In 2014, the Swedish leisure-time centres after school became widely criticized on several occasions by school authorities. The cause for its criticism was a reflection of leisure time-centres with lots of untrained staff and a lack of pedagogical aspirations. The conclusion of the criticism was that these leisure-time centres do not fulfil their potential. However, these assessments has only to a limited extent become a part of the public educational discourse in Sweden. This discourse has mainly focused on the decreasing results in the Swedish school, which has caught the attention in the media and ended up on the political agenda. The flaws in the leisure-time centres have been far more overlooked and its function has been unclear. This study explores representations of the leisure-time centres and its missions and aims. It also examines how after-school teachers and their skills, duties and attributes are represented. This has been done by studying descriptions of the leisure-time centres in three different municipalities and 154 recruitment ads for after-school teachers. The results of these data collections shows a dominant cooperative discourse, where many of the leisure-time centres and the after-school teachers most important tasks and assignments is more to be found in school activities rather than at the leisure-time centres. The conclusion of the study is that the leisure-time centres have lost its value-based core and instead its function has been integrated as a resource center in school to make sure that the aims for school is to be achieved. That has transformed the after-school teacher into a flexible employee, which constantly has to be prepared for and have a positive approach to new circumstances.

<p>Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a dangerous disorder characterized by unrelenting rigidity that continues even in the presence of deadly outcomes. Despite this, our understanding of factors that promote and maintain rigidity is lacking. The current paper proposes a model suggesting that rigid behaviors in AN can be formulated as maladaptive rule-governed behavior that emerges in contexts of uncertainty and loss of control, such as in the presence of affective arousal. An empirical study examining the differences between individuals weight recovered from AN (AN-WR) and healthy controls (CN) on parameters of rule-governed behavior in neutral and stressful contexts is described. Seventy-four adults (AN-WR: 36; CN: 38) were randomized to undergo either a stressful or neutral mood manipulation and then completed a laboratory assessment of rule-governed behavior, along with questionnaires measuring difficulties with uncertainty. While the AN-WR group demonstrated greater flexibility in rule implementation compared to the CN group, they evidenced greater impairment in behavioral extinction. Furthermore, although affective arousal did not significantly impact rule-governed behavior as expected, difficulties tolerating uncertainty were significantly related to rule-governed outcomes exclusively in the AN-WR group. Taken together, findings provide preliminary support for maladaptive rule-governed behavior in AN and suggest that this is related to an intolerance of uncertainty. Findings and treatment implications are discussed in light of study limitations.</p> / Dissertation

För att uppnå ett långsiktigt hållbart samhälle ställs idag höga krav på en miljömässigt och ekonomiskt hållbar utveckling. Samhällets expansion i form av nybyggnation är en stor del i detta. Genom att planera och bygga mer långsiktigt hållbara byggnader så kan dessa krav uppfyllas. Att skapa flexibla byggnader, som kan anpassas efter samhällets framtida behov, leder till en effektivisering av lokalutnyttjandet och genererar mer långsiktigt hållbara byggnader. I Sverige är kommunerna landets största byggherrar och de har därför ett stort ansvar att förse samhället med fastigheter och då framförallt offentliga lokaler. En typ av offentliga lokaler där behovet av flexibla byggnader är stort är förskolor, i och med att det är svårt att förutse hur det framtida behovet av förskolor kommer att se ut då storleken på barnkullarna varierar. Detta examensarbete inom högskoleingenjörsprogrammet i byggteknik har utförts under tio veckor på Tengbom Arkitekter i Uppsala. Arbetet behandlar ämnet flexibilitet i byggnader och innefattar ett förslag på utformningen av en flexibel byggnad i form av en förskola som i framtiden kan konverteras till ett äldreboende. / Society today has an increasing demand for environmentally and economically sustainable developments in order to create a sustainable society. Society’s growth in new construction is a big part of this, and by planning and building more sustainable buildings these requirements can be fulfilled. The development of flexible buildings, which can adapt to future needs of society, lead to a more efficient utilization and longevity of premises and generate more sustainable buildings.In Sweden, the municipalities are the country’s largest property developers and therefore have a significant responsibility to provide society with real estate and public buildings. In recent time we have seen a shift towards flexible public buildings and in particular preschools. With the current socio-economic climate and ageing population buildings like preschools need to be flexible to ensure they can cater for future demands of society. This degree project, within the Bachelor programme in Construction Engineering, has been carried out during 10 weeks on Tengbom Architects in Uppsala. The thesis deals with the subject of flexibility in buildings and includes a proposal for the design of a flexible building as a pre-school that in the future can be converted into a retirement home.

With the general increase in Rugby union's popularity the past decade, there has been an increase in sport injuries, both from acute and overuse trauma. Approximately half of all sport injuries may be attributed to overuse or repetitive micro trauma rather than a single traumatic event. Although very few overuse injuries have an established aetiology, the fact that over 80% of these injuries occurs at or below the knee suggests that there may be some common mechanisms in the aetiology. It could only be stated with certainty that the aetiology of these injuries is multifactorial and diverse, with both extrinsic and intrinsic factors contributing. Many intrinsic factors (personal) predispose athletes to develop overuse injuries. Intervention of intrinsic injury risk factors is more problematic, as intrinsic risk factors are often difficult to examine and even more difficult to rehabilitate than external factors. Extrinsic risk factors (environmental) that are independent of the injured person can be influenced through the intervention of the extrinsic factors. Main attention should be paid not to the treatment of the site of injury but to the possible cause of the symptoms. It is therefore vital that coaches and medical teams have a complete understanding of the incidence, nature, severity, and causes of injuries in order to review the adequacy of their injury prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of selected anthropometric parameters, biomechanical malalignment and flexibility on the prevalence of Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) in U/19 university rugby players of the 2006 season of the North-West University (NWU) Rugby Institute (RI). A prospective once-off subject availability study was performed that included U/19 rugby union players of the RI of the NWU (n=91). Selected biomechanical and anthropometrical assessments were made. Biomechanical and anthropometrical assessments were preformed on all subjects before the start of the season. All existing injuries were recorded by means of an injury history questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (e.g. mean and standard deviations) and contingency tables were used to analyse the data. Effect sizes were used to decide on the practical significance of the findings. A cut-off point of 0.8 (large effect) was set for practical significance of differences between means. Players with MTSS had a wider Bi-iliocristal width than those without MTSS. There were leg length differences for both players with and without MTSS for Hiospinale, Trochanterion-Tibiale lateral and Tibial lateral length. Iliospinale- and Trochanterion-Tibiale lateral length differences presented with the largest length difference. Iliospinale, Trochanterion-Tibiale lateral and Tibial lateral length difference had a small effect. Only Bi-iliocristal width presented with a medium effect. Hamstrings, Gastrocnemius and Plantaris as well as Soleus and Popliteus flexibility of players without MTSS were tighter than those of players who suffered from MTSS. Only Hamstring tightness had a small effect. Gastrocnemius and Plantaris as well as Soleus and Popliteus presented with a medium effect. Players without MTSS had a more flexible TFL on their right side. All the other flexibility measurements of the Thomas test presented that players without MTSS had a more inflexible profile. Effect size was not analysed because of the small sample sizes in some of the cells. Players without MTSS presented with an overall more inflexible profile than those with MTSS. More players without MTSS supinated at heel contact on both their feet, compared to the players with MTSS. Players without MTSS supinated more on both their feet during mid stance. A small percentage of players with and without MTSS supinated during the propulsion phase. More players without MTSS had a neutral right foot mid stance compared to players with MTSS who had a more neutral mid stance on their right foot. Players with MTSS pronated more with both their feet during propulsion. Players with MTSS pronated mostly during the propulsion phase and mostly had flatter and higher arched feet than players without MTSS. More players with MTSS had a light flat foot, flat foot as well as a high arched foot than players without MTSS. Most of the players with MTSS had normal right arched foot type. None of the players with MTSS had either a light high right foot or a high arched left foot. / Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

With the general increase in Rugby union's popularity the past decade, there has been an increase in sport injuries, both from acute and overuse trauma. Approximately half of all sport injuries may be attributed to overuse or repetitive micro trauma rather than a single traumatic event. Although very few overuse injuries have an established aetiology, the fact that over 80% of these injuries occurs at or below the knee suggests that there may be some common mechanisms in the aetiology. It could only be stated with certainty that the aetiology of these injuries is multifactorial and diverse, with both extrinsic and intrinsic factors contributing. Many intrinsic factors (personal) predispose athletes to develop overuse injuries. Intervention of intrinsic injury risk factors is more problematic, as intrinsic risk factors are often difficult to examine and even more difficult to rehabilitate than external factors. Extrinsic risk factors (environmental) that are independent of the injured person can be influenced through the intervention of the extrinsic factors. Main attention should be paid not to the treatment of the site of injury but to the possible cause of the symptoms. It is therefore vital that coaches and medical teams have a complete understanding of the incidence, nature, severity, and causes of injuries in order to review the adequacy of their injury prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of selected anthropometric parameters, biomechanical malalignment and flexibility on the prevalence of Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) in U/19 university rugby players of the 2006 season of the North-West University (NWU) Rugby Institute (RI). A prospective once-off subject availability study was performed that included U/19 rugby union players of the RI of the NWU (n=91). Selected biomechanical and anthropometrical assessments were made. Biomechanical and anthropometrical assessments were preformed on all subjects before the start of the season. All existing injuries were recorded by means of an injury history questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (e.g. mean and standard deviations) and contingency tables were used to analyse the data. Effect sizes were used to decide on the practical significance of the findings. A cut-off point of 0.8 (large effect) was set for practical significance of differences between means. Players with MTSS had a wider Bi-iliocristal width than those without MTSS. There were leg length differences for both players with and without MTSS for Hiospinale, Trochanterion-Tibiale lateral and Tibial lateral length. Iliospinale- and Trochanterion-Tibiale lateral length differences presented with the largest length difference. Iliospinale, Trochanterion-Tibiale lateral and Tibial lateral length difference had a small effect. Only Bi-iliocristal width presented with a medium effect. Hamstrings, Gastrocnemius and Plantaris as well as Soleus and Popliteus flexibility of players without MTSS were tighter than those of players who suffered from MTSS. Only Hamstring tightness had a small effect. Gastrocnemius and Plantaris as well as Soleus and Popliteus presented with a medium effect. Players without MTSS had a more flexible TFL on their right side. All the other flexibility measurements of the Thomas test presented that players without MTSS had a more inflexible profile. Effect size was not analysed because of the small sample sizes in some of the cells. Players without MTSS presented with an overall more inflexible profile than those with MTSS. More players without MTSS supinated at heel contact on both their feet, compared to the players with MTSS. Players without MTSS supinated more on both their feet during mid stance. A small percentage of players with and without MTSS supinated during the propulsion phase. More players without MTSS had a neutral right foot mid stance compared to players with MTSS who had a more neutral mid stance on their right foot. Players with MTSS pronated more with both their feet during propulsion. Players with MTSS pronated mostly during the propulsion phase and mostly had flatter and higher arched feet than players without MTSS. More players with MTSS had a light flat foot, flat foot as well as a high arched foot than players without MTSS. Most of the players with MTSS had normal right arched foot type. None of the players with MTSS had either a light high right foot or a high arched left foot. / Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

<p>Changing environmental conditions may present substantial challenges to organisms experiencing them. In animals, the fastest way to respond to these changes is often by altering behavior. This ability, called behavioral flexibility, varies among species and can be studied on several levels. First, the extent of behavioral flexibility exhibited by a species can be determined by observation of that species' behavior, either in nature or in experimental settings. Second, because the central nervous system is the substrate determining behavior, neuroanatomy can be studied as the proximate cause of behavioral flexibility. Finally, the ultimate causation can be examined by studying ecological factors that favor the evolution of behavioral flexibility. In this dissertation, I investigate behavioral flexibility across all three levels by examining the relationship between habitat structure, the size of different structures within the brain and total brain size, and behavioral flexibility in six closely-related species of Puerto Rican <italic>Anolis</italic> lizards. <italic>Anolis</italic> lizards provide an excellent taxon for this study as certain species, including those used here, are classified as belonging to different ecomorphs and are morphologically and behaviorally specialized to distinct structural habitat types.</p><p>In order to determine the presence of behavioral flexibility in <italic>Anolis</italic>, I first presented <italic>Anolis evermanni</italic> with a series of tasks requiring motor learning and a single instance of reversal learning. <italic>Anolis evermanni</italic> demonstrated high levels of behavioral flexibility in both tasks.</p><p>To address the pattern of brain evolution in the <italic>Anolis</italic> brain, I used a histological approach to measure the volume of the whole brain, telencephalon, dorsal cortex, dorsomedial cortex, medial cortex, dorsal ventricular ridge, cerebellum, and medulla in six closely-related species of Puerto Rican <italic>Anolis</italic> lizards belonging to three ecomorphs. These data were analyzed to determine the relative contribution of concerted and mosaic brain evolution to <italic>Anolis</italic> brain evolution. The cerebellum showed a trend toward mosaic evolution while the remaining brain structures matched the predictions of concerted brain evolution. </p><p>I then examined the relationship between the complexity of structural habitat occupied by each species and brain size in order to determine if complex habitats are associated with relatively large brains. I measured brain volume using histological methods and directly measured habitat complexity in all six species. Using Principal Component Analysis, I condensed the measures of habitat structure to a single variable and corrected it for the scale of each lizard species' movement, calling the resulting measurement relevant habitat complexity. I tested the relationship between relative volume of the telencephalon, dorsal cortex, dorsomedial cortex, and whole brain against both relative habitat complexity and ecomorph classification. There was no relationship between the relative volume of any brain structure examined and either relevant habitat complexity or ecomorph. However, relevant habitat complexities for each species did not completely match their ecomorph classifications. </p><p>Finally, I tested the levels of behavioral flexibility of three species of <italic>Anolis</italic>, <italic>A. evermanni</italic>, <italic>A. pulchellus</italic>, and <italic>A. cristatellus</italic>, belonging to three distinct ecomorphs, by presenting them with tasks requiring motor and reversal learning. <italic>Anolis evermanni</italic> performed well in both tasks, while <italic>A. pulchellus</italic> required more trials to learn the motor task. Only a single <italic>Anolis cristatellus</italic> was able to perform either task. <italic>Anolis evermanni</italic> displayed lower levels of neophobia than the other species, which may be related to its superior performance.</p><p>In combination, this research suggests that <italic>Anolis</italic> of different ecomorphs display different levels of behavioral flexibility. At the proximate level, this difference in behavioral flexibility cannot be explained by changes in the relative size of the total brain or brain structures associated with cognitive abilities in other taxa. At the ultimate level, the size of the brain and several constituent structures cannot be predicted by habitat complexity. However, behavioral flexibility in certain tasks may be favored by utilization of complex habitats. Flexibility in different tasks is not correlated, rendering broad comparisons to a habitat complexity problematic.</p> / Dissertation

Objective: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a permanent developmental disorder that can occur if women drink alcohol while pregnant. Despite substantial variability in FASD as a population, anecdotal evidence and clinical reports suggest that affected individuals have difficulty learning from experience and generalizing information from one situation to another, and tend to make the same mistakes over and over. Consistent with research in cognitive and educational psychology, these difficulties were conceptualized as impairments in “transfer of learning.” This dissertation sought to measure transfer of learning using three experimental transfer measures and an exploratory parental transfer questionnaire. In addition, performance on the experimental transfer measures was investigated in relation to aspects of executive functioning, because abilities thought to underlie successful transfer bear much resemblance to aspects of executive functioning. Participants and Methods: The sample included 16 children diagnosed with FASD and 16 age- and gender-matched control children. Children were screened for intelligence and excluded if their performance on both Vocabulary and Matrix Reasoning from the WISC-IV fell below the 9th percentile. Children completed three transfer tasks: (1) a novel, experimental modification of the Tower of Hanoi involving nested plastic cups and Tupperware containers; (2) a variation of Chen’s (1996) Bead Retrieval Problem; and (3) the Purdue Pegboard. Participants also completed three executive functioning tasks that were selected to measure concept formation and flexibility: (1) Picture Concepts from the WISC-IV; (2) the D-KEFS Color-Word Interference Test; and (3) the Visual-Verbal Test. In addition, parents or caregivers completed an exploratory questionnaire designed to assess children’s transfer of learning abilities in everyday life, along with the ABAS-II, a standardized measure of adaptive functioning. Results: Children with FASD displayed significantly weaker performance on the Transfer Condition of the Tower of Hanoi, even after controlling for intelligence. Group differences were not observed on the Bead Retrieval Problem or on the Purdue Pegboard. On the measures of executive functioning, control children outperformed those with FASD on all measures before controlling for intelligence. In addition, there was a significant relationship between the Tower of Hanoi and the Visual-Verbal Test; the latter was the only executive functioning task related to transfer of learning. This finding, however, did not persist when intelligence was accounted for. After controlling for intelligence, significant group differences also were found on parental ratings of everyday transfer ability and on more complex aspects of adaptive functioning. Conclusions: Two out of four newly created measures in this exploratory dissertation provided partial support for weak transfer of learning in FASD. This was observed on the modified Tower of Hanoi, which shared an identical structure between conditions but differed in surface appearance. Parental ratings also indicated weak transfer of learning, although in children with FASD, these reports did not correlate with transfer abilities on the Tower of Hanoi. Children with FASD also demonstrated weak executive functioning, but this weakness was moderated significantly by intelligence. The relationship between transfer of learning and executive functioning appeared to be driven primarily by cognitive flexibility, although this relationship also was moderated by intelligence.

The relationship between substrate oxidation (RER) and food intake (FI) is undefined. This study examined the effects of RER modified by a glucose pre-load (GL), exercise (EX) and GL with EX on, FI and energy balance (NEB) in normal-weight boys (9-12 y) and men (20-30 y). Subjects (15 boys, 15 men) were randomized with treatments of either water or GL followed by either EX or rest. Measures included RER, energy expenditure (EE)(kcal/kg), subjective appetite, FI(kcal/kg) measured at a pizza lunch and NEB (kcal/kg). FI(kcal/kg) was reduced by GL(p < 0.0001), and further decreased with GL ingested prior to EX(p = 0.0254). RER was increased with GL(p < 0.0001) and EX(p = 0.0043), and was higher in men compared to boys (p = 0.007). There was no association between RER and FI(kcal/kg). In conclusion, there was no relationship between RER and FI, suggesting that FI is not affected by substrate oxidation.

The relationship between substrate oxidation (RER) and food intake (FI) is undefined. This study examined the effects of RER modified by a glucose pre-load (GL), exercise (EX) and GL with EX on, FI and energy balance (NEB) in normal-weight boys (9-12 y) and men (20-30 y). Subjects (15 boys, 15 men) were randomized with treatments of either water or GL followed by either EX or rest. Measures included RER, energy expenditure (EE)(kcal/kg), subjective appetite, FI(kcal/kg) measured at a pizza lunch and NEB (kcal/kg). FI(kcal/kg) was reduced by GL(p < 0.0001), and further decreased with GL ingested prior to EX(p = 0.0254). RER was increased with GL(p < 0.0001) and EX(p = 0.0043), and was higher in men compared to boys (p = 0.007). There was no association between RER and FI(kcal/kg). In conclusion, there was no relationship between RER and FI, suggesting that FI is not affected by substrate oxidation.

Quantity Flexibility contract is an arrangement where parties agree upon a scheme of forming ranges on volumes for their future transactions. The contract is based on setting upper and lower limits on replenishment orders as simple multiples of point estimates updated, published and committed by the buyers. We introduce a manufacturer with a limited capacity / also capable of subcontracting, for deliveries with a known lead time. He offers a Quantity Flexibility (QF) contract to a buyer while he has an active contract with another buyer serving a market with known demand forecast distributions. Using two-stage stochastic programming we study the effects of flexibility multiples and the environmental factors on the buyers&amp / #8217 / incentives and manufacturer&amp / #8217 / s capacity planning. Finally, the motivations of the Supply Chain actors to behave independently or to be involved into the integrated iv supply chain where information asymmetry is removed are investigated. Our experiments underline the critical roles played by the forecast accuracy and information sharing.