4,557 research outputs found

    Empowering New Beginnings: A Holistic Evaluation of a Community-Developed Multi-Sports Program for New-to-Canada Refugee Youths and Its Impact on Physical Literacy, Mental Wellbeing, and Social Health

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    Resettlement for refugee youth in Canada presents multifaceted challenges, notably in integrating into existing social structures, including sports and physical activity (PA) programs. Sports and PA programs can play a crucial role in promoting physical and mental well-being, yet refugee youth often face lower participation rates compared to their Canadian-born counterparts. To address this gap, this study investigated the impact of a community-developed multi-sport program, the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) multi-sport program, on the physical literacy (PL) development and psychosocial well-being of young refugees in Calgary, Canada. The program aimed to equip refugee youth with the tools to embrace sports and PA opportunities in their new environment, fostering physical well-being and a sense of belonging. A total of 16 refugee youth participants between the ages of 13-19 years old (Mage = 16.00±1.75, n =14 males) were recruited for this study and were living in temporary housing (M = 1.19 months on arrival) while being assisted by CCIS during their resettlement period. The study employed mixed methods, including the PLAYbasic tool and a modified PLAYself questionnaire, to assess program effects on various PL domains. Qualitative data from focus group interviews and an ethnographic approach provided further insights into the program's broader impact on well-being and social health. The findings revealed positive changes, particularly for those who participated frequently. The program improved their fundamental movement skills, boosted their confidence, and influenced their motivation to participate in sports and PA. More importantly, the program fostered social connections and a sense of belonging, contributing positively to their mental well-being. Participants also benefitted from access to well-equipped facilities, structured programs with qualified coaches, and valuable resources within the community. However, challenges remain. Logistical difficulties like competing schedules and lack of awareness about the program hindered consistent participation. Additionally, gender disparities emerged, with female participants highlighting the need for privacy and female-specific programming. This study highlights the value of community-developed, culturally sensitive sports programs. Such programs can effectively promote PL development, social integration, and overall well-being among refugee youth. Future research should explore the program's long-term effects and address specific barriers that prevent female participation

    Distribution patterns of terrestrial mammals in KwaZulu-Natal

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    Distribution patterns, plotted by eighth-degree squares (7.5' x 7.5'), of the 162 mammal species recorded in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa were examined in relation to the combined factors of vegetation type, climate, and altitude (= bioregions); and in relation to protected areas within the nine bioregions. Highest species richness was recorded in the warmest most heterogeneous (vegetation) bioregions, and lowest in a cool montane region. Species richness was intermediate in relatively homogeneous, predominantly grassland bioregions. Mammalian biodiversity in KwaZulu-Natal is concentrated in the savanna regions in the north-east of the province, although further species-rich areas are found in the north-west and south-west for carnivores, and in the central region for many of the smaller mammals (Insectívora, Chiroptera, Rodentia). Analysis of taxonomic resemblances between bioregions distinguished taxonomically distinct ‘savanna’ and ‘grassland’ groups. Taxonomic resemblances between bioregions were generally lowest in bats (i.e. greatest bioregion specificity) and highest in carnivores (i.e. lowest specificity). In total, 92% of the mammal species occur in one or more protected areas. The percentages of species within protected areas in each of the bioregions are generally high (68-100%). In four of the bioregions the amount of land occupied by protected areas is adequate (6-96%) and protected areas are large, but in the other five bioregions the opposite holds (< 2% protected) and populations within them may not be viable

    A scale-model room as a practical teaching experiment

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    A practical experiment is described which was used to help university students increase their understanding of the effect of construction methods and window design on passive solar heating and electrical heating. A number of one tenth scale model rooms were constructed by students and sited out-of-doors in the late autumn. The models were fabricated to mimic available commercial construction techniques with careful consideration being given to window size and placement for solar access. Each model had a thermostatically controlled electric heating element. The temperatures and electricity use of the models were recorded using data-loggers over a two week period. The performances of the models based on energy consumption and internal temperature were compared with each other and with predictions based upon thermal mass and R-values. Examples of questions used by students to facilitate this process are included. The effect of scaling on thermal properties was analysed using Buckingham&rsquo;s p-theorem.<br /

    Weak Gravitational Flexion

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    Flexion is the significant third-order weak gravitational lensing effect responsible for the weakly skewed and arc-like appearance of lensed galaxies. Here we demonstrate how flexion measurements can be used to measure galaxy halo density profiles and large-scale structure on non-linear scales, via galaxy-galaxy lensing, dark matter mapping and cosmic flexion correlation functions. We describe the origin of gravitational flexion, and discuss its four components, two of which are first described here. We also introduce an efficient complex formalism for all orders of lensing distortion. We proceed to examine the flexion predictions for galaxy-galaxy lensing, examining isothermal sphere and Navarro, Frenk & White (NFW) profiles and both circularly symmetric and elliptical cases. We show that in combination with shear we can precisely measure galaxy masses and NFW halo concentrations. We also show how flexion measurements can be used to reconstruct mass maps in 2-D projection on the sky, and in 3-D in combination with redshift data. Finally, we examine the predictions for cosmic flexion, including convergence-flexion cross-correlations, and find that the signal is an effective probe of structure on non-linear scales.Comment: 17 pages, including 12 figures, submitted to MNRA

    Towards an expert system for enantioseparations: induction of rules using machine learning

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    A commercially available machine induction tool was used in an attempt to automate the acquisition of the knowledge needed for an expert system for enantioseparations by High Performance Liquid Chromatography using Pirkle-type chiral stationary phases (CSPs). Various rule-sets were induced that recommended particular CSP chiral selectors based on the structural features of an enantiomer pair. The results suggest that the accuracy of the optimal rule-set is 63% + or - 3% which is more than ten times greater than the accuracy that would have resulted from a random choice

    A review of expert systems for chromatography

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    Expert systems for chromatography are reviewed. A taxonomy is proposed that allows present (and future) expert systems in this area to be classified and facilitates an understanding of their inter-relationship. All the systems are described focusing on the reasons for their development, what their purpose was and how they were to be used. The engineering methods, knowledge representations, tools and architectures used for the systems are compared and contrasted in a discussion covering all the stages of the development life cycle of expert systems. The review reveals that too often developers of expert systems for chromatography do not justify their decisions on engineering matters and that the literature suggests that many ideas advocated by knowledge engineers are not being used

    A qualitative study exploring behaviours which underpin different types of social media use

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    Despite the popularity of social media, we have little understanding of how “social” these platforms actually are. “Social media use” is often considered in generic terms or dichotomised into active or passive use. However, this does not explain the specific behaviours users engage in. We explored this in respect of different social media platforms; namely Instagram and Facebook. The overall sample of nine participants included four males and five females between the ages of 18 and 36. Participants took part in semi-structured interviews to describe their behaviours when using either Instagram (n = 4). or Facebook (n = 5). From reflexive thematic analysis, the first theme was “Determinants of using social media”, with two sub-themes. This main theme describes factors which generally motivate people to use the respective social media platform. However, the second theme was “Determinants of behaviours” with seven sub-themes, which relate more specifically to particular actions or behaviours which specific platforms afford users to be able to do. There were clear distinctions between what might constitute social media “use” (first theme) and social media “behaviours” (second theme). Our findings suggest that concepts of “active” and “passive” use are not sufficient to capture the complexities of underpinning behaviours or sensitive to the within-person and between-context variations which explain behaviours underpinning social media use

    The History of Our Journal

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