Progressive addition lenses (PALs) are an increasingly preferred mode for the correction of presbyopia, gaining an increased share of the prescription lens market. Sales volumes are likely to increase over the next few years, given the increasing cohort of presbyopic patients in the population. This research investigated adaptation to PAL wear, investigating head movement parameters with and without progressive lenses in everyday visual tasks, and examined symptoms of spatial distortions and illusory movement in a crossover wearing trial of three PAL designs. Minimum displacement thresholds in the presence and absence of head movement were also investigated across the lens designs. Experiment 1 investigated head movements in two common visual tasks, a wordprocessing copy task, and a visual search task designed to replicate a natural environment task such as looking for products on supermarket shelving. Head movement parameters derived from this experiment were used to set head movement amplitude and velocity in the third experiment investigating minimum displacement thresholds across three PAL designs. Head movements were recorded with a Polhemus Inside Track head movement monitoring system which allows real time six degrees of freedom measurement of head position. Head position in azimuth, elevation and roll was extracted from the head movement recorder output, and data for head movement angular extent, average velocity (amplitude/duration) and peak velocity were calculated for horizontal head movements Results of the first experiment indicate a task dependent effect on head movement peak and average velocity, with both median head movement average and peak velocity being faster in the copy task. Visual task and visual processing demands were also shown to affect the slope of the main sequence of head movement velocity on head movement amplitude, with steeper slope in the copy task. A steeper slope, indicating a faster head movement velocity for a given head movement amplitude, was found for head movements during the copy task than in the search task. Processing demands within the copy task were also shown to affect the main sequence slopes of velocity on amplitude, with flatter slopes associated with the need for head movement to bring gaze to a specific point. These findings indicate selective control over head movement velocity in response to differing visual processing demands. In Experiment 2, parameters of head movement amplitude and velocity were assessed in a group of first time PAL wearers. Head movement amplitude, average and peak velocity were calculated from head movement recordings using the search task, as in Experiment 1. Head movements were recorded without PALs, on first wearing a PAL, and after one month of PAL wear to assess adaptation effects. In contrast to existing literature, PAL wear did not alter parameters of head movement amplitude and velocity in a group of first time wearers either on first wearing the lenses or after one month of wear: this is due to task related effects in this experiment compared to previous work. Task demand in this experiment may not have required wearers to use the progressive power corridor to accomplish identification of visual search targets, in contrast to previous studies where experimental conditions were designed to force subjects to use the progressive corridor. In Experiment 3, minimum displacement thresholds for random dot stimuli were measured in a repeated measures experimental design for a single vision lens as control, and three PAL designs. Thresholds were measured in central vision, and for two locations in the temporal peripheral field, 30° temporal fixation and 10° above and below the horizontal midline. Thresholds were determined with and without the subjects' head moving horizontally in an approximate sinusoidal movement at a frequency of about 0.7 Hz. Minimum displacement thresholds were not significantly affected by PAL design, although thresholds with PALs were higher than with a single vision lens control. Head movement significantly increased minimum displacement threshold across lens designs, by a factor of approximately 1.5 times. Results indicate that the local measures of minimum displacement threshold determined in this experiment are not sensitive to lens design differences. Sensitivity to motion with PAL lenses may be more a global than a localized response. For Experiment 4, symptoms of spatial distortion and illusory movement were investigated in a crossover wearing trial of three PAL designs, and related to optical characteristics of the lenses. Peripheral back vertex powers of the PALs were measured at two locations in the right temporal zone of the lenses, 15.6 mm temporal to the fitting cross, and 2.7 m above and below the horizontal to the fitting cross. These locations corresponded to the zones of the lenses through which minimum displacement thresholds were measured in the previous experiment. The effect of subjects' self movement on symptoms is able to discriminate between PAL designs, although subjective symptoms alone were not related to the lens design parameters studied. Subjects' preference for one PAL design over the other designs studied in this experiment is inversely related to the effect on subject movement on their symptoms of distortion. An optical parameter, blur strength, derived from the power vector components of the peripheral powers, may indicate preference for particular PAL designs, as higher blur strength values are associated with lower lens preference scores. Head movement amplitude and velocity are task specific, and are also influenced by visual processing demands within tasks. PALs do not affect head movement amplitude and velocity unless tasks are made demanding or performed in less natural situations designed to influence head movement behaviour. Both head movement and PALs have large effects on minimum displacement thresholds; these effects may be due in part to complexity of the subjects' task within the experiment. Minimum displacement thresholds however were not influenced by PAL design. The most sensitive indicator for subject's preference of PALs was the effect of subjects' self movement on their perception of symptoms, rather than the presence of actual symptoms. Blur strength should be further investigated for its role in PAL acceptance.

Zugl.: Aachen, Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2002

Thesis (B.A.)--Bi-College (Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges) Dept. of East Asian Studies, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

abstract: This study examines the effects of providing persuasive writing and reading comprehension strategy training on source-based essay writing. Strategy training was administered through the use of the Writing Pal and the Interactive Strategy Trainer for Active Reading and Thinking (iSTART). The impact of both individual (writing or reading) and blended strategy training on source-based writing was investigated. A total of 261 participants completed the study; after removing incomplete and second language participants the source-based writing and system performance was assessed for 175 participants (n no instruction = 48, n iSTART =41, n Writing Pal =41, n blended =45). Results indicated that participants who received blended strategy training produced higher quality source-based essays than participants who received only reading comprehension, writing strategy training, or no training. Furthermore, participants who received only reading comprehension or writing strategy training did not produce higher quality source-based essays than participants in the no-training control group. Time on task was investigated as a potential explanation for the results. Neither total time on task nor practice time were predictive of group differences on source-based essay scores. Analyses further suggested that the impact of strategy training does not differ as a function of prior abilities; however, training does seem to impact the relation between prior abilities and source-based essay scores. Specifically, prior writing ability was unrelated to performance for those who received writing training (i.e., Writing Pal and blended conditions), and prior reading ability was unrelated to performance for those received the full dosage of iSTART training. Overall, the findings suggest that when taught in conjunction with one another, reading comprehension and writing strategy training transfers to source-based writing, providing a positive impact on score. Potential changes to the Writing Pal and iSTART to more closely align training with source-based writing are discussed as methods of further increasing the impact of training on source-based writing. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2015

This scientific report is based on the collaboration between our project group, the consult firm Etteplan AB and a company named Pal-Football AB. The report describes how a product development project can be executed, this with the help of theoretical models and practical approach. In this case, the product renewal project is done towards Pal- Football AB’s current product “Pal Original”. The product is a mobile training gear which is made for those who practise football. It’s main function is to bounce the ball back towards the user whom earlier kicked the ball towards the surface of the product. There are two purposes that can be identified within this product renewal project. The primary one is to deliver an improved version of Pal Original, a version which is considered to be compatible with the demands of today's market. This by improving the current concept of the product, alongside with an updated design. The result of this work will hopefully lead to the possibility of active football players to achieve their full potential, this by using the product.

Yes / Assess feasibility, acceptability and costs of delivering a physically active lessons (PAL) training programme to secondary school teachers and explore preliminary effectiveness for reducing pupils' sedentary time. Secondary schools in East England; one school participated in a pre-post feasibility study, two in a pilot cluster-randomised controlled trial. In the pilot trial, blinding to group assignment was not possible. Across studies, 321 randomly selected students (51% male; mean age: 12.9 years), 78 teachers (35% male) and 2 assistant head teachers enrolled; 296 (92%) students, 69 (88%) teachers and 2 assistant head teachers completed the studies. PAL training was delivered to teachers over two after-school sessions. Teachers were made aware of how to integrate movement into lessons; strategies included students collecting data from the environment for class activities and completing activities posted on classroom walls, instead of sitting at desks. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to assess feasibility and acceptability of PAL training and delivery. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and ~8 weeks post-training; measures included accelerometer-assessed activity, self-reported well-being and observations of time-on-task. Process evaluation was conducted at follow-up. In the feasibility study, teachers reported good acceptability of PAL training and mixed experiences of delivering PAL. In the pilot study, teachers' acceptability of training was lower and teachers identified aspects of the training in need of review, including the outdoor PAL training and learning challenge of PAL strategies. In both studies, students and assistant head teachers reported good acceptability of the intervention. Preliminary effectiveness for reducing students' sedentary time was not demonstrated in either study. No evidence of preliminary effectiveness on the primary outcome and mixed reports of teachers' acceptability of PAL training suggest the need to review the training. The results do not support continuation of research with the current intervention. ISRCTN38409550.

No description available.

This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of a filial therapy training model with high school students enrolled in a Peer Assistance Leadership (PAL) program. Specifically, this study was designed to determine the effectiveness of filial therapy in: (1) increasing observed empathic behavior with children, (2) increasing acceptance toward children, (3) increasing the ability to allow children self-direction, and (4) increasing the level of involvement with children. Additionally, this study was designed to determine the effectiveness of filial therapy in facilitating healthy parenting attitudes of nonparenting adolescents. A research question was presented to determine if a relationship exists between empathy, acceptance, involvement and allowing children self-direction and other factors considered to be healthy parenting attitudes. An Analysis of Covariance on post-test scores revealed significant findings in the high school students ability to demonstrate empathy towards children, allowing the child self direction, communication of acceptance, and involvement as measured by the Measurement of Empathy in Adult-Child Interactions (MEACI). An Analysis of Covariance on post-test scores revealed no significant changes in parenting attitudes as measured by Adult- Adolescent Parenting Inventory (AAPI-2). A Bivariate Correlation revealed a statistically significant correlation between the Empathy, Acceptance, Allowing the Child Self-Direction and Involvement scales on the Measurement of Empathy in Adult-Child Interactions (MEACI) and the Oppressing Children's Power and Independence scale on the Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory (AAPI-2). This study supports the use of filial therapy as an effective training model for increasing high school students' empathic behavior with children. Filial therapy training offers significant possibilities for future use in high school curricula to facilitate the development of healthy parenting attitudes and interactions between future parents and children.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Microbiology)) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / Pterocarpus angolensis seed lectin (PAL), a 28 kDa non glycosylated protein, was initially successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli for ease of high protein production. It was discovered, however, as in similar studies that the recombinant PAL yield in E. coli is low and localized intracellularly. This makes extraction even more difficult because most of the protein is lost either when the cell undergoes lysing or when there is incomplete extraction. As a result of the low yields in E. coli, expression vectors were constructed for pal expression in S. cerevisiae, Y. lipolytica and A. niger. Colony PCR of S. cerevisiae transformants confirmed the presence of pal gene whilst sequencing revealed a 66% homology to native PAL. Expression of recombinant PAL in S. cerevisiae, which was expected to be intracellular, was doubtfully unsuccessful since no signal was detected following Western blot analysis. A pBARMTE1-pal expression vector was successfully constructed and could be used for expression studies in Aspergillus niger, however, it was not used in this study. A pal gene whose codons were optimized for Y. lipolytica was synthesized and successfully cloned and expressed in Y. lipolytica. Gene sequence alignment of native pal and the codon optimized pal showed 81% homology whilst the amino acid alignment showed 100% homology. A 31 kDa, recombinant PAL was successfully expressed in Y. lipolytica. The recombinant PAL was approximately 3 kDa larger than native PAL. It was established that this is due to glycosylation of the recombinant PAL. This recombinant protein was found to be more thermostable than native PAL since it demonstrated haemagglutination activity after 10 minutes of exposure in a boiling water bath and only lost activity after 2 hours of exposure to boiling. This study succeeded in producing a more stable extracellular recombinant PAL which demonstrated biochemical activity that was largely similar to that of native PAL but only differed in carbohydrate specificity and haemagglutinating strengths. / Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR-UOS)-Own Initiative Project,the SARBIO- South African Regional Co-operation in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, the (CSIR) Council for Scientific and Industrial Research,the (NRF) National Research Foundation,(TBI) The Biovac Institute Foundation, and the (SIDA) Swedish International Agency

En la presente Tesis Doctoral se estudió la influencia de algunos factores agronómicos como el riego, soluciones nutritivas, además de la comparación de dos sistemas: cultivo en suelo (tradicional) y sin suelo. Debido a la gran importancia del estado de madurez de la materia prima para la industria de IV Gama, se realizó una recopilación bibliográfica sobre indicadores de madurez en vegetales de hoja y se llevó a cabo un ensayo experimental estudiando el efecto de tres estados de madurez sobre la calidad del producto IV Gama. Finalmente, los factores postcosecha evaluados fueron el efecto de la baja concentración de O2 y las condiciones lumínicas en conservación sobre la calidad del producto en IV Gama. / The aim of this thesis is know the influence of some agronomic factors such as irrigation, nutrient solutions, in addition to the comparison of two systems: soil cultivation (traditional) and soilless system. Due to the great importance of the harvest maturity for Fresh cut industry, we conducted a study on harvest maturity indicators of leafy vegetables and a pilot trial to study the effect of three stages of maturity on product quality Fresh cut was conducted. Finally, postharvest factors evaluated were the effect of the low concentration of O2 and conservation lighting conditions on product quality in Fresh cut.