Temporal and Spatial Occlusion of Advanced Visual Information Constrains Movement (Re) organization in One-Handed Catching Behaviors

Dynamic interceptive actions are performed under severe spatial and temporal constraints. Here, behavioral processes underpinning anticipation in one-handed catching were examined using novel technology to implement a spatial and temporal occlusion design. Video footage of an actor throwing a ball was manipulated to create four temporal and five spatial occlusion conditions. Data from twelve participants’ hand kinematics and gaze behaviors were recorded while attempting to catch a projected ball synchronized with the video footage. Catching performance decreased with earlier occlusion of the footage. Movement onset of the catching hand and initiation of visual ball tracking emerged earlier when footage of the thrower was occluded at a later time point in the throwing action. Spatial occlusion did not affect catching success, although movement onset emerged later when increased visual information of the actor was occluded. Later movement onset was countered by greater maximum velocity of the catching hand. Final stages of action (e.g., grasping action of the hand) remained unchanged across both spatial and temporal conditions suggesting that later phases of the action were organized using ball flight information. Findings highlighted the importance of maintaining information-movement coupling during performance of interceptive actions, since movement behaviors were continuously (re)organized using kinematic information from a thrower's actions and ball flight information. Keywords: Perception-action coupling; Informational constraints; Interceptive timing; Gaze; Adaptive behaviors; Anticipation

Integrating advanced visual information with ball projection technology constrains dynamic interceptive actions

The role of advanced visual information in ball catching was investigated by integrating video images of action and ball projection technology in four different conditions: Integrated video and ball projection (VBP), Video-Only (VO), Ball Projection-Only (BPO) and Misleading Ball projection (MBP). Hand kinematics and gaze behaviour data were collected from participants who attempted to catch balls one handed in all conditions. During VBP, catching performance was more successful, tracking of the ball occurred earlier and lasted longer, with maximum grip aperture emerging earlier with a slower maximum velocity than in BPO. During VO, movement emerged later than VBP, with larger maximum and minimum grip aperture compared to VBP and BPO. Results provided evidence that advance information, prior to ball release, and vision of a ball’s trajectory are essential for successful performance and integrated projection technology may provide a representative design for studying interceptive actions

Exploring cultural competencies of certified therapeutic recreation specialists: Implications for education and training

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the influence of demographic and educational variables on self-reported multicultural competencies of Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists(TM) (CTRSs(R)). A sample of 277 therapeutic recreation specialists currently certified with the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification participated in this investigation. Multicultural course work, seminars and workshops, and perception of level of cultural competence among CTRSs(R) were found to be statistically significant with self-reported multicultural competencies, such as multicultural awareness, knowledge and skills. These findings are discussed in terms of pre-service education and continued professional in-service training for CTRSs(R)

Being a Sports Agent: Examining the Profession of Athlete Representation

Anything that remains relevant in society over time faces changes with progression in culture and technology, including goods, services, laws, and especially professions, that may seem strange to imagine life without. The tricky thing about professions is that if they don’t respond well to adaptations, they are usually eliminated if a substitution can be created to yield similar results. This is not any different for athlete representation, which is a profession that has seen many changes but still is a necessary field to prevent professional athletes from being taken advantage of by organizations and vice versa. This is an examination of how modern advancements, controversy, and motivation have collectively shaped the perspective of the field from the opinions of those currently involved in the profession. A survey was sent to several agencies to gather data about the general response to issues such as the impact of social media, aggressive agents, certification regulations, and the future of the profession, among other things. While analyzing the data collected from the survey, this thesis will provide brief background information on the main pillars that sustain this profession. The information offered will provide insight for people who may have a serious interest in this occupation to the casual inquirer who would just like to discover facts about this line of work

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EFFECTIVE AND INEFFECTIVE CHARTER SCHOOLS IN NORTH CAROLINA?

This purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the North Carolina charter schools. The variables were chosen based on the researcher‘s inference from literature reviews discussing common factors from qualitative charter school studies. The indicators were used to determine if charter schools could be categorized as effective or ineffective were: (1) attendance rates, (2) short suspensions, (3) student teacher ratio, (4) teacher quality, (5) Reading NCE, and (6) Math NCE scores. Charter schools were determined to be effective, if they were ?1? standard deviation point above average for Reading NCE and Math NCE scores. Charter schools were determined to be ineffective, if they were ?1? standard deviation point below average for Reading NCE and Math NCE scores. The data collected for this study was ex-post facto data from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction‘s (NCDPI) website using the academic school year 2008-09. The data was coded and entered into SPSS creating a quantitative output to be analyzed and interpreted. The quantitative output determined that there were a total of 12 ineffective charter schools and 10 effective charter schools The results indicated that no charter schools in North Carolina were affiliated with a traditional school district. Also, the dependent variables, attendance rate and teacher quality were determined to be statistically significant in determining the effectiveness of a charter school in North Carolina. The other variables were determined to be insignificant in determining the effectiveness of charter schools in North Carolina

Knowledge, attitude, and demographic characteristics of selected local education agencies and their relationship to procedural compliance with exceptional children

This dissertation was designed to investigate the relationship of selected local educational agency variables to compliance with federal and state legislative procedural requirements for exceptional children programs. The variables investigated included principals' and special education administrators' level of knowledge of legislative procedural requirements and their attitude toward these requirements; principals' and special education administrators' experience, training, and degree or degrees earned; total student enrollment of school system; and type of administrative school unit (city or county). Data for this study were collected through the administration of an opinionnaire developed to measure knowledge of legislative procedural requirements and attitude toward these requirements. The opinionnaire was also designed to collect demographic characteristics of the two respondent groups, randomly selected principals and special education administrators, in the North Central Educational Region of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Respondents in the two groups indicated whether the items on the opinionnaire were or were not required and if they should or should not be required. The 34 items and demographic characteristics included in the opinionnaire were selected after a thorough review of pertinent literature and state monitoring documents, and after consultation with a variety of specialists in exceptional children education and research

The influence of north, east, south, and west exposures on plant community composition around the base of the knob on Pilot Mountain

A chart quadrat study of the plant communities on the north-, east-, south-, and west-facing slopes at the base of The Knob on Pilot Mountain was conducted with particular emphasis on altitude, slope angle, soil depth, actual water and mineral content in addition to the phytosociological aspects of the problem. Slope angles were found to be similar on all but the west side which had less main slope, but the fact that the west side is a ridge that slopes noticeably to the north and south may compensate for its lesser main slope in regard to the effect of slope on vegetation. The north had the greatest mean soil depth, organic matter content, and water contents and the south, the least. The altitude was approximately the same for each study area. A series of photographs helps to substantiate the statistical results that each of the four communities, while closely related, has a different species and quantitative makeup

Effects of probability and duration of reinforcement on choice behavior in discrete trial intervals

Pigeons were trained to peck at blue or amber keys presented simultaneously in discrete trials. In the first experiment, there were seven discrete trials with reinforcement scheduled probabilistically every seventh trial in the reinforcement interval. The key light went off either after two seconds with no response or after a response had been made. There were no contingencies on pecking in the first six post-reinforcement trials, while on the seventh and following trials the reinforcement remained available until a response was emitted on the key with the scheduled reinforcer. The first experiment varied probability of reinforcement and held duration of reinforcement equal. In the second experiment, duration of reinforcement was the variable manipulated, with all other reinforcement variables, including probability of reinforcement presentation, held equal

"Talking the Talk" and "Walking the Walk:" Strategies to Enhance Intercultural Communication

The population of the United States is becoming more culturally diverse each day. Of the over 284 million people in our total population, almost 20% are ethnic minorities. It is predicted that if current trends continue, Americans 65 years old and over will make up 20% of the population by the year 2030 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000). Additionally, about 1 in 5 Americans have some type of disability, and 1 in 10 have a severe disability (U.S. Census Brief, 1997). North Carolina paints a similar picture. Of the over 8 million people residing in NC, 70% are white (a decrease from 72% in 1990), while African-Americans remained steady at about 22% of the population. Most striking is the fact that the Hispanic/Latino population surged 394%, accounting for 4.75% of our residents compared to 1.2% in 1990. The number of North Carolinians who identified themselves as "only Asian" or "Asian and another race" increased 173%. NC also has the seventh-largest American-Indian population in the nation. Twelve percent of NC residents are 65 years of age or older (an increase of over 21% since 1990), while 75 year olds and older increased 36%, and 85 year olds and older grew even faster to 53% during that same decade. In addition, more than 29% of NC residents are non-institutionalized persons with disabilities, and 8% speak a language other than English (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000)

Maternal socialization of emotion : child, maternal, and relational factors

"Previous research has implicated maternal emotion socialization as an important predictor of children's future social competence and behavior. However, the factors related to emotion socialization strategies have yet to be explored. This study examined the relative contribution of child temperament, maternal parenting stress and psychopathology, and the mother-child relationship as factors related to dimensions of non-supportive and supportive emotion socialization practices of mothers of 4-year-old children. Results indicated that maternal psychopathology, maternal parenting stress, and a positive mother-child relationship were related to non-supportive emotion socialization practices. In addition, a negative mother-child relationship mediated the relationship between child frustration distress and non-supportive emotion socialization. Exploratory analyses examined the possibility that mothers may fall into groups based on their patterns of emotion socialization."--Abstract from author supplied metadata