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The impact of minor crank length adjustments on lower body cycling kinematics
Get PDFThis study examined the effect of minor crank length adjustments on lower body cycling kinematics and exercise tolerance. Fourteen amateur cyclists performed sub-maximal cycling trials with five different crank lengths, preferred (165.0–172.5 mm), ±5 and 10 mm. An RPE prescription method determined intensity, and three-dimensional kinematics were collected using Vicon motion capture. Statistical parametric mapping was employed to analyse lower body kinematics. Changes in crank length had no effect on the mean power output (199.1 ± 50.5 W). However, minor reductions were associated with significant decreases in knee (0–24%; 58–100%) and hip (0–13%) flexion as well as increases in the anterior pelvic tilt (0–40%; 74–100%). Additionally, shorter cranks resulted in less pelvic obliquity and rotation, hip abduction and knee rotation. Minor reductions in crank length can decrease hip and knee flexion, can limit non-sagittal plane motion and could serve as an effective bike manipulation to reduce the risk of overuse injury. Shorter cranks also enable riders to achieve anterior pelvic tilt and could limit stress on the lumbar spine. As minor adjustments did not impact power output, crank length alterations should be considered during bike fits and by bike manufacturers
Electroceutical enhancement of self-compassion training using transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation: results from a preregistered fully factorial randomized controlled trial
Get PDFBackground
Physiological signals conveyed by the vagus nerve may generate quiescent psychological states conducive to contemplative practices. This suggests that vagal neurostimulation could interact with contemplative psychotherapies (e.g. mindfulness and compassion-based interventions) to augment their efficacy.
Methods
In a fully factorial experimental trial, healthy adults (n = 120) were randomized to transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) plus Self-Compassion-Mental-Imagery Training (SC-MIT) or alternative factorial combinations of stimulation (tVNS or sham) plus mental imagery training (MIT: SC-MIT or Control-MIT). Primary outcomes were self-reported state self-compassion, self-criticism, and heart rate variability (HRV). Exploratory outcomes included state mindfulness and oculomotor attentional bias to compassion-expressing faces. Most outcomes were assessed acutely on session 1 at the pre-stimulation (T1), peri-stimulation (T2), and post-MIT + stimulation (T3) timepoints, and after daily stimulation+MIT sessions (eight sessions).
Results
During session 1, a significant Timepoint × Stimulation × MIT interaction (p = 0.025) was observed, reflecting a larger acute T1→T3 increase in state self-compassion after tVNS+SC-MIT, with similar rapid effects on state mindfulness. Additionally, significant Session × MIT and Session × Stimulation interactions (p ≤ 0.027) on state mindfulness (but not self-compassion) suggested that tVNS+SC-MIT’s effects may accumulate across sessions for some outcomes. By contrast, changes in state self-criticism and compassion-related attentional bias were only moderated by MIT (not stimulation) condition. HRV was unaffected by stimulation or MIT condition.
Conclusion
tVNS augmented the effects of SC-MIT and might, therefore, be a useful strategy for enhancing meditation-based psychotherapies. Our findings also highlight the value of oculomotor attentional metrics as responsive markers of self-compassion training and the continued need for sensitive indices of successful vagal stimulation
A study of the response dynamics of a Helmholtz resonator and its application in acoustic energy harvesting
Get PDFConsidering the whole self: integrating identity(s), context and power into the declarative procedural reflective (DPR) model of CBT practitioner development
Get PDFThe original declarative procedural reflective (DPR) model is a well-established model of therapist knowledge and skill development. To date, although it has been used to guide reflection and discussion around personal and practitioner selves, it has not emphasised the various intersecting identities of practitioners and how these interact within wider concepts such as power, society, service contexts and the patient and supervisory relationships. The learning, development and implementation of CBT skills does not occur in a vacuum or separate to the practitioner identities however relatively little has been written on this. This paper aims to expand the original DPR model to illustrate potential ways that social context, identity and power could be considered within CBT training, delivery and supervision. It delineates and explores the additional components of the model (i.e. practitioner identity(s), context/society and power) and then provides examples of how this framework could inform key CBT activities (including low-intensity CBT).
Key learning aims
(1) We aim to (re-) familiarise the reader with the original DPR model of practitioner development and how this applies to CBT practitioners explicitly including low-intensity CBT practitioners (from novice learners through to expert).
(2) We aim to help the reader understand how the key elements of the original DPR model (declarative knowledge, procedural skills, reflective system and therapist stance) can be applied to specific content areas when working with individuals with minoritised identities.
(3) The reader will be introduced to an adapted DPR model which provides a framework for CBT practitioners to reflect on, and be able to conceptualise the influence of their own social identities, social context, power and how this may impact on their development and implementation of declarative knowledge, procedural skills and reflective skills.
(4) We aim to help the reader understand how an adapted DPR model can provide a helpful framework to guide skill development in working with difference and ensuring practitioners have the knowledge and skills required to provide sensitive and effective therapy, supervision and training to individuals with identities that may be different from the practitioner
Using COM-B and The Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to Examine the Nature of Intergenerational Physical Activity.
Get PDFRegular Physical Activity (PA) is vital to physical and mental well-being, and maintaining positive health behaviours (Bell, 2019). In the UK, life expectancy has increased, currently being 87.3 years in males and 90.2 years in females (ONS, 2023). Coupled with increased in life expectancy is an increase in sedentary behaviour, despite the documented impacts and efforts from organisations to reverse this trajectory (Faghy et al, 2023). Health conditions are attributed to sedentary lifestyles, causing Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. This is estimated to have an UK economic impact of £7.4 billion annually, with 1 in 6 deaths associated with sedentarism (GOV.UK, 2022). Plentiful prevention efforts often rely on interventions aiming to increase PA. Interventions have been implemented across a variety of settings and populations with varying success (Knittle et al, 2018). Interventions have also employed multicomponent designs, targeting several factors, for example, reducing screen time, healthy eating and increasing sleep quality (Russ et al, 2015).
Families are defined as “a group of one or more parents and their children living together as a unit” (Corbett, 2004). The traditional dynamic of families in the UK has evolved over time, with grandparents playing a more integral role. It is important to acknowledge this shift, being essential in the context of this thesis as the responsibility of grandparents has increased. In the context of lifespan PA, the intergenerational dyad of grandparent and grandchild being active together could be important as a dual agent of change. Interventions that target intergenerational dyads are sparse with little long-term behaviour change and few successful outcomes (Park, 2014). Intergenerational PA has yet to be reviewed holistically to increase the understanding and benefit of the relationship, providing recommendations for future research. This thesis set out to explore intergenerational PA and the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.
A literature review synthesised the evidence and benefits of implementing intergenerational interventions. The data revealed few PA interventions have targeted intergenerational dyads, demonstrating little outcomes and sustainability of PA behaviours. Semi-structured interviews with grandparents exposed many potential benefits from undertaking a caring role which included being active together. Age and time were themes, shaping the activities undertaken. Themes of evolving roles divulged that grandparents take on a primary parental role when needed, impacting the dyad’s relationship.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, conducting a PA intervention was changed to a large-scale online questionnaire. The results indicate that PA levels of grandparents increase when the dyad is together. Grandparents reported being active more than a moderate amount of PA. Evaluating COM-B found that capability was a significant predictor of vigorous activity, suggesting participating in activities observed as being more vigorous, is driven by participants perceived psychological and physical capability. Motivation was a significant predictor of moderate activity, suggesting that maintaining a frequent level of PA, needed for good health, requires motivation.
In conclusion, grandparents play a vital role in facilitating the PA of their grandchildren, instilling foundations for positive PA behaviours. This facilitation has an impact on grandparents, giving purpose, and increasing their own PA levels. The role of the grandparent is as important as ever, requiring frequent investigation to further explore its complex dynamic
Presence Through Absence: Gender, Surrealism And The Unreal Woman
Get PDFThis practice-led research investigates the visual language of self-representation in art associated with Surrealism. Through engagement with techniques prevalent in Surrealist art, particularly photographic Surrealism, this research visually and theoretically elucidates recent socio-cultural, political and philosophical shifts decentering the human that influences representations of self, gender, and identity by female artists. Characterised by a cyclical, rhizomatic process, this research is grounded in lived experience and underpinned by a comprehensive analysis of the interrelated histories of Surrealism and feminism.
Feminist theoretical frameworks, incorporating psychoanalytic theory, sexuality, power dynamics, and the male gaze, have rigorously examined Surrealism’s subversion of gender roles. This examination has prompted a paradigm shift in Surrealism’s traditionally androcentric narrative, giving rise to a gender divide and establishing a gynocentric legacy of gender-subversive art associated with Surrealism. In response to certain interpretations within the revisionist discourse, this research challenges the assumption that Surrealism’s subversion of gender roles is unequivocally progressive and questions whether feminist discourse adequately addresses or contextualises the complexities of gendered self-representation associated with Surrealism.
The research explores self-representations at the height of feminism’s second wave, which engendered a paradoxical female body that straddles empowerment and objectification. The emergence of Surrealism is situated within its historical context, and consistencies are identified between the techniques and strategies adopted by its artists and those of contemporary female 'surrealist' artists. These parallels facilitate an understanding of why the female body’s presence in self-representation remains fragmented or absent, despite a century of female empowerment. This practice-led research examines the use of metaphor and symbolic surrogates, which enable complex ideas to be articulated within an acceptable framework, leading to broader connections. The methodology and framework supporting the practice-led focus of the project provide a comprehensive analysis of the research, further supported by interviews conducted with practitioners in the field.
The female body as a site of creative inquiry lies at the core of this research. The lack of contemporary contextualisation in Surrealism’s discourse, addressing the perpetuation of a dismembered self in representations by contemporary female artists, has created a gap in knowledge. This research explores the concept of absence as presence and the complexities of metaphorical self-representations. By augmenting the discourse with current themes of identity politics and inclusivity, and by drawing cross-generational connections, this practice-led approach seeks to enhance understanding of the shifting relationship between Surrealism, gendered identity representation, and the reality of women’s embodiment over the last century
Comparing the English and Korean marketised childcare systems in the context of promoting maternal employment
Get PDFGovernments in both England and Korea prioritise a comparable set of childcare policies and strategies to promote young children’s development and wellbeing and maternal labour market participation This paper compares the two marketised childcare systems and policies and their impact on family outcomes,, in the context of public policy aims to increase maternal employment . Despite Korean financial support for its childcare system being proportionally much greater than England’s, maternal employment rates in England far outstrip those in Korea. As our conceptual approach, we adopt Kagan’s (Kagan et al., 2016; Kagan with Landsberg, 2019) application of systems theory to childcare systems. Important aspects of these two marketised systems and their infrastructure appear to be operating inefficiently, impeding equitable access to high quality, sustainable provision. This evidence fails to relate, though, to lower maternal employment levels in Korea, where a lack of active labour market policies coupled with socio-cultural factors form additional barriers. Both countries may be close to tipping points in childcare policy development. Extending childcare support beyond working families and curbing market operations may need considering in England, while in Korea expanding high-quality universal childcare support through public and not-for-profit providers and family friendly employment policies require addressing
Bricks, pics and a Japanese ‘matrix’: using coaching approaches to develop student agency through playful methods in tutorials
No full textCoaching approaches can facilitate highly effective tutorial conversations that facilitate student identification and activation of their most ambitious aspirations, solutions, and methods for achieving their goals. This chapter provides three playful methods for facilitating coaching approaches: Lego® model-building; images; and the Japanese philosophy of ‘Ikigai’. These methods can generate student thinking that goes deeper than transactional conversations engender, creating a culture in which students proactively own their greatest goals and have agency over the actions they take towards achieving them
The Civic Thread: Weaving Urban and Rural Knowledge into a Learning Society
Get PDFPurpose
To explore how urban and rural knowledge systems can be interwoven to strengthen civic identity,
inclusive learning, and place-based innovation—anchored by Derby’s role as a UNESCO Learning City.
Key Themes
• Civic Threads as Connective Tissue: Dr Jones introduced the “civic thread” as a metaphor for
the interlaced relationships, practices, and shared values that shape civic life. It is a dynamic
tapestry of local knowledge, public dialogue, and collaborative action.
• Derby as a Learning City: Positioned centrally in England, Derby bridges urban and rural
geographies. Its industrial heritage, growing diversity, and civic infrastructure make it a
compelling site for inclusive learning. Derby was designated a UNESCO Learning City in 2022
for its commitment to lifelong learning, civic engagement, and sustainability.
• Strategic Civic Leadership: Leadership must be culturally and morally committed to civic life.
Dr Jones emphasised the role of connectors and enablers—universities, local authorities,
third sectors—working in partnership to foster autonomy and co-creation.
• S.H.E.D Case Study (Social Higher Education Depot) from Designing Dialogue CiC: A mobile,
modular arts and engagement space co-designed with communities. SHED exemplifies
participatory design, climate action, and place-based learning. It toured sites including the
V&A Dundee and Timber Festival, gathering pledges and stories from diverse publics.
• Urban-Rural Dialogue & Unlearning: The session called for reframing dominant narratives
and embracing risk and experimentation. Dr Jones’s methodology, The Artistry of
Conversation, positions dialogue as a public art form to bridge urban and rural divides.
Five Civic Goals (Derby’s Framework)
1. Securing our future
2. Driving ambition and positive change
3. Making a positive environmental impact
4. Supporting health and wellbeing
5. Investing in culture as a driver for change
Reflections for Practitioners
• Civic identity is co-created, not imposed—requiring active listening and responsive design.
• Learning cities must be accountable to their communities, fostering inclusive participation
and adaptability.
• Urban-rural knowledge exchange enriches civic practice and strengthens resilience