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A think aloud (TA) protocol was used to explore whether thought processes and attentional focus differed between well-trained, trained, and recreationally-trained runners across a 5km tempo run. Eighteen runners completed a self-paced 5km tempo treadmill run. Participants were asked to TA and provided their ratings of perceived exertion alongside breathlessness, cognitive demands and lower-body effort, every 1 km. Verbalisations were coded using content analysis into categories and sub-categories and were compared across groups and over every kilometre of the run. Speed and Rate of Perceived Exertion scores increased over the 5km but there were no significant differences across groups. The nature of verbalisations for categories and sub-categories varied across groups with the majority of the well-trained runner's thoughts relating to active self-regulation, while internal sensory monitoring was used most frequently by the trained runners and distraction was most widely verbalised by the recreationally-trained group. There was a statistically significant difference between the use of active self-regulation across groups, with differences also seen for the sub-categories of running form and motivational self-talk. The number of verbalisations across categories changed over time, but there was no statistically significant interaction with group. Results highlight active self-regulatory differences between well-trained, trained and recreationally-trained runners in the study, suggesting that it is likely not just exposure to running that enables runners to develop effective psychological skills. Findings could be used by coaches to offer targeted support and opportunities for lower-level runners to develop effective cognitive skills to impact on performance and running adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nLay summary\nIMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICEThe potential performance benefit of an external focus of attention remains unexamined for skilled junior performers, especially those executing ballistic, whole-body continuous movements. Skilled junior skiers (Mage = 14.09) completed slalom runs under external focus, internal focus, and control focus conditions. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference between attentional foci on performance times. Our data challenges the commonly held belief regarding the superiority of an external focus. Instead, we offer researchers and practitioners a more nuanced discussion concerning possible distance effects (proximal vs. distal) associated with external foci in skilled junior performers executing ballistic, whole-body movements.Skilled skiers completed slalom runs while focusing on rotating their skis (external), ankles (internal), and performing to their best ability (control). We uncovered no significant differences between conditions. We argue that the external focus failed to support automated processing because the attentional cue was too proximal for our skilled performers.Encouraging skilled junior performers to adopt a proximal external focus while executing ballistic, whole-body continuous skills does not necessarily benefit performance.Skilled junior performers may benefit from a (more) distal external focus when developing motor skills that are not automated.Due to the lack of performance benefits and potential risk associated with an internal focus, practitioners are discouraged from promoting this type of focus with their athletes.Encouraging skilled junior performers to adopt a proximal external focus while executing ballistic, whole-body continuous skills does not necessarily benefit performance.Skilled junior performers may benefit from a (more) distal external focus when developing motor skills that are not automated.Due to the lack of performance benefits and potential risk associated with an internal focus, practitioners are discouraged from promoting this type of focus with their athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated if basic need satisfaction and frustration mediated the associations between autonomy-supportive and controlling coaching behaviours and participants' development of eight different life skills in youth sport. British sports participants (N = 309, Mage = 14.71) completed measures assessing the study variables. Correlational analyses showed that autonomy-supportive coaching behaviours were positively associated with the satisfaction of participants' three basic needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and their development of all eight life skills, whereas controlling coaching behaviours were only positively related to the frustration of participants' three basic needs. Mediational analyses revealed that satisfaction of all three basic needs combined (total need satisfaction) mediated the associations between autonomy-supportive coaching behaviours and participants' development of the eight life skills. Relatedness satisfaction mediated the associations between autonomy-supportive coaching behaviours and participants' development of all eight life skills except for goal setting; autonomy satisfaction mediated the associations between autonomy-supportive coaching behaviours and participants' time management skills; and competence satisfaction mediated the associations between autonomy-supportive coaching behaviours and participants' goal setting and emotional skills. Based on such findings, coaches should look to display autonomy-supportive behaviours that help to satisfy participants' three basic psychological needs and promote their life skills development in sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of focus of attention (FOA) instructions on learning a dart throwing task, quiet eye duration (QED) and pupillary responses. Thirty-six novices (M age = 33.6, SD = 19.7) learned using either (a) internal-focus (arm movement), (b) external-focus (target/dart) or (c) control instructions before completing retention and transfer tests 10 days later. FOA strategies did not significantly benefit dart throwing learning or performance. QED was associated with performance in the transfer task, and pupillary constriction occurred during the QED. The content of FOA instructions may have limited anticipated performance benefits and reduced the FOA influence on QED. Pupillary constriction reflected increased cognitive effort during QED, suggesting an important feature of future precision aiming research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research developed a scale to assess the following life skills in higher education students: teamwork, goal setting, time management, emotional skills, interpersonal communication, social skills, leadership, and problem solving and decision making. Study 1 adapted an existing scale for the purposes of this research and provided evidence for the factorial validity of the new scale with 445 students. Study 2 included 423 students and supported the predictive validity of the scale in relation to students' psychological well-being, academic self-efficacy/performance, and health-related quality of life. Study 3 provided evidence for the test-retest reliability of the scale with 49 students. All three studies supported the internal consistency reliability of the scale. Combined, these studies suggest that the scale is a valid and reliable measure that researchers, policymakers and educators could use to assess and potentially enhance higher education students' life skills. Future research directions and uses of the scale are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the individual and combined influences of two factors that have been shown to benefit motor performance: an external focus of attention and the visual context of a target being aimed for. In a within-subjects design participants completed golf putts using control (C), internal (IN) and external (EX) attentional focus (AF) instructions under target-based visual illusion (perceptually larger (PLT) versus smaller (PST) targets) conditions. Twenty-six novice golfers completed six putts in each counterbalanced condition. Mean radial accuracy (cm) was calculated. Through the use of surrounding distracting visual stimulus, an Ebbinghaus illusion aimed to induce PLT or PST during putting. Verbal instruction directed attention to C (no specific focus), IN (arm movements) or EX (movement effect focus) focuses prior to execution. The Ebbinghaus illusions significantly altered perceived target size. Significant main effects indicated: (1) greater accuracy in EX (PLT: 27.32 vs. PST 31.46 cm) vs. IF (30.50 vs. 39.82 cm) and C (32.11 vs. 36.97 cm); (2) accuracy was benefited when putting towards the PLT vs. PST. No AF × Illusion interaction was evident. Performance was independently affected by AF and target visual context (e.g. perceived target size), suggesting different mechanisms in motor execution: instructions influence the control of movement whereas the target conditions inform motor planning through perceptual and motivational variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research has demonstrated that verbal instructions directing attention externally (i.e., toward the effect of the movement) significantly enhance motor skill performance, and this effect is enhanced when the distance of the external focus relative to the body is increased. However, few studies have investigated this distance-of-focus effect in children. The present study aimed to examine the effect of increasing the distance of an external focus on children's motor performance in 2 experiments.Method: In Experiment 1, children performed standing long jumps under 3 instructional conditions (control, internal attentional focus, and external attentional focus). In Experiment 2, children performed standing long jumps under 4 instructional conditions (control, internal, proximal external attentional focus, and distal external attentional focus).Results: In Experiment 1, results revealed a statistically significant jump distance advantage for the external focus condition. In Experiment 2, a statistically significant jump distance advantage for the distal external focus condition was found. However, instructional and task characteristics beyond distance of focus may have been influential.Conclusions: External focus instructions benefit children's jump performance, but specifically when they are supported by a concrete movement goal reflecting relevant performance criteria. These findings highlight the importance of examining the content of instructions and relevant task characteristics provided to children beyond attentional focus to consider their motivational characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between quality of life, activity, and participation in 93 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus at a primary care center. Moderately strong correlations were found between quality of life and leisure/work, outdoor and social activities, but not with domestic activities. Leisure/work, outdoor, and social activities accounted for 18% of the variance in the quality of life variables. In a follow-up model, age, depression, and falls efficacy accounted for another 51% of the variance in total quality of life. Findings provide support for the expansion of occupational therapy's role in diabetes self-management, to incorporate leisure, social, and community activities and fall risk management interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The airway epithelium represents the first line of defense against inhaled environmental insults including air pollution, allergens, and viruses. Epidemiological and experimental evidence has suggested a link between air pollution exposure and the symptoms associated with respiratory viral infections. We hypothesized that multiple insults integrated by the airway epithelium NLRP3 inflammasome would result in augmented IL-1β release and downstream cytokine production following respiratory virus exposure. Materials and Method: We performed in vitro experiments with a human airway epithelial cell line (HBEC-6KT) that involved isolated or combination exposure to mechanical wounding, PM10, house dust mite, influenza A virus, and respiratory syncytial virus. We performed confocal microscopy to image the localization of PM10 within HBEC-6KT and ELISAs to measure soluble mediator production. Results: Airway epithelial cells secrete IL-1β in a time-dependent fashion that is associated with internalization of PM10 particles. PM10 exposure primes human airway epithelial cells to subsequent models of cell damage and influenza A virus exposure. Prior PM10 exposure had no effect on IL-1β responses to RSV exposure. Finally we demonstrate that PM10-priming of human airway epithelial cell IL-1β and GM-CSF responses to influenza A exposure are sensitive to NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition. Conclusions: Our results suggest the NLRP3 inflammasome may contribute to exaggerated immune responses to influenza A virus following periods of poor air quality. Intervention strategies targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome in at risk individuals may restrict poor air quality priming of mucosal immune responses that result from subsequent viral exposures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the number of test–retest trials required to familiarize participants in order to provide acceptable reliability for the measurement of an eye–hand coordination task using the Sport Vision Trainer (SVT). Two schedules were conducted (S1 and S2). For S1, 64 participants (malen = 51, age 20.8 ± 4.9 years; femalen = 13, age 20.1 ± 2.1 years) attended four sessions each 1 week apart, and undertook four trials using the SVT. For S2, 60 participants (malen = 46, age 20.8 ± 4.9 years; femalen = 14, age 20.1 ± 2.1 years) attended one 20-minute schedule consisting of four consecutive trials using the SVT. Limits of agreement (LoA) analyses showed that absolute reliability was increased in both studies. The LoA for S2 indicate that error decreased between trial 1–2, 2–3, and 3–4; ± 0.95 (CI, −1.16, +2.56sec), ± 0.97 (CI, −1.66, +2.14sec), ± 0.69 (CI, −1.08, +1.62sec). It was concluded that reliable measurements of eye–hand coordination can be obtained using the SVT in one session. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the carriage of a portable gas analyser during prolonged treadmill exercise at a variety of speeds. Ten male participants completed six trials at different speeds (4, 8 and 12 km h− 1) for 40 min whilst wearing the analyser (P) or where the analyser was externally supported (L). Throughout each trial, respiratory gases, heart rate (HR), perceptions of effort and energy expenditure (EE) were measured. Significantly higher EE occurred during P12 (p = 0.01) than during L12 (855.3 ± 104.3; CI = 780.7–930.0 and 801.5 ± 82.2 kcal; CI = 742.7–860.3 kcal, respectively), but not at the other speeds; despite this, perceptions of effort and HR responses were unaffected. This additional EE is likely caused by alterations to posture which increase oxygen demand. The use of such systems is unlikely to affect low-intensity tasks, but researchers should use caution when interpreting data, particularly when exercise duration exceeds 30 min and laboratory-based analysers should be used where possible. Practitioner Summary:There is extensive use of portable gas analysers in many settings. This study suggests that there is no additional effect on energy expenditure until running speeds of 8 km h− 1are exceeded. Future work should consider the effects of gas analyser carriage in a wider variety of populations, environments and terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of internal (movement focus) and external (outcome focus) attentional-focusing instructions on muscular endurance were investigated using three exercise protocols with experienced exercisers. Twenty-three participants completed a maximal repetition, assisted bench-press test on a Smith's machine. An external focus of attention resulted in significant (p < .05) improvements in performance compared to the internal focus of attention, but not the control condition. Seventeen participants completed repetitions to failure at 75% 1-RM on free bench-press and squat exercises. In both tasks, externally focused instructions resulted in significantly greater repetitions to failure than control and internal focus conditions (p < .05). These results support previous research showing beneficial effects of externally focused instructions on movement efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novices threw darts during two sessions (one week apart) using either internal or external attentional focusing instructions. During session one, participants used internal instructions for half the throws and external instructions for the other half of the throws, whereas session two required the use of only one strategy for all throws. Accuracy during session one was not affected by attentional strategy, although a significant interaction indicated that accuracy is influenced when changing from one strategy to the other. After session one, significantly more participants reported a preference for the external instructions. During session two, the external strategy group was significantly more accurate than the internal group. Of those using the external strategy, participants indicating an internal strategy preference after practice were significantly less accurate than those who indicated a preference for the external strategy. Participants rated their preferred strategy as requiring less effort than the alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate recreational participants' experiences of adhering to a sport injury rehabilitation program. Six participants undertaking a rehabilitation program for a tendonitis-related injury as a result of sport involvement took part in this study. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and were thematically analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (Smith & Osborn, 2003). Five themes emerging from the data set were motivation, confidence, coping, social support, and pain. Specifically, a lack of motivation and confidence were perceived to have a negative effect upon home-based rehabilitation adherence while ineffective coping strategies, over support and pain, appeared to have an adverse influence on rehabilitation adherence in a clinic setting. The use of effective coping strategies and varied types of social support aided rehabilitation adherence. Applied implications and future research directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the effects of attentional focusing strategies on novice dart throwing performance. Dart throwers performed a dart-throwing task using control, external, and internal attentional focusing instructions. Ratings of the participants' experience using the instructions were collected wherein the results showed that novice players can benefit from external attentional focusing instructions.

We here describe glacial geomorphology that sheds light on ice-dynamic conditions during the Noble Inlet advance, a glacial event involving northward ice flow across Hudson Strait and large-magnitude meltwater drainage across Meta Incognita Peninsula at around 8.9 to 8.4 14C kyr BR Through airphoto interpretation and field inspection of key sites we mapped the glacial geomorphology of interior Meta Incognita Peninsula, the postulated terminal zone for northward expansion of ice from Quebec-Labrador during the Noble Inlet advance. A 170-km-long zone of glaciofluvial canyons, washing zones and boulder deltas was traced from Shaftesbury Inlet to Henderson Inlet. This zone reflects initial drainage across Meta Incognita Peninsula at >520 m elevation, followed by ice marginal drainage at progressively lower levels along the southern slope of the peninsula. The ice marginal outline required to explain the glaciofluvial zone is compatible with northward-trending striae previously reported from the southern coast of Meta Incognita Peninsula. A very large flux of meltwater across Meta Incognita Peninsula probably occurred because eastward supraglacial drainage on ice in Hudson Strait was temporarily impeded and steered northward by a raised ice surface level in outer Hudson Strait, induced by an enhanced outflow of ice from Ungava Bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the approaches in the management and public access to the collection of the East Yorkshire Heritage Library in East Yorkshire, England. The main concern of the library is to offer the public a direct access to its collections while they continue to preserve them. The goal is realized through the enhanced collections management system and an innovative touchscreen public access program which allow visitors to view the photographs of the part of the collection.

Located on the northwest coast of Ross Island in McMurdo Sound, Cape Bird features virtually unweathered surface drift with erratics from the Transantarctic Mountains (TAM) and with enclosed marine shell fragments. This Cape Bird drift is cut by Holocene beaches. The chronology of drift deposition and beach formation comes from AMS radiocarbon dates of associated marine shells, and of penguin bones and skin. The results indicate that a grounded ice sheet with a surface elevation in excess of 590 m deposited Cape Bird drift after 26,860 14C yr BP. The enclosed erratics, shells, and foraminifers indicate that a component of the ice within this sheet flowed through the TAM, grounded on the Ross Sea floor, and ultimately advanced landward onto the lower slopes of Mount Bird. On the basis of similar physical weathering characteristics, far-traveled erratics, radiocarbon chronology, and geomorphic setting, Cape Bird drift is correlated with Ross Sea drift elsewhere in the McMurdo Sound region. Reconstructed surface contours for the grounded ice sheet are based on the areal distribution and upper limit of Cape Bird/Ross Sea drift on ice-free areas alongside McMurdo Sound. The ice surface sloped down to the west from the Ross Embayment toward the TAM. A major flowline within this sheet passed westward around northern Ross Island, southward over Capes Bird and Royds, and then again westward across the sound. This ice-flow direction is required because of the paucity of kenyte erratics in Cape Bird drift. Kenyte, a distinctive bedrock lithology, is common on the west coast of Ross Island, south of Cape Bird. Therefore, the lack of widespread kenyte erratics in Cape Bird drift precludes northward flow of grounded glacier ice during the last glacial maximum (LGM). Wave-washed sediment and beach ridges at Cape Bird extend to 7.6 m above mean high tide (MHT). A set of five low-elevation beaches, all less than 4.0 m above MHT, is parallel with the modern coastline. A higher... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]