Correlates of children’s physical activity during physical education classes

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of correlates on physical activity (PA) during physical education (PE). Method: One hundred and ninety children (11.2 ± 0.8 y, 1.5 ± 0.1 m, 37.7 ± 8.3 kg) of 12 classes participated. Children were asked to wear an accelerometer for seven days. Teachers filled in a questionnaire to collect data about correlates of PA during PE (i.e. sex, weight, age of children, daily PA of the children, class size, PA behavior and formation of the teacher and size of gym). Correlates for moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) during PE were determined using multifactor linear regression analysis. Results Fifty-three percent of the variability of MVPA during PE was explained by the investigated correlates. Apart from individual correlates (sex, weight, age), PE taught in small classes and large gyms by a PE specialist and a high overall PA of the child had independent positive effects on MVPA during PE. Conclusion: The results underline the importance of small PE classes taught by specialized PE teachers in large gyms and the increase of overall PA of children for effective future intervention studies and for political discussion focusing on increasing PA during PE

Health-related quality of life in migrant preschool children

BACKGROUND: Minority groups have a lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL), but there is little information if this finding also applies to children. In this study, we compared HRQOL between young children with and without migrant parents. METHODS: Two cross-sectional studies of culturally diverse preschool populations in Switzerland: Ballabeina (40 preschools, 258 girls and 232 boys aged 4 to 6 years) and Youp'la Bouge (58 child care centers, 453 girls and 522 boys aged 2 to 4 years). Most children were born in Switzerland (Ballabeina: 92.3%; Youp'la Bouge: 93.7%). Number of migrant parents was considered as the main exposure. HRQOL was measured using the 23-item Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. RESULTS: Children of migrant parents had a significantly lower HRQOL total score (mean +/- SD, Ballabeina: 84.2 +/- 9.1; 82.7 +/- 9.6 and 81.7 +/- 11.7 for children with none, one or two migrant parents, respectively; Youp'la Bouge: 83.8 +/- 8.6; 82.9 +/- 9.5; 80.7 +/- 11.7, all p > 0.05). Similar results were found in Ballabeina and Youp'la Bouge for social, school and physical functioning (all p > 0.05), but not for emotional functioning. The differences in HRQOL measures were partly mediated by children's place of birth, parental education, paternal occupational level, children's BMI, screen time and physical activity in one study (Ballabeina), but not in the other (Youp'la Bouge). CONCLUSION: In preschoolers, children of migrant parents have lower HRQOL than children of non-migrant parents. These differences are only partly mediated by other sociocultural characteristics or lifestyle behavior. These families may need assistance to prevent further inequalities

Associations between measures of physical fitness and cognitive performance in preschool children

BACKGROUND Given that recent studies report negative secular declines in physical fitness, associations between fitness and cognition in childhood are strongly discussed. The preschool age is characterized by high neuroplasticity which effects motor skill learning, physical fitness, and cognitive development. The aim of this study was to assess the relation of physical fitness and attention (including its individual dimensions (quantitative, qualitative)) as one domain of cognitive performance in preschool children. We hypothesized that fitness components which need precise coordination compared to simple fitness components are stronger related to attention. METHODS Physical fitness components like static balance (i.e., single-leg stance), muscle strength (i.e., handgrip strength), muscle power (i.e., standing long jump), and coordination (i.e., hopping on one leg) were assessed in 61 healthy children (mean age 4.5 ± 0.6 years; girls n = 30). Attention was measured with the "Konzentrations-Handlungsverfahren für Vorschulkinder" [concentration-action procedure for preschoolers]). Analyses were adjusted for age, body height, and body mass. RESULTS Results from single linear regression analysis revealed a significant (p < 0.05) association between physical fitness (composite score) and attention (composite score) (standardized ß = 0.40), showing a small to medium effect (F$^{2}$ = 0.14). Further, coordination had a significant relation with the composite score and the quantitative dimension of attention (standardized ß = 0.35; p < 0.01; standardized ß =  - 0.33; p < 0.05). Coordination explained about 11% (composite score) and 9% (quantitative dimension) of the variance in the stepwise multiple regression model. CONCLUSION The results indicate that performance in physical fitness, particularly coordination, is related to attention in preschool children. Thus, high performance in complex fitness components (i.e., hopping on one leg) tends to predict attention in preschool children. Further longitudinal studies should focus on the effectiveness of physical activity programs implementing coordination and complex exercises at preschool age to examine cause-effect relationships between physical fitness and attention precisely

Basler Lesegesellschaft 1825-1915 : eine Kollektivbiographie im sozialen und politischen Kontext der Basler Geschichte des 19. Jahrhunderts

Deutsch: Der Teilnehmerkreis der Basler Lesegesellschaft des langen 19. Jahrhunderts ist dem soziokulturellen Bürgertum zugeordnet. Die Studie biographiert diese bürgerliche Gruppe: Ihr Wandel wird beobachtet und vor dem Hintergrund der Vereinsgeschichte der Lesegesellschaft und des lokalen historischen Kontextes interpretiert. Das Kollektiv wird hinsichtlich selbst gesteckter Rahmenbedingungen, quantitativer Entwicklung, sozial-, politik- und wirtschaftsgeschichtlicher Faktoren, aber auch individuell-biographischer Daten analysiert und dargestellt. English: The members of the 19th century Basel Reading Society belonged to the sociocultural bourgeoisie. This study is a biography of this group of mem-bers of civil society: its transformation is observed and interpreted against the backdrop of the club history of the Reading Society and within the local historical context. The collective body is analysed and portrayed with respect to both the imposed statutory framework, quantitative development, social, political and historical economic factors, and also to individual biographical data

Recomendaciones médicas para mujeres que van a altitud. Documento de consenso de la comisión médica de la UIAA

A menudo, los médicos de cabecera deben atender la demanda de mujeres, embarazadas o no, que quieren ir a altitud para hacer alpinismo u otras actividades. Este documento de consenso pretende establecer guías claras, basadas en la evidencia científica disponible, para responder a estas cuestiones. Se espera que esta información sea útil a médicos, sanitarios y en general a las mujeres que planeen ir a altitud durante períodos breves (de días a semanas)

Cagliostros Geheimrezepte. Magistralformeln aus dem Ancien Régime

Cagliostros Tun war privilegiertes Thema der aufkeimenden Massenmedien der Aufklärung. Als historischer Akteur hat der Arzt und Alchemist wenig Kontur. Die Urteile schwanken zwischen Scharlatan und Prophet. Dass er eigene Arzneien hatte, ist bekannt. Die wenigen veröffentlichten Rezepte werden in der Pharmaziegeschichte als Inbegriff für Geheimmittel gehandelt – das waren Eigenpräparate bekannter Ärzte. Von einer Rezeptsammlung, die im Basler Staatsarchiv auf bewahrt wird, konnten etliche Stücke Cagliostro zugeschrieben werden. Diese Formeln ermöglichen es, von seiner Pharmakopöe zu sprechen und sie der pharmaziehistorischen Analyse zu unterziehen. 13 Rezepte sind hier ediert. Ihre Bewertung kann dazu beitragen, ein differenzierteres Bild einer der umstrittensten Figuren der europäischen Geschichte zu zeichnen. Dr. phil. Daniel Kriemler war wissenschaftlicher Assistent am Pharmaziemuseum der Universität Basel und promovierte am Departement Geschichte der gleichen Universität. Er ist als Lehrer und freischaffender Historiker tätig

Elucidation of the Structure of Organic Compounds by Thermal Fragmentation

The thermal fragmentation of organic compounds is described using a technique in which the sample is coated on a ferromagnetic conductor. This conductor can be reproducibly heated to an accurately defined temperature (Curie point) in 20 to 30 milliseconds. Techniques are described to study fragmentation mechanism

Recomanacions mèdiques per a dones que van a altitud. Document de consens de la comissió mèdica de la UIAA

Sovint els metges de capçalera atenen la demanda de dones, embarassades o no, que volen anar a altitud per fer-hi alpinisme o altres activitats. Aquest document de consens pretén establir guies clares, basades en l'evidència científica disponible, per respondre a aquestes qüestions. S'espera que aquesta informació sigui útil a metges, sanitaris i, en general, a les dones que tinguin planejat d'anar a altitud durant períodes breus (de dies a setmanes)

Physical activity intensity and surrogate markers for cardiovascular health in adolescents

We examined the impact of physical activity (PA) on surrogate markers of cardiovascular health in adolescents. 52 healthy students (28 females, mean age 14.5±0.7years) were investigated. Microvascular endothelial function was assessed by peripheral arterial tonometry to determine reactive hyperemic index (RHI). Vagal activity was measured using 24h analysis of heart rate variability [root mean square of successive normal-to-normal intervals (rMSSD)]. Exercise testing was performed to determine peak oxygen uptake ( $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{ peak}}}}$$ ) and maximum power output. PA was assessed by accelerometry. Linear regression models were performed and adjusted for age, sex, skinfolds, and pubertal status. The cohort was dichotomized into two equally sized activity groups (low vs. high) based on the daily time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA, 3,000-5,200 counts.min−1, model 1) and vigorous PA (VPA, >5,200 counts.min−1, model 2). MVPA was an independent predictor for rMSSD (β=0.448, P=0.010), and VPA was associated with maximum power output (β=0.248, P=0.016). In model 1, the high MVPA group exhibited a higher vagal tone (rMSSD 49.2±13.6 vs. 38.1±11.7ms, P=0.006) and a lower systolic blood pressure (107.3±9.9 vs. 112.9±8.1mmHg, P=0.046). In model 2, the high VPA group had higher maximum power output values (3.9±0.5 vs. 3.4±0.5 Wkg−1, P=0.012). In both models, no significant differences were observed for RHI and $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{ 2 {\text{ peak}}}}$$ . In conclusion, in healthy adolescents, PA was associated with beneficial intensity-dependent effects on vagal tone, systolic blood pressure, and exercise capacity, but not on microvascular endothelial functio