Active Form Research Articles

Experiences, Barriers and Facilitators to Walking as a form of Physical Activity among Residents of a Large Urban Area in Nepal: A Qualitative Study

Introduction Walking is a common activity and an affordable form of exercise feasible for people of all ages and circumstances. Given the onslaught of non-communicable diseases, strategies to promote physical activity such as walking should be based on good quality evidence. This study explored the experiences, and the barriers and facilitators towards walking among urban residents. Methods An exploratory qualitative study method with one-to-one in-depth interviews were carried out with participants aged 22 to 80 of both sexes to explore the experiences, facilitators and barriers faced by participants. Results Participants had a positive attitude to walking and had incorporated it in their daily lives, but only few participants did it as an exercise. Role models, availability of public transport, negative reinforcement due to health condition, mental well-being, and walking being a social and enjoyable activity were the facilitators. Vehicle ownership, poor infrastructure, dangerous roads, social norms and stigma and lack of willpower were main barriers. Conclusion In order to promote walking as a form of physical activity the social aspects of walking such as walking as a form of socializing, taking measures to incorporate walking into people’s daily lives or commute, and highlighting the mental health benefits of walking have to be carried out rather than promoting walking just as a form of physical activity.

The Positive Effects of Physical Activity on Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review

Background: Physical activity can have positive effects on motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease, but its benefits in terms of quality of life and function are uncertain and vary based on the specific forms of activities and interventions. Objective: We sought to assess the current evidence on the positive effects of physical activity in people with Parkinson’s disease and more specifically in relation to its potential benefits for quality of life. Methods: This systematic review was conducted between January and April 2024 via the PubMed, Medline, and Scopus databases. Predetermined search criteria were used that included the following terms: “Parkinson’s disease”, “quality of life” and “physical activity”. Results: A total of 1669 articles were identified. After utilizing predetermined criteria, a total of fifteen articles met the selection criteria. Statistically significant improvements in quality of life were found in seven studies. Seven studies demonstrated a significant improvement in non-motor symptoms, while nine studies showed an improvement in motor symptoms. Conclusions: Despite heterogeneity in the study designs, interventions and clinical assessments, the articles identified in this review yielded mostly positive results in relation to physical activities. The findings reflect an improvement in motor and non-motor symptoms may translate to a better quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease.

Women’s campaigning, petitioning, and grassroots activism, 1945–1997

ABSTRACT Petitioning provided a flexible repertoire for women’s political activity in the decades after 1945. Petitioning was a popular, widespread practice: aside from voting, signing a petition was one of the few political activities that engaged a majority of women. Building on a long tradition of British women as active petitioners, petitioning was used by a variety of different groups—local action groups, voluntary associations, political parties, pressure groups, and radical social movements, including those associated with the Women’s Liberation Movement. Connecting formal and informal politics, petitioning was a relatively cheap, accessible form of political activity that enabled activism. In particular, the practices associated with name-signing created informal, temporary political spaces for women. Petitioning also provided a mechanism for representation and making representative claims to authority on behalf of women. The media-friendly spectacle of presenting petitions to authority was useful for attracting publicity as a range of activists, including conservative moral campaigners like Mary Whitehouse realised. The flexibility of petitioning explain its popularity as a form of political participation for women, particularly in facilitating local, informal activity.

ОСВІТНІЙ ПРОЄКТ «ЦІКАВА НАУКА ОНЛАЙН» ЯК ШЛЯХ КОМПЕНСАЦІЇОСВІТНІХ ВТРАТ В УМОВАХ ВІЙНИ В УКРАЇНІ

The article highlights the experience of implementing educational projects in the conditions of the transformation of education in Ukraine, which was caused by the war. Research conducted by the State Education Quality Service of Ukraine showed that compensation for the loss of study time most often occurs through providing students with educational materials and tasks for independent study. Group and individual consultations, additional training classes are held less frequently. The study notes that it is too difficult to assess how often these measures are implemented, given that most teachers complain of a lack of conditions and opportunities. Research conducted by us in the Ukrainian educational hubs of JRS Romania in Bucharest confirmed the feasibility of creating educational hubs as an effective form of non-formal education aimed at overcoming educational losses caused by martial law. The results of research and the search for possible ways to reduce the level of educational losses determined the need to introduce new forms of educational activity and more appropriate forms of pedagogical education. In the context of the mentioned problems, the training of natural science teachers in higher education institutions should correspond to the realities of life, the social order and be oriented towards the organization of the educational process online. The implementation of educational projects conducted online based on the STEM-oriented approach, as the experience described in the article has shown, is one of the possible ways to overcome existing educational challenges and ensures that the training of future teachers meets the modern demands of the market of educational services. An example of the implementation of the above ideas is the "Interesting Science Online" project. The idea of the project is to combine the efforts of forms, methods and technologies of formal and informal education to compensate for educational losses in emergency situations. The project's online studios were developed by us depending on the value orientations and preferences of the project participants. The studios of scientific rap, scientific TikTok, the studio "Know How" and "Battle of the Worlds" are actively working in the project. All online studios work under the leadership of students - masters of interesting science. Educational products created in the studios are presented during the work of the studios and in social networks on the project pages. The article presents an innovative form of pedagogical education, online university studios, which improve the quality of training future teachers to carry out educational activities online and demonstrate the possibilities of compensating for educational losses in wartime conditions.

Parent/carer experiences and challenges in redeeming the First Lap swimming lesson voucher in New South Wales, Australia

ABSTRACT Rationale Swimming is a popular, enjoyable, and important form of physical activity. Swimming skills play a vital role in water safety and drowning prevention, particularly among young children. The First Lap program is a New South Wales government swimming lesson subsidy voucher program for preschool-aged children. This study examined parent/carer program views and experiences in 2021–2022, specifically reasons for voucher non-redemption. Approach A thematic analysis examined 1031 parent/carer qualitative responses concerning reasons for voucher non-redemption and overall views and experiences of the program in an online parent/carer survey.Findings: Voucher non-redemption was evident through: seasonal, weather and health; program parameter; parent/carer (user); and swim school (provider) themes. Despite non-redemption, parent/carer program views were additionally evident through: positive feedback about the program and its objectives; evidence of knowledge and awareness of the importance of water safety and learning to swim; lesson affordability concerns. Practical implications Swim school and lesson availability, accessibility, and affordability can be addressed through clear engagement and communication with both the user and provider sides. Research contribution Reasons for First Lap voucher non-redemption represent barriers to swimming lesson participation for preschool-aged children. Originality Voucher programs must consider the impacts of the broader socio-ecological context and ecosystem.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ПРОЦЕССА ЖЕВАНИЯ НА РЕСПИРАТОРНУЮ СИНУСОВУЮ АРИТМИЮ

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is a clockwise fluctuation in heart rate at the frequency of the respiratory cycle. RSA is an important homeostatic mechanism, the parameters of which change under various conditions - from stress to physical exercise. However, the direct effect of chewing, the most common form of muscle activity, on RSA has not yet been studied. We studied the dynamic evolution of RSA and the associated heart rate and respiratory rate during the transition from rest to chewing gum in 37 students (15 men). The measure of RSA in this study was the spectral power of high-frequency HF oscillations. Chewing was accompanied by a slight increase in respiratory rate (RR) and a significant increase in heart rate (HR), but a statistically insignificant increase in the HR/HR ratio. Although respiration was an important determinant of RSA in this study, we observed a significant decrease in HF in the presence of relatively stable RR and HR/RR levels, indicating that the main driver of the evolution of RSA during mastication is an increase in sympathetic tone due to the trigeminal reflex.

Dimeric and monomeric conformation of SARS-CoV-2 main protease: New technical approaches based on IR radiation

The main proteases Mpro are a group of highly conserved cysteine hydrolases in β-coronaviruses. They have been demonstrated to play an unavoidable role in viral replication, and consequently they have been suggested as key targets for treating coronavirus-caused infectious diseases, mainly from the COVID-19 epidemic. Since the most functional form for Mpro enzymatic activity is associated to its homodimer, compounds inhibiting dimerization should also inhibit catalytic activity. We show how PIR-SEIRA (Plasmonic Internal Reflection-Surface Enhanced InfraRed Absorption) spectroscopy can be a noteworthy technique to study proteins subtle structural variations associated to inhibitor binding. Nanoantennas arrays can selectively confine and enhance electromagnetic field via localized plasmonic resonances, thus promoting ultrasensitive detection of biomolecules in close proximity of nanoantenna arrays and enabling the effective investigation of protein monolayers. By adopting this approach, reflection measurements conducted under back illumination of nanoantennas allow to probe anchored protein monolayers, with minimum contribution of environmental buffer molecules. PIR-SEIRA spectroscopy on Mpro was carried out by ad hoc designed devices, resonating in the spectral region of Amide I and Amide II bands. We evaluated here the structure of anchored monomers and dimers in different buffered environment and in presence of a newly designed Mpro inhibitor. Experimental results show that dimerization is not associated to relevant backbone rearrangements of the protein at secondary structure level, and even if the compound inhibits the dimerization, it is not effective at breaking preformed dimers.

Exploration of Teaching Development Strategies for Double-Qualified Teachers in University-Affiliated Hospitals Based on Role Conflict Theory

This study draws on the classic theories and research achievements of university teacher development, and from the perspective of role conflict in social psychology, proposes policy recommendations for the development of clinical teachers in medical colleges, including following different stages of teacher development and designing teaching development strategies at different levels; designing the content and form of teaching development activities to meet the temporal and spatial needs of clinical teachers; and building an academic community for clinical teachers to promote the creation of teaching development behaviors.

Coal-based generators’ corporate response to an emissions trading scheme in Kazakhstan

The power industry remains a central focus of modern climate mitigation policies because of its significant contribution to global GHG emissions and increased global electricity demand. This paper examines Kazakhstan's coal-based power-generation companies' responses to a national emissions trading scheme (ETS) regulation introduced in 2013 by applying corporate climate strategy and sociotechnical systems frameworks. The in-depth case study is based on 20 interviews with managers of the six largest Kazakhstan coal-based generators and ten interviews with independent industry experts. The empirical data indicate that Kazakhstan's ETS has impacted the country's generators. The companies have responded in the form of non-compliance (i.e., application for additional free allowances), compliance (i.e., purchase of allowances from the ETS), and compliance-plus activities (i.e., exploring investment into renewable energy and fuel switching to natural gas). At the same time, Kazakhstan's generators continue the business-as-usual approach by investing in modernizing their coal-generating assets. Therefore, Kazakhstan may consider complementing its ETS regulation with additional policy reforms to support its ambitious objective to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

Immunogenicity and Adverse Events after Covid-19 Vaccination in Patients with Systemic Inflammatory Autoimmune Diseases

Abstract Background The first cases of COVID-19 began in Wuhan, Hubei Province china, in December 2019. Since then, this disease caused by a highly pathogenic virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-COV-2), has been labelled as a global pandemic. It is believed that the primary means of viral spread is via respiratory droplets during close-range, human-to-human contact. Aim of the Work To assess immunogenicity and to compare adverse effect following COVID-19 vaccinations in patients with systemic inflammatory autoimmune diseases vs matched healthy controls. Patients and Methods This is a cross sectional study. Two groups of subjects were enrolled in the study after consideration of both inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group A: patients with systemic inflammatory auto immune disease (60 subjects) including (30 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis) who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Group B: age-matched healthy controls who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine (30 Subjects). All patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic of department of Internal Medicine – Rheumatology division at Ain Shams University Hospital. Control group were recruited from medical and non-medical staff working at Ain Shams University Hospital. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the titre of anti-spikes antibodies with the use of different immune suppressive drugs in RA group such as methotrexate and leflunomide with p-value =0.935,0.257, respectively,also in SLE patients there was no statistically significant difference in the titre of anti-spikes antibodies with the use of different immune suppressive drugs in SLE group such as azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil and cyclophosphamide with p-value = 0.317, 1.000 and 0.513 respectively,(all patients in our study were on corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine). There was statistically significant difference as regarding disease activity in RA patients before and after covid-19 vaccine with p-value = 0.001,with a total percentage of 26.70% of patients developed mild disease activity,13.30% developed moderate disease activity while 3.3% of patients developed severe activity and as regarding SLE patients there was statistically significant difference as regarding disease activity in SLE patients before and after covid-19 vaccine with p-value = 0.002,with a total percentage of 23.3% of patients developed mild disease activity,6.7% developed moderate disease activity while 10% of patients developed severe activity. Conclusion Comparable side effects in both control and patients group with only minor side effects were reported. The Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 vaccine was immunogenic in the majority of patients in comparison to control group, with an acceptable safety profile. The use of different immune suppressive therapies (methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil,cyclophosphamide) didn’t affect humoral response after two doses of the vaccine. Apparent impact on disease activity of both SLE and RA patients but mainly in the form of mild disease activity.

Immunogenicity and Adverse Events after Covid-19 Vaccination in Patients with Systemic Inflammatory Autoimmune Diseases

Abstract Background The first cases of COVID-19 began in Wuhan, Hubei Province china, in December 2019. Since then, this disease caused by a highly pathogenic virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-COV-2), has been labelled as a global pandemic. It is believed that the primary means of viral spread is via respiratory droplets during close-range, human-to-human contact. Aim of the Work To assess immunogenicity and to compare adverse effect following COVID-19 vaccinations in patients with systemic inflammatory autoimmune diseases vs matched healthy controls. Patients and Methods This is a cross sectional study. Two groups of subjects were enrolled in the study after consideration of both inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group A: patients with systemic inflammatory auto immune disease (60 subjects) including (30 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis) who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Group B: age-matched healthy controls who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine (30 Subjects). All patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic of department of Internal Medicine – Rheumatology division at Ain Shams University Hospital. Control group were recruited from medical and non-medical staff working at Ain Shams University Hospital. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the titre of anti-spikes antibodies with the use of different immune suppressive drugs in RA group such as methotrexate and leflunomide with p- value = 0.935,0.257, respectively,also in SLE patients there was no statistically significant difference in the titre of anti-spikes antibodies with the use of different immune suppressive drugs in SLE group such as azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil and cyclophosphamide with p-value = 0.317, 1.000 and 0.513 respectively,(all patients in our study were on corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine). There was statistically significant difference as regarding disease activity in RA patients before and after covid-19 vaccine with p-value = 0.001,with a total percentage of 26.70% of patients developed mild disease activity,13.30% developed moderate disease activity while 3.3% of patients developed severe activity and as regarding SLE patients there was statistically significant difference as regarding disease activity in SLE patients before and after covid-19 vaccine with p-value = 0.002,with a total percentage of 23.3% of patients developed mild disease activity, 6.7% developed moderate disease activity while 10% of patients developed severe activity. Conclusion Comparable side effects in both control and patients group with only minor side effects were reported. The Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 vaccine was immunogenic in the majority of patients in comparison to control group, with an acceptable safety profile. The use of different immune suppressive therapies (methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide) didn’t affect humoral response after two doses of the vaccine. Apparent impact on disease activity of both SLE and RA patients but mainly in the form of mild disease activity.

Perspective on solving the problem of declining interest in physical activity in Poland.

One of the leading areas of Polish research addressed in the physical culture sciences, is the declining interest in physical activity. The likely reason for this situation may be the inadequate communication of physical culture to today's generations: BB (baby boomers), X (great unknowns), Y (millennials), Z (snowflakes), Alpha (digital). Therefore, the aim of this article is to address the problem of declining interest in physical activity in Poland by identifying the appropriate approach of teachers, trainers and instructors to today's generations. The specifics of BB, X, Y, Z and Alpha generations are described and their expectations regarding physical activity are indicated. It was concluded that activating these social groups should be done by prompting topics that are important to them. Thus, BB value organizational stability, X need to see the purposefulness and attractiveness of the activities, Y equate physical activity with personal development, Z only take up useful forms of activities, and finally Alpha like smart technology-assisted activities.

Areas of modernization of the system of training and certification of forensic experts in Ukraine based on the adaptation of foreign experience

Abstract The article is devoted to the study of the existing system of training and certification of forensic experts in Ukraine and to the provision of proposals for its modernization, taking into account the positive experience in the field of forensic science of the USA, Great Britain and some countries of the European Union. In Ukraine, the procedure for the training and certification of forensic experts is determined by ministries and other central executive authorities, which manage state specialized institutions that carry out forensic activities. A study of foreign experience in the training and certification of forensic experts made it possible to identify general and specific elements, sustain the benefits of the implemented measures, and formulate priorities and guidelines. The research resulted in the justification of the need to develop a single regulatory act that would determine the procedure for training, internships and certification of forensic experts, as well as the creation of a single qualification body that would help ensure uniform approaches to determining the qualification of forensic experts working in state specialized forensic institutions, their territorial branches, expert institutions of municipal ownership, and forensic experts who are not employees of these institutions. It is proved that the development and implementation of uniform standards for training forensic experts on the basis of a centralized approach, regardless of where these specialists will work in the future, will help address the problem of training personnel. The author concludes that improving the quality of training, internship and certification of forensic experts requires new approaches to organizational, economic, teaching, methodological and technical provision. The author substantiates the need for fundamentally new forms of activity which will ensure the effectiveness and transparency of the assessment of knowledge by means of modern information technologies in the current reform environment. It is stated that Ukraine should raise the criteria for admission to the profession of a forensic expert. The author specifies the issues that need to be enshrined in law.

The Fostering of Multimodal Text Literacy in Elementary School Learning

Literacy is very important for learners, but national assessment results show that their literacy skills are still low. Therefore, multimodal text literacy has become the focus of the Indonesian government in recent years. The purpose of this study is to describe the planning and implementation of multimodal text literacy acculturation in primary schools. The research method used was descriptive qualitative with a phenomenological approach. Data collection techniques were observation, interview and documentation. The results of this study show that multimodal text literacy acculturation in primary schools is carried out by building a multimodal text-rich school environment which is a variation of the form of literacy activities in primary schools. The conclusion is that multimodal text literacy acculturation can be done with various forms of literacy activities. The results of this study provide strategic recommendations for primary schools in improving literacy skills.

THE COGNITIVE FRAME OF WAR: CONTEMPORARY EXPANSIONS

A war is a form of hostile activity. Wars have been fought for centuries, however over time, the tactics used, and the means employed in them have changed and developed. The present study is devoted to the cognitive frame of WAR. From the cognitive linguistic perspective, a frame is a complex knowledge structure with a number of interrelated elements. Conventional frame elements will be presented on the basis of lexicographic sources, while the most recent expansions will be outlined after selected online BBC News reports pertaining to information, cyber- and hybrid war.

The Re-socialization Path of the Community Elderly from the Perspective of Active Aging: Take Community B as an Example

The 20th report pointed out that “implement the national strategy of actively responding to the aging of the population, develop the pension cause and industry, optimize the services for the elderly, and promote the realization of all the elderly enjoy the basic pension services”. It is estimated that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s population will enter a moderate stage of aging. In the current situation of the population aging trend, in addition to the establishment of relevant institutional guarantees for the elderly, we should also promote the social participation of the elderly and promote the re-socialization of the elderly. Community is the basic unit of social organizations and social population gathering. With the functions of socialization, psychological support, social participation and mutual assistance, it is an important field for the re-socialization of the elderly. Community social work is based on the community, through the use of relevant resources, mobilize the community strength, promote the social participation of the elderly in the form of community activities and volunteer services of the elderly. Based on the theory of active aging and re-socialization, this study conducted a questionnaire survey and in-depth interview on the B community in Lanzhou to understand the re-socialization level and re-socialization dilemma of the elderly in community B. On the basis of the analysis of relevant data, from the three dimensions of “participation”, “health” and “guarantee”, the beneficial measures of the community in promoting the re-socialization of the elderly are summarized, and targeted suggestions are put forward.

Living with axial spondyloarthritis: a cross-sectional survey of patient knowledge and perceptions

Diagnosis and effective treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) are often delayed due to inadequate awareness and poor patient-physician communication. Some AxSpA patients fail to maintain an active lifestyle by exercising regularly, further worsening their disease management. The evolving concept of patient-centred care necessitates better understanding of patient awareness and their needs. We aimed to survey AxSpA patients to reflect on healthcare planning and management perspectives. Our self-administered questionnaire focused on perceptions of AxSpA diagnosis and management, particularly exploring issues of physical activity and active lifestyle. Satisfaction with AxSpA medical care and its accessibility, diagnostic delays, patient-physician communication, and support for disease management were also explored. This offline survey was arranged at the Department of Rheumatology, Immunology, and Internal Medicine of Jagiellonian University Medical College and Krakow University Hospital. We surveyed patients with AxSpA attending outpatient clinics between December 1st, 2023 and April 22nd, 2024. The questionnaire included questions on types of physical activities, barriers to exercising, satisfaction with medical care, patient-physician interactions, diagnostic delays, and use of teleconsultations. A total of 117 patients with AxSpA were enrolled (mean age 41.62 years). The majority (n = 93, 79.5%) were employed. There was a male predominance (69, 59%). The average diagnostic delay was 5.5 years. Notably, 104 (88.9%) responders perceived physical activity as a factor influencing their disease course. However, only 32 (27.35%) managed to exercise regularly (≥ 30 min, 2–3 times a week). The majority (70, 59.83%) were irregularly engaged in some form of physical activity, with 15 (12.8%) not exercising at all, and nearly half (48%) reported at least one barrier to maintaining a physically active lifestyle. Pain (32, 27.35%), fatigue (27, 23.08%), lack of motivation (17, 14.53%), and lack of time (12, 10.26%) were noted as barriers to exercising. The respondents preferred to exercise at home. The survey identified critical areas where patient dissatisfaction or uncertainty were notably prevalent: 38 (32.5%) were uncertain and 35 (30%) were dissatisfied with rehabilitation access. For spa therapy, 63 (53.85%) reported uncertainty and 23 (19.7%) expressed dissatisfaction. Only 48 (41%) were treated by a rehabilitation specialist last year. Only 23% of AxSpA patients took part in teleconsultations last year, and 65% preferred in-person visits. While AxSpA patients recognize the importance of physical activity, significant barriers exist to engaging them regularly in exercising. Addressing these barriers through personalized, motivational, and educational strategies could improve patient outcomes. Improving patient satisfaction with healthcare services, particularly in areas of rehabilitation and physician-patient communication, is crucial for improving the overall care of AxSpA patients.

Organization of project activities at the university in the system of scientific reflection

Introduction. The relevance of the study of project activities in higher education is related to the role that this form of educational activity plays at the present stage of education development. Interdisciplinary studies emerging at the intersection of sociology, political science, anthropology, philosophy and economics are promising. This article raises the problem of the contribution of the experience, reflections and mediation of a teacher of a pedagogical university to the project method, on the one hand, and the requirements that apply to the competence of student researchers– on the other. The concept of autonomy of student research activity is proposed as a key idea for the transformation of the directions of the modern Russian educational space.Materials and methods. The materials are based on a study conducted by teachers and students of the Stavropol Pedagogical Institute, a branch in the city of Yessentuki in the period from 2015 to 2022 as part of a research project designed at the same institute. Seven research projects were completed: four with certified teachers, three with students who received a history teacher's diploma, and twenty introductory pedagogical projects. In the process of working on projects, coordination activities were regularly carried out aimed at analyzing the work already done and planning the next stages. The frequency of variables in the method was tested with the participation of teachers, young researchers and students enrolled in historical and social studies programs of the Stavropol State Pedagogical Institute, a branch in the city of Yessentuki.Results. The conducted research made it possible to identify the key positions of the researcher in decision-making, to identify the main starting points of the scientific hypothesis in the process of forming goals and objectives, to describe a set of methodological developments and ideas in the implementation of project activities within the framework of a pedagogical university, the problems of human inclusion in the collective social consciousness in the space of a modern city.Discussion and conclusions. It was concluded that experience contributes to reflection, and reflection contributes to building knowledge and changing paradigms.

DETERMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADULTS' NUTRITIONAL HABITS AND CONSTIPATION

This study was planned and conducted to determine the relationship between dietary habits and constipation status of adults. The data of the study were obtained via an online questionnaire. The presence of less than three defecations per week was considered as constipation (+). The questionnaire form used to collect the study data included socio-demographic characteristics, eating habits, consumption status of food groups according to the International Physical Activity Form (Short Version) and national dietary guide recommendations. The study was conducted with 330 participants. The prevalence of constipation was determined as 28.8% among the participants in the study. Among those with constipation (+), 55.8% reported consuming two main meals per day and 50.5% reported skipping meals. The weekly walking activity of participants with constipation (+) was statistically lower than those with constipation (-) (p

Partnered dance evokes greater intrinsic motivation than home exercise as therapeutic activity for chemotherapy-induced deficits: secondary results of a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Dance has been proposed to support superior intrinsic motivation over non-dance forms of therapeutic physical activity. However, this hypothesis has yet to be evaluated empirically, particularly among populations living with neuropathology such as survivors of cancer with neurologic complications from chemotherapy treatment. Questions about motivation are relevant to clinical outcomes because motivation mediates neuroplasticity. We conducted this secondary analysis of a randomized-controlled study to begin to investigate the relationships between personal motivation and neurophysiologic effects of dance-based intervention for healthy aging among populations with neurologic complications of cancer. We measured motivation using the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, a validated patient-reported outcome from the psychological approach of Self Determination Theory. We assessed intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and satisfaction with intervention within a randomized controlled trial of dance versus exercise designed to alleviate symptoms of chemotherapy-induced impairment. Fifty-two survivors of breast cancer with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy diagnosis and associated sensorimotor functional deficits were randomized (1:1) to 8 weeks of partnered dance or home exercise, performed biweekly (NCT05114005; R21-AG068831). While satisfaction did not differ between interventions, intrinsic motivation was higher among participants randomized to dance than those randomized to exercise (p < 0.0001 at all timepoints: 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 8 weeks of intervention), as was extrinsic motivation at 2 weeks (p = 0.04) and 8 weeks (p = 0.01). These data provide evidence that social dance is more motivating than the type of home exercise generally recommended as therapeutic physical activity. The results inform directions for future study of the effect of dance-based therapeutics on embodied agency, neuroplastic changes, and clinically-relevant neuropathic improvement.