The aim of the dissertation entitled Neuro-Developmental Stimulation in special education teachers work is to explain a lesser-known phenomenon (persistent primary reflexes and sensory-sensitive integration disorders in children) to determine the prevalence of persistent primary reflexes in pupils from 5 to 8 years and verify effectiveness of the method Neuro- Developmental Stimulation as a possible intervention program for special educators. The theoretical basis is current knowledge about psychomotorics, primary reflexes, sensory perception and sensory-sensitive integration. The main part of the work is research into the prevalence of persistent primary reflexes. The research group consists 345 pupils from 5 to 8 years of age attending regular kindergartens and primary schools and 26 pupils aged 8 to 11 years attending a primary school established pursuant to Section 16, Paragraph 9 of the Czech Education law. Intervention by the Neuro-Developmental Stimulation method is verified in a case study. The next part of the research maps the experience of special pedagogue teachers and speech therapists with the method Neuro-Developmental Stimulation as an intervention program. The research has a quantitative approach. For data collection, questionnaires were distributed among all special pedagogues and...

Pesquisa exploratório-descritiva, de caráter qualitativo, sobre a presença do turismo na Província Franciscana de Imaculada Conceição no Brasil, que objetiva compreender a ocorrência do turismo voluntário nessa Província, como interstício emergente na integração entre diferentes motivações vigentes na conformação de um novo paradigma das viagens turísticas. Com base em observações assistemáticas, bibliografia e entrevista semi-estruturada com experts, discorre sobre a Hospitalidade, Turismo e Voluntariado, com destaque para as questões do trabalho voluntário e do turismo voluntário. Em seguida, trata da cultura franciscana e o franciscanismo no Brasil, a partir registros oficiais, matérias da imprensa, obras específicas, além da própria vivência do autor junto a essa comunidade. Desenvolve pesquisa sobre o turismo voluntário na Província, a partir de entrevistas semi-estruturadas junto a franciscanos e seus representantes diretamente envolvidos no planejamento e na operacionalização do turismo voluntário. Os resultados obtidos são analisados enfocando diversos aspectos como o conhecimento das ações e projetos, a aceitação de voluntários, as características das viagens, o perfil do turista voluntário e repercussões das mesmas. Dentre as conclusões destaca-se a falta de dados sistematizados sobre esse segmento no âmbito da Província, e a pouca atuação de turistas voluntários brasileiros na Província. / This is an exploratory-descriptive research of qualitative character, about the presence of the tourism in the Franciscan Province of Imaculada Conceição - Brazil -, and aims to comprehend the occurrence of the volunteer tourism in that Province, as an emergent interstice in the integration among different motivations that appears in the configuration of a new model of the touristic travels. Based upon unsystematic observations, bibliography, and semi-structured intervew with expert, it is about the Hospitality, Tourism and voluntary service, underlining the volunteer work and volunteer tourism questions. Going ahead it is about the franciscan culture and the \"franciscanism\' in Brazil from the official records, press matters, specific works, beyond the own author\'s experience next to that community. It is a developped research about the volunteer tourism in the Province, from the semi-structured intervews with the franciscans and their representatives straightly involved in the planning and in the execution of the volunteer tourism. The obtained results are analyzed focusing several aspects as the actions and projects knowledge, the acceptance of volunteers, the characteristics of the journeys, the profile of the volunteer tourist and therepercussions of the same. Among the conclusions we stress the absence of systematized data about that segment in the extent of the Province, and to the little action of Brazilian volunteer tourists in the Province.

A investigação dos reflexos condicionantes da Parte Geral da Lei 8.078/90 na formatação do direito material positivo das relações de consumo se vincula diretamente à sistemática legislativa empregada na confecção do CDC, notadamente quanto aos seus dez primeiros artigos e à opção de neles se inscreverem as vigas mestras estruturantes de todo o seu sistema protetivo. É dizer: o direito material positivo das relações de consumo não pode ser visto de forma dissociada da Parte Geral da Lei 8.078/90, lídima regra de interpretação dirigida a fixar o alcance e a profundidade desse arcabouço jurídico instituído, por determinação constitucional, para amparar esse específico sujeito que é o consumidor; mais que isso, inclinado a buscar a materialização do equilíbrio nas relações obrigacionais que gravitam em torno do mercado. A ideia é visusalizar a Parte Geral do Código como um fator condicionante das regras de direito material privado criadas no intuito de concretizar a vontade do Poder Constituinte originário de defender o consumidor, operando uma espécie de justiça distributiva em uma relação jurídica historicamente desequilibrada, relegando-se às demais regras da parte especial função meramente explicativa. Nessa linha de raciocínio, foram examinados a dogmática positiva, as balizas de incidência do Código, a política nacional das relações de consumo, a boa-fé objetiva como mínimo ético exigível, os direitos básicos do consumidor e o risco como elemento de responsabilidade civil. Arremata-se com um resumo analítico da proposta, a identificar conclusões diretas sobre os problemas teóricos e práticos examinados. Torna-se imprescindível, assim, compreender a real amplitude dos direitos materiais outorgados aos consumidores e, para tanto, só há um caminho: investigar profundamente os reflexos condicionantes da Parte Geral da Lei 8.078/90 na formatação daquilo que de melhor se pensou, em termos legislativos, para promover a defesa do consumidor. / The investigation of constraining reflexes of the General Part of Act 8.078/90 in formatting the positive substantive law of consumption relationship is directly related to the legal systematic employed in the CDC confection, especially regarding the first ten articles and the option to enroll in them the main structuring foundations of the whole protective system. Indeed, the positive substantive law of consumption relationship cannot be dissociated of the General Part of Act 8.078/90, true interpretation rule aimed at setting the range and depth of this legal framework, established by constitutional determination to support this specific subject, the consumer, beyond that, inclined to search the real balance in the obligational relations focused on the consumption market. The main purpose is to visualize the Codes General Part as a constraining factor of substantive private law rules created in order to materialize the Congress originary will to protect the consumer, working as a distributive justice in a historically unbalanced legal relation, demoting the remaining special part rules to a purely explanatory function. Moreover, the positive dogmatic, the Code applicability limits, the Consumption Relationships National Policy, the objective good-faith as a minimum ethical demandable, the consumers basic rights and the risk as an element of civil liability were examined. At the end, a purpose analytical summary is presented, identifying direct conclusions concerning the theoretical and practical problems examined. It becomes imperative to comprehend the real dimension of the substantive rights granted to consumers and therefore, the only path is to deeply investigate the constraining reflexes of the General Part of Act 8.078/90 in structuring the best consideration in legal terms to promote consumer protection.

Female athletes exhibit three- to six-fold greater incidence of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury relative to their male counterparts. The increased risk appears to stem from interactions between several risk factors, that can roughly be categorized as anatomic, biomechanical, hormonal, and neuromuscular. Neuromuscular risk factors have recently gained a greater focus, and include differences in the timing and magnitude of activation of lower extremity and trunk musculature. In addition to neuromuscular risk factors, the incidence of ACL injury is not evenly distributed across the menstrual cycle, suggesting that hormonal fluctuations may influence neuromuscular control. Finally, it is known that even well-trained athletes experience decrements in performance and postural control when forced to attend to multiple sensory stimuli, which is common in many sports. PURPOSE: To explore neuromuscular differences in the ways healthy and ACL-injured women respond to a secondary task requiring fine motor control and sustained mental focus (typing task). Our investigation encompassed three broad aims. First, we sought to determine whether ACL-injured individuals demonstrated similar reflex profiles to healthy individuals, as well as to determine whether the ACL-involved limb was similar to its uninvolved counterpart. Our second aim was to determine whether the typing task resulted in attenuated Hoffmann (H) reflex amplitudes, and to investigate whether any observed changes were similar in healthy and ACL-injured groups. Finally, our third broad aim was to utilize more complex H reflex analysis techniques to determine whether differences in spinal excitability existed at different points in the menstrual cycle. METHODS: Thirty nine recreationally active women (20 with prior unilateral noncontact ACL injury: 24.0 ± 4.5 years; 23.8 ± 4.5 kg•m⁻²; 4.1 ± 2.6 years post-injury; 19 with no history of knee injury: 23.8 ± 4.5 years; 23.1 ± 2.3 kg•m⁻²) agreed to participate, and were tested during days 2-5 (follicular phase) of the menstrual cycle. A sub-set of this original group (n=8; 24.0 ± 4.8 years; 22.0 ± 2.1 kg•m⁻²) also agreed to return for a second testing session 24-96 hours after ovulation (early luteal phase), in order to assess H reflex differences across the menstrual cycle. During each testing session, H reflex testing was used to explore spinal-level control mechanisms of the lower extremity musculature under both Rest and Task conditions. In the control group, the dominant limb was tested (CON-D) while in the ACL group, both the uninvolved (ACL-UN) and involved (ACL-INV) limbs were assessed. Differences between groups (Control vs. ACL) and within-groups (ACL-UN vs. ACL-INV) were explored. RESULTS: At rest, H reflex parameters in ACL-INV were generally similar to ACL-UN and to CON-D. However, differences in presynaptic inhibition were apparent in ACL-INV that imply reduced reflex plasticity. During the typing task, both the Control and ACL groups experienced attenuated H reflex parameters. In the sub-set of participants who were tested twice during the menstrual cycle, a significant increase in presynaptic inhibition was observed during the early luteal phase compared to the follicular phase. CONCLUSION: While individuals with prior ACL injury display similar H reflex profiles to healthy individuals, the ACL-involved limb may demonstrate less reflex plasticity in response to environmental changes. This lack of plasticity may potentially increase the risk of re-injury. In addition, an upper extremity task requiring fine motor control and sustained mental focus attenuates the H reflex in both groups. This attenuation has implications for lower-extremity neuromuscular control in dual-task environments. Finally, the increase in presynaptic inhibition observed during the early luteal phase may provide insight into why ACL injuries are not evenly distributed across the menstrual cycle. / Graduation date: 2012

The first purpose of this thesis was to examine whether sensorimotor therapy utilizing the training program ”Retraining for Balance” might be an appropriate technique for sensorimotor proficiency. The second purpose was to gain increased understanding of the effects of sensorimotor therapy on the physical and psychological development of children and youth. A third purpose was to put sensorimotor therapy in a wider perspective through a somewhat novel extension of the theoretical framework. Two naturalistic studies were conducted. Paper I was quantitative and comprised 232 children (181 boys and 51 girls) divided into three groups (1) a younger group (7 years or younger, n=65), (2) a middle group (8 to 10 years old, n=91) and, (3) an older group (11 years old or older, n=76). The participants presented attentional and motor difficulties before starting therapy. The treatment period was in average close to 3 years. Results indicated significant improvements concerning sensorimotor skills in all age groups. Paper II was a qualitative study, which included the records of 8 children (7 boys and 1 girl) randomly selected from the cohort of 232 children. The analysis used the EPP-method and yielded 3 overarching themes, which together formed “the kinesthetic-vestibular developmental model”. The model illustrated how Introductions of sensorimotor exercises pushed the therapy process forward due to periods of Regression and Transformation. The results were generalized to the remaining 224 children in the cohort by comparing each participant’s records with “the kinesthetic-vestibular developmental model”. The tentative conclusion was that sensorimotor therapy according to the method “Retraining for Balance” might constitute a complement to treatment of ADHD, DCD and LD but controlled studies are necessary before more decisive conclusions can be drawn. / Baksidestext   This thesis had three purposes. (1) to examine whether sensorimotor therapy (SMT) using the training program ”Retraining for Balance” might be a proper technique for sensorimotor proficiency. (2) to gain increased understanding of the effects of SMT on physical and psychological development and, (3) to put SMT in a wider perspective by an extension of the theoretical framework. Two naturalistic studies were conducted. Paper I, which was quantitative, comprised 232 children who presented attentional and motor difficulties. The cohort was divided into three groups depending on age and results after therapy indicated improvements in all groups. Paper II, a qualitative study, selected records of 8 children from the cohort. Analysis yielded 3 overarching themes, which together formed “the kinesthetic-vestibular developmental model” illustrating how Introductions of exercises pushed the process forward due to Regressions and Transformations. The results were generalized to the remaining 224 children. The tentative conclusion of this thesis was that SMT might constitute a complement to treatment of ADHD, DCD and LD but controlled studies are necessary before decisive conclusions can be drawn.

A investigação dos reflexos condicionantes da Parte Geral da Lei 8.078/90 na formatação do direito material positivo das relações de consumo se vincula diretamente à sistemática legislativa empregada na confecção do CDC, notadamente quanto aos seus dez primeiros artigos e à opção de neles se inscreverem as vigas mestras estruturantes de todo o seu sistema protetivo. É dizer: o direito material positivo das relações de consumo não pode ser visto de forma dissociada da Parte Geral da Lei 8.078/90, lídima regra de interpretação dirigida a fixar o alcance e a profundidade desse arcabouço jurídico instituído, por determinação constitucional, para amparar esse específico sujeito que é o consumidor; mais que isso, inclinado a buscar a materialização do equilíbrio nas relações obrigacionais que gravitam em torno do mercado. A ideia é visusalizar a Parte Geral do Código como um fator condicionante das regras de direito material privado criadas no intuito de concretizar a vontade do Poder Constituinte originário de defender o consumidor, operando uma espécie de justiça distributiva em uma relação jurídica historicamente desequilibrada, relegando-se às demais regras da parte especial função meramente explicativa. Nessa linha de raciocínio, foram examinados a dogmática positiva, as balizas de incidência do Código, a política nacional das relações de consumo, a boa-fé objetiva como mínimo ético exigível, os direitos básicos do consumidor e o risco como elemento de responsabilidade civil. Arremata-se com um resumo analítico da proposta, a identificar conclusões diretas sobre os problemas teóricos e práticos examinados. Torna-se imprescindível, assim, compreender a real amplitude dos direitos materiais outorgados aos consumidores e, para tanto, só há um caminho: investigar profundamente os reflexos condicionantes da Parte Geral da Lei 8.078/90 na formatação daquilo que de melhor se pensou, em termos legislativos, para promover a defesa do consumidor. / The investigation of constraining reflexes of the General Part of Act 8.078/90 in formatting the positive substantive law of consumption relationship is directly related to the legal systematic employed in the CDC confection, especially regarding the first ten articles and the option to enroll in them the main structuring foundations of the whole protective system. Indeed, the positive substantive law of consumption relationship cannot be dissociated of the General Part of Act 8.078/90, true interpretation rule aimed at setting the range and depth of this legal framework, established by constitutional determination to support this specific subject, the consumer, beyond that, inclined to search the real balance in the obligational relations focused on the consumption market. The main purpose is to visualize the Codes General Part as a constraining factor of substantive private law rules created in order to materialize the Congress originary will to protect the consumer, working as a distributive justice in a historically unbalanced legal relation, demoting the remaining special part rules to a purely explanatory function. Moreover, the positive dogmatic, the Code applicability limits, the Consumption Relationships National Policy, the objective good-faith as a minimum ethical demandable, the consumers basic rights and the risk as an element of civil liability were examined. At the end, a purpose analytical summary is presented, identifying direct conclusions concerning the theoretical and practical problems examined. It becomes imperative to comprehend the real dimension of the substantive rights granted to consumers and therefore, the only path is to deeply investigate the constraining reflexes of the General Part of Act 8.078/90 in structuring the best consideration in legal terms to promote consumer protection.

Pesquisa exploratório-descritiva, de caráter qualitativo, sobre a presença do turismo na Província Franciscana de Imaculada Conceição no Brasil, que objetiva compreender a ocorrência do turismo voluntário nessa Província, como interstício emergente na integração entre diferentes motivações vigentes na conformação de um novo paradigma das viagens turísticas. Com base em observações assistemáticas, bibliografia e entrevista semi-estruturada com experts, discorre sobre a Hospitalidade, Turismo e Voluntariado, com destaque para as questões do trabalho voluntário e do turismo voluntário. Em seguida, trata da cultura franciscana e o franciscanismo no Brasil, a partir registros oficiais, matérias da imprensa, obras específicas, além da própria vivência do autor junto a essa comunidade. Desenvolve pesquisa sobre o turismo voluntário na Província, a partir de entrevistas semi-estruturadas junto a franciscanos e seus representantes diretamente envolvidos no planejamento e na operacionalização do turismo voluntário. Os resultados obtidos são analisados enfocando diversos aspectos como o conhecimento das ações e projetos, a aceitação de voluntários, as características das viagens, o perfil do turista voluntário e repercussões das mesmas. Dentre as conclusões destaca-se a falta de dados sistematizados sobre esse segmento no âmbito da Província, e a pouca atuação de turistas voluntários brasileiros na Província. / This is an exploratory-descriptive research of qualitative character, about the presence of the tourism in the Franciscan Province of Imaculada Conceição - Brazil -, and aims to comprehend the occurrence of the volunteer tourism in that Province, as an emergent interstice in the integration among different motivations that appears in the configuration of a new model of the touristic travels. Based upon unsystematic observations, bibliography, and semi-structured intervew with expert, it is about the Hospitality, Tourism and voluntary service, underlining the volunteer work and volunteer tourism questions. Going ahead it is about the franciscan culture and the \"franciscanism\' in Brazil from the official records, press matters, specific works, beyond the own author\'s experience next to that community. It is a developped research about the volunteer tourism in the Province, from the semi-structured intervews with the franciscans and their representatives straightly involved in the planning and in the execution of the volunteer tourism. The obtained results are analyzed focusing several aspects as the actions and projects knowledge, the acceptance of volunteers, the characteristics of the journeys, the profile of the volunteer tourist and therepercussions of the same. Among the conclusions we stress the absence of systematized data about that segment in the extent of the Province, and to the little action of Brazilian volunteer tourists in the Province.

L’accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC) est un problème majeur de santé publique car les troubles fonctionnels associés ont des répercussions délétères sur la qualité de vie des patients. Deux axes de recherche portant sur l’ischémie cérébrale chez le rat sont abordés. Pour le premier, il s’agira d’étudier les modifications de la régulation des réflexes somatiques qui peuvent contribuer à expliquer en partie les déficits fonctionnels. Nos résultats montrent une fatigue précoce au cours d’un exercice isométrique du triceps brachial et une perturbation de l’inhibition du réflexe-H post-exercice. Nous avons précisé que la perturbation de l’activité des voies réflexes est associée à une modification de l’action inhibitrice des afférences musculaires des groupes III et IV pouvant expliquer la fatigue précoce observée. L’axe 2 concerne l’optimisation de l’entrainement d’endurance, stratégie prometteuse pour traiter les déficits. L’objectif est de définir la stratégie d’endurance la plus appropriée en nous focalisant sur l’intensité de l’exercice. Pour cela, les effets des exercices d’intensité modérée (classiquement recommandés) ont été confrontés avec ceux des exercices intermittents de haute intensité (HIT) en analysant la récupération fonctionnelle et la neuroplasticité cérébrale. Nos résultats montrent que l’intensité de travail, déterminée à partir du seuil lactique, est un paramètre crucial car les HIT se révèlent être plus efficaces en termes de récupération de la force, d’aptitude aérobie et de neuroplasticité. Ces travaux ouvrent de nombreuses perspectives où ces 2 axes pourraient se rejoindre en approfondissant les effets des HIT au niveau cérébral et spinal. / Stroke is a major public health issue because associated functional disorders have detrimental impacts on life quality and independence of patients as well as on economic state. This thesis work is focused on 2-research axis concerning cerebral ischemia in rat. The aim of the first axis is to study plasticity at spinal level by investigating the alteration of somatic reflex regulation that could contribute to partially explain functional deficits. Ours results show early fatigue of triceps brachii during an isometric contraction and H-reflex inhibition perturbation post-exercise. We also observed that the disturbance of reflex pathway activity is associated with a decrease of the inhibitory effect induced by muscular metabosensitive afferents that might explain early fatigue and observed functional deficits. The second axis treats about endurance training that is a promising strategy to reduce stroke-induced disorders but remains to improve. In that way, the purpose is to determine which endurance strategy is the most suitable by focusing on exercise intensity. In order to ensure this, the effects of moderate intensity exercise (classically recommended) have been compared to high intensity interval training (HIT) by analysing the functional recovery and cerebral neuroplasticity. Our data show that work intensity, based on lactic threshold, is a critical parameter. Indeed, HIT is more effective for increasing grip strength recovery, aerobic capacity as well as promoting neuroplasticity. The results of these 2 lines of research could be now associated by deepening the HIT effects at cerebral and spinal level that lead to numerous perspectives.

Title of the thesis: The influence of exercise on subjective perception of our own body in participants of the Feldenkrais method course Aims of the thesis: The aim of this thesis was to deepen the theoretical knowledge of the Feldenkrais method, the basic anatomy of the cervical spine and the construction of the eye. Furthermore, the aim was to clarify the connection of eye movements and cervical spine, and define cervicoocular reflex, vestibuloocular reflex and whiplash syndrome. Then apply this knowledge and explain how one lesson of the Feldenkrais method affects the subjective perception of our own body, and how it can affect the magnitude of the cervical spine ranges. Method: It is a quantitative, experimental research. In the first part of the research, the questionnaire of own design monitored the effect of one lesson of the Feldenkrais method on the subjective perception of our own body in a group of 56 people aged 24 to 79 years, the lesson took part during a three-day course. In the second part of the research, the effect of one Feldenkrais method focused on the movement of eyes and cervical spine was studied in a group of 20 people aged 19 to 27 years. Data to this section was obtained based on input and output measurements using a measuring tape and a goniometer. In addition, a...

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) is an effective symptomatic treatment for pharmacoresistant dystonic syndromes. The relationship between grey matter volume and intracortical inhibition of the primary motor cortex (MI) in regard to the effectiveness and the state (ON/OFF) of GPi DBS was analysed in the first study. The grey matter of chronically treated patients showed hypertrophy of the supplementary motor area and cerebellar vermis whereas this difference was more significant in patients with a better clinical outcome. The grey matter of the cerebellar hemispheres of the patients showed positive correlation with the improvement of an intracortical inhibition which was generally less effective in patients regardless of the GPi DBS state. Moreover, we showed the same level of SICI in the good responders as in the healthy controls, while in non-responders was the SICI decreased. In the second study, by using paired associative stimulation (PAS) we studied the influence of primary somatosensory cortex (SI) on the MI excitability in dystonia in regards to the effectiveness of GPi DBS. SI PAS decreased the MI excitability in the GPi DBS ON state while switching the stimulation off decreased an inhibitory effect of SI on MI excitability. Non-responders showed a...