An analysis of interrater agreement across multiple respondents on anecdotal assessments and correspondence between functional analysis outcomes was completed. Experiment I evaluated overall agreement among multiple respondents (direct-care staff) on the hypothesized function of each residents (28 adults with mental retardation) problematic behavior using the Motivational Assessment Scale (MAS) and the Functional Analysis Screening Tool (FAST). Results of the questionnaires indicated that respondents agreed on the function of the problematic behavior for 10 of the 28 residents. Experiment II examined whether, for selected cases in which 4 out of 5 respondents agreed on the function of the problematic behavior, correspondence occurred between functional analyses and anecdotal assessments outcomes. Two of the 6 functional analyses did not evoke the problematic behavior. However, 4 functional analyses did produce corresponding outcomes suggesting that, when the functional analyses produced interpretable data, the results of the functional analyses corresponded with those of the anecdotal assessments.

This study compared verbal and nonverbal residents of Intermediate Care Facilities-Developmental Disabilities-Habilitative type (IFC-DD-H) on self-determination. The residents were compared using an adapted version of the Association for Retarded Citizen's (ARC) Self-determination scale.

We administered the Motivation Assessment Scale (MAS) and the Questions About Behavioral Function (QABF) to five raters and compared the results with functional analysis outcomes for 12 cases in which agreement was obtained for at least four out of five raters on either anecdotal assessment. The scores for functional categories on the MAS and QABF were ranked by averaging the scores for the raters who agreed on the primary maintaining variable. Functional analysis results were ranked by examining average responding across all conditions. A comparison showed correspondence between the highest category and the highest functional analysis condition for 10 out of 11 cases for the MAS and all 10 cases for the QABF. Correspondence for the category and condition ranked second was found for 2 out of 11 cases for the MAS and 2 out of 10 cases for the QABF. The magnitude of difference between categories on the MAS/QABF did not appear to predict the amount of difference in responding in the corresponding functional analyses.

Shore zones of large rivers are hot spots of biodiversity and contribute significantly to riverine ecosystem functioning. Today, shore degradation and other structural impair-ments like river straightening and channelization are strong impact factors on river ecosystem health. However, we still lack a thorough understanding of how structural shore zone degradation affects benthic community composition and their inherent ecosystem functions. In this thesis I tested the influence of training structure induced environmental factors on benthic macroinvertebrate community composition and the share of non-native species. Moreover, I assessed the community-associated ecosystem functions in terms of secondary production and resource utilization. In the main channel, communities were composed of only a few specialized taxa with low abundances, which contributed little to riverine secondary production. This is probably due to the harsh conditions produced by constantly high flow velocities and relocation of the fine sandy sediment. Main channel habitats were hardly affected by the adjacent training structure. Hence, species compositions and productivities were similar at all investigated main channel sites. By contrast, each of the shore communities was diverse, highly abundant and productive in comparison to the main channel. However, variations between shore structure communities and their ecosystem functions were prominent. One particular training structure, i.e. the off-bankline revetment, bore the most diverse and by far most productive benthic community, which utilized vast total amounts of basal resources (1,323 g DM m-² y-1). Varying sediment compositions, availability of macrophytes and diverse flow velocities, including lentic conditions, were revealed as key factors for increasing biodiversity, secondary production and resource utilization. Allochthonous boulder habitats were generally highly prone to non-native species invasion. Neozoa proved less productive than many native community members and consumed minor relative and total amounts of the prevailing resource pelagic algae. The present quantitative comparison of shore type specific effects on biodiversity, biomass and productivity provides managers with a tool to improve the ecological attributes of large river ecosystems with an unchangeable, impaired macrostructure. In its entirety, this thesis constitutes a sound basis to increase the mechanistic understanding of the way in which shore zone manipulation can affect riverine benthic communities and their associated ecosystem functions. / Die Uferbereiche großer Flüsse sind für die Biodiversität und Funktion dieser Ökosys-teme von enormer Bedeutung. Uferdegradierung und Kanalisierung gehören zu wichti-gen Faktoren, die Flussökosysteme nachhaltig beeinträchtigen. Wie sich anthropogene Umstrukturierungen der Uferbereiche auf die Zusammensetzung benthischer Ge-meinschaften und deren Ökosystemfunktion auswirken ist jedoch weitestgehend unbe-kannt. In dieser Arbeit werden die Effekte von uferspezifischen Habitatfaktoren auf die Komposition des Makrozoobenthos und den Anteil an Neozoen getestet. Zudem wurden die gemeinschaftsassoziierten Ökosystemfunktionen in Bezug auf Sekundärproduktion und Ressourcennutzung erfasst und bewertet. Die benthische Gemeinschaft des Hauptstroms bestand lediglich aus wenigen spezialisierten Arten, welche nur geringfügig zur Gesamtsekundärproduktion des Flusses beitrugen. Dies war vermutlich auf die rauen Bedingungen im Hauptstrom (insbesondere hohe Strömungsgeschwindigkeiten und damit verbundener Sedimenttransport) zurückzuführen. Die Makrozoobenthosgemeinschaften des Hauptroms wurden von den jeweils angrenzenden Ufertypen nicht beeinflusst. Im Gegensatz zum Hauptstrom zeigte jeder der untersuchten Ufertypen hohe Dichten an benthischen Invertebraten wobei sich Zusammensetzung und Funktion der Artengemeinschaften zwischen den Ufertypen stark unterschieden. Dabei brachte das Parallelwerk die diverseste und produktivste Makroinvertebratenfauna hervor, welche enorme Mengen basaler Ressourcen ingestierte (1,323 g DM m-2y-1). Hauptfaktoren für eine Erhöhung von Biodiversität, Sekundärproduktion und Ressourcennutzung waren neben variablen Sedimentzusammensetzungen und Makrophytenbeständen sich oft ändernde Fließgeschwindigkeiten mit lentischen Phasen. Allochthone Steinhabitate waren generell anfällig für die Invasion nicht heimischer Arten. Diese Neozoen waren weniger produktiv als viele heimische Taxa und nutzten nur geringe Mengen pelagischer Algen, welche die meist verfügbare Ressource darstellten. Aus dem ökologischen Vergleich der verschiedenen Ufertypen lassen sich Managementempfehlungen zur Verbesserung des ökologischen Zustandes in Bezug auf Biodiversität und Ökosystemfunktionen ableiten, welche für große Flüsse mit degradierter und unveränderbarer Makrostruktur in Betracht gezogen werden können. In ihrer Gesamtheit liefert diese Arbeit ein fundiertes mechanistisches Verständnis über die Effekte von Ufermanipulationen auf benthische Gemeinschaften und deren assoziierte Ökosystemfunktionen in großen Flüssen.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of teaching functional assessment skills to three Prekindergarten teachers and their teaching assistants. The effects were measured by examining the behavior of the teachers and assistants, as well as the behaviors of the students; before, during and after the delivery of three, two-hour functional assessment classes. The teaching staff videotaped themselves and their students during a regular class time, predetermined by the researcher and each teacher prior to the onset of baseline data collection, over an approximate nine-week period. The video was taken in twelve-minute segments every day. Later, the video was coded for specific behaviors. Although there were gains in appropriate intervention strategies from teachers and assistants during the intervention phase, the interventions generally peaked a week or two after the classes ended and gradually declined. Teacher skills were retained however, as most ratios of appropriate interventions maintained at higher rates than baseline. Relationships between student behavior and correct teacher interventions were established and maintained. The intervention resulted in changes in staff behavior, but results did not sustain at high levels over time. The realization that escape maintained some student behavior, and teaching skills to "test" for function, were likely the most important concepts for many of the participants. Further research should include adding a behavior coach to assist in shaping the teaching staffs' emerging skills and to provide a sounding board when developing specific student interventions.

[ES] La valoración funcional es fundamental en la evaluación y seguimiento de patologías musculoesqueléticas y neurológicas, ya que permite conocer, entre otras cosas, la forma de caminar de una persona, su equilibrio y su fuerza muscular; esto facilita la prescripción de tratamientos rehabilitadores o intervenciones quirúrgicas. En el caso de las personas mayores, esta evaluación adquiere mayor importancia, ya que la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) considera que la salud en las personas mayores se mide en términos de función; es parte fundamental de una valoración geriátrica integral y permite evaluar la fragilidad de las personas mayores mediante la capacidad para realizar actividades diarias. Mediante una evaluación funcional temprana y continua se puede promover un envejecimiento saludable, prevenir y diagnosticar de forma precoz posibles declives en la función, mejorando así la calidad de vida y manteniendo la independencia de las personas mayores durante el mayor tiempo posible. En la presente tesis doctoral se presenta el desarrollo de una metodología instrumentada de valoración funcional para las personas mayores. Una herramienta ágil y portable que, lejos de ser una metodología diagnóstica, puede servir de soporte para la toma de decisiones clínicas ante múltiples patologías del sistema locomotor y que permite clasificar y predecir en base a la funcionalidad del sistema musculoesquelético, el grado de alteración. Se ha llevado a cabo una serie de estudios con diferentes grupos de personas mayores: con enfermedad de Alzheimer, Parkinson y personas mayores frágiles con riesgo de sufrir una caída. El objetivo principal de los diferentes estudios era objetivar y determinar la capacidad de realizar algunas de las actividades funcionales básicas, como el equilibrio, la marcha, el giro para sentarse y levantarse de una silla en comparación con personas sanas de la misma edad; el objetivo secundario era estudiar la fiabilidad del procedimiento en estas poblaciones, así como generar una serie de modelos matemáticos basados tanto en estadística tradicional como en redes neuronales combinando diferentes tipologías de datos. Los aspectos más destacables de esta metodología son, por una parte, la inclusión de la valoración de actividades de la vida diaria con la duración reducida de la prueba, que es inferior a 2 minutos, lo que la hace más práctica y viable en el ámbito clínico y, en segundo lugar, que se trata de una instrumentación sencilla que consta de un único sensor embebido en un smartphone, que es capaz de gestionar todo el proceso de registro y realizar los cálculos necesarios para analizar las medidas obtenidas. Con todo ello se pone de manifiesto la utilidad del procedimiento y la viabilidad de los modelos desarrollados para la valoración funcional de personas mayores en un entorno clínico. / [CA] La valoració funcional és fonamental en l'avaluació i seguiment de patologies musculoesquelètiques i neurològiques, ja que permet conéixer, entre altres coses, la forma de caminar d'una persona, el seu equilibri i la seua força muscular; això facilita la prescripció de tractaments rehabilitadors o intervencions quirúrgiques. En el cas de les persones majors, aquesta avaluació adquireix major importància, ja que l'Organització Mundial de la Salut (OMS) considera que la salut en les persones majors es mesura en termes de funció; és part fonamental d'una valoració geriàtrica integral i permet avaluar la fragilitat de les persones majors mitjançant la capacitat per realitzar activitats diàries. Mitjançant una avaluació funcional precoç i contínua es pot promoure un envelliment saludable, prevenir i diagnosticar de forma precoç possibles deterioraments en la funció, millorant així la qualitat de vida i mantenint la independència de les persones majors durant el major temps possible. En la present tesi doctoral es presenta el desenvolupament d'una metodologia instrumentada de valoració funcional per a les persones majors, eina àgil i portàtil que, lluny de ser una metodologia diagnòstica, pot servir de suport per a la presa de decisions clíniques davant múltiples patologies del sistema locomotor i que permet classificar i predir en base a la funcionalitat del sistema musculoesquelètic, el grau d'alteració. S'han dut a terme una sèrie d'estudis amb diferents grups de persones majors: amb malaltia d'Alzheimer, Parkinson i persones majors fràgils amb risc de patir una caiguda. L'objectiu principal dels diferents estudis era objectivar i determinar la capacitat per a realitzar algunes de les activitats funcionals bàsiques, com l'equilibri, la marxa, el gir per seure i aixecar-se d'una cadira en comparació amb persones sanes de la mateixa edat; l'objectiu secundari era estudiar la fiabilitat del procediment en aquestes poblacions, així com generar una sèrie de models matemàtics basats tant en estadística tradicional com en xarxes neuronals, combinant diferents tipologies de dades. Els aspectes més destacables d'aquesta metodologia són, d'una banda, la inclusió de la valoració d'activitats de la vida quotidiana amb la duració reduïda de la prova, que és inferior a 2 minuts, la qual cosa la fa més pràctica i viable en l'àmbit clínic i, en segon lloc, que es tracta d'una instrumentació senzilla que consta d'un únic sensor embegut en un \textit{smartphone}, que és capaç de gestionar tot el procés de registre i realitzar els càlculs necessaris per analitzar les mesures obtingudes. Amb tot això es posa de manifest la utilitat del procediment i la viabilitat dels models desenvolupats per a la valoració funcional de persones majors en un entorn clínic. / [EN] Functional assessment is fundamental in the evaluation and monitoring of musculoskeletal and neurological pathologies, as it allows understanding a person's gait, balance, and muscular strength. This facilitates the prescription of rehabilitative treatments or surgical interventions. In the case of older adults, this assessment becomes even more important, as the World Health Organization (WHO) considers that health in older individuals is measured in terms of function, which is a fundamental part of a comprehensive geriatric assessment and allows evaluating frailty in older adults based on their ability to perform daily activities. Through early and continuous functional assessment, healthy aging can be promoted, and possible declines in function can be prevented and diagnosed early, thus improving quality of life and maintaining independence in older adults for as long as possible. This doctoral thesis presents the development of an instrumented methodology for functional assessment in older adults, which is an agile and portable tool that, far from being a diagnostic methodology, can support clinical decision-making regarding multiple pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. It enables classification and prediction of the degree of impairment based on the functionality of the musculoskeletal system. A series of studies have been conducted involving different groups of older adults: those with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and frail older adults at risk of falling. The main objective of these studies was to objectively determine the ability to perform functional activities such as balance, gait, turning to sit and stand from a chair, in comparison with healthy individuals of the same age. The secondary objective was to study the reliability of the procedure in these populations and to generate a series of mathematical models based on both traditional statistical methods and neural networks, combining different types of data. The most notable aspects of this methodology are, firstly, the inclusion of assessment of activities of daily living within a shortened testing duration of less than 2 minutes, making it more practical and feasible in a clinical setting. Secondly, it involves a simple instrumentation consisting of a single sensor embedded in a smartphone, capable of managing the entire registration process and performing the necessary calculations to analyze the obtained measurements. All of this highlights the usefulness of the procedure and the feasibility of the developed models for functional assessment of older adults in a clinical environment. / El proyecto ha sido coordinado por el Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia y financiado por el IVACE en el marco del programa de ayudas dirigidas a centros tecnológicos para el ejercicio 2016, cofinanciado por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) en un porcentaje del 50% a través del Programa Operativo FEDER de la Comunitat Valenciana 2014-2020. Ref: IMDECA/2016/16 / Pedrero Sánchez, JF. (2023). Desarrollo de procedimientos de valoración funcional mediante sensores portables. Estudios de aplicación en enfermedades neurodegenerativas: Parkinson y Alzheimer [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/202450

An evaluation of the utility of assessing and treating severe problem behavior through precursor functional analysis was completed. Ongoing measurement of problem behavior in two settings in the participant's natural environment was conducted for the duration of the study. A precursor to self-injurious behavior was identified using descriptive assessment and conditional probability analyses. A precursor functional analysis was then conducted. Subsequently, a treatment, in which precursor behavior produced the maintaining variable identified in the precursor functional analysis, was implemented in the natural environment. Treatment resulted in increases in the precursor behavior and decreases in self-injury in both the treatment setting and the second setting in which observations occurred. Implications of the assessment and treatment procedures are discussed.

OF MASTER THESIS Author: Bc. Anna Stiborová Supervisor: Mgr. Kateřina Svěcená, Ph.D. Title of master thesis: Utilization of Functional Independence Measure and Functional Assessment Measure on acute inpatient rehabilitation unit with brain damage patients Abstract: This master thesis focuses on the utilization of Functional Independence Measure and Functional Assessment Measure (FIM+FAMUK ). The subject of interest is the use of FIM+FAMUK in an acute phase of rehabilitation in brain damaged patients. The aim of the thesis is to demonstrate the usefulness of FIM+FAMUK as an assessment of functional status on an acute inpatient rehabilitation unit. Theoretical part provides basic information on the system of cerebrovascular care in Czech republic, on the importance of assessing functional status in neurorehabilitation and on some other assessments of disability in neurorehabilitation besides FIM+FAMUK . It also brings insight into FIM+FAMUK , its items, evaluation process and its utilization. Practical part presents the results of a clinical application of FIM+FAMUK on a stroke unit. Fifteen people were assessed with FIM+FAMUK as input and output assessment. Statistical data analysis has confirmed the utilization of FIM+FAMUK as an assessment of functional status on acute inpatient rehabilitation...

The terrorist attack of September 11th has been widely viewed as a traumatic event. Traumatic events have demonstrated psychological, emotional, behavioral, developmental and physiological detriment to individuals. Among older adults there may be compounding factors such as losses of function, resources, friends, family, and support.

This study examined the influence of three predictor variables on perceptions of assisted living: psychological well-being, functional status, and coping strategies. A multiple regression analysis was used to examine the influence of these factors on perceptions of the transition to assisted living.