Therapeutic Effects of an Outdoor Activity Program on Nursing Home Residents with Dementia

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this one-year pilot study was to obtain preliminary information on the effects of an outdoor activity program, in comparison to an indoor activity program, on sleep and behavior in nursing home residents with dementia. Structured activity programs have been shown to improve dementia-related behavior problems, and there are some indications that improved behavior is associated with improved sleep. Previous research has shown that sleep disturbance is common in nursing home residents, and that limited exposure to light bright enough to entrain circadian rhythms contributes to their sleep problems. Thus, we expected to see improvements in behavior in both the outdoor and indoor activity groups, but improvements in sleep in the outdoor activity group only.

Methodology: A two-group (outdoor program, indoor program) two phase (baseline, intervention) design was used. Subjects were randomized to the outdoor or indoor program groups. Sleep and behavior disturbance were assessed over a 10-day period at baseline (usual activity conditions, which were expected to include little or no time spent outdoors) and at intervention (daily structured activity program offered outdoors or indoors). Sleep was assessed with wrist actigraphs with photocells, which also allowed for monitoring of light exposure. Behavior disturbance was assessed with the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory. Both activity programs were offered Monday-Friday over a 2 week period, included similar content and were offered by research project staff. The analytical approach emphasized primary changes between baseline and intervention measures of sleep and behavioral symptoms in the two activity groups. Because this was a pilot study, the significance level was set a priori at p< 0.10.

Findings: The outdoor activity group experienced significant improvements in maximum sleep duration. Both groups showed significant improvements in total sleep minutes. There also was a significant improvement in verbal agitation in the outdoor activity group.     

我国政府应急基金设立情况及运行效果分析

近些年来我国自然灾害及突发事件频发,各级政府在应急处理方面逐步走向成熟,应急体系及制度逐步健全,尤其在应急基金的设立和运作方面积累了宝贵经验。本文拟对我国政府救灾防灾应急基金的设立情况进行梳理,分析其运行效果,围绕着存在的主要问题就做大做强应急基金有针对性地提出了几点建议,以期为更好发挥应急基金效果总结出切实可行的路径。     

Prevalence of Sufficient Physical Activity Among Parents Attending a University

Objective: The benefits of regular physical activity are well documented. However, approximately half of all university students are insufficiently active, and no research to date exists on the activity behavior of university students who are also parents. Participants and Methods: Using an adapted version of the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (ie, the Physical Activity Prevalence Questionnaire), the authors examined the prevalence of sufficient physical activity among 245 parent students from 6 faculties and 12 programs. Results: Half (49.5%) of the students who were not parents (n = 90) were sufficiently physically active, compared with 16% of students who were parents (n = 3, p < .002). The authors found that 33.3% of parents and 13% of nonparents limited their activity level as a result of illness or injury (p < .05). Conclusions: Most parent students in this study were insufficiently active and at potential risk for the negative health consequences of inactivity. This is a grossly understudied population, and researchers must conduct further studies to understand what can be done to facilitate physical activity among this potentially vulnerable group of students.     

An Empirical Examination of Sexual Relations Between Adolescents and Adults

SUMMARY

The American view that adolescent-adult sexual relations are by definition “child sexual abuse” has spread throughout the Western world and reshaped public policy. This paper, originally presented as a talk, examines the scientific validity of this view. A historical perspective traces the conflation of the adolescent experience with rape, incest, and that of the young, prepubescent child. Biological and cognitive perspectives support the view that adolescents have more in common with adults than children. Sweeping claims that adolescents react as children are said to is critically tested by examining two types of relations-those between heterosexual teenage boys and women and those between gay or bisexual teenage boys and men. Non-clinical empirical data show overwhelmingly that such relations are characterized mostly by positive reactions based on consent if not initiative on the part of the minor, with perceived benefit rather than harm as a correlate. It is concluded that the American view is false, and that public policy that heightens official reaction to such relations, such as that currently proposed by the European Union, are either misinformed or disingenuous in alleging to protect when the motive is to control adolescents.     

分级指导式口语教学模式的实验报告

总结了目前口语教学的特点和趋势,同时对比澳大利亚口语教学的模式,指出现有的口语教学模式存在的问题,根据英语教学中的临近发展区的原则,提出了一种可行的教学模式,提供了该教学模式同传统的教学模式的对比实验,阐述了该教学模式的可行性和意义。     

从宗教活动考察太平天国的兴与亡

太平天国在拜上帝教思想的指导下,进行了一系列的宗教活动,这些宗教活动对太平天国运动的兴起和壮大产生了极大的促进作用,但随着形势的发展,它所带来的负面影响也是显而易见和致命的。     

A bio-psycho-social model of successful aging as shown through the variable “physical activity”

In this article, we present and explain a bio-psycho-social model of successful aging with subjective well-being as a criterion of a successful aging process. We focus on physical activity because it is a crucial behavior. Physical activity can support successful aging in two different ways: first, due to its physiological and cognitive effects, and Second, an older person can enhance subjective well-being (SWB) while being physically active. The model points out that an older person can regulate SWB. To do this, an older person should set and pursue personally and culturally valued goals. The strength of the association between setting a goal and goal pursuance, respectively, and SWB depends on the extent a person is able to satisfy psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness). But, the decision as to which goal will be set and pursued does not belong to the older person exclusively. The bio-psycho-social model explains that the chance to enhance SWB is restricted by personal dispositions (e.g., physiological constitution, psychological factors) and social–structural constraints (e.g., predominant stereotype of aging, facilities especially for target groups). Funding credit: Landesstiftung Baden Württemberg gGmbH [Landesstiftung Foundation]     

企业创新关系的治理机制与产业技术特征关系研究

本文提出了修正K模型——H模型，为研究企业创新治理机制与创新绩效之间的关系提供了一种新的、富有解释力的分析工具。研究表明：每一产业的核心技术都有一组与之匹配的关键要素，在H模型中称之为Ⅺ要素。如果Xi要素不具备，则该产业的创新发展将很难成功。     

财务活动与财务关系战略的竞争优势分析

培育竞争优势是战略管理的基本任务,财务战略管理是企业战略管理的核心内容。文章通过分析财务战略概念,提出财务战略包括财务活动战略和财务关系战略:运用波特的价值链理论构建了企业基本成本链,并据此分析财务活动战略的竞争优势来源及其战略分析路径;从涉及产权交易的财务战略和不涉及产权交易的财务联盟两方面深入探讨了财务关系战略对竞争优势的影响,并分析了财务关系战略选择的分析思路。     

物理教学中培养学生提出问题能力的探索

培养学生提出问题的能力是培养学生创新思维能力的有效方法。而我国现在的学生提问能力都较差。本文对学生缺乏提出问题能力的原因及怎样提高学生提出问题的能力作一些探索。