Merging Athletic Development With Skill Acquisition: Developing Agility Using an Ecological Dynamics Approach

Agility has commonly been regarded as a physical quality, and strength and conditioning practitioners have typically used a closed environment approach for developing agility. This closed environment approach involves the decoupling of perception and action, where actions are trained in isolation from perception. Previous studies have shown, however, that when perception or action is trained in isolation, behavior changes. Therefore, agility is complex and multifactorial in nature. Through ecological dynamics, specifically the principle of representative learning design, practitioners should design training tasks that align more closely with the demands of competition. Representative learning design ensures that perception and action remain coupled to promote greater transfer of performance from training to competition. Another key principle for agility task design is coadaptation, and this can be operationalized through manipulation of opposing players. With these 2 key principles, we offer examples of agility tasks in 3 team invasion sports including soccer, rugby union, and Australian rules football

What is Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and why is it important?

Fostering students’ social and emotional competencies is an area of increasing priority in schools today. Key competencies encompassed under the term Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) include managing emotions, establishing positive relationships, demonstrating empathy towards others, and making responsible decisions. In this chapter, we outline the origins and development of SEL internationally and within an Australian context and describe the extensive body of evidence attesting to the benefits of high quality SEL instruction for academic, social, and behavioural domains. We situate SEL in the context of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and describe how schools can promote SEL through classroom instruction and supplementary intervention. This approach is illustrated in practical terms through a case study. Finally, we provide recommendations for a national approach to SEL in Australia underpinned by robust evidence, consistent policy, clear guidance, and training opportunities for schools and educators

9-Azahomocubane

Homocubane, a highly strained cage hydrocarbon, contains two very different positions for the introduction of a nitrogen atom into the skeleton, e. g., a position 1 exchange results in a tertiary amine whereas position 9 yields a secondary amine. Herein reported is the synthesis of 9-azahomocubane along with associated structural characterization, physical property analysis and chemical reactivity. Not only is 9-azahomocubane readily synthesized, and found to be stable as predicted, the basicity of the secondary amine was observed to be significantly lower than the structurally related azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, although similar to 1-azahomocubane.</p

Long monthly temperature series and the Vector Seasonal Shifting Mean and Covariance Autoregressive model

We consider a vector version of the Shifting Seasonal Mean Autoregressive model. The model is used for describing dynamic behaviour of and contemporaneous dependence between a number of long monthly temperature series for 20 cities in Europe, extending from the second half of the 18th century until mid-2010s. The results indicate strong warming in the winter months, February excluded, and cooling followed by warming during the summer months. Error variances are mostly constant over time, but for many series there is systematic decrease between 1820 and 1850 in April. Error correlations are considered by selecting two small sets of series and modelling correlations within these sets. Some correlations do change over time, but a large majority remains constant. Not surprisingly, the correlations generally decrease with the distance between cities, but the precise geographical location also plays a role.</p

Outlaw Ludens: Explaining Traditional Outlaw Motorcycle Club Violence Through Ludology

This article explains how the war mentality of Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) culture of interclub violence is a form of game established as an outlet for the natural consequences of the reactionary masculinity of its members. It disputes the claim that all violence by clubs is motivated by organized criminal activity. The original OMCG culture exemplifies extreme camaraderie, risk-taking, a lifestyle that condones violence, and an elitist mind-set that expresses itself through violent defense of club honor, including vendetta between clubs. The war mentality and the battles it produces are performed in accordance with the description of games developed by ludology, being played in a magic circle, according to rules, and only by members of the OMCG cultural milieu. This understanding is important to ensure that intelligence analysis of OMCG activity can distinguish between the game of war mentality and genuine organized criminal activity. Failure to perceive the difference can distort intelligence conclusions and misdirect policing responses.</p

Patient Reported Fatigue Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients Compared to Non-Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients and survivors are a growing population due to more frequent diagnoses and improved survival. Fatigue is a common symptom experienced by cancer patients and it is often missed by health care professionals. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) can assist in evaluating patient reported fatigue. This systematic review aims to determine if AYA cancer patients report more fatigue than AYAs who have not been diagnosed with cancer. We used a subset of articles from a larger review that searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO to determine which PROMs and domains are currently being used to evaluate AYA cancer. This study identified 175 articles related to PROMs in the AYA cancer population. Articles with PROMs reporting on fatigue/vitality were used in this review. From the original 175 articles, we identified 8 fatigue/vitality articles for this review. All eight articles found an increase in fatigue/decrease in vitality in the AYA cancer population compared to healthy controls. A meta-analysis was performed on four articles that used the same PROM tool (EORTC QLQ-C30). This found a statistically significant and clinically meaningful increase in mean fatigue of 12.5 95% confidence interval: 3.3–21.8 points (scale 0–100, higher number indicates more fatigue) in the AYA cancer group compared to healthy noncancer controls. Fatigue in the AYA cancer population is a significant issue, it is often undetected and underreported, and early interventions are needed to prevent the negative subsequent sequelae

A benchmark model for the process of post-migration social adjustment: exploring the views of young people from forced-migration backgrounds in Australia

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to propose a benchmark model for the process of post-migration social adjustment based on the points of view and experiences of young individuals from forced-migration backgrounds. Design/methodology/approach: Twelve young adults (18–24 years) living in Australia with an experience of forced migration and from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings: The results showed that post-migration social adjustment requires effective interactions within individual, family and community domains. The participants proposed specific characteristics, enablers and barriers for each domain that can affect the process of social adjustment after the experience of forced migration. Originality/value: Based on the reported points of view and experiences of participants in this study, the authors proposed an ecological model that can be considered as a preliminary benchmark to inform policymaking, research and services focusing on the social adjustment of young refugees. The practical implications for resettlement programs are discussed.</p

Too cool for school: Participatory shirking and U.S. House passage of proxy voting

A large portion of the American electorate holds contempt for elected representatives who skip floor votes. As a result, political challengers, and the national political media in the U.S., rarely miss a chance to inform the electorate of the shirking behavior of its representatives. New research suggests that, in 2020, the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives may have developed protection, albeit temporary, to legislators who engage in shirking behavior. That protection came via passage of House Resolution 965, which authorized “remote voting by proxy” in the U.S. House of Representatives due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study extends the literature on proxy voting by empirically examining the factors that influenced the tendency of members of the U.S. House of Representatives to either shirk (i.e., skip) the vote on proxy voting (i.e., HR 965) or to vote in favor of the resolution (i.e., HR 965) allowing for the proxy vote. Econometric results suggest that Representatives' gender, age, legislative tenure, and past penchant for participatory shirking worked to determine parliamentary participation, and the direction of one's vote, on HR 965.</p

SAND: A premiere production in collaboration with Redlands Performing Arts Centre, Taikoz and Belloo Creative.

This is the latest in a series of performance practice works (4 thus far) in the SAND project investigating cultural encounter between First Nations, Japanese, Australian and Aotearoa/ New Zealand artists with Professor Sandra Gattenhof. SAND is also part of a longstanding research project with Tessa Rixon exploring eco-scenography in Australasian performance. The production features Professor Wesley Enoch as dramaturg, Japanese drumming company, Taikoz and dancers Waangeega Blanco and Raw Ely and the cultural input of Minjeribah based, Quandamooka elder, Uncle Norman Enoch. The digital content in the work was filmed on Minjeribah and the digital content developed by New Zealand company, Good Company Arts. Dr Kathryn Kelly and Professor Sandra Gattenhof were co-scenographic consultants.The SAND project is an intercultural, transdisciplinary, practice-led research project 1) create a bi-lingual, intercultural performance; 2) for experimental, transdisciplinary artistic exploration and 3) to provide innovative research around intercultural performance practice, transdisciplinary content creation &amp; community engagement. SAND uses a case study methodology to investigate and test inter-cultural performance practice that respectfully navigates cultural and artistic encounter between four cultures (First Nationsl Australians; non-First Nations Australians; Japan and Pakeha NZ) and that explores cultural understandings of the body and landscape through the universal material of SAND. The SAND project will investigate, experiment and refine intercultural protocols and creative practice in multiple, iterative creative developments. Performance outcomes include: NORPA (Lismore) in 2018, Flowstate, Southbank Parklands, 2018, Tokyo Performing Arts Market (TPAM), 'House in the Dunes', 2020), Tokyo Tokyo Festival, 'Akiruno.' Peer reviewed competitive funding has been secured from the Brisbane City Council, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2018 and 2021) and the Australia Council (not Creative Australia).The SAND project seeks to develop a range of cultural outcomes (workshops, installations and public performance) that are culturally respectful and culturally resonant for each participating culture. The research outcomes will include an innovative, intercultural performance methodology that draws from transcultural values; an intercultural community engagement framework that has been investigated in multiple geographic and cultural sites and a co-authored journal articles: ‘Dark Mountain: Scenography for the end of the world and a more-than-human future’ by Kelly, Rixon, Neideck, Pike and Brumpton Theatre and Performance Design 7(3-4).The SAND project comprises the award-winning, all-female, intercultural theatre company Belloo Creative (of which Kathryn Kelly is company dramaturg); Japanese theatre company, Idiot Savant; First Nations choreographer Kirk Page; New Zealand Arts Laureate and installation artist Daniel Belton; cultural evaluation specialist and co-dramaturg, Sandra Gattenhof, Tessa Rixon, NORPA Theatre Company (Lismore) and QUT. The project has received substantial funding including from the Australia Council for Belloo Creative to attend the Tokyo Performing Arts Market in 2017, 2018 and 2019) and to undertake a creative development in Tokyo with Idiot Savant (February, 2018). <br/