The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of using preferred characters with a constant time delay instructional procedure to teach community sign reading to three students with moderate intellectual disability with the definitions of the signs as non-targeted information. An adapted alternating treatments design was used to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the preferred characters on acquisition of the community signs. Pre- and post- assessments were conducted on acquisition of the non-targeted definitions, as well as generalization of the signs and their meanings. The results indicated that all students learned the target signs and they learned all of the definitions of the signs when they were presented with a preferred character. Students did not generalize the meanings of the signs to community settings.

Regular moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with significant physiological and psychological health benefits (Department of Health, DoH, 2004). However, many children are not undertaking recommended levels of physical activity (PA) (DoH, 2009). This research examined relationships between physiological health parameters, psychological determinants and PA levels in 10-14 year old schoolchildren (N = 249) and assessed the influence of three school-based PA interventions on these constructs in the context of the Health And Physical activity Promotion in Youth (HAPPY) study. Study 1 revealed that sedentary behaviours, moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA) and MVPA levels were higher on weekdays than weekend days (p < .001). However, schoolchildren’s PA is often difficult to measure accurately. The self-report measure utilised in study 2 underestimated total MVPA versus accelerometry for both sexes on weekdays and girls on weekend days (p < .01). However, study 3 highlighted a lack of agreement between two RT3® triaxial accelerometer cut-offs for all activity categories. The importance of VPA for promoting health was highlighted in the updated PA guidelines (DoH, 2011). Study 4 reported that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was positively associated with VPA but not MPA (β = .27, p < .01) and inversely correlated with measures of body composition (% body fat; body mass index; waist circumference) (r = -.74, r = -.60, r = -.39, p < .001). Knowing the health benefits of regular MVPA and VPA, it is important to understand the determinants of PA intentions and behaviours to more effectively promote PA in less active children (studies 5 and 6). An exploratory analysis of the constructs in the Revised Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Modified Social Learning Theory for children predicted PA intentions (R2 = .38, F(5, 171) = 20.19, p < .001; R2 = .13, F(6, 147) = 3.4, p < .01, respectively) but the constructs in either model were unable to predict PA. Recognising the need to promote PA levels, study 7 investigated the effectiveness of three school-based interventions (vs. control) on outcome variables included in studies 1, and 4-6. The Health Education and Psychology Health Promotion conditions produced significant positive change scores between data collection 2 and 3 for CRF (vs. control) whereas the Youth-Led condition produced significant change scores between baseline and data collection 2 for generalised self-efficacy (vs. control). No significant change scores were reported for PA, the RTPB constructs or intentions. In conclusion, this research has emphasised the importance of employing a multidisciplinary approach to aid understanding of schoolchildren’s PA levels. Specific highlights include low weekend day PA as a possible future PA promotion target, although it is vital that accelerometry cut-points are standardised, and the relevance of VPA and body composition in predicting CRF. The psychological models identified some important determinants of PA intentions, but a prominent intention-behaviour gap and a need for more intensive interventions to promote PA levels was apparent.

Simultaneous prompting is an errorless learning strategy designed to reduce the number of errors students make; however, research has shown a disparity in the number of errors students make during instructional versus probe trials. This study directly examined the effects of error correction versus no error correction during probe trials on the effectiveness and efficiency of simultaneous prompting on the acquisition of sight words by three middle school students with moderate intellectual disabilities. A single-case adapted alternating treatments design (Sindelar, Rosenberg, & Wilson, 1985) was employed to examine the effects of error correction during probe trials in order to reduce error rates. A functional relation was established for two of the three students for the use of error correction during probe sessions to reduce error rates. Error correction during assessment probes required fewer sessions to criterion, resulted in fewer probe errors, resulted in a higher percentage of correct responding on the next subsequent trial, and required less total probe time. For two of the three students, probes with error correction resulted in a more rapid acquisition rate requiring fewer sessions to criterion.

Students with moderate intellectual disabilities (MoID) typically are not taught decoding skills because they have difficulty mastering critical blending skills. In response to this skill deficit among students with MoID, an Initial Phonics instructional sequence was created that included student development of rapid and automatic retrieval of taught letter-sound correspondences to a level of mastery before teaching the skill of blending. For each of 16 students with MoID (ages 6-15), mastery criterion of letter-sound automaticity phases was determined by their individual naming speed as measured by the Rapid Object Naming (RON) subtest of the Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP). Visual analysis of graphically displayed single-case data revealed a functional relation between simultaneous prompting procedures and letter-sound correspondences, automaticity, and blending acquisition for all students. Furthermore, the use of hierarchical linear growth modeling (HLGM) revealed statistical significance for: (a) the impact of daily instruction on the development of letter-sound correspondences, automaticity, and blending in terms of average student growth per instructional session, (b) variability between student growth trajectories within automaticity and blending phases, (c) student pretest scores on RON as an explanatory variable for differences between growth trajectories within automaticity treatment phases, and (d) the extent to which the number of sessions to mastery within automaticity phases and student age predicted acquisition of blending skills. The purpose of identifying explanatory/predictor variables was to classify cognitive predictors for students with MoID who successfully acquire blending skills.

Darbe atlikta teorinė sutrikusio intelekto vaikų vystymosi ypatumų, buitinių įgūdžių apibrėžties analizė bei tėvų ir ugdymo įstaigos pedagogų vykdomo buitinių įgūdžių formavimo kryptingumo siekiant vaikų, turinčių vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą, autonomiškumo analizė. Iškelta hipotezė, kad vaikų, turinčių vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą, buitinių įgūdžių formavimas vyksta kryptingai. Taikant anketinės apklausos metodą, buvo atliktas tyrimas, kurio tikslas - įvertinti buitinių įgūdžių formavimo kryptingumą, siekiant vaikų, turinčių vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą, autonomiškumo. Atlikta anketinės apklausos duomenų analizė. Tyrime dalyvavo 118 Vilniaus miesto specialiųjų ugdymo įstaigų pedagogų ir 100 tėvų, auginančių vaikus, turinčius vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą. Empirinėje dalyje aptariamos asmens, turinčio vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą, galimybės atlikti buitinius darbus; nagrinėjamas sutrikusio intelekto vaikų buitinių įgūdžių formavimo kryptingumas namuose ir ugdymo įstaigoje. Svarbiausios empirinio tyrimo išvados: 1. Hipotezė, kad vaikų, turinčių vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą, buitinių įgūdžių formavimas vyksta kryptingai, pasitvirtino iš dalies. 2. Daugumos respondentų nuomone, vaikų, turinčių vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą galimybės atlikti buitinius darbus yra ribotos, minimalios. Tik 36 proc. tėvų ir 25 proc. pedagogų nurodė normalias galimybes, 10 proc. pedagogų pabrėžė, kad galimybės atlikti buitiniuis darbus priklauso nuo individualių vaiko sugebėjimų. 3. ... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / There was made theoretical analysis about development peculiarities of children with mental retardation, daily skills were defined and also there was made an analysis about singleness of daily skills formation with purpose to make children with moderate mental retardation self–sufficient, which parents and educators implement. It was hypothesized that formation of daily skills for children with moderate mental retardation is going purposefully. By employing method of questionnaires the research was made which purpose is to evaluate singleness of daily skills formation with purpose to make children with moderate mental retardation self–sufficient. The analysis of questionnaires data was made. 118 Vilnius city special educational institutions educators and 100 parents who have children with moderate mental retardation participated in the research. In the empirical part the possibilities of a person with moderate mental retardation to make daily activities are discussed; the singleness of daily skills formation of children with mental retardation at home and at the educational institution is examined. The most important conclusions of empirical research: 1. Hypothesis that formation of daily skills for children with moderate mental retardation is going purposefully was proved partially. 2. Many respondents take the view that possibilities for children with moderate mental retardation to make daily activities are limited, minimal. Only 36 percent of parents and 25 percent... [to full text]

Obesity is a highly cited risk factor for knee osteoarthritis (OA) associated with increased risk of development of OA and accelerated disease progression. Rates of obesity are increasing internationally, and while obesity is well established as a risk factor, the precise role of obesity in knee OA pathogenesis and progression is not as clearly understood. Mechanical loading has been implicated as an important factor in knee OA initiation and progression. The purpose of this thesis was to further examine the roles of moderate knee OA disease presence and obesity on knee joint mechanics during gait, and to characterize their mechanical interaction. Two methods have been applied. First, principal component analysis has been applied to resultant waveforms from gait analysis and second, a sagittal plane joint contact force model has been applied. Using both methods, statistical differences in biomechanical loading has been associated with obesity, moderate knee OA, and their interaction.

Background: Physical inactivity has been consistently associated with numerous negative health outcomes that track from childhood into adulthood, making physical activity a special concern in the pediatric population. Dose-response studies are particularly useful when trying to understand the minimal and optimal amounts of physical activity needed to reduce the risk of negative health outcomes. Unfortunately, previous work within youth has relied on self-reported measures of physical activity, and this research does not provide a clear picture of the true relation between physical activity and health. Objectives: Manuscript 1. Describe the dose-response relation between dyslipidemia and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in youth. Manuscript 2. Quantify the difference between self-reported and objectively measured MVPA in youth. Taken together, the overall objective of this thesis was to examine the dose-response relation between objectively measured MVPA and dyslipidemia in youth and determine how this may affect current Canadian physical activity guidelines. Methods: Both manuscripts used data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Fractional polynomial regression modeling was used to fit the dose-response curves between MVPA and lipid/lipoprotein measurements. Regression analysis as well as a Bland-Altman plot was used to explain the discrepancy between self-reported and objective measures of MVPA. All analyses were completed using SAS statistical software. Results: Manuscript 1. Risks for high-risk HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride values decreased in a curvilinear manner with increasing minutes of MVPA. The greatest reduction in risk occurred within the first 30 min/d of MVPA. The relation between level of MVPA and LDL-cholesterol was unclear. Manuscript 2. The average youth over-reported their MVPA by ~30 min/d. The over-reporting was not mediated by basic demographic factors; however, the difference in reporting was systematic in nature such that inactive youth over-reported to the greatest extent. Conclusions: Manuscript 1. Youth need to accumulate 30 min/d of MVPA to greatly reduce their risk for dyslipidemia. Manuscript 2. Youth tend to over-report their daily MVPA by approximately 30 min/d. Combined, the results from this thesis suggest that physical activity recommendations for cardiovascular health in youth should suggest a minimum of 30 min/d of MVPA and preferred level of 60 min/d. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2009-09-07 08:48:03.896

Ne taip seniai intelekto sutrikimą turintys asmenys Lietuvoje vis dar buvo izoliuota, stigmuota visuomenės dalis. Šiandien jų padėtis pasikeitusi. Siekiama bei įstatymais garantuojama kiekvieno neįgalaus asmens teisė į visapusišką ugdymą(si), socializaciją ir jo galimybes atitinkančią gyvenimo kokybę. Priklausomai nuo intelekto sutrikimo laipsnio, proto negalia lemia didesnius ar mažesnius pažeidimus visose bendrųjų gebėjimų raidos srityse (kognityvinėje, emocinėje, fizinėje, socialinėje) ir tuo riboja žmogaus galimybes. Dėl vidutinio intelekto sutrikimo sukeltų pažeidimų vaikai patiria kalbos, motorikos, aplinkos pažinimo, bendravimo sunkumų. Šokamieji žaidimai – veikla, kurioje persipina poezija, muzika, drama ir choreografija. Neįgaliųjų ugdymo kontekste šie žaidimai turėtų būti grindžiami ne judesių atlikimo kokybe, o tapti viena iš ugdymo ir komunikavimo priemonių, kurios užtikrintų pilnavertį, praktinį mokinių funkcionavimą. Tyrimo objektas – šokamųjų žaidimų atranka vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą turintiems vaikams. Darbo tikslas – atskleisti šokamųjų žaidimų ypatumus pritaikant vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą turintiems vaikams. Uždaviniai: išanalizuoti sutrikimų specifiką ir pateikti vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą turinčių vaikų psichologinę ir pedagoginę charakteristiką; išryškinti šokamųjų žaidimų taikymo galimybes šokio ugdymo procese; atskleisti šokamųjų žaidimų taikymo ypatumus vidutinį intelekto sutrikimą turinčių vaikų šokio veikloje; pagrįsti šokamųjų žaidimų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Not long ago people with intellectual impairment were an isolated and stigmatised part of society in Lithuania. The situation has changed. Depending on the degree of intellectual impairment, mental disability determines minor to serious impairment in all areas of development of general abilities (cognitive, emotional, physical and social), thus limiting human capabilities. Children suffering from moderate intellectual impairment experience linguistic, motor, cognitive and communication difficulties. Dancing games encompass poetry, music, drama and choreography. In the context of the education of disabled people, instead of being based on the quality of movements, these games should become a means of education and communication ensuring full practical functioning of students. The subject matter of the thesis is selection of dancing games for children with moderate intellectual impairment. The purpose of the thesis is to reveal the specific features of dancing games adapted for children with moderate intellectual impairment. Objectives: to analyse the specific features of this type of impairment and provide the psychological and educational characteristics of children with moderate intellectual impairment; to highlight the applicability of dancing games in the dance training process; to identify the specificity of the use of dancing games in the dancing activities of children with moderate intellectual impairment; to justify the criteria for the selection of dancing games for... [to full text]

The purpose of the study was to provide training and follow-up sessions for Sunday school teachers to increase the use of inclusive teacher behaviors (opportunities to respond, behavior specific praise, and opportunities to participate) for educating a child with moderate to severe disability. A multiple baseline across behaviors design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of training and follow-up sessions for a Sunday school teacher that had a child with moderate to severe disability in her class. The results showed training and follow-up were effective in teaching inclusive teacher behaviors within a church setting.

Participating in peace support operations has been and remains a significant part of the Swedish defense and security politics. Since the end of the Cold War, the Swedish national defence has been more and more dismantled, in favor of international peace support operations which have become an increasingly important task for the Swedish defence. Why then, is Sweden so engaged in conflicts so far from home? Using two classic theories of international politics, realism and liberalism, this study aims to shed light on arguments from the Swedish parliament on why it is important for Sweden to participate in international peace support operations. After analyzing arguments of the Social Democrat Party, the Moderate Party, the Green Party and the Liberal Party concerning three different peace support operations which Sweden has participated in, the result shows that although both realism and liberalism are influencing the parties’ argumentation, liberalism is the theory which is used more often. Thus, the answer to why Sweden participates in peace support operations is to be found in arguments that clearly express views of liberalism, rather than views of realism.