Transforming engagement: a case study of building intrinsic motivation in a child with autism

This longitudinal case study of a 10‐year‐old girl with autism and severe communication impairment measures the impact of the MORE (Means, Opportunities, Reasons and Expectations) approach to enhancing engagement and communication. Through detailed observation of video data over a period of 28 months, engagement behaviours including interaction with adults and following adult directions increased, while resistant behaviours such as kicking, hitting and pushing adults away decreased. Fluctuation between different ‘states’ demonstrated that the frequency and duration of engagement was influenced by the MORE approach and an emphasis on developing intrinsic motivation. In order to enable further efficacy research, core features of the intervention and the changes in engagement over time are described.     

Blood flow restriction in human skeletal muscle during rest periods after high-load resistance training down-regulates miR-206 and induces Pax7

BackgroudBlood flow restriction (BFR) with low-intensity resistance training has been shown to result in hypertrophy of skeletal muscle. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that BFR during the rest periods between acute, high-intensity resistance exercise sessions (70% of 1 repetition maximum, 7 sets with 10 repetitions) enhances the effects of the resistance training.MethodsA total of 7 healthy young men performed squats, and between sets BFR was carried out on one leg while the other leg served as a control. Because BFR was applied during rest periods, even severe occlusion pressure (approximately 230 mmHg), which almost completely blocked blood flow, was well-tolerated by the participants. Five muscle-specific microRNAs were measured from the biopsy samples, which were taken 2 h after the acute training.ResultsDoppler data showed that the pattern of blood flow recovery changed significantly between the first and last BFR. microRNA-206 levels significantly decreased in the BFR leg compared to the control. The mRNA levels of RAC-β serine/threonine-protein kinase v22, nuclear respiratory factor 1, vascular endothelial growth factor, lupus Ku autoantigen protein p70 genes (p < 0.05), and paired box 7 (p < 0.01) increased in the BFR leg. The protein levels of paired box 7, nuclear respiratory factor 1, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α did not differ between the BFR leg and the control leg.ConclusionBFR, during the rest periods of high-load resistance training, could lead to mRNA elevation of those proteins that regulate angiogenesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, and muscle hypertrophy and repair. However, BFR also can cause DNA damage, judging from the increase in mRNA levels of lupus Ku autoantigen protein p70.     

IMAGINATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE OF TOP ATHLETES

The way of life of top athletes imposes a burden exceeding the average not only on the biological but also on the psychological level. Apart from somatic problems, this may result in psychological disturbances which necessitate psychotherapeutic treatment. To achieve peak performance, both somatically and mentally superior levels of health and strength are needed. On the basis of this conviction, 50 first class young sportsmen were prepared over a period of 6–8 months, using procedures such as autogenic training, imaginative psychotherapy, imaginative mental training and training on altered states of consciousness.‐Results indicated that these athletes suffered fewer injuries, were less often absentfrom training, obtainedfewer competition results below their training performance and showed more frequent improvement of performance. These findings show that psychotherapeutic work with top athletes can be a useful part of their preparation.     

Children's responses to everyday marital conflict tactics in the home

Mothers' and fathers' reports of marital conflicts in the home were obtained (n = 1,638 and 1,281 conflicts, respectively), including conflicts in front of the children (n = 580 and 377, respectively). Participants were 116 families with children 8 to 16 years old (M = 10.82 years, SD = 2.17; 58 boys, 58 girls). Children's emotional responses indicated distinctions between distressing conflict tactics (i.e., threat, personal insult, verbal hostility, defensiveness, nonverbal hostility, marital withdrawal, physical distress) and those that increased their emotional security (i.e., calm discussion, support, affection). Analyses based on cross-reporter informants of parental conflict and child responses strengthened confidence in the findings. Conflict tactics were related to marital functioning, and children's emotional reactions during marital conflicts were associated with their adjustment.     

International Communication

TRACING NEW ORBITS: COOPERATION AND COMPETITION IN GLOBAL SATELLITE DEVELOPMENT edited by Donna A. Demac (New York: Columbia University Press, 1986—$35.00)

ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS: GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF COMSAT by Leland L. Johnson (Santa Monica, CA: Rand Corp., 1987—price not given, paper)

TECHNOLOGICAL FRONTIERS AND FOREIGN RELATIONS edited by Anne G. Keatley (1985—$19.95, paper, 306 pp.)

THE COMPETITIVE STATUS OF THE U.S. ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY: A STUDY OF THE INFLUENCES OF TECHNOLOGY IN DETERMINING INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE (1984—$10.95, 126 pp.)

THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER edited by John R. McIntyre and Daniel S. Papp (Westport, CT: Quorum Books/Greenwood Press, 1986—$45.00)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE USA by Albert Teich and Jill Pace (Detroit: Gale Research, 1986—$95)     

The Impact of Caregiving Disruptions of Previously Institutionalized Children on Multiple Outcomes in Late Childhood

This study examined disruptions in caregiving, as well as the association of these disruptions, with cognitive, behavioral, and social outcomes at age 12 in a sample of 136 Romanian children who were abandoned to institutions as infants and who experienced a range of subsequent types of care. Children were found to experience significantly more caregiving disruptions (CGD) earlier in life than later in childhood. More frequent CGD predicted increases in externalizing and internalizing behavior problems at age 12. Results are discussed in terms of the association between CGD and the long-term development of children who have experienced institutional rearing.     

Sensitivity to rhythmic parameters in dyslexic children: a comparison of Hungarian and English

It has been proposed that sensitivity to the parameters underlying speech rhythm may be important in setting up well-specified phonological representations in the mental lexicon. However, different acoustic parameters may contribute differentially to rhythm and stress in different languages. Here we contrast sensitivity to one such cue, amplitude envelope onset (rise time), in dyslexic and normally-developing children in two languages, Hungarian and English, ages from 7 to 11. Dyslexic and control children received phonological tasks, reading and spelling tasks and auditory processing tasks. While sensitivity to rise time was related to phonological representation in both languages, clear differences were found between languages. It is suggested that these differences may reflect differential language-specific weighting of different acoustic cues to rhythm and stress.

Evaluation of the educational catchment area and decision-making support at the University of Szeged,Hungary

The restructuring of Hungarian higher education according to European expectations has resulted in fundamental changes. Due to the intensifying market and the decreasing number of applicants, institutions are interested in ensuring the necessary number of students. The objective of the study is to identify those schools where the greatest interest in the courses offered by the University of Szeged can be expected. The selection was based on spatial and temporal analysis of submitted applications using geographical information system methods. The results can contribute to attracting the necessary number of students and to developing a sound basis for future educational planning.