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Professional female athletes are at a heightened risk of iron-deficient erythropoiesis compared with nonathletes
No full textScanlan, AT ORCiD: 0000-0002-0750-8697This study primarily aimed to quantify and compare iron status in professional female athletes and nonathletes. Furthermore, this study also aimed to identify differences in iron status according to sporting discipline and explore the relationship between ferritin concentration and weekly training volume in professional athletes. A total of 152 participants were included in this study, including 85 athletes who were members of senior teams (handball, n = 24; volleyball, n = 36; soccer, n = 19; and judo, n = 6) involved at the highest level of competition and 67 nonathletes. A significantly greater proportion (p = .05) of athletes (27%) demonstrated iron-deficient erythropoiesis (IDE) compared with nonathletes (13%). There were nonsignificant differences (p > .05) in the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID; 49% vs. 46%) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA; 2% vs. 4%) between athletes and nonathletes. Similarly, the prevalence of ID, IDE, and IDA was not significantly different between sports (p > .05). Furthermore, training volume was negatively correlated with ferritin concentration in athletes (r: −.464, moderate, p < .001). Professional female athletes are at a heightened risk of IDE compared with nonathletes; therefore, they should be periodically screened for ID to reduce the deleterious effects on training and performance. The similar prevalence of ID, IDE, and IDA found across athletes competing in different sports suggests that overlaps exist between handball, volleyball, soccer, and judo athletes regarding risk of disturbance in iron metabolism. © 2020 Human Kinetics, Inc
A systematic review of the external and internal workloads experienced during games-based drills in basketball players
No full textDalbo, VJ ORCiD: 0000-0002-5944-7558; Scanlan, AT ORCiD: 0000-0002-0750-8697PURPOSE: To systematically quantify the external and internal workloads reported during games-based drills in basketball and identify the effects of different modifiable factors on the workloads encountered. METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched for original research published up until January 2, 2019. The search included terms relevant to workload, games-based drills, and basketball. Studies were screened using predefined selection criteria, and methodological quality was assessed prior to data extraction. RESULTS: The electronic search yielded 8,284 studies with 3,411 duplicates. A total of 17 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review, with quality scores ranging from 9 to 10 out of 11. Factors regularly modified during games-based drills among the included studies were team size, playing area, playing and rest time, and game alterations. Games-based drills containing smaller team sizes elicited greater external and internal workloads compared to larger team sizes. Furthermore, full-court games-based drills elicited greater external and internal workloads compared to half-court drills, while continuous games-based drills elicited greater internal workloads compared to intermittent drills. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides a comprehensive collation of data indicating the external and internal workloads reported during different games-based drills in various samples of basketball players. Furthermore, evidence is provided for basketball coaches to consider when prescribing games-based drills and modifying factors during drills across the season. Current literature suggests that smaller team sizes and full-court playing areas elicit greater external and internal workloads than larger team sizes and half-court drills, respectively. Furthermore, continuous games-based drills elicit greater internal workloads than intermittent drills
Impacts of Australian firefighters’ on-call work arrangements on the sleep of partners
No full textFerguson, SA ORCiD: 0000-0002-9682-7971; Paterson, JL ORCiD: 0000-0001-5420-4664; Reynolds, AC ORCiD: 0000-0001-9534-8699; Vincent, GE ORCiD: 0000-0002-7036-7823On-call work arrangements are commonly utilised in the emergency services sector and are consistency associated with inadequate sleep. Despite sleep being a common shared behaviour, studies are yet to assess the impact of on-call work on the sleep of co-sleeping partners. This study aimed to investigate whether frequent 24/7 on-call work impacted the sleep and relationship happiness of firefighters’ partners. Two key research questions were investigated: (1) Does the frequency of calls impact sleep and relationship happiness? and, (2) Does the (a) sleep quantity and (b) sleep quality of partners impact perceived relationship happiness? A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire completed by partners of on-call workers (n = 66; 93% female). The questionnaire included items on (i) sleep quantity and quality, (ii) on-call sleep disturbances and, (iii) relationship happiness. Responses were analysed using logistic regression models. Higher overnight call frequency was associated with greater self-reported levels of inadequate sleep (<7 h per night; p = 0.024). Support for continuance of a firefighter’s role was less likely if the partner reported they regularly had trouble falling asleep within 30 min (p < 0.001). There were no other significant relationships between the frequency of calls or other sleep quantity or quality variables and relationship happiness. This study provides important first insights into how firefighters’ on-call work arrangements impact partners’ sleep. Future research is needed across periods of high and low call demand, using objective measures of sleep to further define the impacts of on-call work on partners’ sleep
Simulation in nursing education
No full textCole, RL ORCiD: 0000-0001-5259-4662; Heaton, LE ORCiD: 0000-0003-4767-0231; Reid-Searl, KA ORCiD: 0000-0001-5808-9296Simulation is an educational strategy where elements of the real world are integrated to achieve specific goals relating to learning or evaluation (Arthur, Kable & Levett-Jones, 2010). The aim of simulation is to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and the practical application of the knowledge (Eyikara & Baykara, 2017). In healthcare education, simulation allows for aspects of clinical practice to be reproduced in an authentic way (Jeffries, 2007). It is important to understand that simulation is a teaching strategy and is not simply the utilisation of technology in the learning environment. This chapter will present an overview of simulation, including fidelity, modalities, standards, guidelines and frameworks for simulation, phases of simulation, challenges and general tips
The Nominal Group Technique: Generating consensus in nursing research
No full textReid-Searl, KA ORCiD: 0000-0001-5808-9296; Ryan, CL ORCiD: 0000-0002-1126-3901The purpose of this article is to describe the Nominal Group Technique and its application as a consensus-generating approach in nursing research. The approach incorporates face-to-face meetings to explore opinions, generate ideas, and determine priorities. The nominal group technique process, which is based on a study designed to develop a nursing student clinical placement (clinical practicum) evaluation tool, is described. Advantages of the approach include creative face-to-face discussions with minimal resource demands. The nominal group technique is beneficial and can be used to achieve consensus in nursing research, but a lack of anonymity may preclude the process in some investigations. [J Nurs Educ. 2020;59(2):65-67.]. Copyright 2020, SLACK Incorporated
Applying the RUSLE and ISUM in the Tierra de Barros vineyards (Extremadura, Spain) to estimate soil mobilisation rates
No full textGyasi-Agyei, Y ORCiD: 0000-0002-2671-1180Spain is one of the largest wine producers in the world, with Extremadura (south-west Spain) being its second-largest producing region after Castilla La Mancha. Within Extremadura, the most traditional and productive viticulture region is the Tierra de Barros, which boasts an annual production of 3×106 litres. However, no soil erosion assessment has been undertaken in any vineyard in the region to ascertain environmental sustainability. Therefore, the Improved Stock Unearthing Method (ISUM) and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) were applied to assess the long-term soil erosion rates. Both methods were applied using an experimental plot (2.8 m × 148.5 m) encompassing 99 paired vines in a 20-year-old vineyard under a tillage management system and on bare soils throughout the year. The ISUM and RUSLE found total soil mobilization values of 45.7 Mg ha−1 yr−1 and 17.4 Mg ha−1 yr−1, respectively, a difference of about 5 times. Mapping techniques showed that soil surface declined to an average of −6.2 cm, with maximum values of −28 cm. The highest values of soil depletion were mainly observed in the upper part and the form of linear features following the hillslope direction. On the other hand, under the vines, the soil surface level showed accumulations of up to +2.37 cm due to tillage practices. Our study demonstrated the potential of high soil erosion rates occurring in conventional vineyards managed with tillage in the inter-row areas and herbicides under the vines within the Tierra de Barros. Also, we demonstrated the elevated differences in soil mobilisation rates using the ISUM and RUSLE. Therefore, further research must be conducted in other vineyards to determine the suitability of the models for assessing soil erosion rates. Undoubtedly, soil conservation measures must be designed and applied immediately due to high erosion rates
Global research output on sleep research in athletes from 1966 to 2019: A bibliometric analysis
No full textLastella, AM ORCiD: 0000-0003-1793-3811; Vincent, GE ORCiD: 0000-0002-7036-7823This study examined sleep research in athletes published between 1966 and 2019, through a bibliometric analysis of research output in the Scopus database. Following a robust assessment of titles, the bibliometric indicators of productivity for studies included in the final analysis were: Distribution of publications and citations (excluding self-citations), top ten active journals, countries, institutions and authors, single- and multi-country collaboration, and 25 top-cited papers. Out of the 1015 papers, 313 were included in the final analysis. The majority of the papers were research articles (n = 259; 82.8%) and published in English (n = 295; 94.3%). From 2011, there was a dramatic increase in papers published (n = 257; 82.1%) and citations (n = 3538; 91.0%). The number of collaborations increased after 2001, with papers published through international (n = 81; 25.9%) and national (n = 192; 61.3%) collaboration. Australia was the most prolific country in terms of number of publications (n = 97; 31.0%), and citations (n = 1529; 15.8%). In conclusion, after the beginning of the twenty-first century, the scientific production on sleep research in athletes has seen significant growth in publication and citation output. Future research should focus on interventions to improve sleep in athletes.</jats:p
Understanding why drivers cross the line at activated railway crossings
No full textNaweed, A ORCiD: 0000-0002-5534-4295Congestion at urban and active railway level crossings leads to non-compliant driver behavior, and scenarios in which road users may enter into the rail corridor with the crossing nearing full closure. Previous research indicates this scenario occurs with alarming regularity during peak periods. However, limited research has investigated whether such non-compliance arises from errors or from deliberate decisions. The objective of this study was to better understand driver decisions when approaching a level crossing during activation. Vehicle movements and crossing activation were continuously recorded for 2 months at a congested active level crossing close to Melbourne, Australia. Each movement corresponding to a vehicle approach to the level crossing during onset of activation was extracted with traversals counted, and the ability to stop safely modeled with linear motion equations, using the position and speed of the vehicle at activation. The probability of entering the level crossing was then modeled with generalized linear models. Analysis revealed that much of the non-compliance was involuntary and linked to a dilemma zone in the absence of sufficient warning time for drivers to react to and safely stop before proceeding through the crossing. However, deliberate non-compliance was also an issue, and independent of the time of day. Findings are discussed in relation to the ideal grace period for road users at such crossings, and consideration is given to enforcement as a viable treatment for reducing deliberate non-compliance
Detection of crop water status using UAV mounted sensor
No full textBrown, PH ORCiD: 0000-0001-6272-5507 0000-0002-4033-6719; Koech, RK ORCiD: 0000-0002-0563-6687Advances in precision agriculture technologies allow crop management targeting specific needs of individual plants or regions within a crop at specific times rather than at the whole of crop level used in traditional crop production systems. Irrigation is one of the most important inputs in horticultural production systems, but current management practices typically do not allow precise delivery of irrigation inputs where and when they are required within a crop. Multispectral and thermal imagery has the potential to directly assess crop water status at a spatial scale not possible with the current soil sensor probe systems, and thus contribute to improved irrigation decision making. Relationships between thermal imagery data, gathered using a UAV system, and crop water status was determined in a vegetable system (chilli) 'Cayenne' Capsicum annuum 'acuminatum'. Areas within a crop where water stress led to reduced transpiration could be detected in advance of any visible signs of water stress, and patterns of variability detected by the aerial thermal sensor within a crop were also linked to patterns of variability detected by ground-based sensors within the same crop at approximately the same time of day. © 2020 International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved
Study guide for isolated students: School of Business and Law: True stories, great tips from high-achieving students who performed well during the lock-down
No full textThis publication contains face-to-face students experience and successful initiatives to continue their studies during COVID-19 lockdown