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Style, stamina and mobile masculinities: The reinvention of Savate in the Anglosphere
No full textThe roots of Savate in France stretch back at least 200 years, and there is
extensive interdisciplinary research in French showing changing
interpretations of its meaning and purpose. Savate is now a globalised
combat sports with potential to enter the Olympic Games. To help remedy
the lacuna of English-language research, this paper considers: (1)
Documentaries and rare instructional literature; (2) online videos and
discussions of archival Savate footage; (3) contemporary documentation from
the Great Britain Savate Federation; and, (4) ongoing fieldwork in one UK
Savate school. Through our multimodal study of printed, televised, digital and
physical action, we add to the discussions to the constant reinvention of
Savate to a modern, seemingly inclusive combat sport. Using John Urry’s
framework of mobilities, we introduce the notion of ‘mobile masculinities’
underpinned by a European sense of relatively elite individualistic
cosmopolitanism. Savate provides a rich case study of gender inclusivity in
sport – how a previously male-dominated activity incorporates women in
positions of power and responsibility and teaches men to acquire elegance in
style and elite levels of stamina
Understanding what it means to be “Charcot foot health literate”
Get PDFDescribed as a “Cinderella condition”, Charcot foot is little understood within the non-specialist medical community. In this article, Benjamin Bullen (Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK) presents a multidimensional conceptualisation of health literacy and underlines the importance of developing knowledge on the subject of Charcot foot, especially for the treatment of “At-risk” patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Global REACH 2018: Andean Highlanders, Chronic Mountain Sickness and the Integrative Regulation of Resting Blood Pressure
Get PDFHigh‐altitude maladaptation syndrome chronic mountain sickness (CMS) is characterised by excessive erythrocytosis and frequently accompanied by accentuated arterial hypoxaemia. Whether altered autonomic cardiovascular regulation is apparent in CMS is unclear. Therefore, we assessed integrative control of blood pressure (BP) and determined basal sympathetic vasomotor outflow and arterial baroreflex function in 8 Andean natives with CMS ([Hb] 22.6 ± 0.9 g/dL) and 7 healthy highlanders ([Hb] 19.3 ± 0.8 g/dL) at their resident altitude (Cerro de Pasco, Peru; 4383 m). R‐R interval (RRI, electrocardiogram), beat‐by‐beat BP (photoplethysmography) and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA; microneurography) were recorded at rest and during pharmacologically‐induced changes in BP (modified Oxford test). Although [Hb] and blood viscosity (7.8 ± 0.7 vs 6.6 ± 0.7cP; d = 1.7, P = 0.01) were elevated in CMS compared to healthy highlanders, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance and mean BP were similar between groups. The vascular sympathetic baroreflex MSNA set‐point (i.e. MSNA burst incidence) and reflex gain (i.e. responsiveness) were also similar between groups (MSNA set‐point; d = 0.75, P = 0.16, gain; d = 0.2, P = 0.69). In contrast, in CMS the cardiovagal baroreflex operated around a longer RRI (960 ± 159 vs 817 ± 50msec; d = 1.4, P = 0.04) with a greater reflex gain (17.2 ± 6.8 vs 8.8 ± 2.6msec·mmHg−1; d = 1.8, P = 0.01) versus healthy highlanders. Basal sympathetic vasomotor activity was also lower compared to healthy highlanders (33 ± 11 vs 45 ± 13bursts·min−1; d = 1.0, P = 0.08). In conclusion, our findings indicate adaptive differences in basal sympathetic vasomotor activity and heart rate compensate for the haemodynamic consequences of excessive erythrocyte volume and contribute to integrative blood pressure regulation in Andean highlanders with mild CMS
Robots and Uncertainty: An investigation into the impact of the aesthetic visualisation on people’s trust of robots.
Get PDFHuman senses have evolved to pick-up on sensory cues. Beyond our perception, they play an integral role in our emotional processing, learning, and interpretation. They are what help us to sculpt our everyday experiences and can be triggered by aesthetics to form the foundations of our interactions with each other and our surroundings. Aesthetics, described by the ancient Greeks as sensation, is the ability to receive stimulation from one or more of our five bodily senses. In terms of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), robots also have the ‘potential’ senses to interact with the environment and people around them. They can offer an ‘embodiment’ that has the potential to make the interaction with technology a more natural, engaging, and acceptable experience. However, for many reasons, people still do not seem to trust and accept robots. This paper explores that robots have unique opportunities to improve their facilities for empathy, emotion, and social awareness beyond their more cognitive functionalities. By applying various different design elements to design of the human robotic interaction, we have revealed that certain facial aesthetics seem to be more trustworthy than others (cartoon face versus human face etc) and also certain visual variables (i.e. blur) afforded uncertainty more so than others. Consequentially, this paper reports uncertainties in and between the visualisations greatly influenced participants willingness to accept and trust the robot. By understanding what aesthetic elements initiate what affective processes, this paper further enriches our knowledge of how we might design for certain emotions, feelings and ultimately more socially acceptable and trusting robotic experiences
An investigation into the sustainability of the current fuels used for cooking in Ghana to inform future energy policies
No full textThere are sustainability, health and environmental concerns in many developing countries where the use of solid fuels for cooking in poorly ventilated kitchens is a common practice. The utilisation of solid fuelsfor cooking with inefficient cooking stoves accounts for significant respiratory health issues and deforestationin Ghana.Significant policies and government initiatives in Ghana have been adopted to mitigate household solid fuel consumption, substitutingit with increased access to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). But despite such policies, the consumption of solid biomass fuel, mainly charcoal and firewood, is still prevalent in Ghana. To inform future energy policy, this study investigates the sustainability of cooking fuels utilised in Ghanaian households, to ensure an ecological balance and healthy living circumstances.A two-part survey was conducted between 2013 and 2019 forhouseholds in Ghanato identify and investigate factors influencing household cooking fuel preferences. Regression analysis is employed to explore the relationship between the choice of selected fuel and key factors such as fuel cost, availability, region and household size.The findings suggest that fuel cost, availability, geographical location (urban/rural), and household size act significantly as drivers to influence the selection of most Ghanaian cooking fuel, and this was found to be consistent over the studied period
Quadriceps muscle compensatory activations are delayed following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring tendon graft
Get PDFObjective: To investigate compensatory and anticipatory quadriceps muscle activations before and after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using hamstrings tendon graft. Design:Twelve participants who underwent ACLR and 12 healthy controls were exposed to 10 either unpredictable or predictable perturbations of the knee joint before ACLR (T1), 2 months (T2) and 6 months (T3) after surgery. Latencies of compensatory and anticipatory postural activations in the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF) and vastus medialis (VM) muscles were recorded by surface electromyography with respect to the arrival of the perturbations. Results:Latency of compensatory activations was significantly delayed in ACLR compared to that in healthy participants at T1 for VL (105 ± 25 vs. 57 ± 9 ms; P<0.001), RF (102 ± 23 vs. 56 ± 9 ms; P<0.001) and VM (107 ± 24 vs. 66 ± 16 ms;P<0.001), at T2 for VL (68 ± 14 vs. 55 ± 10 ms;29 P<0.01) and at T3 for VL (105 ± 22 vs. 58 ± 7 ms;P<0.001), RF (102 ± 22 vs. 58 ± 12 ms; P<0.001) and VM (106 ± 20 vs. 63 ± 8 ms;P<0.001). Anticipatory activations occurred earlier in ACLR than in healthy participants at T1 for VL (-82 ± 64 vs. -14 ± 11 ms; P<0.05) and VM (-105 ± 32 68 vs. -9 ± 12 ms;P<0.05). Conclusion:While anticipatory quadriceps activations show no alterations, compensatory muscle activations are delayed following ACLR with hamstring graft. Post-surgical rehabilitation should address alterations in compensatory lower limb postural control
An Analysis of Desirable Attributes for Strength and Conditioning Coaches as Perceived by Male and Female Population of Collegiate Athletes
Get PDFThe present study aimed to suggest desirable attributes and characteristics for strength and conditioning coaches as perceived by the male and female population of collegiate athletes and statistically evaluate differences of perception between genders. Participants were 99 NCAA division I student-athletes (Male=56, Female=43) aged between 18-22 years of age, with a mean of 2.98 S&C sessions per week. Participants completed an electronic questionnaire to rank the importance of 17 research-based attributes through a 5-point Likert-type-scale. Descriptive statistics revealed that overall, “knowledgeable” and “communicative” were considered the most important attributes, whereas “overall size/muscularity” and “male gender” were the least desirable. With regards to perceived importance, attributes were ranked in the following order: knowledgeable, communicative, motivator, trustworthy, give positive feedback, approachable, organised, supportive, positive, honest, confident, role model, intense, physical fitness, sense of humour, overall size/muscularity, male gender. “Male gender” as an attribute was identified as the only significant difference in perception between genders (p = .017). The observed results are consistent with previous research that highlighted how several attributes and characteristics are important for strength and conditioning coaches. Thus, these results might foster reflection and guide personal and professional development of strength and conditioning coaches
The Effect of Two Different Assisted Plyometric Programmes on Vertical Jumping Kinetics in Young Male Football Players
Get PDFAssisted jumping is documented to improve lower body power, however no current research
evaluates it from a skill development standpoint, with limited data evaluating assisted plyometrics. 15 youth
football players were separated into a band assisted (BAP) (n = 8) or ground-based plyometrics (GBP) (n =
7) group. Both groups followed similar 6-week plyometric interventions. BAP used resistance bands to
increase flight time during all jumps, while GBP performed bodyweight jumps. Participants completed
countermovement jumps (CMJ), drop jumps (DJ) and a submaximal hopping (SH) test pre- and postintervention. Both groups significantly improved jump height and relative peak power in the CMJ (p < 0.05).
Neither groups significantly improved reactive strength index (RSI) in the DJ or SH tests, however GBP had
a significantly greater mean RSI compared to BAP in the post-test (p < 0.05). Overall, these data
demonstrate that band assisted jump training (using a directly transferable assistance method) is effective at
improving some vertical jumping kinetics. However, conflicting factors related to mechanical loading,
biological maturity and the selected band assistance, limit definitive conclusions. Future research should
consider replicating the current study and explore the reasons for the lack of difference between assisted and
unassisted conditions
Modification and verification of the Infant–Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale: a psychometric analysis combining item response theory with classical test theory
Get PDFEarly prelingual auditory development (EPLAD) is a fundamental and important process in the speech and language development of infants and toddlers. The Infant–Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (ITMAIS) is a widely used measurement tool for EPLAD, however it has not yet undergone a comprehensive psychometric analysis. The aim of this research was to modify and verify the psychometric properties of ITMAIS using a combination of Item Response Theory (IRT) and Classical Test Theory (CTT).
Methods
Stage 1—1730 children were retrospectively recruited to enable the application of an IRT model, specifically the graded response model, to modify the ITMAIS. Stage 2—another 450 infants and toddlers with normal hearing or permanent hearing loss before auditory intervention were recruited to verify the psychometric properties of the modified ITMAIS (ITMAIS-m) using the CTT method.
Results
Using the metric of the graded response model, by removing item 2 from the ITMAIS, ITMAIS-m demonstrated discrimination parameters ranging from 3.947 to 5.431, difficulty parameters from − 1.146 to 1.150, item information distributed between 4.798 and 9.259 and a test information score of 48.061. None of the items showed differential item functioning. ITMAIS-m was further verified in Stage 2, showing Cronbach’s α of 0.919 and item-total correlations ranging from 0.693 to 0.851. There was good convergent validity of ITMAIS-m with other auditory outcome measure (r = 0.932) and pure tone average thresholds (r ranging from − 0.670 to − 0.909), as well as a high ability to discriminate between different hearing grades (Cohen d ranging from 0.41 to 5.83).
Conclusions
The ITMAIS-m is a reliable and valid tool for evaluating EPLAD in infants and toddlers, which can be efficiently and precisely applied in clinical practice. The combined use of IRT and CTT provides a powerful means to modify psychometrically robust scales aimed at childhood auditory outcome measurements
Iron-Rich Magnetic Coal Fly Ash Particles Induce Apoptosis in Human Bronchial Cells
Get PDFSvalbard is an arctic archipelago where coal mining generates all electricity via the local coal-fired power station. Coal combustion produces a waste product in the form of particulate matter (PM) coal fly ash (CFA), derived from incombustible minerals present in the feed coal. PM ≤10 µm (diameter) may be “inhaled” into the human respiratory system, and particles ≤2.5 µm may enter the distal alveoli to disrupt normal pulmonary functions and trigger disease pathways. This study discovered that Svalbard CFA contained unusually high levels of iron-rich magnetic minerals that induced adverse effects upon human lungs cells. Iron is a well-characterised driver of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, a driving force for cell death and disease. CFA physicochemical characterisation showed non-uniform particle morphologies indicative of coal burnt at inefficient combustion temperatures. The bioreactivity (ROS generation) of PM2.5/10 fractions was measured using plasmid scission assay (PSA, DNA damage) and haemolysis assays (erythrocyte lysis), with PM2.5 CFA showing significant bioreactivity. CFA leached in mild acid caused a significant increase in toxicity, which could occur in CFA waste-stores. The CFA and leachates were exposed to a surrogate model of human bronchial epithelia that confirmed that CFA induced apoptosis in bronchial cells. This study shows that CFA containing magnetic iron-rich minerals mediated adverse reactions in the human lung, and thus CFA should be considered to be an environmental inhalation hazard