Investigating the Accessibility of Voice Assistants With Impaired Users: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Voice assistants allow users to control appliances and functions of a smart home by simply uttering a few words. Such systems hold the potential to significantly help users with motor and cognitive disabilities who currently depend on their caregiver even for basic needs (eg, opening a door). The research on voice assistants is mainly dedicated to able-bodied users, and studies evaluating the accessibility of such systems are still sparse and fail to account for the participants' actual motor, linguistic, and cognitive abilities.

Body fluid distribution in elderly subjects with congestive heart failure.

The aims of this study were to investigate body fluid changes in elderly patients suffering from congestive heart failure (CHF) and to identify the fluid measurement that best characterizes fluid overload states in CHF patients by comparison with normal hydration in the elderly. In a case-controlled experimental design, 72 elderly subjects (65-98 yr), 38 healthy and 34 with CHF, were studied. Total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) were determined by dilution methods; fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

Body composition in underweight elderly subjects: reliability of bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Background And Aims: In underweight elderly subjects it is important to estimate body composition and particularly fat-free mass (FFM). Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a non-invasive method in determining FFM, but its usefulness in these frail subjects should be verified. The aim of this study is to verify in underweight elderly people the reliability of previously published BIA formulas in detecting FFM.

Changes in fluid compartments and body composition in obese women after weight loss induced by gastric banding.

Background/aims: Surgical gastric banding procedures induce considerable and rapid weight losses in obese subjects. Nevertheless changes in lean mass and body fluids following these surgical treatments are not well known.

Methods: We studied 6 obese women aged 38-42 years, before, and 8 and 24 weeks after laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LAP-BAND(TM)).