Understanding children’s constructions of meanings about other children: implications for inclusiveeducation

This paper explores the factors that influence the way children construct meanings about other children, and especially those who seem to experience marginalisation, within school contexts. The research involved an ethnographic study in a primary school in Cyprus over a period of 5 months. Qualitative methods were used, particularly participant observations and interviews with children. Interpretation of the data suggests that children's perceptions about other children, and especially those who come to experience marginalisation, are influenced by the following factors: other children and the interactions between them; adults’ way of behaving in the school; the existing structures within the school; and the cultures of the school and the wider educational context. Even though the most powerful factor was viewed to be the adults’ influence, it was rather the interweaving between different factors that seemed to lead to the creation of particular meanings for other children. In the end, it is argued that children's voices should be seen as an essential element within the process of developing inclusive practices.<br/

Objectively Assessed Daily Steps—Not Light Intensity Physical Activity, Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity and Sedentary Time—Is Associated With Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Patients With Schizophrenia

People with schizophrenia often have an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle with low level of physical activity and poor cardiorespiratory fitness—an important predictor of cardiovascular disease. We investigated the relations between cardiorespiratory fitness and both sedentary time and different aspects of physical activity, such as daily steps, light intensity physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Using accelerometer as an objective measure of sedentary time and physical activity we estimated their relations to cardiorespiratory fitness in 62 patients with schizophrenia with roughly equal gender distribution, mean age of 36 and 15 years illness duration. We found a significant association between daily steps and cardiorespiratory fitness when accounting for gender, age, sedentary time, light intensity physical activity, and respiratory exchange ratio (maximal effort). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was not significantly associated with cardiorespiratory fitness. In conclusion, the amount of steps throughout the day contributes to cardiorespiratory fitness in people with schizophrenia, independently of light intensity physical activity and sedentary time. We did not find a significant relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness. This may have implications for the choice of strategies when helping patients with schizophrenia improve their cardiorespiratory fitness

Modelling of blood flow in blood vessels

Artykuł poświęcono modelowaniu przepływów krwi w tętnicach zdrowych i zwężonych w wyniku miażdżycy przy różnych wysokościach powstałych przewężeń. Część wstępna obejmuje kwestie dotyczące układu krwionośnego, krwi i chorób układu krążenia (miażdżycy). W części badawczej zaprezentowano zagadnienia dotyczące przygotowania modeli fizycznych tętnic oraz wyniki symulacji przepływu krwi. Przeprowadzone badania pozwoliły określić, jaki wpływ na prędkość przepływu, rozkład ciśnienia ma stopień zaawansowania miażdżycy.This article is about modelling of blood flow in healthy arteries and narrowed as a result of a atherosclerosis at different stages of its development. A preliminary section covers issues concerning cardiovascular system, blood and cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis and hypertension). The research presents issues related to physical models of arteries and blood flow simulations. Conducted examinations allowed to determine the effect of the severity of atherosclerosis on flow velocity and pressure distribution

Effects of high-intensity aerobic exercise on psychotic symptoms and neurocognition in outpatients with schizophrenia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background The focus in recent years on physical inactivity and metabolic disturbances in individuals with schizophrenia raises the question of potential effects of physical activity. Physical activity has shown beneficial effects on cognition in healthy older individuals as well as on symptom severity in depression. However, opinions diverge regarding whether aerobic high-intensity interval training reduces cognition and key symptoms in schizophrenia. The main objective for the trial is to investigate the potential effects of aerobic high-intensity interval training on neurocognitive function and mental symptoms in outpatients with schizophrenia. Methods/Design The trial is designed as a randomized controlled, observer-blinded clinical trial. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms with 12-week duration: aerobic high-intensity interval training or computer gaming skills training. All participants also receive treatment as usual. Primary outcome measure is neurocognitive function. Secondary outcome measures will be positive and negative symptoms, wellbeing, tobacco-smoking patterns and physiological/metabolic parameters. Patient recruitment takes place in catchment area-based outpatient clinics. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02205684. Registered 29 July 2014