The Connection Between Movement and Student Engagement in a Kindergarten Classroom

The research question addressed in this project was: How will regular movement opportunities impact student engagement in a kindergarten classroom? This capstone begins with the personal experiences and influences of the author that led her to this question. Research on the connection between the brain, movement, and development is explained. Programs and countries that integrate frequent movement opportunities into their school schedules are examined in chapter two. This action research project uses a mixed-methods approach to observe off-task behavior during an independent writing period in a kindergarten class. Two weeks of observation are followed by two weeks of movement intervention prior to independent writing time. The results from this action research show a dramatic decrease in off-task behavior when additional movement opportunities are provided for kindergarten students

Automatic identification of gait events using an instrumented sock

Background: textile-based transducers are an emerging technology in which piezo-resistive properties of materials are used to measure an applied strain. By incorporating these sensors into a sock, this technology offers the potential to detect critical events during the stance phase of the gait cycle. This could prove useful in several applications, such as functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems to assist gait. Methods: we investigated the output of a knitted resistive strain sensor during walking and sought to determine the degree of similarity between the sensor output and the ankle angle in the sagittal plane. In addition, we investigated whether it would be possible to predict three key gait events, heel strike, heel lift and toe off, with a relatively straight-forward algorithm. This worked by predicting gait events to occur at fixed time offsets from specific peaks in the sensor signal. Results: our results showed that, for all subjects, the sensor output exhibited the same general characteristics as the ankle joint angle. However, there were large between-subjects differences in the degree of similarity between the two curves. Despite this variability, it was possible to accurately predict gait events using a simple algorithm. This algorithm displayed high levels of trial-to-trial repeatability. Conclusions: this study demonstrates the potential of using textile-based transducers in future devices that provide active gait assistance

Evidence for Allelopathic Activity of Mikania micrantha H.B.K. on Three Weed Species

Laboratory, greenhouse and field studies were conducted to determine the allelopathic potential of Mikania micrantha H.B.K. on the germination and growth of three weed species, A.systasia gangetica (L.) T. Anders., Chrysopogon aciculatus (Ritz.) Trin and Paspalum conjugatum Berg. Germination and fresh weight of all three weeds decreased progressively when exposed to increasing concentrations of aqueous leaf or root extract of Mikania. The phytotoxic effect of root extract on the radicle elongation of the test species was greater than that of leaf extract. The dry weight and rate of emergence of the bioassay species used were affected when Mikania debris (leaf or root) were placed on soil surfaces or incorporated into the soil. P. conjugatum emergence was strongly affected when Mikania (root orleaf) was incorporated into the soil. Soil collectedfrom the field where Mikania had been growing had no effecton the final germination of the three weed species. However, dry weights of A. gangetica and P. conjugatum were significantly reduced when grown in the Mikanilt-infested so

Transversus abdominis is part of a global not local muscle synergy during arm movement

The trunk muscle transversus abdominis (TrA) is thought to be controlled independently of the global trunk muscles. Methodological issues in the 1990s research such as unilateral electromyography and a limited range of arm movements justify a re-examination of this theory. The hypothesis tested is that TrA bilateral co-contraction is a typical muscle synergy during arm movement. The activity of 6 pairs of trunk and lower limb muscles was recorded using bilateral electromyography during anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) associated with the arm movements. The integrated APA electromyographical signals were analyzed for muscle synergy using Principle Component Analysis. TrA does not typically bilaterally co-contract during arm movements (1 out of 6 participants did). APA muscle activity of all muscles during asymmetrical arm movements typically reflected a direction specific diagonal pattern incorporating a twisting motion to transfer energy from the ground up. This finding is not consistent with the hypothesis that TrA plays a unique role providing bilateral, feedforward, multidirectional stiffening of the spine. This has significant implications to the theories underlying the role of TrA in back pain and in the training of isolated bilateral co-contraction of TrA in the prophylaxis of back pain

The cardiomyocyte "redox rheostat": Redox signalling via the AMPK-mTOR axis and regulation of gene and protein expression balancing survival and death.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in development of heart failure but, at a cellular level, their effects range from cytoprotection to induction of cell death. Understanding how this is regulated is crucial to develop novel strategies to ameliorate only the detrimental effects. Here, we revisited the fundamental hypothesis that the level of ROS per se is a key factor in the cellular response by applying different concentrations of H2O2 to cardiomyocytes. High concentrations rapidly reduced intracellular ATP and inhibited protein synthesis. This was associated with activation of AMPK which phosphorylated and inhibited Raptor, a crucial component of mTOR complex-1 that regulates protein synthesis. Inhibition of protein synthesis by high concentrations of H2O2 prevents synthesis of immediate early gene products required for downstream gene expression, and such mRNAs (many encoding proteins required to deal with oxidant stress) were only induced by lower concentrations. Lower concentrations of H2O2 promoted mTOR phosphorylation, associated with differential recruitment of some mRNAs to the polysomes for translation. Some of the upregulated genes induced by low H2O2 levels are cytoprotective. We identified p21Cip1/WAF1 as one such protein, and preventing its upregulation enhanced the rate of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The data support the concept of a "redox rheostat" in which different degrees of ROS influence cell energetics and intracellular signalling pathways to regulate mRNA and protein expression. This sliding scale determines cell fate, modulating survival vs death

POTENCY OF VIBRIO ISOLATES FOR BIOCONTROL OF VIBRIOSIS IN TIGER SHRIMP (PENAEUS MONODON) LARVAE

This study was carried out to obtain Vibrio isolates able to function as biocontrol of vibriosis in shrimp hatchery. Thirty one Vibrio isolates were isolated from tiger shrimp larvae and hatchery environments, i.e. Labuan, Pangandaran, and Lampung, Indonesia. Pathogenic  V. harveyi MR5339 was obtained from Maros, South-Sulawesi and was made as a rifampicin resistant mutant (RFR) to screen for those 31 Vibrio isolates in in vitro assays and to allow us to monitor their presence in shrimp larvae and larval rearing water. Almost all Vibrio  isolates could inhibit the growth of pathogenic V. harveyi MR5339 RFR. SKT-b isolate from Skeletonema was the most effective to inhibit the growth of V. harveyi MR5339 Rf* and significantly reduced larval mortality in pathogen challenge assays. These prospective biocontrol bacteria, at concentration of 10" CFU/ml, did not show pathogenicity to shrimp larvae. SKT-b was Gram negative, short rod-shape, exhibited yellow colonies on TCBS and swarming on SWC-agar media, motile, utilized glucose and sucrose but not lactose: produced extra-cellular protease and amylase, but did not produce chitmase. Partial sequencing of 16S-rRNA gene SKT-b showed SKT-b similarity to Vibrio alginofyticus. Keywords: shrimp larvae / biocontrol bacteria / vibriosis

THE APPLICATION OF A SPORT-SPECIFIC 3D STEREOSCOPIC STIMULUS TO EXAMINE PRE-PLANNING TIME AND GAZE CHARACTERISTICS DURING EVASIVE SIDE-STEPPING MANOEUVRES

It is well established that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are serious, debilitating and costly for an individual, while also creating a significant public health burden at a societal level. ACL injuries occur when inappropriate external loads are applied to the knee and most commonly occur during the performance of a side-stepping (Ssg) manoeuvre (Besier et al., 2001a). Previous laboratory based investigations of evasive Ssg have employed generic light or mannequin visual stimuli in an effort to simulate the time and space constraints experienced by athletes, in the preparation and execution of the Ssg manoeuvre (Besier et al., 2001b; Besier et al., 2003; Mclean et al., 2004). However, a possible outcome of attempts to impose these constraints in lab environments is that the use of unrealistic visual stimuli may not accurately reflect or identify the relationship of the perceptual demands of the task with injury risk variables, during a sidestep in game based situations. This study proposes that the presentation of a three dimensional (3D) stereoscopic stimulus (3DSS), featuring a 3D video based sport specific reconstruction of an opposing defender(s) simulating a tackle, may improve the ecological validity of laboratory based investigations. Additionally, the incorporation of the 3DSS tool with eye tracking will allow for the subject’s gaze characteristics (fixations, durations on the 3DSS image) to be assessed. The general aims of this study were to: Technical • develop a 3DSS that delivers realistic sport-specific constraints to footballers during evasive Ssg manoeuvres, • create 3DSS scenarios that incorporate realistic game based variations of imposed time and space constraints (e.g. 3DSS tackle scenarios with one or two defenders), • develop an interface and protocol that integrates the 3DSS system with a commercial eye tracking system (ASL Eye Tracking Recorder), for the purpose of quantifying the lab based subject’s gaze characteristics on the projected stimulus during a Ssg manoeuvre, Experimental • identify differences in biomechanical variables (kinematic, kinetic and neuromuscular) associated with increased injury risk during Ssg manoeuvres, using a traditional light (light emitting diode) based stimulus (LBSS) compared with a 3DSS stimuli

Nitrifikasi Dalam Biodegradasi Limbah Tambak

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui laju nitrifikasi dan bakteri yang paling efektif membentuk nitrat dalam biodegradasi limbah tambak udang. Percobaan dilakukan dengan 6 perlakuan dan 3 ulangan dengan media percobaan limbah tambak biasa dan limbah tambak steril. Hasil percobaan memperlihatkan bahwa semakin tinggi kadar OSS dalam media percobaan, laju nitrifikasi semakin rendah, tetapi populasi mikroba nitrifikasi semakin tinggi. Laju nitrifikasi berkisar antara 0.0059 – 0.0089 ppm/hari, dengan laju tertinggi diperoleh pada perlakuan T2 (kadar TSS 200 ppm, OSS 147.30 ppm, amonia 0.22 ppm) dan terendah pada perlakuan T0 (kadar TSS 100 ppm, OSS 58.20 ppm, amonia 0.19 ppm). Bakteri nitrifikasi yang paling efektif membentuk nitrat dalam media percobaan adalah Nitrococcus sp. untuk perlakuan T0 dan T1, Nitrospira sp.untuk perlakuan T2 dan T3, dan Nitrobacter sp. untuk perlakuan T4 dan T5. Dalam media limbah tambak steril, laju nitrifikasi setiap jenis bakteri berkisar antara 0.0039 – 0.0069 ppm/hari dengan tingkat efektivitas rata-rata 72.02%. Bakteri yang paling efektif membentuk nitrat dalam biodegradasi limbah tambak udang adalahNitrospira marina