Differences in the domains of achievement motivation based on gender and developmental group

The following study examined differences in domains of achievement motivation based on gender and developmental group. Participants included 129 males and females. The developmental groups in this study consisted of preadolescents (9-12 years) and adolescents (18-19 years). Participants were administered a demographics form and the Achievement Motivation Profile (AMP: Friedland, Mandel, & Marcus, 1996). A 2 x 2 MANOVA was used to analyze differences in achievement motivation domains (Achiever, Motivation, Competitiveness, and Goal Orientation) based on gender and developmental group. It was hypothesized that males would score higher than females on Competitiveness, while females would score higher than males on Achiever. Additionally, it was expected that preadolescents would score higher on Motivation than adolescents, and adolescents would score higher on Goal Orientation than preadolescents. Results revealed a statistically significant difference between males and females on Achiever, Goal Orientation and Motivation. There were no interaction effects (between gender and developmental group) or main effects for developmental group observed. Implications and directions for future research will be discussed in the paper

Examining how children\u27s gender influences parents’ perceptions of the local environment and their influence on children\u27s independent mobility

Physical inactivity among children is a public health concern. Children\u27s ability to travel independently is associated with increased physical activity and social connectedness. Consequently, it is concerning that children\u27s independent mobility has decreased in recent years. Studies have highlighted that rates of independent mobility vary by gender; this study analyzed how correlates of independent mobility vary between boys (n = 476) and girls (n = 618) attending 32 elementary schools in Southwestern Ontario. Hierarchical logistic regression modeling methods were used. All analyzes were stratified by gender. For boys, age was negatively associated with travel with peers. Having one or more siblings of any age was associated with increased travel with peers and having one or more older/same siblings decreased the likelihood of travel alone. Parents’ perceptions of the journey being too far/taking too much time was negatively associated with boys’ traveling alone. In comparison, age was positively associated with traveling alone for girls. Having one or more younger or older/same siblings were associated with decreased traveling alone, while older/same age siblings were positively associated with traveling with peers. Distance was negatively associated with both traveling with peers and alone. For girls, parents’ perceptions of the journey between home and school being easier to drive and having enough walking trails in the neighbourhood were negatively associated with travel alone and with peers, respectively. The findings of this study can aid in informing future interventions targeting children\u27s school travel and help address inequities in independent mobility between boys and girls

Examining factors of accelerometer-measured sedentary time in a sample of rural Canadian children

The aim of this study was to examine potential child-level and day-level factors of accelerometer-measured sedentary time in a sample of rural Canadian children. Children (n = 86) from rural Northwestern Ontario participated in this study. Children’s sedentary times were identified and logged using an accelerometer. Child-level data (socio-demographic, household, and environment) came from surveys of children and their parents and a passively logging global positioning unit. Day-level data on day type (weekday/weekend) and weather (temperature, precipitation) were based on the dates of data collection and meteorological data came from the closest Environment Canada weather station. Cross-classified regression models were used to assess the relationship between child-level and day-level correlates of sedentary time. Boys were less sedentary than girls (b = −30.53 p = 0.01). For each one-year age increase, children’s sedentary time increased (b = 12.79 p \u3c 0.01). This study indicates a difference in sedentary time based on a child’s age and gender. However, family, environmental, and weather characteristics did not influence sedentary time in this sample. Health practitioners who deliver care for northern rural youth can provide targeted health advice regarding sedentary time and consider gender and age to be risk factors for these behaviors

Measuring temporal differences in rural canadian children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity

The purpose of this study was to measure the factors that influence children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during school curriculum time, recess time, and outside school time in a rural area. During the Fall and Winter of 2016, 34 boys and 55 girls aged 8–14 years from rural communities in rural Northwestern Ontario participated in the Spatial Temporal Environment and Activity Monitoring project. The children’s MVPA was measured using an accelerometer, and child-level demographic, behavioral, and environmental data were gathered from surveys, passively logging global positioning units, and municipal datasets. Data on daily temperature and precipitation were gathered from the closest Environment Canada weather station. A mixed model was used to assess the relationship between child-and day-level factors and children’s MVPA. On average, children were getting 12.9 min of MVPA during recess, 17.7 min during curriculum time, and 29.0 min of MVPA outside school time. During all three time points, boys were more active than girls. During curriculum time, children in lower grades were more active, and the weather had differing impacts depending on the time of day. The findings of this study illustrate the differences in MVPA and the factors that influence MVPA by time of day. Examining different time segments provides valuable information for understanding children’s MVPA patterns

Fast Motions of Key Methyl Groups in Amyloid-beta Fibrils

Amyloid-beta (A beta) peptide is the major component of plaques found in Alzheimer\u27s disease patients. Using solid-state H-2 NMR relaxation performed on selectively deuterated methyl groups, we probed the dynamics in the threefold symmetric and twofold symmetric polymorphs of native A beta as well as the protofibrils of the D23N mutant. Specifically, we investigated the methyl groups of two leucine residues that belong to the hydrophobic core (L17 and L34) as well as M35 residues belonging to the hydrophobic interface between the cross-beta subunits, which has been previously found to be water-accessible. Relaxation measurements performed over 310-140 K and two magnetic field strengths provide insights into conformational variability within and between polymorphs. Core packing variations within a single polymorph are similar to what is observed for globular proteins for the core residues, whereas M35 exhibits a larger degree of variability. M35 site is also shown to undergo a solvent dependent dynamical transition in which slower amplitude motions of methyl axes are activated at high temperature. The motions, modeled as a diffusion of methyl axis, have activation energy by a factor of 2.7 larger in the twofold compared with the threefold polymorph, whereas D23N protofibrils display a value similar to the threefold polymorph. This suggests enhanced flexibility of the hydrophobic interface in the threefold polymorph. This difference is only observed in the hydrated state and is absent in the dry fibrils, highlighting the role of solvent at the cavity. In contrast, the dynamic behavior of the core is hydration-independent