Exploring teachers’ perceptions on physical activity engagement for children and young people with intellectual disabilities

Aim: To explore teacher’s perceptions of barriers and facilitators to physical activity (PA), including enabling, reinforcing and predisposing factors amongst children and young people (CYP) with intellectual disabilities (ID). Method and procedures: The Youth Physical Activity Promotion (YPAP) Model was used to inform semi-structured focus groups to explore PA of CYP with ID. Participants were 23 (9 male) teachers and teaching assistants, from three special educational needs (SEN) schools (1?=?Primary, 2?=?Secondary) within North West England. Three focus groups were held with between six and eight participants, audio and video recorded and data transcribed. Data were inductively and deductively analysed using Nvivo and represented through pen profiles. Results: Three pen profiles were developed and structured around YPAP Model to display themes within the data. Enabling factors (facilities (n?=?23) and activity type (n?=?39)); reinforcing factors (influences of peers (n?=?23), family (n?=?10) and teachers (n?=?19) to PA engagement); and predisposing factors (healthy lifestyle (n?=?15), enjoyment of PA (n?=?14), adaptations for PA (n?=?10), structured play (n?=?10), effects of disability on PA (n?=?8) and the CYPs attitudes towards PA (n?=?8)). Conclusion: CYP with ID enjoy engaging in PA, particularly activities that are of a fun and unstructured nature which allow for progression of skills and promote independence. Participants recognised that they, as teachers, had an influence on the CYP’s PA engagement, however suggested that parents have the most influential role. Similar to previous research, participants noted that CYP with ID had a lack of understanding as regards the importance of PA engagement and its benefits to health. It is suggested a strong home–school link for CYP within SEN schools could prove to be a key facilitator for active and healthy lifestyles education and choices.     

微营养素和肉品质量的关系

日粮中微营养素硒(Se)能够引起肌肉组织的生理变化,从而改变畜禽肉品的品质.本文着重阐明硒和VE在细胞膜和细胞质的抗氧化中独特应用,进而对肉品的形成和贮存过程中保持肉品的完整性起明显作用.     

iPedagogy: Using Multimedia Learning Theory to iDentify Best Practices for MP3 Player Use in Higher Education

Some institutions of higher learning have invested considerable resources to diffuse iPods and MP3 devices though little is known about learning outcomes tied to their use. Dual-coding and multimedia learning theories guided the development of a typical college lecture so that it could be presented in a combination of audio and visual forms across small-screen and large-screen displays. A 3 (audio, audio/text, and audio/video)×2 (iPod screen vs. computer screen) factorial experiment, was conducted to examine how systematic variations in the capability of commonly used MP3 technologies facilitate learning. Scores indicated that dual-coded presentations were substantially more potent learning aids. Results are discussed in terms of developing best-practice strategies for those who wish to implement iPod technology into course curricula.     

Is Vacation Apprenticeship of Undergraduate Life Science Students a Model for Human Capacity Development in the Life Sciences?

A life sciences undergraduate apprenticeship initiative was run during the vacations at a South African university. In particular, the initiative aimed to increase the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Annually 12–18 undergraduate biology students were apprenticed to various institutions during the January and July vacations from 2005 to 2007. This was to develop their skills and interests in the biological sciences, particularly in biocontrol and entomology. Results suggest that this “grassroots” approach increased the number of Black and female students in the life sciences. In particular, it developed their knowledge of the discipline of science and of how it progresses. For most students it enthused and motivated them in the pursuit of their studies and in considering postgraduate research. Students benefited socially from the interactions with researchers and staff, and learnt the protocols of research institutions. Economically most students benefited as they had financial loans for their studies, and the additional monies assisted them in meeting some of the payments. It is proposed that this undergraduate apprenticeship be used as a model for human capacity development at an undergraduate level that can be adopted in the other sciences and universities. This provides an alternative to the current South African National Research Foundation model, a top‐down approach, that is aimed at recruiting Black and female students at the postgraduate level.     

Validity of the management communication style construct

A relatively recent addition to the organizational communication literature is the Management Communication Style (MCS) measure developed by Richmond and McCroskey (1979). Although the reliability of this measure has been reported, estimates of validity are noticeably missing. The present study assesses the validity of the MCS instrument by examining the relationship between employees perceptions of supervisors on the MCS and pertinent communication behaviors. Results support positive relationships between MCS and listening, understanding, and quality of communication. Findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the validity of the MCS instrument. Implications for future research are discussed.     

Fair Game: Using Simulators to Change Likelihood of Distracted Driving at the Minnesota State Fair

Distracted driving is a problem on U.S. roadways. Strategic campaigns have tried to curb this behavior with varying success. Researchers are examining how distracted-driving simulators might be useful in helping to combat this epidemic. Participants (N = 193) took part in a pretest/posttest, between-subjects field experiment where they were randomly assigned to one of five video game driving simulation scenarios (e.g., texting/talking/two combo conditions/distraction-free). Results indicated that participants texting during simulation committed more crashes, fog line crossings, and speed infractions than those talking and those who were not distracted. Further, results indicated that the simulation experience led to reports of being less likely to drive distracted in the future.