Predicting Students’ Physical Activity and Health-Related Well-Being: A Prospective Cross-Domain Investigation of Motivation Across School Physical Education and Exercise Settings \ud

A three-wave prospective design was used to assess a model of motivation guided by self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2008) spanning the contexts of school physical education (PE) and exercise. The outcome variables examined were health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical self-concept (PSC), and 4 days of objectively assessed estimates of activity. Secondary school students (n = 494) completed questionnaires at three separate time points and were familiarized with how to use a sealed pedometer. Results of structural equation modeling supported a model in which perceptions of autonomy support from a PE teacher positively predicted PE-related need satisfaction (autonomy, competence, and relatedness). Competence predicted PSC, whereas relatedness predicted HRQoL. Autonomy and competence positively predicted autonomous motivation toward PE, which in turn positively predicted autonomous motivation toward exercise (i.e., 4-day pedometer step count). Autonomous motivation toward exercise positively predicted step count, HRQoL, and PSC. Results of multisample structural equation modeling supported gender invariance. Suggestions for future work are discussed.\ud \u

Accreditation of Higher Education in the UK: The rise of PSRBs & potential influences

This poster provides a graphical illustration of data collected to identify when Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRB’s) that accredit UK undergraduate degrees began their accreditation programmes. PSRB’s were identified from data held by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and contacted individually to establish when they began accrediting, leading to the collation of a unique set of figures that can be archived. The data is shown alongside the growth of HE institutions in the same period and key events that may have impacted on their numbers

Synthesis of benzo[b]furans by intramolecular C–O bond formation using iron and copper catalysis

One-pot processes for the synthesis of benzo[b]furans from 1-aryl- or 1-alkylketones using nonprecious transition metal catalysts have been developed. Regioselective iron(III)-catalyzed halogenation of the aryl ring, followed by iron- or copper-catalyzed O-arylation allowed the synthesis of various structural analogues, including the benzo[b]furan-derived natural products corsifuran C, moracin F, and caleprunin B

Large‐scale hydro‐climatology of the terrestrial Arctic drainage system

The large‐scale hydro‐climatology of the terrestrial Arctic drainage system is examined, focusing on the period 1960 onward. Special attention is paid to the Ob, Yenisey, Lena, and Mackenzie watersheds, which provide the bulk of freshwater discharge to the Arctic Ocean. Station data are used to compile monthly gridded time series of gauge‐corrected precipitation (P). Gridded time series of precipitation minus evapotranspiration (P−ET) are calculated from the moisture flux convergence using NCEP reanalysis data. Estimates of ET are obtained as a residual. Runoff (R) is obtained from available discharge records. For long‐term water‐year means, P−ET for the Yenisey, Lena, and Mackenzie watersheds is 16–20% lower than the observed runoff. In the Ob watershed, the two values agree within 9%. Given the uncertainties in P−ET, we consider the atmospheric and surface water budgets to be reasonably closed. Compared to the other three basins, the mean runoff ratio (R/P) is lower in the Ob watershed, consistent with the high fraction of annual precipitation lost through ET. All basins exhibit summer maxima in P and minima in P−ET. Summer P−ET in the Ob watershed is negative due to high ET rates. For large domains in northern Eurasia, about 25% of July precipitation is associated with the recycling of water vapor evapotranspirated within each domain. This points to a significant effect of the land surface on the hydrologic regime. Variability in P and P−ET has generally clear associations with the regional atmospheric circulation. A strong link with the Urals trough is documented for the Ob. Relationships with indices of the Arctic Oscillation and other teleconnections are generally weak. Water‐year time series of runoff and P−ET are strongly correlated in the Lena watershed only, reflecting extensive permafrost. Cold‐season runoff has increased in the Yenisey and Lena watersheds. This is most pronounced in the Yenisey watershed, where runoff has also increased sharply in spring, decreased in summer, but has increased for the year as a whole. The mechanisms for these changes are not entirely clear. While they fundamentally relate to higher air temperatures, increased winter precipitation, and strong summer drying, we speculate links with changes in active layer thickness and thawing permafrost

Comparing cross-sectional and longitudinal tracking to establish percentile data and assess performance progression in swimmers.

To provide percentile curves for short-course swimming events, including 5 swimming strokes, 6 race distances, and both sexes, as well as to compare differences in race times between cross-sectional analysis and longitudinal tracking, a total of 31,645,621 race times of male and female swimmers were analyzed. Two percentile datasets were established from individual swimmers’ annual best times and a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine differences between cross-sectional analysis and longitudinal tracking. A software-based percentile calculator was provided to extract the exact percentile for a given race time. Longitudinal tracking reduced the number of annual best times that were included in the percentiles by 98.35% to 262,071 and showed faster mean race times (P < 0.05) compared to the cross-sectional analysis. This difference was found in the lower percentiles (1st to 20th) across all age categories (P < 0.05); however, in the upper percentiles (80th to 99th), longitudinal tracking showed faster race times during early and late junior age only (P < 0.05), after which race times approximated cross-sectional tracking. The percentile calculator provides quick and easy data access to facilitate practical application of percentiles in training or competition. Longitudinal tracking that accounts for drop-out may predict performance progression towards elite age, particularly for high-performance swimmers

Diel and seasonal movements of the critically endangered European eel

The critically endangered European eel is declining throughout its range and more information on which to base management plans is necessary. Here we present data collected by electrofishing and PIT telemetry on the habitat use and movements of eel in an English chalk stream in Dorset, southern UK. Eel were sampled quarterly for three years and movements between the main river and a side stream monitored by an in situ PIT detector. Eel abundance was highest in the side stream during summer and autumn and movement between the main river and side stream was greatest during spring, summer and autumn. Eel demonstrated nocturnal movements in/out of the side stream during spring and summer, however this diel pattern was not evident in autumn. The study demonstrates continual use of the connected floodplain by eel, underlining the importance of lateral connectivity to floodplain habitats to the species. Connectivity can be modified or lost by a number of anthropogenic activities such as hydropower and road culverts, but in many cases these can be avoided by proper and sound management. Key words: behaviour, Anguilla anguilla, movement, river connectivity, floodplain.Døgn- og sesongmessige vandringer hos den truede Europeiske ålen. Den Europeiske ålen(ål) er truet over hele dets utbredelsesområde og mer kunnskap om artens biologi og adferd er nødvendig for bedre forvaltning av arten. I denne artikkelen presenterer vi data for habitatbruk og forflytninger av ål i en kalkelv i Dorset, Sør-England basert på omfattende elektrofiske og PIT telemetri. Ål ble fanget fire ganger pr år og forflytninger mellom hovedelv og sidekanaler ble overvåket med hjelp av in situ PIT detektor i en periode på tre år. Det var høyeste forekomst av ål i sidekanalene om sommeren og høsten og det var omfattende forflytninger av ål mellom hovedelva og sidekanalene under vår, sommer og høst. Ålen hadde nattlige vandringer inn og ut av sidekanalene under vår og sommer, men denne døgn adferden var ikke tydelig om høsten når blankål startet sin utvandring mot sjøen. Studien demonstrerer ålen sin kontinuerlige bruk av flomområder og kanaler, og understreker viktigheten av å opprettholde forbindelsene fra hovedelva til disse habitatene for denne arten. Vannveier for fisk kan bli påvirket eller tapt ved en rekke antropogene aktiviteter slik som kraftutbygging og vei kulverter, men i en flere tilfeller kan dette ungåes ved god planlegging og kompetanse om fiskens adferd.publishedVersio

Learned changes in outcome associability

When a cue reliably predicts an outcome, the associability of that cue will change. Associative theories of learning propose this change will persist even when the same cue is paired with a different outcome. These theories, however, do not extend the same privilege to an outcome; an outcome’s learning history is deemed to have no bearing on subsequent new learning involving that outcome. Two experiments were conducted which sought to investigate this assumption inherent in these theories using a serial letter-prediction task. In both experiments participants were exposed, in Stage 1, to a predictable outcome (‘X’) and an unpredictable outcome (‘Z’). In Stage 2 participants were exposed to the same outcomes preceded by novel cues which were equally predictive of both outcomes. Both experiments revealed that participants’ learning toward the previously predictable outcome was more rapid in Stage 2 than the previously unpredicted outcome. The implications of these results for theories of associative learning are discussed

An analysis of the Research Fellowship Scheme of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

BACKGROUND: The Research Fellowship Scheme of the Royal College of Surgeons of England commenced in 1993 with the aim of exposing selected surgical trainees to research techniques and methodology, with the hope of having an impact on surgical research and increasing the cadre of young surgeons who might decide to pursue an academic career in surgery. Over 11 million pounds sterling (approximately US 20 million dollars) has been invested in 264 fellowships. The College wished to evaluate the impact of the Scheme on the careers of research fellows, surgical research, and patient care. As the 10th anniversary of the Scheme approached. STUDY DESIGN: Two-hundred and sixty research fellows whose current addresses were available were sent a questionnaire. Two-hundred and thirty-eight (91.5%) responded. RESULTS: Three-quarters of the research fellows conducted laboratory-based research, with most of the remainder conducting patient-based clinical research. One-third of the fellows who have reached consultant status have an academic component to their post. The total number of publications based on fellowship projects was 531, with a median impact factor of 3.5. Almost all fellows had been awarded a higher degree or were working toward this. Half of the fellows received subsequent funding for research, mostly awarded by national or international funding bodies. CONCLUSIONS: The Research Fellowship Scheme of the Royal College of Surgeons of England has successfully supported many trainee surgeons in the initial phase of their research career. It has helped surgical research by increasing the pool of surgeons willing to embark on an academic career. Indirectly, patient care has benefited by promoting an evidence-based culture among young surgeons. Such schemes are relevant to surgical training programs elsewhere if more young surgeons are to be attracted into academic surgery

Synthesis of functionalized indolines and dihydrobenzofurans by iron and copper catalyzed aryl C-N and C-O bond formation

A simple and effective one-pot, two-step intramolecular aryl C-N and C-O bond forming process for the preparation of a wide range of benzo-fused heterocyclic scaffolds using iron and copper catalysis is described. Activated aryl rings were subjected to a highly regioselective, iron(III) triflimide-catalyzed iodination, followed by a copper(I)-catalyzed intramolecular N- or O-arylation step leading to indolines, dihydrobenzofurans and six-membered analogues. The general applicability and functional group tolerance of this method was exemplified by the total synthesis of the neolignan natural product, (+)-obtusafuran. DFT calculations using Fukui functions were also performed, providing a molecular orbital rationale for the highly regioselective arene iodination process