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Maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can induce a range of behavioral and cognitive deficits in offspring, which are collectively termed Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). There are significant delays in motor development and sensory-motor skills in children with FASD, but the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of these deficits are poorly understood. The goal of this research project is to test the hypothesis that the Kinesiological Instrument for Normal and Altered Reaching Movements (KINARM) will serve as an effective tool for identifying and measuring specific, neurologically-based motor deficits in children with FASD. These deficits were revealed through investigation of multi-joint upper limb movements during the performance of sensory-motor tasks. Children (31 FASD; 83 controls, aged 5 to 18 years, male and female) performed: (1) a visually-guided reaching task with fingertip feedback only; and children (31 FASD; 49 controls, aged 5 to 18 years, male and female) performed: (2) an arm position-matching task in the absence of visual feedback. Children with FASD differed significantly from controls in many reaching task outcome measures, specifically those related to the initial motor response and corrective responses. In particular, large effect sizes were observed for outcome measures related to the first (initial) movement (corresponding to feedforward control; e.g., direction error; distance error), as well as for those measures related to corrective responses (corresponding to feedback control; e.g., difference between minimum and maximum hand speeds; number of speed peaks during movement). In the position-matching task, children with FASD constricted the spatial workspace of the subject-controlled arm relative to the robot-controlled arm, in the horizontal axis. There was also observed a systematic shift between the subject- and robot-controlled arms in the XY end position, resulting in significant error. Additionally, children with FASD exhibited significantly increased trial-to-trial variability for final hand position of the subject-controlled arm, over all targets, and for which large effect sizes were observed. The results suggest that children with FASD have difficulty integrating sensory information into planned motor movements. The KINARM is a promising research tool that may be used to assess motor control deficits in children affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol. / Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-02 15:10:25.653

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This Research thesis is focused on the influence of body position on the function of pelvic floor muscles (PFM). Anatomical structures, kinesiology and neurophysiology of the PFM are described in the theoretical part of this thesis. It also discusses the methodology used for objective evaluation of the PFM. For the practical part of this thesis, 30 healthy subjects (aged 20 - 30 years, 15 male, 15 female) where chosen via a questionnaire. The subjects were examined via the method of anorectal manometry. The goal of the examination was to measure the distribution of a) resting pressure in the anal canal in selected positions, b) pressure during voluntary maximal contraction of PFM and sphincters in selected positions, c) pressure during 20 seconds of voluntary contraction. Selected positions are: lying on the back; lying on the back with legs elevated and held in "three flexion"; kneeling on all fours with palm support; kneeling on all fours with elbow support; squatting, and standing. Results: a) The resting pressure is influenced by the body position. Highest resting pressure was observed in squatting and standing positions, lowest resting pressure was measured on subjects while kneeling on all fours with elbow support. No significant difference was observed between male and female subjects in...

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Il n'existe pas de méthode non invasive validée pour déterminer la valeur absolue de la pression intracrânienne (PIC). Le liquide céphalorachidien (LCS) et le liquide cochléaire sont reliés par l'aqueduc cochléaire. Le but de ce projet est d'utiliser l'absorbance de l'oreille, optimale lorsque les structures vibrantes sont en position de repos, de sorte que les étriers lorsque la pression à l'extérieur de l'oreille (dans le conduit auditif externe -P_cae ) contrarie la PIC par les osselets de l'oreille moyenne. Les sujets ont été testés dans différentes positions d'inclinaison du corps, ce qui augmente la PIC, à l'aide d'un tympanomètre à large bande. 78 oreilles (sujets témoins entre 20 et 30 ans) ont montré que l'absorbance est maximale à toutes les fréquences à P_cae = 0 mmH2O en position début, elle diminue de façon complexe à P_cae zéro, mais à nouveau identique l'absorbance maximale à P_cae = 13 mm H2O ± 7 en position allongée, et 23 mm H2O ± 14 en position Trendelenburg (-30°), en 68 oreilles sur 78. Les 10 oreilles restantes présentaient un dysfonctionnement anatomique. Un modèle physique a été établi à partir d'un modèle d'oreille électromécanique classique, qui reproduit le comportement observé en attribuant à la PIC la cause des changements d'absorbance et en prédisant la capacité du P_cae pour compenser les changements d'absorbance dus à la PIC. De plus, 3 patients traités par un test de perfusion ont été testés, ainsi que 2 patients traités par ponction lombaire. Ces patients ont montré l'effet de la pression positive et négative dans les courbes d'absorbance. La littérature permet d'établir une corrélation entre la PIC absolue (dans chaque position du corps) et l'absorbance, nous pouvons conclure qu'en raison de la géométrie de l'oreille moyenne, la relation d'équilibre entre les valeurs absolues est PIC = 15 x P_cae , où 15 est le rapport des surfaces entre la MT et la platine de l’étrier. Des sujets suivis par une mesure invasive de la PIC seront nécessaires pour la continuation de cette étude. / There is no validated non-invasive method for determining the absolute value of intracranial pressure (ICP). Ear connect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and cochlear fluid via cochlear aqueduct. The goal of this project is to use ear absorbance, optimal when the vibrating structures are in resting position, so the stapes when the pressure outside the ear (in the external ear canal -Peec) counteracts the ICP through the middle ear ossicles. Subjects are testing in different tilt body position, which increase ICP, using a tympanometer Wideband. 78 ears of control subjects between 20 and 30 years have shown that the absorbance is maximum at all frequencies at Peec = 0 mmH2O in standing posture, decreases in a complex way at zero Peec, but again identical to the maximum absorbance at Peec = 13 mm H2O ± 7 in supine, and 23 mm H2O ± 14 in Trendelenburg posture (-30 °), this in 68 ears out of 78. The remaining 10 ears had an anatomical dysfunction. A physical model was established from a classical electromechanical ear model, which reproduces the observed behavior by attributing to the ICP the cause of changes in absorbance and predicting the ability for Peec to offset the absorbance changes due to ICP. Furthermore, 3 patients treated with a perfusion test were tested as well as 2 patients treated by a lumbar puncture. These patients showed the effect of positives and negatives pressure in absorbance curves. Literature make possible a correlation between absolute ICP (in every tilt body position) and absorbance, we can conclude that due to the geometry of the middle ear, the equilibrium relationship between absolute values is ICP = 15 x Peec, where 15 is the ratio of the areas between the tympanic membrane and the stape plate. Subjects tested by invasive measurement of ICP will be required for the continuation of this study.

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In this paper, I analyze body position and orientation based on material from nine grave fields belonging to the Pitted ware culture (3300-2400 BC) on Gotland, Sweden. The archeological sites consist of Ajvide, Fridtorp, Grausne, Gullrum, Hemmor, Ire, Visby, Västerbjers and Västerbys. The aim of the thesis is to generate information, through the use of Correspondence Analysis, about the individuals and similarities and differences in an attempt to discern possible structures in ritual practice. The subject of the thesis is discussed with a focus on ritual based on Pierre Bourdieu's (1977) theories relating to practice and habitus. The analysis shows that specific body positions were preferred, which expressed minor variations between the archaeological sites. At the same time, it was possible to discern specific practices that were more frequent in certain areas. The dead were most often arranged either in a supine position or on their sides with knees straight or flexed, in a crouched position. The placement of the body in flexed position expressed a distinct differentiation linked to the degree of contraction of the knee- and hip joint, which show that there existed guidelines or standards in the practice of body position. The result also indicated age and gender differentiations expressed through skeletal position and orientation, which were expressed differently within some of the populations. The study has identified both regional and local patterns in ritual practice in relation to body position and orientation. Possible interpretations relating to similarities and differences in the material are further discussed in the thesis in order to identify a ritual context.

Title: Dependence of the air consumption and the position of the body on the selected method of diving kick and swimming speed Objectives: The goal of this work is to find out the relationship between the diver's swimming speed and the air consumption while using two different methods of diving kicks - flutter and frog kick. At the same time, assess the dependence of the position of the body and head on the swimming speed and method of diving kicks. Methods: In this work was used method of collecting data in real conditions by measuring devices and statistical evaluation of collected data. Results: The results are presented by graphs both in the text of this work and in attachment for its large size. The results of all probands are presented in summary graphs and for selected values the degree of association is calculated in tables using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The main result is the confirmation of the reduction of the deviation from the horizontal position when comparing the slow and higher swimming speeds of both flutter and frog kick. The most effective way for a diver to overcome 50 meters below the water surface was determined to be a flutter kick at medium speed (average 0,37 m/s). Keywords: scuba diving, body position, head position, air consumption, speed of swimming, flutter...

This study investigates how body position affects the relative contribution of the rib cage to speech breathing and voice quality. The frequently used upright and supine body positions are expanded with the addition of an inverted position as a condition. Five participants performed two speech production tasks across the three body positional conditions. The estimation of the relative contribution of the rib cage to speech breathing was obtained through respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP). Phonation type was estimated through the usage of the α-ratio, obtained with a neck-surface accelerometer. The results between the participants suggest a pattern regarding levels of the relative contribution of the rib cage in relation to phonation type, which offers opportunities for further investigation in future research. / Den här studien undersöker hur kroppsposition påverkar det relativa bidraget av bröstkorgen för talandning och röstkvalité. Den frekventa användningen av upprät och supin kroppsposition utvidgas med en inverterad position som villkor. Fem forskningspersoner genomförde två talproduktionsuppgifter genom de tre kroppspositionsvillkoren. Uppskattningen av det relativa bidraget av bröstkorgen för talandning var erhållen genom respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP). Fonationstyp var uppskattad genom användningen av α-ratio, erhållen med en ytligt hals-placerad accelerometer. Resultaten mellan deltagarna föreslår ett mönster för nivåer av det relativa bidraget av bröstkorgen relaterat till fonationstyp, som ger möjligheter för vidare undersökning i framtida forskning.