The Impacts of High-Level Training: Five Musicians Who Transferred Their Skills to New Professions

This study examines five highly trained musicians who made the life-changing decision to leave their occupations and pursue professions in completely new fields. Portraitures were created to illustrate how these individuals went on to forge successful careers even though their new positions required vastly different skillsets. Through qualitative analysis, it was discovered that numerous skills appear to be transferable from long-term musical training to various career paths. By examining people who have excelled in both domains, common traits were uncovered and grouped into four categories: Cognitive, Expressive, Socio-Behavioral, and Skills Particular to the Craft.The purpose of this research was to identify the skills that musicians can carry over into new professions. Those who may be considering alternative fields of work as well as employers in non-musical arenas may discover that musicians can be desirable candidates for hire because of their numerous transferable skills. Understanding the training process of musicians may also help gather insights for improving curricula which conservatories can employ to prepare graduates for careers. Retrospective feedback from alumni provided this study with a backdrop as to whether coursework offered at their schools aligned with modern industry conditions. After conducting interviews, findings from this study revealed that highly trained musicians do possess many skills that can transfer into new domains, though hard skills should be acquired in the new field. However, the foundation on which a musician's skillset is built provides a formidable bedrock on which a variety of successful careers can be cultivated

Teen, Optimal, and Advanced Age Mothers in Canada: Differences in Social Support, Parenting, and Child Behavioural Outcomes

The age range of first-time mothers in Canada is increasing, with an astonishing 195% increase in the number of women delaying their pregnancies after 35 years of age. However, the research around maternal and child outcomes usually focus on teen (under 19 years) and optimal age (20-34 years) groups, and seldom focus on examining the characteristics of health-related outcomes within the advanced age group (over 35 years and older). Therefore, the importance of examining maternal and child health outcomes by maternal age, especially the advanced age group, is greatly emphasized. This three-part dissertation sought to address the research gaps around maternal and child outcomes by maternal age. The first study, Characteristics of social support among teenage, optimal age, and advanced age mothers in Canada was a cross-sectional analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), which examined the prevalence and characteristics of social support by maternal age. The second study, Characteristics of positive-interaction parenting style among teenage, optimal age, and advanced age mothers in Canada, was a cross-sectional analysis of the NLSCY examining the prevalence and characteristics of positive-interaction parenting style by maternal age. The third study, Investigating pathways to behavioural problems in children of teenage, optimal age, and advanced age mothers in Canada was a longitudinal analysis that used structural equation modeling to identify the prevalence and potential pathways to child behavioural problems across maternal age groups. This dissertation provides important findings in regards to maternal social support, positive-interaction parenting, and pathways to child behavioural problems, across maternal age groups. Further, it provides important information that analysis should be done separately by maternal age, especially examining the advanced age group, and adapts to meet the needs of Canadas growing advanced age population of women

An evaluation of bicycle-specific agility and reaction times in mountain bikers and road cyclists

Background: Cycling is a popular recreational and competitive sport with many health benefits but also significant risks, with 85% of recreational cyclists reporting an injury each season. The most common mechanism of injury is through a loss of control of the bicycle, and collisions with other objects. Reaction time and agility in cyclists may contribute to the ability to control a bicycle. Objectives: To evaluate bicycle-specific agility and reaction time in cyclists. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional observational study. Thirty-five cyclists (27 males, eight females) participated in this study. Participants attended a single testing session where they completed a bicycle-specific agility test, and online simple and choice reaction time testing while cycling at three different exercise intensities. Results: There was a significant difference in agility between males and females (p=0.01). There was also a significant difference in choice reaction time between cycling at ‘light’ and ‘very hard’ intensities (p=0.004), and a significant positive relationship between agility and simple reaction time at a ‘hard’ intensity. Discussion: Choice reaction time improved at ‘very hard’ cycling intensity, supporting the theory that increased exercise intensity improves cognitive arousal. This reaction time may be essential as a means to avoid collisions and falls from bicycles. Bicycle-specific agility appears to be related to simple reaction time, but there are no existing validated bicycle-specific agility tests available. The value of the tests undertaken by the authors needs to be assessed further. Conclusion: Choice reaction time was significantly decreased in high intensity cycling compared to cycling at low intensities. Further prospective studies are needed to establish links between reaction times and bicycle-specific agility

Comparison of Plant Species Richness, Diversity, and Biomass in Ohio Wetlands

Author Institution: Dept of Biological Sciences, University of CincinnatiWetlands are restored and created in many areas of the world to mitigate problems of flooding, pollution and loss of wildlife habitat resulting from urbanization and agriculture. Consequently it is important to understand the factors that determine wetland ecological function as expressed in terms of vegetation. Five different restored, created and unplanned wetlands of young age (1-9 years) in southwestern Ohio were examined for differences in plant species richness and diversity as well as biomass productivity of cattail (Typha spp.) and great bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani). At all sites, the majority of identified plant species were native (77% to 88%), and nearly half of all taxa in each site were wetland indicator species. The proportion of volunteer species in each site ranged from 51% to 100%. Significant differences detected among sites in both species richness and diversity (Shannon-Weiner Index) were solely due to one of the created sites; significant differences were also obtained among habitat types (shore, emergent zone, and open water). In contrast to Typha, aboveground biomass of Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani differed significantly among sites but not inflorescence biomass. Overall, there were few differences in plant species richness, diversity or biomass among most restored, created and unplanned sites, suggesting that different methods of wetland formation may yield similar vegetative components within the early stages of development

Internet non-use among the Canadian older adult population: General Social Survey (GSS)

Benefits of Internet use for older adults include the ability to access informational resources, facilitate social connections and use online communication resources. Further research on identifying the characteristics of older adult Internet non-users is warranted. The present study aims to examine the prevalence and characteristics of Internet non-use among Canada’s older adult populations. The analysis was based on the 2016 General Social Survey (GSS)– Canadians at Work and Home. Analysis was restricted to Canadians of 65 years of age or older. The outcome was Internet non-use, which was defined as having not used the Internet in the 30-day period prior to survey data collection. Demographic, socio-economic, health related, and social support and relationship factors were considered for a multivariable logistic regression analysis. Overall, the prevalence of Internet non-use among Canadian older adults was 31.9%.  Characteristics significantly associated with Internet non-use included: lower educational achievement, decreased socioeconomic status, poor mental and physical health, having a partner / significant other, and being a cigarette smoker. The province of residence was significantly associated with non-internet use with residents of Quebec being at increased odds of non-internet use compared to residents of British Columbia (OR =2.09, 95% CI= 1.51-2.88). Additionally, increased age among older adults was associated with increased likelihood of not using the Internet. The findings from this study can be used as the basis for future research and to aid in the development of effective policies and programs directed towards the needs of this unique population

Does a greater training load increase the risk of injury and illness in ultramarathon runners? : A prospective, descriptive, longitudinal design

Background: Ultramarathon running has become extremely popular over the years. Despite the numerous health benefits of running, there are also many negative effects of running, such as increased risk of musculoskeletal injury and illness. Monitoring of an athlete’s training load has become extremely important in terms of injury prevention. Currently, the relationship between training loads and injury and illness incidence is uncertain. Objectives: To determine if there are any associations between injury and illness incidences and training loads among ultramarathon runners in the 12 week period preceding an ultramarathon event and the four week period after the event. Methods: This prospective, descriptive, longitudinal study design was conducted in 119 runners who were training for the 2019 Two Oceans ultramarathon event. Data were collected once a week via an online logbook over 16 weeks. Training parameters measured included weekly average running distance, average duration, average frequency and average sessional RPE. Injury data included injury counts, the structure injured, the main anatomical location and the time-loss as a result of injury. Illness data included illness counts, the main illness-related symptoms and the time-loss as a result of illness. Results: The overall injury incidence was five per 1000 training hours and the overall illness incidence was 16 per 1000 training days. There was a significant relationship between external training load and injury and illness incidence for those who ran less than 30 km per week. There was also a significant relationship between the ACWR (Acute Chronic Workload Ratio) and injury incidence when the ACWR was >1.5 and for illness incidence when the ACWR was <0.5. Conclusion: The use of both absolute and relative workloads in the monitoring of an athlete’s training load with the aim of minimising injury and illness risk and maximising performance in ultramarathon runners is recommended

Reconceptualizing the role of fear of falling and balance confidence in fall risk

Objective: This article aimed to critically examine preexisting conceptualizations of the relationship among fear of falling, falls efficacy, and falls and to offer a new theoretical model incorporating findings from the recent literature. Method: This is a theoretical article based on a review of preexisting findings pertaining to fear of falling and falls efficacy. Results: Traditional conceptualizations consider avoidance of activity and deconditioning to be mediators in the relationship between fear of falling and falls, but recent findings suggest that this mediational conceptualization may not be accurate. Moreover, the terms falls efficacy and fear of falling are often used interchangeably in the literature, which is conceptually problematic. Discussion: We conclude with the presentation and discussion of an alternative predictive model of fear of falling that incorporates important findings from the recent literature

Gastrocnemius muscle architecture in distance runners with and without Achilles tendinopathy

Background: Achilles tendinopathy is a common condition amongst distance runners due to the cumulative repetitive overload of the tendon. Gastrocnemius weakness and inflexibility can predispose to this condition. Thesepredisposing functional deficits could have architectural underpinnings, but the gastrocnemius architecture of distance runners with Achilles tendinopathy has not been previously described or compared to the architecture of healthy distance runners. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the differences in gastrocnemius architecture between distance runners withAchilles tendinopathy and uninjured counterparts. Methods: Twenty distance runners (10 with Achilles tendinopathy; 10 uninjured) were recruited to this study. Ultrasound measurement of the gastrocnemius muscle architecture (pennation angle; fascicle length; muscle thickness; muscle belly length; muscle volume; physiological cross-sectional area) was performed. Results: Gastrocnemius Medial Head (GM) fascicle length was significantly greater (p = 0.02), whilst the physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) was significantly less (p = 0.01) in the case group. Gastrocnemius Lateral Head (GL) pennation angle (p = 0.01) and PCSA (p = 0.01) were significantly lower, whilst fascicle length was significantly greater (p = 0.01) in the case group. There were no significant between-group differences in GM and GL muscle thickness, muscle belly length, or muscle volume. Conclusion: Components of gastrocnemius architecture differ significantly between distance runners with Achillestendinopathy and uninjured controls in our study sample. This study cannot infer whether these results are secondary or predisposing to the condition. Further longitudinal investigation is required to explore these relationships further

The effect of social support around pregnancy on postpartum depression among Canadian teen mothers and adult mothers in the maternity experiences survey

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder that affects 10–20 percent of women, and can begin any time during first year after delivery lasting for months. Social support may decrease risk of depression during pregnancy for women. However, literature shows that the amount of social support received during and after pregnancy is different for teen mothers and adult mothers. This study examined the effects of social support received during and after pregnancy on PPD among Canadian women and identified if the relationship was different for teen mothers compared to adult mothers. METHODS: The study was based on secondary analysis of the Maternity Experiences Survey. A total of 6,421 women with singleton live births, aged 15 years and older were analyzed. Teen mothers were identified as 15–19 years old and adult mothers were identified as 20 years and older. The main outcome of the study was PPD, which was evaluated using the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale. The main independent variable was social support received during pregnancy and after birth. Logistic regression was computed to assess the relationship between social support and PPD after adjusting for confounding variables and age as an interaction term. Adjusted Odds Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals were reported. RESULTS: PPD was experienced by 14.0% among teen mothers and 7.2% among adult mothers (p < .001). Overall, teen mothers reported receiving more support during pregnancy and after birth than adult mothers (p < .010). The relationship between social support and PPD did not significantly differ for teen compared to adult mothers. Both teen and adult mothers were approximately five times more likely to experience PPD if they received no support or minimal support after the birth of the baby (95% CI, 3.51-7.36). CONCLUSION: Receiving social support especially after birth is important for mothers of all ages to reduce the risk of PPD