Measurement properties of Brief-BESTest scores from children, adolescents, and youth with visual impairments.

Purpose: This study aimed to vet the measurement properties of Brief-BESTest scores in children, adolescents, and youth with visual impairment and blindness (YVI). Methods: A cross-sectional sample of YVI (N = 101) completed the Brief-BESTest, a modified version of the Y-Balance Test, the 360-degree turn test, bipedal quiet stance, and Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scales. Thirty-seven YVI completed test-retest of the Brief-BESTest using a one-year interval. Using classical test theory, various forms of total and item-level Brief-BESTest score reliability and validity were investigated in YVI. Results: All inter-rater reliability coefficients were ≥ .80. When considering the eight items of the Brief-BESTest, 27 of the 28 possible correlations were statistically significant (p<.05). Various internal consistency and item difficulty results were strong. When taking total Brief-BESTest scores and their association with the complementary balance tasks/metrics into account, 11 of 13 associations were statistically significant (p<.05) providing strong convergent validity evidence. Being multimorbid and degree of vision significantly predicted total Brief-BESTest scores (p<.001) suggesting construct (i.e. known groups) validity. Numerous test-retest results (e.g. coefficients, limits of agreement) following the one-year interval were indicative of score stability. Conclusion: Practitioners and researchers should have confidence in, and consider adopting, the Brief-BESTest to examine multidimensional balance in YVI.

Rehabilitation, motor, and health professionals should view the Brief-BESTest as the preeminent clinical balance assessment for children, adolescents, and youth with visual impairment and blindness (YVI).Brief-BESTest scores may be used to investigate multidimensional balance, provide 'systems-based' balance profiles, and inform targeted balance interventions in YVI.Practitioners and researchers may now investigate Brief-BESTest scores alongside pertinent health- or movement-relevant outcomes of interest (e.g., gait, mobility, falls).

The Brief Form of the Test of Gross Motor Development-3 for Individuals with Visual Impairments.

Children with visual impairments (VI) tend to struggle with their fundamental motor skills (FMS), and these difficulties often persist across the lifespan, requiring frequent assessment. The Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD) shows robust psychometric properties for children with VI. The TGMD, which includes 13 skills, is time-consuming to administer and score, warranting the need to explore brief versions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of three, six-skill versions of the TGMD-3 with children with VI. Children (n = 302; Boys = 58%, Girls = 42%; Mage = 13.00, SD = 2.50 years) with VI (B1 = 27%, B2 = 20%, B3 = 38%, B4 = 15%) participated in this study. We examined three different models using confirmatory factor analyses on the relationships between the motor skills and latent traits across the models. Scores from all three brief versions had acceptable global fit. Although further research should be conducted, practitioners can adopt a brief version of the TGMD to assess children with VI.

Evaluation of a classroom movement integration training delivered in a low socioeconomic school district.

Movement integration (MI), which involves infusing physical activity (PA) into general education classrooms, is an evidence-based strategy within whole-of-school approaches for helping children meet the national PA guideline of at least 60 min per day. This study evaluated an MI training delivered in a low socioeconomic elementary school that had recently invested in three movement facilitative classrooms (a kinesthetic classroom and two activity labs). We investigated (a) the training's fidelity in meeting recommended best practices for professional development and (b) school professionals' perspectives of the training. Eight school professionals participated in the study, including five classroom teachers, two activity lab supervisors, and the principal. The researchers used a video of the training to rate the fidelity of the training to best practice recommendations. Interviews, field notes, and informal conversations with participants were qualitatively analyzed for themes. The training received a total fidelity score of 42%. Qualitative findings highlighted participants' varied perspectives of the training's purpose, challenges associated with the training and future recommendations for MI trainings. For MI trainings to be a valuable asset in increasing teachers' value and effective implementation of MI, trainings need to be designed to be in line with best practice recommendations and teachers' perceived needs.

University-based physical literacy programming for children: Canadian community stakeholders' recommendations.

'Physical literacy' (PL) education-that is, teaching foundational skills, attitudes, behaviors and knowledge about lifelong involvements in physical activities, is an important aspect for health promotion among children. Universities have been playing a critical role by teaching future PL professionals. Additionally, various universities have offered university-based PL programming for neighborhood children as a way of public health promotion service and community engagement. However, this additional role of universities and the ways of promoting the quality of this type of health promotion service programming have not been investigated in the current research literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the practicable strategies to enhance the quality of university-based PL programming for children from the perspectives of community stakeholders. Overall, 24 community stakeholders who held professional positions that are related to PL education participated in a 90-min focus group interview. This grounded theory study identified that university-based PL programming for children should be (i) inclusive, (ii) collaborative, (iii) welcoming and (iv) responsive. Practical suggestions and recommendations were also provided. This study has provided empirical knowledge to prioritize aspects for the future actions in planning and implementing university-based PL programming for children and informed for further cross-cultural comparisons amongst the perspectives of participants, university service providers and community stakeholders. The knowledge acquired from this research will also be translated to university service providers who operate similar type of health promotion service programming to the public.

Isotopic composition of atmospheric nitrate in a tropical marine boundary layer.

Long-term observations of the reactive chemical composition of the tropical marine boundary layer (MBL) are rare, despite its crucial role for the chemical stability of the atmosphere. Recent observations of reactive bromine species in the tropical MBL showed unexpectedly high levels that could potentially have an impact on the ozone budget. Uncertainties in the ozone budget are amplified by our poor understanding of the fate of NOx (= NO + NO2), particularly the importance of nighttime chemical NOx sinks. Here, we present year-round observations of the multiisotopic composition of atmospheric nitrate in the tropical MBL at the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory. We show that the observed oxygen isotope ratios of nitrate are compatible with nitrate formation chemistry, which includes the BrNO3 sink at a level of ca. 20 ± 10% of nitrate formation pathways. The results also suggest that the N2O5 pathway is a negligible NOx sink in this environment. Observations further indicate a possible link between the NO2/NOx ratio and the nitrogen isotopic content of nitrate in this low NOx environment, possibly reflecting the seasonal change in the photochemical equilibrium among NOx species. This study demonstrates the relevance of using the stable isotopes of oxygen and nitrogen of atmospheric nitrate in association with concentration measurements to identify and constrain chemical processes occurring in the MBL.

Environmental forcing of nitrogen fixation in the eastern tropical and sub-tropical North Atlantic Ocean.

During the winter of 2006 we measured nifH gene abundances, dinitrogen (N(2)) fixation rates and carbon fixation rates in the eastern tropical and sub-tropical North Atlantic Ocean. The dominant diazotrophic phylotypes were filamentous cyanobacteria, which may include Trichodesmium and Katagnymene, with up to 10(6) L(-1)nifH gene copies, unicellular group A cyanobacteria with up to 10(5) L(-1)nifH gene copies and gamma A proteobacteria with up to 10(4) L(-1)nifH gene copies. N(2) fixation rates were low and ranged between 0.032-1.28 nmol N L(-1) d(-1) with a mean of 0.30 ± 0.29 nmol N L(-1) d(-1) (1σ, n = 65). CO(2)-fixation rates, representing primary production, appeared to be nitrogen limited as suggested by low dissolved inorganic nitrogen to phosphate ratios (DIN:DIP) of about 2 ± 3.2 in surface waters. Nevertheless, N(2) fixation rates contributed only 0.55 ± 0.87% (range 0.03-5.24%) of the N required for primary production. Boosted regression trees analysis (BRT) showed that the distribution of the gamma A proteobacteria and filamentous cyanobacteria nifH genes was mainly predicted by the distribution of Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus, picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic bacteria. In addition, BRT indicated that multiple a-biotic environmental variables including nutrients DIN, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and DIP, trace metals like dissolved aluminum (DAl), as a proxy of dust inputs, dissolved iron (DFe) and Fe-binding ligands as well as oxygen and temperature influenced N(2) fixation rates and the distribution of the dominant diazotrophic phylotypes. Our results suggest that lower predicted oxygen concentrations and higher temperatures due to climate warming may increase N(2) fixation rates. However, the balance between a decreased supply of DIP and DFe from deep waters as a result of more pronounced stratification and an enhanced supply of these nutrients with a predicted increase in deposition of Saharan dust may ultimately determine the consequences of climate warming for N(2) fixation in the North Atlantic.

Interferences in the analysis of nanomolar concentrations of nitrate and phosphate in oceanic waters.

This paper reports on investigations into interferences with the measurements of nanomolar nitrate+nitrite and soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) in oceanic surface seawater using a segmented continuous flow autoanalyser (SCFA) interfaced with a liquid-waveguide capillary flow-cell (LWCC). The interferences of silicate and arsenate with the analysis of SRP, the effect of sample filtration on the measurement of nanomolar nitrate+nitrite and SRP concentrations, and the stability of samples during storage are described. The investigation into the effect of arsenate (concentrations up to 100 nM) on phosphate analysis (concentrations up to 50 nM) indicated that the arsenate interference scaled linearly with phosphate concentrations, resulting in an overestimation of SRP concentrations of 4.6+/-1.4% for an assumed arsenate concentration of 20 nM. The effect of added Si(OH)(4) was to increase SRP signals by up to 36+/-19 nM (at 100 microM Si(OH)(4)). However, at silicate concentrations below 1.5 microM , which are typically observed in oligotrophic surface ocean waters, the effect of silicate on the phosphate analysis was much smaller (< or = 0.78+/-0.15 nM change in SRP). Since arsenate and silicate interferences vary between analytical approaches used for nanomolar SRP analysis, it is important that the interferences are systematically assessed in any newly developed analytical system. Filtration of surface seawater samples resulted in a decrease in concentration of 1.7-2.7 nM (+/-0.5 nM) SRP, and a small decrease in nitrate concentrations which was within the precision of the method (+/-0.6 nM). A stability study indicated that storage of very low concentration nutrient samples in the dark at 4 degrees C for less than 24 h resulted in no statistically significant changes in nutrient concentrations. Freezing unfiltered surface seawater samples from an oligotrophic ocean region resulted in a small but significant increase in the SRP concentration from 12.0+/-1.3 nM (n=3) to 14.7+/-0.6 nM (n=3) (Student's t-test; p=0.021). The corresponding change in nitrate concentration was not significant (Student's t-test; p>0.05).

Dissolved silver in European estuarine and coastal waters.

Silver is one of the most toxic elements for the marine microbial and invertebrate community. However, little is known about the distribution and behaviour of dissolved silver in marine systems. This paper reports data on dissolved and sediment-associated silver in European estuaries and coastal waters which have been impacted to different extents by past and present anthropogenic inputs. This is the first extended dataset for dissolved silver in European marine waters. Lowest dissolved silver concentrations were observed in the Gullmar Fjord, Sweden (8.9 +/- 2.9 pM; x +/- 1sigma), the Tamar Estuary, UK (9.7 +/- 6.2 pM), the Fal Estuary, UK (20.6 +/- 8.3 pM), and the Adriatic Sea (21.2 +/- 6.8 pM). Enhanced silver concentrations were observed in Atlantic coastal waters receiving untreated sewage effluent from the city of A Coruna, Spain (243 +/- 195 pM), and in the mine-impacted Restronguet Creek, UK (91 +/- 71 pM). Anthropogenic wastewater inputs were a source of dissolved silver in the regions studied, with the exception of the Gullmar Fjord. Remobilisation of dissolved silver from historically contaminated sediments, resulting from acid mine drainage or sewage inputs, provided an additional source of dissolved silver to the estuaries. The ranges in the log particle-water partition coefficient (K(d)) values of 5-6 were similar for the Tamar and Mero estuaries and agreed with reported values for other estuaries. These high K(d) values indicate the particle reactive nature of silver with oxic sediments. In contrast, low K(d) values (1.4-2.7) were observed in the Fal system, which may have been due to enhanced benthic inputs of dissolved silver coupled to limited scavenging of silver on to sediments rich in Fe oxide.