Egypt's opposition criticizes president's speech

CAIRO (AP) ? Egypt's main opposition coalition on Thursday rejected the Islamist president's offer for dialogue on reconciliation and said it insists on holding early elections, ratcheting up pressure on Mohammed Morsi just days ahead of planned mass protests seeking his ouster.

Adding to an already explosive political atmosphere in Egypt, authorities issued a travel ban on a media tycoon and an arrest warrant for a popular TV presenter ? a sharp critic of Morsi ? in what appears to be an escalation against private media accused by the president of instigating violence and being funded by those loyal to the former regime.

A statement by the National Salvation Front read by reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei said Morsi's 2 ?-hour speech late Wednesday reflected a "clear inability to acknowledge the difficult conditions in Egypt because of his failure in running the country since he took office a year ago."

In the speech, Morsi told his opponents to use elections not protests to try to change the government, and counseled the military, which has warned it would intervene if violence breaks out, to focus on improving its capabilities and defending the nation.

He defended his performance in his first year in office, admitting some mistakes but also claiming achievements. At one point he apologized for fuel shortages which have partially paralyzed the nation, increasing frustration and anger at his government.

But the president offered no compromises in the confrontation with his opponents. Those organizing the protests for Sunday ? the anniversary of Morsi's inauguration ? say he must go because he has mismanaged the country, given a monopoly on decision-making to the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist allies, and encroached on the judiciary.

"The president ... did not take responsibility for the polarization he has caused among the sons of one nation since taking office," ElBaradei said.

The Nobel Peace Laureate and a former head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog added: "nothing will change our determination to go out on June 30 everywhere in Egypt. We are confident that the Egyptian masses will go out in their millions in peaceful protests that fill the streets and squares of Egypt on Sunday June 30."

"Our strength is in our numbers and our nonviolence and we must not forget that. No one can stand in the way of the will of Egyptian people," he said in response to a reporter's question.

ElBardei spoke after a senior opposition leader and a fellow member of the Front, former foreign minister Amr Moussa, criticized Morsi for not offering a detailed road map for national reconciliation and accused him of not taking the opposition seriously.

In a statement, Moussa also criticized Morsi for not offering a "clear" economic recovery plan and for blaming the nation's woes on street protests and strikes. He later told The Associated Press that Morsi and his Islamist backers "don't want to recognize there is anger. They are missing the point, a major point. They are in a state of denial."

Another key opposition leader and member of the Front, Hamdeen Sabahi, said Morsi's speech did not rise to the occasion.

"He talked a lot but did not say anything," he told a television interviewer late on Wednesday. Sabahi also called on Morsi to step down, saying he was "bearing what (he) cannot handle."

Moussa said the opposition, like the military, wanted a genuine reconciliation, something he said was not mentioned in the president's speech.

"We didn't hear anything about this reconciliation having a plan, a rational direction or a detailed proposal worthy of study and discussion. What we heard was a routine call for dialogue and the creation of committees like those that were promised before but never materialized," he said.

He said economic reforms introduced by Morsi so far were inconsequential and the economy is going from bad to worse. "Furthermore, what does a strike by certain group, a gathering in a square, have to do with repairing hospitals or reforming the railways?"

The opposition leaders and Morsi before them spoke as tension built up in Egypt ahead of Sunday's protests with the army reinforcing its positions outside major cities in anticipation of possible violence.

Moussa, also a former Arab league chief, said it was unbecoming of the president to mention by name and accuse of corruption a serving judge along with the owners of two TV networks that have been critical of his policies for their alleged difficulties in settling outstanding tax or debts.

In his speech, Morsi also railed against judges who have acquitted officials accused of corruption or police commanders who faced charges of killing protesters during and after the 2011 uprising that ousted Egypt's longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak. The president also repeated assurances that he respects the judiciary.

"When he accuses people by name, he must at least present the evidence," said judge Amir Ramzy. "It was obvious from the president's words and gestures that he has a grudge against judges."

The president also criticized the country's minority Christians of what he called fear of all things Islamic and complained that church leaders greet him with insincere smiles that conceal that fear.

Less than 24 hours after Morsi's speech, Prosecutor General Talaat Abdullah ?a Morsi appointee ? issued a travel ban against media tycoon Mohammed el-Ameen, owner of the popular TV network CBC, official news agency MENA said.

The agency said el-Ameen is being investigated for nearly 427 million Egyptian pounds ($61 million dollars) of alleged tax evasion. The ban came hours after Morsi named el-Ameen as one of several Mubarak loyalists who aim to thwart his rule.

The prosecutor general then issued an arrest warrant for another Morsi critic, Tawfiq Okasha, while the government ordered the shutdown of his popular "Al-Fareen" TV station. Okasha stands accused of spreading false news and causing panic among the population.

Okasha, whose station has been shut down before and is still fighting similar charges that include insulting the president and the Brotherhood, has emerged as one of the most popular TV personalities of post-Mubarak Egypt.

Meanwhile, the Brotherhood said two of its members were killed, one by gunfire, in the Nile Delta province of Sharqiya, where it accused "thugs" of storming the headquarters of its political wing. In another Delta province, security officials said riot police fired tear gas to disperse anti-Morsi demonstrators and Brotherhood members fighting after protesters torched the group's local office and houses believed to be owned by its members.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

The prosecutor, Abdullah, also referred Mubarak and his two sons to a criminal court over alleged squandering of public funds. The three are already being tried on other corruption charges, and Mubarak himself over his role in the killings of protesters during the 2011 uprising.

Protesters are hoping to bring out massive crowds Sunday, saying they have tapped into widespread discontent over economic woes, rising prices and unemployment, power cuts and lack of security. The June 30 protests are rooted in a campaign by young activists called "Tamarod," or rebel. They claim to have collected about 15 million signatures of Egyptians who want Morsi to step down.

Morsi's Islamist allies are planning a counter-demonstration on Friday in support of his "legitimacy." Some say they are planning an open-ended sit-in at a mosque near the presidential palace ? the planned destination of the main anti-Morsi protest two days later ? raising fears of street violence.

____

Associated Press writers Maggie Michael and Mariam Rizk contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypts-opposition-criticizes-presidents-speech-122752576.html

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Android 4.3 spotted on Samsung Galaxy S 4, available to test now

A new version of Android (4.3, and still called Jelly Bean) is already doing the testing rounds on Samsung's Galaxy S 4 and thanks to some porting work from SAMMobile, it's apparently working on both the Google Play and original iterations. We've caught a glance of Android 4.3 on LG's Nexus 4 already, but we're now getting a second look at a refreshed camera interface, some minor design tweaks (like more regular appearances of a share button) and, well, we're still perusing the gallery for more nuggets. If you know what you're doing (and don't fear voiding your warranty) you can find the files at the source -- early reports suggest that the GS4 is "fully working" on this early build. We'll update this post if we find anything else new, but early impressions suggest it's a relatively gentle upgrade from the existing mobile OS.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

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NoteSuite organizes your digital life on iPad and Mac

Theory.io has released NoteSuite, a new integrated productivity app. It's the sequel to Projectbook, Theory's best-selling app from 2012. But NoteSuite takes the core idea of Projectbook and extends it much further - plus it adds support for OS X, so you can organize yourself from whatever machine you're working.

NoteSuite helps you take notes, manage to-dos, clip web pages, annotate content, read and search PDFs and MS Office files and web clips together. What's more, it syncs and backs up the data, and unlike some other products in this category like Evernote, it doesn't require a subscription fee.

That alone would make NoteSuite a worthy addition to the pantheon of iOS productivity apps, but NoteSuite takes it a step further by offering a Mac client, as well. The Mac version automatically syncs with NoteSuite for iPad.

With NoteSuite you can type and make lists, take photos, record audio and capture to-dos within note pages. PDF files can be marked up, highlighted, annotated, signed, and PDF forms can be filled out. You can also draw and handwrite on note pages in the iPad version.

NoteSuite lets you clip web pages for later consumption (including offline), and it incorporates to-do management functions like date tracking, reminders, and the ability to match to-dos with projects and relevant notes.

MS Office and Apple iWork files can be converted to PDF for further markup and annotation, and search will work with files that aren't organized too.

And if you're already a ProjectBook user, you're entitled to a free upgrade.

• $4.99 normally, $1.99 through July 15, 2013 - Download now

The Mac version has been similarly discounted.

• Normally $9.99, $4.99 through July 15 - Download now

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/ukkHFLhrpJw/story01.htm

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Hold the medicinal lettuce

June 26, 2013 ? In 2011 and 2012, research from China's Nanjing University made international headlines with reports that after mice ate, bits of genetic material from the plants they'd ingested could make it into their bloodstreams intact and turn the animals' own genes off. The surprising results from Chen-Yu Zhang's group led to speculation that genetic illness might one day be treated with medicinal food, but also to worry that genetically modified foods might in turn modify consumers in unanticipated ways.

Now, though, a research team at Johns Hopkins reports that Zhang's results were likely a false positive that resulted from the technique his group used. The new study, the Johns Hopkins group says, bolsters the case of skeptics who argued that genetic material from food would have little chance of surviving the digestive system, much less crossing the intestinal lining to enter the bloodstream. The study appears in the July issue of RNA Biology.

"It's disappointing in a sense -- it would open up so many therapeutic possibilities if microRNAs from food really could get into our blood and regulate our genes," says Kenneth Witwer, Ph.D., of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences, who led the new study. But beyond the fact that people won't be picking up prescription lettuce at the pharmacy anytime soon, he adds, the larger lesson is that scientific research's capacity for self-correction is alive and well.

Witwer said his group was intrigued by the earlier results, in which Zhang's group focused on microRNAs, molecules that are a chemical cousin of DNA. Rather than storing genetic information as DNA does, their primary role is to intervene in so-called "gene expression," the process of using genes' blueprints to build proteins. Because they affect whether and how much genes are actually used, microRNAs wield tremendous power, Witwer notes, "so it was startling to think that microRNAs from plants could get into the bloodstream, get into tissues, and regulate genes in those tissues."

Witwer teamed up with colleagues to check the results with a similar experiment of their own. They bought soy-based smoothies at a grocery store and tested their microRNA content, then fed the smoothies to macaques and took samples of the animals' blood.

Knowing that the concentrations of any plant microRNAs in the blood would be too low to measure directly, they used a common technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to bring up the concentration of the genetic material. PCR is designed so that only certain fragments of genetic material in a sample -- the ones researchers choose to target -- will be copied. Zhang's studies had also used PCR to look for plant microRNAs.

Just as Zhang had, the Johns Hopkins team found what appeared to be the targeted plant microRNAs in the macaques' blood. But when they ran the experiment several times, they got highly variable results: Sometimes the microRNAs were present in low concentrations, and sometimes not at all. In addition, the samples from before the macaques drank the smoothies were just as likely to have the microRNAs as were the post-smoothie samples -- a result that just didn't make sense if the source of the microRNAs was the plant material in the drinks.

To Witwer, the results indicated that what he was seeing was not the targeted plant microRNAs, but fragments of the macaques' own genetic material that were similar enough to the targeted segments that the PCR copied them at low levels.

To test this, the team used a new technique in which PCR takes place in tiny aerosolized droplets rather than in a test tube. The advantage, Witwer says, is that by effectively running tens or hundreds of thousands of reactions at the same time, researchers can see whether the outcomes of those reactions are consistent -- in other words, whether the results are meaningful or just a fluke. In this case, the results were all over the place, indicating that plant microRNAs weren't really present.

At the same time, Witwer cautions, it remains possible that very low levels of microRNAs could enter the blood. Even if this happened, though, he says it is unlikely that such small numbers of molecules could affect gene expression. Additional studies will be needed to determine whether low-level transfer occurs and whether any plant RNAs serve a function in the body.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/bwCVd6ZJxKk/130626183932.htm

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A physical activity programme for primary school children | diffusion

Deborah Ruscillo (Physiotherapy)

Throughout history human beings have played an active role in their survival and have evolved to become capable of performing an enormous range of physical tasks (Cavill et al. 2006). Life in the twenty-first century now offers fewer opportunities for physical activity (PA). Contributory factors include motorized transport, labour-saving devices in the home, the phasing out of physically demanding manual tasks in the workplace and leisure time that is largely devoted to physically undemanding pastimes (World Health Organization [WHO] 1990). The WHO now classifies physical inactivity as one of the leading global risks for mortality accounting for 6% of deaths annually and approximately 3.2 million deaths in 2004 (WHO, 2009). It also concludes that physical inactivity and unhealthy diets are among the leading causes of the major non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer (WHO 2004a). The estimated cost of inactivity in England is ?8.2 billion annually (Department for Culture, Media and Sport [DCMS] 2002). In recognition of these factors the British government is now calling for a ?culture shift? to increase levels of PA in England (Department of Health [DoH] 2005a). This account aims to address PA in relation to primary school children aged four to eleven years attending state schools in the United Kingdom. The rationale for focusing on this group and for developing a school-based programme will be discussed. On the basis of the literature reviewed a PA programme specific to this client group will be developed.

Health promotion and disease prevention are two features now firmly enshrined in United Kingdom (UK) government policy (DoH 1999, DoH 2004). This is the premise for targeting children without significant pathology, with a PA programme. Initiating such programmes within a young population can contribute towards preventing health problems, such as obesity, which is now regarded as a major global health concern (Doak et al. 2006), often resulting from a longstanding imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure (Zahner et al. 2006). One study has highlighted how children are expending approximately 600 kcal a day less than their counterparts 50 years ago (Durnin, 1992). Although this study is dated it may offer some insight into why, in England in 2005, 16.6% of boys and 16.7% of girls were classified as obese (DoH, 2005a). Consequences of childhood obesity include slipped capital femoral epiphysis and Blount?s disease, gall bladder disease, diabetes, sleep apnoea and obesity hypoventilation syndrome, which can be fatal (Barlow and Dietz 1998). Obese children may experience skin fungal infections and psychological and behavioural problems (Deckelbaum and Williams 2001). Furthermore, childhood obesity and the various adverse biochemical, physiological, and psychological effects can track into adulthood particularly among those children who have one or two obese parents (DoH 2004). A review by Lobstein et al. (2004) concluded that only combined programmes involving dietary interventions and exercise can help prevent obesity in childhood. Ebbeling et al. (2002) contend that programmes aimed at prevention could also avoid potential stigmatization of obese children who often feel embarrassed and ashamed.

In addition to helping maintain a healthy body weight PA programmes in childhood can contribute to the healthy growth and development of the musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory systems, improved cognitive functioning and the opportunity for social interaction and achievement (DoH 2004). Moderate benefits include improved self-esteem, aerobic fitness, blood pressure, blood lipids, psychological well-being and a reduction in depression (WHO 2004b).

Whilst there is little doubt that exposure to risk factors for chronic disease in later life occur throughout childhood (DoH, 2004) some authors postulate that morphological and functional changes, such as damage to arterial walls, may begin in utero (Barker, 1992). There is now a growing conviction that the process leading to coronary atherosclerosis, which manifests as coronary heart disease (CHD) in adult life, is initiated during childhood (Armstrong and Simons-Morton 1994). Physical inactivity is instrumental in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (Meyer et al. 2006) and in the development of several other chronic diseases, including diabetes and colon cancer (Williams et al. 2002). Since the risk factors for CHD can be present even in young children (Young-Hyman et al. 2001) it makes sense to initiate programmes involving PA early in life. In line with this thinking many health organizations now advocate a life-course perspective for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (Health Education Authority [HEA] 1998, DoH 2004, WHO 2004a). Riddoch (1998) suggests that the time to initiate programmes of prevention should be in the first decade of life. Childhood may also be the best time to introduce interventions as children are more disposed to behaviour change than adults (Steinbeck 2001). Children are also inherently active and require periodic movement opportunities to control restlessness (Torbert 2005).

All children in England between the ages of five and sixteen are entitled to a free place at a state school and the majority attend this type of school (Direct.gov.uk 2009). School-based PA interventions therefore offer a good opportunity to work with large groups of average children (Zahner et al. 2006) from the full socioeconomic spectrum of the population (Fox et al. 2004). Disadvantaged groups, such as children from a lower socioeconomic background who show generally lower levels of physical activity and higher levels of obesity (DoH 2005b), can be reached in this setting. This is seen as an important factor by the UK government who are committed to reducing health inequalities (DoH 1999). Other groups identified as priority groups for interventions include the inactive, the special needs populations and ethnic minorities (HEA 1998; Stone et al. 1998) and girls in whom activity levels are known to decrease with age (Ridgers et al. 2006; Ondrak and Morgan 2007). The WHO (2004a) has acknowledged schools as the primary institution with responsibility for promoting activity in young people. In the UK they influence 40-45% of youngsters? waking time (Fox et al. 2004). Accordingly, promoting PA in this environment, particularly in Physical Education (PE), has been a top priority for the UK government in recent years and there have been a number of publications that have attested to this (DoH 1999; DoH 2005a; DCMS 2002). School based interventions can also become institutionalized into the regular school curriculum (Stone et al. 1998).

Whilst some authors concur that devoting more school time to PE does not have a detrimental effect on academic performance (Sallis 1999; Dobbins et al. 2009), the feasibility of this is questionable when considering the extra demands placed on teachers to increase student scores in standardised tests (Pate et al. 2006). In some schools the current curricular time allocated for exercise may not be meeting statutory guidelines, with PE making way for supposedly more valuable areas of the curriculum, such as numeracy and literacy (Ridgers et al. 2006). Also, while two hours of timetabled PE may be offered by many schools, Fox et al. (2004) have highlighted how a 40-minute PE lesson resulted in only eight minutes of moderate or vigorous PA with time taken up for changing, organizing and instructing. Some teachers may not be adequately trained to deliver the expected PA programmes (Davidson 2007).

Physical activity programmes therefore do not have to be confined to PE lessons or curricular time. Intervention programmes performed before and after regular school hours may be more appropriate. After-school programmes are considered to have great potential to provide opportunities for increasing PA (Pate et al. 2006). Supervised programmes, organized by trained individuals with knowledge of exercise could help overcome some of the barriers to PA, including reluctance of parents to allow their children to play outdoors due to heavy traffic and ?stranger danger? (DoH, 2004). After school activities extending to 6.30pm could potentially involve working parents. Some studies have shown that parental support and encouragement increases the chances of children being attracted to and socialized into PA (Brustad, 1993). A study by Moore et al. (1991) has highlighted how children with two active parents were six times more likely to be active than children whose parents were both inactive.

UK government guidelines should be considered when developing a PA programme for this population. They currently recommend that all children should engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity PA every day of the week (DoH 2004). The new emphasis on ?moderate? activity is useful in that many children are discouraged by the thought of vigorous exercise (Epstein et al. 1991). However the guidelines do not exclude vigorous activity. Whilst the main aims of this type of exercise are to improve cardiovascular fitness and maintain a healthy body weight thereby avoiding risk factors such as hypertension and abnormal lipid profile, any increase in PA is welcomed by the UK government. Activity may be achieved either all in one session, or through several shorter bouts of activity of ten minutes or more, as this may be more reflective of a child?s natural activity pattern (DoH, 2004). Examples of moderate to vigorous activities for this population include brisk walking, jogging, swimming, basketball, racquet sports, football, dance, cycling badminton and strength training (Dobbins et al. 2009).

The guidelines also emphasize the need to perform activities that produce high physical stresses on the bones. Evidence now points to maximizing peak bone mass in childhood, particularly during early puberty, in order to offset future development of osteoporosis and bone fragility in adulthood (MacKelvie et al. 2002). Although it still remains unclear as to what constitutes the optimal exercise programme and which specific exercises will provide the optimal stimulus for peak bone mineral accretion (Hind and Burrows 2007), weight bearing, high impact exercises such as jogging, aerobics, hiking, walking, stair climbing, gardening, weight training, tennis, and dancing (National Institute for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 2007), gymnastics, volleyball, racquet sports and activities involving jumping and football ? may be particularly effective. Maximum benefit of these activities appears to occur after only a few repetitions (DoH 2004). These types of exercise should be performed at least twice a week.

Exercises targeting strength and flexibility can provide numerous benefits for children including enhanced performance, improved posture, reduced risk of injury, and protection against future back pain and osteoporosis (HEA 1998). Active play, involving carrying, climbing, and rough and tumble, will help develop and maintain muscular fitness and flexibility in a younger child. An older child may benefit more from structured exercise, including resistance exercises (DoH 2004). A study by Christou et al. (2006) has illustrated how a programme of football and resistance training could be used to improve overall development of physical capacities in young boys. Given that football is a national sport in the UK (Sport England 2009) the principles used in this programme could be incorporated into the PA programme developed for this account for both genders. The authors of this paper suggest that the best age to begin children on such a programme is eight years and onwards. Malley (2006) suggests that a lot of static stretching exercises for younger children may be inappropriate as they conflict with a child?s relentless persistence for play. This may be overcome by disguising them. For example, children could be told ?Move your arms and legs like an octopus moving slowly through the water?. Children should be as active as possible during any PA programme and there should be sufficient equipment and adequate facilities (Manners 1995). This is supported by West and Shores (2008), who contend that when children have to wait for equipment, their activity levels decline drastically.

As balance is not fully developed in young children a programme incorporating balance activities may also be useful as it may reduce the risk of injury (Payne and Isaacs 2005). Behm and Anderson (2006) advocate such exercises alongside resistance training, on the basis that there are many instances in every day life and sport when force is exerted and when an individual is in an unstable position. Tai chi is a form of balance exercise and has been practiced in China for centuries as a form of art, religious relaxation, exercise and self-defence. It is now being introduced into some UK schools in support of the government?s ?Healthy Schools Initiative? and exercises can be combined in different ways to encourage relaxation or to energize children (Primary Tai chi 2009). Teachers at a primary school in Wiltshire have reported that children respond better in class since they began morning exercises (BBC News 2000). Crider and Klinger (2000) have suggested that participants should not feel rushed as the element of relaxation will be obscured from the activity. Based on this information it may be a worthwhile introducing Tai chi into the prospective exercise programme performing sessions in the morning and devoting the whole session to this activity.

Children?s capabilities at different ages should be considered when developing a PA programme. The rationale for initiating a programme to include children as young as four years is that by this age, in most children, motor and cognitive skills are sufficiently developed to enable them to participate in PA programmes (Sheridan et al. 1999). According to Manners (1995) by the ages of five to six children are capable of play with other children involving rules and cooperation. They can catch a ball, skip, jump and land safely and swing on a rope. By seven upwards they should be able to catch and throw a ball with a degree of accuracy, run well, roll, balance and jump with confidence and play simple games involving three or four children. A study by West and Shores (2008) has highlighted how children under the ages of nine and ten lack the interpersonal skills to manage team games without supervision. On this basis they suggest that too many unsupervised formal games prior to this age would be unsuitable because children would not maintain adequate activity levels. The authors recommend pairing children with play leaders or older role models to sustain activity.

Cale and Harris (2001) contend that children are not a homogenous group and that activity should be tailored to meet individual requirements. Including a period of personal development time within the proposed PA programme could contribute towards achieving this. Children could utilize this time to continue with the activities that they most enjoy or to improve personal skills. Goal setting may be a powerful tool for enhancing personal skills. Cale and Harris (2001) suggest setting attainable, short term goals relevant to the individual?s preferences. This process can aid motivation, focus attention, encourage persistence and practice over time and generate the motivation to develop relevant and alternative strategies for reaching goals. It should be adapted to suit not only physical maturity but also the cognitive development of the child (Martin 1993).

The way PA or exercise is experienced in childhood can impact on subsequent participation with negative experiences affecting people?s willingness to take part in physical activities in adulthood (HEA 1998). This is an important consideration when bearing in mind that PA levels decline with age (WHO 2004b). Participant enjoyment should therefore be a top priority for anyone developing a PA programme. In addition to mastery of skills, recent research suggests that being with and making friends, positive team interactions and support from coaches are other sources of positive effect (Scanlan and Simons 1992). Anyone developing a programme should provide and enhance these opportunities for children. Whilst the UK government aims to encourage grass-roots participation in PA and sport it also strives for sporting excellence and achievement (DCMS 2002). To this end some degree of competitive participation may be beneficial to children. However, Martin (1993) sates that recent research suggests fear of failure and concerns about adequacy of performance are a major source of anxiety for some children and this could lead to withdrawal from activity. He suggests that participation should be stressed and competition de-emphasized to overcome this.

In developing a PA intervention it is necessary to establish the duration of the programme and methods of measuring the effectiveness of the intervention (Cale and Harris 2001). Bearing in mind the government?s commitment to increase daily PA levels in this population and engender life-long participation in PA (DCMS 2002 ) it would seem appropriate to suggest that this programme should run indefinitely within the parameters of school authority and holidays. Based on the knowledge that children have other periodic movement opportunities throughout the day (DoH 2004) the maximum time allocated for a session would be one hour, to include warm up and cool down periods, which are essential in any activity programme (Carnell et al. 2008). A study by Sirard and Pate (2001) has highlighted direct observation and accelerometry as valid and reliable methods of measuring PA in this population. Although they confer that direct observation is probably the most appropriate criterion, it would be inappropriate for large groups of children because of the long measurement time periods. Accelerometers are therefore the most viable alternative. These electronic devices measure accelerations produced by body movement and have the advantage of being able to store large amounts of data enabling PA patterns to be stored over time (Ridgers et al. 2006). For this population data could be compared at the end of each school term.

The main themes from this account are that all children attending state schools without pathology will be targeted, as they are an easily accessible group representing all socioeconomic dimensions of the population. UK government policy strongly advocates disease prevention. Modern lifestyles now predispose children to the risk of chronic diseases in later life. This risk can be modified positively with suitable PA programmes. Based on government guidelines the PA programme suggested for this account (Appendices I ? V) will include activities to enhance cardiovascular fitness, bone health, muscular strength and flexibility. A balance component should also be incorporated. It should be delivered by trained staff during extra-curricular hours with the potential of involving all school children and possibly parents. Goal setting and an individualized approach are major themes and enjoyment for all should be a top priority. Hopefully then, this programme would be sustainable.

?

Appendices: Activities and Exercises

References

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Brustad, R. 1993. ?Who will go out and play? Parental and psychological influences on children?s attraction to physical activity?, Paediatric Exercise Science 5, 210- 223.

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Christou, M., Smilios, I., Sotiropoulos, K., Volaklis, K., Pilianidis, T. and Tokmakidis S. P. 2006. ?Effects of Resistance Training on the Physical Capacities of Adolescent Soccer Players?, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 20 (4), 783-791.

Crider, D. A. and Klinger, W. 2000. ?Stretch your body and mind (Tai Chi as an adaptive activity)?. Descriptive report. US Department of Education.

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This week's sidebar poll: Are you ordering a Google Play Edition phone?

Is a Google Play Edition device the right choice for you? Let us know in this week's poll

Today is the big day when Samsung, HTC and Google finally make the Google Play Edition HTC One and Galaxy S4 available for ordering. Plenty of folks have been excited and waiting for this day, and we're happy that they can finally get what they have been asking about for years  -- Stock Android on the hardware they want without rooting and digging around on them. It's pretty cool that the companies involved got together and did it. Hooray choice!

But these devices aren't for everybody. Features are missing, and while others are added in their place the jury is still out on whether or not they are going to compare well to their original versions. Hackers will delight in unlocked and easy to flash devices, and we expect plenty of action to center around the HTC One and Galaxy S4 because of these releases. The thing is, not everybody is a phone hacker.

For the normal consumer, these might not be the best choice. They are pretty bare-boned when compared to the phones running Sense and Touchwiz, and for every person who hates either there are people who love them. It's a decision that everyone will have to make for themselves. And we're curious what yours will be.

There's a poll in the sidebar to the right. You can also find it after the break. Take a moment and let us all know what your decision will be, and we can hash out all the good and bad points in the comments below.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/qRSWtJ9DgcQ/story01.htm

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Military announces same-sex spousal benefits after Supreme Court decision

The Department of Defense moved to extend benefits to same-sex military spouses after the Supreme Court's decision on Wednesday to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act.

"The Department of Defense intends to make the same benefits available to all military spouses?regardless of sexual orientation?as soon as possible. That is now the law, and it is the right thing to do," Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement hours after the Supreme Court decided that DOMA?a federal law barring the recognition of same-sex marriage?was unconstitutional.

"Every person who serves our nation in uniform stepped forward with courage and commitment. All that matters is their patriotism, their willingness to serve their country and their qualifications to do so. Today's ruling helps ensure that all men and women who serve this country can be treated fairly and equally, with the full dignity and respect they so richly deserve," Hagel said.

The department will immediately take several actions in the wake of the decision, including making identification cards available to same-sex spouses of members of the military (which the department estimated will take six to 12 weeks) and offering them housing, medical and dental benefits as well as interment at Arlington National Cemetery. The department is reviewing its policies regarding overseas tours, according to a spokesman.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/news/military-announces-same-sex-partner-benefits-following-supreme-222026405.html

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