Blackbelts in biochemistry: On being and becoming

High precision lab work is feasible and all students can be inducted into such practices from day one. This is also required by the more commercially/industrially oriented laboratories, though no compendium of such practices exists. Based on experience in imparting such instruction and analysis to teaching labs as well as larger laboratories, some immediately relevant ideas are put together here. While the ideas may appear simple, there is danger in thinking that the underlying statistical theory is also simple, which is often not the case. But even without the relevant theory, much can be achieved in the lab.     

Perceptions of the physical environment,stage of change for physical activity,and walking among Australian adults

Data for this study were from a population survey of 1,200 adults ages 40-60 years, sampled from the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Questionnaire items on perceptions of the environment were factor analyzed into: Aesthetic Environment and Practical Environment. For both factors, those in the Contemplation stage had more negative views of the environment than those in Maintenance. Those who walked for 0-20 min/week held more negative perceptions of their environment than those who walked for 21-120 min/week and those who walked for > 120 min/week. The health promotion implications of these findings are that environments perceived as attractive and as providing convenient access to services and facilities may influence motivational readiness for physical activity and time spent walking.