To analyze the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of immersive virtual tasks.
The authors recruited 11 young adults and 10 older adults. The participants performed three virtual reaching tasks ...while walking on a virtual path. The descriptive analysis and comparison between participants were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test for nonparametric and nominal variables, respectively. The authors also used analysis of variance for a between-groups comparison for normal variables.
Twenty percent of older adults and 81.8% of young adults completed all three tasks (chi-square test; p = .005). Both groups reported minor symptoms, with no significant differences. The older adults were more motivated to practice the tasks (Mann-Whitney U test; p = .015) and would be more likely to suggest them to others (chi-square test; p = .034).
All three tasks were feasible for young adults. All participants, except for one, had cybersickness. The symptoms were mostly mild and subsided once the interaction was complete.
Spatial orientation is a cognitive domain frequently impaired in Alzheimer's Disease and can be one of its earliest symptoms.
This paper describes the results of tolerability, sense of presence and ...usability of two immersive virtual reality tasks for the assessment of spatial orientation, using VR headset in adults.
31 healthy adults recruited from university and the local community performed two experimental immersive virtual reality tasks of spatial orientation: the SOIVET-Maze for the assessment of allocentric to egocentric spatial abilities and the SOIVET-Route for the assessment of spatial memory and landmark recognition. Participants completed questionnaires about sense of presence, cybersickness symptoms, technology use profile and motion sickness history. Usability measures were assessed by spontaneous feedback from participants.
All participants were able to understand the task instructions and how to interact with the system. Both tasks seemed to induce a strong sense of presence, as assessed by the Witmer and Singer Presence Questionnaires (M=128 and 143 for SOIVET-Maze and SOIVET-Route, respectively). The SOIVET-Route had a small numeric advantage over the SOIVET-Maze tolerability scores assessed by the Cybersickness Questionnaire (M=4.19, SD=5.576 and M=3.52, SD=6.418 for SOIVET-Maze and SOIVET-Route respectively). Also, there were no drop-outs on the SOIVET-Route due to tolerability issues, unlike the SOIVET-Maze, which had two drop-outs. However, this difference was not statistically significant (Z= -.901, p= 0.368, Wilcoxon signed-rank test).
Identifying polymorphisms in the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) genes is gaining importance as predictors of fluoropyrimidine-associated toxicity. The recommendation of dose adjustment for ...chemotherapy guided by the presence of polymorphisms of the
gene can potentially improve treatment safety for a large number of patients, saving lives, avoiding complications and reducing health care costs. This article discusses how personalisation of fluoropyrimidine treatment based on the identification of DPYD variants can mitigate toxicities and be cost effective.
O futebol é um esporte coletivo, em que desempenhos individuais podem definir o resultado de um jogo ou de um campeonato. Especialmente em cobranças de pênalti, o destino da partida encontra-se nos ...pés do cobrador. A ansiedade no momento das cobranças de pênalti em jogos de futebol de campo é um dos motivos que podem fazer com que um jogador de futebol não converta a cobrança em gol. Neste estudo experimental controlado foi testado um protocolo de biofeedback e psicologia cognitivo-comportamental com o objetivo de reduzir o estado de ansiedade em atletas de futebol amadores de futebol de campo de 15 e 16 anos de idade. Os participantes do grupo experimental foram avaliados antes de duas competições de pênaltis, que aconteceram antes e depois de quatro encontros de intervenção com o protocolo de biofeedback e psicologia cognitivo-comportamental para a redução de ansiedade dos jogadores de futebol que participaram do grupo ativo, em relação ao grupo controle
Soccer is a collective sport in which individual performances can define the outcome of a game or a championship. Especially at penalties shootouts, the destination of the match is at the feet of the penalty taker. Anxiety at the time of penalty kicks at soccer matches is one of the reasons why a soccer player may not score the goal. In this controlled experimental study, a protocol of biofeedback and cognitive-behavioral psychology was tested with the objective of reducing the state anxiety in 15 and 16 year old amateur soccer athletes. Participants in the experimental group were assessed before two penalty shoot-outs, which took place before and after four intervention sessions with a biofeedback and cognitive-behavioral psychology protocol. The results showed that the protocol was efficient as a method and effective in reducing the anxiety state of soccer players who participated in the experimental group, in comparison to the control group
PDF
