Publications

Sestrins (Sesns) are a family of highly conserved stress-responsive proteins, transcriptionally regulated by p53 and forkhead transcription factor that exhibit oxidoreductase activity in vitro and can protect cells from oxidative stress. However, their major biochemical and physiological function does not appear to depend on their redox (reduction and oxidation) activity. Sesns promote activation of adenosine-5'-monophosphate (AMP)-dependent protein kinase in both mammals and flies. Stress-induced Sesn expression results in inhibition of the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) and the physiological and pathological implications of disrupting the Sesns-TORC1 crosstalk are now being unravelled. Detailing their mechanism of action and exploring their roles in human physiology point to exciting new insights to topics as diverse as stress, cancer, metabolism and aging.

Project SPARK evaluates multiple effects of a health-related physical education (PE) program for elementary school students. Seven schools were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: usual PE or control, trained classroom teachers, or PE specialists. The intervention was implemented throughout the fourth and fifth grades. Data are available from one cohort of 550 children who were measured in the fall and spring of both grades. Adiposity was assessed by triceps and calf skinfolds, and body mass index (BMI) was also measured. Data at each measurement point were analyzed by ANOVAs, covarying for baseline values. At no measurement point were there significant group differences in total skinfold. At both fifth grade measurement points for boys and girls, however, there was a trend for the control group to have higher skinfold values than the two intervention groups. At the final measure, the difference between the highest and lowest groups was about 3 mm for girls and 2 mm for boys. BMIs were significantly lower at some measurement points for boys and girls, but this could be due to increased lean body mass in intervention students. After two years, there was a trend for the children exposed to the PE intervention to have lower levels of body fat, but the differences were not significant.

Neighborhood safety is inconsistently related to physical activity, but is seldom studied in developing countries. This study examined associations between perceived neighborhood safety and physical activity among Nigerian adults. In a cross-sectional study, accelerometer-based physical activity (MVPA), reported walking, perceived crime and traffic safety were measured in 219 Nigerian adults. Logistic regression analysis was conducted, and the odds ratio for meeting health guidelines for MVPA and walking was calculated in relation to four safety variables, after adjustment for potential confounders. Sufficient MVPA was related to more perception of safety from traffic to walk (OR=2.28, CI=1.13- 6.25) and more safety from crime at night (OR=1.68, CI=1.07-3.64), but with less perception of safety from crime during the day to walk (OR=0.34, CI=0.06- 0.91). More crime safety during the day and night were associated with more walking. Perceived safety from crime and traffic were associated with physical activity among Nigerian adults. These findings provide preliminary evidence on the need to provide safe traffic and crime environments that will make it easier and more likely for African adults to be physically active.

Few studies have examined students’ liking for physical education activities and factors that influence students’ evaluations despite the importance these have for continued engagement in physical activity. This study examined 16,032 ratings of “liking” of 648 physical education lessons reported by students in eight coeducational fourth- and fifth-grade classes during an 8-month period. Mean ratings on activity units ranged from 3.15 to 3.62 on a 4-point scale, indicating that the children liked the activities. However, they liked some units more than others ( p < .001), and they preferred skill-related over health-related activities ( p < .001). Day of week ( p < .53), child’s grade ( p < .69), and school ( p < .56) were not associated with the children’s liking scores. Ratings of activities did not change significantly as students gained more experience with a specific instructional unit. Future research is recommended on how students’ needs and preferences relate to developing positive attitudes toward physical activities.

This volume of articles focuses on nutrition, eating, and physicial activity issues and concerns of adolescents and offers strategies for improving the nutritional health of young people, increasing physical activity, and preventing and treating weight-related disorders.

IjB kinase a (IKKa), one of the two catalytic subunits ofthe IKK complex involved in nuclear factor jB (NF-jB)activation, also functions as a molecular switch that con-trols epidermal differentiation. This unexpected functionrequires IKKa nuclear translocation but does not dependon its kinase activity, and is independent of NF-jB signal-ling. Ikka

. The association between changes in body mass index over 1 year and measures of psychological functioning was evaluated in 314 boys and 253 girls with a mean age of 9 years. Anthropometric evaluations and standardized surveys were administered to students in all fourth-grade classes of seven suburban schools in the fall of two consecutive school years. Increases in body mass index were significantly associated with unfavorable changes in physical activity attitudes, activity preferences, perceived physical activity competence, self-concept, and body image. There was limited support for a hypothesis that overweight children are more sensitive to changes in body shape than non-overweight children. The finding of negative psychological consequences associated with increases in body mass index among children suggests that children may be overconcerned with body weight and shape. J Dev Behav Pediatr 16:1–5, 1995. Index terms: children, obesity, self-concept, body image.

Land-use and transport policies contribute to worldwide epidemics of injuries and non-communicable diseases through traffic exposure, noise, air pollution, social isolation, low physical activity, and sedentary behaviours. Motorised transport is a major cause of the greenhouse gas emissions that are threatening human health. Urban and transport planning and urban design policies in many cities do not reflect the accumulating evidence that, if policies would take health effects into account, they could benefit a wide range of common health problems. Enhanced research translation to increase the influence of health research on urban and transport planning decisions could address many global health problems. This paper illustrates the potential for such change by presenting conceptual models and case studies of research translation applied to urban and transport planning and urban design. The primary recommendation of this paper is for cities to actively pursue compact and mixed-use urban designs that encourage a transport modal shift away from private motor vehicles towards walking, cycling, and public transport. This Series concludes by urging a systematic approach to city design to enhance health and sustainability through active transport and a move towards new urban mobility. Such an approach promises to be a powerful strategy for improvements in population health on a permanent basis.

Background Self-efficacy theory proposes that girls who have confidence in their capability to be physically active will perceive fewer barriers to physical activity or be less influenced by them, be more likely to pursue perceived benefits of being physically active, and be more likely to enjoy physical activity. Self-efficacy is theorized also to influence physical activity through self-management strategies (e.g., thoughts, goals, plans, and acts) that support physical activity, but this idea has not been empirically tested. Methods Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the factorial validity of a measure of self-management strategies for physical activity. Next, the construct validity of the measure was tested by examining whether self-management strategies mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and self-reported physical activity, independently of several social-cognitive variables (i.e., perceived barriers, outcome expectancy value, and enjoyment), among cross-sectional samples of 6th grade (n=309) and 8th grade (n=296) girls tested between February 14 and March 17, 2002. Data were analyzed in 2004. Results Consistent with theory, self-efficacy had direct effects on the social-cognitive variables. The primary novel finding is that self-management strategies mediated the association of self-efficacy with physical activity in both samples. Conclusions The measure of self-management strategies for physical activity yields valid scores among adolescent girls and warrants experimental study as a mediator of the influence of efficacy beliefs on physical activity.