Predictors of care-giver stress in families of preschool-aged children with developmental disabilities

Background This study examined the predictors, mediators and moderators of parent stress in families of preschool-aged children with developmental disability. Method One hundred and five mothers of preschool-aged children with developmental disability completed assessment measures addressing the key variables. Results Analyses demonstrated that the difficulty parents experienced in completing specific caregiving tasks, behaviour problems during these caregiving tasks, and level of child disability, respectively, were significant predictors of level of parent stress. In addition, parents’ cognitive appraisal of care-giving responsibilities had a mediating effect on the relationship between the child’s level of disability and parent stress. Mothers’ level of social support had a moderating effect on the relationship between key independent variables and level of parent stress. Conclusions Difficulty of care-giving tasks, difficult child behaviour during care-giving tasks, and level of child disability are the primary factors which contribute to parent stress. Implications of these findings for future research and clinical practice are outlined

Prediction of Pinus sylvestris clear-wood properties using NIR spectroscopy and biortogonal partial least squares regression

Thirteen wood parameters were predicted using near infrared (NIR) spectra in the range 780-2380 nm modelled by biorthogonal partial least squares regression. The analysis of parameters and NIR measurements was done on clear-wood samples from the base and midstem of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) from trees at two sites. Calibrations based oil the measured parameters at seven growth rings (cambial age ranging between 6 and 42 years) could be divided into three groups: (i) the best accuracy was found for longitudinal modulus of elasticity (r &gt; 0.9) followed by bending, compression, and cell length (0.8 &lt; r &lt; 0.9); (ii) microfibril angle, longitudinal hardness, proportion of latewood, and creep with correlations in the range of 0.7-0.8; and (iii) tangential hardness, cell diameter, and cell wall thickness with 0.4 &lt; r &lt; 0.7. It was also shown that juvenile (cambial age : 20 years) and mature wood can be classified using NIR techniques.</p

A comparison of muscle stiffness and musculoarticular stiffness of the knee joint in young athletic males and females

This article was accepted for publication in the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology [© Elsevier] and the definitive version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2015.03.003The objective of this study was to investigate the gender-specific differences in peak torque (PT), muscle stiffness (MS) and musculoarticular stiffness (MAS) of the knee joints in a young active population. Twenty-two male and twenty-two female recreational athletes participated. PT of the knee joint extensor musculature was assessed on an isokinetic dynamometer, MS of the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle was measured in both relaxed and contracted conditions, and knee joint MAS was quantified using the free oscillation technique. Significant gender differences were observed for all dependent variables. Females demonstrated less normalized PT (mean difference (MD) = 0.4 N m/kg, p = 0.005, g2 = 0.17), relaxed MS (MD = 94.2 N/m, p < .001, g2 = 0.53), contracted MS (MD = 162.7 N/m, p < .001, g2 = 0.53) and MAS (MD = 422.1 N/m, p < .001, g2 = 0.23) than males. MAS increased linearly with the external load in both genders with males demonstrating a significantly higher slope (p = 0.019) than females. The observed differences outlined above may contribute to the higher knee joint injury incidence and prevalence in females when compared to males

Dengue

Lecture 49 ISBN e-book : 9781615045754International audienc