Aligning Physical Activity Measures With the International Classification of Functioning,Disability and Health Framework for Childhood Disability

ABSTRACT

The introduction of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health has placed emphasis on framing health behavior as a multidimensional construct. In relation to childhood physical activity, this encompasses dimensions of functional performance, activity attendance, and subjective perceptions of involvement and enjoyment within activity settings. Current literature, however, primarily investigates physical activity in terms of performance and activity levels. The resulting misalignment of theory and measurement practice challenges the development of a comprehensive understanding of childhood physical activity behavior. For children with disabilities, who may have nuanced experiences in activity, there may be greater necessity to examine additional dimensions of physical activity (e.g., participation). In an effort to support meaningful interpretations of physical activity behavior measures among children with disabilities, the purposes of this article are to (a) conceptualize childhood physical activity within the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, and (b) provide guidance on aligning measurement tools with physical activity dimensions.     

Cognitive profiling in Chinese developmental dyslexia with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders

The cognitive profiles of children with Developmental Reading Disorder (RD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) have been extensively studied in alphabetic language communities. Deficits in phonological processing and rapid naming have been implicated as core features of RD although whether the latter is a deficit specific to RD remains controversial. Similar research aiming to explore the cognitive profiles of children with both RD and ADHD in non-alphabetic language communities is limited. The specificity of rapid naming deficit to RD among Chinese has yet to be studied. In the first study, 43 Chinese children with confirmed diagnoses of RD + ADHD were assessed on their cognitive abilities in relating to reading. In the second study, the specificity deficit hypothesis of rapid naming to RD but not ADHD was examined. A digit naming test was administered to the RD + ADHD group (43 subjects) and an ADHD only group (49 subjects). In regard to cognitive profiling, rapid naming and orthographic knowledge were found to be the most common deficits among the Chinese RD + ADHD group. This co-morbid group was also found to have a significant deficit performance on the rapid naming task than the ADHD only group. The present findings support the double dissociation hypothesis in cognitive deficit between RD and ADHD. The results of both studies are discussed with reference to the findings of the Western counterparts.     

Using the Computer to Diagnose Students' Difficulties with Fractions

The objectives of the present study are to develop an automated computer system for diagnosis and remediation and to construct a conceptual model of remediation in fractions. The initial stage of the project began with the construction of an instrument to investigate the subjects' performances in addition of fractions. The items were based on a set of four objectives in addition of fractions. The test was administered to 3000 subjects who were classified as below average in fractions. The test was readministered a week later. The responses of the subjects were analysed and systematic errors were classified. An automated computer system for diagnosis and remediation in addition of fractions was developed. It consisted of three subsystems, viz. (a) diagnostic system of errors, (b) drill and practice for remediation, and (c) automated generation of text materials for remediation. To accompany the computer system for diagnosis and remediation, a conceptual model on remediation of addition of fractions was developed which was based on the hypothetical remedial activities.     

论《红楼梦》女性形象塑造的文人化倾向

自文学诞生之日起,女性形象便成为文学表达不可或却的重要题材,《红楼梦》之前文学作品中的女性,在不同的历史时期,女性性格被推崇的侧面也不尽相同,这是一个不断开拓完善、多元化的文化品格发展过程。但是到了清代,随着文人审美标准的雅致化,作品中的女性形象也随之呈现出雅致化之倾向。《红楼梦》中的女性形象是这种倾向的代表。她们出身于贵族,擅长吟诗作对,对于恋情追求高层次精神上交流,这种文人审美倾向与以往的文学作品有明显的不同,它是古典文学女性形象生命活力走向式微的先兆。     

增益对光纤中单孤波脉冲传输的影响

本文采用基于非线性Schrodinger方程的守恒量方法所得到的单孤波参数演化的一般方程,研究了增益对单模光纤中单孤波脉冲传输的影响,得到了单孤波参数演化的解析式。     

Reading with meaning: the contributions of meaning-related variables at the word and subword levels to early Chinese reading comprehension

This study examined the associations of three levels of meaning acquisition, i.e., whole word (vocabulary), morpheme (morphological awareness), and semantic radical (orthography-semantic awareness) to early Chinese reading comprehension among 164 Hong Kong Chinese primary school students, ages 7 and 8?years old, across 1?year. With time 1 word reading, phonological awareness and speeded naming controlled, morphological awareness was uniquely associated with concurrent and subsequent reading comprehension; orthography-semantic awareness uniquely explained concurrent reading comprehension at time 2. Together, the meaning acquisition variables explained between 2 and 6% unique variance in reading comprehension across time, underscoring the importance of acquisition of meaning for early reading comprehension among Chinese children.     

Cushioning and lateral stability functions of cloth sport shoes

In this study, we evaluated the protective functions of cloth sport shoes, including cushioning and lateral stability. Twelve male students participated in the study (mean ± s: age 12.7 ± 0.4 years, mass 40.7 ± 5.9 kg, height 1.50 ± 0.04 m). Cloth sport shoes, running shoes, basketball shoes, cross-training shoes, and barefoot conditions were investigated in random sequence. Human pendulum and cutting movement tests were used to assess cushioning performance and lateral stability, respectively. For cushioning, the running shoes (2.06 body weight, BW) performed the best, while the cross-training shoes (2.30 BW) and the basketball shoes (2.37 BW) both performed better than the cloth sport shoes (2.55 BW) and going barefoot (2.63 BW). For the lateral stability test, range of inversion–eversion was found to be from 3.6 to 4.9°, which was far less than that for adult participants (> 20°). No significant differences were found between conditions. All conditions showed prolonged durations from foot-strike to maximum inversion (66–95 ms), which was less vigorous than that for adult participants ( < 40 ms) and was unlikely to evoke intrinsic stability failure. In conclusion, the cloth sport shoe showed inferior cushioning capability but the same lateral stability as the other sports shoes for children.     

Upper limb muscle fatigue during prolonged Boccia games with underarm throwing technique

This study investigated the acute fatigue pattern in neuromuscular activity after a simulated Boccia game and the effect of fatigue pattern on sport performance. Nine elite Boccia athletes were tested before, during, and after a simulated game. Maximum ball speed was captured with video, and the target hitting rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) score were collected and analyzed. Electromyography signals from the upper trapezius, anterior deltoid, posterior deltoid, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, and wrist extensor muscles were collected by surface electrode and were evaluated with mean power frequency (MPF). Only the upper trapezius muscle showed fatigue as demonstrated by a reduction of MPF of 8% (p = 0.027) when comparing the first and last throws in a simulated game. Subjective RPE score increased during the game (118%, p = 0.004), and sports performance in terms of maximum ball speed (-12%, p = 0.004) and target hitting rate (-25%, p = 0.004) also deteriorated. In conclusion, fatigue on the upper trapezius muscle was demonstrated in elite Boccia athletes following a prolonged Boccia game and may have affected Boccia performance. Preventative measures against upper trapezius muscle fatigue and endurance training for synergists of the upper trapezius muscle may be considered in future studies.