Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Description based on contents viewed Oct. 6, 2007; title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-110).

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / O estudo teve como objetivo construir e validar as definiÃÃes constitutivas e operacionais do resultado Mobilidade e dos seus indicadores presentes na ClassificaÃÃo dos Resultados de Enfermagem (NOC, 2010). Estudo do tipo metodolÃgico, realizado em trÃs etapas: anÃlise de conceito, validaÃÃo por especialistas e validaÃÃo clÃnica do instrumento. Para a seleÃÃo das produÃÃes utilizou-se o acesso on-line a cinco bases de dados: Scopus, Pubmed, Cinahl, Cochrane e Lilacs, com os descritores: Mobility, Stroke, nursing e suas sinonÃmias nas lÃnguas portuguesa e espanhola. Identificaram-se 1.521 artigos e apÃs seleÃÃo criteriosa resultaram 49 artigos. Entre os diferentes paÃses, destacam-se os artigos publicados no Canadà (26,7%), sobretudo das produÃÃes a partir de 2001 (95,9%) por fisioterapeutas (34,6%), em unidades de reabilitaÃÃo (61,5%). Os atributos identificados para Mobilidade foram: andar, ficar em pÃ, sentar, colocar a perna de um lado para outro, virar-se, iniciar e parar a locomoÃÃo, subir escadas, funÃÃo motora, transferÃncia e habilidade motora. Para LimitaÃÃo da mobilidade: hemiplegia, hemiparesia, dÃficit na marcha e habilidade motora diminuÃda. TambÃm foi construÃdo um caso modelo e um caso contrÃrio e identificados antecedentes e consequentes para Mobilidade e LimitaÃÃo da mobilidade. ApÃs a anÃlise de conceito nesta etapa foi possÃvel propor um instrumento com as definiÃÃes constitutivas e operacionais para os indicadores do resultado Mobilidade empregando alguns princÃpios da psicometria. Este foi submetido à avaliaÃÃo de 23 enfermeiros especialistas que atenderam aos critÃrios adaptados de Fehring (1994). Os dados foram compilados no programa Microsoft Office Excel 2007 e analisados pelo SPSS versÃo 19.0. A maioria dos especialistas era do sexo feminino (95,7%), trabalhava no Estado do Cearà (76,0%) em instituiÃÃo de ensino superior e em hospitais (56,5%), era mestre (78,3%) e tinha experiÃncia de trabalhos com mobilidade e/ou AVC. Observou-se que os indicadores Correr, Saltar, Rastejar e Movimentos realizados com facilidade apresentaram para a maioria dos critÃrios da psicometria proporÃÃes estatisticamente inferiores a 85%. AlÃm disso, a maior parte dos enfermeiros sugeriu a retirada destes indicadores por julgÃ-los nÃo representativos para pacientes que tiveram AVC. Assim, estes indicadores foram excluÃdos ao se construir o instrumento para ser aplicado na etapa de validaÃÃo clÃnica do instrumento. A coleta de dados da terceira etapa ocorreu no ambulatÃrio de neurologia de um hospital de referÃncia para tratamento de pacientes com AVC no Cearà e todos os aspectos Ãticos foram respeitados em todas as etapas do estudo. ApÃs a confirmaÃÃo da presenÃa do diagnÃstico de enfermagem Mobilidade fÃsica prejudicada em pacientes que tiveram AVC pela pesquisadora do estudo, uma dupla de enfermeiras aplicou o instrumento com as definiÃÃes constitutivas e operacionais construÃdas e validadas nas duas primeiras etapas do estudo enquanto a outra dupla aplicou o mesmo instrumento sem as definiÃÃes. Ao analisar as avaliaÃÃes entre as enfermeiras, houve similaridade entre a dupla de avaliadores que utilizou o instrumento com as definiÃÃes constitutivas e operacionais para todos os indicadores e entre a dupla que utilizou o instrumento sem estas definiÃÃes ao aplicar os testes estatÃsticos de Friedman e o Coeficiente de CorrelaÃÃo Intraclasse. Ao aplicar este coeficiente para os indicadores EquilÃbrio, Andar, Movimento das articulaÃÃes e Desempenho no posicionamento do corpo identificou-se maior correlaÃÃo entre as avaliadoras que empregaram as definiÃÃes quando comparadas com as que nÃo utilizaram. Jà para os indicadores Marcha, Movimento dos mÃsculos, Desempenho na transferÃncia e CoordenaÃÃo, foi maior a concordÃncia entre as enfermeiras que nÃo adotaram as definiÃÃes. Mas, de forma geral, observou-se que para a maioria dos indicadores houve maior concordÃncia entre a dupla que usou o instrumento com as definiÃÃes constitutivas e operacionais. No entanto, recomenda-se a realizaÃÃo de outras pesquisas de validaÃÃo com o resultado de enfermagem Mobilidade tanto em paciente com AVC como em diversas outras situaÃÃes clÃnicas. Esta pesquisa poderà contribuir para o aperfeiÃoamento da taxonomia da NOC. / The study aimed at identifying and validating the constitutive and operational definitions of the mobility outcome and its indicators present in the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC 2010). The study was of methodology type and was performed in three stages: concept analysis, validation by specialists and clinical validation of the instrument. For the selection of productions it was used the online access to five databases: Scopus, PubMed, Cinahl, Lilacs and Cochrane, with the descriptors: mobility, stroke, nursing and their synonyms in both Portuguese and Spanish languages. 1521 articles were identified in all the databases searched and a careful selection resulted in 49 articles. Amongst the fifteen different countries, we highlight the articles published in Canada (26.7%), especially works from 2001 (95.9%) by physiotherapists (34.6%) in rehabilitation units (61.5 %). The attributes identified for Mobility were: walking, standing, sitting, placing the leg side to side, turning around, start and stop walking, climbing stairs, motor function, transfer and motor skill. For Mobility limitation: hemiplegia, hemiparesis, gait deficit and decreased motor skills. It was also created a sample case and an opposite case and were identified antecedents and consequences for both terms Mobility and Mobility limitation. After the concept analysis stage, it was brought forward an instrument with the constitutive and operational definitions for the indicators of the Mobility outcome by using the principles of psychometrics. This instrument was assessed by 23 specialist nurses who met the criteria adapted from Fehring (1994). The data were compiled into a spreadsheet program Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and analyzed by SPSS version 16.0. Most specialists was female (95.7%), worked in the State of Cearà (76.0%) in institution of higher education and hospitals (56.5%), was a master (78.3%) and had experience working with mobility and / or stroke. It was noted that the following indicators: Run, Jump, Crawl and Movements performed with ease showed ratios statistically less than 85% for most of the psychometrics criteria. Moreover, most of the nurses suggested the removal of these indicators by judging they were not representative for patients who had strokes. Thus, these indicators were excluded when defining the instrument to be applied in the clinical validation of the instrument stage. The data collection for the third stage took place in the neurology first-aid room of a referral hospital for treatment of patients with stroke in Cearà State and all ethical aspects have been followed at all stages of the study. After the researcher of the study confirmed the existence of the Impaired physical mobility nursing diagnosis in patients who had stroke, a pair of nurses applied the instrument with the constitutive and operational definitions identified and validated in the first two stages of the study while another pair used the same instrument without the definitions. As for the analysis of the nurses evaluations, there was similarity amongst the pair of evaluators who used the instrument with the constitutive and operational definitions for all indicators and amongst the pair who used the instrument without these definitions in applying the statistical tests from Fridman and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient. With the use of this coefficient to such indicators: Balance, Walking, Joint movement and Body positioning performance, it was found a higher correlation between the evaluators who used the definitions as compared to those who did not. As for the following indicators: Gait, Muscle movement, Performance in the transfer and coordination, the agreement was higher amongst the nurses who did not adopt the definitions. But overall, it was observed that for most indicators there was greater agreement amongst the pair who used the instrument with the constitutive and operational definitions. However, it is recommended to execute other validation researches with the Mobility nursing outcome in patients with stroke and in several other clinical situations as well. This research may contribute to the improvement of the NOC taxonomy.

Throughout history, military officers have relied on maps to provide spatial information and make informed battlefield and other problem-solving decisions. Today’s officers can put even more spatial information at a soldier’s fingertips if they are made aware of the power of geographic information systems and software. This paper makes the argument that an informal education and introduction to the uses of geographic information systems (GIS) during their participation in reserve officer training corps (ROTC) can help provide future officers with a basic understanding on how GIS can impact their ability to solve military relevant problems with these technologies and can aid in their decision making. This project created a web application using python and based on military mapping manuals and defense tools that allow a user to create a model of how quickly the user could be able to move over a given terrain. This web application was given to military officers in ROTC training at the University of Arizona prior to participation in a land navigation exercise to help them plan and prepare their path through the event. Students using the app prior to the exercise were able to see how the information provided by GIS can help them make decisions and times were compared between those that used the tool and those that did not. This tool, and the subsequent exercise provided increased awareness in military applications of GIS for those future military officers and helps inspire them to pursue more information on the technology.

AbstractThe University of ManchesterMichael Lewis Humphreys Doctorate in Educational and Child PsychologyAn Exploration into Children’s Experiences of Pupil Mobility2012Pupil mobility, defined as “a child joining or leaving a school at a point other than at the normal age at which children start or finish their education at that school” (Dobson & Henthorne, 1999 p. vi), is a complex phenomenon that is linked to the academic, social and emotional outcomes of children and young people (Gagnon & Malmgren, 2005; Mehana & Reynolds, 2004; South & Haynie, 2004). There is limited published research that has illuminated pupil mobility through eliciting the views of the pupils, their families and class teachers. This qualitative study explored how children experienced pupil mobility when it was combined with a residential move and the factors that were perceived to affect the experience. A multiple case study design with embedded (multiple) units of analysis was adopted (Yin, 2009). Each case study consisted of a Key Stage 2 aged child who had moved into a northern coastal Local Authority within six months of the data collection. The data was gathered through semi-structured interviews in two primary schools. Four children, five parents and five class teachers took part in the study.The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed before being analysed through thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The analysis identified key themes raised in the interviews in relation to how the children experienced pupil mobility and the factors that were perceived to have impacted upon this experience. The findings of this study highlight that pupil mobility is a challenging experience for children that elicits a contrasting range of emotions which are affected by a series of interactions between the children and the systems around them. The findings are discussed in relation to psychological theories and previous research. Implications are considered for the practice of Local Authority personnel, school staff, parents and educational psychologists and suggestions for future research are highlighted.

Notions such as transference, movement, transit and mobility have become fundamental to understand the mechanisms that rule the circulation, reception and production of contemporary cultural artifacts. In spite of the growing scholarship on the topic, very little attention has been given to a particular cultural arena: the realm of contemporary entertainment. By contemporary entertainment, I refer to a set of industrial products which are especially directed to urban young audiences: cartoons, comic books, computer games, blockbuster movies, theme park attractions, etc. This thesis argues that the realm of contemporary entertainment is marked by the presence of intense mobility, by movement and acceleration on at least two levels. First, movies (The Matrix, City of God, Run Lola Run, etc.), TV programs (the so-called “MTV aesthetics”), computer games (Doom or games based on blockbusters) and even cartoons for children (Spongebob, Pokémon, etc.) present frantic editing and engage the audiences’ senses through moving images in a vertiginous “bombardment” of signs – a phenomenon I will call kinesthesics. Second, the production and reception of these cultural objects take place in a highly intermedial environment: computer games become feature movies (Tom Raider, Resident Evil), comic books become feature movies (Sin City, Spiderman, etc.) feature movies become theme park attractions (Jurassic Park), theme park attractions become feature movies (Pirates of the Caribbean) and so on. This thesis shows how these two basic mobile characteristics play a determinant role in the complex economic, technologic and aisthesic rationale that drives the contemporary entertainment industry. i The investigation of these basic traits suggests the existence of mobility paradigms that help us better understand not only products like the ones mentioned above, but also disparate cultural artifacts such as the Brazilian aparelhagem – a traveling technological paraphernalia that brings musical entertainment to poor audiences in the Brazilian Amazon Region. Aparelhagens present an intricate blending of physical displacement, media mobility, visual spectacle and musical frenzy. This successful combination propels a popular and powerful entertainment industry in Northern Brazil known as tecnobrega. By analyzing the phenomenon and comparing it to global entertainment products, the thesis discloses aisthesic patterns that cross social, economic and cultural boundaries.

Physical rehabilitation of individuals who are experiencing a disabling illness or have survived a traumatic injury (i.e. stroke) must seek to train the body’s structures and functions to reduce disability (activity limitations, participation restrictions) (Stucki, 2005). Figure 1 represents a modified version of the International Classification of Functioning (ICF), Disability and Health (World Health Organization, 2002). This figure illustrates how, for example, a stroke impacts the body structures and functions (e.g. muscle recruitment) which influences the ability to complete activities (e.g. gait) ultimately restricting participation in all areas of life (e.g. employment). The ICF model presents a framework for clinical practice and rehabilitation research studies. Although it has been shown to be strongly correlated (Schmid, Van Puymbroeck, et al., 2013) the concept of function cannot always be directly correlated with the concept of quality of life (Stucki, 2005) as the individual may not perceive, for example, impaired balance and mobility as detrimental to their quality of life. However, reduced function does put an individual at further risk of complications including falls and injuries from compensatory mechanisms and therefore must be addressed. The focus of this thesis is the study of the potential benefits of an exercise modality (virtual reality) to encourage restoration of the body’s structures and functions for individuals post-stroke. As the individuals engage in physical rehabilitation through exercise, there may be improvements on the individual’s abilities as seen through measurements of the control of posture and walking. The thesis comprises four studies, two of which have been published in peer reviewed journals. The progression of studies attempts to characterize outcomes following the use of virtual reality training in clinical populations (dementia and stroke) to address impairments to the body structures and functions (e.g. mobility) as measured by both clinical measures of activity and laboratory based measures of balance and to elucidate a possible mechanism (focus of attention) that makes training in a virtual environment effective.

This diploma thesis deals with international employee mobility within an unnamed multinational company, whose primary business is providing consulting services. The first half of the thesis defines relevant terms and maps out problems concerning international employee mobility, based on accessible literature and specialized journals, with the second half being devoted to analysing the mobility processes within the unnamed company. The end goal is to map all mobility processes and programs, determine possible deficiencies that might exist, and indicate suggestions for their correction. Internal mobility policies and data combined with unstructured interviews of employees of the unnamed company were utilized to formulate this thesis.

This thesis aims at systematically investigating intergenerational class mobility in contemporary China between 1996 and 2006, a period of time that largely overlaps the third decade of the country’s reform era. The study seeks answers to the following questions: 1) to what extent Chinese are found in class positions that differ from their class origins; 2) whether the amount of intergenerational mobility increased during the decade in question; 3) whether China has become a more equal society in terms of social mobility; 4) what are the overall patterns of social fluidity in China; and, 5) how mobility outcomes are affected by work-life mobility and various demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, such as gender and the household registration (hukou) background.This research uses nationally representative survey data from three surveys – the Life Histories and Social Change Survey (1996) and the Chinese General Social Surveys (CGSS 2005 and CGSS 2006). I adopt the class structural approach and the EGP (Erikson-Goldthorpe-Protocarero) class schema. Various statistical methods are employed to explore the above issues: descriptive analysis for changes of China’s class structure, absolute rates of mobility and work-life mobility from the first job class to class of destination; log-linear and log-multiplicative analysis for trends and between-group differences in relative mobility; the Hauser-type density levels model and the core model of social fluidity for patterns of social fluidity; and the Stereotype Ordinal Regression Model for multivariate analysis of mobility outcomes. During the decade, China has become a more ‘mobile’ society in an upgraded structural context. While the relative size of the agricultural sector contracted substantially, there is a significant increase in the non-agricultural ‘room’ for occupational attainment, especially in the routine non-manual class and manual working classes. However, the analysis of relative mobility shows that the significant increase in total mobility and upward mobility has resulted mainly from structural changes. Between 1996 and 2006, the origin-destination association net of structural effects has been largely stable. Hence, the study provides little evidence in support of a more equal Chinese society. As regards gender differences, Chinese women are less socially mobile than men, and their mobility outcomes tend to be more affected than men by their social origin.In fitting the density levels model and the core model of social fluidity to the pooled data, I show that the highest likelihood of occurrence lies with the self-inheritance of peasants as well as small business owners. In contrast, mobility between the agricultural sector and non-manual classes displays the lowest likelihood of occurrence. While relative chances of mobility for both men and women are heavily affected the boundary between agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, women are further subject to the hierarchical effect that hinders long-range mobility. In the final part of the empirical analyses, I reveal the decisive role that the first job class plays in mobility processes in China. The results of the multivariate analysis also indicate that the institutional barriers imposed by the hukou system have a striking negative effect on mobility chances.

This investigation studied the degree of spatial data that could be perceived by subjects, through the use of echolocation, who were led through an indoor environment and verbally reported their spatial perceptions. The experimental group was composed of 5 totally blind and severely visually impaired subjects and the control group had 11 sighted subjects who were under blindfold. Each subject was led through the space, using the sighted guide technique, and the subject would click a clicker and attempt to perceive spatial data through echolocation. The space had 25 preselected reference points in it, and the experimental subjects averaged 20.2 correct responses and the control subjects 7.727 for an overall mean of 11.3125. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate