A mixed-studies systematic review and meta-analysis of school-based interventions to promote physical activity and/or reduce sedentary time in children

screening of 1115 records,the removal of duplicates(n=584)and articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria agreed to a priori(«=419)resulted in 112 records that were text screened.Two independent reviewers subsequently used the mixed-methods appraisal tool to assess the methodological quality of 57 full-text studies that met the inclusion criteria after full-text screening.The interventions were summarised using the TIDierR checklist and TEO.The strength of evidence was determined using a 5・level rating system utilising a published decision tree.Results.Overall evidence ratings for interventions implemented within school settings were:no evidence of effects on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA)and inconclusive evidence of effects on sedentary time.In relation to the TEO,expansion of PA appeared to be the most promising intervention type for MVPA,with moderate evidence of effect,whereas extension and enhancement of PA opportunity demonstrated no evidence of effect.A critical issue of possible compensatory behavior was identified by analysis of intervention effect in relation to PA measurement duration;when studies measured changes in PA during the actual intervention,there was moderate evidence of effect,whereas those that measured changes in PA during the school day presented inconclusive evidence of effect,and those that measured changes in PA over a whole day yielded no evidence of effect.Two meta-analyses of those studies using a whole-day accelerometer measure for MVPA or ST showed a significant but moderate effect for MVPA(effect size=0.51;95%confidence interval(CI):0.02-0.99)and a large but nonsignificant effect for ST(effect size=1.15;95%CI:-1.03 to 3.33);both meta-analyses demonstrated low precision,considerable inconsistency,and high heterogeneity.Conclusion.The findings have important implications for future intervention research in terms of intervention design,implementation,and evaluation.2095-2546/©2020 Published by Elsevier B.V.on behalf of Shanghai University of Sport.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.(http://creativecommons.Org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Reflections on Long-Term Development and Use of Automated Scoring Technology in a Sport (Modified Boxing) Context

Technology is being increasingly used to aid judging in sport, but its employment as the primary means of scoring is rare. We have developed and implemented a fully automated scoring system in the context of a modified, low-risk form of boxing. The system, which requires contestants to wear vests and gloves incorporating sensor fabrics, has been used in multiple settings over the past five years. During that period, it has undergone progressive iteration guided by action research methodology. Here, we summarise that iteration, reflect on present status and identify possible future directions. We have found that concept of automated scoring has wide appeal, and the wearable technology is almost universally considered comfortable. Nevertheless, some issues remain to be addressed. Use of the technology requires considerable prior and subsequent commitment of time. Apparently valid contacts occasionally fail to score. Causative factors include the configuration of electrical circuitry in the vests and deterioration of that circuitry with repeated vest use and washing. Also, false positive scores are sometimes generated by vest self-shorting and effects of sweat. Many contestants adopt unorthodox styles aimed at exploiting the characteristics of the automated scoring methodology, affecting the aesthetics of the modified sport. There is an expectation that technologically-based scoring should have much greater accuracy than human judging, and should be essentially fail-proof. Disillusionment can occur in?situations where this expectation is not met. We have identified potential?solutions to all the existing issues, with some now being actively explored. Continuation of the quest seems justified by popular dissatisfaction with subjective human judging of boxing and other sports, but we have come to realise that purely technological judging can introduce unforeseen complexities. Our observations could be relevant to various sports interested in the notion of technological judging.