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Shaping the future:exploring the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) endorsed undergraduate sport and exercise science curricula in the United Kingdom
Get PDFDespite high popularity, economic and social value of the sport and exercise sciences (SES) courses in the United Kingdom (UK), there has been no attempt to provide an overview of its higher education (HE) provision. Therefore, the aim of this study was two-fold. Firstly, to provide a thorough overview of the curricula of the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) endorsed undergraduate SES degree programmes in the UK. Secondly, to present a foundation of discussion points and considerations for those shaping and (re)designing sport degree programmes.Curricula data from 2024 to 2025 were collected from 53 UK universities (44 English, 4 Scottish, 4 Welsh and 1 Northern Irish) offering CASES endorsed SES courses. Due to different degree structures in Scotland (a 4-year BSc (Hons) degree) and the rest of the UK (a 3-year BSc (Hons) degree), the data were summarised and presented separately as ‘Scotland’ and ‘RUK’. A total of 1328 modules were analysed by type (either ‘core’ or ‘optional’) and categorised into one of fifteen domains.The results show that RUK universities were more prescriptive than those in Scotland, with 57 % of all SES modules being core compared to 45 % in Scottish institutions. However, the number of optional modules increased over the years in both systems reflecting the generally flexible structure of the SES degree. The curricula of Scottish and RUK SES degree programmes were predominantly multidisciplinary allowing institutions to tailor content in response to emerging fields and/or staff expertise. These findings have implications for future (re)design of SES degree curricula, not just in the UK but in similar settings. The current challenges curriculum developers face in keeping SES programmes relevant and preparing graduates for the workplace are discussed. Finally, we offer recommendations for overcoming these challenges
From waste to wonder:the ultrasonic-enzyme-fermentation process transforms virgin coconut oil press cake into a food ingredient
Get PDFVirgin coconut oil press cake (VCOPC), a protein and fiber rich byproduct of coconut oil extraction, remains underutilized despite its nutritional potential. In this study, we developed a continuous bioprocessing strategy that integrates ultrasonication, enzyme-assisted hydrolysis, and lactic acid bacteria fermentation to transform VCOPC into a food ingredient with enhanced nutritional and functional properties. The ultrasonication process achieved a 63% solubilization of the press cake under optimized conditions (1.62 bar, 95 min), it effectively broke down the rigid polysaccharide–protein–lipid matrix and reducing particle size from 2.5 µm to 0.35 µm. Enzymatic treatment markedly increased soluble protein content (up to 137 mg/g) and free amino groups (up to 11.8 mmol/g), while fermentation with L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus resulted in a 3-log increase in bacterial growth. Functional assessment of the various ingredients obtained by this bioprocessing approach showed high solubility and foaming capacity due to superior interfacial activity. This study demonstrates the successful conversion of coconut by-products into a nutritionally enriched food ingredient with enhanced techno-functional properties. Ultrasonication contributed to the highest yield, while enzymatic and microbial processes delivered the desired biochemical transformations. Combining initial mechanical disruption with enzyme hydrolysis and fermentation represents an effective and sustainable pathway for by-products upcycling and fosters circular innovation within the tropical food economy.</p
Sewage sludge management in small tropical island communities:towards building a methodological framework for Mauritius
Get PDFThe rising rate of economic development and improved standard of living in small island states around the globe has led to an increasing rate of wastewater generation. Moreover, the current global push towards a sustainable environment requires wastewater regulators and managers to effectively manage wastewater and its by-products, sludge. This study aimed at establishing a methodological framework for the management of sewage sludge in small island economies using Mauritius as a case study. The framework constituted three elements, namely, inventory analysis, observational analysis, expert analysis, and stakeholder analysis. Most of the responses obtained from both technical and scientific experts, together with the compositional analytical results, practically led towards the selection of land application for sludge management. This approach is believed to be accompanied by ways to make biofertilizer acceptable to the public. This paper provides a practical framework for managing sewage sludge in small island states, where land availability for landfilling and manpower for technical sludge management options pose a big challenge. By using Mauritius as an example, it offers valuable insights and actionable recommendations for other small island nations facing similar challenges. The proposed management framework provides a balanced and feasible approach to addressing environmental, economic, and social concerns
Intra-set rest preserves barbell velocity during a free-weight back squat exercise by shifting energy system contribution
Get PDFIn this study, we compared acute metabolic responses and barbell velocity loss (VL) during cluster set (CS) versus traditional set (TS) resistance exercise. Six strength-trained individuals completed two randomized crossover sessions of back squats. The CS protocol included 30 s intra-set rest intervals after the second and fourth repetitions, whereas the TS protocol used continuous repetitions. Barbell velocity, oxygen uptake and blood lactate concentrations were measured to derive model-based indices of energy system engagement. CS were associated with better preservation of barbell velocity and lower blood lactate concentrations compared with TS. Model-based indices suggested distinct metabolic patterns between set structures, with CS being associated with a higher alactic and lower lactic component than TS. Inter-individual responses were consistent across most participants. These findings indicate that acute metabolic and mechanical responses differ between CS and TS configurations. CS were associated with reduced indices of metabolic stress alongside improved velocity preservation, highlighting that set structure can influence the acute physiological–performance profile of resistance exercise.<br/
Sustainable business transformation through green innovation:managerial practices, challenges, and outcomes
Get PDFThe research centers on sustainable business transformations incorporating green innovations, focusing on management, implementation, and organizational outcomes. As the environment becomes a greater concern, incorporating green innovations to sustain competitive advantage becomes a business model imperative. The literature on sustainable business models and green innovations illuminates the role of managerial decisions, organizational capacity, and innovation in the transformative processes to sustain business model changes. Making the case for green innovations to address the dual concern of the environment and value creation, the research suggests that businesses can realize previously untapped green opportunities and improve their eco-social-economic performance. Reviewing research for the key barriers and drivers on the pathways of sustainable business transformations, the research demonstrates how businesses can adapt their business models in response to a pressing demand for sustainability. The research synthesizes literature to support the understanding of the role green innovations play for strategically renewing and sustaining the business and its fulfillment
Data for: Investigating the effects of persistent organic pollutants on insulin-like growth factor 1 in grey seals
No full textThis dataset comprises the collected data relating to the scoping review investigating the effects of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) on insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), data from the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assays used to determine protein concentration in each seal sample and data from seal pups showing their relative IGF-1 levels and POP levels, and western blot data generated during this project, including western blot optimisation data and images taken of western blot PVDF membranes in the GBox Imager. Scoping review papers were collected from PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science and screened using Nested Knowledge. Densitometry was used to generate data from western blots. Seal sample data was generated before this project began by Kimberley Bennett. README files describe the process of generating the western blot data and the BCA assay data. The seal pups sample tracker gives the volumes required for 3 µg of protein for each sample. JPEGs and SGDs for each of the three western blot optimisations are also included. Samples were separated between five blots during western blotting, A16-P16X, Q16-EE16, A17-M17X, N17-X17X, Y17-FF17X. JPEGS and SGD files of each of the five western blots have been provided
Data for: Investigating the effects of persistent organic pollutants on insulin-like growth factor 1 in grey seals
No full textThis dataset comprises the collected data relating to the scoping review investigating the effects of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) on insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), data from the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assays used to determine protein concentration in each seal sample and data from seal pups showing their relative IGF-1 levels and POP levels, and western blot data generated during this project, including western blot optimisation data and images taken of western blot PVDF membranes in the GBox Imager. Scoping review papers were collected from PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science and screened using Nested Knowledge. Densitometry was used to generate data from western blots. Seal sample data was generated before this project began by Kimberley Bennett. README files describe the process of generating the western blot data and the BCA assay data. The seal pups sample tracker gives the volumes required for 3 µg of protein for each sample. JPEGs and SGDs for each of the three western blot optimisations are also included. Samples were separated between five blots during western blotting, A16-P16X, Q16-EE16, A17-M17X, N17-X17X, Y17-FF17X. JPEGS and SGD files of each of the five western blots have been provided
Data for "Helping the whole person: The development of the Pluralistic Therapy Integrity Scale"
No full textThe data were collected as part of A PhD thesis "Helping the whole person: The development of the pluralistic therapy integrity scale". The studies were designed to obtain the experiences of therapists using pluralistic therapy in counselling sessions, and their understandings of the defining aspects of this form of therapy. Pluralistic therapy is based on a philosophy which posits that many different things can help clients at different times. Perhaps as a result, there is no defining set of principles which one would expect to observe in a pluralistic therapy session. Treatment integrity testing within psychotherapy is required to ensure that the therapy being tested is being delivered as intended. To test pluralistic therapy, it is first necessary to define it. Defining the underlying principles then allows for a flexible treatment integrity scale to be developed. The dataset comprises data from five studies. For Study 1, members of the Pluralistic Practice Network (a network of counsellors who work with the pluralistic framework, mainly based in the UK) were sent a questionnaire and asked to complete it. A total of 43 practitioners responded of varying ages and experiences levels, rating the 11 items from the original Pluralistic therapy adherence scale (McLeod & Cooper, 2012, unpublished) for how key they believed them to be to pluralistic therapy. They also provided some free text responses to questions asking them for any techniques or principles they believed to be defining to working in a pluralistic way but which were not covered by the current adherence scale. A second scale was developed for Study 2, based on the participant ratings from Study 1. Students on the pluralistic counselling Masters programme at Abertay University were asked to rate these items for how much they agreed they were crucial to pluralistic therapy, and also for the clarity of the wording of those items. A total of 28 participants responded, again of varying ages and levels of experience. For Study 3, secondary data was analysed, from a questionnaire sent to Integrative therapists, including pluralistic therapists. A total of 186 therapists completed the online survey, with roughly half stating they used the pluralistic framework and half working integratively or eclectically. Participants were again from a range of ages and levels of experience, but only around half were based in the UK. The others were from other European countries, and some did not provide this data. The question analysed in this study asked participants to rate different pluralistic skills for how frequently they were used in practice. The answers were compared to discover what differentiated pluralistic therapy from other forms of integrative therapy. Study 4 describes semi-structured interviews with seven pluralistic practitioners concerning the key areas of dissensus discovered in Studies 1-3. All of the participants were based in either Scotland or England, and some had trained in pluralistic therapy originally and some had come to work this way after training in and working with other modalities originally. They were asked to describe their experiences delivering pluralistic therapy, their opinions of some of the framework, and what they believed defined this way of working. In the fifth study, the findings from the previous studies were put to both of the original developers of the pluralistic framework in online interviews. The broad purpose of this study was to discover Cooper and McLeod’s understanding of some key aspects of pluralistic therapy, and whether or not these had changed in the years since its inception. The ratings data from the Studies 1 and 2 can be shared as open access datasets. The long answer responses from Study 1, and the interview data from Studies 4 & 5 are closed datasets as they contain personal identifiable information. The studies have a small pool of participants from one form of counselling (pluralistic) and as such could potentially be identified from their answers, and therefore potentially any clients they may have. The dataset from Study 3 cannot be shared as it is secondary data and permission was sought only to use the data for the PhD thesis and , not for sharing as an open access dataset
The role of cybersecurity and trust on customers’ continuous usage of mobile money in Cameroon
Get PDFThe rapid growth of mobile money in Africa has been led by a rise in cyberattacks, including account hacking, fraud, and data breaches, which threaten user trust and financial inclusion. This study investigates how cybersecurity measures influence customers’ trust and the continuous use of mobile money in Cameroon, focusing on the mediating role of trust. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) on survey data from 273 households, the findings reveal that process-based trust, derived from repeated positive experiences, and active monitoring of risks by operators significantly enhance continuous usage, while institutional trust and certain regulatory actions have limited effect. These results highlight a paradoxical dynamic: mobile money usage continues to grow despite high exposure to cyber threats and weakened institutional trust, driven by perceived value, service convenience, and proactive risk management. By integrating multidimensional aspects of both trust and cybersecurity, this study provides novel insights into the key drivers of sustained mobile money adoption in high-risk digital environments, offering practical implications for operators, regulators, and policymakers seeking to strengthen user confidence and service reliability
The performance of modified asphalt mixtures with different lengths of glass fiber
Get PDFOne practical option for modifying an asphalt mixture's performance is to use additives. This will help the mixture perform better against the damaging effects of traffic, loads, and climatic variations. In this regard, glass fiber (GF) has drawn much interest because of its positive effect. Therefore, this paper attempts to study the effect of glass fiber length and content on the performance and strength of asphalt mixtures. It also aims to determine the optimum glass fiber content and the best glass fiber length of modified asphalt mixtures. An experimental program is carried out, which includes the Marshall test, volumetric properties, freeze-thaw splitting test, immersion Marshall test, and wheel tracking test to characterize related properties of glass fiber incorporated in asphalt mixtures. Seven different percentages (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, and 1.5) of glass fiber by total weight of aggregates in three various lengths are used to design 19 asphalt mixtures. Based on the results obtained, the performance of the asphalt mixture was enhanced remarkably after adding glass fiber. The use of various lengths of glass fiber led to a better-quality asphalt mixture in terms of volumetric properties, moisture damage resistance, and permanent deformation resistance. Specifically, asphalt mixtures made with (0.5%) glass fiber illustrated the highest quality, and adding (20 mm) length of glass fiber was better than (10 mm and 30 mm) glass fiber lengths. The results also show that adding (10 mm and 30 mm) lengths of glass fiber can improve the resistance of asphalt mixtures to water damage and permanent deformation compared with the control mixture (M0). The findings indicate the applicability of 20 mm glass fiber length in asphalt mixtures to achieve better resistance against moisture and reduce the chance of irreparable permanent deformation under growing traffic loads and hot climate changes. Although the inclusion of glass fiber in asphalt mixtures led to a modest increase (6%) in overall cost, the effective improvement in performance and extension of the service life of the asphalt pavement constitute a convincing argument for this approach, making it an attractive option. Finally, it was concluded that a higher amount of glass fiber (i.e., > 0.5%) and a length greater than (20 mm) could diminish the positive effect of glass fiber to improve the properties of glass fiber asphalt mixtures
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