Edith Cowan University

About: Edith Cowan University is a education organization based out in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Tourism. The organization has 4040 authors who have published 13529 publications receiving 339582 citations. The organization is also known as: Edith Cowan & ECU.

Vitamins B12, B6, and folic acid for cognition in older men

Abstract: Objective: To investigate whether supplementing older men with vitamins B 12 , B 6 , and folic acid improves cognitive function. Methods: The investigators recruited 299 community-representative hypertensive men 75 years and older to a randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial of folic acid, vitamin B 6 , and B 12 supplementation vs placebo over 2 years. The primary outcome of interest was the change in the cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer9s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog). A secondary aim of the study was to determine if supplementation with vitamins decreased the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia over 8 years. Results: The groups were well-balanced for demographic and biochemical parameters. There was no difference in the ADAS-cog change from baseline to 24 months between the placebo (0.8, SD 4.0) and vitamins group (0.7, SD 3.4). The adjusted scores in the treatment groups did not differ over time (placebo 0.2 lower, z = 0.71, p = 0.478). There was a nonsignificant 28% decrease in the risk of cognitive impairment (odds ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.25–2.09) and dementia (hazard ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.29–1.78) over 8 years of follow-up. Conclusions: The daily supplementation of vitamins B 12 , B 6 , and folic acid does not benefit cognitive function in older men, nor does it reduce the risk of cognitive impairment or dementia. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class I evidence that vitamin supplementation with daily doses of 400 μg of B 12 , 2 mg of folic acid, and 25 mg of B 6 over 2 years does not improve cognitive function in hypertensive men aged 75 and older.

Global citizenship education, school curriculum and games: Learning Mathematics, English and Science as a global citizen

Abstract: Based on an account of how two classes of primary five students in Singapore engage in the learning of English, Mathematics and Science by playing the role of global citizens, the paper suggests an alternative but realistic approach to teaching global citizenship education. Set against the back story of Atlantis facing ecological, social and cultural decay due to the blind pursuit of prosperity and modernisation by its rulers, each student became a quester called on to save Atlantis. Throughout the mission they were presented with different problems in Atlantis (similar to existing global issues) and were expected to research and suggest solutions to the problems by alone or with fellow questers. These problems were tied to the primary five English, Mathematics and Science curriculum. Through documenting and making sense of these activities via observations, interviews and pre-post questionnaire surveys, the paper shows how the new approach may enhance the learning engagement, academic motivation and social commitments among the students. We also explore the sustainability and scalability of such an approach in the school system and highlight constraints. The paper then draws implications for global citizenship education in schools that include designing a meaningful context for engaged learning in schools with components of global citizenship, developing a research culture in schools as a stepping stone for global citizenship education and building capacity of teachers and school leaders in global citizenship.

Effect of body posture on postexercise parasympathetic reactivation in men.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of body posture on post-submaximal exercise parasympathetic reactivation and to examine whether this influence was preserved under a heightened sympathetic background. On four occasions, eleven moderately trained subjects (22.1 +/- 3.0 years old) performed, in random order, two consecutive submaximal running bouts (CTs), each followed by 5 min passive recovery in an upright (Up), sitting (Sit), supine (Sup) or supine with legs up position (SupLu). Between both CTs, participants performed 150 s of supramaximal intermittent running (SI). Parasympathetic reactivation was assessed from heart rate recovery (HRR) and variability (HRV; e.g. rMSSD(30 s)) indices calculated during the 5 min recovery periods [i.e. before (N) and after SI (post-SI)]. In the N condition, Sup position was associated with a faster and greater increase in rMSSD(30 s) than Sit and SupLu (both P < 0.01), which were all higher compared with Up (P < 0.001). A 'time' effect was shown in Sit, Sup and SupLu (all P < 0.05), but not in Up (P = 0.99). All N values were higher than post-SI values (P < 0.001), except for Up, where a trend was apparent (P = 0.06). In the post-SI condition, a position effect was preserved for HRR (P < 0.001), but not for HRV indices (P = 0.99 for rMSSD(30 s)). In conclusion, the supine position accelerated and increased parasympathetic reactivation more than the other three positions, but the posture effect was less evident following supramaximal exercise. In the context of an accentuated sympathetic background (i.e. post-SI), postexercise HRV indices are less gravity dependent than HRR, reflecting more the exercise-related changes in parasympathetic activity.