The effect of exercise on affective and self-efficacy responses in older and younger women

Background: This study examined the self-efficacy and affective responses to an acute exercise bout in sedentary older and younger women to determine whether aging has an effect on affective states. Methods: Twenty five sedentary younger (mean age 19.9 yrs) and 25 older (mean age 55.7 yrs) women completed an acute bout of exercise. Affective responses were measured prior to, during and immediately following exercise. Self-efficacy responses were measured prior to and immediately following exercise. Results: Positive engagement, revitalization, tranquility, Felt Arousal and Feeling Scale responses and self-efficacy were all higher immediately following compared to prior to or during exercise for both groups of women. Additionally, older women experienced higher overall positive engagement and lower physical exhaustion compared to younger women as well as higher tranquillity and Feeling Scale responses immediately following exercise. Conclusions: This investigation found that an acute bout of moderate-intensity exercise produced more positive and fewer negative affective states in both younger and older women

From retrodiction to Bayesian quantum imaging

We employ quantum retrodiction to develop a robust Bayesian algorithm for reconstructing the intensity values of an image from sparse photocount data, while also accounting for detector noise in the form of dark counts. This method yields not only a reconstructed image but also provides the full probability distribution function for the intensity at each pixel. We use simulated as well as real data to illustrate both the applications of the algorithm and the analysis options that are only available when the full probability distribution functions are known. These include calculating Bayesian credible regions for each pixel intensity, allowing an objective assessment of the reliability of the reconstructed image intensity values

Ch. 8: Christian Sandvig, "Connection at Ewiiaapaayp Mountain: Indigenous Internet Infrastructure"

This review of Chapter 8, "Connection at Ewiiaapaayp Mountain: Indigenous Internet Infrastructure" by Christian Sandvig is part of "crowd-sourced book review" project organized by Humanities, Arts, Science Technology Advanced Collaboratory (HASTAC)

Evaluating Allied Health Clinical Placement Performance: Protocol for a Modified Delphi Study

Background: University-affiliated student-led health care services have emerged in response to the challenges faced by universities in securing quality clinical placements for health care students. Evidence of the health care benefits and challenges of student-led health care services is growing, while evidence of clinical placement performance remains variable and not generalizable. Though there have been previous attempts to develop a framework for evaluation of clinical placement performance, concerns have been raised about the applicability of these frameworks across the various placement settings. Additionally, the perspectives of all key stakeholders on the critical areas of clinical placement performance have yet to be considered. Objective: This study’s objective is to gather information on areas of measurement related to student learning outcomes, experience of placement, and costs of placement and then develop consensus on which of those areas need to be included in a framework for evaluation of clinical placement performance within the context of student-led health care services. The aim of this paper is to outline a protocol for a modified Delphi study designed to gain consensus on what is important to measure when evaluating an allied health clinical placement. Methods: We will recruit up to 30 experts to a heterogeneous expert panel in a modified Delphi study. Experts will consist of those with firsthand experience either coordinating, supervising, or undertaking clinical placement. Purposive sampling will be used to ensure maximum variation in expert panel member characteristics. Experts’ opinions will be sought on measuring student learning outcomes, student experience, and cost of clinical placement, and other areas of clinical placement performance that are considered important. Three rounds will be conducted to establish consensus on what is important to measure when evaluating clinical placement. Each round is anticipated to yield both quantitative data (eg, percentage of agreement) and qualitative data (eg, free-text responses). In each round, quantitative data will be analyzed descriptively and used to determine consensus, which will be defined as ≥70% agreement. Qualitative responses will be analyzed thematically and used to inform the subsequent round. Findings of each round will be presented, both consensus data and qualitative responses in each subsequent round, to inform expert panel members and to elicit further rankings on areas of measurement yet to achieve consensus. Results: Data analysis is currently underway, with a planned publication in 2024. Conclusions: The modified Delphi approach, supported by existing research and its ability to gain consensus through multiround expert engagement, provides an appropriate methodology to inform the development of a framework for the evaluation of clinical placement performance in allied health service

Planning for sedentary behaviour interventions: office workers' survey and focus group responses

Aims: As sedentary behaviour is becoming more prominent in office-based work environments, this study aimed to explore office workers' perception of sedentary behaviour, explore potential behavioural strategies to reduce sedentary behaviour in the workplace and identify barriers which may hamper behaviour change. Methods: A total of 140 office workers were recruited and surveyed from the same workplace. The survey included questions regarding perception of relationship between sitting time and health. Following the survey, 12 employees also participated in focus groups to identify potential sedentary behaviour intervention strategies and barriers. The responses from the survey and focus groups were thematically analysed. Results: In total, 88% of all participants surveyed agreed that there was a relationship between sitting time and their health. The most prominent theme identified was musuloskeletal complaints followed by general health and weight gain or obesity. The focus groups identified that interventions targeting reducing siting time should include education, supportive and knowledgeable managers, and a variety of behaviour change strategies to address individual preferences and barriers. Conclusion: Multiple behavioural strategies were identified, which appear to be appropriate for sedentary behaviour change

The azimuthal component of Poynting's vector and the angular momentum of light

The usual description in basic electromagnetic theory of the linear and angular momenta of light is centred upon the identification of Poynting's vector as the linear momentum density and its cross product with position, or azimuthal component, as the angular momentum density. This seemingly reasonable approach brings with it peculiarities, however, in particular with regards to the separation of angular momentum into orbital and spin contributions, which has sometimes been regarded as contrived. In the present paper, we observe that densities are not unique, which leads us to ask whether the usual description is, in fact, the most natural choice. To answer this, we adopt a fundamental rather than heuristic approach by first identifying appropriate symmetries of Maxwell's equations and subsequently applying Noether's theorem to obtain associated conservation laws. We do not arrive at the usual description. Rather, an equally acceptable one in which the relationship between linear and angular momenta is nevertheless more subtle and in which orbital and spin contributions emerge separately and with transparent forms

That's my hour: postmenopausal women's experiences of an exercise intervention

Exercise has many physiological and psychosocial benefits for postmenopausal women. Previous research has shown that sedentary postmenopausal women of North Queensland perceive a number of barriers to exercise, however, when they are given the right opportunity to exercise they perceive it as a positive experience. The aim of this study was to explore the exercise intervention experiences of postmenopausal women living in North Queensland immediately following participation and at 18-months follow up. Thirty three previously sedentary postmenopausal women (mean age 62.24 ± 6.77 years) volunteered to participate in an 8-week intervention consisting of a 60 minute group-based circuit style session three times per week. The circuit included a combination of aerobic & resistance exercises to music. Twenty-six women completed the 8-week program. Focus groups were conducted post-intervention and interviews conducted with the women who had maintained the exercise regime at 18-months follow up. Focus groups and interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim by an independent reviewer and analysed thematically. A number of themes emerged from the focus groups and interviews. As a result of the exercise intervention, the participants felt greater motivation and confidence; enjoyed the shared experiences, support and acceptance and felt better physically, functionally, socially and emotionally. The participants felt that the facilitator was crucial in their exercise behaviour change. Of the 26 women who completed the intervention, 11 had sustained the exercise regime at 18-months follow up. This study has shown that previously sedentary postmenopausal women can successfully change and maintain their exercise behaviour given the right opportunity

Incorporating social determinants of health into the clinical management of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is increasing in global and national prevalence. It is more common among people with poor social determinants of health (SDoH). Furthermore, SDoH are known to influence health related choice, and therefore the glycaemic management of people with T2DM. There is a growing body of evidence affirming an irrefutable relationship between SDoH and T2DM. Currently SDoH are considered at a population level, whereas T2DM is usually managed individually. Assessing and addressing SDoH related barriers, at an individual, clinical level may contribute to improved glycaemic management for people with T2DM. Developing an approach to assess SDoH related management barriers, and incorporating it into usual clinical care will allow insight into ‘nonclinical’ obstacles to self-management. Additionally, investigation into strategies to address the identified barriers will extend and contextualise this approach, and could broaden and augment current efforts to improve glycaemic management for people with T2DM. An exploratory, descriptive research design will facilitate the exploration of the most appropriate methods and strategies for incorporating SDoH into clinical practice. These approaches can then be trialled and evaluated to inform an evidence-based approach for this addition to the usual clinical care of people with T2DM. This presentation will describe a current research project that is investigating how SDoH can be incorporated into the clinical management of T2DM, and discuss the findings so far

The how and why of handgrip strength assessment

Introduction: Occupational therapists and physiotherapists routinely assess Hand grip Strength (HGS) to evaluate hand function. This study explored the experiences of clinicians who regularly assess and evaluate HGS including the testing protocol utilised, evaluation methods and the influence of various biological and functional factors. Method: This exploratory survey (n = 49) was distributed online to members of the Australian Hand Therapy Association. The questionnaire asked recipients to identify HGS testing protocols, evaluation methods, use of normative data, reasons for assessment and the influence of biological and functional factors on HGS. Demographic data was also collected. Results: Sixty-four percent of respondents were occupational therapists and 59% had over 10 years’ experience assessing HGS. The standardised American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) testing protocol was consistently adopted by only 67% of respondents . Variations in contraction time, scoring and evaluation methods were identified. Gender, age, employment and lifestyle were considered the functional and biological factors which influence HGS. Conclusion: This study details how and why occupational therapists and physiotherapists in Australia assess and evaluate HGS. Use of the ASHT testing protocol is not universal. Clinicians rely on the reason for assessment, clinical experience and practice context to determine how they assess and evaluate HGS