Short-term Program Research Articles

Supporting Physical Activity Maintenance in Older Adults Following Supervised Group Exercise: A Mixed-Methods Study Among Culturally Diverse Older Adults.

Physical activity (PA) is important for prevention of falls and chronic disease in older adults. We aimed to examine the interrelated influences upon PA in culturally diverse older adults who completed a short-term exercise program, to inform maintenance strategies, using a mixed-methods design. Eighty-two past participants from the "Stepping On"© program were surveyed examining ongoing participation, social and cognitive determinants of PA, mental and physical functioning, and fear of falls. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 34 respondents regarding enablers and barriers, cultural factors, and preferences for PA. Data were collected in English, Chinese, Arabic, Punjabi, or Hindi. Cultural factors minimally affected PA participation. There was low perceived availability of PA opportunities. Health difficulties not only discouraged but also motivated participation. Social connection was a facilitator and could be used to support maintenance. Older adults may benefit from assistance in accessing PA opportunities and clinical guidance about the benefits of ongoing PA.

Comparative Effects of Two High-Intensity Intermittent Training Programs on Sub-Elite Male Basketball Referees' Fitness Levels.

This study aimed to compare the effects of an 8-week short-term training program, comprising repeated sprints or running-based high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT), on the aerobic fitness and repeated sprint ability (RSA) performance of sub-elite basketball referees. Twenty male referees participated in supervised training sessions twice a week. They were randomly assigned to either the RSA-based group (RSAG) or the running-based HIIT group (HIITG). The RSAG conducted 3-4 sets of 8 × 20-m all-out sprints, while the HIITG performed 2-3 sets of 6 × 20-s runs at 90% of their maximal velocity achieved in the 30-15 intermittent fitness test (30-15IFT). Referees underwent a graded exercise test on a treadmill, the 30-15IFT, and an RSA test before and after the training program. Both groups showed significant improvement (~3%) in the fastest (22.6 ± 1.4 vs. 23.4 ± 1.7 and 22.0 ±1.9 vs. 22.4 ± 1.7 km·h-1 in RSAG and HIITG, respectively) and mean (21.5 ± 1.2 vs. 22.4 ± 1.4 and 21.3 ± 1.8 vs. 21.7 ± 1.6 km·h-1 in RSAG and HIITG, respectively) sprint velocity of the RSA test (p < 0.05). Moreover, positive changes (p < 0.05) were observed in the 30-15IFT maximal velocity (18.6 ± 1.1 vs. 19.3 ± 1.0 and 19.4 ± 0.9 vs. 20.5 ± 0.9 km·h-1 in RSAG and HIITG, respectively). In conclusion, an 8-week training intervention using either RSA or running-based HIIT led to similar improvements in referees' RSA performance and specific aerobic fitness measures. These findings could assist in devising tailored training programs for basketball referees.

MANAJEMEN STRATEGI DALAM MENINGKATKAN DAYA SAING SD GMIT SE-KECAMATAN LOBALAIN, KABUPATEN ROTE NDAO

The Decreasing of public interest about the underdeveloped GMIT schools resulting in a decrease of interest continuing education. GMIT schools think of strategic steps to increase the competitiveness of institutions their education. The purpose of this is to analyze the strategic management of GMIT Elementary School in Lobalain District which was conducted to increase the schools’ competitiveness. The method used in this study is a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. The subjects in this study consist of 18 respondents consisting of 1 Principal and 2 teachers from each GMIT Elementary School in Lobalain District. The data collection techniques used is observation, interviews and documentation. The data analysis techniques that used are Analysis Interactive which is divided into 4 parts, namely data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results showed that strategic management has been implemented by school principals according to the implementation stages strategic management, namely observation, strategy formulation/strategy planning, implementation strategy, evaluation and control or supervision. This is done according to the conditions in each school. Efforts to increase the competitiveness of GMIT Elementary School in Lobalain District carried out in the form of observations in the internal and external environment to find out the strengths and the weaknesses of schools, preparing short-term and long-term work programs, implementing work programs and conducting regular evaluations.

Tele-Rehabilitation for Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in India Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Implementation Study

Purpose: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is X-linked progressive neuromuscular disorder of childhood onset which leads to loss of ambulation, followed by respiratory and cardiac muscle weakness. Physiotherapy is integral to the multidisciplinary care plan for boys with DMD. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tele-medicine was increasingly used to provide healthcare to patients. The study aimed to assess the efficacy and feasibility of Tele-rehabilitation among ambulatory boys with DMD. Materials and Methods: Ambulatory boys aged 5 to 12 years with DMD were recruited using purposive sampling. The Tele-rehabilitation program was designed by a neuromuscular team and provided by a physiotherapist through telephonic video calls twice a month for three months. A compliance diary was provided to fill out at home after each session. The outcome was measured with a change in Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score and gower's times at 12 weeks using paired t- test. Results: 92 boys with DMD were enrolled and 66 (71%) boys completed the program and had follow-up at 12 weeks. The baseline MRC sum score was 38.2±3.7, and the gower's time was 9.2±6.7 seconds. At 12 weeks MRC sum score was 38.8±4.2, and gower's time was 8.59±7.7 seconds (p-value- 0.03 and p-value- 0.001), respectively. The Vigno's and Brook's scores didn't show a significant change. Compliance of &amp;gt;50% to the Tele-rehabilitation exercise programs was present in 89% of subjects. Conclusion: A short-term Tele-rehabilitation program was feasible with a high compliance rate and efficacious in motor strengthening among boys with DMD.

Aerobic training effect on mental health and biological indicators in Post-COVID-19 patients

Introduction. One of the aspects of health most affected in patients infected by COVID-19 was mental health. Leading organizations worldwide have recommended physical activity as one of the main actions. Objective. To analyze the effect of a short-term aerobic training program on biological and mental health and quality of life indicators in post-Covid-19 patients. Methods. Symptomatology of depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life, vital signs, physical fitness and body composition were measured in 10 post COVID-19 patients. An aerobic physical exercise program was applied at 40-60% intensity, five days a week, 50 minutes per session for four weeks. Results. A 30% decrease in depression symptomatology, 58% in stress and 44% in anxiety was found during the intervention period (p&lt;0.001). Regarding the perception of quality of life, the psychological area was the one that presented a positive effect during the intervention (p=0.035). An increase in leg strength (p=0.018) and a decrease in body fat (p=0.005) were found during the intervention. Conclusion. A short-term physical exercise program shows benefits in mental health indicators in post-COVID-19 patients. Key Words: Physical activity; Mental health; Quality of life, COVID-19; Fitness.

STEM Education Enhancement Through Effective Professional Development: A Comprehensive Program for Long-Term Growth

The necessity for effective professional development (PD) in STEM education is more intense than ever. Shorter PD programs, on the other hand, are frequently more feasible due to time restrictions. The study looks into the most successful ways of designing and implementing short-term PD programs that provide significant results. Short-term PD programs can deliver intense bursts of improvement by focusing on dynamic training, personalized learning routes, and ongoing support. This study looks at how these programs can help educators modify their methods and improve student learning results. Collaborative networks and communities of practice are also essential for maximizing the impact of short-term PD. The transformative benefits can spread throughout schools and districts by creating relationships and boosting collaboration. This study demonstrates the potential for brief, meaningful PD programs to transform STEM instruction. Educators are embracing brief yet transformative professional development sessions and observing the enormous impact they can have on the future of STEM education.

An Analysis of the Value and Path of Empowering Public Diplomacy through Youth Training Programs --From the Perspective of Embodied Cognitive Theory

In the continuous development of people to people exchange mechanisms between China and foreign countries, overseas youth training programs in China will provide a new educational field for students to understand China's development model and social governance situation through the "unity of knowledge and action" approach. Under the guidance of different training themes, Chinese and foreign partners endow the program with unique public diplomacy value through the emphasis on young individuals, the infiltration of the environment, and the setting of scenarios. The theory of embodied cognitive theory emphasizes the influence of physical state, environment, and specific situations on the cognitive process. This theory has strong theoretical guidance significance for the itinerary design and specific implementation of overseas youth training programs in China. Short-term training programs aimed at international young audiences should strive to promote the unity of embodiment, sociality, and situational aspects from program design to training arrangements. Relevant parties need to consider macro project design, cultural training arrangements, social and civil contact, and representative training topic selection comprehensively.

Influence of Guidance on Occupational Image and Traineeship’s Satisfaction of Vocational Students

AbstractInitial vocational training (VT) in high school consists of short-term programs leading to employment in a skilled trade. To better align training with employment opportunities and to encourage students to stay in the programs until they graduate, most programs include traineeship. Since traineeships involve acquiring skills directly on the job, they require greater involvement of supervisors to guide the trainees. Given the importance of on-the-job guidance in achieving traineeship objectives, this study examines the potential influence of three dimensions of guidance provided by traineeship supervisors –planning, support, and training– on students’ job perception (i.e., occupational image) and traineeship satisfaction. Overall, the results provide mixed results, partially supporting the mediation hypothesis suggested by the results of previous studies. Indeed, the results reveal that the quality of the training offered by the supervisor affects subsequent students’ satisfaction with traineeship experience. Training has an indirect effect on satisfaction via the occupational image held by students. However, the expected indirect links between the other two dimensions of supervisor guidance –degree of planning and support perceived by the student– and the students’ image of their chosen occupation could not be confirmed. The results support the importance of providing quality on-the-job training to students during their studies.

A comparative analysis of energy expenditure and substrate metabolism in male university students with overweight/obesity: Tabata vs HIIT and MICT.

Exploring the energy expenditure and substrate metabolism data during exercise, 10-minute recovery, and 20-minute recovery phases in Tabata, HIIT(High-Intensity Interval Training), and MICT(Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training). This study explores the scientific aspects of weight reduction strategies, examining energy expenditure and substrate metabolism from various training perspectives. The aim is to establish a theoretical foundation for tailoring targeted exercise plans for individuals within the population with overweight/obesity. This study used an experimental design with fifteen male university students with overweight/obesity. Participants underwent random testing with Tabata, HIIT, and MICT. Tabata involved eight sets of 20 seconds exercise and 10 seconds rest, totaling 4 minutes. HIIT included four sets of power cycling: 3 minutes at 80% VO2max intensity followed by 2 minutes at 20% VO2max. MICT comprised 30 minutes of exercise at 50% VO2max intensity. Gas metabolism indices were continuously measured. Subsequently, fat and glucose oxidation rates, along with energy expenditure, were calculated for each exercise type. During both the exercise and recovery phases, the Tabata group exhibited a significantly higher fat oxidation rate of (0.27 ± 0.03 g/min) compared to the HIIT group (0.20 ± 0.04 g/min, p<0.05) and the MICT group (0.20 ± 0.03g/min, p<0.001). No significant difference was observed between the HIIT and MICT groups (p=0.854). In terms of energy expenditure rate, the Tabata group maintained a substantially elevated level at 5.76 ± 0.74kcal/min compared to the HIIT group (4.81 ± 0.25kcal/min, p<0.01) and the MICT group (3.45 ± 0.25kcal/min, p<0.001). Additionally, the energy expenditure rate of the HIIT group surpassed that of the MICT group significantly (p<0.001). The study finds that male college students with overweight/obesity in both exercise and recovery, Tabata group has lower fat and glucose oxidation rates, and energy expenditure compared to HIIT and MICT groups. However, over the entire process, Tabata still exhibits significantly higher rates in theseaspects than HIIT and MICT. Despite a shorter exercise duration, Tabata shows a noticeable "time-efficiency" advantage. Tabata can be used as an efficient short-term weight loss exercise program for male college students with overweight/obesity.

Psychometric Properties of the Method "Evaluation of Negative Mental Reactions and States of Combatants" and Experience of its Application in Short-term Psychological Recovery

"The article shows the development of the method of psychological evaluation called “Evaluation of Negative Mental Reactions and States of Combatants”. In the study participated 1300 male servicemen (29.84% from junior lieutenant to colonel and servicemen under contract and demobilized, and 70.16% from private to senior warrant officer). The age of participants varied from 20 to 55 years. The system of evaluation developed consisted of 16 instruments that could help to determine the presence of negative psychological symptoms of servicemen related to their participation in hostilities. The results indicated that the evaluation method developed is a tool that allows determining the presence of negative psychological symptoms related to participation in combat. Likewise, it is a useful and fast method to assess the effectiveness of short-term psychological recovery programs. Unlike existing methods of diagnosing negative mental reactions and states of an individual, which arose after their participation in hostilities, the developed psychodiagnostic toolkit could consider the physical and mental fatigue of the respondents, their deterioration, and other cognitive dysfunctions."

ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ И УПРАВЛЕНИЕ КАДРОВОГО ПОТЕНЦИАЛА ОРГАНИЗАЦИЙ ДОРОЖНОЙ ОТРАСЛИ В РОССИИ

In the long term, an increase in the average duration of adult education by just one year will increase economic growth by 3,7% and increase per capita income by 6%. Today, the participation of the population in continuing education is the most important indicator of the level of socio-economic development of the country and individual subjects (regions). The participation rate of the adult population of Russia aged 25–64 in additional and formal education in 2023 was only 25,2%, which is more than 2 times lower than in the OECD and EU countries. In the long term, increasing the average duration of adult education by just one year will increase economic growth by 3,7% and increase per capita income by 6%. The extent of participation in continuing education is positively correlated with the indicators of gross regional product (GRP). The two-year implementation period of the national Education project at the moment has not allowed the creation of a regulatory model for accounting for short-term additional education programs as part of the main professional programs. The launch of this mechanism provides for the «unpacking» of the main master's and bachelor's degree programs into additional professional programs with the assignment of «micro-degrees», as well as a thorough testing of the norms and recommended practices being put into effect.

Perspective: Expanding Transdisciplinary Collaborative Research to Graduate Education

Highlights Shared perspectives from a panel discussion at the 2023 ASABE Annual International Meeting. There is a need for creativity and guidance to assess transdisciplinary collaborative work in graduate programs. There is a need to sustain transdisciplinary collaborative graduate programs long-term. Shifting the culture around transdisciplinary collaborative graduate education would support increasing programmatic support and assessment methods. Abstract. To prepare graduate students to address today’s complex agri-food systems challenges in research, government, and industry, there is a need for a workforce already trained in collaborative transdisciplinary research skills such as systems thinking, teamwork, and communication across disciplines. This perspective addresses this need through three major themes—assessment, support, and culture—identified from a panel discussion of academic and industry perspectives at the 2023 ASABE Annual International Meeting. Graduate student assessment (Theme 1) may include a diverse portfolio beyond the individual thesis demonstrating collaborative transdisciplinary competencies. Short-term grant-funded programs exist, but there needs to be longer-term programmatic support (Theme 2). Shifting the culture in graduate education towards regular incorporation of transdisciplinary aspects within student training (Theme 3) is a potential scaffold to increase programmatic support (Theme 2) and, ultimately, the adoption of more comprehensive assessment methods (Theme 1). Keywords: Graduate Education, Programmatic Support, Student Assessment, Transdisciplinary Collaboration.

Multi-trait selection for agronomic performance and drought tolerance among durum wheat genotypes evaluated under rainfed and irrigated environments

Summary Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) is a major crop in the Mediterranean region, widely grown for its nutritional value and economic importance. Durum wheat breeding can contribute to global food security through the introduction of new cultivars exhibiting drought tolerance and higher yield potential in the Mediterranean environments. In this study, 25 durum wheat genotypes (23 elite breeding lines and two national checks) were evaluated for five drought-adaptive traits (days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, 1000-kernel weight and grain yield) and eight drought tolerance indices including stress tolerance index (STI), geometric mean productivity (GMP), mean productivity (MP), stress susceptibility index, tolerance index, yield index, yield stability index and drought response index under rainfed and irrigated conditions during three cropping seasons (2019–2022). Multi-trait stability index (MTSI) technique was applied to select genotypes with higher grain yield, 1000-kernel weight, plant stature and early flowering and maturity simultaneously; as well as for higher drought tolerance in each and across years. A heat map correlation analysis and principal component analysis were applied to study the relationships among drought tolerance indices and the pattern of variation among genotypes studied. Factor analysis was applied for identification of traits that contributed most in stability analyses. Significant and positive correlations were observed among the three drought tolerance indices of STI, GMP and MP with mean yields under both rainfed and irrigated conditions in each and across years, suggest the efficiency of these indices as selection criteria for improved drought tolerance and yield performance in durum wheat. The genotypes ranked based on MTSI varied from environment to environment, showing the impact of environment on genotypes performance, but several of the best performing lines were common across environments. According to MTSI for agronomic traits, the breeding lines G20, G6, G25 and G18 exhibited highest performance and trait stability across environmental conditions, and the selected genotypes had strength towards grain yield, 1000-kernel weight and earliness. Using the MTSI, breeding lines G20, G5, G16 and G7 were selected as drought tolerant genotypes with high mean performance. Breeding line G20 from ICARDA germplasm showed highest trait stability performance and drought tolerance across environments. The MTSI was a useful tool for selecting genotypes based on their agronomic performance and drought tolerance that could be exploited for identification and selection of elite genotypes with desired multi-traits. Based on the results, breeding lines G20 and G6 should be recommended for short-term release programme and/ or utilized in durum wheat population improvement programme for agronomic performance and drought tolerance traits that tolerate climate variations.

Effect of short-term yoga on psychological well-being of 1st-year MBBS students: A pilot study

Background: Medical course is quite demanding and this often leads to stress in the students pursuing MBBS course. The National Medical Council of India has introduced yoga in the foundation course as a part of the new curriculum. Aims and Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the 10-day yoga (1 h session each day) on the psychological distress of MBBS students. Materials and Methods: First-year MBBS students in the age group of 18–22 years of Subharti Medical College were recruited for the study. 49 males and 62 females participated in the study (n = 111). Brief symptom inventory was used to assess nine psychological symptom dimensions and distress index at baseline and after 10 days of yoga session. Pre and post-session mean scores for each dimension and index were compared using paired student t-test. Results: Data analysis revealed a significant decrease in reported anxiety, obsession-compulsion, and paranoid ideation (P &lt; 0.001) as well as depression, psychoticism, interpersonal sensitivity, and hostility (P &lt; 0.05) after yoga. Scores of global severity index as well as positive symptom distress index also decreased (P &lt; 0.001) significantly. A decrease in reported somatization and positive symptom total was also seen though not significant. Conclusion: Even short-term yoga program may be helpful in reducing stress level of the students.

지역 문화를 활용한 단기 한국어교육 방안 연구

The purpose of this study is to design a short-term Korean language curriculum that teaches the Korean language necessary for short-term foreigners to experience Korean culture using local culture. This is to design a Korean language program suitable for them, reflecting the rapid increase in the number of foreigners visiting Korea after COVID-19 and the demand to enjoy Korea in the short term than the previous demand for studying abroad. To this end, a survey was conducted targeting foreigners residing abroad. The survey investigated the content and time of the short-term Korean language curriculum, opinions on the subject of learning and experience activities, desired expected effects, and the region and reason you want to visit. Based on the results of the survey, a short-term Korean language education program focused on the traditions and living culture of Andong was presented. This education program is meaningful in that it designed Korean language classes that can be used with an emphasis on the cultural experience field and situation, and it is also meaningful in that it attempted to develop a Korean language education program centered on local cultural experiences by designing a short-term Korean language education program using local culture

예비 특수교사의 역량표준기반 시각장애학생교육 프로그램 참여경험 연구

This study developed a 15-week short-term program specialized in teaching students with&#x0D; visual impairment and explored the participation experiences of pre-service special education&#x0D; teachers in the program. The researcher extracted core standards for teaching students with visual&#x0D; impairments based on literature review and expert review, then collected the outcome portfolios&#x0D; and in-depth interview data from eight pre-service special education teachers. The study findings&#x0D; indicated that standards-based short-term activities provided practical and case-based learning&#x0D; opportunities, enabling participants to acquire professional competencies for teaching students with&#x0D; visual impairments. The participants gained specific knowledge and skills, including the understanding&#x0D; of learners with visual impairments, expertise in teaching, and practical experience in school&#x0D; settings. The study demonstrated how a standards-based approach benefits pre-service special&#x0D; education teachers, providing them with authentic experiences and a solid foundation for special&#x0D; education teacher preparation programs.

Моделювання інноваційних програм розвитку комунікативної компетентности публічних службовців

The study highlights the issue of the development of the communicative competence of civil servants, heads of local state administrations, their first deputies and assistants, officials of local self-government, and local council deputies.&#x0D; The study focuses on the dynamics of advanced training programs offered for the continuous personal and professional development of persons authorized to perform the functions of the state and local self-government in the professional training system, the priority directions (topics) of which are: ways to improve the mastery level of the Ukrainian business language, communication and interaction, strategic communications, etc. The analysis is carried out on the case study materials of the Volyn Regional Center for Professional Development (formerly the Volyn Regional Center for Retraining and Professional Development of employees of state and local self-government bodies, state enterprises, institutions, and organizations). The author has considerable experience in cooperation with the Center from 2008 to 2023, in particular in the field of development and implementation of general and special short-term advanced professional training programs. Emphasis is laid on the need for more active implementation of distance learning technologies in the organization of the educational process, which is not limited to telecommunication. The study elucidates the specifics and content dominants of training programs for professional development in the context of the main aspects of language and communication activities of public servants at the beginning of the 21st century: work with documents (in particular, in the electronic document management system), the ability to conduct interpersonal and social dialogue (especially with the use of media), taking into account the principles of barrier-free communication, and the ability to speak in public.&#x0D; The study findings made it possible to design innovative programs/projects for the development of the communicative competence of public servants, which were developed following the principle of the practical orientation of training, taking into account military-political, social, and economic factors, as well as the individual needs of training participants (according to questionnaires), in particular, in conditions of martial law and post-war period.

Respon Amerika Serikat dalam Menyeimbangkan Kekuatan Cina Melalui AUKUS dalam Klaim Kedaulatan Cina di Laut Cina Selatan

This research aims to analyze the formation of AUKUS as a new defense pact as the United States' response to China's unilateral claim of sovereignty in the South China Sea. The lack of presence of the United States, which for the last few decades has been too busy with its military operations in the Middle East region, has given China more freedom to carry out aggressive maneuvers in the Asia Pacific region which has then created an imbalance of power due to China's military strength being far superior to that of the alliance countries. United States in Asia such as the Philippines and Australia. In this research, a qualitative approach was used which aims to understand the phenomenon of events experienced by the subject through descriptions. Furthermore, this research uses the Balance of Power Theory and the Concept of Detterence as analytical tools to understand the material raised in this research. The results of this research show that AUKUS was formed due to the decline of the United States in various sectors which coincided with the rise of China as a new superpower. It is hoped that the selection of Australia and the UK in this collaboration will provide additional support to pressure China in the South China Sea through short-term and long-term programs.

Microcredentials as an Educational Trend and a Challenge for Higher Education

Based on an analysis of official materials and analytical reports from international organisations (including the European Commission, UNESCO, the European Training Foundation, CEDEFOP, and international economic forums), as well as the findings of foreign scholars, this article outlines the history and essence of micro-qualifications as a component of education and training policies. It also reveals the specifics of utilising micro-qualifications within the higher education system.&#x0D; The article delves into the role and history of micro-qualifications within higher education, notably through the initiatives and documents of the European Commission. Micro-qualifications have become a pivotal instrument in ensuring flexibility and accessibility in education within contemporary society. The European Commission plays a crucial role in promoting the integration of micro-qualifications into the European educational landscape. A significant impetus for the development of micro-qualifications is provided by the Recommendation for a European approach to micro-qualifications for lifelong learning and employability enhancement, adopted by the European Union in 2022.&#x0D; It is demonstrated that micro-qualifications open promising opportunities for lifelong learning and skill development. Their integration into the higher education system represents a significant step in the advancement of both formal and informal education, addressing modern needs and requiring strategic planning and investments in high-quality educational digital ecosystem.&#x0D; The article analyses the institutionalisation of micro-qualifications in higher education, existing models for the implementation of short-term educational programs, and identifies key aspects that universities need to consider when implementing micro-qualifications. These include program management, the development of digital infrastructures, assessment and validation procedures in accordance with educational quality requirements, engaging faculty members in support for learners, and monitoring.

Effect of a Short-Term Integrative Program on Quality-of-Life of Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors

An integrative intervention can provide non-pharmacologic recovery support that optimizes QoL and reduces the symptom burden in breast cancer patients and survivors