Typologies of Greek inactive older adults based on reasons for abstaining from exercise and conditions for change

The main purpose of this study was to examine typologies of non-exercisers based on reasons for physical inactivity and conditions reported to be necessary to change exercise behaviour. These typologies were then compared on psychological variables of interest and exercise history. Questionnaires were distributed to Greek older adults aged 60 and above who were recruited from social clubs and city cafés. Only individuals engaging in no regular exercise were recruited (n = 188). The results of hierarchical and k-means cluster analyses revealed two clusters for males ("approachable" and "unconvinced") and three for females ("unconcerned", "approachable", and "unconvinced"). The clusters differed significantly on psychological variables not used in the cluster solution. Exercise history distinguished between clusters only among males. The results reveal that physically inactive older adults are not a homogeneous group of individuals. Implementers of physical activity interventions should probably use a range of strategies that take into consideration that some sedentary older adults are more amenable to consider taking up exercise than others.     

Dynamische verteilte Objekte

Zusammenfassung.   Aus Modellierungs- und Implementationssicht ergeben sich unterschiedliche Anforderungen an das Objektmodell in verteilten Systemen. Einerseits stehen Objekteigenschaften wie Datenabstraktion, Datenkapselung, Modularit?t und Zugriffschutz im Vordergrund. Andererseits stellen sich Fragen der implementationstechnischen Umsetzung der r?umlichen und zeitlichen Entkopplung, der Parallelit?t, der Substitution, der Konstruktion und der Evolution von Objekten bzw. von Teilen eines Objektes. Letztgenannte Anforderungen resultieren aus der Verteilung und der Systemdynamik, die nicht nur verteilten Systemen eigen ist. Wir stellen in diesem Beitrag ein Konzept vor, das es erlaubt, Objekte in verteilten Systemen flexibel implementieren und konfigurieren zu k?nnen. Besonderes Gewicht legen wir auf die Unterstützung des Objektentwicklers und -implementierers, ohne auf die Modellierungsvorzüge des Objektmodells zu verzichten. Wir diskutieren die Anforderungen und leiten daraus unser Entkopplungskonzept für verteilte Objektsysteme ab. Auf der Basis der CORBA wurde ein Prototyp erstellt, der die Umsetzung dieser Anforderungen demonstriert. Eingegangen am 1. Juli 1997 / Angenommen am 6. Februar 1998     

The role of self-determined motivation in the understanding of exercise-related behaviours, cognitions and physical self-evaluations

Grounded in self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), the purpose of the present study was to examine whether amotivation, self-determined and controlling types of motivation could predict a range of exercise-related behaviours, cognitions and physical self-evaluations. Exercisers (n = 375) from ten health clubs in the North of England completed questionnaires measuring exercise motivation, exercise stages of change, number of relapses from exercise, future intention to exercise, barriers self-efficacy, physical self-worth and social physique anxiety. Controlling for age and sex, multiple and logistic regression analyses supported our hypotheses by showing self-determined motivation (i.e. intrinsic motivation and identified regulation) to predict more adaptive behavioural, cognitive and physical self-evaluation patterns than external regulation and amotivation. Introjected regulation was related to both adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. Furthermore, a multivariate analysis of variance revealed that exercisers in the maintenance stage of change displayed significantly more self-determined motivation to exercise than those in the preparation and action stages. The results illustrate the importance of promoting self-determined motivation in exercisers to improve the quality of their experiences, as well as to foster their exercise behaviour. Future research should examine the mechanisms that promote self-determined motivation in exercise.     

Effect of a prolonged altitude expedition on glucose tolerance and abdominal fatness

In the present study, we investigated the effect of a long-term mountain expedition on glucose tolerance and insulin action. Twelve registered mountaineers ages 31 years (SD = 1.1) participated in a 25-day expedition at a 2,200-3,800-m altitude with an average duration of 8 hr per day. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was substantially reduced during hiking. Glucose tolerance and insulin responses were measured prior to and twice during the expedition period. Maximal oxygen consumption increased from 43.0 +/- 2.7 to 49.1 +/- 2.2 mL/kg/min. Percentage of body fat decreased from 19.4 +/- 6.8% to 16.9 +/- 5.9%. The area under the curves for insulin and glucose during the oral glucose tolerance test were also reduced in Days 3 and 25. The present study demonstrated that altitude hiking activity is an effective lifestyle intervention to improve insulin action.     

Physical requirements in Olympic sailing

Abstract

Physical fitness and muscular strength are important performance parameters in Olympic sailing although their relative importance changes between classes. The Olympic format consists of eight yacht types combined into 10 so-called events with total 15 sailors (male and female) in a complete national Olympic delegation. The yachts have different requirements with respect to handling, and moreover, each sailor plays a specific role when sailing. Therefore physical demands remain heterogeneous for Olympic sailors. Previous studies have mainly examined sailors where ‘hiking’ (the task of leaning over the side of the yacht to increase righting moment) is the primary requirement. Other than the ability to sustain prolonged quasi-isometric contractions, hiking seems to require significant maximal muscle strength especially in knee extensors, hip flexors and abdominal and lower back muscles. Another group of studies has investigated boardsailing and provided evidence to show that windsurfing requires very high aerobic and anaerobic capacity. Although data exist on other types of sailors, the information is limited, and moreover the profile of the Olympic events has changed markedly over the last few years to involve more agile, fast and spectacular yachts. The change of events in Olympic sailing has likely added to physical requirements; however, data on sailors in the modern-type yachts are scarce. The present paper describes the recent developments in Olympic sailing with respect to yacht types, and reviews the existing knowledge on physical requirements in modern Olympic sailing. Finally, recommendations for future research in sailing are given.     

Impact evaluation of quality assurance in higher education: methodology and causal designs

In this paper, the theoretical perspectives and general methodological elements of impact evaluation of quality assurance in higher education institutions are discussed, which should be a cornerstone of quality development in higher education and contribute to improving the knowledge about the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of quality assurance. The suggested core methodology consists in comparative and longitudinal studies carried out simultaneously to the quality assurance interventions and relying on surveys and mixed methods. The methodology is applicable to any particular quality assurance procedure and any achievement area of higher education institutions. To round off the methodology presentation, an overview of causal designs, in particular causal social mechanisms, for impact analyses of quality assurance in higher education institutions and its challenges and limits is outlined and some characteristics of survey questionnaire construction are given.     

Living Matter in Crash Test： How Biomolecules Respond to Mechanical Forces

<正>The Group on Protein Mechanics and Evolution at the CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology,Shanghai,was established in January 2007 and headed by Dr.Frauke Gr?ter.The Klaus Tschira Lab has continued the eff orts of this former Independent Junior Research Group,since Dr.Gr?ter took up a position at the Heidelberg Institute of Theoretical Studies(HITS)in Heidelberg,Germany,in     

Assessment from a Sociocultural Perspective: Narratives from a first grade classroom

This study focuses on observations of classroom conversation as an approach to assessment of relationships between a teacher's teaching and pupils' learning and identity‐development processes. Detailed observation notes from two conventional conversation situations from a first grade classroom are written down as narratives and analysed within a sociocultural theoretical framework. Three significant themes emerge: (1) How the teacher sees the pupils, (2) How she connects with them, and (3) How she wanders on together with them. Together these themes function as strong “process motors” demonstrating how a teacher's support and scaffolding add positive influences to children's learning and personal growth. The study concludes that writing down information from classroom observations in a narrative genre manufactures excellent opportunities for revealing, describing, interpreting, and evaluating significant relationships between a teacher's teaching and pupils' learning and identity development.