There is limited understanding of the relationship between physical activity (PA), mobility and psychological constructs for the prevention/management of osteoporosis fractures in older adult women. PURPOSE: To examine PA patterns and the relationship of PA to mobility, psychological constructs and osteoporosis fracture risk. METHODS: Participants (N=41, ages 70-92, BMI 27.2 (6.1)) completed a general questionnaire, the ABC balance scale, MHLOC locus of control scale, as well as completing mobility tests (TUG and STS). PA was assessed using 5 day pedometry and accelerometry (Biotrainer Pro). RESULTS: The average PA was very low (energy expenditure 225.4 (152.9) kcals/day; activity time 101.8 (42.3) min; step count 4,516 (3,227)). The mobility scores were within the acceptable range (TUG 9.2 (3.8) s; STS 14.2 (6.4) s). Correlations with physical activity: TUG (p<0.05); ABC (p<0.05); Powerful MHLOC (p<0.01, p<0.05). No significant correlations with Internal MHLOC. CONCLUSION: Sedentary PA patterns correlated to poor mobility, low balance confidence and greater fracture risk. Pedometry and accelerometry measured PA demonstrated the importance of multiple methods of PA assessment in understanding the lifestyles of this population. The results aid in identification of factors that can be modified to enhance the quality of life of this population. / October 2008

There is limited understanding of the relationship between physical activity (PA), mobility and psychological constructs for the prevention/management of osteoporosis fractures in older adult women. PURPOSE: To examine PA patterns and the relationship of PA to mobility, psychological constructs and osteoporosis fracture risk. METHODS: Participants (N=41, ages 70-92, BMI 27.2 (6.1)) completed a general questionnaire, the ABC balance scale, MHLOC locus of control scale, as well as completing mobility tests (TUG and STS). PA was assessed using 5 day pedometry and accelerometry (Biotrainer Pro). RESULTS: The average PA was very low (energy expenditure 225.4 (152.9) kcals/day; activity time 101.8 (42.3) min; step count 4,516 (3,227)). The mobility scores were within the acceptable range (TUG 9.2 (3.8) s; STS 14.2 (6.4) s). Correlations with physical activity: TUG (p<0.05); ABC (p<0.05); Powerful MHLOC (p<0.01, p<0.05). No significant correlations with Internal MHLOC. CONCLUSION: Sedentary PA patterns correlated to poor mobility, low balance confidence and greater fracture risk. Pedometry and accelerometry measured PA demonstrated the importance of multiple methods of PA assessment in understanding the lifestyles of this population. The results aid in identification of factors that can be modified to enhance the quality of life of this population.

There is limited understanding of the relationship between physical activity (PA), mobility and psychological constructs for the prevention/management of osteoporosis fractures in older adult women. PURPOSE: To examine PA patterns and the relationship of PA to mobility, psychological constructs and osteoporosis fracture risk. METHODS: Participants (N=41, ages 70-92, BMI 27.2 (6.1)) completed a general questionnaire, the ABC balance scale, MHLOC locus of control scale, as well as completing mobility tests (TUG and STS). PA was assessed using 5 day pedometry and accelerometry (Biotrainer Pro). RESULTS: The average PA was very low (energy expenditure 225.4 (152.9) kcals/day; activity time 101.8 (42.3) min; step count 4,516 (3,227)). The mobility scores were within the acceptable range (TUG 9.2 (3.8) s; STS 14.2 (6.4) s). Correlations with physical activity: TUG (p<0.05); ABC (p<0.05); Powerful MHLOC (p<0.01, p<0.05). No significant correlations with Internal MHLOC. CONCLUSION: Sedentary PA patterns correlated to poor mobility, low balance confidence and greater fracture risk. Pedometry and accelerometry measured PA demonstrated the importance of multiple methods of PA assessment in understanding the lifestyles of this population. The results aid in identification of factors that can be modified to enhance the quality of life of this population.

Microbe resistence is a serious issue, especially as they have become resistant to most well known drugs. Therefore this is considered as a global problem and is now dealt with at a poitical level. Since no new classes of antimicrobial agents have been discovered in the past three deacdes, the development of new drugs is extremely urgent. Therefore the aim of this project was to synthesise derivatives of benzimidazole, and then assesses their antimicrobial activities in vitro by using disc (well) diffusion and MICs tests. A total of 69 benzimidazole derivatives, with substituents at positions 1, 2, and 5, were synthesised, characterised and tested against selected bacteria and fungi. In addition, six bezimidazole silver complexes were prepared and evaluated for their antimicrobial behavior. The SAR showed that the antimicrobial activity of the compounds depended on the substituents attached to the bicyclic heterocycle. Some promising results were obtained. In particular, 5 compounds displayed antibacterial activity against two MRSA strains with MIC values corresponding to ciprofloxacin, which can be considered significant. The compounds have some common features; four possess 5-chloro or 5-bromo substituents; two are derivatives of (S)-2- ethanaminebenzimidazole and the others are derivative of one 2-(chloromethyl)-1Hbenzo[d]imidazole, (1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)methanethiol and 2-(methoxymethyl)-1-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole. The results from the antifungal screening were very interesting as there were 26 compounds, including two silver complexes, which were potent fungicides against the selected fungal species. They showed equivalent or greater potentency in their MIC values than amphotericin B. In particular, the 5-fluoro, 5-chloro and 5-bromo benzimidazole showed broad spectrum activity. / Saudi Culture Bureau and King Saud University

No description available.

Short sleep duration in childhood has been associated with an increased risk of overweight and obesity. Research suggests that physical activity might mediate this association; however, studies examining associations between physical activity and sleep in young children have reported equivocal findings. A possible explanation for these inconsistencies is that past studies have looked at total physical activity counts rather than examining physical activity regularity. We aim to explore the relationship of regular physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep in preschoolers and kindergartners. 131 children (ages 4-6) were included in this study. Each child wore a waist-worn accelerometer for three days and three nights. Waist-worn accelerometers reliably measure sleep and physical activity in children. Associations of regular physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sufficient sleep were determined using logistic regression models. There was no association between the number of days that children engaged in physical activity (≥ 60 minutes) and sufficient sleep. Further, there was no association between the number of days that children engaged in ≥ 20 minutes of vigorous activity and sufficient sleep. Children who engaged in minimal sedentary activity had greater odds of obtaining sufficient sleep as compared to children who engaged in more sedentary activity.

2,5-diketopiperazines peculiar heterocyclic system found in several natural products constitutes a rich source of new biologically active compounds. The wide spectrum of their biological properties points to various therapeutic possibilities. Introduction of structural rigidity, resulting in diketopiperazine derivatives containing a pyridine ring that can form an intramolecular hydrogen bond,and shows an interesting activity. In our research, we hope to probe further the importance of structural rigidity with regards to biological activity. We hope to replace the hydrogen bonding between the pyridine ring and amide nitrogen with a covalent link. This will further restrict the rotation and isomerization of the Z-double bond.

The four studies of this thesis provide an overview of the epidemiology of physical activity in Canada. In the first study two methods of coding activities used in estimating leisure-time physical activity energy expenditure (LTPAEE), from a questionnaire including 21 specific activities, and up to three “other” activities were compared. The authors assessed whether the assignment of activity intensity for “other” activities has an effect on LTPAEE and the classification of respondents as physically active versus inactive. The results indicate that the population classification of activity level is not affected by the intensity code; however, individual level LTPAEE is under-estimated from light and vigorous activities and over-estimated from moderate activities using the current method. In study two the proportion of Canadians meeting Canada’s physical activity guidelines for moderate and vigorous activities was estimated. The prevalence of adults reporting no activity has not changed since 1994/95 and the prevalence of meeting the guidelines has increased by about 11%. Men, younger adults, those with higher income and lower body mass index (BMI) meet the guidelines more often than their peers. The epidemiology of walking among Canadians between 1994 and 2007 was assessed in the third study. Walking was the most popular activity, regardless of age, sex, BMI or income group; however, only 30% of walkers walked regularly. Women, older adults, those with lower BMI and lower household income walk regularly more often than their counterparts. Women, older adults and lower income Canadians tended to derive 100% of their total LTPAEE from walking. An evaluation of whether meeting the guidelines for physical activity was associated with lower odds of chronic conditions and reporting fair/poor health was undertaken in study four. After adjustment for covariates, the odds of type 2 diabetes, obesity and reporting fair/poor health were significantly higher among those not meeting the guidelines for both sexes and for high blood pressure among women. Together these findings provide an understanding of the limitations of estimating LTPAEE, provide estimates of the proportion of Canadians meeting the guidelines for physical activity and provide insight into the relationship between meeting the guidelines and chronic conditions. / Thesis (Ph.D, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2009-06-18 16:18:44.998

Background: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an accepting and compassionate collaborative counselling style that has been linked with various desirable client outcomes. However, its association with self-compassion (SC), an important psychological resource is unknown. One context in which this relationship can be studied is in Physical Activity Counselling (PAC), which is an MI-based intervention that has been found to enhance motivation towards physical activity (PA) and PA behaviour, as well as reduce depressive symptoms. However, no hypothesized link has ever been made between MI and SC and no research has been done on the impact of MI-based PAC onto SC or has investigated SC’s relationship with PA within PAC. Purpose: Article 1: To explore the link between MI and SC. Article 2: To test this proposed association by investigating the impact of a MI-based intervention, specifically through PAC, over time on (1) self-compassion and its subcomponents, and (2) PA and its intensities. A third and fourth purpose were to (3) examine whether any improvements in SC or PA variables were continued at 1-month follow-up and lastly, (4) study the relationships between SC and PA variables over time in university students and employees receiving PAC. Methods: Article 1: This article was a commentary paper that rationalized the hypothesized link between MI and SC. Article 2: This article reports results from a study which used a repeated-measures experimental study design, whereby forty university students and employees filled out online validated self-report questionnaires assessing SC and PA before (baseline), immediately after (endpoint), and 1-month after (follow-up) receiving individualized PAC sessions. Participants reached out to PAC mostly on their own or were referred by other programs on campus. Fidelity checks showed that PAC counsellors were accepting and compassionate. Results: Article 1: A hypothesized link was made between MI and SC, such that the accepting and compassionate spirit of MI, as well as certain content-based techniques used within could help to foster a self-compassionate mindset within the receivers of MI. Article 2: Paired-samples t-tests and multivariate analysis of variance tests revealed that there were significant moderate-to-large increases in total SC, self-kindness, and total, moderate, and strenuous PA from baseline to endpoint. There was also a significant large effect for decreases in self-judgement and isolation from baseline to endpoint. All changes appeared to be continued at 1-month follow-up. Lastly, results revealed that common humanity at baseline positively influenced moderate PA at endpoint. Conclusion: This provides a strong case for the link between MI and SC and provides preliminary evidence to support the positive impact of MI, specifically through PAC, onto SC and PA variables, as well as their relationship over time. Future research is recommended in order to ascertain these findings and practitioners are encouraged to show high acceptance and compassion while assisting individuals with PA behaviour change.

Engaging in muscle strengthening activities (MSA) as part of a physical activity program offers health benefits. Although the merits of physical activity are well documented, many adults fail to meet appropriate levels as recommended in the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (PAGA). To get a more complete understanding on an individual's physical activity behaviors, the Tracking Resistance Exercise and Strength Training (TREST) internet based survey was developed. The purpose of the current study was to determine the test-retest reliability of TREST items. Additionally, the prevalence of participants meeting the 2008 PAGA was reported by gender. The survey was completed approximately two weeks apart by 224 (52% male) undergraduate kinesiology students. Analysis of the survey items presented TREST as a reliable instrument in assessing an individual's physical activity behavior with a focus on MSA. Among the convenience sample of 445 participants (56% male) that completed the survey in assessment #1, 73% met the 2008 PAGA minimum recommendations for MSA (>=2 days/week) and aerobic activity (>= 150 min MVPA). A more complete MSA and MVPA criteria was established (requiring MSA of all seven major muscle groups) and only 32% of participants met this guideline. In general, men engaged in aerobic exercise and MSA more than women. These results cannot be generalized due the age, activity level, and education of the study's participants. Future studies should investigate the validity of TREST items among a sample of varying fitness levels, races/ethnicities, ages, and educational levels.