October 22, 2009

Researchers in various studies looking for participants

Fingerprint study

The Biometric Standards, Performance, and Assurance Laboratory is looking for 250 people 18 and older to participate in a paid fingerprint study.

The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between the force applied by a subject’s finger and the resulting fingerprint image quality, system performance and subject comfort.
 
During the visit, basic demographic information will be collected from participants. In addition, participants will be trained on how to use an optical fingerprint sensor.
 
Subjects will interact with the sensor using varying levels of force (auto, 5N, 7N, 9N, 11N, 13N), and images will be collected in the form of a right and left hand slap print (index, middle, ring, and little finger  together) and the left and right thumb separately. In total, 72 images will be collected.

Participants will be asked questions about their experiences and comfort interacting with the sensor at the different force levels.
 
The study takes approximately 30 minutes and will take place in Room B307, Michael Golden Laboratories and Shops, which is connected to Knoy Hall. Signs will be posted in the main entryway of Knoy.
 
To register for an appointment, visit www.bspalabs.org/registration.
Participants will receive  $10 upon completion of the study.
 
For more information, contact Eric Kukula at kukula@purdue.edu or Steve Elliott at elliott@purdue.edu.
 

Adolescent boys and girls needed for bone health study

The Department of Foods and Nutrition is seeking volunteers for a study to measure the effect of Vitamin D supplements on bone and muscle growth in early adolescent boys and girls.

The study will begin in November and extend for 12 weeks. 

Participants must be healthy girls age 9-12 and boys age 10-13.  Children will receive up to $200 for their participation in addition to free measurements of their body and bone strength. The principal investigator is Connie Weaver, distinguished professor and head of the Department of Foods and Nutrition.

For more information, contact Berdine Martin at bmartin1@purdue.edu or 49-46559, or Lucy Zhang at luzhang@purdue.edu or 49-62195.

Vitamin D and prevention of bone loss

The Department of Foods and Nutrition is seeking volunteers for a study to evaluate the levels of vitamin D that are most beneficial to prevent bone loss. 

The study will extend over three eight-week periods.  

Participants must be healthy women who have been postmenopausal for four or more years and who are not receiving hormone-replacement therapy.

Subjects will be paid $100 per study for three 60-day studies for a total of $300.

The principal investigator is Connie Weaver, distinguished professor and head of the Department of Foods and Nutrition.

For more information, contact Clara Park at cypark@purdue.edu or 49-40385, or Berdine Martin at bmartin1@purdue.edu or 49-46559.

Individuals with Parkinson’s disease needed for a speech treatment study

Participants are being sought for a Purdue study examining a new treatment for speech and voice disorders as a result of Parkinson’s disease.

Participants should have been diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and be experiencing problems with vocal loudness as a result of their disease. Patients enrolled cannot receive concurrent therapy for speech or voice (although cognitive therapy would be allowed). Patients need to pass a screening questionnaire.

Treatment involves wearing a small device for part of each day. The device will be fit by an audiologist and will play noise in one ear. The noise will be on only while the patient talks and will not make it more difficult for the patient to hear the people with whom he or she is talking.

The hypothesis is that the noise will change the way the patient talks, improving speech production and making the patient easier to understand.

Patients attend sessions over a number of weeks (10-15 sessions over 14-20 weeks) for testing. Some sessions are in the lab in West Lafayette. Some sessions can be conducted in the patient’s home.

Patients will be paid for participation ($260-$360 depending on length of study) and for travel if traveling more than 30 minutes to come to the lab. We ask that a caregiver or communication partner also participate with the individual with Parkinson’s disease if possible. The communication partner needs to attend fewer sessions than the individual with Parkinson’s disease, but is welcome at all sessions.

To participate, or for more information on the study, contact Sandy Snyder, research associate, at snyder33@purdue.edu.

Married couples sought for diabetes study

Married adults age 50 and older with type 2 diabetes and their spouses are needed for a research study of the daily management of diabetes.

Participants will be interviewed in person, and then will complete an electronic diary on a laptop computer at the end of the day for eight consecutive days. Participants also will take a digital image of their evening meal and record the foods and beverages consumed at the meal for eight consecutive days. Participants will be paid for being part of the study.

The primary investigator is Melissa Franks, assistant professor of child development and family studies.

For more information, call the Center for Families at 49-49878.