The association between cardiorespiratory fitness and performance in a submaximal stepping test standardised for external workload

Submaximal step tests are used to predict maximal oxygen consumption and work capacity. However, if the external workload is not controlled the interpretation of the test results may be inaccurate. The purpose of the research was to develop a submaximal test of cardiorespiratory fitness using a novel step test designed specifically to overcome the weaknesses of the previously published step tests. A series of studies contributed to the theoretical development of the submaximal step protocol, piloting the protocol, reliability studies, validation of the protocol and finally a cross-validation of the protocol. The first study tested the hypothesis that stepping tests configured for the same external workload, but varying in stepping frequency, elicit the same physiological stress. Participants (n = 31) performed three step tests at 16, 20 and 24 steps per minutes in random order. External workload was standardised at 45 kJ. Energy expenditure, heart rate recovery, rating of perceived exertion, maximum heart rate and total heart beats were significantly different between tests (p < 0.05) with the biggest differences occurring between 16 and 24 steps per minute. Maximum heart rate as a percentage of age predicted heart rate increased from 70% at 16 steps per minute to 81% at 24 steps per minute. The study concluded that standardisation of external workload with different exercise intensities does not result in the same physiological responses. The second study tested the reliability of the step test. Participants (n = 34) performed a step test three times in a week at a cadence of their choice (16, 20 or 24 steps per minute). The study showed that the step test is repeatable for most variables measured and therefore is a reliable test of fitness. The third study used the outcome variables measured during the step test to develop equations which predicted VO₂max measured directly in a maximal test on a treadmill. A diverse sample of participants (n = 273), differing in sex, level of habitual physical activity and age were recruited for the study. Several models for predicting VO₂max were determined. The most parsimonious equation was: VO₂max (ml.kg⁻¹.min⁻¹) = -0.10911 (age) - 0.06178 (body mass) - 0.75481 (body fat %) +0.00208 (METS) + 0.11636 (HRR) - 0.019551 (MHR) + 0.07955 (Av HR) + 83.34846 (R² = 0.75, standard error of estimate = 5.51 ml.kg.min⁻¹) where METS is metabolic equivalent, HRR is heart rate recovery, MHR is maximum heart rate and Av HR is average heart rate. Cross validation was done (n = 50) to test the accuracy of the prediction equation. The relationship between the predicted VO₂max and the measured VO₂max was r = 0.87. In conclusion the standardised step test can predict VO₂max in a heterogeneous population of males and females, varied ages (20 to 60 years), physical activity levels and fitness levels

'Vernacular Voices: Black British Poetry'

ABSTRACT Black British poetry is the province of experimenting with voice and recording rhythms beyond the iambic pentameter. Not only in performance poetry and through the spoken word, but also on the page, black British poetry constitutes and preserves a sound archive of distinct linguistic varieties. In Slave Song (1984) and Coolie Odyssey (1988), David Dabydeen employs a form of Guyanese Creole in order to linguistically render and thus commemorate the experience of slaves and indentured labourers, respectively, with the earlier collection providing annotated translations into Standard English. James Berry, Louise Bennett, and Valerie Bloom adapt Jamaican Patois to celebrate Jamaican folk culture and at times to represent and record experiences and linguistic interactions in the postcolonial metropolis. Grace Nichols and John Agard use modified forms of Guyanese Creole, with Nichols frequently constructing gendered voices whilst Agard often celebrates linguistic playfulness. The borders between linguistic varieties are by no means absolute or static, as the emergence and marked growth of ‘London Jamaican’ (Mark Sebba) indicates. Asian British writer Daljit Nagra takes liberties with English for different reasons. Rather than having recourse to established Creole languages, and blending them with Standard English, his heteroglot poems frequently emulate ‘Punglish’, the English of migrants whose first language is Punjabi. Whilst it is the language prestige of London Jamaican that has been significantly enhanced since the 1990s, a fact not only confirmed by linguistic research but also by its transethnic uses both in the streets and on the page, Nagra’s substantial success and the mainstream attention he receives also indicate the clout of vernacular voices in poetry. They have the potential to connect with oral traditions and cultural memories, to record linguistic varieties, and to endow ‘street cred’ to authors and texts. In this chapter, these double-voiced poetic languages are also read as signs of resistance against residual monologic ideologies of Englishness. © Book proposal (02/2016): The Cambridge History of Black and Asian British Writing p. 27 of 4

Forging connections: anthologies, arts collectives, and the politics of inclusion

The changing social and political landscape of twentieth-century Britain catalysed a remarkable rise in collaborative activity by artists and activists of black and Asian heritage. Creative communities began to gather in both local and regional contexts, with the aim of sharing resources and securing an audience. This chapter records some of these many activities, tracing the groups’ genesis, manifest objectives, and key contributions. It argues that anthologising should be understood as a specifically motivated activity. Literary anthologies of poetry and fiction served to showcase the diversity of contemporary writing, while also suggesting its coherence. Drawing on the concept of “strategic essentialism” elucidated by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, I show that the anthology acts to ensure the visibility of a group, bannered as a unified and singly-titled selection of texts, while also insisting on the differences within: the heterogeneous multiplicity of black and Asian British experiences and creative practices

Internal savings and lending scheme for ensuring sustainable agricultural development in rural areas: A case of Chimanimani District.

Internal Savings and Lending Schemes has become very important in global poverty reduction. The popular hypothesis is that by enabling rural poor households access to loans and savings enables poor households begin micro enterprises which would help them improve their income generation and escape poverty eventually. The chief research objective of this dissertation was to examine the role played by internal savings and lending schemes in rural areas, as a way of ensuring sustainable Agricultural development. The study is an investigational case of Chimanimani District where participants in internal savings and lending schemes was studied acquiring a rich pooled data for analysis. The results indicate a positive and significant impact of internal savings and lending schemes on household agriculture, productivity, durable assets acquisition and food security. On the other hand the research emphasizes that there is need to expand information dissemination channel, use of holistic and coordinated strategy as part of recommendations

Internal savings and lending scheme for ensuring sustainable agricultural development in rural areas: A case of Chimanimani District.

Internal Savings and Lending Schemes has become very important in global poverty reduction. The popular hypothesis is that by enabling rural poor households access to loans and savings enables poor households begin micro enterprises which would help them improve their income generation and escape poverty eventually. The chief research objective of this dissertation was to examine the role played by internal savings and lending schemes in rural areas, as a way of ensuring sustainable Agricultural development. The study is an investigational case of Chimanimani District where participants in internal savings and lending schemes was studied acquiring a rich pooled data for analysis. The results indicate a positive and significant impact of internal savings and lending schemes on household agriculture, productivity, durable assets acquisition and food security. On the other hand the research emphasizes that there is need to expand information dissemination channel, use of holistic and coordinated strategy as part of recommendations

An evaluation of stakeholder coordination in donor-funded programs in Zimbabwe’s health sector: A case of HIV/AIDS Pima CD4 technology

Many multi-donor funded programs in Zimbabwe do not achieve optimal resource utilization and program sustainability due to poor field-level stakeholder coordination, consequentially resulting in low beneficiary and donor accountability by the program implementing partners. The dissertation was based on the evaluation of stakeholder coordination in donor-funded programs in the Zimbabwe’s health sector; a case of HIV/AIDS Pima CD4 Technology. The main research question was whether field-level stakeholder coordination will foster optimum use of scarce resources.The research findings have demonstrated that well-informed cross-functional resource sharing networks bring efficacy in programming through shared skills, financial, material and information resources. The research objectives were achieved and empirical evidence has shown that field-level stakeholder coordination also can foster compliance to international programming standards. The research findings have also demonstrated that a centralised coordinated approach by implementing partners fosters program sustainability, institutional memory retention and increase the attainment of the program goals. The complex adaptive systems (CAS) coordinating board evolve internally, with member organisations forming the sub-systems, and adapt to non-linear external operating environment. The research methodology which was used was triangulation of methodologies which justifies the researcher’s philosophy of realism. For the qualitative and quantitative data required, the research used mixed methods approach(data abstraction, surveys, observations, focus group discussions and interviews methods). Nevertheless, due to the time, scope and resource constraints, the researcher used primary data for the qualitative data and secondary quantitative data. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with management and program specialist. The interviews were tape recorded and transcribed, hand coded and categorized and analyzed using content analysis method. The qualitative data from the secondary source was analyzed using SPSS, and chi-square test was used to measure variable dependency

Internal savings and lending scheme for ensuring sustainable agricultural development in rural areas: A case of Chimanimani District.

Internal Savings and Lending Schemes has become very important in global poverty reduction. The popular hypothesis is that by enabling rural poor households access to loans and savings enables poor households begin micro enterprises which would help them improve their income generation and escape poverty eventually. The chief research objective of this dissertation was to examine the role played by internal savings and lending schemes in rural areas, as a way of ensuring sustainable Agricultural development. The study is an investigational case of Chimanimani District where participants in internal savings and lending schemes was studied acquiring a rich pooled data for analysis. The results indicate a positive and significant impact of internal savings and lending schemes on household agriculture, productivity, durable assets acquisition and food security. On the other hand the research emphasizes that there is need to expand information dissemination channel, use of holistic and coordinated strategy as part of recommendations