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Prescribing playing intensity in small-sided games using rating of perceived effort among youth soccer players:a randomized crossover trial
Get PDFIn this study, we examined whether the 0-10 rating of perceived effort (RPE) scale can serve as a method for prescribing playing intensity in small-sided games (SSGs). We conducted a randomized crossover trial involving 25 young male football players (age range 16-18 years). Participants completed a familiarization and three experimental sessions where game intensity was regulated using prescribed intensities equal to RPE of 6, 8, or 10. Each session involved six teams of three players playing in three SSGs, with 4 min of rest, in a playing area of 133 square meters per player. Outcomes included total distance, high-speed running distance (HSRD), intense acceleration and deceleration (IAD) counts, and average heart rate (HR). We fitted mixed models and estimated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to analyze the results. The CIs for all locomotive outcomes indicated an increase at RPE-8 and RPE-10 compared to RPE-6. Notably, the effects on HSRD and IAD were substantial, with differences between RPE-10 and 8 to RPE-6 ranging from 28% to 97%. Conversely, differences in the total distance the players covered per game between RPE-10 and 8 to 6 were minor (~5%). We could not identify clear differences between RPE-10 and 8 in the locomotive outcomes (differences range 0%-9.6%, CIs containing zero) nor in HR across all RPE conditions (differences range 1-3.5 bpm, CIs containing zero). We conclude that RPE can serve as a practical tool to prescribe medium or high intensity during SSGs, although its ability to differentiate between higher intensity levels or influence heart rate is limited
Netflix, websleuths and the contemporary urban legend
Get PDFThis article explores how Joe Berlinger’s Netflix true crime docuseries Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021) has appropriated the apparatus of the modern urban legend. The article demonstrates how Berlinger merges the aesthetics of true crime documentary, websleuthing, and urban legend to reconfigure the unusual circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Canadian student Elisa Lam into a form of participatory infotainment. The article contends that Berlinger’s recreation of the events and aftermath of Elisa Lam’s disappearance and death uses the processes of urban legend creation to first attract and entertain the audience, only to later challenge the audiences’ susceptibility to such legends. The article proposes that this mode of consumption functions as a form of ‘honey trap’ which, while passive, allows the viewer to become embedded in the narrative, inviting them to create and critique the processes of contemporary legend construction
Institutionalizing human rights in sports mega events:a case study of the United 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup
Get PDFThe North American 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup (FWC) is the first tournament in which human rights policies and plans have been in place for the awarding body and host nation from the bid stage. This paper examines the FWC human rights governance arrangements, through an analysis of strategic documents, observations of three host cities, and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. Drawing on institutional theory, we argue that human rights institutional logic formation, via stakeholder engagement and isomorphic pressures, influences FIFA. However, we also demonstrate that this influence is limited due to the primacy of business agendas at the executive level. We conclude that while positive steps have been made, with human rights structures, policies, and processes now in place at FIFA, host nation(s) and host cities; issues of implementation remain throughout each level of the FWC institutional field
Gender dynamics in STEM education:investigating educational experiences in Bangladesh
Get PDFThe relevance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in preparing students for the twenty-first century is increasingly emphasized within educational perspectives. Understanding the specific challenges and opportunities faced by different genders in STEM education is essential for fostering a more inclusive and equitable learning environment. This study aims to explore students’ interests, experiences, opportunities, and perspectives on the integration of STEM in secondary school settings in Bangladesh, with a particular focus on gender differences. A mixed-methods approach was used for data collection, incorporating both survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The study sample consisted of 100 students from various secondary schools and 15 science teachers. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistical methods and thematic analysis to identify patterns and trends in the integration of STEM education from gendered perspectives. The findings revealed significant gender-based differences in key aspects of STEM integration, including project-based learning, inquiry-based learning, and access to resources. These differences play a crucial role in shaping the effectiveness of STEM education and students’ engagement with these subjects. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the need for educators and policymakers to address gender-based disparities in STEM education. By recognizing the unique experiences of male and female students, stakeholders can develop strategies to enhance inclusivity and effectiveness in STEM integration, fostering a more equitable learning environment for all students
Advancing equity in Scotland:developing race-cognisant policy in teacher education
Get PDFIn Scotland, recent years have seen a national declaration across Higher and Further Education acknowledging the existence of racism in education and the development of various policies designed to challenge racism and promote racial diversity. This has particularly been the case in the field of teacher education policy where we have seen the publication of Teaching in a Diverse Scotland (2018) and subsequent annual targets for recruitment and retention of Black and Minority Ethnic teachers, the establishment of a national programme of professional learning to build educators’ racial literacy, and the publication of The National Anti-Racism Framework for Initial Teacher Education (2023). However, the ‘success’ or otherwise of these polices has not yet been established across the system. This article, therefore, seeks to bring together the evaluations of individual race-cognisant policies in teacher education to date, and to synthesise them, drawing on McConnell's (2010) three strands of policy analysis. Based on this analysis, the article concludes with some future-gazing as we move towards Scottish Parliament elections in 2026, and the likelihood that the long-dominant Scottish National Party will face a serious challenge
Trust, religion and responsible leadership:how employees judge leaders in fragile institutional contexts
Get PDFPurpose Recent research has increasingly focused on the moral and ethical dimensions of leadership. This paper examines how the evolving concept of responsible leadership fosters employees’ trust within ethically fragile and institutionally unstable business environments. Rather than treating responsible leadership as a fixed normative framework, this study repositions it as a dynamic arena where diverse stakeholders hold conflicting expectations.Design/methodology/approach The study adopts an exploratory qualitative design, drawing on 22 in-depth semi-structured interviews within a case study framework. This methodology enabled a nuanced and thorough analysis of how employees perceive and navigate the complexities of trust dynamics in the organisational context.Findings Empirical evidence reveals diverse expectations of responsible leadership, shaped by multidimensional contextual factors such as religion and cultural norms. It argues that both relational and contextual factors illuminate the evolving processes through which leadership is legitimised, trust is sustained, and organisational cohesion is maintained amidst fragile formal systems and unstable societal institutions.Research limitations/implications While this paper broadens the concept of responsible leadership beyond a Western-centric perspective, its findings are largely drawn from a single organisational context. Given Nigeria’s considerable diversity, additional research is needed to strengthen these claims and improve the generalisability of the conclusions.Practical implications This paper provides actionable insights for enhancing leadership and organisational development, especially in settings where institutional safeguards are fragile or uncertain.Originality/value By examining responsible leadership through the lens of the Nigerian context, this study underscores the role of local context in organisational research. Its findings emphasise the importance of developing leadership theories attuned to and adaptable to distinct cultural realities
Association and agreement of contact-based smartphone photoplethysmography compared with electrocardiography:protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDFBackground: Mobile health (mHealth), leveraging mobile devices for health measurement and promotion, is rapidly growing. Smartphone cameras can perform photoplethysmography (PPG) to estimate pulse rate (PR) and other features of the cardiac cycle. However, establishing the validity of PR-PPG is essential before it can be adopted for health care applications. There is a pervasive belief that PR-PPG is analogous to heart rate (HR) derived from electrocardiograms (ECGs), and we will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to support or challenge this supposition.Objective: This study aims to synthesize quantitative evidence on the validity of PPG derived from mobile devices (ie, smartphones) for the assessment of HR compared with the gold standard ECG assessment.Methods: A comprehensive literature search will be performed on CINAHL Ultimate, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Scopus using a predefined search strategy. All retrieved citations will be imported into Rayyan for screening and data management. A minimum of 2 independent reviewers will conduct the title and abstract screening, followed by 2 independent reviewers who will perform full-text screening and data extraction. All stages will be guided by predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, which will be pilot-tested to ensure consistency and reliability. Any discrepancies will be resolved through discussion with a third reviewer or during a research team meeting. Intrarater reliability will be quantified at the title and abstract stage and the full-text review stage using Cohen κ. To ensure clarity and consistency in the presentation of study characteristics and findings, both narrative synthesis and tabular formats will be used. This review will include studies that report the association and agreement between resting HR and PR from PPG using contact-based smartphone devices versus ECG as the gold standard. PPG signals will be obtained using a contact-based approach, defined as finger-on-camera measurements with the smartphone’s built-in camera and flash. Studies will be excluded if they (1) do not use PPG using contact-based smartphone devices, (2) compare PPG to another collection method other than ECG, or (3) are review articles or case studies.Results: To inform clinical procedures and future studies, the results will contain data on PR-PPG and HR-ECG association (correlations) and agreement (Bland-Altman analysis), sampling devices, and operating systems. This project is unfunded, and the initial screening is expected to start in the first quarter of 2026, with results anticipated to be published in the first quarter of 2027. The projected timeline for the study includes title and abstract screening from the first quarter of 2026, followed by full-text screening in the second quarter of 2026. Results are anticipated by the third quarter of 2026, with publication expected in the first quarter of 2027. Throughout this period, database searches will be regularly updated to capture any newly published studies meeting the inclusion criteria.Conclusions: This review will provide a comprehensive understanding of the association and agreement between PR-PPG and HR-ECG. The findings may inform future adoption of PR-PPG and HR-ECG with insights into device or setting characteristics for best agreement or association.Trial Registration: Open Science Framework; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/83V7AInternational Registered Report Identifier (IRRID):PRR1-10.2196/8483
Negotiating centralization:how local networks reshaped Scotland's National Care Service reform
Get PDFCentralizing reforms frequently diverge from their original designs, yet the processes through which this divergence occurs remain insufficiently understood. This article examines Scotland's National Care Service reform (2021–2025), a major recentralization that underwent significant modification following sustained engagement from local governance networks. Drawing on 21 elite interviews conducted during the early stages of the reform and documentary analysis spanning 2021–2025, the study traces how councils, Integration Joint Boards, NHS bodies, and third-sector organizations shaped the trajectory of the proposals. Network responses followed four patterns: reframing technical reforms as issues of democratic accountability; conditioning cooperation on fiscal and workforce constraints; acknowledging their own organizational limitations while emphasizing collaborative strengths; and asserting a protective role over local innovation capacity. Although multiple factors influenced the reform's trajectory, network action appears to have contributed to significant modifications, including the retention of Integration Joint Boards and the adoption of phased implementation. The analysis shows that centralization in complex service systems emerges through negotiation rather than directive authority. For policymakers, the findings highlight that durable reform requires recognizing the interdependencies and relationships on which implementation ultimately relies
Exploring agreement between golfers and coach in evaluating a putt
Get PDFThis study aimed to examine the previously unexplored area of agreement between golfers and a coach when assessing putts across two testing sessions. Eleven right-handed golfers (n = 6 males, 5 females, with the average putts per round 32.9 SD = 5.0) completed a 12-putt task, and a SAM PuttLab baseline at each session. The 12 putts varied by distance; short: 6–9 ft (1.83- 2.74m), medium: 12–15 ft (3.66–4.57m), long: 18–20 ft (5.49–6.10m), and slope (limited <1%, moderate >1% <2%, severe >2%). Following each of the 12 putts, the golfers and coach independently rated five variables: green reading, setup, pace, aim, and execution, using binary yes/no ratings. The coach had access to feedback via TrackMan. Cohen’s Kappa was used to assess agreement for each variable. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses examined predictors of putting performance, including hours of practice, SAM PuttLab consistency scores, and average putts per round. Results demonstrated low overall agreement across the two testing sessions. Regression analyses indicated that average putts per round was a significant predictor of performance at both testing sessions. Baseline kinematic consistency predicted performance at the first session, while practice hours did not predict performance at either session. These initial findings highlight the complexity of the perceptual-cognitive-motor skill of putting. Future research should continue to investigate how golfers and coaches develop shared affordances, using mixed method approaches, incorporating measures of expertise to gain greater understanding of how expert putting performance emerges and is maintained under variable environmental and individual conditions
The future of SSM given Generative AI:the power of ‘purpose’ and its context (or “A Grok 3 enabled story regarding a future for systems thinking and practice”)
Get PDFThis paper presents a recent discussion between the author and Grok 3, a Generative AI programme. The ‘conversation’ begins with the author ‘testing’ the software to discover its ability to describe three related systems concepts: the idea that “all perception is selection” (Youngson, 1996), Vickers’ concept of an “appreciative system” (1965) and Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) (1981). The software produces a surprisingly discerning description of the three concepts and their associated ideas. However, it goes a step further than mere description and evaluation of these ideas by inviting the author to consider a “thought experiment” where it applies SSM to the historical context discussed by Youngson. This unexpected experiment prompts the author to explore the software’s ability to implement SSM-type modelling: the author requests Grok 3 to use SSM’s Root Definitions (RDs) to provide insight into different stakeholders’ views of the current Ukraine-Russia conflict (as of 04/03/2025). The software offers a range of different RDs and their associated CATWOE elements. One RD is selected for refinement and the development of a Conceptual Model (CM) through an iterative process which is documented. The purpose of the exercise presented is to explore the potential future role of SSM and associated systems of inquiry (such as the Appreciative Inquiry Method) given the increasingly powerful AI programmes available. The conclusion is that AI is not only able to offer innovative analysis of existing ideas but also more than capable of undertaking the sophisticated modelling of ‘purpose’ (T) within its wider appreciative context (W) that lies at the heart of SSM. Consequently, we no longer need the skills to produce such models - we merely need to know how to use the models to create appropriate and useful inquiry