Motor and functional skills of children with developmental coordination disorder: A pilot investigation of measurement issues

This paper reports on the motor and functional outcomes of 20 children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) aged 4-8 years consecutively referred to a pediatric physiotherapy service. Children with a Movement ABC (M-ABC) score less than the 15th percentile, and with no concurrent medical, sensory, physical, intellectual or neurological impairments, were recruited. The Motor Assessment Outcomes Model (MAOM) [Coster and Haley, Infants and Young Children 4 (1992) 11] provided the theoretical base for measurement selection, and preliminary findings at the activities and participation levels of the model are reported in this article. Children with DCD performed at the lower end of the normal range on the Pea-body Developmental Motor Scales (fine motor total score) (M = 85.65, SD = 12.23). Performance on the Visual Motor Integration Test (VMI) standard scores was within the average range (M = 96.15, SD = 10.69). Videotaped observations of the children's writing and cutting indicated that 29% were left-handed and that a large proportion of all children (31%) utilized unusual pencil grasp patterns and immature prehension of scissors. Measurement at the participation level involved use of the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance (PCSA) and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Overall, these young children rated themselves towards the more competent and accepted end of the PCSA over the dimensions of physical and cognitive competence and peer and maternal acceptance. The PEDI revealed generally average performance on social (M = 49.98, SD = 16.62) and mobility function (M = 54.71, SD = 3.99), however, self-care function was below the average range for age (M = 38.01, SD = 12.19). The utility of the MAOM as a framework for comprehensive measurement of functional and motor outcomes of DCD in young children is discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Writing the body of the mother: Narrative moments in Tsushima Yuko, Ariyoshi Sawako and Enchi Fumiko

This discussion argues the transformative potential inherent in the corporeal experience of motherhood as represented in selected textual moments of Japanese narrative. Narratives that address the experiences of the body of the mother are informed and given substance by an intense physicality, and thus have the potential to contest processes of social inscription in addition to suggesting alternative possibilities for all readers, not just those occupying an embodied maternal space. The discussion features brief events from the work of three writers who have written as mothers: Tsushima Y(u)macrko, Ariyoshi Sawako and Enchi Fumiko. In Yama o hashiru onna (1980; translated as Woman Running in the Mountains, 1991), Tsushima Y(u)macrko invites the reader to consider the embodied response to light of Takiko, a young pregnant woman. Emiko, the protagonist of Hishoku (Without Colour, 1967) by Ariyoshi Sawako, is the Japanese wife of an African American and has just given birth to a child. The daughter protagonist in Enchi Fumiko's 'Kami' ('Hair', 1957) operates a hairdressing business that is viable only with her mother's unpaid labour. The narratives are read through a matrix of post-structuralist theories of embodiment, drawing on the work of writers such as Julia Kristeva, Luce Irigaray and Elizabeth Grosz.

Flavivirus isolations from mosquitoes collected from western Cape York Peninsula, Australia, 1999-2000

After the 1st appearance of Japanese encephalitis virus (JE) on mainland Australia in 1998, a study was undertaken to investigate whether JE had become established in enzootic transmission cycles on western Cape York Peninsula. Adult mosquitoes were collected during the late wet season from Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw in April 1999, and Pormpuraaw and Barr's Yard in April 2000. Despite processing 269,270 mosquitoes for virus isolation, no isolates of JE were obtained. However, other flaviviruses comprising Murray Valley encephalitis virus, Kunjin virus, Alfuy virus, and Kokobera virus (KOK) were isolated. Isolates of the alphaviruses Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus (BF), and Sindbis virus (SIN) also were obtained. The majority (88%) of isolates were from members of the Culex sitiens subgroup. Single isolates of KOK, BF and SIN were obtained from Ochlerotatus vigilax, Oc. normanensis, and Anopheles bancroftii, respectively. The isolations of flaviviruses during the late wet season indicate that conditions were suitable for flavivirus activity in the area. No evidence was found to suggest that JE has become established in enzootic transmission cycles on western Cape York, although study sites and field trips were limited.

The regulation of complementary health: sacrificing integrity?

In response to the increasing use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), governments are exploring ways to ensure patients' safety and respond to complaints. One solution is to establish registration boards and procedures based on the model of existing health practitioner Acts. Registration will require defined minimum standards for competence, which will have to be based on scientific evidence. As scientific evidence accumulates, these modalities are likely to lose their identities as alternative and become assimilated into Western medicine.

Plasma zinc and immune markers in runners in response to a moderate increase in training volume

Changes in plasma zinc concentration and markers of immune function were examined in a group of 10 male runners (n = 10) following a moderate increase in training over four weeks. Seven sedentary males acted as controls. Fasting blood samples were taken at rest, before (T0) and after T4) four weeks of increased (+ 16 %) training and after two weeks of reduced (- 31 %) training (W. Blood was analysed for plasma zinc concentration, differential leucocyte counts, lymphocyte subpopulations and lymphocyte proliferation using incorporation of H-3-thymidine. The runners increased their training volume by 16 % over the four weeks. When compared with the nonathletes, the runners had lower concentrations of plasma zinc (p = 0.012), CD3(+) (p = 0.042) and CD19(+) lymphocytes (p = 0.010) over the four weeks. Lymphocyte proliferation in response to Concanavalin A stimulation was greater in the runners (p = 0.0090). Plasma zinc concentration and immune markers remained constant during the study. Plasma zinc concentration correlated with total leucocyte counts in the athletes at T6 (r = -0.72, p < 0.05) and with Pokeweed mitogen stimulation in the nonathletes at T6 (r = -0.92, p < 0.05). Therefore, athletes are unlikely to benefit from zinc supplementation during periods of moderately increased training volume.

Sistema georreferenciado de monitoramento e apoio ?? decis??o da Presid??ncia da Rep??blica (Geo/PR)

Trata-se de um sistema desenvolvido para integrar informa????es em base georreferenciada e textual de diversos ??rg??os p??blicos, a fim de possibilitar an??lises gerenciais, a atua????o estrat??gica e a decis??o ministerial sobre a concess??o de ato de assentimento pr??vio, de acordo com a Lei no 6.634/79. Ao possibilitar o cruzamento de informa????es de diversos bancos de dados, em raz??o da especialidade do Gabinete de Seguran??a Institucional da Presid??ncia da Rep??blica (GSI/PR), o sistema oportuniza o diagn??stico de incongru??ncias e conflitos de atividades entre ??rg??os da Administra????o P??blica Federal indireta e o indicativo da situa????o fundi??ria do Pa??s, tanto no aspecto territorial quanto no da riqueza mineral e respectivos interessados em sua explora????o. O sistema permite que os bancos ???conversem entre si???, o que o torna um marco na hist??ria da gest??o p??blica federal, por possibilitar o conhecimento do nosso territ??rio em tempo real, com informa????es confi??veis, precisas e amig??veis geradas em banco de dados textuais associados a uma base cartogr??fica digital composta por mapas digitalizados, fotografias a??reas e imagens de sat??lites

Planejamento em sa??de: m??dulo I

Texto elaborado para apoiar as atividades did??ticas do M??dulo I do curso de qualifica????o de cerca de quarenta t??cnicos do Minist??rio da Sa??de (MS) na utiliza????o do enfoque participativo do Planejamento Estrat??gico-Situacional (PES), de Carlos Matus, realizado presencialmente na Escola Nacional de Administra????o P??blica (ENAP), em Bras??lia

Planejamento em sa??de: m??dulo I I

Texto elaborado para apoiar as atividades did??ticas do M??dulo II do curso de qualifica????o de cerca de quarenta t??cnicos do Minist??rio da Sa??de (MS) na utiliza????o do enfoque participativo do Planejamento Estrat??gico-Situacional (PES), de Carlos Matus, realizado presencialmente na Escola Nacional de Administra????o P??blica (ENAP), em Bras??lia

Gest??o e fiscaliza????o de contratos administrativos

Dotar o aluno de referencial te??rico e pr??tica simulada que permita o controle, acompanhamento e fiscaliza????o do fiel cumprimento das obriga????es assumidas pelas partes do contrato administrativo, ao mesmo tempo em que opera as mudan??as permitidas ou determinadas pela lei para a manuten????o das condi????es iniciais do contrato e para a realiza????o eficaz do objeto

Elabora????o de indicadores de desempenho institucional

O Material do Aluno ?? o instrumento did??tico complementar ??s aulas presenciais do curso que, juntamente ??s orienta????es do professor e ??s pr??ticas realizadas na sala de aula, possibilita o aprendizado dos temas apresentados. Este documento apresenta seguinte estrutura: Cap??tulo 1 ??? Introdu????o: apresenta o contexto do curso de Elabora????o de Indicadores de Desempenho Institucional. Cap??tulo 2 ??? Conceitos Gerais: apresenta os conceitos que envolvem a melhor forma de defini????o e sele????o de indicadores. Cap??tulo 3 ??? S??o apresentados os principais atributos dos indicadores. Cap??tulo 4 ??? Classifica????o de indicadores de desempenho Institucional. Cap??tulo 5 ??? Estabelecimento de indicadores que ir??o compor um sistema de medi????o do desempenho institucional. Cap??tulo 6 ??? Apresenta????o dos elementos complementares: descri????o de indicadores, interpreta????o de seus resultados, estabelecimento de metas, a informatiza????o, a comunica????o de seus resultados e o desdobramento do sistema de medi????o do foco estrat??gico para o gerencial e o operacional. Cap??tulo 7 ??? Bibliografia. Este material tamb??m tem por finalidade servir de instrumento de consulta r??pida para esclarecer eventuais d??vidas do aluno na aplica????o dos conhecimentos adquiridos no exerc??cio de seu trabalho

Curso de monitoramento tem??tico do PPA 2012-2015 e acompanhamento or??ament??rio 2013

O curso teve como ementa: apresentar conceitos b??sicos de Monitoramento e Avalia????o; a evolu????o hist??rica da metodologia de monitoramento e avalia????o dos PPAs: 2000-2003; 2004-2007; e 2008-2011; o Monitoramento das Agendas Estrat??gicas de Governo; o monitoramento e avalia????o do PPA 2012-2015: metodologia, concep????o de monitoramento e avalia????o, e suporte informatizado (SIOP); o monitoramento das prioridades da Presid??ncia, dos programas tem??ticos, incluindo os indicadores, os objetivos e as metas do plano; a proposta de monitoramento participativo do PPA 2012-2015, por meio da rela????o do governo com o F??rum Interconselhos de pol??ticas p??blicas; e o acompanhamento das a????es e os fundamentos dos planos or??ament??rios (PO) do Or??amento de 2013

Mesa-redonda de pesquisa-a????o escolas de governo e gest??o por compet??ncias: mem??ria de reuni??o: 1?? reuni??o

A Escola Nacional de Administra????o P??blica, ENAP, em parceria com a Canada School of Public Service, CSPS, vem implementando novas metodologias de abordagem de temas importantes para a melhoria da administra????o p??blica. Em 09 de novembro de 2004 foi instalada a primeira Mesa-redonda de Pesquisa-A????o, ferramenta de pesquisa que tem por objetivo reunir profissionais e especialistas para encontrar solu????es para os desafios enfrentados no servi??o p??blico. O resultado dos debates ?? a publica????o de um material que possa ser ??til a servidores e dirigentes no desempenho de tarefas ou na implementa????o de novas ferramentas de trabalho. A ENAP, cumprindo seu papel de auxiliar na difus??o de conhecimentos no setor p??blico federal, pretende realizar novas mesas periodicamente.

Mesa-redonda de pesquisa-a????o escolas de governo e gest??o por compet??ncias: mem??ria de reuni??o: 2?? reuni??o

A Escola Nacional de Administra????o P??blica, ENAP, em parceria com a Canada School of Public Service, CSPS, vem implementando novas metodologias de abordagem de temas importantes para a melhoria da administra????o p??blica. Em 09 de novembro de 2004 foi instalada a primeira Mesa-redonda de Pesquisa-A????o, ferramenta de pesquisa que tem por objetivo reunir profissionais e especialistas para encontrar solu????es para os desafios enfrentados no servi??o p??blico. O resultado dos debates ?? a publica????o de um material que possa ser ??til a servidores e dirigentes no desempenho de tarefas ou na implementa????o de novas ferramentas de trabalho. A ENAP, cumprindo seu papel de auxiliar na difus??o de conhecimentos no setor p??blico federal, pretende realizar novas mesas periodicamente.

Mesa-redonda de pesquisa-a????o escolas de governo e gest??o por compet??ncias: mem??ria de reuni??o: 3?? reuni??o

A Escola Nacional de Administra????o P??blica, ENAP, em parceria com a Canada School of Public Service, CSPS, vem implementando novas metodologias de abordagem de temas importantes para a melhoria da administra????o p??blica. Em 09 de novembro de 2004 foi instalada a primeira Mesa-redonda de Pesquisa-A????o, ferramenta de pesquisa que tem por objetivo reunir profissionais e especialistas para encontrar solu????es para os desafios enfrentados no servi??o p??blico. O resultado dos debates ?? a publica????o de um material que possa ser ??til a servidores e dirigentes no desempenho de tarefas ou na implementa????o de novas ferramentas de trabalho. A ENAP, cumprindo seu papel de auxiliar na difus??o de conhecimentos no setor p??blico federal, pretende realizar novas mesas periodicamente.