Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

Proefschrift--Groningen. / Summary in Dutch and French.

Proefschrift--Groningen. / Summary in Dutch and French.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1984. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 189-202).

Mitants of Prosophila melanogaster which are paralysed by exposure to one temperature, but recover mobility at another temperature may aid in the investigation of the neural and muscular components which govern motor activity. With the help of a mechanical screening method, a recessive sex-linked temperature-sensitive paralytic mutant (parats -53°9) was discovered among the progeny of ethyl methane- sulphonate-treated males and attached-X females. Parats flies which had been raised at 22°C were paralysed within 5 seconds after transfer to 29°C, but quickly regained mobility when returned to 22°C. When left at 29°C for prolonged periods, the flies gradually regained mobility. Further studies indicated that the time required for recovery following an increase in temperature was directly related to the magnitude and rate of the temperature rise. Temperature-sensitive paralysis was seen only in adult flies. The abnormal movements which are characteristic of the behavioural mutants Hk1P, Hk2T , Sh⁵, when linked to parats in males,were quickly stopped and started by temperature shifts from 22°C to 29°C and 29°C to 22°C, respectively. The possible significance of these observations is discussed. parats/M(1)0 females exhibited temperature-sensitive paralysis. The possibility that the chromosome bearing the M(1)0 mutation might also carry a deletion or mutant allele of parats has not yet been investigated. A sex-linked dominant mutation which caused abnormal movements of the head and appendages under ether anaesthesia as well as shuddering movements in unetherised flies was also discovered. The mutation was called Shuddering (Shu – 55.1). The shuddering movements could be temporarily suppressed by feeding the flies media containing LiCl but not NaCl, NH₄Cl or KCl. The evidence presented in this and other studies suggests that the effects of parats and Shu mutations upon motor activity are mediated through their effects upon the nervous system. / Medicine, Faculty of / Medical Genetics, Department of / Graduate

Locomotor disability is a problem, reported prevalence ranging from 1% to 8.6%. Only a limited number of studies have been done in South Africa. They used different methodologies and definitions, thus leading to the variation in prevalence reported. A further factor influencing prevalence is that some locomotor disabilities are area-specific. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and rehabilitation needs of individuals with locomotor disability in Mitchell's Plain, for planning intervention strategies as part of this community based rehabilitation service. A cross sectional study design was employed. A stratified proportional cluster sampling technique was used to select 36 clusters resulting in a sample size of2424 people. Screening questions recommended by the WHO were used to identify people with impairments (Phase I). Further screening (Phase II), of those identified with impairments, using a questionnaire based on the ICIDH categories, identified people with disabilities. People with locomotor disabilities were grouped together and qualitative analysis through case studies was done on sub-groups where common themes manifested. 12.9% reported some form of impairment; 3.9% adults could be classified as having disabilities. Amongst adults with disabilities, 2.7% had locomotor disabilities. Consistent with the literature, disability increased with age, was more frequently reported amongst females, and was associated with lower socio-economic class. Multiple impairments were frequently reported, with the most common impairment being musculo-skeletal conditions. Use of health services occurred in the public sector with the local Day Hospital used as frequently as more distant tertiary hospitals. The study revealed the need for improved and accessible medical and rehabilitation services in the community. Their poor ability to integrate functionally and economically into the community, was reflected in the high proportion of people with mobility and occupational handicap categories. Low levels of education worsened the impact on occupational handicap. It was further evident that multiple impairments amongst the elderly lead to greater dependence of people with locomotor disability on their care-givers. Even though the need for assistive equipment was high, much of assistive equipment owned was not being used. A further handicapping factor for the disabled using assistive equipment was their environment which restricted the use of assistive equipment. High locomotor disability prevalence was confirmed in this study. Major unmet needs were identified in the handicap categories of physical mobility and economic self-sufficiency. Domiciliary based intervention was recommended as the most appropriate rehabilitative intervention for the severely physically disabled persons.

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if children labeled as “severe” functional articulation disordered, who had been enrolled in public school speech programs for one year or more, exhibited dyspraxic-like characteristics. Twenty individuals between the ages of 8 and 11 were chosen from the Gresham Public Schools, Lynch Public Schools, Portland Public Schools, Rockwood Public Schools and the Crippled Children’s Division, University of Oregon Medical School to serve as subjects for the three groups in this study. Eight subjects who comprised the experimental group were 11 severe11 functional articulation disorders and were selected from the public schools. Each misarticulated four or more phonemes, consistently or inconsistently, in isolation, syllables, words or conversation; each had made little or very slow progress according to his speech clinician and each had been enrolled in speech management for one year or more as a functional articulation case. Eight subjects in the normal control group were individuals selected from the public schools, with no speech or language problems. Each had never been enrolled in nor recommended for a speech intervention program. Four subjects in the dyspraxic control group were selected from the University of Oregon Medical School. Prior to the date of this investigation, each had been diagnosed as displaying developmental dyspraxia, dyspraxia of speech or verbal dyspraxia. The Modified Apraxia Battery (NAB) utilized in this investigation was a nonstandardized battery consisting of a verbal section and a nonverbal section. The verbal section was composed of ten subtests designed to delineate the presence of a dyspraxia of speech; the nonverbal section was composed of one subtest designed to delineate an oral apraxia and one subtest designed to delineate a limb apraxia. The results of this study revealed a highly significant difference in performance on the verbal section between the normal subjects and the “severe” functional articulation subjects with the normals performing better. A highly significant difference also was found between the normal subjects and the dyspraxic subjects with the normals performing better on the verbal section of the MAB. No significant difference was revealed, however, between the dyspraxics and the “severe” functional articulation cases. It was inferred, therefore, that these two groups performed in a similar manner because they exhibited similar verbal characteristics. “Severe” functional articulation disordered subjects were, therefore, found to exhibit verbal dyspraxic-like characteristics. No significant difference in performance was shown on the nonverbal section among the three groups. It appears the verbal section of the Modified Apraxia Battery much more effectively differentiates those displaying dyspraxic-like characteristics from those who do not than does the nonverbal section. Chi square analysis of items on the NAB supported this contention further suggesting subsection 3, Multisyllabic Words and subsection 6, Sentences are the most discriminating verbal items.

[Tuncated abstract] Previous research has shown that associated movements (AMs) decrease with age in typically developing children. However, considerable variability has been found to exist between children of the same chronological age (Wolff et al., 1983; Largo et al., 2001) and the reasons for this variability are unclear. As AMs are considered to be a construct of motor behaviour it is possible that varying levels of motor ability may contribute to this variability. Only a few studies have investigated the relationship between motor ability and AM expression, and those have resulted in equivocal findings. Therefore, the aim of the first study in this research project was to investigate the relationship between motor ability and AMs using a large sample of normative children (N=165). Group 1 consisted of 19 boys and 33 girls in school year 1 with a mean age of 6 years and 4 months (SD = 4 months); Group 2 consisted of 28 boys and 29 girls in school year 3 with a mean age of 8 years and 3 months (SD = 3 months); and Group 3 consisted of 27 boys and 29 girls in school year 5 with a mean age of 9 years 11 months (SD = 5 months). Motor ability was established using the McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development (MAND) (McCarron, 1982). Associated movements were measured using tasks adapted from the Zurich Neuromotor Assessment (Largo et al., 2002), the Fog Test (Fog & Fog, 1963), and Licari et al. (2006). '...' The second study in this research project continued to explore the relationship between motor ability and AMs by investigating whether increased severity of AMs previously reported in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Denckla & Rudel, 1978; Lazarus, 1994; Mostofsky et al., 2003) is reflective of symptoms associated with the disorder or movement difficulties co-occurring in some children with the disorder. Four groups of children participated in the study. Group 1 consisted of 13 children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) with a mean age of 7 years 3 months (SD = 9 months); Group 2 consisted of 13 children with ADHD with a mean age of 7 years 4 months (SD = 11 months); Group 3 consisted of 10 children with co-occurring DCD and ADHD with a mean age of 7 years 4 months (SD = 10 months); and, Group 4 was a normative sample 15 control children. The children undertook the same AM assessment protocol outlined for Study 1. The AM data was entered into the RUMM 2020 and person location estimates (Rasch AM scores) were created for each child based on the person location map from Study 1. A comparison of AM scores between the groups revealed that the DCD and DCD/ADHD groups showed significantly more (p <0.001) AMs than the children in the ADHD and control groups. No significant differences were found between children in the DCD and DCD/ADHD groups (p = 0.19) or the ADHD and control groups (p = 0.67). The findings of this research show that increased expression of AMs is not influenced by the symptoms of ADHD. In addition, the finding that increased expression of AMs in children with DCD extends the findings from Study 1 showing that AM expression is linked to motor ability. Overall this research has enhanced the understanding of a unique measure of motor behaviour.