T.R.). This work was furthermore supported by the Academy Research Fellow (The Academy of Finland grant numbers 321336, 328818 and 352653 to Ti.R.) and Academy of Finland (The Academy of Finland grant numbers 339391 and 346462 to L.K.), the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture (Grant to E.P.).
Acknowledgements
We thank the whole AGNES research team, especially Eeva-Maija Palonen and Niina Kajan and, all research assistants for their work in the data collection and analyses and all participants of the AGNES study for their time and effort.
The authors wish to acknowledge CSC—IT Center for Science, Finland, for computational re-sources. The Gerontology Research Center is a joint effort between the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Tampere. The content of this article does not reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Responsibility for the information and views expressed in the article lies entirely with the author(s
Giving Voice to Nature: Participatory Design with Non-Human Stakeholders for Sustainable Development
No full textIn this workshop, we aim to explore, discuss, and debate ways to engage and connect beyond the traditional human stakeholder in Participatory Design and to co-design with animals, plants, micro-organisms, and their ecosystems. We intend to collaboratively investigate how we can possibly expand participation to these more-than-human stakeholders which we have ignored so far and whose involvement in the design process is unexplored in relation to what is now needed in sustainable development. Acknowledging the limits of current PD theories, methods, and experiences in co-designing with more-than-human stakeholders, we invite participants to contribute with ideas, methods, case studies, and stories of 'giving voice' to nature in PD: something we believe is key to rethink the field in light of the environmental crisis we are facing today
De ervaring van projectleiders in het implementatieproces met de ondersteuning van een implementatielab
No full textOpleidingen voor zorgprofessionals bereiden onvoldoende voor op het leiden van kwaliteitsverbeteringen, wat bijdraagt aan een kloof tussen innovatie en toepassing. De Universiteit Hasselt ontwikkelde daarom het THINK³ Simulation & Innovation Lab: een praktijkgericht implementatielab dat zorgverleners ondersteunt bij duurzame implementatie. Deze studie onderzocht hoe projectleiders deze ondersteuning ervaren tijdens het implementeren van kwaliteitsverbeterinitiatieven. Binnen een kwalitatief grounded theory-onderzoek werden data verzameld via drie focusgroepen, observaties en demografische gegevens. Deelnemers waren projectleiders uit een tweejarig begeleidingstraject van het Health Campus Zorginnovatiefonds. Uit de resultaten blijkt dat implementatie wordt ervaren als een cyclisch leerproces vol enthousiasme, onzekerheid en heroriëntatie. THINK³ biedt hierbij een cruciale structuur: projectleiders waarderen vooral de veilige leeromgeving, reflectiemomenten, praktijkgerichte tools en expertise. Deze bevorderen professionele groei, versterken implementatievaardigheden en helpen omgaan met complexiteit. Het lab draagt bij aan peer learning en duurzame resultaten, en was soms essentieel om projecten voort te zetten. Desondanks blijven uitdagingen zoals stakeholderbetrokkenheid bestaan. De studie benadrukt het belang van implementatielabs als leer- en ondersteuningsstructuur voor duurzame innovatie in de zorg
Task-Specific Assessment and Characterization of Perception Accuracy in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Comparative Study with Healthy Controls.
No full textSide channel power analysis on unipolar flexible thin-film transistor technologies for SRAM
No full textDeze masterproef onderzoekt de veiligheid van zijkanalen van SRAM-cellen die geïmplementeerd zijn
met behulp van indium-gallium-zinkoxide (IGZO) unipolaire flexibele
dunnefilmtransistortechnologieën (TFT), waar alleen NMOS-transistoren beschikbaar zijn. Een
belangrijk doel is om te bepalen of dergelijke technologieën kwetsbaar zijn voor aanvallen via
zijkanalen en hoe hun beveiliging kan worden verbeterd.
Het vermogensverbruik tijdens lees-, schrijf- en onthoudbewerkingen wordt geanalyseerd met behulp
van vermogensanalyse om potentiële informatielekken te identificeren. Er wordt een
kwaliteitsmaatstaf (FoM) ontwikkeld op basis van parameters zoals statische ruismarge bij
lezen en schrijven, celoppervlak, vermogensverbruik, overlappingspercentage en timing,
wat een gestructureerde evaluatieaanpak biedt. 4T2R, 6T2R asymmetrisch, 8T2RS symmetrisch, 8T2RF feedback-cut en 10T2R Schmitt-trigger SRAM-celstructuren worden gesimuleerd.
De resultaten tonen aan dat symmetrische SRAM-ontwerpen bestendiger zijn tegen aanvallen via
zijkanalen dan asymmetrische cellen, hoewel perfecte immuniteit niet wordt bereikt en er
detecteerbare verschillen blijven bestaan. De hoge FoM van de 4T2R SRAM-cel suggereert dat de cel de
beste afweging bezit tussen beveiliging en prestatie. Van de geëvalueerde ontwerpen heeft de 10T2R
SRAM-cel de laagste FoM, wat duidt op een zwakkere beveiliging tegen zijkanaalanalyses. Deze
masterproef draagt bij aan het veilig ontwerpen van SRAM-cellen in opkomende IGZO-gebaseerde
unipolaire TFT-technologieën
Paddling through palpitations: when genes, myocardial inflammation and exercise collide-a case report of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy in a young competitive rower
No full textBackground Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is characterized by fibrofatty replacement of myocardium, predisposing to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is often linked to desmosomal gene mutations, particularly PKP2, which encodes plakophilin-2, a key structural protein in cardiac intercalated discs. In individuals with PKP2 mutations, exercise has been shown to accelerate disease progression.Case summary A 22-year-old male semi-professional rower presented with palpitations, pre-syncope, and a history of presumed myocarditis with subepicardial fibrosis on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Workup revealed anterior T-wave inversions on resting ECG and sustained monomorphic right ventricular (RV) outflow tract tachycardia, induced during exercise testing. Repeat CMR showed RV dysfunction and non-ischaemic RV and LV fibrosis with fibrofatty replacement. The patient met diagnostic criteria for biventricular ACM and underwent catheter ablation targeting the arrhythmic substrate. A multidisciplinary team carefully considered ICD therapy. However, due to the limited extent of the arrhythmic substrate, the exercise-induced nature of the ventricular tachycardia, and the successful ablation, ICD implantation was deferred at this stage. An ILR was implanted for continuous rhythm monitoring, with a low threshold for future ICD placement. High-intensity sports restriction, pharmacological therapy, and genetic counselling were initiated. Genetic testing identified a pathogenic PKP2 mutation.Discussion This case highlights the complex interplay of genetic predisposition, myocardial inflammation, and exercise in ACM expression. The presumed myocarditis likely represented a 'hot phase' of ACM, accelerating structural cardiac changes. High-intensity exercise then acted as a 'second hit,' triggering phenotypic expression. Multidisciplinary evaluation combining rhythm monitoring, imaging, and genetic testing was key to diagnosis and management
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No full textInteractions between systemic inflammation and the stress response and their role in exacerbating symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome
No full textChronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is characterized by physical and cognitive fatigue, along with elevated fatigability. Although CFS is considered a multifactorial disorder, research on the interrelationships between different physiological dysfunctions and how they correlate with symptom severity is limited. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between systemic inflammation, self-reported stress in response to a psychosocial stressor, and self-reported fatigue following a mental and physical challenge.
Methods 96 patients with CFS and 53 healthy participants (HP) completed the Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST-stress induction), the Paced Auditory Serial Attention Task (PASAT-mental fatigue induction), and an arm-leg cycling task (physical fatigue induction). Subjective stress and mental and physical fatigue were rated before, during, and after the respective tasks. Additionally, serum samples were collected after testing to measure hs-CRP levels as an indicator of systemic inflammation.
Results Compared to HP, patients experienced higher mental and physical fatigue (main effect of group) and fatigability (group*time interaction effect) during and after the fatigue induction tasks (all p’s<0.001) and elevated levels of stress during the MAST (main effect of group; p<0.0001). Additionally, patients’ fatigue recovered more slowly up to 24 hours after finishing the cycling task (p=0.0004) and the PASAT (p=0.0192). Patients with increased levels of hs-CRP experienced higher levels of stress, mental, and cognitive fatigue during the MAST, PASAT, and cycling test respectively (main effect of hs-CRP on ratings; all p’s < 0.001). Similarly, patients with higher stress levels (quantified as AUCg of stress ratings during the MAST) experienced higher physical (p=0.0011) and cognitive (p=0.0004) fatigue during and after the fatigue tasks.
Conclusion In line with the core symptomatology of CFS, patients recover more slowly from physical and mental exertion compared to HP. Additionally, our results indicate that systemic inflammation and the stress response interact in CFS patients. Both factors are associated with the severity of symptoms, underscoring their role in exacerbating CFS symptoms. This provides evidence for both interphysiological and psychophysiological links in CFS