Fluctuation – a common but neglected pattern of physical activity behaviour: An exploratory review of studies in recent 20 years

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) is beneficial for physical and psychological well-being, yet many people do not achieve these health benefits due to irregular PA participation which is also known as fluctuation. Limited attention has been given to the phenomenon of fluctuation in the PA behaviour literature. Objective: The aim of this review was to explore and to map definitions, measurements, behavioural evidence, and factors related to PA fluctuation. Methods: Eligible studies were initially identified by a systematic search of articles conducted in four databases: Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus between January 1996 and March 2016. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were set to check the eligibility of all articles. Additional articles were included by manual searching and expert recommendation. Results: Fifteen articles were finally included. Definitions of fluctuation are understood from two perspectives, either as a stage in the process of behaviour change, or as a particular PA phenomenon consisting of lapse and readoption. Common features were extracted: behavioural irregularity, high risk of drop-out, intention and readiness for PA, low automaticity, and limited self-regulation. Furthermore, fluctuation identification was summarised in three approaches such as stage algorithm, self-identified PA lapse and readoption, and prospective within-person variation in meeting the PA guidelines. Regarding the empirical evidence, this review found that people in PA fluctuation were significantly distinct from those in preparation and maintenance of PA behavioural performance, as well as distinct in psychosocial features. Conclusions: Notwithstanding the limitations, this review has provided valuable insight into the phenomenon of PA fluctuation.     

The effect of sex and localised fatigue on triceps surae musculoarticular stiffness

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of fatigue on musculoarticular stiffness (MAS) of the ankle joint across sexes. Methods: Twenty-seven males and 26 females participated in the study. After baseline assessment of MAS and related variables, localised fatigue was induced in triceps surae using the standing heel-rise test during which the subjects were instructed to lift and drop the heel at a frequency of 0.5?Hz. When subjects were unable to continue due to exhaustion the test was terminated and another MAS test was performed soon after. Results: Significant higher triceps surae MAS was found in men compared to women (p?p??1 and from 14.5 to 13.9?KN?m^?1 in men and women, respectively. Percentage changes revealed, however, that in relative terms the changes in all the variables evaluated were similar (p?>?.01) between sexes, with MAS less than 5%. Conclusion: Despite the sex-related differences at baseline, fatigue seems to affect biomechanical properties of the ankle joint similarly in men and women.     

A citation and co-citation analysis of 10 years of KM theory and practices

In a previous issue of Knowledge Management Research & Practice (KMRP), we analysed the content and keywords of all articles published in the first decade of KMRP. With this article, we extend our preliminary analysis to the citation and co-citations made by these articles. The study covers all the 256 articles published. The most cited article was A dynamic theory of organisational knowledge creation by Nonaka. The most cited KMRP article was by Nonaka and Toyama: The knowledge-creating theory revisited: knowledge creation as a synthesizing process. The co-citation analysis of the 100 most cited articles in KMRP publications showed that four groups of topics emerged, one around communities and situated learning, the second group around networks, knowledge transfer and research methods, a third group around the foundations of knowledge management and a fourth group around intellectual capital.     

A Better Way to Begin Again Together: the value of a comparative approach to teaching poetry in school

This paper suggests a particular value to treating the teaching of poetry in school comparatively. It argues that the justification for this claim derives from the ways in which peculiar symbiotic dependencies between poetry, languages, cultures and uniquely individual consciousness‐‐and between poetry, childhood learning and children's achievement of literacy‐‐can be represented in a teaching methodology. It refers to a unique teaching and research project, directed by the author at Goldsmiths’ College, University of London, which has developed principles and strategies for building a new pedagogy with children and in teacher education.     

AN OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN A SAMPLE OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO PROVISIONS OF DISTANCE TEACHING

This article gives an overview of current provisions for environmental education in the context of distance education programmes in a sample of European countries. The methodology, that was employed by means of a postal survey aimed at identifying current trends in environmental education in relation to distance teaching, is described. The sample surveyed consisted of approximately 500 higher education institutions, members of the Association of European Universities (CRE), over 200 of which had signed the CRE‐Copernicus Universities Charter on Sustainable Development. The article presents a regional summary of the research findings that formed part of a larger enquiry into the status of environmental education in European countries, Commonwealth countries, and individual countries such as the United Kingdom and Pakistan.     

Die Quadratur des Kreises: Universit?tsautonomie und Wissenschaftsfreiheit

Statt eines Abstracts Der gro?e "Philosoph aus Wien", Paul Feyerabend, lehrte in den 1970er Jahren auf dem H?hepunkt seiner akademischen Karriere stehend in Berkeley. In seinen Kurs waren jedes Semester Hunderte von Studenten eingeschrieben, seltsamerweise waren darunter auch viele Sportstudenten und Fu?ballspieler, denen an den amerikanischen Universit?ten bekanntlich eine nicht geringe Bedeutung zukommt. Was war der Grund für diese Anziehungskraft einer nicht leicht zu verstehenden Philosophie? Feyerabend versprach jedem Studenten schon in der ersten Vorlesungsstunde eine Eins für seinen Kurs – und fügte noch hinzu, dass es bei ihm natürlich keinerlei Prüfung oder Hausarbeiten g?be. Man bekam seine Eins selbst dann, wenn man niemals in die Vorlesung kam, was Feyerabend mit seinem tiefen Vertrauen in das alte Humboldtsche Erziehungsziel der akademischen Freiheit rechtfertigte. Als die Universit?tsverwaltung von dieser Sache Wind bekam, wurde Feyerabend gezwungen, zumindest eine Abschlussprüfung für seinen Kurs abzuhalten. Im n?chsten Semester h?ndigte der Professor zu Beginn der Prüfungsstunde ein Blatt aus, auf dem in gro?en Buchstaben feierlich das Wort "Abschlussprüfung" stand, und darunter hie? es einfach: "Erz?hle mir deinen Lieblingswitz!" Jeder Witz, auch der dümmste, wurde dann mit der Note Eins belohnt. Der Chronist dieser Anekdote berichtet, dass das Universit?tsmanagement auch diesem Verfahren bald ein Ende gemacht hatte – ohne zu sagen, mit welchen Methoden, und wie Feyerabend auf diesen Eingriff in seine akademische Lehrfreiheit reagiert hat.     

The dick and carey model: Will it survive the decade?

Many instructional designers and numerous organizations have adapted the Dick and Carey model for use in their training functions. This article reviews the changes that have occurred to the model in the 20 years since its original publication, and identifies various influences that may determine whether it will continue to be useful in the years ahead. Consideration is given to alternative instructional design textbooks and the potential decline in interest in instructional design within academic programs. The influence of constructivist theory on the 1996 version of the Dick and Carey model is described, and the long term impact of constructivist and objectivist models on public education and business and industry is assessed.     

Development and Validation of the College Campus Environment Scale (CCES): Promoting Positive College Experiences

One of the essential factors related to student success and satisfaction with a higher education experience is the college environment in which learning takes place. The purpose of this study was to develop a scale, the College Campus Environment Scale (CCES), to measure characteristics of college campus environments valued by students. A model emerged with the following six factors: Academic and Career Expectations, Athletics, Health, Role Models and Mentors, Safety, and Social and Extracurricular Activities. The CCES demonstrates good evidence of reliability and validity and can be utilized by researchers and college personnel to promote positive college experiences for students.