ADHD, delay aversion and waiting behaviour in preschool children: Family and cultural processes

The delay aversion hypothesis proposed by Sonuga-Barke (1994) views attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms as a functional expression of delay aversion which enables them to escape from or avoid the delay rich situations that they find emotionally aversive (Sonuga-Barke et al., 1992a; 1992b; 2010). Further, according to the model, one way that this motivational orientation develops is through the conditioned paring of delay situations with the negative affective states arose from parental criticism and/or punishment for failures to wait or maintain attention. This second part of the delay aversion model has not been tested to date. In this thesis, we aimed to explore this model of the social conditioning of delay aversion and ADHD by exploring the relationship between preschool children’s ADHD symptoms, their sensitivity to delay (i.e., delay aversion) and their waiting behaviours in two communities known for their different attitudes to children’s behaviour and self-regulation – Hong Kong and the United Kingdom – in four studies. A community sample of 112 preschoolers (mean age = 46.22 months; 55 from UK, 57 from HK) completed a battery of three tasks measuring different waiting elements– waiting for rewards, judging how long to wait and having to wait unexpectedly when task is interrupted and another waiting task jointly with their parents. Children’s and parents’ behavioural and emotional responses were observed and coded during task performance. Actometers were also used to track children’s task-related activity. Parents and teachers rated the children’s ADHD symptoms and sensitivity to delay at T1 and T2 (12 to 18 months later). There were several important findings to note. First, we found strong evidence that parents’ perceptions and reports of ADHD-related behaviours are culturally determined, with HK parents appeared to have lower rating threshold than UK parents, that is, less waiting-related activity is required for HK parents before considering it as an ADHD symptom. Second, our findings showed that children’s maladaptive waiting-related responses increased as a function of delay duration and significantly associated with their levels of ADHD symptoms. Moreover, children’s frustration experienced during the waiting period affected their responses in a later post delay waiting period. Third, we found a strong positive correlation between children’s maladaptive waiting-related responses and parental negative responses during delay at T1. Parents’ negative behaviours and affect displayed during the joint waiting task at T1 significantly predicted the children’s ADHD symptom and delay sensitivity level as rated by their teachers at T2, even after controlling for their symptoms level at T1. This pattern did not hold for parental negative response in non-waiting settings. Fourth, despite cultural differences found in parents’ rating threshold and children’s waiting-related responses, our findings suggested that the relationship between pre-schoolers’ ADHD, delay aversion and waiting behaviours was not moderated by national group.The differences between UK and HK communities in parents’ rating thresholds and children’s waiting behaviours reflected the value of including a cross-cultural comparison element in the research on the ADHD prevalence, assessment tool, parents’ symptom endorsement and attributions. The cultural invariance in the relationship between ADHD, waiting and delay aversion provided insights for early intervention efforts that could be effective across cultures. Most importantly, longitudinal data highlighted the way parenting in relation to delay can increase the risk for delay aversion and ADHD-related difficulties. Intervention should not only focus on the children’s tolerance and reactivity to waiting situations, but also help parents to understand the potential impact of their negative delay-related behavioural and emotional expressions

Risda Semaian & Lanskap Sdn. Bhd. (RSSB)'S Diversification Policy: A Case Study

This case study was carried out to observe RSSB's Diversification Policy. The purpose of the study was to secure an understanding of what RSSB's diversification policy was about, how it was implemented, what problems were encountered during the implementation and what strategies were used to overcome the problems. During the preliminary stage of the study, an extensive search for a better grasp of the process of diversification was done by analyzing the steps and considerations taken by other companies that have undergone diversification. In this study, it was found that successful diversification could be achieved if the particular company carried out extensive analysis of the environment, observed the take off timing and considered six questions identifying their strategic assets. 12 senior managers from RSSB were chosen as respondents because they were involved directly in the formation and implementation of the policy. In-depth interviews, semi-structured questionnaire and historical data analysis were carried out to obtain a first hand view of the respondents perception regarding the diversification policy. All interviews were tape-recorded and subsequently transcribed to facilitate data analysis. Semi-structured questionnaires were distributed to the managers who were inaccessible because of distance. The study found that the respondents understood and implemented the policy according to what were expected. In addition, the formation and the implementation of the policy were congruent with the analysis suggested by literature review. As expected, the study revealed that prior to the formation of the policy, RSSB had done an in-depth analysis of the environment and an objective SWOT analysis of the company. It also did a stockcheck of its strategic assets. Although the respondents faced many problems in the implementation of the diversification policy, they showed an optimistic attitude in finding ways to overcome these problems. A series of recommendation to improve on the policy was made based on the analysis of the problems indicated and based on suggestions from respondents. This study is a reaffirmation that RSSB has taken all the right steps and action in the formation and implementation of the diversification policy

“This Isn’t Justice”: Abused Women Navigate Family Law in Greater Vancouver

With the implementation of the Family Law Act in 2013, the family legal system in British Columbia saw a series of progressive reforms. These include the recognition of emotional, psychological, and financial control as family violence, a new protection order process to replace the limited restraining orders formerly available to abuse victims, a mandate that courts consider how exposure to family violence impacts children, and minimum mandatory training standards for family dispute resolution professionals. While there has been a great deal of legal commentary on these new provisions, there is a paucity of scholarly research documenting the experiences of frontline workers who support abused women. We address this lacuna, drawing on in-depth interviews with family lawyers and frontline advocates who assist women exiting violent relationships in greater Vancouver. Our findings highlight the many challenges facing women in the family law system and suggest that the perceived unfairness many women experience is neither accidental nor uncommon. Rather, structural barriers to getting into the courtroom, in addition to widespread judicial ignorance about family law and family violence disadvantage women seeking just separations from abusive partners. To better meet the needs of abused women in greater Vancouver, increased funding for legal aid and support services, mandatory family violence training for judges making decisions on family files, and the transformation of victim-blaming attitudes within and beyond the courtroom are needed

A proof of concept study to identify familial hypercholesterolaemia in primary care

This study examines the feasibility (acceptability, usefulness, convenience and cost) of using a new method of detecting hypercholesterolaemia through GP clinics. If the condition is found following a fasting pathology test, close relatives will also be checked. This family tracing will identify new patients with the condition as they stand to benefit most from early treatment. The proposed new approach will allow the condition to be managThe research reported in this paper is a project of the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute which is supported by a grant from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing under the Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development Strategy

Optimizing the Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme by Internet-based Interventions: A literature review

Cardiac rehabilitation program which includes exercise training, nutritional advice, psychosocial and risk factors counseling is traditionally applied for myocardial infarction survivor. However, the low participation rate [1] of cardiac rehabilitation has been reported globally. Recently home-based cardiac rehabilitation program is developed as an alternative approach [2][3][4] to overcome the challenges of low referral rate, inaccessibility of program site, and optimize the utilization of the program. Unfortunately, client may not be able to sustain the modified health behavior in their daily life after the completion of the cardiac rehabilitation programme. To date, the internet-based cardiac rehabilitation program has showed significant in improving the cardiovascular risk factors at the end of the cardiac rehabilitation program. [5][6][7][8] However, there are limited studies to review the significant of internet- based interventions of home- based cardiac rehabilitation in sustention of health behavior in long term. This review will fill the knowledge gap of how the internet-based interventions on home-based cardiac rehabilitation program modify the risk behavior for myocardial infarction survivor in the long run

Invariant theoretical applications of supersymmetric algebra

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mathematics, 1995.Includes bibliographical references (p. 135-137).by Wendy Chan.Ph.D

Attitudes & Roles Regarding Firearm Access and Suicide Prevention in Vermont Middle & High Schools

Adolescent suicide is a serious public health concern in Vermont, and the presence of firearms in the home is a known risk factor. Suicide attempts with firearms are more likely to be completed than attempts with other means, with an 85% mortality rate of suicide with firearms compared to 5% with other means. This project aimed to assess attitudes, comfort, and perceived roles among school personnel in addressing gun safety and access to firearms with Vermont students and parents.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1298/thumbnail.jp

Topical delivery of a Rho-kinase inhibitor to the cornea via mucoadhesive film

The application of inhibitors of the Rho kinase pathway (ROCK inhibitors) to the surface of the eye in the form of eyedrops has beneficial effects which aid the recovery of diseased or injured endothelial cells that line the inner surface of the cornea. The aim of this study was to test the plausibility of delivering a selective ROCK inhibitor, Y-27,632, to the cornea using a thin polymeric film. Mucoadhesive polymeric thin films were prepared incorporating Y-27,632 and diffusional release into PBS was determined. Topical ocular delivery from the applied film was investigated using freshly excised porcine eyes and eyedrops of equivalent concentration acted as comparators; after 24 h the formulations were removed and the corneas extracted. Drug-loaded thin polymeric films, with high clarity and pliability were produced. ROCK inhibitor Y-27,632 was weakly retained within the film, with release attaining equilibrium after 1 h. This in turn facilitated its rapid ocular delivery, and an approximately three-fold greater penetration of Y-27,632 into cryoprobe-treated corneas was observed from the thin film (p < 0.01) compared to eyedrop. These findings support the further development of ROCK inhibitor delivery to the cornea via release from thin mucoadhesive films to treat vision loss cause by corneal endothelial dysfunction

Introduction: Domestic Violence and Access to Justice within the Family Law and Intersecting Legal Systems

The articles in this collection explore the access to justice issues that arise for survivors of domestic violence in their encounters with Canada’s family law system. While family law and family dispute resolution processes are the central focus of the articles, three contributions also address family law\u27s intersections with other legal domains (civil restraining orders, child welfare, and immigration). Common across the contributions is a desire to carefully interrogate the potential of law and legal processes to enhance—or conversely to undermine—the safety and well-being of survivors and their children