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Sprint running mechanics are associated with hamstring strain injury: a 6-month prospective cohort study of 126 elite male footballers
Get PDFObjective: To investigate the association between sprint running biomechanics and sprint-related hamstring strain injury (HSI) in elite male football players. Methods: This prospective cohort study recruited 126 professional male football players from eight clubs in the English football league, who were followed across a 6-month period. Maximal velocity sprint running videos (240 fps) were collected from five teams during preseason (June to August) and three teams during the in-season period (October to March) and subsequently assessed using the Sprint Mechanics Assessment Score (S-MAS) by a single, blinded assessor. Sprint-related HSI within the previous 12 months and any new MRI-confirmed sprint-related HSI were reported by club medical staff. Incidence rate ratios were calculated using a Poisson regression model to determine the association between S-MAS and new sprint-related HSIs. Results: There were 23 players with a previous sprint-related HSI and 17 new HSIs during the follow-up period, with 14 sprint-related injuries. S-MAS values were significantly greater among players with a previous HSI (median difference (MD): 1, p=0.007, 95% CI: 0 to 3) and those sustaining a new sprint-related HSI (MD: 2, p=0.006, 95% CI: 1 to 3) compared with uninjured players. Adjusting for age and previous injury found a significant association between the S-MAS and prospective sprint-related HSIs, with an adjusted incidence rate ratio of 1.33 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.76) for each one-point increase in S-MAS. Conclusions: This is the first study to identify an association between sprint running kinematics and prospective sprint-related HSI in elite male football players. Sprint running mechanics assessed using the S-MAS were associated with both past and future HSIs, with a 33% increase in the risk of a new HSI with every one-point increase in S-MAS. Given the association to injury, evaluating sprint mechanics within rehabilitation and injury prevention may be warranted
Public stigma towards individuals with schizophrenia who offend, considering the perceiver’s level of contact, empathy and right-wing views
No full textPurpose Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI), such as schizophrenia, frequently experience public stigma, which can be further enhanced if the individual has an offending history. This study aims to examine how perceiver attributes, including empathy and endorsement of right-wing views, can impact perceptions and attitudes towards individuals with schizophrenia who offend. Design/methodology/approach The study used an online survey method, recruiting an international public sample (N = 396), with an age range of 18–71 years (M = 33.15, SD = 11.42). Participants’ level of contact with mental illness, empathy and right-wing views were measured and considered in relation to their impact on reported stigma. Findings Results highlighted that a greater level of contact with individuals with schizophrenia, and increased levels of empathy, were strong predictors of decreased levels of stigma towards individuals with schizophrenia who offend. Whereas stronger endorsement of right-wing attitudes were associated with increased stigma towards this population. Originality/value This research offers a unique contribution by considering a variety of perceiver attributes that contribute towards stigma directed at this population. The theoretical and practical implications of this research are considered, thus contributing to the limited literature on perceptions of individuals with schizophrenia who offend. The discussion highlights limitations and makes suggestions for future research
Contamination of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances in agricultural soils: A review
Get PDFNumerous reviews have focused on the chemistry, fate and transport, and remediation of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across various environmental media. However, there remains a significant gap in the literature regarding a comprehensive review specifically addressing PFAS contamination within agricultural soils. Recognizing the threat PFAS pose to ecosystems and human health, this review critically examines the sources of PFAS in agricultural environments, their uptake and translocation within plant systems, and recent advancements in soil remediation techniques. PFAS ingress into agricultural soils primarily occurs through the application of biowastes, wastewater, and pesticides, necessitating a thorough examination of their pathways and impacts. Factors such as carbon chain length, salinity, temperature, and pH levels affect PFAS uptake and distribution within plants, ultimately influencing their transfer through the food web. Moreover, this review explores a range of physical, chemical, and biological strategies currently employed for the remediation of PFAS-contaminated agricultural soils
Claiming deservingness: The durability of social security claimant discourses during the Covid-19 pandemic
Get PDFThe Covid-19 pandemic created extraordinary conditions for social protection systems globally, with both material and discursive implications. In the UK, these unprecedented circumstances led to an influx of (first-time) social security claims, expectations of increased social solidarity and more positive public discussion around benefits. One might expect this to affect attitudes towards claiming. This article focuses on the accounts of claimants themselves , and how they conceived of their own claims during the pandemic. We analyse in-depth interviews conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic with a large, diverse sample of social security benefit claimants, and draw on concepts of deservingness to show how social security claimants negated stigma through appealing to specific deservingness frames. We show how frames relating to the normative criteria of need, control, contribution and identity were deployed by those who began claiming during the pandemic, as well as those whose claim began pre-pandemic. Despite important points of variation, especially in relation to the categories of control and identity, we find that these deservingness frames did not appear to be disrupted in a major way by the pandemic context, suggesting their notable durability in extraordinary circumstances, with implications for the conditions that can (and cannot) precipitate discursive change or rupture
Investigating Hall Effect and Viscous Dissipation in Saffman/Nanofluid MHD Duct Flow: A Combined RBF and Fuzzy Logic Approach
No full textNano-energetic materials are recognized for their exceptional ability to release high amounts of energy at the nanoscale, making them promising elements for thermal management and energy storage applications. These materials are increasingly utilized in modern fuel cells, hybrid heat exchangers, and power generation systems. The use of electro-conductive working liquids in advanced smart thermal energy systems is also gaining popularity. Such complex media respond to external electrical and magnetic fields and require the application of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). These systems may exhibit multiple magneto-physical phenomena, including Maxwell displacements, Landau damping (for plasmas), electromagnetic induction, Ohmic dissipation (heat generation due to electrical resistance), oblique magnetic fields, and alternating magnetic field intensity. Motivated by these advancements, the present study aims to develop a robust mathematical model to analyze the effectiveness of incorporating 23 nanoparticles into an Ethylene-Glycol (EG)-water base fluid mixture for enhancing heat transfer in magnetohydrodynamic pumping systems. The study specifically examines a horizontal thermal duct containing two immiscible layers: an upper Saffman dusty fluid (fluid-particle suspension) layer and a lower viscous nanofluid layer. The behavior of nanofluids in thermal duct applications is often influenced by uncertain pressure gradients, which can significantly impact their flow and heat transfer characteristics. To address this issue, a fuzzy differential equation approach is employed to model the uncertainty in the immiscible fluid flow characteristics, including velocity and temperature profiles. The relevant energy and momentum balance equations for these immiscible fluids are formulated to include fuzzy pressure gradient forces, as well as magnetic body force, ion slip, and Hall current parameters. A radial basis function pseudo-spectral method (RBF-PS) is utilized to solve the transformed fuzzy dimensionless boundary value problem. The findings reveal that the presence of 23 nanoparticles, although limited to the lower region of the duct, significantly influences energy and momentum transfer across both regions. The study offers valuable insights into the behavior of nanofluids under varying external pressure forces and demonstrates the utility of fuzzy differential equations in capturing uncertainties in pressure gradients. The results of the study include grey scale image fuzzy profiles of velocity and temperature for both fluids and particles, providing valuable information for designing and optimizing nanofluid systems
Design and Development of a Cable-Driven Shoulder Exosuit (CDSE) for Upper Limb Assistance
Get PDFThis thesis presents the development and evaluation of a novel Cable-Driven Shoulder Exosuit (CDSE), designed for enhancing upper limb rehabilitation. The motivation for this research stems from the critical need for advanced rehabilitation solutions that are both effective and user-friendly, particularly for populations experiencing upper limb disabilities. Utilizing soft robotics, the CDSE novelty offers a lightweight (around 2kg), wearable with three Degree Of Freedom (DOF) solution that aligns closely with human biomechanics, thus promising greater comfort and efficiency compared to more rigid systems.The methodology encompasses a comprehensive design and simulation phase, followed by iterative prototyping and rigorous testing (payload 500g to 4000g). Key innovations include the integration of bio-inspired design principles and advanced materials (carbon fiber), which facilitate naturalistic movement patterns and adaptability to various user needs. The CDSE's effectiveness was systematically evaluated through biomechanical analyses and user trials, focusing on its capacity to support and enhance shoulder joint mobility.Results from testing indicate that the CDSE significantly aids in performing everyday tasks by improving range of motion and reducing user effort. Furthermore, the exosuit's design allows for significant reductions in weight and bulk, enhancing its portability and wearability. This research contributes to the fields of rehabilitation robotics and soft robotics by demonstrating the practical benefits of cable-driven systems in medical devices and laying groundwork for future innovations.Overall, the CDSE represents a significant step forward in the development of assistive technologies that are both functionally and ergonomically optimized for users, potentially improving quality of life and assistive outcomes for individuals with upper limb impairments for Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
Pharmacist-led osteoporosis review: perceptions of current practice, care gaps and implementation challenges
Get PDFAdherence to oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis is poor; the challenges and complexity of follow-up reviews in general practice are implicated as a contributory cause. Clinical pharmacists in general practice are an expanding professional group within the UK NHS workforce and could provide person-centred, medicines optimisation interventions. To explore clinician and patient perceptions towards a pharmacist-led osteoporosis review, including identifying current practice, care gaps and implementation barriers and facilitators. Qualitative interview study with patients, clinical pharmacists, GPs, osteoporosis specialists and service commissioners. Semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically, informed by a Normalisation Process Theory approach. In total, 32 participants were interviewed in 22 one-to-one interviews and 4 small group interviews. Three themes relevant to the design and implementation of a pharmacist-led osteoporosis follow-up review were identified: dissonant views about current provision and needs ; suitability and acceptability of pharmacists to deliver the review and training needs for this; and contextual issues affecting implementation. Our study found that current practice with respect to following-up patients initiated on oral bisphosphonate treatment in primary care is variable. Although pharmacists were highlighted as well placed to conduct osteoporosis reviews, varying views about the need for this were highlighted along with a number of contextual barriers, including lack of financial and policy drivers in primary care, workload challenges, varying pharmacist skills and autonomy and lack of coordination across the health system. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2025, The Authors.
Predicting the permissible limit of arsenic in irrigation water for rice cultivation
Get PDFThis study establishes, for the first time, a permissible arsenic limit for irrigation water to ensure the safe cultivation of rice, a dietary staple in South Asia. Arsenic contamination of irrigation water is a major health risk for approximately 110 million people in this region. An incubation study was conducted using 420 monolithic soil columns from 10 arsenic-contaminated sites under two irrigation regimes (rainfed and irrigated). Using a logistic regression model, a threshold concentration for arsenic in irrigation water was identified as 190 μg L⁻¹. A non-parametric bootstrap simulation (n = 100,000) was performed, yielding a 95% confidence interval of 163.78–190.20 μg L⁻¹, which confirmed the model's stability. The threshold was validated with field samples and effectively classified rice grain arsenic concentrations. These findings provide a robust reference for managing irrigation practices to safeguard food safety in arsenic-endemic rice-growing regions of South Asia
Politica in Italia. I fatti dell'anno e le interpretazioni. Edizione 2025
No full textThe book plots the main political developments and events of 2024, a year which witnessed the consolidation of the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
The Potential for Jurisdictional Challenges to AI or LLM Training Datasets
Get PDFLarge language model (LLM) tools used in AI powered access to justice (A2J) systems experience systemic bias when their training datasets do not reflect their communities. Such bias arguably indicates that the LLM should see the validity of its legal underpinnings challenged on jurisdictional grounds. Since ChatGPT has the capacity to pass an American Bar Exam, this provides hope that LLM tools can be trained to perform the work of a legal professional at the direction of a lay person, to the perceived benefit of the underserved litigant. However, significant challenges arise when reviewing the source of the datasets in terms ofadherence to legal sovereignty, rule of law and quality of outcome. While privacy and data security will often focus data sovereignty on the geographic location where the data is held, the A2J community should also be mindful of extra-jurisdictional contributions to LLM trainingdatasets that dispute the generally accepted norm of legal sovereignty, and as a result skew its application of law to be outside the acceptable boundaries of the impacted community. To better represent the challenges posed by LLM tools a novel quadripartite theory of informational sovereignty is offered, encompassing concerns regarding population, territory, recognition and regulation of borders.This paper will therefore examine and call into question claims that LLM is a perceived enabler of A2J. Discussion will involve how avoidance of jurisdictional challenges, such as traditional legal sovereignty, through a myopic focus on data sovereignty circumvents the risks of trainingdata skewedness often displayed in bias, before considering how jurisdictionally defined training data limitations could impact outcome quality and the reformulation of the traditional role of the lawyer in the legal process. Finally, we will explore the dangers of failing tosufficiently address these far-reaching challenges – impacting all levels from the community to constitutional - in light of contemporary concerns and litigation
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