Using a Game-Like Procedure as a Test of Executive Functions in Children

Concept Formation (CF) is an important skill necessary for academic performance, everyday functioning, and lifelong achievements (Blair & Razza, 2007). CF difficulties have been associated with social disadvantage possibly due to reduced learning opportunities (Blair, 2002). CF difficulties have also been associated with certain neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism-spectrum disorder (Kim et al., 2020). Importantly, research has shown that early intervention can support development of CF skills and improve quality of life (Pasnak, 2006). Despite its importance there are few assessments suitable for children, and assessments available in the UK often advantage English-speaking examinees who are familiar with Western culture. The Alien Game was piloted by Pavitt (2017) and evidence was found to support its utility as a more culturally fair and child-friendly assessment of CF. This study aimed to further develop the Alien Game by improving the stimuli, developing a scoring procedure, and exploring concurrent and predictive validity. Thirty-four children aged 8-11 years took part in this second pilot study, and five measures of performance in the Alien Game were identified. Performance was not found to correlate with verbal abilities, and speaking English as a first language did not support performance. A significant correlation was found between WISC-IV Matrix Reasoning (Wechsler, 2003) and performance, providing evidence of concurrent validity. No relationship was found between performance in the Alien Game and scores obtained via teacher-rated CHEXI (Thorell & Nyberg, 2008), so predictive validity could not be established. Importantly, children appeared to be engaged with the game and provided positive feedback. Overall, these findings provide support for the Alien Game as a more culturally-fair and child-friendly measure of CF, which has clinical implications as an affordable and easy to administer screening tool. Early identification of CF difficulties can allow for targeted learning plans to be established to support children to develop this important skill

Comparison of liquid-metal magnetohydrodynamic power conversion cycles

Comparison of liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic power conversion cycle

ICF core sets for low back pain: do they include what matters to patients?

To investigate whether the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) Core Sets for low back pain encompass the key functional problems of patients

Labeling research in support of through-the-season area estimation

The development of LANDSAT-based through-the-season labeling procedures for corn and soybeans is discussed. A model for predicting labeling accuracy within key time periods throughout the growing season is outlined. Two methods for establishing the starting point of one key time period, viz., early season, are described. In addition, spectral-temporal characteristics for separating crops in the early season time period are discussed

Lived Experience and Process of Engagement in Physical Exercise for Older Adults with Chronic Back Pain

For older adults, physical exercise is especially important in maintaining functional independence, extending quality of life, and optimizing personal health resources. For patients with chronic pain conditions, exercise participation can significantly improve patient-reported symptoms. Older adults are the most sedentary age group with the majority not meeting the recommended duration and intensity of weekly exercise. Although nonadherence with exercise guidelines may result for a variety of reasons, adverse health conditions including chronic pain are likely of particular concern for older adults. The aim of this research, consisting of two studies employing interpretive phenomenology and constructivist grounded theory, was to understand the meaning of exercise in the lives of ten older adults with chronic back pain and the process by which nine physiotherapists provided exercise programs in caring for older adults with chronic back pain. The findings of this research overall gave rise to four key insights, which may inform practice for presenting exercise for older adults with chronic back pain. First, is the centrality of a holistic approach to exercise – as involving mind and body, beliefs and behaviours – for management of older adults’ chronic back pain; both older adults and physiotherapists discussed the importance of incorporating older adults’ preferences and values into specific modes of exercise. Second, is the importance of maintaining a focus on function through exercise; with the acceptance of pain as ever-present for older adults living with chronic back pain, both the older adults and physiotherapists in these studies turned their focus toward maximizing functional capacity for maintaining independence, continuing engagement in meaningful activities, and improving quality of life. Third, is the importance of allowing time for older adults to integrate exercise into their lives; the transition to lifelong management of chronic back pain using exercise as a resource requires a lived experience and noticed benefit for older adults to their mind and body as a result of exercising. Finally, experiential learning to understand the meaning of exercise for older adults with chronic back pain may be instructive for physiotherapists and healthcare providers in the assessment and treatment of chronic back pain. Understanding lived experiences of older adults who continue to exercise with daily pain carries important implications for clinical practice. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to reflexively consider their role in the therapeutic alliance with patients to more tactfully shape the presentation of exercise, supporting older adults to participate in exercise for maintained or improved overall health