Initial Validation of the Teacher-Created Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire in Physical Education

Purpose: Guided by Duda’s hierarchical conceptualization of the motivational climate that draws from self-determination and achievement goal theories, this study provides initial evidence of the psychometric properties of the Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire in physical education (EDMCQ-PE). Method: Questionnaire based with two samples of Welsh secondary school pupils. Results: Exploratory structural equation modeling provided a better fit of the data to the hypothesized model than confirmatory factor analysis. Moreover, a two-factor composite (i.e., empowering and disempowering) lower-order model provided an acceptable fit and clear parameter estimates. This two-factor model also demonstrated scalar gender measurement invariance. Discussion: The evidence from this study suggests the EDMCQ-PE is a promising scale for the assessment of secondary school pupils’ perceptions of the empowering and disempowering features of the motivational climate created by their physical education teachers. Conclusion: Moving forward, the statistical approach employed in this paper can inform future studies that develop questionnaire methodology in physical education and from an applied perspective; the EDMCQ-PE can be used by researchers and teachers to assess the motivational climate in PE and help inform the pedagogy underpinning teachers’ classes

Measurement of eroded dentine tubule patency and roughness following novel dab-on or brushing abrasion

Objectives To investigate the effect of dab-on or brushing of stannous-fluoride SnF2 or sodium-fluoride NaF dentifrice on eroded dentine tubule patency, surface and inter-tubular dentine roughness, using Confocal-Laser-Scanning-Microscopy (CLSM), Atomic-Force-Microscopy (AFM), Energy-Dispersive-X-ray-Spectroscopy (EDX), Scanning-Electron-Microscopy (SEM) and Contact-Profilometry (CP). Methods 75-polished human dentine samples were prepared and eroded in agitated 6% citric acid to expose patent tubules and ‘initiate’ DH. Samples were randomly allocated into 5 intervention groups; artificial saliva control (1); electric tooth-brushing with NaF (2) or SnF2 (3), and dab-on application of NaF (4) or SnF2 (5). Samples underwent three cycles of intervention followed by further acid challenge. Patent tubules, likely to cause DH clinically, were measured using validated biocomputational methods with CLSM images of dentine surfaces taken baseline and post-intervention. Randomised samples (n = 15, 20 %) were investigated using AFM, EDX and SEM to study surface and sub-surface tubular occlusion. Dentine surface and inter-tubular roughness were measured using CP and AFM respectively. Results At baseline, mean tubule patency in all samples was 216 (SD 58) with no significant inter-group differences. Post-intervention, the mean patency was 220 (40) and 208 (35) in groups 1 and 2 respectively (p ≥ 0.06), but decreased to 62 (41), 62 (21) and 63 (19) in groups 3, 4 and 5 respectively (p < 0.0001). Patency was confirmed using AFM, SEM and EDX. SnF2 interventions created greater sub-surface occlusion (p < 0.01), and increased CP surface roughness (p = 0.015). Significant negative correlation (-0.6) existed between CP surface roughness and tubule patency (p = 0.009). Conclusions Dab-on with NaF and SnF2 or brushing with SnF2 reduces DH in eroded dentine with ongoing acid challenges. Contacting surface roughness measures indicate risk of DH. Clinical significance Dab-on is a convenient supplementary method of dentifrice application to reduce DH; it beneficially avoids brushing post-erosion or overzealous brushing, enables re-establishment of an appropriate brushing regime post-DH and supports oral health. Significant modes of action of SnF2 in reducing DH are revealed. Finally, CP roughness measures provide indication of dentine lesions that may cause DH clinically

Empowering youth sport environments: Implications for daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and adiposity

AbstractBackgroundEvidence suggests involvement in youth sport does not guarantee daily guidelines for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) are met, and participation may not mitigate the risks associated with physical inactivity. The need to promote higher habitual MVPA engagement amongst children active in the youth sport context has therefore been underlined. Framed by self-determination theory, the aim of the present study was to examine the implications of the motivational climate created in youth sport, for children's daily engagement in MVPA and associated adiposity. Specifically, we sought to test a motivational sequence in which children's perceptions of an empowering coach-created motivational climate were related to autonomous and controlled motivation, which in turn predicted sport-related enjoyment. Finally, enjoyment is assumed to predict accelerometer assessed daily MVPA and, following this, adiposity.MethodsMale and female youth sport participants aged 9–16 years (n = 112) completed multi-section questionnaires assessing their perceptions of the motivational climate created in youth sport (i.e., autonomy supportive, task involving, socially supportive), autonomous and controlled motivation, and sport-related enjoyment. Daily MVPA engagement was determined via 7 days of accelerometry. Percent body fat (BF%) was estimated using bio-electrical impedance analysis.ResultsPath analysis revealed perceptions of an empowering motivational climate positively predicted players' autonomous motivation, and in turn, sport-related enjoyment. Enjoyment was also significantly negatively related to players' BF%, via a positive association with daily MVPA.ConclusionFostering more empowering youth sport environments may hold implications for the prevention of excess adiposity, through encouraging higher habitual MVPA engagement. Findings may inform the optimal design of youth sport settings for MVPA promotion, and contribute towards associated healthy weight maintenance amongst youth active in this context. Longitudinal and intervention studies are required to confirm these results

Lateral femoral traction pin entry: risk to the femoral artery and other medial neurovascular structures

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Femoral skeletal traction assists in the reduction and transient stabilization of pelvic, acetabular, hip, and femoral fractures when splinting is ineffective. Traditional teaching has recommended a medial entry site for insertion of the traction pin in order to minimize injury to the femoral artery as it passes through Hunter's canal. The present anatomical study evaluates the risk to the femoral artery and other medial neurovascular structures using a lateral entry approach.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Six embalmed cadavers (twelve femurs) were obtained for dissection. Steinman pins were drilled from lateral to medial at the level of the superior pole of the patella, at 2 cm, and at 4 cm proximal to this point. Medial superficial dissection was then performed to identify the saphenous nerve, the superior medial geniculate artery, the adductor hiatus, the tendinous insertion of the adductor magnus and the femoral artery. Measurements localizing these anatomic structures relative to the pins were obtained.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The femoral artery was relatively safe and was no closer than 29.6 mm (mean) from any of the three Steinman pins. The superior medial geniculate artery was the medial structure at most risk.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Lateral femoral traction pin entry is a safe procedure with minimal risk to the saphenous nerve and femoral artery. Of the structures examined, only the superior medial geniculate artery is at a risk of iatrogenic injury due to its position. The incidence of such injury in clinical practice and its clinical significance is not known. Lateral insertion facilitates traction pin placement since it minimizes the need to move the contralateral extremity out of the way of the drilling equipment or the need to elevate or externally rotate the injured extremity relative to the contralateral extremity.</p

Measurement invariance of the empowering and disempowering motivational climate questionnaire-coach in youth sport

The purpose of this study was to test the measurement invariance (across five languages, two time points, and two experimental conditions) of the empowering and disempowering motivational climate questionnaire-coach (EDMCQ-C; ) when completed by 9256 young sport participants (M age = 11.53 years, SD = 1.39 years; 13.5% female). Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the validity of a 2-factor (empowering and disempowering) model running a multiple group analysis without any equality constraint (configural invariance) followed by measurement invariance of factor loadings and thresholds (scalar invariance). Findings provided support for partial invariance across languages and scalar invariance across time and experimental groups. The factors were interpretable across the analyses, and items loaded as intended by theory except for item 15. This study provides further evidence regarding the psychometric properties of the EDMCQ-C and suggests this scale (minus item 15) can be used to provide meaningful latent mean comparisons () of empowering and disempowering coach-created climates across athletes speaking the five targeted languages, across time, and across experimental groups

Children’s views on research without prior consent in emergency situations:a UK qualitative study

Objectives We explored children’s views on research without prior consent (RWPC) and sought to identify ways of involving children in research discussions. Design Qualitative interview study. Setting Participants were recruited through a UK children’s hospital and online advertising. Participants 16 children aged 7–15 years with a diagnosis of asthma (n=14) or anaphylaxis (n=2) with recent (<12 months) experience of emergency care. Results Children were keen to be included in medical research and viewed RWPC as acceptable in emergency situations if trial interventions were judged safe. Children trusted that doctors would know about their trial participation and act in their best interests. All felt that children should be informed about the research following their recovery and involved in discussions with a clinician or their parent(s) about the use of data already collected as well as continued participation in the trial (if applicable). Participants suggested methods to inform children about their trial participation including an animation. Conclusions Children supported, and were keen to be involved in, clinical trials in emergency situations. We present guidance and an animation that practitioners and parents might use to involve children in trial discussions following their recovery

Conventional and microwave-assisted pyrolysis of biomass under different heating rates

Biomass was subjected to conventional and microwave pyrolysis, to determine the influence of each process on the yield and composition of the derived gas, oil and char products. The influence of pyrolysis temperature and heating rate for the conventional pyrolysis and the microwave power was investigated. Two major stages of gas release were observed during biomass pyrolysis, the first being CO/CO and the second one CH/H. This two-stage gas release was much more obvious for the conventional pyrolysis. While similar yield of liquid was obtained for both cases of conventional and microwave pyrolysis (∼46 wt.%), higher gas yield was produced for the conventional pyrolysis; it is suggested that microwave pyrolysis is much faster. When the heating rate was increased, the peak release of CO and CO was moved to higher reaction temperature for both conventional (500 °C) and microwave pyrolysis (200 °C). The production of CH and H were very low at a conventional pyrolysis temperature of 310 °C and microwave pyrolysis temperature of 200 °C (600 and 900 W). However, at higher heating rate of microwave pyrolysis, clear release of CH was observed. This work tentatively demonstrates possible connections and difference for biomass pyrolysis using two different heating resources (conventional and microwave heating)

Using Football Cultures as a Vehicle to Improve Mental Health in Men: The Case of the Redcar and Cleveland Boot Room

This paper sets out to appraise (from the perspective of members) the impact of a localized, football-based mental health intervention. Commissioned in late 2015, the ‘Redcar and Cleveland Boot Room (BR)’ was implemented in response to mass redundancy in the local area, coupled with regional suicide rates in men that exceed the national average. Interactive discussions with BR members revealed that: (a) the language of football and shared identity were important for initiating and sustaining engagement in the BR; (b) peer-support and mentoring combined with member-led activities were active ingredients of the BR and (c) that the BR was an effective vehicle for building mental health resilience. This evaluation adds to the evidence base on the value of football as a context to engage adult males in community-based interventions targeting mental health resilience