Bonding and Suppression of a Magnetic Phase Transition in EuMn2P2.

Electrons in solids often adopt complex patterns of chemical bonding driven by the competition between energy gains from covalency and delocalization, and energy costs of double occupation to satisfy Pauli exclusion, with multiple intermediate states in the transition between highly localized, and magnetic, and delocalized, and nonmagnetic limits. Herein, we report a chemical pressure-driven transition from a proper Mn magnetic ordering phase transition to a Mn magnetic phase crossover in EuMn2P2 the limiting end member of the EuMn2X2 (X = Sb, As, P) family of layered materials. This loss of a magnetic ordering occurs despite EuMn2P2 remaining an insulator at all temperatures, and with a phase transition to long-range Eu antiferromagnetic order at TN ≈ 17 K. The absence of a Mn magnetic phase transition contrasts with the formation of long-range Mn order at T ≈ 130 K in isoelectronic EuMn2Sb2 and EuMn2As2. Temperature-dependent specific heat and 31P NMR measurements provide evidence for the development of short-range Mn magnetic correlations from T ≈ 250-100 K, interpreted as a precursor to covalent bond formation. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate an unusual sensitivity of the band structure to the details of the imposed Mn and Eu magnetic order, with an antiferromagnetic Mn arrangement required to recapitulate an insulating state. Our results imply a picture in which long-range Mn magnetic order is suppressed by chemical pressure, but that antiferromagnetic correlations persist, narrowing bands and producing an insulating state.

The Role of Phonons and Oxygen Vacancies in Non-Cubic SrVO3.

Combining neutron diffraction with pair distribution function analysis, we have uncovered hidden reduced symmetry in the correlated metallic d1 perovskite, SrVO3. Specifically, we show that both the local and global structures are better described using a GdFeO3 distorted (orthorhombic) model as opposed to the ideal cubic ABO3 perovskite type. Recent reports of imaginary phonon frequencies in the density functional theory (DFT)-calculated phonon dispersion for cubic SrVO3 suggest a possible origin of this observed non-cubicity. Namely, the imaginary frequencies computed could indicate that the cubic crystal structure is unstable at T = 0 K. However, our DFT calculations provide compelling evidence that point defects in the form of oxygen vacancies, and not an observable symmetry breaking associated with calculated imaginary frequencies, primarily result in the observed non-cubicity of SrVO3. These experimental and computational results are broadly impactful because they reach into the thin-film and theoretical communities who have shown that SrVO3 is a technologically viable transparent conducting oxide material and have used SrVO3 to develop theoretical methods, respectively.

Structural, Thermodynamic, and Transport Properties of the Small-Gap Two-Dimensional Metal-Organic Kagomé Materials Cu3(hexaiminobenzene)2 and Ni3(hexaiminobenzene)2.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) provide exceptional chemical tunability and have recently been demonstrated to exhibit electrical conductivity and related functional electronic properties. The kagomé lattice is a fruitful source of novel physical states of matter, including the quantum spin liquid (in insulators) and Dirac fermions (in metals). Small-bandgap kagomé materials have the potential to bridge quantum spin liquid states and exhibit phenomena such as superconductivity but remain exceptionally rare. Here we report a structural, thermodynamic, and transport study of the two-dimensional kagomé metal-organic frameworks Ni3(HIB)2 and Cu3(HIB)2 (HIB = hexaiminobenzene). Magnetization measurements yield Curie constants of 0.989 emu K (mol Ni)-1 Oe-1 and 0.371 emu K (mol Cu)-1 Oe-1, respectively, close to the values expected for ideal S = 1 Ni2+ and S = 1/2 Cu2+. Weiss temperatures of -10.6 and -14.3 K indicate net weak mean field antiferromagnetic interactions between ions. Electrical transport measurements reveal that both materials are semiconducting, with gaps (Eg) of 22.2 and 103 meV, respectively. Specific heat measurements reveal a large T-linear contribution γ of 148(4) mJ mol-fu-1 K-2 in Ni3(HIB)2 with only a gradual upturn below ∼5 K and no evidence of a phase transition to an ordered state down to 0.1 K. Cu3(HIB)2 also lacks evidence of a phase transition above 0.1 K, with a substantial, field-dependent, magnetic contribution below ∼5 K. Despite them being superficially in agreement with the expectations of magnetic frustration and spin liquid physics, we ascribe these observations to the stacking faults found from a detailed analysis of synchrotron X-ray diffraction data. At the same time, our results demonstrate that these MOFs exhibit localized magnetism with simultaneous proximity to a metallic state, thus opening up opportunities to explore the connection between the insulating and metallic ground states of kagomé materials in a highly tunable chemical platform.

Examining differences in parents' perceptions of children's physical activity versus screen time guidelines and behaviours.

AIM: Most Canadian and Australian children do not meet Physical Activity Guidelines (PAG) or Screen Time Guidelines (STG). Regarding the social issue advertising believability model (SIABM), parental support for these behaviours may depend upon how believable parents find guideline messages. The aim of the study was to examine differences in parents' SIABM variables and perceived behavioural control for PAG and STG messages. METHODS: Data were collected online; 499 Canadian parents with at least one child aged 5-11 years (75.6% mothers) participated. Differences in model variables were analysed using analyses of variance. RESULTS: Parents demonstrated greater issue involvement, attitudes towards the issue, parental support attitudes and perceived behavioural control for the PAG compared to the STG (d > 0.10). Mothers believed the messages more and had more favourable attitudes towards the issues as compared to fathers (d > 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: Parents' evaluations of PAG messages and corresponding supportive behaviours were generally more positive than STG. Future messages should emphasise supportive behaviours for screen time reduction that are feasible and enjoyable for children.

The Believability of Exercise Blogs Among Young Adults.

It is unknown how lifelong digital media users such as young adult women perceive exercise information found online. A total of 141 women aged 18-30 years and residing in Canada were randomized to read either a factually incorrect or a factually correct blog article. Participants completed Go/No-Go tasks to measure automatically activated believability and evaluations and questionnaires to explicitly measure believability, affective evaluations, and intentions to exercise. Participants did not show evidence of automatically activated believability of the content found in either blog article. However, participants reading the factually correct article reported significantly greater explicit disbelief than those reading the factually incorrect article, though this did not predict intentions. Being factually correct may not be an important component of message believability. Exercise professionals need to remain aware of the content of popular online sources of information in an effort to curb misinformation.

Examining the Relationship Between Exercise-Related Cognitive Errors, Exercise Schema, and Implicit Associations.

To better understand exercise-related cognitive errors (ECEs) from a dual processing perspective, the purpose of this study was to examine their relationship to two automatic exercise processes. It was hypothesized that ECEs would account for more variance than automatic processes in predicting intentions, that ECEs would interact with automatic processes to predict intentions, and that exercise schema would distinguish between different levels of ECEs. Adults (N = 136, Mage = 29 years, 42.6% women) completed a cross-sectional study and responded to three survey measures (ECEs, exercise self-schema, and exercise intentions) and two computerized implicit tasks (the approach/avoid task and single-category Implicit Association Test). ECEs were not correlated with the two implicit measures; however, ECEs moderated the relationship between approach tendency toward exercise stimuli and exercise intentions. Exercise self-schema were differentiated by ECE level. This study expands our knowledge of ECEs by examining their relationship to different automatic and reflective processes.

Coping Versus Mastery Modeling Intervention to Enhance Self-efficacy for Exercise in Patients with COPD.

The literature suggests self-efficacy is a determinant of physical activity and management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The purpose of this study was to (1) test the effects of two vicarious experience interventions, coping versus mastery modeling, on self-efficacy in COPD patients performing a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), and (2) determine the type of self-efficacy most strongly related to physical activity in COPD patients. After a baseline assessment of self-efficacy (task, coping for exercise, coping for breathing, scheduling, and walking) and potential moderators, 120 COPD patients watched a mastery model or coping model CPET video, or received usual care verbal instructions. Then, self-efficacy was assessed, followed by a CPET, and another assessment of self-efficacy. Fitbits tracked participants' step count the week following contact. Repeated measures MANOVAs assessed the intervention effects and multiple regressions assessed the contribution of self-efficacy subtypes to step count. All self-efficacy subtypes improved in the mastery and coping conditions, although greater improvement of self-efficacy for coping with exercise barriers was observed in the coping condition. Self-efficacy did not improve in the control condition and no moderators were identified. Self-efficacy for coping with exercise barriers was the self-efficacy subtype most strongly related to step count. This research suggests modeling is a useful intervention technique to enhance self-efficacy in COPD patients, although coping models may be more beneficial than mastery models for enhancing capability beliefs during complex tasks. Future interventions in COPD patients should target self-efficacy for coping with exercise barriers.

Intentions of Canadian health professionals towards recommending exercise for people living with ALS.

BACKGROUND: To provide a nationwide overview of the attitudes, social pressure, perceived ability and intentions of health professionals toward exercise prescription for people living with ALS (pALS). METHODS: An online survey of physician and non-physician health professionals (HPs) working in academic ALS clinics across Canada. RESULTS: The response rate was 48% (84/176) with 30% of respondents identifying as physicians, 63% as other HPs and the remainder as administrative or research personnel. Respondents were sharply divided in their intentions to provide exercise counsel: 24% unlikely and 45% likely. Respondents with low intentions were HPs that considered this activity outside their scope of practice. Measures of intention and attitude were more positive for flexibility compared to strength and aerobic exercise. Perceptions of social pressure and ability to provide exercise counsel were significantly correlated with intention across the three exercise modes in all respondents. Qualitative themes identified as barriers to exercise prescription were lack of confidence or competence (31% physicians, 32% HP), patient tolerance (30% HP), lack of evidence (22% physicians) and lack of infrastructure (22% physicians). CONCLUSIONS: While "lack of evidence" for the benefit of exercise was a deterrent for physicians, the larger issue for all respondents was building competence and confidence in exercise prescription for pALS.

Parental support of the Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines for children and youth: prevalence and correlates.

BACKGROUND: To explore the prevalence of parental support for meeting the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth, identify key interactive support profiles among the four movement behaviors, and investigate subsequent sociodemographic and social cognitive correlates of these profiles. METHODS: A sample of Canadian parents (N = 1208) with children aged 5 to 17 years completed measures of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), and support of the four child movement behaviors via questionnaire. Differences in the proportion of parents supporting these four health behaviors were explored and demographic and social cognitive (attitude and perceived control) correlates of combinations of parental support for the four health behaviors were evaluated. RESULTS: Child and youth sleep behavior had the highest parental support (73%) and moderate to vigorous physical activity support had the lowest prevalence (23%). Interactive profiles of the four movement behaviors yielded six primary clusters and comprised wide variation from parents who supported none of these behaviors (19%), to parents who supported all four behaviors (14%). These profiles could be distinguished by the age of the child (younger children had higher support) and the gender of the parent (mothers provided more support), as well as constructs of the TPB, but TPB cognitions were more specific predictors of each health behavior rather than general predictors of aggregate health behavior clusters. CONCLUSIONS: Teenagers and fathers may represent key targets for parental support intervention of the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines. Intervention content may need to comprise the underlying foundations of attitude and perceived behavioral control to change parental support while considering the unique features of each health behavior to maximize related intervention effectiveness.

Make Room for Play: An Evaluation of a Campaign Promoting Active Play.

In the context of rising screen time, only a third of Canadian children are achieving adequate amounts of active play, an important source of physical activity. ParticipACTION, a national not-for-profit organization, created the "Make Room for Play" campaign targeting parents with television advertisements depicting how screen time takes away from active play. The advertisements featured children engaging in active play (e.g., jump rope) while a black screen progressively sequesters the room for them to play. This study's purpose was to evaluate the campaign using the hierarchy of effects model, a framework for conceptualizing the impact of mass media campaigns. It was hypothesized that recall would relate to intermediate (e.g., cognitions, self-efficacy) and distal (e.g., parental support) factors. Twenty-six percent of the general population and caregiver samples surveyed (N = 1576) recalled (unaided) the advertisement and 45.9% recalled when prompted. Parental support was significantly higher in those recalling the campaign, p = .009. Twenty-four percent of parents reporting unaided recall (versus 14.0% of those not) tried to engage in active play with their children and 21.2% (versus 12.0%) tried to create opportunities for children to engage in play. Strengths and limitations of mass media approaches targeting active play and screen time are discussed.

Assessing the social climate of physical (in)activity in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Ecological models suggest that a strategy for increasing physical activity participation within a population is to reconstruct the "social climate". This can be accomplished through 1) changing norms and beliefs, 2) providing direct support for modifying environments, and 3) implementing policies to encourage physical activity. Nevertheless, surveillance efforts have paid limited attention to empirical assessment of social climate. This study responds to this gap by assessing the social climate of physical activity in Canada. METHODS: A representative sample of Canadian adults (n = 2519, male/female = 50.3%/49.7%, Mage = 49.1 ± 16.3 years) completed an online survey asking them to assess social climate dimensions including social norms of physical (in)activity, perceptions of who causes physical inactivity and who is responsible for solving physical inactivity, and support for physical activity-related policy. Descriptive statistics (frequencies) were calculated. Multinomial logistic regressions were constructed to identify whether demographic variables and physical activity participation associated with social climate dimensions. RESULTS: Physical inactivity was considered a serious public health concern by 55% of the respondents; similar to unhealthy diets (58%) and tobacco use (57%). Thirty-nine percent of the respondents reported that they often see other people exercising. Twenty-eight percent of the sample believed that society disapproves of physical inactivity. The majority of respondents (63%) viewed the cause of physical inactivity as both an individual responsibility and other factors beyond an individuals' control. Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported physical inactivity as being both a private matter and a public health matter. Strong support existed for environmental-, individual-, and economic-level policies but much less for legislative approaches. The social climate indicators were associated with respondents' level of physical activity participation and demographic variables in expected directions. CONCLUSION: This study is the first known attempt to assess social climate at a national level, addressing an important gap in knowledge related to advocating for, and implementing population-level physical activity interventions. Future tracking will be needed to identify any temporal (in)stability of these constructs over time and to explore the relationship between physical activity participation and indicators of the national social climate of physical activity.

Examining the Relationship between Message Variables, Affective Reactions, and Parents' Instrumental Attitudes toward Their Child's Physical Activity: The "Mr. Lonely" Public Service Announcement.

This study examined the relationship between message variables and affective reactions with parents' attitudes after seeing a physical activity mass media public service announcement (PSA). It was hypothesized that there would be a positive relationship between message variables (i.e., personal relevance, novelty of information, and feelings toward sponsoring organization) and parents' attitudes toward their child/children's physical activity after viewing the PSA. Furthermore, we explored whether discrete affective reactions were related to attitudes, beyond the effect of message variables. A secondary data analysis was conducted with parental responses to an online campaign evaluation survey (n = 267). Hierarchical regression analyses showed an overall positive relationship between all three message variables and attitudes. Furthermore, two discrete affective reactions were positively related to attitudes. Parents who endorsed feeling motivated or guilty after viewing the advertisement had more positive attitudes toward their children's physical activity levels. This study represents an ecologically valid assessment of how message variables and affective reactions are related to attitudes within the context of a physical activity mass media campaign. The results provide guidance for the effective design of mass media physical activity campaigns.

The Utility of Physical Activity Micro-Grants: The ParticipACTION Teen Challenge Program.

Youth physical activity levels remain low in Canada and worldwide. Lack of environmental resources (e.g., access to equipment and facilities, transportation options, and participation costs) is a key barrier for youth participation. Micro-grants are small budgets of money awarded via grant applications and may help community organizations facilitate youth physical activity participation by alleviating environmental resource barriers. ParticipACTION Teen Challenge was a national micro-grant scheme administered in Canada. Secondary analysis of survey data from Provincial and Territorial coordinators, registered community organizers, and successful grant applicants were used to evaluate the process and outcomes of Teen Challenge. Results showed that the financial subsidy of 500CAD was used mainly toward equipment, instruction, and transportation. Coordinators and community organizers indicated high levels of satisfaction and benefits for communities and teens. A key benefit for coordinators was leveraging the Teen Challenge network for physical activity promotion. Reported benefits for teenaged participants included leadership opportunities (e.g., helping create and implement programs) and increased physical activity participation. Findings highlight the value of micro-grants for supporting sport and physical activity opportunities for Canadian teens, and show that such schemes address barriers related to environmental resources. The sustainability of micro-grant schemes remains to be seen.

The Relationship of Explicit-Implicit Evaluative Discrepancy to Exercise Dropout in Middle-Aged Adults.

Discrepancies between automatically activated associations (i.e., implicit evaluations) and explicit evaluations of motives (measured with a questionnaire) could lead to greater information processing to resolve discrepancies or self-regulatory failures that may affect behavior. This research examined the relationship of health and appearance exercise-related explicit-implicit evaluative discrepancies, the interaction between implicit and explicit evaluations, and the combined value of explicit and implicit evaluations (i.e., the summed scores) to dropout from a yearlong exercise program. Participants (N = 253) completed implicit health and appearance measures and explicit health and appearance motives at baseline, prior to starting the exercise program. The sum of implicit and explicit appearance measures was positively related to weeks in the program, and discrepancy between the implicit and explicit health measures was negatively related to length of time in the program. Implicit exercise evaluations and their relationships to oft-cited motives such as appearance and health may inform exercise dropout.

Pink Ribbons and Red Dresses: A Mixed Methods Content Analysis of Media Coverage of Breast Cancer and Heart Disease.

This research examined media coverage of breast cancer (n = 145) and heart disease and stroke (n = 39) news articles, videos, advertisements, and images in a local Canadian context through quantitative and thematic content analyses. Quantitative analysis revealed significant differences between coverage of the diseases in placement, survivors as a source of information, health agency, human interest stories, citation of a research study, the inclusion of risk statistics, discussion of preventative behaviors, and tone used. The thematic analysis revealed themes that characterized a "typical" breast cancer survivor and indicated that "good" citizens and businesses should help the cause of breast cancer. Themes for heart disease and stroke articulated individual responsibility and the ways fundraising reinforced femininity and privilege. Findings provide insight on how these diseases are framed in local Canadian media, which might impact an individual's understanding of the disease.

Moderators of Implicit-Explicit Exercise Cognition Concordance.

Investigating implicit-explicit concordance can aid in understanding underlying mechanisms and possible intervention effects. This research examined the concordance between implicit associations of exercise with health or appearance and related explicit motives. Variables considered as possible moderators were behavioral regulations, explicit attitudes, and social desirability. Participants (N = 454) completed measures of implicit associations of exercise with health and appearance and questionnaire measures of health and appearance motives, attitudes, social desirability, and behavioral regulations. Attitudes significantly moderated the relationship between implicit associations of exercise with health and health motives. Identified regulations significantly moderated implicit-explicit concordance with respect to associations with appearance. These results suggest that implicit and explicit exercise-related cognitions are not necessarily independent and their relationship to each other may be moderated by attitudes or some forms of behavioral regulation. Future research that takes a dual-processing approach to exercise behavior should consider potential theoretical moderators of concordance.

Predicting Changes Across 12 Months in Three Types of Parental Support Behaviors and Mothers' Perceptions of Child Physical Activity.

BACKGROUND: Parental support has been established as the critical family-level variable linked to child physical activity with encouragement, logistical support, and parent-child co-activity as key support behaviors. PURPOSE: This study aims to model these parental support behaviors as well as family demographics as mediators of mothers' perceptions of child physical activity using theory of planned behavior (TPB) across two 6-month waves of longitudinal data. METHOD: A representative sample of Canadian mothers (N = 1253) with children aged 5 to 13 years of age completed measures of TPB, support behaviors, and child physical activity. RESULTS: Autoregressive structural equation models showed that intention and perceived behavioral control explained support behaviors, yet child age (inverse relationship) and family income were independent predictors. The three support behaviors explained 19-42 % of the variance in child physical activity between participants, but analyses of change showed much smaller effects. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers' support behaviors are related to perceived child physical activity, but support is dependent on perception of control, child age, and family income.

Organizational characteristics and processes are important in the adoption of the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth in child-care centres.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to gain an understanding of the organizational characteristics and processes in two child-care centres that may influence adoption of the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth (ANGCY). DESIGN: In-depth qualitative case studies. Data were collected through direct observations, key informant interviews and field notes. Diffusion of Innovations theory guided the evaluation and intrinsic case analysis. SETTING: Two urban child-care centres in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada identified as exemplary early adopter cases. SUBJECTS: Ten key informants comprised of directors, junior and senior staff members participated in interviews. RESULTS: Organizational processes such as leadership, networking and knowledge brokering, health champions and organizational culture positively influenced adoption behaviour in child-care centres. A key determinant influencing organizational behaviour within both centres was the directors' strong leadership. Acceptance of and adherence to the guidelines were facilitated by organizational factors, such as degree of centralization, formalization and complexity, level of staff training and education. Knowledge brokering by directors was important for transferring and exchanging information across the centre. All child-care staff embraced their informal role as health champions as essential to supporting guideline adherence and encouraging healthy food and eating environments. CONCLUSIONS: Organizational processes and characteristics such as leadership, knowledge brokering and networking, organizational culture and health champions played an important role in the adoption of nutrition guidelines in child-care centres. The complex interplay of decision making, organization of work and specialization of roles influenced the extent to which nutrition guidelines were adopted.

An Evaluation of the My ParticipACTION Campaign to Increase Self-Efficacy for Being More Physically Active.

The objective of the My ParticipACTION campaign was to inspire Canadian adults to increase their physical activity through messaging that was relevant, engaging, and designed to build self-efficacy to be more active. This research examined the communication effects of the campaign according to the a priori Hierarchy of Effects Model (saliency → cognitive engagement → self-efficacy to become more active → trial behavior) and investigated how these effects related to overall self-efficacy for physical activity, intention to be active, and current activity level. Participants (N = 1,110) were recruited from an existing panel of Canadian adults 18 years and older and completed a short online questionnaire about the potential communication effects. Logistic regression models were constructed to test the communication effects adjusting for age, gender, and education. The relations were consistent with those hypothesized in the model. In addition, some earlier outcomes in the sequence of effects were associated with other outcomes further down the progression. When intention to be active was included, the initial relation between ad-specific self-efficacy and current physical activity disappeared. This analysis suggested that the campaign was successful in increasing self-efficacy to be more active and that using the Hierarchy of Effects Model was useful in guiding the design of campaign messages and assessing communication effects. Given the limited amount of theoretical testing of the Hierarchy of Effects Model, future research employing longitudinal designs is required to further confirm the communication effects of such an intervention and further test the model.

Perceptions of the characteristics of the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth by child care providers may influence early adoption of nutrition guidelines in child care centres.

In 2008, the Alberta government released the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth (ANGCY) as a resource for child care facilities to translate nutrition recommendations into practical food choices. Using a multiple case study method, early adoption of the guidelines was examined in two child care centres in Alberta, Canada. Key constructs from the Diffusion of Innovations framework were used to develop an interview protocol based on the perceived characteristics of the guidelines (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability) by child care providers. Analysis of the ANGCY was conducted by a trained qualitative researcher and validated by an external qualitative researcher. This entailed reviewing guideline content, layout, organisation, presentation, format, comprehensiveness and dissemination to understand whether characteristics of the guidelines affect the adoption process. Data were collected through direct observation, key informant interviews and documentation of field notes. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. Overall, the guidelines were perceived positively by child care providers. Child care providers found the guidelines to have a high relative advantage, be compatible with current practice, have a low level of complexity, easy to try and easy to observe changes. It is valuable to understand how child care providers perceive characteristics of guidelines as this is the first step in identifying the needs of child care providers with respect to early adoption and identifying potential educational strategies important for dissemination.