Measuring athlete imagery ability: the Sport Imagery Ability Questionnaire

Based on literature identifying movement imagery, observation, and execution to elicit similar areas of neural activity, research has demonstrated movement imagery and observation to successfully prime movement execution. To investigate whether movement and observation could prime ease of imaging from an external visual imagery perspective, an internal visual imagery perspective, and kinaesthetic modality, 36 participants (M$_{age}$ = 20.58; SD = 3.11; 18 female, 18 male) completed the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 under four modes of delivery (movement prime, external observation prime, internal observation prime, and image-only). Results revealed ease of imaging was significantly greater during the movement and observation prime conditions compared to the image-only condition (p < .05). Specifically when priming external visual imagery and internal visual imagery, observation only facilitated ease of imaging when the perspective was congruent with the imagery perspective. Results support the utilization of movement and observation to facilitate ease of imaging, but highlight the importance of considering visual perspective when using observation

Habitat Segregation Among Songbirds in Old-Growth Boreal Mixedwood Forest

The foraging behaviour of ten species of insectivorous songbirds &mdash; Boreal Chickadee (Poecille hudsonicus), Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (R. calendula), Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius), Tennessee (Vermivora peregrina), Blackburnian (Dendroica fusca), Magnolia (D. magnolia), Yellow-rumped [Myrtle] (D. coronata), Black-throated Green (D. virens), and Bay-breasted (D. castanea) warblers &mdash; was observed in the boreal mixedwood forest of Prince Albert National Park in central Saskatchewan. Birds segregated their habitat use by preferentially foraging in different tree species, and through preferential use of different foraging locations (height and position) within trees.White Spruce (Picea glauca) was used more than expected by Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned kinglets. Tennessee and Magnolia warblers used White Birch (Betula papyrifera), more than expected and Boreal Chickadees and Blue-headed Vireos used Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) more than expected. Boreal Chickadees, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and Tennessee, Blackburnian and Yellow-rumped warblers all used the bottom part of trees less than expected, while Blueheaded Vireos foraged near the top of trees less than expected. Large inner branches were avoided by Tennessee, Blackburnian and Yellow-rumped warblers, while Bay-breasted Warblers and Blue-headed Vireos avoided small outer twigs. In conifers, Blackburnian Warblers foraged significantly higher in the trees than all other species except Black-throated Green and Baybreasted warblers. Blackburnian Warblers also foraged significantly higher than Blue-headed Vireos and Magnolia Warblers in deciduous trees

Prevalence, incidence and etiology of hyponatremia in elderly patients with fragility fractures

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Thermonuclear burst physics with RXTE

Recently we have made measurements of thermonuclear burst energetics and recurrence times which are unprecedented in their precision, largely thanks to the sensitivity of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. In the "Clocked Burster", GS 1826-24, hydrogen burns during the burst via the rapid-proton (rp) process, which has received particular attention in recent years through theoretical and modelling studies. The burst energies and the measured variation of alpha (the ratio of persistent to burst flux) with accretion rate strongly suggests solar metallicity in the neutron star atmosphere, although this is not consistent with the corresponding variation of the recurrence time. Possible explanations include extra heating between the bursts, or a change in the fraction of the neutron star over which accretion takes place. I also present results from 4U 1746-37, which exhibits regular burst trains which are interrupted by "out of phase" bursts.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, AIP conference proceedings format. To appear in the proceedings of the "X-ray Timing 2003: Rossi and Beyond" meeting held in Cambridge, MA, November, 200

Prognosis of hyponatremia in elderly patients with fragility fractures

Funding This work is supported by an NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Career Research Fellowship to Dr Soiza.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Superbursts from Strange Stars

Recent models of carbon ignition on accreting neutron stars predict superburst ignition depths that are an order of magnitude larger than observed. We explore a possible solution to this problem, that the compact stars in low mass X-ray binaries that have shown superbursts are in fact strange stars with a crust of normal matter. We calculate the properties of superbursts on strange stars, and the resulting constraints on the properties of strange quark matter. We show that the observed ignition conditions exclude fast neutrino emission in the quark core, for example by the direct Urca process, which implies that strange quark matter at stellar densities should be in a color superconducting state. For slow neutrino emission in the quark matter core, we find that reproducing superburst properties requires a definite relation between three poorly constrained properties of strange quark matter: its thermal conductivity, its slow neutrino emissivity and the energy released by converting a nucleon into strange quark matter.Comment: 4 pages, submitted to Ap. J. Let

Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction, Stress-Related Appraisals, and Dancers’ Cortisol and Anxiety Responses \ud

Self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) posits basic psychological need satisfaction (BPNS) as essential for optimal functioning and health. Grounded in this framework, the current study examined the role of BPNS in dancers’ cognitive appraisals and hormonal and emotional responses to performance stress. Dancers reported their degree of BPNS 1 month before a solo performance. Threat and challenge appraisals of the solo were recorded 2 hr before the performance. Salivary cortisol and anxiety were measured 15 min before, and 15, 30, 45, and 60 min postperformance. Higher BPNS was associated with lower cortisol responses and anxiety intensity. Challenge appraisals mediated the association between BPNS and cortisol. Threat appraisals mediated the BPNS–anxiety intensity relationship. These findings point to the potential importance of performers’ BPNS for optimal emotional and hormonal homeostasis in performance conditions.\ud \u