Urban consumers\u2019 attitudes and willingness to pay for functional foods in Iran: A case of dietary sugar

Growing concerns for the incidence of incurable diseases and high costs of health care have attracted consumers to functional foods in the world. These foods are characterized with health improvement, lower risk of disease incidence and less health hazards. The present work examined consumers' attitude and willingness to pay for dietary sugar in Rasht city, Iran. The studied sample included 125 citizens of Rasht in spring and summer of 2016 whose size was determined by Mitchell and Carson approach. Results of contingent valuation method on the basis of one-and-one-half-bound choice model revealed that the descriptive variable of bid had negative, statistically significant impact on the acceptance of bid by participants. In addition, the descriptive variables of respondent's age, educational level, family size, monthly income of the family, record of diabetes in family, healthy purchase attitude, and attitude towards the benefits of dietary sugar had positive, significant influence on bid acceptance. Participants expressed their willingness to pay 35.59% extra for dietary sugar as compared to conventional sugar

An actionable knowledge discovery system in regular sports services

This work presents an actionable knowledge discovery system for real user needs with three steps. In the first step, it extracts and transforms existing data in the databases of the ERP and CRM systems of the sports facilities and loads them into a Data Warehouse. In a second phase, predictive models are applied to identify profiles more susceptible to abandonment. Finally, in the third phase, based on the previous models, experimental planning is carried out, with test and control groups, in order to find concrete actions for customer retention.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Extracting actionable knowledge to increase business utility in sport services

The increase in retention of customer in gyms and health clubs is nowadays a challenge that requires concrete and personalized actions. Traditional data mining studies focused essentially on predictive analytics, neglecting the business domain. This work presents an actionable knowledge discovery system which uses the following pipeline (data collection, predictive model, loyalty actions). In the first step, it extracts and transforms existing real data from databases of the sports facilities. In a second step, predictive models are applied to identify user profiles more susceptible to dropout. Actionable rules are generated based on actionable attributes that should be avoided, in order to increase retention. Finally, in the third step, based on the previous actionable knowledge, experimental planning is carried out, with test and control groups, in order to find the best loyalty actions for customer retention. This document presents a simulation and the measure of the business utility of an actions sequence to avoid dropout.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Qualitative and quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in untreated wastewater in Western Cape Province, South Africa

Recent studies have shown that the detection of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in wastewater may provide the basis for a surveillance system to track the environmental dissemination of this virus in communities. An effective wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) system may prove critical in South Africa (SA), where health systems infrastructure, testing capacity, personal protective equipment and human resource capacity are constrained. In this proof-of-concept study, we investigated the potential of SARS-CoV-2 RNA surveillance in untreated wastewater as the basis for a system to monitor COVID-19 prevalence in the population, an early warning system for increased transmission, and a monitoring system to assess the effectiveness of interventions. The laboratory confirmed the presence (qualitative analysis) and determined the RNA copy number of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (quantitative) analysis from 24-hour composite samples collected on 18 June 2020 from five wastewater treatment plants in Western Cape Province, SA. The study has shown that a WBE system for monitoring the status and trends of COVID-19 mass infection in SA is viable, and its development and implementation may facilitate the rapid identification of hotspots for evidence-informed interventions

Wastewater-based epidemiology in hazard forecasting and early-warning systems for global health risks

With the advent of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) has been applied to track community infection in cities worldwide and has proven succesful as an early warning system for identification of hotspots and changingprevalence of infections (both symptomatic and asymptomatic) at a city or sub-city level. Wastewater is only one of environmental compartments that requires consideration. In this manuscript, we have critically evaluated the knowledge-base and preparedness for building early warning systems in a rapidly urbanising world, with particular attention to Africa, which experiences rapid population growth and urbanisation. We have proposed a Digital Urban Environment Fingerprinting Platform (DUEF) – a new approach in hazard forecasting and early-warning systems for global health risks and an extension to the existing concept of smart cities. The urban environment (especially wastewater) contains a complex mixture of substances including toxic chemicals, infectious biological agents and human excretion products. DUEF assumes that these specific endo- and exogenous residues, anonymously pooled by communities’ wastewater, are indicative of community-wide exposure and the resulting effects. DUEF postulates that the measurement of the substances continuously and anonymously pooled by the receiving environment (sewage, surface water, soils and air), can provide near real-time dynamic information about the quantity and type of physical, biological or chemical stressors to which the surveyed systems are exposed, and can create a risk profile on the potential effects of these exposures. Successful development and utilisation of a DUEF globally requires a tiered approach including: Stage I: network building, capacity building, stakeholder engagement as well as a conceptual model, followed by Stage II: DUEF development, Stage III: implementation, and Stage IV: management and utilization. We have identified four key pillars required for the establishment of a DUEF framework: (1) Environmental fingerprints, (2) Socioeconomic fingerprints, (3) Statistics and modelling and (4) Information systems. This manuscript critically evaluates the current knowledge base within each pillar and provides recommendations for further developments with an aim of laying grounds for successful development of global DUEF platforms

Design and preliminary validation of the Barriers to Sports Coaching Questionnaire for Women in South Africa: An application of the ecological model

The purpose of this study was to develop and preliminarily validate a questionnaire to examine barriers to coaching that are encountered by women sports coaches in South Africa. Two series of studies were conducted to assess content and face validity, factorial structure, and reliability of a new questionnaire. In study one, 40 items were developed based on LaVoi and Dutove’s ecological model of barriers and supports for female coaches and a thorough literature review. A panel of experts was employed to explore content validity and suitability of the provisional items. In study two, an initial 35-item questionnaire (the Barriers to Sports Coaching Questionnaire for Women; BSCQW) was administered to 152 women sports coaches who were working in South Africa. Principal component analysis was used to reduce items and determine the factorial structure of the questionnaire. Analyses resulted in a 32-item BSCQW, which consists of intrapersonal, interpersonal, organisational, and socio-cultural barriers to coaching. The most proximal barriers were organisational (M = 2.71, SD = 1.24) and interpersonal (M = 2.22, SD = 1.04). The findings indicate that the overall internal consistency of the BSCQW was .81, demonstrating that the questionnaire was reliable. Thus, BSCQW is a valid tool to assess barriers experienced by women sports coaches in South Africa. Further rigorous psychometric assessments are warranted

Public opinion towards ‘unhealthy’ sponsorship of sporting events in South Africa: An exploratory study

Key public health concerns surrounding the marketing of tobacco, alcohol and fast-food products include misuse and poor nutrition. Sports sponsorship has frequently been used as one of the marketing tools by alcohol, tobacco and fast-food companies to penetrate a vulnerable market. The current study questions whether it is morally acceptable for sporting events to involve sponsors that promote products that are considered non-nutritional and those that are linked to ‘unhealthy’ practices. Hence, the purpose of the study was to elicit the perceptions of a diverse group of participants regarding the appropriateness of three different sport sponsors, namely, alcohol, fast food and soft-drink companies, and to determine whether respondents varied in theirperceptions of such sponsorships according to the demographics of gender, alcohol consumption, smoking, eating, and exercise habits. The secondary objective was to examine whether there were any significant differences among respondents’ exercise habits and their perceptions ofalcohol, fast foods and soft-drink companies as sponsors of sport events. A quantitative empirical design was used for the research. A structured questionnaire was administered by trained fieldworkers to university students, health and fitness club members, and older adults (n = 404).Frequencies were used to report on the responses of the participants regarding the appropriateness of the different types of sponsors. In order to assess whether male and female respondents differed in their perceptions on whether beer, liquor, fast foods and food and snackcompanies make appropriate sponsors for sport events, a non-parametric test was conducted. The results indicate that both gender groups do not vary in their perceptions on whether beer, liquor, fast foods and food and snack companies are appropriate sponsors for sport events. However, it isof great concern that many sport events are associated with ‘unhealthy’ products which do not send relevant messages to consumers

Retaining sport volenteers: An exploratory study of volenteer motives

No Abstract. AJPHERD Vol. 14 (1) 2008 pp. 19-3

Parental involvement in recreational activities of children with intellectual disabilities: A case study of the Thabo Vuyo school for learners with special educational needs (LSEN)

An important group of people within a society are those with disabilities. This group includes people with physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, visual impairment, auditory impairment and a combination of any of the aforementioned disabilities. The focus of this study is on children with special educational needs; that is, those who are intellectually disabled and experience learning difficulties. Recreational activities are the ideal vehicles to foster improved relationships with peers with intellectual disabilities, as well as those without intellectual disabilities. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of parents in the recreational activities of their children and the extent to which parents of intellectually disabled children are involved in the recreational activities of their children. An extensive literature review on children with intellectual difficulties was conducted. In addition, the study adopted a qualitative approachto access data from both staff of the Thabo Vuyo School and parents of children with intellectual difficulties with regard to the involvement of parents in the recreation activities of children at the school. Two focus group discussions, each lasting between 45 and 60 minutes, were conducted separately with educators and parents. Each group consisted of seven participants. The scope of the focus group discussions was to elicit responses from both groups regarding their perceptions of parental involvement in the recreation activities of learners at that school. The data were analysed using the immersion and crystallisation technique, which involved organising the data, examining the text thoroughly and then crystallising the most important aspects. Recurring aspects of ways in which parents were involved in the recreational activities of their childrenwere grouped into themes that helped to describe the practice. The validity of the identified themes was tested by two experienced researchers. Consensus regarding the identified themes was reached. The following themes emerged from the focus group discussions, namelyincentives, challenges and benefits. It was found that despite the many incentives and opportunities to get involved, many parents did not take advantage of those opportunities which provide the platform to create a symbiotic relationship between educators and parents. It isimperative that educators at the school create opportunities for them and parents to consult regularly in order to develop innovative ideas to improve the quality of the lives of the children through the medium of recreation. It was recommended that parents be involved with educators and children in all aspects of recreation activities – from the planning to the implementation

Social support for health-related leisure activity of the elderly and the relationship with health status and life satisfaction

Inferences from previous research suggest that social support from friends and family is important in influencing physical activity participation in enabling the elderly to achieve better health outcomes and satisfaction with life. Within a South African context, some of the elderlyare faced with the prospect of increased isolation and loneliness. For others, old age may be a time of gaining respect and veneration in a community. Hence, the purpose of this study is to assess family and friends social support for health-related leisure activities among the elderly. The secondary purpose of the study is to explore the influence of social support on respondents’ health status and life satisfaction. A cross-sectional survey covering a sample of 75 respondents aged between 60 to 69 years was undertaken. Factors analysis resulted in two distinct socialsupport factors through data reduction of variables, namely, friends and family support. Results infer that social support seems to be strongly correlated with life satisfaction and social support factors moderately influence life satisfaction. However, social support showed a weakrelationship with health status. With the changing demographic profile and health changes taking place in our communities, there is a need for low cost, available, practical forms of leisure and recreation for improving the well-being of the elderly