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Running is a popular and convenient form of leisure-time physical activity, with participation levels increasing in the United Kingdom in low physical activity groups such as women and overweight individuals, following the introduction of schemes such as Couch to 5km (C25K). However, despite the popularity of these programmes, there is little research into the social and psychological processes involved in effective engagement and long-term behaviour changes. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore the impact of participation in a 10-week group-led beginners running programme on participant motivation, attendance and well-being using Self-Determination Theory (STD) as a theoretical framework. Participants (N = 124; Mage = 40.74) were recruited from a beginners’ running programme based in the North West of England and self-completed questionnaires during weeks 2, 6 and 10. Future intentions to run were also assessed at 3- and 6-month follow up. Results demonstrated the positive impact an adapted C25K model can have upon elements of self-perceptions (particularly perceived competence) and future intentions to run. The path analysis, which looked at average values over time, demonstrated that leader autonomy support positively impacted upon participants’ basic needs satisfaction, which led to the development of more self-determined motivation, and in turn led to higher levels of attendance and mental well-being. Critically for drop-out, results from multiple regression analysis indicated that individuals with a higher BMI rated leader autonomy support as lower and felt less competent during the programme. A number of research and practical recommendations are discussed.

Acute cardiovascular exercise can enhance correct remembering but its impact upon false remembering is less clear. In two experiments, we investigated the effect of acute bouts of exercise on correct and false remembering using the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) memory test. In Experiment 1, healthy adults completed quiet rest or moderate intensity cycling prior to the memory test. In Experiment 2, a similar sample completed moderate intensity running, high intensity sprints, or a period of quiet rest prior to the memory test. In Experiment 1, acute moderate intensity exercise increased short-term correct, but not false, recall. Experiment 2 replicated these findings but also found an acute bout of high intensity exercise had no impact upon either type of recall. Acute moderate intensity exercise, but not acute high intensity exercise, can improve short-term correct recall without an accompanying increase in false recall potentially through processing of contextually specific information during encoding.

Objectives: Two studies investigated expert-novice differences in information-seeking behaviour, cognitions and performance during cycling time trials (TT). Study 1 examined trained and novice cyclist’s cognitions whilst performing a TT, using a Think Aloud (TA) protocol and eye-tracking techniques. Study 2 investigated expertise differences during alone and competitive TTs. Methods: in Study 1, six trained and seven novice cyclists performed a 16.1 km TT. In Study 2, eight trained and ten novice cyclists performed three 16.1 km TT; a baseline TT, an alone TT and a trial against a virtual competitor. In both studies, participants were asked to TA and in Study 1 they also wore mobile gaze-tracking glasses. Performance feedback and a simulated TT course were visually displayed during all trials, as was a virtual avatar during the competitor trial. Verbalisations were coded into primary and secondary themes. Cognitions and pacing strategies were compared between groups and across the duration of the TTs. In Study 1, eye-tracking data for total dwell time and gaze frequency were calculated for each area of interest (Time Elapsed, Power, Heart Rate, Cadence, Distance Covered, Speed and Course Scenery). Results: In Study 1, no significant differences were found in information-seeking behaviour between groups, however there were expertise differences in the cognitive strategies used. Trained cyclists’ verbalisations were more performance-relevant (i.e., power output), whereas the untrained group were more focused on task completion (i.e., distance and time) and irrelevant information. Both groups talked more about distance and motivational thoughts in the later stages of the trial, and dwell time on distance feedback also increased in this final 4 km. In Study 2, the trained group performed faster than the untrained group but there were no significant differences in pace or performance between alone and competitive TTs for either group. Differences in cognitions were found

This paper introduces an event-driven solution for modern scientific workflows. This novel approach enables truly dynamic workflows by splitting them into their constituent parts, defined using combinations of Patterns and Recipes, and lacking any meaningful inter-dependencies. The theory behind this system is set out, and an example workflow is presented. A python package mig_meow, which implements this workflow system is also shown and explained. The use cases of various user groups are considered to asses the feasibility of the design, and it is found to be sufficient, especially in light of recent workflow requirements for dynamic looping, optional outputs and in-the-loop interactions.

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.

Sheridan, A, Marchant, DC, Williams, EL, Jones, HS, Hewitt, PA, and Sparks, SA. Presence of spotters improves bench press performance: a deception study. J Strength Cond Res 33(7): 1755-1761, 2019-Resistance exercise is a widely used method of physical training in both recreational exercise and athletic populations. The use of training partners and spotters during resistance exercise is widespread, but little is known about the effect of the presence of these individuals on exercise performance. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of spotter presence on bench press performance. Twelve recreationally trained participants (age, 21.3 ± 0.8 years, height, 1.82 ± 0.1 m, and mass, 84.8 ± 11.1 kg) performed 2 trials of 3 sets to failure at 60% of 1 repetition maximum on separate occasions. The 2 trials consisted of spotters being explicitly present or hidden from view (deception). During the trials, total repetitions (reps), total weight lifted, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and self-efficacy were measured. Total reps and weight lifted were significantly greater with spotters (difference = 4.5 reps, t = 5.68, p < 0.001 and difference = 209.6 kg, t = 5.65, p < 0.001, respectively). Although RPE and local RPE were significantly elevated in the deception trials (difference = 0.78, f = 6.16, p = 0.030 and difference = 0.81, f = 5.89, p = 0.034, respectively), self-efficacy was significantly reduced (difference = 1.58, f = 26.90, p < 0.001). This study demonstrates that resistance exercise is improved by the presence of spotters, which is facilitated by reduced RPE and increased self-efficacy. This has important implications for athletes and clients, who should perform resistance exercise in the proximity of others, to maximize total work performed.

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.

Resistance exercise is a widely-used method of physical training in both recreational exercise and athletic populations. The use of training partners and spotters during resistance exercise is widespread, but little is known about the effect of the presence of these individuals on exercise performance. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of spotter presence on bench press performance. Twelve recreationally trained participants (age, 21.3 ± 0.8 yrs, height, 1.82 ± 0.1 m, and weight, 84.8 ± 11.1 kg) performed two trials of three sets to failure at 60% of 1 repetition maximum on separate occasions. The two trials consisted of spotters being explicitly present or hidden from view (deception). During the trials, total repetitions (reps), total weight lifted, ratings of perceived exertion, and self-efficacy were measured. Total reps and weight lifted were significantly greater with spotters (difference = 4.5 reps, t = 5.68, p < 0.001; difference = 209.6 kg, t = 5.65, p < 0.001; respectively). Whilst RPE and Local-RPE were significantly elevated in the deception trials (difference = 0.78, f =6.16, p = 0.030; difference = 0.81, f = 5.89, p = 0.034 respectively), self-efficacy was significantly reduced (difference = 1.58, f = 26.90, p < 0.001). This study demonstrates that resistance exercise is improved by the presence of spotters, which is facilitated by reduced RPE and increased self-efficacy. This has important implications for athletes and clients, who should perform resistance exercise in the proximity of others, to maximize total work done.

The non-polio Enteroviruses (NPEV) cause a glut of severe diseases which are especially burdensome in the pediatric population. This study uses a novel approach to evaluate the relationship between recombination amongst non-polio enteroviruses and circulation. The National Centre for Enterovirus (NCEV) surveillance system showed that from 1991-2013 there were 2628 Enterovirus positive samples surveyed including 2167 (83.9%) Enterovirus B strains, 326 (12.6%) Enterovirus A strains, 85 (3.3%) Enterovirus D strains and 5 (0.2%) Enterovirus C strains. Echovirus 30 (Enterovirus B) was the most prevalent serotype followed by Coxsackievirus A16 (Enterovirus A) followed by several other Enterovirus B serotypes. To evaluate the genetics of these species 269 strains from 17 Enterovirus B serotypes, 2 Enterovirus A serotypes and 1 Enterovirus D serotype were chosen for full genome sequencing. These serotypes were representative of 93.4% of Enterovirus B strains, 91.1% of Enterovirus A strains, and 100% of Enterovirus D circulating. Phylogenetic analysis was used to genotype strains and used to identify hundreds of recombination events between serotypes. Comparisons between VP1 average pairwise identities between serotypes and recombination events did not show a definitive association between the two. However, a significant association between temporal co-circulation and recombination events was identified, as well as an association between geographic co-circulation and recombination events. Enterovirus B genotypes were evaluated chronologically by serotype and compared to surveillance data to test the hypothesis that outbreaks were associated with recombination events. However, outbreaks strains were identified in years preceding the outbreaks and identified recombination events were not associated with any outbreaks. Recombination events between Canadian strains within the Enterovirus A species or the Enterovirus D species were not found. This study presents new information a

A working solution to the Santa Claus Problem is demonstrated that operates over a distributed system. It is designed and modelled using the client/server model to maintain a deadlock and livelock free architecture. The system was developed using the JCSP library for Java and demonstrated over a network of twenty desktop PCs. Each Santa, Reindeer and Elf process is broken down into numerous sub-processes, and are each designed according to the client/server model. A novel approach to the Elves is presented using a chain-based architecture to allow non-determined sub-groups to communicate and consult with Santa in sets of three.

Objective: Concussion is a common injury in ice hockey, and previous research suggests some misconceptions and unsafe attitudes amongst players. The purpose of this study was to assess sport concussion knowledge, attitudes and the effect of sport concussion history in UK-based male ice hockey players across three levels of competition: professional, semi-professional and amateur. Methods: Sixty-one participants across a number of UK ice hockey teams completed the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey and reviewed a series of statements to assess knowledge (concussion knowledge index), attitudes (concussion attitude index) and misconceptions of concussion. Results: Level of competition and concussion history had no significant effect on concussion knowledge index or concussion attitude index. A positive significant relationship exists between playing experience and concussion knowledge index and concussion attitude index. Statements identified common misconceptions and areas of accurate knowledge regarding concussion symptoms suggesting that male ice hockey players have a higher level knowledge compared to a sample of the UK general public. Playing experience was associated with increased knowledge and increasingly safe attitudes towards concussion. Conclusion: Despite knowledge relating to loss of consciousness and correct management of symptoms being generally accurate, there are worryingly unsafe attitudes regarding aspects of concussion. Such attitudes may well pose significant threats to players’ safety and long-term health.