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"physical quality"
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Precarity, critical pedagogy and physical education
\"This unflinching analysis explains the nature of precarity and its detrimental effects on the health and wellbeing of young people. It exposes physical educators' unpreparedness to provide inclusive, fair and equitable forms of physical education that might empower young people to overcome the mal effects of precarity. Following a thorough analysis and critique of critical pedagogy, David Kirk advocates for critical pedagogies of affect as physical education's response to precarity, providing detailed outlines of these pedagogies and their grounding in research. He argues that now more than ever physical educators need to be alive to the serious social and economic challenges that shape young people's health, happiness and life chances. This bold and provocative book is essential reading for all researchers in the field of physical education and health education pedagogy, as well as teacher educators, curriculum policy makers, and other professionals who work with young people living in precarity\"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
Development and validation of an instrument to assess quality physical education
It is important to identify suitable parameters to measure and assess the quality of physical education. This paper aims to understand such measuring tool by focusing on professional perceptions and areas of concern of quality physical education (QPE). The research survey includes data gathered from 799 professionals in 11 cities in Asia. These professionals had experience working at primary schools (n = 155), secondary schools (n = 249), and universities (n = 395). To examine professional perceptions of quality physical education, at the preliminary stage of this study, 65 potential items were identified; of these, 48 items on 8 dimensions were retained, following an exploratory factor analysis. The 8 dimensions covered skill development and bodily awareness (α =.935), facilities and norms in PE (α =.932), quality teaching of PE (α =.923), plans for feasibility and accessibility of PE (α =.824), social norms and cultural practice (α =.825), governmental input for PE (α =.859), cognitive skills development (α =.920), and habituated behaviour in physical activities (α =.933). These factors indicated excellent internal consistency and model fit, enabling the construction of highly relevant statements to measure professional perceptions of QPE.
Journal Article
Evaluation of Changes in Glomalin-Related Soil Proteins (GRSP) Content, Microbial Diversity and Physical Properties Depending on the Type of Soil as the Important Biotic Determinants of Soil Quality
The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP) content, microbial diversity and soil physical quality depending on the type of soil measures of soil improvement and changes in soil health. The study was based on a 100-year stationary field microplot experiment where the soil profiles were collected with preserving the natural soil horizons. The microplot experiment was carried out on eight different soil types: Brunic Arenosol (Dystric I), Rendzic Leptosol, Fluvic Cambisol, Haplic Cambisol (Eutric), Gleyic Phaeozem, Brunic Arenosol (Dystric II), Haplic Cambisol (Eutric II) and Haplic Cambisol (Dystric). These soils are the most common types of agricultural soils in Poland. Relatively significant correlations with the soil quality, physical parameters and the glomalin-related soil proteins have been found. The study determined the total GRSP (T-GRSP) and easily extractable GRSP (EE-GRSP) levels in soils as well as the soil physical quality index and soil’s microbial biodiversity. The GRSP depended on the type of soil and correlated with S-Index and also was responsible for the unique chemical and physical properties of soils. Soils characterized by the highest T-GRSP content belonged to the group of very good and good soil physical quality characterized also by high biological activity, for which there were strong correlations with such parameters as dehydrogenase activity (DHA), microbial biomass content (MBC), microbial nitrogen content (MBN) and total bacteria number (B). The highest T-GRSP content and higher microbial diversity were found in Gleyic Phaeozem, Rendzic Leptosol and Fluvic Cambisol. The T-GRSP and EE-GRSP content were additionally correlated with the number of AMF spores. Very poor and poor soil physical quality according to S-Index characterized Brunic Arenosol (Dystric I) and Haplic Cambisol (Dystric). This research indicates that a specific edaphone of soil microorganisms and GRSP content may be of great importance when assessing a soil’s quality and improvements in soil health. The abundance of glomalin-producing fungi significantly affects the quality of the soil. This effect is particularly important for agricultural soils are threatened by ongoing land degradation.
Journal Article
The Application of Taguchi Method to Optimize Pellet Quality in Broiler Feeds
The aim of this experiment was to optimize pellet quality by changing different levels of moisture, production rate, grain particle size and conditioning temperature using Taguchi method. In this experiment A 43 fractional factorial arrangement using Taguchi method was conducted in broiler starter, Grower and finisher feeds with three production rates (3.5, 4 and 4.5 ton h-1), three steam conditioning temperatures (65, 75 and 85°C), three particle sizes that were achieved by grinding the whole grains in the hammer mill to pass through 6, 6.5 and 7.0 mm sieves respectively, and three moisture content (0, 2.5 and 5%) that were added to the broiler feed in the mixer. During the production process, sampling was done and then PDI and hardness were evaluated in grower and finisher feeds). Results of this experiment showed a significant effect of processing parameters on PDI and hardness. In Conclusion the major finding of this experiment was that the Taguchi method can be used to find the best combination of factors for optimal pellet quality by testing only a fraction of the treatments of the full factorial design.
Journal Article
Affects of different tillage managements on soil physical quality in a clayey soil
This study, conducted in 2011, researches the effects of different tillage practices on the physical soil quality of clayey soil. This soil quality index (SQI) assessment was made by studying the changes in physical soil functions such as suitability for root development, facilitation for water entry, movement and storage, and resistance against surface degradation based on tillage management. When compared with the control parcel, statistically significant decreases were seen in the SQI with different tillage practices (
p
< 0.05). Among the tillage practices, the highest SQI was seen with the plow + rotary tiller + direct seeding machine, while the lowest SQI was seen with the direct drilling practice. On the other hand, the statistically insignificant effects of tillage practices on the soil quality of the study area were considered to be a result of either the study period or the joint effect of soil texture and climatic features. Thus, long-term tillage practices were recommended in order to get healthier information about soil quality by considering soil and climatic conditions. In addition, for heavy clayey soils, reduced tillage practices, which included plowing, were thought to develop physical soil qualities of root development and water movement.
Journal Article
RETRACTED: Effectiveness of physical qualities development in elementary school students
See the retraction notice E3S Web of Conferences 538 , 00001 (2024), https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202453800001
Journal Article
Effects of Cold Plasma on Food Quality: A Review
Cold plasma (CP) technology has proven very effective as an alternative tool for food decontamination and shelf-life extension. The impact of CP on food quality is very crucial for its acceptance as an alternative food processing technology. Due to the non-thermal nature, CP treatments have shown no or minimal impacts on the physical, chemical, nutritional and sensory attributes of various products. This review also discusses the negative impacts and limitations posed by CP technology for food products. The limited studies on interactions of CP species with food components at the molecular level offers future research opportunities. It also highlights the need for optimization studies to mitigate the negative impacts on visual, chemical, nutritional and functional properties of food products. The design versatility, non-thermal, economical and environmentally friendly nature of CP offers unique advantages over traditional processing technologies. However, CP processing is still in its nascent form and needs further research to reach its potential.
Journal Article
A Scoping Review on Quality Physical Education Programmes and Their Outcomes on Primary-Level Pupils
A scoping review was carried out on the literature relating to the evaluation of the implementation of quality physical education (QPE) programmes and related outcomes on final-stage primary-level pupils’ attitudes towards physical education (ATPE), physical activity behaviour (PAB), mental wellbeing (MWB) and academic achievement (AA). The scoping review included studies published between 2000 and 2020 in the PubMed, Elsevier, SCOPUS and CINAHL databases and was completed in accordance with the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews’ guidelines. Based on the inclusion criteria, 15 out of 2869 studies were included in the review. A thematic analysis was used to inductively and deductively analyse the studies for common themes of features of QPE programmes in primary schools, arising from nine different countries, considering the four outcome dimensions (ATPE, PAB, MWB and AA). The common themes identified as features of QPE across all four dimensions were as follows: (1) government leadership; (2) PE curriculum; (3) school principal and leaders; (4) organisational management from leadership in school; (5) teachers; (6) parental involvement; and (7) community partnerships. Based on these findings, recommendations were made for an evaluation framework on QPE in primary education.
Journal Article
Financial distress and its associated burden in couples coping with an advanced cancer
Purpose
In efforts to understand financial distress (FD) associated with advanced cancer care from the perspective of both patients with incurable disease and their spousal caregivers, we assessed FD in both members of the couple, identified symptom and quality of life (QOL) correlates, and examined the potential role of illness communication.
Methods
Patients undergoing treatment for stage III/IV lung cancer or a grade III/IV primary brain tumor and their spousal caregivers (
n
= 76 dyads) completed measures of somatic and affective symptoms including FD, physical and mental QOL, and ease of engaging in illness communication. Patients and caregivers additionally rated their perception of each other’s symptoms, including FD.
Results
FD was endorsed by both patients (any FD 62.7%; high FD 24%) and spousal caregivers (any FD 64.7%; high FD 32.3%). Self-reported FD was significantly correlated (partial
r
= .52,
p
< .001) within couples. FD was associated with greater symptoms of anxiety (
r
= .29,
p
= .01;
r
= .31,
p
= .01), depression (
r
= 29,
p
= 01;
r
= .39,
p
= .001), and poorer physical QOL(
r
= − .25,
p
= .03;
r
= − .25,
p
= .001) for patients and caregivers, respectively. For patients, FD was additionally associated with poorer mental QOL(
r
= − .44,
p
< .001). Caregivers accurately perceived patient FD, yet patients tended to underreport their caregiver’s FD by almost an entire point (
t
= 2.8,
p
= .007). A 3-way interaction (FD X role X illness communication) revealed (
b
= .40,
p
= .041) that illness communication moderated the association between FD and physical QOL for spouses so that spouses who reported less ease of illness communication demonstrated a stronger association between financial distress and physical QOL (
b
= − 2.08,
p
< .001) than those reporting greater ease of engaging in illness communication (
b
= .49,
p
= .508).
Conclusion
In the advanced cancer setting, FD is prevalent in both patients and their spousal caregivers and associated with psychological distress and poor physical QOL. Results suggest that optimal FD assessment should include patients and spouses, and spouse’s ease of engaging with illness communication may be a potential target for future intervention studies.
Journal Article
The relationship between perceived quality physical education and 7-day physical activity among secondary school students in China: the mediating role of exercise self-efficacy
Background
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has highlighted that quality physical education (QPE) can lead to a more active lifestyle for adolescents. However, previous studies have not explored the relationship between students’ perceptions of QPE and physical activity (PA). According to Bandura’s social cognitive theory, self-efficacy plays a crucial role in influencing behaviour, including PA engagement. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between students’ QPE perception and 7-day PA among Chinese secondary school students, with a focus on analysing the potential mediating role of exercise self-efficacy (ESE) between these two factors.
Methods
This study employed a cross-sectional design. Adolescents (
N
= 2,349) from 10 secondary schools in China participated in this study through providing self-reports. The dependent variables included students’ perceptions of QPE measured across 10 dimensions. ESE was considered as the mediator, reflecting psychological functioning. 7-day PA served as the outcome variable. All multiple regression models were adjusted for covariates including sex, age, ethnic background, and school location.
Results
Significant differences were observed across sex, ethnicity, and school location in the ten dimensions of QPE perception, ESE, and 7-day PA. All 10 QPE dimensions were positively associated with PA (
r
= 0.285 to 0.476,
p
< 0.001), with the strongest associations observed for family and community sports resources. Mediation analyses showed that ESE mediated the association between each QPE dimension and PA: the standardized indirect effects ranged from β = 0.095 to 0.158 and exceeded the corresponding direct effects in every model; the proportion mediated ranged from 52.20% to 80.12%.
Conclusions
Teachers and policymakers should design activities that cater to female students’ interests and needs, enhance their self-efficacy, and encourage their active participation in PA. Ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities for physical education and PA is also crucial. Interventions promoting PA should adopt a collaborative approach that integrates the efforts of families, schools, and communities. Moreover, rather than focusing solely on increasing PA, interventions should prioritise strengthening ESE for long-term success. Future studies should focus on longitudinal designs and expand the sample size to enhance the generalisability of the findings.
Journal Article