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For Vietnamese scholars in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries reading and writing ability in both Chinese and Nôm (an ideographic writing system used to write Vietnamese) was considered an essential tool of scholarship and literary expression.

Actigraphy has attracted much attention for assessing physical activity in the past decade. Many algorithms have been developed to automate the analysis process, but none has targeted a general model to discover related features for detecting or predicting mobility function, or more specifically, mobility impairment and major mobility disability (MMD). Men (N = 357) and women (N = 778) aged 70-89 years wore a tri-axial accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X) on the right hip during free-living conditions for 8.4 +/- 3.0 d. One-second epoch data were summarized into 67 features. Several machine learning techniques were used to select features from the free-living condition to predict mobility impairment, defined as 400 m walking speed ¡0.80 m s(-1). Selected features were also included in a model to predict the first occurrence of MMD-defined as the loss in the ability to walk 400 m. Each method yielded a similar estimate of 400 m walking speed with a root mean square error of similar to 0.07 m s(-1) and an R-squared values ranging from 0.37-0.41. Sensitivity and specificity of identifying slow walkers was approximately 70% and 80% for all methods, respectively. The top five features, which were related to movement pace and amount (activity counts and steps), length in activity engagement (bout length), accumulation patterns of activity, and movement variability significantly improved the prediction of MMD beyond that found with common covariates (age, diseases, anthropometry, etc). This study identified a subset of actigraphy features collected in free-living conditions that are moderately accurate in identifying persons with clinically-assessed mobility impaired and significantly improve the prediction of MMD. These findings suggest that the combination of features as opposed to a specific feature is important to consider when choosing features and/or combinations of features for prediction of mobility phenotypes in older adults.

Sometimes through a single person's efforts, a new and innovative game is developed and promoted locally. Occasionally, circumstances cause these games to remain on a local level without being adopted by mainstream physical educators and physical activity professionals. Unfortunately, some educators tend to stick to what they know and teach traditional games and sports. This practice has left little room for unique and innovative games such as tchoukball and hocker to contribute to physical education curriculum. This article describes the history of how each of these games was developed and promoted. Rules, equipment and game-play strategies are provided. ©, Copyright Taylor & Francis.

A modern assessment of Freud's conceptualization of the creative process focusing on drives, ego psychology, and object relation theory is presented. 40 artists and musicians were interviewed employing 13 open-ended questions to provoke responses historically associated with the theoretical conceptualizations of Freud and post-Freudian theory related to the creative process. Creative process was defined as internal object relations that motivate the external connection between artist and the creative work. Measured responses concerning purpose and understanding; motivation before, during, and after performance; obstacles in performance; and needs through the creative process were assessed. Cluster analysis segregated the participants into high, medium, and low agreement groups based on similarity of responses. A multivariate stepwise regression revealed four questions (enlightenment, drives, obstacles, and ought self discrepancies) accounted for 83.9% of the variance. A post hoc discriminant function analysis identified 82.5% of the population to their correct groups. The findings support Spitz's (2005) suggestion that we regard “drives, ego psychology, and object relation theory not as separate approaches but as parts of a whole with varying stresses or accents” (p. 503).

The Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study is a Phase III randomized controlled clinical trial (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01072500) that will provide definitive evidence regarding the effect of physical activity (PA) on major mobility disability in older adults (70-89 years old) who have compromised physical function. This paper describes the methods employed in the delivery of the LIFE Study PA intervention, providing insight into how we promoted adherence and monitored the fidelity of treatment. Data are presented on participants' motives and self-perceptions at the onset of the trial along with accelerometry data on patterns of PA during exercise training. Prior to the onset of training, 31.4% of participants noted slight conflict with being able to meet the demands of the program and 6.4% indicated that the degree of conflict would be moderate. Accelerometry data collected during PA training revealed that the average intensity - 1,555 counts/minute for men and 1,237 counts/minute for women - was well below the cutoff point used to classify exercise as being of moderate intensity or higher for adults. Also, a sizable subgroup required one or more rest stops. These data illustrate that it is not feasible to have a single exercise prescription for older adults with compromised function. Moreover, the concept of what constitutes “moderate” exercise or an appropriate volume of work is dictated by the physical capacities of each individual and the level of comfort/stability in actually executing a specific prescription.

A methodological discrepancy exists in the hydration assessment literature regarding the establishment of euhydration, as some investigations utilize a prehydration technique, while others do not (overnight fluid/food fast). However, the degree that plasma osmolality (Posm) dilutes when using the pre-hydration method and how body mass/composition might influence the results is not known. Thirty subjects (22 M, 8 F; 20 ± 2 years (mean ± SD); 1.8 ± 0.1 m; 75.8 ± 13.5 kg) had P osm measured after an 8-h food and fluid fast (overnight fast) and 90 min after a 500-mL (4-9 mL/kg) water bolus (prehydration). From pre- to post-bolus, participants' P osm declined from 297 ± 3.5 to 295 ± 3.8 mmol/kg (p<0.05; Δ -1.7 ± 3.5 mmol/kg). One-third of the sample diluted to more than -3 mmol/kg. The effect of body mass on P osm dilution was investigated by comparing dilution in the ten lightest (62.8 ± 3.4 kg) and heaviest (92.0 ± 9.8 kg) participants; however, the change between the light (Δ -1.9 ± 3.8 mmol/kg) versus heavy groups (Δ -1.1 ± 3.0 mmol/kg) was not different (p>0.05). The correlation between body mass or total body water and change in P osm was weak (p>0.05), as was the correlation between relative fluid intake based on mass and change in P osm (p>0.05). The two methodologies appear to produce similar P osm values when measured in most individuals. However, the potential for significant dilution (>3 mmol/kg) should be considered when choosing the pre-hydration methodology. © Springer-Verlag (outside the USA) 2011.

Purpose To evaluate baroreflex sensitivity and autonomic control in a cohort of normotensive obese (OB) children. Method A cross-sectional investigation, in which, baroreflex sensitivity and autonomic control were evaluated using transfer function and power spectral density analysis (PSDA) of the electrocardiogram and beat-to-beat blood pressures in normotensive OB children and normal weight normotensive controls. All methods used were noninvasive and data were captured while seated and at rest. Results The OB and control subjects non-obese (NO) were of similar age (OB 9.1 ± 1.9 years vs.NO9.2 ± 1.4 years). The OB group was classified as having a BMI greater than the 95th percentile adjusted for age and gender, and a NO group with a BMI at or less than the 95th percentile (BMI percentile OB. 97.5 ± 1.3 vs. NO 58.5 ± 24.1). Both groups had similar normotensive blood pressures. T tests revealed that baroreflex sensitivity and HFRR were significantly reduced in the OB 9.2 ± 2.7 vs. 15.2 ± 4.7 (ms/mmHg) and 6.7 ± 1.1 vs. 8.2 ± 1.1 ms 2, respectively, while LF SBP and LF/HF ratio were significantly increased in the OB 11.9 ± 5.6 vs. 8.2 ± 4.7 mmHg 2 and 1.2 ± 0.7 vs. 0.54 ± 0.3, respectively. Conclusions Normotensive OB children exhibited significantly reduced baroreflex sensitivity, parasympathetic control as well as increased sympathetic control when compared with healthy, NO controls. Findings in this investigation raise the awareness that autonomic dysfunction is present in young OB normotensive children. © Springer-Verlag 2011.

Using eye-tracking methodology, gaze to a speaking face was compared in a group of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and a group with typical development (TD). Patterns of gaze were observed under three conditions: audiovisual (AV) speech in auditory noise, visual only speech and an AV non-face, non-speech control. Children with ASD looked less to the face of the speaker and fixated less on the speakers' mouth than TD controls. No differences in gaze were reported for the non-face, non-speech control task. Since the mouth holds much of the articulatory information available on the face, these findings suggest that children with ASD may have reduced access to critical linguistic information. This reduced access to visible articulatory information could be a contributor to the communication and language problems exhibited by children with ASD.