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Background: Some Canadian schools have modified their daily schedules from the traditional school day (TSD) schedule (two 15-minute breaks and one 60-minute break) to a balanced school day (BSD) schedule (two 40-minute breaks). While this change increases daily planning and instructional time, it also changes the amount of time available for moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Methods: This study uses a case-control design to examine differences in objectively measured MVPA between children in 3 schools using a BSD schedule and 3 schools using a TSD schedule. Study participants (aged 10-12 years) were recruited from schools in Ontario, Canada. Results: Regardless of schedule type, girls had lower MVPA than boys, and as both boys and girls got older their MVPA significantly decreased. The findings indicate there was no statistically significant difference in the total minutes of in-school MVPA between children from BSD schools and children from TSD schools. MVPA was significantly higher for older girls attending BSD schools than older girls attending TSD schools, suggesting that implementing a BSD may help curb declining MVPA as girls enter adolescence. Conclusion: Despite encouraging findings, more rigorous studies (ie, pre-post experiments with control) are needed to better understand how changing schedules impacts children's health.

Background: Children's sedentary lifestyles and low physical activity levels may be countered using population-level interventions. This study examines factors influencing the use of a free community-wide physical activity access pass for grade 5 students (G5AP). Methods: A natural experiment with longitudinal data collection. A sample of 881 children completed the 9-month follow-up survey self-reporting where they used the G5AP. Two analyses were conducted: Getis-Ord GI* geographic cluster analysis of the spatial distribution of users, and logistic regression examining the relationship between use and accessibility (informational, economic, and geographic) and mobility options, while accounting for intrapersonal and interpersonal factors. Results: Overall, 44.9% of children used the G5AP with clusters of high use in urban areas and low use in the suburbs. Other factors significantly related to G5AP included gender (girls), informational accessibility (active recruitment), economic accessibility (median household income), geographic accessibility (facilities within 1.6 km of home), and mobility options (access to Boys & Girls Club bus). Conclusions: This study found that a diverse population of children used the G5AP. To continue being successful, community-based physical activity interventions need to ensure that the intervention increases geographic, economic, and informational accessibility and provides mobility options that are available to the target population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The books 'Africa: The Challenge of Transformation' and 'Africa's Agenda: The Legacy of Liberalism and Colonialism in the Crisis of African Values' treat sub-Saharan Africa as a single unit of analysis. This problem is more emphasized with the first book which covers too much political and economic ground. The second books looks into the imposition of Western liberalism on African thoughts and values which results in serious identity crisis for Africans.

The composition and character of the transitional interim committee play a significant role in Mali's peaceful transition from military rule to democracy. The broad representation and legitimacy of the national conference paved the way for the peaceful establishment of an elected government. The military government of Moussa Traore was overthrown by the armed forces under pressure from democratic movements in 1991. A National Conference was then constituted to start the democratic processes, which finally resulted in the establishment of a civilian government in Mali.

The Narrative of Robert Adams, a Barbary Captive: A Critical Edition. By Charles H. Adams. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Pp. lxvi, 190. $20.00.) In 1810, Robert Adams, an African [...]