Abstract: It is difficult for autistic children to mix with and be around with other people. Language difficulties are a problem that affects their social life. A lack of knowledge and ability in language are factors that greatly influence their behavior, and their ability to communicate and interact. Autistic children need to be assisted to improve their language abilities through the use of suitable learning resources. This study is conducted to identify weather graphic animation resources can help autistic children learn and use transitive verbs more effectively. The study was conducted in a rural secondary school in Penang, Malaysia. The research subject comprised of three autistic students ranging in age from 14 years to 16 years. The 14-year-old student is placed in A Class and two 16-year-old students placed in B Class. The class placement of the subjects is based on the diagnostic test results conducted by the teacher and not based on age. Data collection is done through observation and interviews for the duration of five weeks; with the researcher allocating 30 minutes for every learning activity carried out. The research finding shows that the subjects learn transitive verbs better using graphic animation compared to static pictures. It is hoped that this study will give a new perspective towards the learning processes of autistic children.
Abstract: The under-5 mortality rate is high in sub-Saharan Africa with Lesotho being amongst the highest under-5 mortality rates in the world. The objective of the study is to determine the factors associated with under-5 mortality in Lesotho. The data used for this analysis come from the nationally representative household survey called the 2009 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey. Odds ratios produced by the logistic regression models were used to measure the effect of each independent variable on the dependent variable. Female children were significantly 38% less likely to die than male children. Children who were breastfed for 13 to 18 months and those who were breastfed for more than 19 months were significantly less likely to die than those who were breastfed for 12 months or less. Furthermore, children of mothers who stayed in Quthing, Qacha’s Nek and Thaba Tseka ran the greatest risk of dying. The results suggested that: sex of child, type of birth, breastfeeding duration, district, source of energy and marital status were significant predictors of under-5 mortality, after correcting for all variables.
Abstract: This paper describes how indigenous students face challenges with various school activities due to inadequate equity and diversity principles in mainstream primary schools in Bangladesh. This study focuses on indigenous students’ interactions with mainstream class teachers and students through teaching-learning activities at public primary schools. Ethnographic research methods guided data collection under a case study methodology in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) region where maximum indigenous peoples’ inhabitants. The participants (class teachers) shared information through in-depth interviews about their experiences in the four selecting schools. The authors also observed the effects of school activities by use of equity and diversity lens for indigenous students’ situations in those schools. The authors argue that the socio-economic situations of indigenous families are not supportive of the educational development of their children. Similarly, the Bangladesh government does not have enough initiative programs based on equity and diversity principles for fundamental education of indigenous children at rural schools level. Besides this, the conventional teaching system cannot improve the diversification among the students in classrooms. The principles of equity and diversity are not well embedded in professional development of teachers, and using teaching materials in classrooms. The findings suggest that implementing equitable education; there are needed to arrange teachers’ education with equitable knowledge and introducing diversified teaching materials, and implementing teaching through students centered activities that promote the diversification among the multicultural students.
Abstract: Even the behavior problems in pre-school children might be considered as a transitional problem which may disappear by their transition into elementary school; it is an issue that needs a lot of attention because of the fact that the behavioral patterns are adopted in the children especially in this age. Common issue in the process of elimination of the behavior problems in the group of pre-school children is a difference in the perception of the importance and gravity of the symptoms. The underestimation of the children's problems by parents often result into conflicts with kindergarten teachers. Thus, the child does not get the support that his/her problems require and this might result into a school failure and can negatively influence his/her future school performance and success. The research sample consisted of 4 children with behavior problems, their teachers and parents. To determine the most problematic area in the child's behavior, Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) filled by parents and Caregiver/Teacher Form (CTF-R) filled by teachers were used. Scores from the CBCL and the CTR-F were compared with Pearson correlation coefficient in order to find the differences in the perception of behavior problems in pre-school children.
Abstract: Recently, Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems were used to assist children in language acquisition as it has the ability to detect human speech signal. Despite the benefits offered by the ASR system, there is a lack of ASR systems for Malay-speaking children. One of the contributing factors for this is the lack of continuous speech database for the target users. Though cross-lingual adaptation is a common solution for developing ASR systems for under-resourced language, it is not viable for children as there are very limited speech databases as a source model. In this research, we propose a two-stage adaptation for the development of ASR system for Malay-speaking children using a very limited database. The two stage adaptation comprises the cross-lingual adaptation (first stage) and cross-age adaptation. For the first stage, a well-known speech database that is phonetically rich and balanced, is adapted to the medium-sized Malay adults using supervised MLLR. The second stage adaptation uses the speech acoustic model generated from the first adaptation, and the target database is a small-sized database of the target users. We have measured the performance of the proposed technique using word error rate, and then compare them with the conventional benchmark adaptation. The two stage adaptation proposed in this research has better recognition accuracy as compared to the benchmark adaptation in recognizing children’s speech.
Abstract: The paper presents the results of the molecular
genetics analysis in sports research, with special emphasis to use
genetic information in diagnosing of motoric predispositions in Roma
boys from East Slovakia. The ability and move are the basic
characteristics of all living organisms. The phenotypes are influenced
by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Genetic tests
differ in principle from the traditional motoric tests, because
the DNA of an individual does not change during life. The aim of
the presented study was to examine motion abilities and to determine
the frequency of ACTN3 (R577X) gene in Roma children. Genotype
data were obtained from 138 Roma and 155 Slovak boys from 7 to 15
years old. Children were investigated on physical performance level
in association with their genotype. Biological material for genetic
analyses comprised samples of buccal swabs. Genotypes were
determined using Real Time High resolution melting PCR method
(Rotor-Gene 6000 Corbett and Light Cycler 480 Roche). The
software allows creating reports of any analysis, where information
of the specific analysis, normalized and differential graphs and many
information of the samples are shown. Roma children of analyzed
group legged to non-Romany children at the same age in all the
compared tests. The % distribution of R and X alleles in Roma
children was different from controls. The frequency of XX genotype
was 9.26%, RX 46.33% and RR was 44.41%. The frequency of XX
genotype was 9.26% which is comparable to a frequency of an Indian
population. Data were analyzed with the ANOVA test.
Abstract: Handwriting is essential to academic success; however, the current literature is limited in the identification of pre-handwriting skills. The purpose of this study was to identify the pre-handwriting skills, which occupational therapy practitioners deem important to handwriting success, as well as those which aid in intervention planning. The online survey instrument consisted of 33 questions that assessed various skills related to the development of handwriting, as well as captured demographic information. Both occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants were included in the survey study. The survey found that the respondents were in agreement that purposeful scribbling, the ability of a child to copy (vertical/horizontal lines, circle, squares, and triangles), imitating an oblique cross, cognitive skills (attention, praxis, self-regulation, sequencing), grasp patterns, hand dominance, in hand manipulation skills (shift, translation, rotation), bilateral integration, stabilization of paper, crossing midline, and visual perception were important indicators of handwriting readiness. The results of the survey support existing research regarding the skills necessary for the successful development of handwriting in children.
Abstract: Education is an absolute necessity for human’s life
that one must fulfill for the entire life. Without education it is
impossible for human to develop her/himself well. The education
process is an effort to maintain a good behavior within one’s life.
Good behavior will be absolutely achieved if it is taught to early-aged
children. This paper focuses on how the story telling method enables
teachers to make the students have the construction of good behavior
and obtain the goal of national education in Indonesia. The targeted
students would involve students in As-Solihin kindergarten,
Salafiyah-Syafi’iyah Mumbulsari, Jember, Indonesia.
Story is what early-aged children like most. Thus, it is a gorgeous
chance to make story telling activity as a method to invest Islamic
education values to children. This paper, however, also focuses on
some deliberately important aspects which of course teachers need to
consider including objectives and strategies of the method’s
implementation. The teachers will be in need of knowing each
student’s characteristic in the classroom so that it would enable them
to select appropriate stories that fit best to early aged students. The
selected stories are taken from Islamic stories that tell the life of
Prophet and heroes of Islam as well as well-known persons in Islam.
In addition, there will be a number of activities done in the classroom
after the delivery of the story is over on purpose of leading students
to have the fundamental foundation of how to build self-awareness in
order they could understand better about the importance of being a
well-behaved person.
After reviewing relevant theories, secondary research and
scholars’ opinion involved in all aspects of early-aged children
behavior, the author concludes that by leveraging trusted sources, a
proactive, co-operative and creative strategy, the teacher can
successfully build up children’s good behavior by instilling the
Islamic value toward early-aged children through story telling
method.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to compare abused and normal male students in Tehran guidance schools with emphasis on the co-dependency of their mothers. The method of this study is based on survey method and comparison (Ex-Post Facto). The method of sampling is also multi-stage cluster. Accordingly, we did sampling from secondary schools of education and training in Tehran, including 12 schools with levels of first, second and third. Each of the schools represents the three – high, medium and low- economic and social conditions. In the following, three classes from every school and 20 students from each class were randomly selected. By (CTQ) abused and normal students were separated that 670 children were recognized as normal and 50 children as abused. Then, 50 children were randomly selected from normal group and compared with abused group. Using Spanned-Fischer Co-dependency Scale, we compared mothers of abused and normal students. The results showed that mothers of the abused children have higher co- dependency average comparing to the mothers of the normal children.
Abstract: Background: To improve the delivery of paediatric
healthcare in low resource settings, Community Health Workers
(CHW) have been provided with a paper-based set of protocols
known as Community Case Management (CCM). Yet research has
shown that CHW adherence to CCM guidelines is poor, ultimately
impacting health service delivery. Digitising the CCM guidelines via
mobile technology is argued in extant literature to improve CHW
adherence. However, little research exist which outlines how (a) this
process can be digitised and (b) adherence could be improved as a
result. Aim: To explore how an electronic mobile version of CCM
(eCCM) can overcome issues associated with the paper-based CCM
protocol (inadequate adherence to guidelines) vis-à-vis service
blueprinting. This service blueprint will outline how (a) the CCM
process can be digitised using mobile Clinical Decision Support
Systems software to support clinical decision-making and (b)
adherence can be improved as a result. Method: Development of a
single service blueprint for a standalone application which visually
depicts the service processes (eCCM) when supporting the CHWs,
using an application known as Supporting LIFE (SL eCCM app) as
an exemplar. Results: A service blueprint is developed which
illustrates how the SL eCCM app can be utilised by CHWs to assist
with the delivery of healthcare services to children. Leveraging
smartphone technologies can (a) provide CHWs with just-in-time
data to assist with their decision making at the point-of-care and (b)
improve CHW adherence to CCM guidelines. Conclusions: The
development of the eCCM opens up opportunities for the CHWs to
leverage the inherent benefit of mobile devices to assist them with
health service delivery in rural settings. To ensure that benefits are
achieved, it is imperative to comprehend the functionality and form
of the eCCM service process. By creating such a service blueprint for
an eCCM approach, CHWs are provided with a clear picture
regarding the role of the eCCM solution, often resulting in buy-in
from the end-users.
Abstract: The purpose of this theoretical literature review is to
study the relevant academic literature on lack of cardiorespiratory
fitness and its effects on children. The total of thirty eight relevant
documents were identified and considered for this review which
nineteen of those were original research articles published in peer
reviewed journals. The other nineteen articles were statistical
documents. This literature review is structured to examine 5 effects
in deficiency of cardiorespiratory fitness in school aged children (A)
Relative Age Effect (RAE), (B) Obesity, (C) Inadequate fitness level
(D) Unhealthy life style, and (E) Academics. The categories provide
a theoretical framework for future studies where results are driven
from the literature review. The study discusses that regular physical fitness assists children
and adolescents to develop healthy physical activity behaviors which
can be sustained throughout adult life. Conclusion suggests that
advocacy for increasing physical activity and decreasing sedentary
behaviors at school and home are necessary.
Abstract: Optimal feeding, including optimal micronutrient
intake, becomes one of the ways to overcome the long-term
consequences of undernutrition. Macronutrient and micronutrient
intake were important to a rapid growth and development of young
children. The study objective was to assess macro and micronutrient
intake and its adequacy in children aged 12-23 months. This survey
was a cross-sectional study, involving 83 caregivers with children
aged 12-23 months old in Senen Sub-district, Central Jakarta selected
through simple random sampling. Data on nutrient intake was
obtained through interview using single 24-hour recall. Repeated 24-
hour recall to sub-sample was done to estimate the proportion of
nutrient inadequacy. The highest prevalence of nutrient inadequacy
was iron (52.4%), followed by vitamin C (30.9%) and zinc (28.8%).
Almost 12% children had inadequate energy intake. More than half
of children (62.6%) were anemic (25.3% were severely anemic).
Micronutrient inadequacy, especially iron, was more problematic
than macronutrient inadequacy in the study area.
Abstract: A Japanese manga character, Doraemon, was made by
Fujiko F. Fujio in 1969, was made into animation in 1973. The main
character, Doraemon, is a robot cat, and is a well-known Japanese
animated character. However, Doraemon is not only regarded as an
animation character but it is also used in educational and technological
programs in Japan.
This paper focuses on the background of Doraemon, educational
and technological perspectives on Doraemon, and comparison of the
original Japanese animation and the US remade version, and the
animator Fujiko’s dreams and hopes for Doraemon will be examined.
Since Doraemon has been exported as animation and manga to
overseas, perspectives toward Doraemon have changed. For example,
changes of stories and characters can been seen in the present
Doraemon animation. Not only the overseas TV productions which
broadcast Doraemon but also the Japanese production has to consider
violence, sexuality, etc. when editing episodes. Because of
representation of cultural differences, Japanese animation is thought to
contain more violence, discrimination, and sexuality in animation.
With responses from overseas, the Japanese production was cautious
about the US remade version. They cared about the US Broadcast
Standard, and tried to consider US customs and culture in the US
remade version. Seeing the difference, acculturation is necessary for
exports of animation overseas. Moreover, observing different aspects
of Doraemon domestically, Doraemon provides dreams and hopes to
children.
Abstract: Introduction: There are multiple social, individual and
cultural factors that influence an individual’s decision to adopt family
planning methods especially among non-users in patriarchal societies
like Pakistan. Non-users, if targeted efficiently, can contribute
significantly to country’s CPR. A research study showed that nonusers
if convinced to adopt lactational amenorrhea method can shift
to long term methods in future. Research shows that if non users are
targeted efficiently a 59% reduction in unintended pregnancies in
Saharan Africa and South-Central and South-East Asia is anticipated.
Methods: We did secondary data analysis on Pakistan
Demographic Heath Survey (2012-13) dataset. Use of contraception
(never-use/ever-use) was the outcome variable. At univariate level
Chi-square/Fisher Exact test was used to assess relationship of
baseline covariates with contraception use. Then variables to be
incorporated in the model were checked for multicollinearity,
confounding and interaction. Then binary logistic regression (with an
urban-rural stratification) was done to find relationship between
contraception use and baseline demographic and social variables.
Results: The multivariate analyses of the study showed that
younger women (≤ 29 years)were more prone to be never users as
compared to those who were >30 years and this trend was seen in
urban areas (AOR 1.92, CI 1.453-2.536) as well as rural areas (AOR
1.809, CI 1.421-2.303). While looking at regional variation, women
from urban Sindh (AOR 1.548, CI 1.142-2.099) and urban
Balochistan (AOR 2.403, CI 1.504-3.839) had more never users as
compared to other urban regions. Women in the rich wealth quintile
were more never users and this was seen both in urban and rural
localities (urban (AOR 1.106 CI .753-1.624); rural areas (AOR 1.162,
CI .887-1.524)) even though these were not statistically significant.
Women idealizing more children (>4) are more never users as
compared to those idealizing less children in both urban (AOR 1.854,
CI 1.275-2.697) and rural areas (AOR 2.101, CI 1.514-2.916).
Women who never lost a pregnancy were more inclined to be nonusers
in rural areas (AOR 1.394, CI 1.127-1.723) .Women familiar
with only traditional or no method had more never users in rural areas
(AOR 1.717, CI 1.127-1.723) but in urban areas it wasn’t significant.
Women unaware of Lady Health Worker’s presence in their area
were more never users especially in rural areas (AOR 1.276, CI
1.014-1.607). Women who did not visit any care provider were more
never users (urban (AOR 11.738, CI 9.112-15.121) rural areas (AOR
7.832, CI 6.243-9.826)).
Discussion/Conclusion: This study concluded that government,
policy makers and private sector family planning programs should
focus on the untapped pool of never users (younger women from underserved provinces, in higher wealth quintiles, who desire more
children.). We need to make sure to cover catchment areas where
there are less LHWs and less providers as ignorance to modern
methods and never been visited by an LHW are important
determinants of never use. This all is in sync with previous literate
from similar developing countries.
Abstract: The first part of the paper analyzes the dynamics of
the total fertility rate both at the national and regional level, pointing
out the regional disparities in the distribution of this indicator. At the
same time, we also focus on the collapse of the number of live births,
on the changes in the fertility rate by birth rank, as well as on the
failure of acquiring the desired number of children. The second part
of the study centres upon a survey applied to urban families with 3
and more than 3 offspring. The preliminary analysis highlights the
fact that an increased fertility (more than 3rd rank) is triggered by the
parents’ above the average material condition and superior education.
The current situation of Romania, which is still passing through a
period of relatively rapid demographic changes, marked by numerous
convulsions, requires a new approach, in compliance with the recent
interpretations appropriate to a new post-transitional demographic
regime.
Abstract: Family has a crucial role in maintaining the
physical, social and mental health of the children. Most of the
mental and anxiety problems of children reflect the complex
interpersonal situations among family members, especially parents.
In other words, anxiety problems of the children are correlated
with deficit relationships of family members and improper
childrearing styles. The parental child rearing styles leads to
positive and negative consequences which affect the children’s
mental health. Therefore, the present research was aimed to
compare the parental childrearing styles and anxiety of children
with stuttering and normal population. It was also aimed to study
the relationship between parental child rearing styles and anxiety
of children. The research sample included 54 boys with stuttering
and 54 normal boys who were selected from the children (boys) of
Tehran, Iran in the age range of 5 to 8 years in 2013. In order to
collect data, Baum-rind Childrearing Styles Inventory and Spence
Parental Anxiety Inventory were used. Appropriate descriptive
statistical methods and multivariate variance analysis and t test for
independent groups were used to test the study hypotheses.
Statistical data analyses demonstrated that there was a significant
difference between stuttering boys and normal boys in anxiety (t =
7.601, p< 0.01); but there was no significant difference between
stuttering boys and normal boys in parental childrearing styles (F =
0.129). There was also not found significant relationship between
parental childrearing styles and children anxiety (F = 0.135, p<
0.05). It can be concluded that the influential factors of children’s
society are parents, school, teachers, peers and media. So, parental
childrearing styles are not the only influential factors on anxiety of
children, and other factors including genetic, environment and
child experiences are effective in anxiety as well. Details are
discussed.
Abstract: The mechanisms underlying the association between
obesity and asthma may be related to a decreased immunological
tolerance induced by a defective function of regulatory T cells
(Tregs). The aim of this study is to establish the potential link
between these diseases and CD4+, CD25+ FoxP3+ Tregs as well as T
helper cells (Ths) in children. This is a prospective case control
study. Obese (n:40), asthmatic (n:40), asthmatic obese (n:40) and
healthy children (n:40), who don't have any acute or chronic diseases,
were included in this study. Obese children were evaluated according
to WHO criteria. Asthmatic patients were chosen based on GINA
criteria. Parents were asked to fill up the questionnaire. Informed
consent forms were taken. Blood samples were marked with CD4+,
CD25+ and FoxP3+ in order to determine Tregs and Ths by flow
cytometric method. Statistical analyses were performed. p≤0.05 was
chosen as meaningful threshold. Tregs exhibiting anti-inflammatory
nature were significantly lower in obese (0,16%; p≤0,001), asthmatic
(0,25%; p≤0,01) and asthmatic obese (0,29%; p≤0,05) groups than
the control group (0,38%). Ths were counted higher in asthma group
than the control (p≤0,01) and obese (p≤0,001) groups. T cell
immunity plays important roles in obesity and asthma pathogeneses.
Decreased numbers of Tregs found in obese, asthmatic and asthmatic
obese children may help to elucidate some questions in
pathophysiology of these diseases. For HOMA-IR levels, any
significant difference was not noted between control and obese
groups, but statistically higher values were found for obese
asthmatics. The values obtained in all groups were found to be below
the critical cut off points. This finding has made the statistically
significant difference observed between Tregs of obese, asthmatic,
obese asthmatic and control groups much more valuable. These
findings will be useful in diagnosis and treatment of these disorders
and future studies are needed. The production and propagation of
Tregs may be promising in alternative asthma and obesity treatments.
Abstract: Increasing prevalence of childhood obesity has
increased the interest in early and late indicators of gaining weight.
Cell blood counts may be indicators of pro-inflammatory states. The
aim was to evaluate associations of hematological parameters,
including hematocrit (HTC), hemoglobin, blood cell counts and their
indices with the degree of obesity in pediatric population. A total of
249; -139 morbidly obese (MO), 82 healthy normal weight (NW) and
28 overweight (OW) children were included into the scope of the
study. WHO BMI-for age percentiles were used to form age- and sexmatched
groups. Informed consent forms and the Ethics Committee
approval were obtained. Anthropometric measurements were
performed. Hematological parameters were determined. Statistical
analyses were performed using SPSS. The degree for statistical
significance was p≤0.05. Significant differences (p=0.000) between
waist-to-hip ratios and head-to- neck ratios (hnrs) of MO and NW
children were detected. A significant difference between hnrs of OW
and MO children (p=0.000) was observed. Red cell distribution width
(RDW) was higher in OW children than NW group (p=0.030). Such
finding couldn’t be detected between MO and NW groups. Increased
RDW was prominent in OW children. The decrease in mean
corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values in MO
children was sharper than the values in OW children (p=0.006 vs
p=0.042) compared to those in NW group. Statistically higher HTC
levels were observed between MO-NW (p=0.014), but none between
OW-NW. Though the cause-effect relationship between obesity and
erythrocyte indices still needs further investigation, alterations in
RDW, HTC, MCHC during obesity may be of significance in the
early life.
Abstract: Musculoskeletal injuries in school children could be
reduced improving trunk strength and hamstring flexibility. Low
levels of trunk muscle strength and hamstring flexibility may result in
acute and musculoskeletal chronic diseases. The Pilates Method can
be appropriate to improve these physical condition attributes and has
been rarely employed by this social group. On the other hand, it has
been shown that trunk strength and flexibility are different between
genders, but there is no evidence about the effect of exercise
programs designed to improve both items in school children.
Therefore the objective of this study was to measure the effect of a
six-week Pilates-based exercise program in 14 year old school
children trunk strength and hamstring flexibility, establishing
differences in gender. The sample was composed of 57 students
divided into experimental group (EG; n=30) and control group (CG;
n=27). Bench Trunk Curl test (BTC), Sörensen test and Toe-touch
test (TT) were used to measure dynamic muscular resistance in trunk
flexion, isometric strength in trunk extension and hamstring
flexibility, respectively. EG utilized the Pilates exercise program
during six-weeks (2 days/week, 55minutes/session). After this period
of training, EG improved trunk strength and hamstring flexibility
significantly but there were no significant differences within CG.
Although boys were better in BTC test and girls were better in TT
test, there were no significant differences between them.
Abstract: Background: The high prevalence of obesity in Egypt has a great impact on the health care system, economic and social situation. Evidence suggests that even a moderate amount of weight loss can be useful. Aim of the study: To analyze the effects of lower body positive pressure supported treadmill training, conducted with hypocaloric diet, on body composition of obese children. Methods: Thirty children aged between 8 and 14 years, were randomly assigned into two groups: intervention group (15 children) and control group (15 children). All of them were evaluated using body composition analysis through bioelectric impedance. The following parameters were measured before and after the intervention: body mass, body fat mass, muscle mass, body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat and basal metabolic rate (BMR). The study group exercised with antigravity treadmill three times a week during 2 months, and participated in a hypocaloric diet program. The control group participated in a hypocaloric diet program only. Results: Both groups showed significant reduction in body mass, body fat mass and BMI. Only study group showed significant reduction in percentage of body fat (p = 0.0.043). Changes in muscle mass and BMR didn't reach statistical significance in both groups. No significant differences were observed between groups except for muscle mass (p = 0.049) and BMR (p = 0.042) favoring study group. Conclusion: Both programs proved effective in the reduction of obesity indicators, but lower body positive pressure supported treadmill training was more effective in improving muscle mass and BMR.