‘Deliberate Preparation’ as an evidence-based focus for primary physical education

There is substantial scientific research suggesting the physical and psychological health benefits of a physically active lifestyle. Consequently, governments worldwide prioritize policies, finances, and resources in healthcare, education, and sports sectors to increase mass participation in physical activity. However, practices in physical activity promotion are often not underpinned by evidence-based standardization that is requisite in other domains of epidemiology. The aim of this article is to examine critically the available scientific research on promoting life-long physical activity participation and to propose an evidence-based model for implementation in school physical education. Reasons are discussed as to why programs that integrate physical, psychological, and behavioral skills have been long acknowledged in physical education and physical activity domains but remain lacking in empirical validation. Finally, future directions are suggested that are required to examine the application of this approach to practice in primary-level physical education

Inelastic cyclic response of RBS connections with jumbo sections

This paper examines the cyclic performance of reduced beam section (RBS) moment connections incorporating larger member sizes than those allowed in the current seismic provisions for prequalified steel connections, through experimentally validated three-dimensional nonlinear numerical assessments. Validations of the adopted nonlinear finite element procedures are carried out against experimental results from two test series, including four full-scale RBS connections comprising large structural members, outside the prequalification limits. After gaining confidence in the ability of the numerical models to predict closely the full inelastic response and failure modes, parametric investigations are undertaken. Particular attention is given to assessing the influence of the RBS-to-column capacity ratio as well as the RBS geometry and location on the overall response. The numerical results and test observations provide a detailed insight into the structural behavior, including strength, ductility, and failure modes of large RBS connections. It is shown that connections which consider sections beyond the code limits, by up to two times the weight or beam depth limits, developed a stable inelastic response characterized by beam flexural yielding and inelastic local buckling. However, connections with very large beam sections, up to three-times the typically prescribed limits, exhibited significant hardening resulting in severe demands at the welds, hence increasing susceptibility to weld fracture and propagation through the column. The findings from this study point to the need, in jumbo sections with thick flanges, for a deeper RBS cut than currently specified in design, to about 66% of the total beam width. This modification would be required to promote a response governed by extensive yielding at the RBS while reducing the excessive strain demands at the beam-to-column welds. Moreover, for connections incorporating relatively deep columns, it is shown that more stringent design requirements need to be followed, combined with appropriate bracing outside the RBS, to avoid out-of-plane rotation

The influence of training load, exposure to match play and sleep duration on daily wellbeing measures in youth athletes

This study assessed the influence of training load, exposure to match play and sleep duration on two daily wellbeing measures in youth athletes. Forty-eight youth athletes (age 17.3 ± 0.5 years) completed a daily wellbeing questionnaire (DWB), the Perceived Recovery Status scale (PRS), and provided details on the previous day’s training loads (TL) and self-reported sleep duration (sleep) every day for 13 weeks (n = 2727). Linear mixed models assessed the effect of TL, exposure to match play and sleep on DWB and PRS. An increase in TL had a most likely small effect on muscle soreness (d = −0.43;± 0.10) and PRS (d = −0.37;± 0.09). Match play had a likely small additive effect on muscle soreness (d = −0.26;± 0.09) and PRS (d = −0.25;± 0.08). An increase in sleep had a most likely moderate effect on sleep quality (d = 0.80;± 0.14); a most likely small effect on DWB (d = 0.45;± 0.09) and fatigue (d = 0.42;± 0.11); and a likely small effect on PRS (d = 0.25;± 0.09). All other effects were trivial or did not reach the pre-determined threshold for practical significance. The influence of sleep on multiple DWB subscales and the PRS suggests that practitioners should consider the recovery of an athlete alongside the training stress imposed when considering deviations in wellbeing measures

Failure assessment of flat slab-to-column members

This paper is concerned with the ultimate behaviour of isolated flat slab members at the connection to interior columns. An experimental programme that focuses on the response of two-way members with various material and geometric configurations is presented. A full account of the results of ten scale tests comprising members with and without transverse reinforcement as double-headed shear studs is given. After describing the experimental arrangement and specimen details, the results and observations obtained from tests are provided and discussed. Particular attention is given to the influence of a number of key parameters that characterise the behaviour at the ultimate state such as slab thickness, layout and amount of the flexural and transverse reinforcement. The test results enable direct assessment of the governing factors that affect the behaviour and failure mode of flat slab members at the connection to interior columns. Finally, experimental results and observations are used to assess the adequacy of strength predictions obtained from analytical models currently adopted in design

Experimental and numerical simulations on RBS connections incorporating large sections

Recent experimental tests have shown that RBS connections incorporating Jumbo specimens meet the current seismic design qualification protocols, allowing to further extend the current seismic provisions for prequalified steel connections with possible applications of heavy steel sections beyond their current use in ultra-tall buildings. The experimental results and observations described in this paper enabled a better understanding of the structural behaviour of RBS connections made of heavy structural sections for application in seismic regions. How-ever, the results indicate that geometrical and material effects need to be carefully considered when designing welded RBS connections incorporating large steel profiles. To better interpret the experimental results, extensive detailed non-linear finite element simulations are conduct-ed on the entire series of tests, comprising of three large-scale specimens with distinct sizes. The analyses intend to clarify the scale effects that influence the performance of these connections, both at material and geometric level, and particularly to understand the balance in deformation between the column panel zones and the reduced beam section and level of stress within the main connection components. It is shown that the numerical models for all three specimens reproduce accurately the overall load-deformation and moment-rotation time history