The central nervous system (CNS) develops in a temporally and spatially organised manner. Any adverse events happening during the critical periods of early brain formation may lead to arrest in the process or injury to specific developed structures. Infants born at less than 30 weeks of gestation and those with intra-partum asphyxia are at risk of motor delay. The cause of this delay may be related to injuries in the brain such as the motor cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum, all of which are essential in controlling movements. According to the dynamical systems theory of motor development, other than the CNS, body systems within the infant such as the musculoskeletal system, and external to the infant such as environmental enrichment and supportive child-rearing practice also have a decisive role in motor development in infants. / Paediatric physiotherapists have been involved in the management of these infants since birth. A number of well-established assessment tools are used to assess these infants’ motor functions. Most of these tools typically do not describe the movement patterns of infants but emphasise the achievement of age-specific motor milestones. The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is one of the few tools that acknowledge the importance of movement quality. / The overall aim of the present research was to examine the impact of adverse events in early infancy, including birth prior to 30 weeks of gestation and intra-partum asphyxia, on motor development of infants during the first two years of (corrected) age. One hundred and twenty infants were recruited, including 58 preterm infants, 10 infants with post-asphyxia neonatal encephalopathy (NE) and 52 term born infants as the control group. All the infants were assessed using the AIMS at 4, 8, 12 and 18 months of (corrected) age. / The preterm group scored significantly lower on various sub-scores of the AIMS at all age levels than the control group. Uneven progression in the sit subscale from 4 to 8 months corrected age (CA) was found in the preterm infants, possibly due to a dominant extensor strength, inadequate tonus and postural control in the trunk. At 12 and 18 months CA, limited variations in movements were evident in some preterm infants in the crawling, sitting and standing positions. The ten infants with post-asphyxia NE showed scattered motor development, related mostly to the severity of their NE. The moderate NE group had the most varied motor outcomes ranging from normal to suspected mild cerebral palsy. / The AIMS was shown to be a valid assessment tool in the preterm population although limitations in its use were found at 4 months CA and when the infants walked or were close to independent ambulation. The present results show that motor performance of typically and non-typically developing infants should be investigated longitudinally as variations are the characteristic of early development. The dynamical systems theory provides a more satisfactory explanation of the motoric differences in infants in this study. All these findings have great implications for the clinical management of these at risk infants.

The central nervous system (CNS) develops in a temporally and spatially organised manner. Any adverse events happening during the critical periods of early brain formation may lead to arrest in the process or injury to specific developed structures. Infants born at less than 30 weeks of gestation and those with intra-partum asphyxia are at risk of motor delay. The cause of this delay may be related to injuries in the brain such as the motor cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum, all of which are essential in controlling movements. According to the dynamical systems theory of motor development, other than the CNS, body systems within the infant such as the musculoskeletal system, and external to the infant such as environmental enrichment and supportive child-rearing practice also have a decisive role in motor development in infants. / Paediatric physiotherapists have been involved in the management of these infants since birth. A number of well-established assessment tools are used to assess these infants’ motor functions. Most of these tools typically do not describe the movement patterns of infants but emphasise the achievement of age-specific motor milestones. The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is one of the few tools that acknowledge the importance of movement quality. / The overall aim of the present research was to examine the impact of adverse events in early infancy, including birth prior to 30 weeks of gestation and intra-partum asphyxia, on motor development of infants during the first two years of (corrected) age. One hundred and twenty infants were recruited, including 58 preterm infants, 10 infants with post-asphyxia neonatal encephalopathy (NE) and 52 term born infants as the control group. All the infants were assessed using the AIMS at 4, 8, 12 and 18 months of (corrected) age. / The preterm group scored significantly lower on various sub-scores of the AIMS at all age levels than the control group. Uneven progression in the sit subscale from 4 to 8 months corrected age (CA) was found in the preterm infants, possibly due to a dominant extensor strength, inadequate tonus and postural control in the trunk. At 12 and 18 months CA, limited variations in movements were evident in some preterm infants in the crawling, sitting and standing positions. The ten infants with post-asphyxia NE showed scattered motor development, related mostly to the severity of their NE. The moderate NE group had the most varied motor outcomes ranging from normal to suspected mild cerebral palsy. / The AIMS was shown to be a valid assessment tool in the preterm population although limitations in its use were found at 4 months CA and when the infants walked or were close to independent ambulation. The present results show that motor performance of typically and non-typically developing infants should be investigated longitudinally as variations are the characteristic of early development. The dynamical systems theory provides a more satisfactory explanation of the motoric differences in infants in this study. All these findings have great implications for the clinical management of these at risk infants.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 285-298). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Inertial measurement units (IMUs) are being recognized as a portable and cost-effective alternative to motion analysis systems and have the potential to be introduced into clinical settings for the assessment of functional movement quality of the spine in patients with low back pain. However, uncertainties regarding sensor accuracy and reliability are limiting the widespread use and acceptance of IMU-based assessments into routine clinical practice. The objective of this work was to assess the performance of inexpensive wearable IMUs (Mbientlab MetaMotionR IMUs; Mbientlab Inc., San Francisco, USA; product specifications available in Appendix C) relative to conventional optical motion capture equipment (Vicon Motion Systems Ltd., Oxford, UK) in: 1) a controlled environment, and 2) an uncontrolled environment. The first study evaluated the performance of 2 IMUs in a controlled environment during simulated repetitive spine motion carried out by means of a motorized gimbal. Root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute measurement differences between cycle-to-cycle minimum, maximum, and range of motion values, as well as correlational analyses within IMUs and between IMUs and Vicon, in all movement directions (i.e., simulated flexion-extension (FE), lateral bending (LB), and axial twisting (AT)), were compared. Measurement error was low in all axes during all tests (i.e., ≤ 1.54°); however, low-to-moderate correlational results were found in one non-primary axis, and this axis changed depending on the direction of the movement (i.e., LB during FE-motion (0.244 ≤ R ≤ 0.515), AT during LB-motion (0.594 ≤ R ≤ 0.795), and FE during AT-motion (0.002 ≤ R ≤ 0.255)). The second study was designed to assess the performance of the IMUs in an uncontrolled environment during repetitive spine FE in human participants. Absolute angles and local dynamic stability were compared for individual IMUs (which were placed over T10-T12 spinous processes, and the pelvis) as well as for relative motion between IMUs. Maximum finite-time Lyapunov exponents (λmax) were used to quantify local dynamic stability and were calculated using both FE and the sum of squares (SS) from measured spine kinematics. It was found that the IMUs have acceptable performance in all axes when tracking motion (RMSE ≤ 2.43°); however, low-to-moderate correlational results were found in one non-primary axis (0.987 ≤ RFE ≤ 0.998; 0.746 ≤ RLB ≤ 0.978; 0.343 ≤ RAT ≤ 0.679). In addition, correlations between λmax estimates were high; therefore, local dynamic stability can be accurately estimated using both FE and SS data (0.807 ≤ 〖ICC〗_2,1^FE ≤ 0.919; 0.738 ≤ 〖ICC〗_2,1^SS ≤ 0.868). Correlation between λmax estimates was higher when using FE data for individual sensors/rigid-body marker clusters; however, correlation was higher when using SS data for relative motion. In general, the results of these studies show that the MetaMotionR IMUs have acceptable performance in all axes when considering absolute angle orientation and motion tracking, and measurement of local dynamic stability; however, there is low-to-moderate correlation in one non-primary axis, and that axis changes depending on the direction of motion. Future research will investigate how to optimize performance of the third axis for motion tracking; it will also focus on understanding the significance of the third axis performance when calculating specific outcome measures related to spine movement quality.

Syfte och frågeställningar Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur sex gymnasielärare i idrott och hälsa går tillväga för att bedöma samt mäta elevernas förmåga att röra sig med en god kvalitet av komplex karaktär. Frågeställningarna som kommer att beröras är; Vad ansåg gymnasielärare på fyra skolor som undervisar i idrott och hälsa om uttrycket rörelsekvalité av komplex karaktär? Har lärarna några konkreta verktyg (tester, laborationer o.s.v.) för att mäta eller bedöma elevernas kunskaper gällande god rörelsekvalité av komplex karaktär? Hur resonerar de olika idrottslärarna kring progressionen från grundskolan till gymnasiet gällande goda rörelsekvalitér av en komplex karaktär? Metod Kvalitativ intervju med halvstrukturerade frågor användes som metod för denna undersökning. Sex idrottslärare ifrån Stockholmsregionen deltog i undersökningen och könsfördelningen var jämn. PCK fungerade som teoretisk referensram. Resultat Lärarna påstod att ju fler moment en rörelse innehåller desto mer komplex är den. Kvalitéer som teknik, taktik, kondition och lagsporter kopplades samman med komplexa rörelser. God rörelsekvalité var enligt lärarna synonymt med en bred rörelsebank. Hälften av lärarna mätte dessa rörelser i form av test. Ingen av lärarna hade någon speciell matris för att bedöma rörelser av god kvalité av komplex karaktär. Individanpassning, utveckling, intresse samt kunskapsbefästning var vanliga svar gällande kunskapsprogressionen. Slutsats Samtliga resonemang gällande komplexa rörelser med en god kvalité gick i linje med tidigare forskning. Hälften av lärarna hade inget konkret mätverktyg gällande dessa kvalitéer. Lärarna gick i linje med tidigare forskning vad gäller kunskapsprogressionen. / Aim The aim with this essay is to investigate how six PE teachers asses the students in context to a complex movement structure with a good quality. The questions in this essay are How do four PE teachers interpret the expression "Complex movement structure with great movement quality"? Do the teachers have any mutual frame of reference regarding this knowledge? How do the PE teachers think about the progression from primary school to high-school regarding complex movement structure with great movement quality? Do the PE teachers have any tools to assess the students’ knowledge based on these words? Method Qualitative interviews with half structured questions were used as method in this essay. Six PE teachers from Stockholm participated and the sex was equal. The PCK theory was used as theoretical frame. Results The teachers claimed that many parts in a movement make it complex. Good technique, tactics, good condition and team sports was common examples for a complex movement. The students must, according to the teachers have to know many different movements in different activities before they can call it good movement quality. Measure tools to asses these movements were common among three of the six PE teachers. No one of the teachers had any assessing frame according to complex movements with great quality Individual adaptations, interest and developing movements was common answers according to the progression. Conclusions The teachers’ thoughts about complex movements, progression and quality were in line with previous research. 50% of the teachers had no tools to measure these movements.

Orientador: Lindon Fonseca Matias / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociências / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-15T15:23:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bargos_DanubiaCaporusso_M.pdf: 10788949 bytes, checksum: eee5f3b14a76fab722ec7d4713090754 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: A presente dissertação teve como objetivo contribuir para os estudos geográficos relacionados ao planejamento urbano com o mapeamento e análise das áreas verdes urbanas como um indicador da qualidade ambiental urbana, por meio da utilização de técnicas de geoprocessamento, a fim de subsidiar políticas públicas para a cidade de Paulínia-SP. A metodologia utilizada neste trabalho mostrou-se eficiente para o mapeamento e análise da configuração espacial das áreas verdes urbanas do município. O mapeamento de tais áreas permitiu constatar que sua distribuição se dá de forma heterogênea no município, e que em sua grande maioria se apresentam na forma de pequenos fragmentos de vegetação arbórea remanescente. Os resultados indicam que o município tem apresentado uma acentuada redução da vegetação natural desde a sua emancipação, e como consequência possui um reduzido número de áreas verdes na área urbana. A diminuição da vegetação natural, assim como das áreas verdes urbanas, é entendida como apenas um dos diversos problemas resultantes do processo de apropriação desigual do espaço no município de Paulínia. O cálculo dos índices de áreas verdes por habitante em cada setor censitário possibilitou uma análise diferenciada da disponibilidade de áreas verdes por habitante no município. A espacialização das áreas de influência das áreas verdes urbanas em Paulínia revelou a carência destas áreas em algumas localidades da cidade e a necessidade de proteção das áreas verdes urbanas, visto à extensão das áreas que estas podem beneficiar por meio das suas funções ecológicas, estética e de lazer. A análise detalhada de três áreas verdes em Paulínia revelou a importância das análises de caráter qualitativo no estudo das áreas verdes do município. A pesquisa ajudou a constatar a importância das funções das áreas verdes para a qualidade ambiental urbana / Abstract: This work had as objective contribute to studies related to spatial planning thorough the mapping and analysis of urban green areas as urban environmental quality indicator using geospatial technologies to support public policies to the Paulinia city, state of São Paulo. The methodology used in this study was effective for mapping and analysis of the spatial configuration of urban green areas of the city. The mapping of these areas revealed that its distribution is heterogeneous, and that the majority is in the form of small fragments of woody vegetation remaining. The results indicate that the city has shown a high reduction of natural vegetation since their emancipation, and consequently presents a low quantity of green areas in urban areas. The decreasing of natural vegetation rate, as well as urban green areas, is only seen as one among many problems which have been arisen as resulted of the space unequal appropriation process in Paulínia. The calculation of green areas rates per inhabitant in each census tract allowed a differentiated analysis of availability of green areas per inhabitant in the city. The spatial distribution of influence areas of urban green areas in Paulinia revealed the lack of these areas in some localities and the need for protection of green areas, since the extent of these areas that may benefit through their ecological functions, aesthetic and of leisure. A detailed analysis of three green areas in Paulínia revealed the importance of qualitative analysis in the study of green areas of the city. The research helped establish the importance of the functions of green areas for urban environmental quality / Mestrado / Análise Ambiental e Dinâmica Territorial / Mestre em Geografia

Orientador: Lindon Fonseca Matias / Vol. 2 acompanhado de mapas / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociências / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T00:22:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bargos_DanubiaCaporusso_D.pdf: 17276140 bytes, checksum: 67a37ff7545c8fd15f97f13c1e7d4dae (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: As áreas verdes urbanas são consideradas importantes indicadores da qualidade ambiental urbana. Apesar da reconhecida importância destes elementos na manutenção e melhoria da qualidade de vida da população ainda são apontados inúmeros desafios relacionados ao estudo desta temática. O principal objetivo deste trabalho consiste na realização de um estudo da efetividade do uso e da representação das áreas de influência das áreas verdes urbanas na cidade de Paulínia (SP), cujo fruto resultante seja a apresentação de uma forma diferenciada de representação e análise das áreas verdes urbanas. A metodologia aplicada fundamenta-se no emprego das geotecnologias para produção cartográfica e realização de análises qualiquantitativas dos resultados obtidos e mostrou-se adequada para o estudo das áreas de influência das áreas verdes urbanas, uma vez que promoveu uma melhor compreensão do tema e possibilitou a elaboração de uma forma diferenciada de representação das áreas em estudo. Os resultados da pesquisa indicam que o município de Paulínia possui um reduzido número de áreas verdes que se encontram distribuídas heterogeneamente na área urbana municipal. A espacialização das áreas de influência das áreas verdes em termos de acessibilidade, com distâncias de 100, 400, 450, 675 e 800 metros, revelou a carência destas áreas em algumas localidades da cidade e a necessidade de proteção das áreas verdes urbanas, visto à extensão territorial que estas áreas podem beneficiar por meio das suas funções ecológica, estética e de lazer / Abstract: Urban green areas are considered important indicators of urban environmental quality. Despite the recognized importance of these elements in maintaining and improving the population's quality of life there are still many challenges related to the study of this issue. The main objective of this work is to carry out a study of the effectiveness use and representation of urban green areas influence in Paulinia (SP) city. The resulting product is a different form of representation and analysis of urban green areas. The methodology is based on the use of geotechnologies for cartographic production and qualitative and quantitative analysis of the results and proved adequate for the study of the areas of influence of urban green areas promoting a better understanding of the issue and enabled the development of a different form of representation of the studied areas. The results indicate that the municipality of Paulinia has a few green areas that are heterogeneously distributed in the municipal urban area. The spatial distribution of the areas of influence of the green areas in terms of accessibility, with distances of 100, 400, 450, 675 and 800 meters, revealed the lack of these areas in some locations and the need for protection of urban green areas because of the territorial extent that these areas can benefit through their ecological, aesthetic and recreational functions / Doutorado / Análise Ambiental e Dinâmica Territorial / Doutora em Ciências

肢體動作是情緒表達的方式之一，本研究旨在探討表達情緒時，表達者「動作特性」及「身體方向」對肢體動作情緒表達的影響，及其二者的關係。參考過去研究，本研究使用生氣、害怕、開心及悲傷四種情緒的肢體動作，並操弄平滑度、僵硬度、速度、力道及擴張度五種動作特性；0°、45°、90°三種身體方向，並且以正確率、反應時間及情緒強度作為指標，進行區辨作業及評分作業。本研究共分兩個實驗，每個實驗皆由兩個子實驗構成，兩個子實驗分別使用「一般動作」及「特殊動作」作為呈現刺激。實驗一目的在於探討「動作特性」對情緒表達的影響；實驗二目的在於探討「動作特性」和「身體方向」共同對情緒表達的影響。實驗一A使用一般動作並操弄五種動作特性，藉此得到各情緒的動作特性組合；實驗一B使用特殊動作並操弄動作特性相容性，結果顯示動作特性相容性確實有其效果，相容情況的情緒強度高於不相容情況。實驗二A、二B分別使用一般動作及特殊動作，並操弄五種動作特性及三種身體方向，結果顯示當身體方向符合情緒的趨避動機時，其正確率、反應時間及情緒強度的表現皆較好。综合而言，「動作特性」及「身體方向」在肢體動作表達情緒時確實有其效果，當動作特性相容時，可增進情緒表達力；當身體方向符合該情緒的趨避動機時，也可增進情緒表達力，但動作特性及身體方向二者間的關係為何，本研究仍無法下一定論。 關鍵字：情緒表達、趨避動機、肢體動作、動作特性、身體方向 / Abstract Body movement is one of the ways to express emotion. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of movement quality and body direction on the emotion expressiveness of body movement. Referring to some previous studies, four kinds of emotion (anger, fear, happiness and sadness) were included in the present study. Five movement qualities (smoothness, stiffness, speed, strength and expansion) and three body directions (0°, 45° and 90°) were manipulated as the independent variables. Response accuracy and reaction times of an identification task and rating scores of the emotion rating task were measured as the dependent variables. There are two experiments in this study which includes two sub-experiments each. One of the sub-experiments adopted non-propositional body movements as stimuli (Experiment 1A & 2A), and the other adopted propositional body movements as stimuli (Experiment 1B & 2B). Experiment 1 aimed to explore the effect of movement qualities. In Experiment 1A, movement quality combinations which can express each of the four emotions were found. Based on this result, in Experiment 1B, movement quality compatibility was manipulated. The results of Experiment 1B confirmed the effect of movement quality compatibility on emotion strength in non-propositional body movement. Experiment 2 manipulated five movement qualities and three body directions. The results showed that when body direction was compatible with the approach-avoidance motivation of the expressed emotion, participant’s performances on response accuracy, reaction times and rating scores were better than that of incompatible ones. In conclusion, both movement quality and body direction can influence the emotion expressiveness of body movement. When movement qualities and body directions are compatible with the expressed emotion, the strength of emotion can be increased. But the relative contributions and the interaction effect of movement qualities and body directions are still unclear. Keywords: emotion expression, approach-avoidance motivation, body movement, movement quality, body direction