Thesis (MScPhysio (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Physiotherapy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Children who lack the motor coordination to perform the tasks that have usually been acquired at their age, given normal intellectual ability and the absence of other neurological disorders, are classified as having Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) according to DSMIV. Limited professional resources prohibit individual therapy and these children are being treated in “gross motor groups” regardless of the fact that this has limited proven efficacy. This study aims to investigate whether group exercise physiotherapy does improve the gross motor function of children with DCD aged six to ten years old. Methods: Thirty-nine children were assessed at pre and post intervention on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) as well as the Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting (PEGS) questionnaire by a blinded research assistant. They were randomly allocated to either a control (N=19) or an intervention group (N=20). The intervention group was then further subdivided into groups of four to six per group to attend group exercise sessions of 30 – 45 minutes three times per week. Group exercises were aimed at improving manual dexterity, ball skills and balance by incorporating aerobic exercises, strengthening exercises, coordination as well as task specific activities. Results: There was a significant increase (p=.028) in the total scores tested by the experimental group on the M-ABC after the eight week intervention. Manual dexterity skills had improved significantly (p=.035). There was a trend for ball skills to improve (p=.088) but no improvement was recorded for static or dynamic balance post intervention. PEGS results indicated that subjects considered themselves as very competent regardless of their abilities. Conclusions: The results of this study support the hypothesis that an eight week group exercise program can improve the gross motor skills of children with DCD. It would seem that implementing such an intervention is a viable option, especially where resources limit the availability of one to one therapy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Kinders wat „n gebrek aan motoriese koördinasie het om ouderdoms verwante take te verrig, gegewe dat hulle normale intellektuele vermoëns het en die afwesigheid van ander neorologiese abnormaliteite, word geklassifiseer as “Developmental Coordination Disorder” (DCD) volgens die DSM IV. Beperkte professionele menslike hulpbronne voorkom individele terapie en hierdie kinders word gewoonlik behandel in grofmotoriese groepe, ongeag dat daar min bewyse is dat dit „n effektiewe behandelings metode is. Die doel van hierdie studie is om vas te stel of „n fisioterapie groepsoefenprogram „n effektiewe behandelingsvorm is om die grofmotoriese vaardighede in ses tot tienjarige primêre skool kinders, met „n diagnose van DCD, verbeter. Metodes: Nege-en-dertig kinders was geassesseer met die “Movement Assessment Battery for Children” (M-ABC) en die “Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting” (PEGS) vraelys deur „n geblinde navorsingsassistent. Hulle is in twee groepe nl kontrole groep wat nie intervensie gekry het nie (N=19) en „n eksperimentele groep (N=20)verdeel deur eenvoudige ewekansige toewysing. Die eksperimentele groep was verder onderverdeel in groepe van vier tot ses om groepsoefeningsessies by te woon drie keer „n week vir 30 tot 45 minute. Die doel van die groepsoefeninge was om die volgende areas te verbeter: handvaardigheid, balvaardigheid en balans deur die inkorporasie van balansaktiwiteite, spierversterkingsoefeninge, koördinasie sowel as taak spesifieke aktiwiteite. Die deelnemers was weer geassesseer met die Movement-ABC en die PEGS na die agt weke lange intervensie program. Resultate: Daar was 'n beduidende toename (p=.028) in die algehele telling deur die eksperimentele groep op die M-ABC na die agt weke deelname. Handvaardigheid het beduidend verbeter (p=.035). Daar was „n tendens vir balvaardighede om te verbeter (p=0.88), maar geen verbetering was aangedui vir balans na die ingryping nie. Die PEGS resultate was moeilik om te interpreteer aangesien die deelnemers hulself as baie vaardig gesien het ten spyte van hulle vermoëns. Gevolgtrekking: Die resultate van hierdie studie ondersteun die hipotese dat 'n doelgerigte groepsoefeningsprogram wel die grofmotoriese vaardighede van kinders met „n diagnose van DCD verbeter. Fisioterapeute kan 'n groepsofeningsprogram met vertroue implementeer waar 'n tekort aan menslike hulpbronne een tot een terapie beperk.

The switch from a fixed exchange rate regime to a flexible exchange rate regime seldom goes smoothly. A major reason why devaluations are so disruptive is that countries are reluctant to abandon their fixed exchange rate regimes. This “reluctance to devalue” phenomenon is one of the puzzles in international finance. This dissertation makes towards understanding this “reluctance to devalue”. First, I investigate the factors that may influence the probability of a switch from a fixed to a flexible exchange rate regime using survival models. I find that pegs have non-monotonic duration dependence. Moreover, I find that GDP growth strongly influences the probability of abandoning a peg. Second, I propose that the “reluctance to devalue” could stem from uncertainty about the control over inflation after devaluation which raises the threshold of economic pain that could convince policy makers to devalue. I develop this argument in a rules-vs-discretion theoretical framework. Empirical analysis based on survey data from Bulgaria supports this hypothesis. Given that abandoning a fixed exchange rate regime is one of the three options that are available to countries on a peg, I investigate whether a periphery country's decision to abandon its peg is impacted by a potential move to a currency union. I find that the perception of “insurance” justified by expected-bailouts in a currency union increase the support for joining a currency union. The strength of this “safety net” perception is strong despite expected negative impact of the currency union on the country’s macroeconomic indicators.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

La catalyse, les solvants alternatifs et l'économie d'atome font partie des clés pour le développement de nouvelles stratégies durables de synthèse. Des hétérocycles comme les quinoléines substituées, par réaction de cycloisomérisation catalysée par le cuivre en utilisant les liquides ioniques, et les isoquinoléines carbonylées par réaction de carbonylation oxydante catalysée par le palladium dans le méthanol ont été synthétisées. La formation sélective de 1,3-dihydroisobenzofuranes et/ou 1H-isochromènes a été tentée par réaction de cycloisomérisation catalysée par différent métaux de transition. La synthèse d'hétérocycles à cinq chaînons, par exemple furanes, pyrroles et pyrrolin-4-ones à été mise au point par nouvelle réaction de cycloisomérisation catalysée par de sels de platine ou d'or en utilisant des diols, des amino alcools ou des α-amino-ynones dans le PEG sous activation micro-ondes. Les produits sont récupérés pur après une simple étape de précipitation-filtration. Les α-amino-ynones chiral sont synthétisée à partir de N-protégé carboxyanhydrides des aminoacides (UNCAs). Une réaction de iodocyclisation a été aussi développée pour obtenir de nouvelles structures hétérocycliques. / Catalysis, alternative solvents and atom economy represent key areas for the sustainable development of versatile strategies in organic chemistry. Fused heterocycles, such as substituted quinolines by a cycloisomerization reaction using a recyclable catalytic system copper/ionic liquids and isoquinoline-4-carboxylic esters based on PdI2-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation were prepared. A selective 5-exo-dig or 6-endo-dig cyclization route to obtain 1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans and/or 1H-isochromenes was tested by metal transition cycloisomerization reaction of alkynylbenzyl alcohols in PEG. Five membered ring heterocycles such as furans, pyrroles and pyrrolin-4-ones were successfully obtained by a novel platinum or gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction of diols, aminoalcohols or α-amino-ynones in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) under microwave irradiation. The heterocyclic systems were recovered pure after a simple precipitation-filtration work-up. The catalytic systems were studied by using the TEM and XPS techniques. The chiral α-amino-ynone substrates were prepared by an original method starting from N-protected carboxyanhydrides of amino acids (UNCAs). Also unprecedented results are reported in the area of iodocyclization to obtain chiral iodopyrrolin-ones.