The Use of Knowledge Preconditions in Language Processing

If an agent does not possess the knowledge needed to perform an action, it may privately plan to obtain the required information on its own, or it may involve another agent in the planning process by engaging it in a dialogue. In this paper, we show how the requirements of knowledge preconditions can be used to account for information-seeking subdialogues in discourse. We first present an axiomatization of knowledge preconditions for the SharedPlan model of collaborative activity (Grosz & Kraus, 1993), and then provide an analysis of information-seeking subdialogues within a general framework for discourse processing. In this framework, SharedPlans and relationships among them are used to model the intentional component of Grosz and Sidner's (1986) theory of discourse structure.Comment: 7 pages, LaTeX, uses ijcai95.sty, postscript figure

Effects of achievement goals on perceptions of success and achievement emotions in minority children

Obesity is a global epidemic even more so for some minority groups. Physical activity is one arm in the fight against obesity. Research has demonstrated that engagement in physical activity is predicted by positive emotions and perceptions; thus, the activity chosen to help burn calories must be enjoyable for sustained engagement. The present experiment examined the effects of manipulated achievement goal climates (mastery, performance approach and performance avoidance) on perception of success and discrete achievement emotions in Hispanic and African-American 4th and 5th grade students. After performing a dribbling task, perception of success, pride, shame, and frustration were assessed. After accounting for the children’s performance expectancies, the mastery participants reported greater perceptions of success (p<.05) as well as less frustration (p<.05) compared to the performance groups. Taken together, the present experiment suggested that the manipulation of the trichotomous goals significantly affects perceptions of success and the discrete achievement of frustration. Some support was found for pride. Future experimental research in a variety of population samples is warranted to clarify and extend achievement goal and discrete achievement emotion relationships with physical activity participation

Winning in Weight-loss: The Interaction of Conscientiousness and Perceived Autonomy

ABSTRACT Background Understanding determinants for weight-loss is a national priority. Obesity is an epidemic with serious health consequences. Most of today’s obesity and overweight problems are being attributed to poor diets and not enough physical activity. These problems show no signs of slowing down with the behaviors of most Americans. The phenomenon of “The Biggest Loser” (different variants of weight-loss programs that consist of group exercise participation and nutrition therapy to elicit weight-loss, and hopefully behavior change) has spawned many variants in commercial health clubs. This prospectus study examined the direct and interactive or moderated effects of known determinants of healthy behaviors. Those determinants were conscientiousness and perceived autonomy support. Thus, the purpose of this prospective study was to examine these two determinants of adhering to a variant of “The Biggest Loser” to gain more scientific knowledge of predictors of those that are successful in such commercial programs. Methods Participants were 64 adults who completed measures of conscientiousness and perceived autonomy support along with a number of other measures being taken such as weight, attendance, and relative autonomy for exercise prior to and during the 12-week Weight-loss program. Participants’ attendance was kept based on showing up to the five scheduled weight and body fat percentage measurements time points during the 12-week program. At final weigh-in, the participants completed the measure of perceived autonomy support from their group exercise leader. Results Overall, conscientiousness appeared to be the most influential variable in the prospective study. It correlated with relative autonomy (r=.26, M=11.36, SD=6.43), perceived leader autonomy support (r=.08, M=5.32, SD=1.58, α=.97), attendance (r=.14, M=3.84, SD=1.31), and change in weight (r=-.09, M=-15.26, SD=29.06).Results from the moderated regression analyses, one set for attendance and the other for change in weight, suggested that conscientiousness was the major determinant in this prospective study though admitted the correlations were small in magnitude. Conclusions As hypothesized, the interaction of autonomy support (high) and conscientiousness (high) yielded the greatest amount of weight loss. Thus, for the sample in this prospective study, best results were found in highly conscientiousness participants that perceived their group exercise leader to provide a great deal of autonomy support. Future, studies should investigate environmental factors to increase both participant conscientiousness (e.g., reminder phone calls) and leader provided autonomy support

The Effectiveness of a Community Based High Intensity Interval Training Program on Markers of Physical Health

Community outreach programs targets at low Social Economic Status (SES) have been established to improve living conditions and educational programs in hopes of improving SES status. Despite community outreach programs targeting low SES, there has been no research looking at the efficacy of a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) exercise intervention program to improve wellbeing. The primary purpose of this study is to examine how 8 weeks of HIIT will affect markers of physical health. The secondary purpose of this study is to determine if HIIT is sufficient enough to benefit low SES or if other interventions are needed to sustain positive results. Participants (n= 18) were recruited through local churches located near low income areas. Criterion for this study included: the age of participants to be between 18- 75, no current musculoskeletal injury, and clearance from a physician to perform physical activity. Pre testing measurements (height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and strength assessments) were taken at Texas Tech Human Performance Lab. Strength assessments consisted of Maximal voluntary isometric contractions of the leg flexors and extensors at 60º of flexion, maximal voluntary isokinetic contraction of the leg flexors and extensors at 60 and 240º/sec. Participants also performed vertical jumps on a force platform. An 8 week HIIT program was then implemented which required the participant to exercise on stationary bikes 2x a week. The program was designed to start out at a low intensity over longer periods then progress to higher intensities over short time periods. Throughout the study, participants wore activity tracker watches that counted the amount of movement performed. This allowed for controlled activity levels outside of HIIT. Only eleven participants completed both pre and posttest measurements as there was a 38% drop out rate. Data analysis revealed that no changes in HR, blood pressure, Max force (N), RPD (W/s), isometric or isokinetic strength. However, participants did show an increase in weight (P=.0096), Vertical Jump Height (P= .0475), and Max Power (P=.0153). Although participants did show improvement in certain areas of strength no markers of health improved and even an increase in weight was observed. Based off of the activity trackers, physical activity levels went down. We determined that the participants weren’t as physically active once joining the study because they figured our intervention was enough. Based on our results we suggested that future studies or community outreach programs incorporate other interventions with HIIT such as a weight loss programs and education in order to maximize health improvement in low income family’s physical health

Discriminant validity of the positive and negative processes in the C–A–P Questionnaire

Globally, youth sport is highly valued and prevalent. Coaches, athletes, and parents are the main players. To date no one measure quantifies these vital interactions. To rectify this surprising omission, the Positive and Negative Processes in the C–A–P Questionnaire (PNPCAP) was developed in the Lithuanian language. This study sought to further the development of the PNPCAP by providing evidence for discriminant validity. To achieve this purpose, 192 females (M age = 13.64, SD = 1.59) and 239 males (M age = 14.02, SD = 1.50) completed the PNPCAP measure along with the Perceptions of Success Questionnaire, Sport Climate Questionnaire, Self-Determination Scale and provided some youth sport participation information. The resultant correlation matrix provided evidence of discriminant validity as the pattern verified the hypothesized relationship in that positive and significant correlations were found with the C–A–P positive process scale and the task orientation, self-determined awareness of self and perceived choice, and perceived autonomy support. Negative and significant correlations were found with the C–A–P negative process scale and the task orientation, self-determined awareness of self and perceived choice, and perceived autonomy support. Researchers are encouraged to translate and use the PNPCAP in youth sport settings to better the youth sport experience for athletes and their parents and coaches.This Project/Research was funded by the European Social Fund (Project No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-02-0083)

Models of Plans to Support Communication: An Initial Report

Agents collaborating to achieve a goal bring to their joint activity different beliefs about ways in which to achieve the goal and the actions necessary for doing so. Thus, a model of collaboration must provide a way of representing and distinguishing among agents’ beliefs and of stating the ways in which the intentions of different agents contribute to achieving their goal. Furthermore, in collaborative activity, collaboration occurs in the planning process itself. Thus, rather than modelling plan recognition, per se, what must be modelled is the augmentation of beliefs about the actions of multiple agents and their intentions. In this paper, we modify and expand the SharedPlan model of collaborative behavior (Grosz and Sidner 1990). We present an algorithm for updating an agent’s beliefs about a partial SharedPlan and describe an initial implementation of this algorithm in the domain of network management.Engineering and Applied Science

Task and ego goal orientations in competitive sport: a quantitative review of the literature from 1989 to 2016

Achievement goal theory (AGT) is a dominant theoretical framework. The purposes of this review were (1) to provide a summary of the task and ego goal orientations literature in competitive sport as measured by the Task and Ego Orientations in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ) or the Perceptions of Success in Sport Questionnaire (POSQ), (2) to test the interdependence of the two goal orientations, and (3) to provide the estimated means for both orientations across a number of historically examined moderator variables. 260 studies met inclusion criteria totaling 80,959 unique participants across 39 countries and 32 sports. Youth samples were nearly 50% of all included studies. The meta-analyzed intercorrelations (rw=.18, z=9.96, p<.000) supported the conceptualized interdependence of the two goal orientations. The estimated mean values were 4.15+.30 (task) and 3.04+.51 (ego). However, differences, POSQ compared to TEOSQ, existed in the estimated means (g=.92 task; g=1.09 ego). Thus, the TEOSQ and POSQ samples for the moderator variables (i.e. sex, sport level, sport type, and collective/individualistic countries) were examined separately. Results both supported and refuted the hypotheses and also differed by measure. Because of TEOSQ and POSQ inconsistencies, an additional analysis was undertaken to examine whether the TEOSQ and POSQ differed to a common correlate motivation climate. This analysis revealed measurement differences in the ego to ego climate relationships. In conclusion, AGT has been extensively researched in competitive sport. The inconsistent pattern of results raises a number of future research questions

A Lower Bound for Immersions of Real Grassmannians

The cohomology of the real Grassmann and flag manifolds is discussed at length, making use of Stiefel-Whitney classes. It is shown that the tangent bundle of the Grassmannian splits into line bundles over the flag manifold. Additionally, it is found that the cohomology of the flag manifold is exactly the polynomial algebra ℤ(subscript 2)[(subscript 1),...,(subscript )], for one-dimensional classes (subscript ), modulo the relation ∏(subscript )(1 + (subscript ))=1. Using facts about this ring to compute the dimension of the Stiefel-Whitney class of the normal bundle to the Grassmannian, we find a lower bound for immersions of certain real Grassmannians. In particular, G(subscript )(ℝ(superscript +)) with ≤2(superscript )≤ and +≤2(superscript 1+) cannot be immersed in dimension less than (2(superscript +1)-1).Bachelor of Scienc

The relationship between self-presentation concerns and pre-game affect among adolescent American football players

AbstractBackgroundThe influence of self-presentation concerns on the adolescent sport experience has received scant empirical attention. The purpose of this investigation was to prospectively examine the relationship among self-presentational concerns and pre-game affective states among middle and high school aged football players.MethodsAmerican football players (n = 112; mean age = 15.57 years) completed a measure of self-presentational concerns (SPSQ, McGowan, et al., 2008) a week prior to the measurement of selected pre-game affective states (i.e., attentiveness, self-assurance, serenity, and fear).ResultsRegression analyses revealed that concerns about appearing athletically untalented negatively contributed to the significant prediction (p < 0.001) of pre-game attentiveness, β = −0.43, R2adj = 19.5% (p < 0.001), and self-assurance, β = −0.38, R2adj = 11.9% (p < 0.01).ConclusionThese findings highlight the importance of reducing self-presentational concerns in promoting positive pre-game mental states that likely impact the quality of athletes' competitive play and experience