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Research designs in sports and health science
No full text168-178 p.Research design is the heart of a good study in health and sport science, defining how data are collected, analyzed, and interpreted to advance knowledge and practice. This systematic narrative review addresses both quantitative and qualitative research designs commonly employed in these disciplines, describing their methodology characteristics, applications, and drawbacks. Quantitative designs covered are descriptive, correlational, experimental, quasi-experimental, longitudinal, cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, and survey research. Recent examples of sports and health research illustrate how these designs allow causality, prevalence, risk factor, and intervention effectiveness. The review also analyses qualitative designs such as phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, case studies, and narrative research based on how they help to explore lived experiences, social context, and meaning making processes that are pivotal to the understanding of athlete behavior and health outcomes. Furthermore, the review mentions major gaps through the incorporation of mixed methods research that integrates quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide richer analyses. Among some of the emerging new innovative designs like ecological momentary assessment, adaptive trials, and technology-enabled data collection are explained in terms of how they can achieve maximal ecological validity and accuracy. The intersection of data science and digital technologies, such as machine learning and wearable sensors, is seen to be transforming research possibilities, demanding adaptive methodological designs. Research design choice issues in research settings, especially in low-resource settings like in Uganda, are also considered to be culturally acceptable and viable. Ethical issues in sport and health studies, such as participant consent and confidentiality, are also considered. The review concludes with a guide for researchers and practitioners to choose a suitable designs based on their research questions, accessible resources, and norms of ethics. By incorporating current trends and existing frameworks, the paper is a handy reference to construct methodologically rigorous and efficient research in sports and health science
‘Ruins of Memory’: Fort Patiko, the Slave Trade, and Heritage-Based Education in Northern Uganda
No full textThis paper examines the architectural and material remnants of the slave trade at Fort Patiko by interrogating the mechanisms through which the slavery legacy is transmitted to younger generations. Employing a narrative research design grounded in constructivist theory, data was collected through semi-structured interviews, observation, and documentary review. Thematic analysis guided the interpretation of findings. The research reveals that Fort Patiko retains both natural and humanly constructed structures that embody its slave trade history. These include the execution slab, gender-specific prison cells (female and male prisons), Baker’s seat, the “Gate of No Return,” as well as naturally formed trenches and ditches. Additionally, the simsim and millet granaries and an armoury highlight the multilayered functional roles of the site during the height of enslavement in the region. Findings indicate that the transmission of slave trade memory occurs through both formal and informal channels. Formally, the topic is integrated into primary and secondary school curricula. Informally, school-organised visits to the site and oral histories shared by elders contribute to intergenerational memory-making and the cultivation of place-based historical knowledge. The study concludes that the memory of the slave trade constitutes a vital component of Uganda’s cultural heritage. It recommends the continued preservation and transmission of this history as a means of fostering historical consciousness, critical memory and cultural identity among future generations. Furthermore, the study urges the incorporation of heritage-based pedagogies that promote critical engagement with historical injustices and their spatial embodiments
Improving climate information through projecting climate change and variability in the Upper Awash Subbasin, Ethiopia
No full textClimate change and variability have significantly impacted developing countries like Ethiopia, primarily due to a lack of accurate climatic information that is vital for effective planning and adaptation strategies. The study aimed to improve the reliability of climate information in Ethiopia, where insufficient information hinders mitigation and adaptation to climate change effects. The analysis utilized observational reference period data alongside CMIP6 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6) General Circulation Model (GCM) data under various scenarios employing SD-GCM V2.0 for bias correction and statistical downscaling. The findings suggest that the highest maximum annual temperatures will rise by 2.03 °C under the SSP5–8.5 scenario. Mean annual rainfall is likely to increase by 23.5% and 5.3% over the projected period, both the highest and lowest recorded under SSP5–8.5. The coefficient of variation analysis revealed that most stations exhibited moderate and high annual and seasonal rainfall variability during the observation period. Meanwhile, the projected seasonal and annual rainfall displayed high variability compared to the observational reference period. However, all stations recorded less variation in yearly minimum and maximum temperatures throughout the study. While there is a substantial increase in average annual rainfall, there are still years with lower and higher yearly rainfall that likely led to drought and flooding in certain areas. In managing the droughts and floods expected due to climate change and variability, it is essential to implement mitigation and adaptation techniques with comprehensive disaster risk management strategies. Hence, the current study aims to improve the reliability of climate information in the UASB, Ethiopia
Effect of supplemental diets based on Ficusnatalensis and Harrisoniaabyssinica on the meat quality of tethered indigenous goat meat
No full textThis study evaluated the effect of supplementing pasture diets with Ficus natalensis and Harrisonia abyssinica foliage on chemical composition and meat quality of tethered indigenous goats. Forty growing intact male goats were assigned to one of five treatment diets: (i) tethering alone (control (C)), (ii) tethering plus molasses (CM), (iii) tethering plus Harrisonia abyssinica leaves with molasses (HM), (iv) tethering plus Ficus natalensis leaves with molasses (FM) and (v) tethering plus Ficus natalensis and Harrisonia abyssinica with molasses (FHM). At the end of the feeding trial, goats were slaughtered and samples of the Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle and subcutaneous fat were collected for chemical and fatty acid analysis. Diet did not affect cooking loss or shear force values (P > 0.05). Cooking loss ranged between 10.88% (lowest in CM) to18.93% (highest in FM), while shear force ranged from 21.16 N (lowest in CM) to 32.49 N (highest in FM). Protein content varied from 18.2% (lowest in HM) to 21.12% (highest in FHM), and crude lipid content ranged between 0.33 and 5.95%. Fat content and fatty acid composition, total SFA, total MUFA, total PUFA, n3,n6, PUFA:SFA ratio and n6/n3 ratio were also not affected (P > 0.05) by diet. The muscle fatty acid (FA) profile was dominated by oleic (1.472–3.097 mg/g), followed by Palmitic acid (1.229–2.079 mg/g) and stearic acid (1.125–2.066 mg/g). The total SFA ranged between 2.474 mg/g and 4.261 mg/g and total MUFA ranged between 1.641 and 3.451 mg/g. The PUFA:SFA ratio varied from 0.337 (FM) and 0.535 (FHM), the n6/n3 ratio ranged between 1.107 and 4.035. Supplementing tethered indigenous goats with F. natalensis and H. abyssinica did not significantly affect meat quality attributes, but all diets produced lean, tender, and nutritionally healthy meat, highlighting the potential of native browse species to enhance goat meat quality in low-input silvopastoral systems
Adaptive leadership in public Universities in Uganda: a systematic literature review
No full textThis study through a systematic literature review explored adaptive leadership
status, the rationale for adaptive leadership, and the challenges facing embracing
adaptive leadership in public universities in Uganda. The literature search process
consisted of inclusion and exclusion criteria and the development of a search
strategy. Fourteen (14) articles were found to have relevant information on
adaptive leadership status, the rationale for adaptive leadership, and challenges
facing embracing adaptive leadership in higher educational institutions in Uganda.
The findings reveal that adaptive leadership in public universities in Uganda is
almost non-existent. This is buttressed by the fact that these universities have
perpetually failed to solve most of the challenges they face, let alone
demonstrating high levels of ineffectiveness in their operations. The study
findings also divulge that the rationale for embracing adaptive leadership in public
universities in Uganda includes but is not limited to: addressing complexity and
uncertainty; enhancing institutional effectiveness; fostering a culture of
collaboration and inclusivity; and developing capacity for sustainability and
resilience. The study further discloses that some of the notable challenges
encumbering embracing of adaptive leadership in public universities in Uganda
comprise: limited financial, human and, material resources; excessive
bureaucratic structures; and resistance to change by employees. The paper
concludes, thus, that the absence of adaptive leadership in public universities in
Uganda is worrying, hence, urgent mitigation measures need to be taken owing to
the fact that adaptive leadership is critical to help public universities have the
ability to cope with change in their operations almost on the daily basis. The study
recommends that university leaders and managers make deliberate efforts to
familiarise themselves with adaptive leadership principles through relevant
professional development programmes. Institutionalise adaptive leadership as
well as adopting appropriate administrative structures that ensure: clear lines of
authority and decision-making; effective communication and collaboration across
units; efficient resource allocation and management; strong governance and
accountability; and flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities
Exploring the wave’s structures to the nonlinear coupled system arising in surface geometry
No full text26 p.This manuscript deals with the Heisenberg ferromagnet-type integrable Akbota equation (AE), which refers to a set of differential equations that are integrable and linked together, and they possess solitary waves. AE is a basic gear for investigating nonlinear dynamics in the fields of optics, magnetism, and differential geometry of curves and surfaces. It is extensively used to represent optical solitons in nonlinear optical fibers, which are crucial for fiber-optic communication owing to their capacity to maintain form across considerable distances. The dynamical behavior of AE is explored by constructing accurate closed-form traveling wave solutions. For this purpose, the Kumar-Malik method, the new Kudryashov method, and the Riccati equation method are utilized. The resulting solutions consist of trigonometric, hyperbolic, and rational functions. By employing these methodologies, precise analytical remedies for soliton waves are derived, which include kink, bright, and dark solitons. To get a better understanding of the physical aspects of these solutions, we depict them via several visual representations. 3D-surface graphs, 2D-line graphs, and contour and density plots, in addition to theoretical derivations
The efficacy, mechanisms and implementation of physical activity as an adjunctive treatment in mental disorders: a meta-review of outcomes, neurobiology and key determinants
No full text227 - 239 p. ;Research examining physical activity interventions for mental disorders has grown exponentially in the past decade. At this critical juncture, there is a need to synthesize the best evidence to guide researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience. This meta‐review aimed to systematically identify and comprehensively evaluate the current evidence about: a) the efficacy of physical activity interventions on mental, cognitive and physical outcomes for individuals with mental disorders; b) the potential neurobiological, psychosocial and behavioral mechanisms underlying the observed effects; and c) the barriers and facilitators for individuals to successfully engage in these interventions. Our systematic search identified 13 meta‐analyses of high methodological quality (i.e., A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews, AMSTAR score ≥8) assessing outcomes of physical activity as an adjunctive treatment, which included 256 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and 12,233 individuals. Large effect sizes were found for adjunctive physical activity interventions in improving attention in children and adolescents with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); reducing depressive symptoms in children, adolescents and adults with depressive disorders; and reducing body mass index in adults with schizophrenia. Moderate effect sizes were found for reductions of hyperactivity, impulsivity and anxiety, and improvements of executive and social functioning in children and adolescents with ADHD; reduction of anxiety symptoms in adults with anxiety disorders; improved physical and psychological quality of life and cardiovascular fitness in adults with depressive disorders; improved daily living skills, overall quality of life and cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with schizophrenia; reduction of depressive symptoms in older people with depressive disorders; and improvements in cognition and functional mobility in older people with dementia. There is, to date, no meta‐analytic evidence for physical activity as a first‐line treatment for people with a mental disorder. Five meta‐analyses, including 89 RCTs and 4,575 individuals, investigated potential underlying mechanisms. There is a very preliminary evidence for an effect of physical activity on circulating levels of kynurenine, growth hormone, tumor necrosis factor‐alpha and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in people with major depressive disorder. No meta‐analytic evidence could be found for psychosocial or behavioral mechanisms. Based on 15 umbrella or systematic reviews, covering 432 studies and 48 guidelines, six implementation strategies, along with the most evidence‐based behavioral change techniques to support them, were identified. Recommendations to support implementation research in this area were finally formulated
From implementation to sustainability? A 5-year follow-up on a physical activity counseling program in Uganda for people with HIV and mental health conditions
No full textPhysical activity (PA) interventions benefit people living with HIV and co-morbid mental health conditions, but sustaining them in low-resource settings remains difficult. This study explored the long-term sustainability of a multi-stakeholder PA counseling program in a rural Ugandan fishing community, five years post-implementation. The program integrated a PA counseling into routine HIV care, combining motivational interviewing and self-determination theory. It began with sessions led by health care providers and later transitioned to lay-led group sessions that focused on goal-setting, identifying barriers, and fostering community support. Using a context–mechanism–outcome (CMO) framework and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, a focus group (n = 10) involving patients, lay health workers, and staff identified key influencing factors. Although the program ended, PA awareness and some brief counseling persisted. Lay health workers remained partially active despite unpaid roles and limited supervision. Early success was supported by family involvement, and stakeholder enthusiasm, while long-term delivery was hindered by funding gaps and persistent stigma. Sustainability was supported by co-creation, community engagement, and task-shifting, but depended on material support and health system integration. Future efforts should prioritize early financial planning, integration into existing systems, and strengthening of lay roles through stable funding and supportive policy
Agri-waste valorization: pathways to sustainable bioenergy and biochemical innovation
No full textThis systematic review examines the potential of agri-waste valorization as a sustainable solution for bioenergy and biochemical production, addressing global energy demands and waste management challenges. Agri-waste, including crop residues, livestock manure, and agro-industrial byproducts, represents a critical yet underutilized resource, with over 5 billion metric tons generated annually. Current disposal practices, such as open-field burning, contribute to environmental degradation, underscoring the urgency of circular bioeconomy strategies. The review evaluates 20 peer-reviewed studies (2015–2025), highlighting thermochemical (pyrolysis, gasification) and biochemical (anaerobic digestion, dark fermentation) technologies for converting heterogeneous feedstocks into biofuels, biogas, and high-value biochemicals. Key findings reveal significant regional disparities: developing nations prioritize decentralized systems for rural energy access, while industrialized regions focus on large-scale biorefineries. Environmental benefits include greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions of up to 90% per kWh output when displacing specific fossil fuels (coal), though scalability is hindered by feedstock variability, high pretreatment costs, and policy gaps. Economic viability remains contentious, with profitability dependent on subsidies and market incentives. The review advocates for integrated approaches including combining machine learning-optimized processes, circular design principles, and participatory policy frameworks, to harmonize technological innovation, ecological resilience, and socio-economic equity. By redefining agri-waste as a foundation of sustainable resource systems, this work aligns with sustainable development goals, offering a roadmap for transitioning to climate-resilient, resource-efficient economies
Adoption of the Parish Development Model (PDM) for socio-economic development of Ugandans: a case study of Banda and Kyambogo upper estate parishes
No full textP. (261-279) ;Background: The escalating burden of poverty in Uganda, disproportionately affecting youth, prompted government initiatives like Emyooga and Entandikwa. However, mismanagement and misuse of funds hindered their effectiveness. In response, the Government of Uganda introduced the Parish Development Model (PDM) in February 2022, aiming to eradicate poverty and accelerate socio-economic transformation. The PDM is built on seven pillars, including production, infrastructure, financial inclusion, social services, community data, governance, and attitude transformation. These pillars promote collaboration between public and private sector actors, ensuring sustainable development. The government has doubled funding for PDM, allocating UGX 200 million per parish to promote economic growth at the grassroots level. While the PDM shows promise, its success depends on effective implementation, transparency, and accountability. Addressing concerns surrounding mismanagement and misuse of funds is crucial to ensuring resources reach intended beneficiaries and contribute meaningfully to poverty alleviation. Objective: To examine the benefits of the Parish Development Model among the beneficiaries for socio-economic transformation. Methods: This study utilized a qualitative research paradigm, incorporating a case study methodology to investigate the benefits of the Parish Development Model (PDM) among purposively selected groups in Banda and Kyambogo Upper Estate parishes. A strategic sampling framework was employed to select 50 beneficiaries from diverse groups, ensuring the capture of nuanced perspectives and experiences. Participants were drawn from specialized groups, including Snack A and B, the Mushroom Group, the Tomato and Vegetable Group, and the Hard Corn Group. Data collection entailed focus group discussions, which yielded rich, contextualized insights into participants' lived experiences with PDM. Thematic analysis was employed to deconstruct the data, facilitating the identification of salient themes and patterns pertinent to the benefits and challenges encountered by participants. This methodological approach afforded a comprehensive understanding of the PDM's impact on these communities, illuminating areas for potential enhancement and informing avenues for future research. Findings: The empirical evidence suggests that the Parish Development Model (PDM) funds have yielded significant positive outcomes, including enhanced financial inclusion, augmented agricultural productivity, job creation, poverty alleviation, empowerment of marginalized groups, improved infrastructure, strengthened social capital, and localized economic growth. However, a notable disparity persists between beneficiaries who have received funding and those awaiting disbursement, with the latter experiencing undue delays despite investing considerable resources in the application process. These delays have impeded progress toward achieving the program's objectives, underscoring the need for expedited fund disbursement. Nonetheless, optimism prevails that timely access to funds will catalyze socio-economic transformation, augment quality of life, and foster community development. Conclusion and Recommendation: The Parish Development Model (PDM) has demonstrated significant progress over its two-year implementation period, facilitating beneficiaries' ability to consolidate their projects and attain enhanced economic stability. Nevertheless, persistent challenges undermine the program's efficacy, particularly the perceived politicization of the PDM. Beneficiaries underscored the imperative of decoupling political interests from the program to ensure its seamless operation, foster a paradigm shift in mindset, and guarantee equitable access for all eligible participants