bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Judgments of Auditory—Visual Affective Congruence in Adolescents with and without Autism: A Pilot Study of a New Task Using fMRI
Authors: Loveland Katherine A. , Steinberg Joel L. , Pearson Deborah A. , Mansour Rosleen , Reddoch Stacy
Published: September 2010

One of the most widely reported developmental deficits associated with autism is difficulty perceiving and expressing emotion appropriately. Brain activation associated with performance on a new task, the Emotional Congruence Task, requires judging affective congruence of facial expression and voice, compared with their sex congruence. Participants in this pilot study were adolescents with normal IQ ( n = 5) and autism or without ( n = 4) autism. In the emotional congruence condition, as compared to the sex congruence of voice and face, controls had significantly more activation than the Autism group in the orbitofrontal cortex, the superior temporal, parahippocampal, and posterior cingulate gyri and occipital regions. Unlike controls, the Autism group did not have significantly greater prefrontal activation during the emotional congruence condition, but did during the sex congruence condition. Results indicate the Emotional Congruence Task can be used successfully to assess brain activation and behavior associated with integration of auditory and visual information for emotion. While the numbers in the groups are small, the results suggest that brain activity while performing the Emotional Congruence Task differed between adolescents with and without autism in fronto-limbic areas and in the superior temporal region. These findings must be confirmed using larger samples of participants.
Two-Handed Isometric Pulling Strengths at Different Floor-Slope Angles
Authors: Cheng Te-Shiang , Lee Tzu-Hsien
Published: September 2010

This study recruited 10 Taiwanese men ( M age = 20.4 yr., SD= 1.9) to examine the effects of exertion height (30%, 50%, 70%, and 90% stature) and ascending floor-slope angle (0°, 5°, 10°, and 15°) on maximum horizontal isometric pulling strengths. Analysis showed pulling strength decreased linearly with exertion height and increased linearly with floor-slope angle. The pulling strength at the exertion height of 90% stature was only 35% to 40% of that of 30% stature. The pulling strength of the 15° floor-slope angle was approximately 127.6% to 150.9%, dependent on exertion height, of that of the 0° floor-slope angle. The linear correlations between pulling strength and exertion height and between pulling strength and floor-slope angle were linear.
Use of a Social Cognitive Theory-Based Physical-Activity Intervention on Health-Promoting Behaviors of University Students
Authors: Ince Mustafa Levent
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 12-wk. physical activity intervention, based on conceptual discussions and practices of a social cognitive theory on health-promoting behaviors of 62 university students. The intervention mainly focused on development of self-regulatory skills, social support, and self-assessment of health-related fitness. The Adolescent Health Promotion Scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaire were given. Analysis of self-reports indicated improved nutrition, health responsibility, social support, exercise, stress management, and overall health from pre- to postintervention. Also, participants' postintervention reports of moderate, vigorous, and total physical activity were higher than at preintervention.
A Graphical Analysis of Handwriting of Prisoners Diagnosed with Antisocial Personality
Authors: Gawda Barbara
Published: September 2010

Some researchers have claimed that important aspects of personality can be assessed using a person's handwriting. The aim of this research is to pull together systematically and extend data on the relationships between handwriting and antisocial personality. Specifically examined was whether there are specific identifiable characteristics of writing and, if so, are these useful in handwriting analysis to diagnose a personality disorder. The graphic handwriting characteristics of 50 inmates with a diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder was analyzed and compared with that of 40 inmates without such diagnosis and 50 nonprisoner controls, also without Antisocial Personality Disorder. Forensic experts examined the documents, concentrating on those aspects of handwriting which previous researchers had reported associated with Antisocial Personality Disorder, such as a sinusoidal line, heavy pressure, and an open-shaped “a.” Analyses of variance comparing the frequencies of 13 handwriting parameters indicated no significant differences for characteristics in any of the groups on any parameter. The diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder was not significantly associated with any of the graphical measures; however, 5 of the 13 parameters were different between the Antisocial Personality Disorder and the non-Antisocial Personality Disorder groups in a direction opposite of expectations.
Test of Validity of Fitts' Index of Difficulty as a Measure of Task Difficulty
Authors: Park Sangbum , Kim Mihyun
Published: September 2010

This study investigated the validity of Fitts' index of difficulty as a measure of task difficulty perceived by the performer. Eight subjects performed self-terminated horizontal elbow-extension movements toward targets of three indices of difficulty in two task conditions. In the target-size condition, triceps and biceps activities during acceleration and deceleration respectively decreased with increasing index of difficulty, resulting in a lower peak velocity and longer movement time. In the movement amplitude condition, however, triceps activity after movement onset and biceps activity during deceleration increased with increasing index of difficulty, resulting in a higher peak velocity. The movement time also increased as a function of the index of difficulty given increase in the distance traveled by the limb. These results suggest that Fitts' index of difficulty may not reflect the difficulty of task performance because its effect on the pattern of motor output is dependent upon the task variable manipulated in measuring the index of difficulty.
Difficulty Identifying Feelings and Automatic Activation in the Fusiform Gyrus in Response to Facial Emotion
Authors: Eichmann Mischa , Kugel Harald , Suslow Thomas
Published: September 2010

Difficulties in identifying and differentiating one's emotions are a central characteristic of alexithymia. In the present study, automatic activation of the fusiform gyrus to facial emotion was investigated as a function of alexithymia as assessed by the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. During 3 Tesla fMRI scanning, pictures of faces bearing sad, happy, and neutral expressions masked by neutral faces were presented to 22 healthy adults who also responded to the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The fusiform gyrus was selected as the region of interest, and voxel values of this region were extracted, summarized as means, and tested among the different conditions (sad, happy, and neutral faces). Masked sad facial emotions were associated with greater bilateral activation of the fusiform gyrus than masked neutral faces. The subscale, Difficulty Identifying Feelings, was negatively correlated with the neural response of the fusiform gyrus to masked sad faces. The correlation results suggest that automatic hyporesponsiveness of the fusiform gyrus to negative emotion stimuli may reflect problems in recognizing one's emotions in everyday life.
Selective Attention to Spatial Frequency Gratings Affects Visual Processing as Early as 60 MSEC. Poststimulus
Authors: Zani Alberto , Proverbio Alice Mado
Published: September 2010

Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from occipital sites to investigate early selection mechanisms and to determine the time at which attention modifies the processing activity of the visual cortex in humans. 19 right-handed participants served as paid volunteers. The task consisted in paying selective attention to a combination of spatial frequency and location and then responding to target stimuli while ignoring other combinations of features. Sensory-evoked components were analyzed by measuring mean amplitude values within the latency ranges of 60–80, 80–100, 100–120, and 120–140 msec, poststimulus. Stimuli relevant in frequency and/or location elicited larger evoked CI responses than unattended stimuli as early as 60–80 msec, poststimulus, a range that likely corresponds to sensory activity in the striate cortex, although due to the small number of recording sites, the activity could not be precisely localized.
The Influence of the “Big Five” Factors on the Demands–Abilities Fit in Soccer Academies
Authors: Laurin Raphaël
Published: September 2010

The influence of the Big Five factors on the fit between demands and abilities in soccer was examined for school and boarding home domains for newcomer trainees of soccer academies. 81 male trainees from 4 academies participated in the survey ( M age = 16.3 yr., SD = 1.1). The fit between demands and abilities was measured three times during the academic year. In each domain, three repeated measures were aggregated into a single composite measure to define the fit index in the soccer, school, and boarding home domains. Results from the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised revealed that Neuroticism and Conscientiousness were, respectively, negatively and positively correlated with the school and boarding home fit index, Extraversion was negatively related to the boarding home fit index, and no personality factors were related to the soccer fit index. Stepwise regression analyses showed that Conscientiousness was the strongest predictor of the school and boarding home fit indexes. The individual differences approach to predict the success of newcomer trainees of soccer academies is discussed.
Random Number Generation in Bilingual Balinese and German Students: Preliminary Findings from an Exploratory Cross-Cultural Study
Authors: Strenge Hans , Lesmana Cokorda Bagus Jaya , Suryani Luh Ketut
Published: September 2010

Verbal random number generation is a procedurally simple task to assess executive function and appears ideally suited for the use under diverse settings in cross-cultural research. The objective of this study was to examine ethnic group differences between young adults in Bali (Indonesia) and Kiel (Germany). 50 bilingual healthy students, 30 Balinese and 20 Germans, attempted to generate a random sequence of the digits 1 to 9. In Balinese participants, randomization was done in Balinese (native language L1) and Indonesian (first foreign language L2), in German subjects in the German (L1) and English (L2) languages. 10 of 30 Balinese (33%), but no Germans, were unable to inhibit habitual counting in more than half of the responses. The Balinese produced significantly more nonrandom responses than the Germans with higher rates of counting and significantly less occurrence of the digits 2 and 3 in L1 compared with L2. Repetition and cycling behavior did not differ between the four languages. The findings highlight the importance of taking into account culture-bound psychosocial factors for Balinese individuals when administering and interpreting a random number generation test.
Superiority of the Dominant and Nondominant Hands in Static Strength and Controlled Force Exertion
Authors: Noguchi Takanori , Demura Shinichi , Aoki Hiroki
Published: September 2010

The dominant hand can be defined in such a way that Oldfield's Handedness Inventory may not identify the superior hand, i.e., the hand with more strength and/or more force control. The dominant and nondominant hands were compared for two different grip force-exertion tests. 50 healthy young men ( M age = 21.1 yr.) performed two tests with each hand: a maximal grip strength test and a controlled force-exertion test with dynamic demand. In the latter test, the participants matched their submaximal grip force to the changing demand values with real-time feedback. The total sum of the differences between the demand value and grip force value for 25 sec. was used as an evaluation parameter for the test (unit: %). Mean maximal grip force values in the right and left hands were 439.9 N ( SD = 59.1) and 405.6 N ( SD = 59.3), respectively. Mean controlled force-exertion test values in the right and left hands were 610.3% ( SD = 150.2) and 722.6% ( SD = 147.8), respectively. In both tests, the dominant hand was significantly stronger and controlled dynamic force better. The relationship between the two hands was very high. Based on this study's criteria, the dominant hand was stronger in 34% ( n = 17) of participants during the maximal grip strength test and more controlled in 54% ( n = 27) of participants during the controlled force-exertion test. Thus, the dynamic force control test showed that for significantly more people the dominant hand is stronger and controls force better. Controlled force exertion may be a better test for identifying the superior hand.
Birth Order and Selection for University Education in Kenya
Authors: Arap-Maritim Ezra K.
Published: September 2010

The representation of firstborns among 1,293 (650 women, 643 men) university freshmen in Kenya ( M age = 20.8 yr., SD = 1.9) was explored. In a situation where university admission is very competitive, it was hypothesized that firstborns would be numerically more represented than later borns. The results indicated (a) an overall preponderance of the firstborns (20%), (b) only children and lastborns were the least represented groups at 1 and 5%, respectively, and (c) firstborns tended to come from relatively smaller families than the later borns. The findings were discussed in relation to previous studies, family size, and implications for future research in a subsistence society.
Sport Fan Identification in Obituaries
Authors: End Christian M. , Meinert Jeffrey L. , Worthman Shaye S. , Mauntel Gregory J.
Published: September 2010

To assess whether sport involvement, particularly as a fan, is central enough to one's self-concept to be mentioned in obituary content, it was hypothesized that a greater proportion of men's obituaries than women's would mention the deceased individual's sport fan identification. Obituaries were randomly selected from 19 newspapers and coded for specific affiliations (e.g., military) and involvement in leisure activities (e.g., sport participation). Consistent with the hypothesis, a chi-squared analysis indicated the men's obituaries (15.2%) were significantly more likely than the women's (5.2%) to mention sport fan identification. A higher proportion of the men's obituaries (24.4%) mentioned sport participation than the women's obituaries (7.4%).
Text Familiarity, Word Frequency, and Sentential Constraints in Error Detection
Authors: Pilotti Maura , Chodorow Martin , Schauss Frances
Published: September 2010

The present study examines whether the frequency of an error-bearing word and its predictability, arising from sentential constraints and text familiarity, either independently or jointly, would impair error detection by making proofreading driven by top-down processes. Prior to a proofreading task, participants were asked to read, copy, memorize, or paraphrase sentences, half of which contained errors. These tasks represented a continuum of progressively more demanding and time-consuming activities, which were thought to lead to comparable increases in text familiarity and thus predictability. Proofreading times were unaffected by whether the sentences had been encountered earlier. Proofreading was slower and less accurate for high-frequency words and for highly constrained sentences. Prior memorization produced divergent effects on accuracy depending on sentential constraints. The latter finding suggested that a substantial level of predictability, such as that produced by memorizing highly constrained sentences, can increase the probability of overlooking errors.
Differential Performance of Chinese Volleyball Athletes and Nonathletes on a Multiple-Object Tracking Task
Authors: Zhang Xuemin , Yan Ming , Yangang Liao
Published: September 2010

The difference between athletes and nonathletes on the performance of a multiple-object tracking (MOT) task was examined. Participants were 17 national professional volleyball athletes and 20 age-matched nonathletes who were university students and attended basic volleyball training classes. Across trials, the number of distractors and the color and form of the targets were manipulated. A negative correlation was observed between the number of distractors and participants' reaction time. Further, all participants responded faster when the target color changed during a trial than when it remained consistent. Athletes had faster reaction time than nonathletes independent of the number of distractors or target manipulation. Male athletes also had faster overall reaction time than female athletes. The implications of these findings for athletic training are discussed.
Effectiveness of Auditory and Visual Sensory Feedback for Children When Learning a Continuous Motor Task
Authors: Liu Ting , Jensen Jody L.
Published: September 2010

Accuracy in control of continuous motor tasks has been reported to be a function of age as well as sensory feedback, with auditory sensory feedback being more effective for adults than visual sensory feedback. In contrast, there are conflicting reports regarding the effectiveness of sensory feedback for children. The present purpose was to examine whether auditory sensory feedback was beneficial for children learning a continuous cycling task. A total of 15 children ( M age = 5.2 yr., SD = 1.1) and 15 adults ( M age = 27.7 yr., SD = 4.7) were randomly assigned to an auditory feedback, visual feedback, or auditory + visual feedback condition. No significant interaction of group × condition was found, but computation of effect size indicated that the auditory feedback condition produced a moderate to large effect size on error reduction for children compared with other feedback conditions. It was concluded that feedback presented in auditory form was more beneficial than visual form or visual + auditory form for children in learning a continuous motor task.
Differences by Sex and Handedness in Right and Left Femur Bone Mineral Densities
Authors: Sahin Ali , Dane Senol , Seven Bedri , Akar Sedat , Yildirim Serap
Published: September 2010

Left-handedness was reported to be a risk factor for accident-related injuries, head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, sport-related injuries, and bone breaks and fractures. As decreased bone mineral density is a good marker of bone fractures, the femoral bone mineral densities of normal left-handed university students were compared with those of right-handed students. Hand preference of 66 men and 47 women was assessed using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. Measures of bone mineral density with a Hologic QDR-4500W (S/N 48403) densitometer showed bone mineral densities of both right and left proximal femur regions were higher in right-handed than in left-handed students. These results are consistent with the claim that left-handed participants had higher trauma and injury risk. Also, these results may explain the sex-related differences by handedness for susceptibility in accident-related injuries such as bone fractures.
Analysis of Kinematics of the Lower Limb during Step Exercise
Authors: Santos-Rocha R. , Veloso A. , Valamatos M. J. , Machado M. L. , André H. I.
Published: September 2010

The motion of lower extremity joints is one of the mechanisms by which mechanical load is attenuated. The main purposes of this study were to characterize the motion of the right lower limb in a group of 18 women experienced in step exercise, when performing selected step patterns, and to investigate the differences that exist between four stepping rate conditions (125, 130,135, and 140 beats per minute) and between four step patterns (basic step, knee lift, run step, and knee hop). The parameters explored were the range-of-movement and angular velocity of hip, knee, and ankle joints at initial contact and peak values. The four movement patterns analyzed presented different kinematical profiles, but no profiles were influenced by stepping rate. Stepping rate and step pattern had more effect on range of motion of ankle and knee joints, and on the angular velocity of knee and hip joints. To prevent injury, proper instruction should be provided in relation to foot placement on the step bench and on the ground.
Comparison of Perceived Exertion Ratings during Graded Peak Cycle Exercise between Cigarette Smokers and Nonsmokers
Authors: Tessmer Kathryn A. , Gearhart Randall F. , Becque M. Daniel
Published: September 2010

This study compared differentiated Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) for the chest (RPE-Chest) and legs (RPE-Legs) and undifferentiated ratings (RPE-Overall) between cigarette smokers ( n = 10) and nonsmokers ( n = 10) during graded, peak cycle exercise. Linear regression analyses expressed RPE-Chest, RPE-Leg, and RPE-Overall as a function of VO2 for smokers and nonsmokers. RPE equivalent to 50, 70, and 90% VO2peak were compared between. Chest, Leg, and Overall RPE were similar at each % VO2peak. In the combined smokers and nonsmokers, RPE-Chest was lower ( p<.05) than the RPE-Overall at each % VO2peak. RPE-Leg did not differ from RPE-Overall at 50% VO2peak, but was higher ( p<.05) at 70% and 90% VO2peak. These results validate Assumption 4 for application of the Borg 15-category scale in that this assumption is also valid for differentiated RPE. Smoking did not influence the intensity of differentiated or undifferentiated RPE during graded cycle exercise.
Initial Body Mass Index and Free-Time Physical Activity Moderate Effects of the Youth Fit for Life Treatment in African-American Pre-Adolescents
Authors: Annesi James J.
Published: September 2010

In about 80% of youth obesity-prevention programs, significant decrease in Body Mass Index has not been observed. A meta-analysis of 16 trials of the 12-wk. Youth Fit For Life intervention suggested better success; however, the effects for children who were overweight or obese remain unclear because data from participants of all weights were aggregated. Also unclear were effects on increasing free-time physical activity, a goal of this and most obesity-prevention treatments. Of the 200 African American pre-adolescents assessed in the present investigation, reductions in Body Mass Index associated with Youth Fit For Life were larger for participants who were overweight and obese, but these two groups did not differ. Voluntary physical activity at baseline was inversely related to change in voluntary physical activity ( r = –.53, p<.001). Regression analyses suggested improvements in theoretical dimensions of self-efficacy significantly predicted increases in voluntary physical activity especially well for participants initially classified as insufficiently active ( R2 = .61). These data clarified and extended findings to date for the Youth Fit For Life treatment, but replications across age groups, ethnicities, and administration formats are required.
Coincidence-Anticipation Timing and Reaction Time in Youth Tennis and Table Tennis Players
Authors: Ak Emre , Koçak Settar
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare the coincidence-anticipation timing and reaction times (RT) of 10- to 14-year-old tennis and table tennis players and examine possible sex differences. 107 (51.4%) tennis and 101 (48.6%) table tennis players participated in this study. Players were compared on coincidence-anticipation timing and reaction time. Tennis players performed with less error in the coincidence-anticipation timing task than table tennis players, whereas table tennis players had lower mean reaction time than tennis players. It was also found that male players made fewer errors in the coincidence-anticipation timing task than their female counterparts.
Review of Some Sex-Related Effects of Forced Unilateral Nostril Breathing on the Autonomic Nervous System
Authors: Dane Şenol
Published: September 2010

Sex-related effects of forced unilateral nostril breathing on the autonomic nervous system are considered. Recent studies described the effects of such breathing on autonomic activity as sex-specific as in prior studies.
Mental Rotation and Simulation of a Reaching and Grasping Manual Movement
Authors: Olivier Gerard , Velay Jean Luc , Labiale Guy , Celse Carole , Faure Sylvane
Published: September 2010

This paper deals with the kind of manual movement subjects mentally simulate when solving a left-right judgment task that requires rotating images of hands. 50 female students were asked to judge the laterality of drawings of rotated hands presented successively to the right and left visual hemifields by clicking on a mouse using either the right or left hand. Reaction times and accuracy of judgment were recorded. Analysis showed performances varied with the rotation angle at which the stimulus was presented, indicating that the subjects mentally simulated a rotation process. An interaction occurred between the visually presented hand and the responding hand, which suggests that the mental rotation process involved the simulation of a hand movement. Performance improved when the drawing of a hand was presented in the ‘palm-up’ position, and to the visual hemifield opposite with respect to the hand the subject moved mentally. The latter two findings suggest that the subjects performed a simulated reaching and grasping movement rather than a simulated positioning movement.
Communicative Responsibility and Semantic Task in the Language of Adults with Dementia
Authors: Goldfarb Robert , Goldberg Elmera
Published: September 2010

A probe technique requiring convergent and divergent semantic behavior and representing five levels of communicative responsibility served as the research tool. Stimuli were presented to adults identified as having Alzheimer disease or multi-infarct dementia. Within each group differences were observed on the semantic task (convergent and divergent) and on communicative responsibility. Group characteristics are compared with data previously published in 1994 on aphasic and schizophrenic adults responding to the same stimuli.
Geophysical Variables and Behavior: C. Increased Geomagnetic Activity on Days of Commercial Air Crashes Attributed to Computer or Pilot Error but Not Mechanical Failure
Authors: Fournier N. M. , Persinger M. A.
Published: September 2010

Global geomagnetic activity (aa values) for the days of crashes of airplanes and for each of the three days before and after the crashes were compared for 373 events (years 1940 through 2002) attributed to unknown factors, mechanical errors, electronic/computer failures or pilot errors. Interactions between days and classifications of the crashes were due to the significantly greater geomagnetic activity on the days of crashes attributed to pilot or computer error but not to mechanical or unknown factors. Successive temporal analyses indicated that the elevated activity on the days of crashes attributed to pilot error have not changed over time, but there was an increase in those attributed to electronic errors after 1965. No more than 9% of the variance in geomagnetic activity on the days of the crashes was associated with the type of crash. These results are consistent with our hypothesis that some factor or factors associated with relative increases in geomagnetic activity may affect complex electronic systems composed of either silica (computer) or carbon (brain) aggregates.
Eye-Hand Preference in Schizophrenia: Sex Differences and Significance for Hand Function
Authors: Liu Yi-Chia , Yang Yen Kuang , Lin Keh-Chung , Jeffries Keith J , Lee I Hui , Lee Li-Ching
Published: September 2010

Hand preference and eye dominance were investigated in 73 (30 women, 43 men) schizophrenic patients and 71 (30 women, 41 men) healthy controls. There were significantly more schizophrenic patients and normal controls who were significantly right-hand dominant. However, schizophrenic patients showed a significant excess of left-eye dominance relative to controls (65.8% vs 29.6%; Odds Ratio = 4.75, p < .001). In addition, female schizophrenic patients showed a higher rate of non-right (either left or inconsistent) eye dominance (80%) than male schizophrenic patients (55.8%) and controls (33.3%). Analysis of hand performance on the Purdue Pegboard Test indicated that schizophrenic patients who showed crossed eye-hand dominance scored higher than did patients without crossed eye-hand dominance.
The Fragmented Self
Authors: Lester David
Published: September 2010

For a sample of 182 undergraduates analysis of responses to a 10-item scale to measure the plurality of the self yielded three orthogonal factors and only moderate reliability.
Reliability and Stability of a Dream Recall Frequency Scale
Authors: Schredl Michael
Published: September 2010

Dream recall frequency varies widely between people as well as within individuals. To explore the relationship between dream recall frequency and trait variables such as personality dimensions, a measure of stable interindividual differences is necessary. In the present study ( N = 198 patients with sleep disorders; 115 women, 83 men; M age = 45.8 ± 15.3 yr.) a high retest reliability of the 7-point Dream Recall Frequency scale developed by Schredl in 2002a was found. If the participants' focus was not directed explicitly towards dream recall when the scale was presented within a general sleep questionnaire, the hitherto-reported increase of dream recall due to measuring dream recall frequency did not occur. In conclusion, the present scale is well suited for measuring interindividual differences in dream recall frequency reliably.
Comparison of Perceived Backpack Comfort Using Two Rating Scales
Authors: Jacobson Bert H. , Oney Brook , Redus Brady , Edgley Betty , Kulling Frank , Gemmell Hugh A.
Published: September 2010

Students' current use of backpacks to carry heavy loads of school material has promoted concern about musculoskeletal discomfort and postural problems. The purpose of this study was (a) to compare ratings of perceived comfort between subjects' personal backpacks and an experimental backpack and (b) to compare the data from two comfort rating scales. College-aged students ( N = 19) in a random ordered, cross-over design rated their personal, traditional backpacks and experimental backpacks for perceived neck, shoulder, back, and overall comfort on a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale and on an Anatomical Illustration Rating Scale. Analysis indicated no significant difference in comfort ratings of backpacks on Visual Analog Scale but, on the Anatomical Illustration Rating Scale the experimental backpack was significantly ( p<.05) more comfortable for the back. Further comparisons of backpacks, based on median splits of subjects' weight, height, and body mass index, indicated that body size is related to comfort ratings of backpacks. Special features of the experimental backpack may have contributed to greater comfort in selected areas based on body proportion. Subjective rating systems are not equally sensitive in distinguishing comfort. While backpacks with unique features may improve comfort, manufacturers should consider the size of the users in developing backpack designs.
Linguistic Humor Comprehension in Children with Articulation Impairments
Authors: Abrahamsen Eileen P.
Published: September 2010

This study investigated the ability of children with articulation disorders to comprehend linguistic humor. It was hypothesized that children with articulation disorders would have more difficulty understanding humor based on phonological differences than humor based on lexical differences. A second hypothesis predicted that children with articulation disorders would have more difficulty understanding riddles in which the phoneme they misarticulated, either /s/ or /r/, was the source of ambiguity than riddles in which the source of ambiguity did not involve the phoneme they misarticulated. Results did not confirm the first hypothesis as there were no statistically significant differences between groups with regard to the children's ability to understand phonological vs lexical humor. The second hypothesis was supported. Children had significantly more difficulty understanding riddles in which the source of ambiguity related to the phoneme they misarticulated, either /s/ or /r/ than they did understanding phonological humor involving nonerror phonemes.
Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Changes in Rated Tension and Depression for 9- to 12-Yr.-Old Children Enrolled in a 12-Wk. after-School Physical Activity Program
Authors: Annesi James J.
Published: September 2010

28 girls and 26 boys (93% African American) ages 9 to 12 years were enrolled in an after-school physical activity program for 12 wk. and completed measures of exercise self-efficacy, tension, and depression. Significant negative correlations were found between changes in ratings on Exercise Self-efficacy Scale for Children scores and Profile of Mood States Tension ( r = −.44) and Depression ( r = −.33) over 12 wk., indicating that as rated exercise Self-efficacy increased, rated Tension and Depression tended to decrease. Findings are consistent with behavioral explanations of the relationship between exercise and mood changes. Caution is appropriate as there was no control group, and familiarity might be an explanation of the findings.
Growth Rates in Running Speed and Vertical Jumping by Boys and Girls Ages 11–13
Authors: Butterfield Stephen A. , Lehnhard Robert , Lee Jaekyung , Coladarci Theodore
Published: September 2010

This study examined growth rates in running speed and vertical jump among middle school children. 45 boys and 31 girls ages 11–13 years were tested on running speed and vertical jump three times (September, February, and May) during the school year. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to estimate initial status and growth rates for the entire sample (base model) and the association of running and vertical jump with height, weight, and sex (conditional model). Positive overall growth rates were found for both running speed and vertical jump. Increased height and weight at the time of measurement were not significantly associated with growth rate for running. The growth rate for vertical jump was positively associated with height but unrelated to increased weight. Boys showed steeper growth rates than girls in jumping. No sex differences were found in running speed for either initial status or growth rate. Furthermore, these results suggest highly variable rates of physical maturation but no general period of ‘adolescent awkwardness’.
Sex Differences in Perceived Importance of Hamstring Stretching among High School Athletes
Authors: Nyland John , Kocabey Yavuz , Caborn David N. M.
Published: September 2010

Adolescent athletes completed a hamstring stretching technique and opinion survey and were measured for hamstring extensibility during preparticipation examination. Hamstring muscle group stretching practices, extensibility, and perception of importance to injury prevention, athletic performance, warming-up, cooling down, and coaches were contrasted by sex. As expected, girls displayed greater hamstring muscle group flexibility than boys. Boys and girls reported similar hamstring stretch repetitions and stretch duration. Boys scored hamstring stretching as being more important to improved athletic performance and to their coaches than did girls. Differences were not evident between groups for prevention of injury, warm-up, or cool-down. The lower perception of hamstring stretching importance for improving athletic performance and a lesser perception of hamstring stretching importance to their coaches suggests that adolescent female athletes and their coaches may not fully understand the value of static hamstring stretching. Modified hamstring stretching technique may selectively increase hamstring extensibility among girls without contributing to increasing capsuloligamentous knee joint laxity.
Young Girls' Developmental Skills in Underarm Throwing
Authors: Yan Jin H. , Jevas Stephaine
Published: September 2010

This paper concerns underarm throwing by girls 7 to 12 years of age. Each movement component by trained and untrained girls in underarm throwing or windmill softball pitching was examined. Movement characteristics of ball release, arm motion, trunk activity, and stepping were analyzed to capture experience- and age-related differences in underarm throwing. A total of 48 young girls participated: 25 untrained (age 9.7 yr.), 14 trained/league (age 10.9 yr.), and 9 trained/formal (10.4 yr.). Performance was videotaped individually and evaluated by three observers. Analyses suggest that, while age did not affect performance, the type of training experience influenced the girls' performance on each of the four movement components. The wrist and trunk were identified as showing the most significant progression with experience. The findings have important implications about changes during acquisition of underarm throwing skills.
Singaporean Education Students' Perceptions of Knowledge and Skills as Important for Teachers
Authors: Tan Ai-Girl , Lim Kam-Ming
Published: September 2010

This paper examined perceptions of knowledge and skills important for teachers of 353 Singaporean undergraduate students. They rated higher teaching and nurturing skills and gave moderate ratings to theoretical knowledge and research skills. There is a need to raise teachers' awareness of educational research and theoretical innovation for classroom practice.
Depth Perception of Elementary School Students with Qualitatively Evidenced Locomotor Impairments
Authors: Skordilis E. K. , Douka A. , Spartali I. , Koutsouki D.
Published: September 2010

The purpose of the study was to examine differences in depth perception of students classified according to their gross locomotor skills. The seven qualitative gross locomotor tasks of Ulrich's Test of Gross and Motor Development were used to classify 162 students as either motor impaired ( n1 = 27) or nonimpaired ( n2 = 135). The Howard Dollman Apparatus was used to measure depth perception. Analysis showed that the motor-impaired group scored significantly lower than the nonimpaired group on depth perception. Discriminant function analysis indicated that only the running task separated the students by depth perception scores. Subsequent multiple regression analysis confirmed that the running task, along with sliding and galloping, were significant predictors of the students' perception of the third dimension. Physical educators working with students with gross locomotor impairments or low perception of the third dimension need to adjust their teaching and offer opportunities for successful involvement in physical education classes and sports.
Correlations among Handedness, Eyedness, Monocular Shifts from Binocular Focal Point, and Nonverbal Intelligence in University Mathematics Students
Authors: Dane Arif , Dane Şenol
Published: September 2010

Relationships among hand preference, nonverbal intelligence, and the monocular shifts of binocular focal point were studied in 33 men and 12 women university mathematics students. Ocular dominance was assessed with the Miles test. The monocular shift of binocular focal point for each eye was assessed with a modified Miles test. Hand preference was assessed on the Edinburg Handedness Inventory. Nonverbal intelligence was assessed with Cattell's Culture Fair Intelligence Test. In a prior study, the percentage of left-eye preference had been reported to be greater for mathematics students than for nonmathematics students. In the present study there were positive correlations between hand preference and the sum of the monocular shifts of two eyes. In addition, there was a negative correlation between nonverbal intelligence and the sum of the monocular shifts of two eyes. As these results suggest that the sum of the monocular shifts of two eyes may be related to mathematical ability and nonverbal intelligence, further research with a larger sample including nonmathematics students is needed.
Comparison of the RT3 Research Tracker and Tritrac R3D Accelerometers during a Backpacking Expedition by a Single Subject
Authors: DeVoe Dale
Published: September 2010

This study compared the RT3 Research Tracker accelerometer and the Tritrac R3D accelerometer in a field setting. A six-day backpacking expedition (122.4 km in length) was completed by a single subject in the Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. The overall correlation between the counts of vector magnitude activity for the RT3 and R3D was moderate ( r = .75, p <.001), with the overall calculated bias [mean difference (RT3 minus R3D) and standard deviation of the differences] across all six days estimated at 235 ± 436 vector magnitude activity counts. However, agreement between the instruments is problematic; the RT3 might be 201 activity counts below or 671 activity counts above the R3D in assessing physical activity during backpacking.
Adapting a Grid into a Microswitch to Suit Simple Hand Movements of a Child with Profound Multiple Disabilities
Authors: Lancioni G. E. , O'Reilly M. F. , Singh N. N. , Stasolla F. , Manfredi F. , Oliva D.
Published: September 2010

We adapted a grid into a microswitch for the hand movements of a girl with profound multiple disabilities who lay on her back. The grid, suspended above the girl's face, was equipped with two mercury devices, i.e., small sealed ampoules containing a mercury drop and ending with conductive leads. A lateral or forward movement of the grid would make the mercury drop of at least one device slide to the conductive leads and activate the device. During the intervention, activations of the devices, i.e., microswitch activations, produced the occurrence of favorite stimuli. Analysis showed that the girl increased the frequency of hand movements and microswitch activations during the intervention phases compared to the baseline phases (when the favorite stimuli were not available). The increase was retained at a 1-mo. postintervention check.
Changes in Postural Control during a 48-Hr. Sleep Deprivation Period
Authors: Gribble Phillip A. , Hertel Jay
Published: September 2010

Sleep deprivation has detrimental effects on cognitive abilities; however, there has been limited investigation into the effects of sleep deprivation on postural control or influence of time of day on postural control measures. Therefore, we measured postural control on a force plate every 6 hr. in 24 subjects (11 women, 13 men; M age 20 ± 2.1 yr.; M height 1.68 ± 0.29 m; body mass 63.3 ± 28.7 kg) participating in a 48-hr. dance marathon. During the first 24-hr. period, postural control significantly worsened. Rather than a steady decrease in postural control, during the second day of the event a repeating oscillatory trend of fluctuations in postural control was observed for both days of the event. We hypothesize that the repeating oscillation of postural control followed a circadian rhythm pattern, suggesting that sleep deprivation for 48 hr. does not influence measures of postural control in a consistent manner. The apparent influence of time of day on postural control measures warrants consideration of this factor when conducting studies with repeated measures of postural control across different days.
Derivation of a Proxy Measure of Suicidal Ideation from the Suicide Opinion Questionnaire
Authors: Lester David
Published: September 2010

Scores for a 13-item scale, derived from Domino's Suicide Opinion Questionnaire correlated with scores from Reynolds' Suicide Ideation Questionnaire for 81 undergraduates and may be useful as a proxy measure of suicidal ideation.
Reaction Times to Words vs Symbols for Both Hands
Authors: Anderson Kennie , Dixon Paul W. , Karr Linda M. , Yudko Errol
Published: September 2010

Reaction times were used to infer an interaction between different stimuli (verbal and symbolic) and the hand used to respond to such stimuli for 26 college students. Significant differences in reaction times were found dependent upon whether the stimulus was a word or a symbol and which hand was used in response to the different stimuli. There was more rapid mediation with significantly shorter latency for symbolic stimuli than for verbal stimuli for both the right and left hands. Also, latency was shorter for symbolic stimuli using the right hand than for verbal stimuli using the left hand. It may be concluded from this that efficacy of symbolic stimuli is primary in conveyance of denotative meaning. The primacy of symbolic stimuli for denoting meaning might be traced to evolutionary sources.
Rules for Reinvestment
Authors: Poolton Jamie , Maxwell Jon , Masters Rich
Published: September 2010

In response to further validation of the Reinvestment Scale by Chell, Graydon, Crowley, and Child, a structural equation model was formulated to clarify the relationship between the predisposition for conscious control of an otherwise automatic motor skill (reinvestment), verbal knowledge, and performance degradation under pressure. The model implies that the more task-relevant movement knowledge the performer holds, the stronger the propensity to reinvest.
Comparison of Memory and Combined Exercise and Memory-Anchoring Procedures on Ratings of Perceived Exertion during Short Duration, Near-Peak-Intensity Cycle Ergometer Exercise
Authors: Gearhart Randall F. , Becque M. Daniel , Hutchins Matthew D. , Palm Chad M.
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) following memory-anchoring and two different types of combined exercise and memory-anchoring during short duration, near-peak-intensity cycle exercise. Thirty recreationally trained males volunteered to participate. The M group, n=10, received only verbal instructions prior to the experimental trial. The EM1 group, n = 10, and the EM2 group, n = 10, received the same verbal instructions, but these were administered while participants performed maximal, graded cycle ergometer exercise. The low perceptual anchor was established during light pedaling for both EM1 and EM2. The high perceptual anchor was established during the final stage of the maximal cycle test for EM1 and during a 30-sec. sprint immediately following the final stage of the maximal cycle ergometer testing for EM2. On the experimental trial pedaling at maximal intensity for 30-sec. was against a resistance equal to .10 × body mass (kg) on a cycle ergometer. The Borg 15-category RPE scale was used to record exertional perceptions. RPE was reported at 8, 13, 18, 23, and 28 sec. each trial. Ratings were similar among the three groups. Their linear regression slopes and intercepts were also similar. Memory-anchoring produced similar RPE for two different combined exercise and memory-anchoring procedures. In conclusion, memory-anchoring and combined exercise and memory-anchoring produce similar RPE during high intensity, short duration cycle exercise in young recreationally trained athletes.
Effects of Viewing Pleasant and Unpleasant Photographs on Gastric Motility Indexed by Electrogastrographic (EGG) Activities
Authors: Zhou Renlai , Luo Yanlin , Hu Senqi
Published: September 2010

32 subjects were randomly divided into Pleasant and Unpleasant groups depending upon whether the subjects viewed pleasant or unpleasant photographs. Subjects sat in a chair for 16 min. of baseline measurement prior to the 16 min. of photograph-viewing. The 16 subjects in the Pleasant group viewed a set of pleasant photographs. The 16 subjects in the Unpleasant group viewed a set of unpleasant photographs. Electrogastrographic (EGG) activities were recorded continuously throughout the baseline and photograph-viewing periods. The spectral power of EGG activity of 3 cycles per minute (cpm) was calculated. The ratios of EGG 3 cpm spectral power for the period of viewing photographs and baseline were then obtained. The statistical analysis indicated that the EGG amplitude at 3 cpm during the period of viewing unpleasant photographs was significantly lower than that of baseline period and that the EGG ratio between the photograph-viewing and baseline periods was significantly lower in the Unpleasant group than in the Pleasant group. In conclusion, viewing unpleasant photographs significantly inhibited gastric motility indexed by decreased power of EGG activities at 3 cpm.