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This study describes the performance of children 8-11 years of age on the Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB&M) and associations between performance and age, body mass index (BMI), and sex. A convenience sample of 84 was recruited. The CB&M was administered using instructions we developed for children. Mean CB&M total scores (95% confidence intervals) for age groups were 8: 70.1 (64.2, 76.1); 9: 72.8 (68.7, 76.8); 10: 79.2 (76.6, 81.7); and 11: 82.9 (79.2, 86.5). None of the children achieved the maximum score. Scores increased with age, and overweight/obese children had relatively lower scores. There were no significant differences between males and females. A regression analysis found 28.1% of the variation in the CB&M total scores was explained by age (p less than 0.001), BMI (p less than 0.01), and sex (p = 0.25) suggesting that other factors contribute to variation in balance and mobility proficiency. The modified instructions and scoring patterns from this study can assist in using the CB&M in children of ages 8-11 years. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.)

Aim: Evidence-based recommendations regarding which exercise tests to use in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) are lacking. This makes it very difficult for therapists and researchers to choose the appropriate exercise-related outcome measures for this group. This study aimed to identify a core set of exercise tests for children and adolescents with CP. Method: Fifteen experts (10 physical therapists/researchers and five exercise physiologists; three from the Netherlands, two from the USA, one from the UK, five from Canada, and four from Australia) participated in a Delphi survey which took four stages to achieve a consensus. Based on the information that was collected during the survey, a core set of measures was identified for levels I to IV of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Results: For children with CP classified at GMFCS levels I and II, tests were identified for two motor skills (walking and cycling). For the subgroup of children with CP classified at GMFCS level III, the tests that were identified related to walking, cycling, and arm cranking. For children with CP classified at GMFCS level IV, the tests included in the core set were related to cycling and arm cranking. Interpretation: The core set will help physical therapists, exercise physiologists, and other health professionals who work with children and adolescents with CP to decide which test(s) to use in clinical practice or research. This will facilitate comparability of results across studies and clinical programmes.

Telephone survey of 2,592 people found that their sense of personal control was positively affected by nonroutine, autonomous, fulfilling, or nonisolated work. Women's low personal control was attributed to overrepresentation in part-time work and homemaking. Homemakers reported more autonomy than did paid workers; female paid workers performed less isolated work than male paid workers. (SK)

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A novel approach for the patterning and manufacturing of sub-40-nm gate structures is presented. Rather than using resist or an inorganic hardmask as the patterning layer, this gate patterning scheme uses an amorphous carbon (a:C) and cap hardmask to pattern small gates. Healthy and manufacturable gate lengths have been achieved below 35 nm with this scheme, and the potential exists for further extendibility. Index Terms--Amorphous carbon, etching, extendibility, gate patterning, hardmask.

This document discusses the refinement and evaluation of the Gross Motor Family Report (GM-FR), a tool used to assess gross motor function in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. The study involved input from families to ensure the content validity of the measure. The GM-FR demonstrated high internal consistency and test-retest reliability. It also showed strong concurrent validity with other measures of gross motor function. The findings suggest that the GM-FR is a reliable and valid tool for assessing gross motor activity in children with cerebral palsy. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract Background Recent studies have documented an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in persons with systolic blood pressures of 120–139 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressures of 80–89 mmHg, classified as prehypertension in the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. In this paper we estimate the prevalence of prehypertension in Jamaica and evaluate the relationship between prehypertension and other risk factors for CVD. Methods The study used data from participants in the Jamaica Lifestyle Survey conducted from 2000–2001. A sample of 2012 persons, 15–74 years old, completed an interviewer administered questionnaire and had anthropometric and blood pressure measurements performed by trained observers using standardized procedures. Fasting glucose and total cholesterol were measured using a capillary blood sample. Analysis yielded crude, and sex-specific prevalence estimates for prehypertension and other CVD risk factors. Odds ratios for associations of prehypertension with CVD risk factors were obtained using logistic regression. Results The prevalence of prehypertension among Jamaicans was 30% (95% confidence interval [CI] 27%–33%). Prehypertension was more common in males, 35% (CI 31%–39%), than females, 25% (CI 22%–28%). Almost 46% of participants were overweight; 19.7% were obese; 14.6% had hypercholesterolemia; 7.2% had diabetes mellitus and 17.8% smoked cigarettes. With the exception of cigarette smoking and low physical activity, all the CVD risk factors had significantly higher prevalence in the prehypertensive and hypertensive groups (p for trend < 0.001) compared to the normotensive group. Odds of obesity, overweight, high cholesterol and increased waist circumference were significantly higher among younger prehypertensive participants (15–44 years-old) when compared to normotensive young participants, but not among those 45–74 years-old. Among men, being prehypertensive increased the odds of having >/=3 CVD risk factors versus no risk factors almost three-fold (odds ratio [OR] 2.8 [CI 1.1–7.2]) while among women the odds of >/=3 CVD risk factors was increased two-fold (OR 2.0 [CI 1.3–3.8]) Conclusion Prehypertension occurs in 30% of Jamaicans and is associated with increased prevalence of other CVD risk factors. Health-care providers should recognize the increased CVD risk of prehypertension and should seek to identify and treat modifiable risk factors in these persons.

To examine variables related to the school achievement of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students, 35 indigenous students and 58 non-Aboriginals in grade 8 completed a Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and the Intellectual Responsibility Questionnaire. (Author/SBH)

Aim Method Results Interpretation To refine the Gross Motor Family Report (GM‐FR) using parents' input and to evaluate its psychometric properties.In this measurement study, 12 parents of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP), aged 2 to 18 years, classified in all levels of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), were interviewed about their experience completing the GM‐FR (content validity). Parents' feedback was used to refine the measure which was then completed by 146 families to evaluate internal consistency, and discriminative and concurrent validity. Forty‐six parents completed the GM‐FR again, 7 to 30 days later, to evaluate test–retest reliability.GM‐FR scoring, pictures, descriptions, and the total number of items were revised based on parents' feedback. The GM‐FR version 2.0 demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.99), no floor/ceiling effects, and excellent test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.99). GM‐FR scores discriminated between GMFCS levels (p < 0.05) and were strongly negatively correlated with GMFCS level (r = −0.92; p < 0.001). GM‐FR scores correlated positively and strongly with the Gross Motor Function Measure‐66 (r = 0.94; p < 0.001) and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory – Computer Adaptive Test mobility domain (r = 0.93; p < 0.001).Active participation of families in the GM‐FR's development facilitated creation of a family‐friendly instrument. This study provides strong evidence of reliability and validity to support GM‐FR use in clinical practice and research for assessing gross motor performance of children and adolescents with CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participation in physical activity has important beneficial effects on physical and psychological health. Many outcomes associated with physical activity are typically compromised in survivors of childhood cancer. The purpose of this study was to describe self-perceptions of physical activity in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and to explore the relationships of these findings with quality of life measures and clinical descriptors. 62 children and adolescents treated previously for ALL and 71 comparable healthy subjects completed the Children's Self-perceptions of Adequacy in and Predilection for Physical Activity (CSAPPA) scale and the Health Utilities Index (HUI). The ALL subjects had significantly poorer self-perceptions of their adequacy in and predilection for physical activity than the comparison group. Stepwise regression analyses identified high risk for relapse, female gender, and older age, but not body-mass-index, age, age at diagnosis, length of time off therapy, or cranial irradiation as significant predictors of CSAPPA total scores in the ALL group. HUI overall scores and single attribute scores for emotion, cognition and pain had significant positive correlations with various CSAPPA scores. Results suggest that survivors of ALL are less inclined to participate in physical activity and physical activity scores are related to quality of life scores. Long-term follow-up should include education and programming to promote participation in physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]