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Evaluation of a peer-led school based intervention on violence against women and girls
Get PDFThis report presents the findings from an evaluation of a pilot project led by the charity Yellow Door, to engage boys in a peer-led programme to raise awareness about violence against women and girls in schools. The programme aimed to raise awareness amongst boys, as well as tackle misogynistic attitudes and negative gender stereotypes that young people may hold. The project and evaluation were funded by national Safer Streets Funding, via the Violence Reduction Unit at Southampton City Council
Kinetics and kinematics of the push press, push jerk, and split jerk
Get PDFSoriano, MA, Jiménez-Ormeño, E, Lake, JP, McMahon, JJ, Gallo-Salazar, C, Mundy, P, and Comfort, P. Kinetics and kinematics of the push press, push jerk, and split jerk. J Strength Cond Res 38(8): 1359–1365, 2024—The aim of this study was to explore the kinetics and kinematics across incremental loads with the push press (PP), push jerk (PJ), and split jerk (SJ). Eighteen resistance-trained men performed the 1 repetition maximum (1RM) tests (visit 1) 3–7 days before an incremental loading protocol (60, 75, and 90% 1RM) of the 3 exercises (visit 2). Kinetics and kinematics were derived from force-time data and compared using a repeated-measures analysis of variance with load and exercise as within-subject factors. Dependent variables for the biomechanics assessment were categorized as output (power and impulse), driver (force and work), and strategy (displacement and duration) metrics. The interrepetition reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient and coefficient of variation. The PP, PJ, and SJ 1RM performance were 89.7 ± 15.4, 95.6 ± 14.4, and 103.0 ± 16.9 kg, respectively. Driver, strategy, and outcome metrics displayed moderate-to-excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.58–0.98) reliability with acceptable variability (% coefficient of variation: 2.02–10.00). Increased load resulted in significantly large increases in force, work, displacement, duration, power, and impulse (p 75 > 60% 1RM) during the SJ exercise to maximize output, driver, and strategy kinetics and kinematics
Gender knowledge and gender relations on higher education sport and physical education courses
No full textThis chapter is a reflection of our combined experience of over twenty years teaching gender relations as part of modules on social issues and the sociology of sport and our concerns about the marginalisation of gender knowledge on higher education (HE) sport and physical education (PE) courses. This marginalisation, alongside the way that gender knowledge is taught, challenged, and resisted by colleagues and students may partially explain the ongoing gender essentialist policies and practices in PE and school sport. We apply concepts from Elias’ figurational sociology focusing on power, interdependence, and the social construction of knowledge to consider the ways in which curricula content reflects dominant ideas about gender essentialism. Drawing on data from colleagues across the sector teaching sport and PE courses, alongside students studying on these degrees, we firstly explore higher education sport and PE curricula and gender knowledge, and secondly, we consider experiences of teaching and being taught gender knowledge to highlight the interdependency between curricula content, pedagogy, and power
Supporting lower attaining pupils in early computing education
Get PDFLearning computing and computational thinking is now a mandatory part of the primary curriculum of many countries and there are a range of different approaches to introducing the subject to young children. These early experiences of computing are important for motivating and engaging pupils and, at their best, can spark a life-long interest in the subject. However, some pupils struggle to learn computing and computer science and risk becoming disengaged – avoiding this happening is a key challenge for school teachers. This paper explores some pedagogical features that show promise for enabling all pupils to succeed in computing, particularly those who find it most challenging. The paper discusses a case study of computing education for pupils aged 7-9 where the pupils were taught using the constructionist ‘Computing with Emil’ scheme. It cites observation, interview, work sample and formal assessment evidence to discuss features of the approach that were most successful in helping those pupils who struggle the most to learn computing. These included setting accessible and motivating activities, providing opportunities for collaboration, ensuring frequent experiences of success, and using multiple methods of recording
Fault lines
Get PDFFault Lines is a dance theatre performance that explores the climate crisis and aims to connect audiences with a deeper care for our planet. The work premiered in February 2024 and will continue to tour into 2025. It was adapted for rural touring in June 2024. Mortimer and Whitaker co-choreographed the work.
Fault Lines aims to respond to McKibben’s (2005) assertion that ‘when something is happening everywhere all at once, it threatens constantly to become backdrop, context, instead of event’. The work utilises aesthetic languages of the body and spoken text with integrated digital projections to explore the urgent interdependencies between time, human actions, and ecological systems and illustrate future landmarks of the Anthropocene's devastation as predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2018). Additionally, Carruth’s (2020) assertion that the climate crisis needs ‘new, positive narratives’, inspired images of a planet that has reached net zero and is moving towards balance.
An iterative combination of theory and practice shaped the work’s conceptual through-line (Nelson, 2013; Smith & Dean, 2009). The narrative structure of Fault Lines enmeshes the past, present, and future with an aim of deepening appreciation for the intertwined temporalities (Tsing, A. L., Swanson, H. A., Gan, E., & Bubandt, N, 2017) that shape human-environment relationships. Heidegger’s (1927) concept of spatiality and dwelling was utilised to devise the narrative; six survivors attempting to reconstruct a new world from the rubble of the old. Tsing et al’s ghosts and monsters (2017) and McKay’s geopoetics (2006) informed choreographic structures that juxtapose deep time of geological processes with the frenetic and ultimately exhaustive pace of human activity. Phenomenological notions of enmeshment (Merleau-Ponty, 1969) guided the dramaturgy alongside exploration of themes related to abandonment and saturation (Sartre, 1946).
By engaging local community casts in themes of world-making (Stewart, 2017), the project investigated how artistic engagements could foster empathy, social bonding, community resilience, and creative recovery. Online engagement with audiences embraced Newell’s (2020) actionable solutions. Fault Lines embraced green strategies to measure environmental impact, with an aim to create a new sector model for sustainable touring
Reappraisal and mindset interventions on pressurised esport performance
Get PDFThis study investigated the impact of two low-resource interventions on esport competitors' responses to pressure, focusing primarily on state anxiety, challenge and threat appraisals, and action performance. In Experiment 1, a single-session arousal reappraisal intervention demonstrated a significant influence on high-pressure esports performance. Notably, it not only prompted a shift in appraisals from threat to challenge but also reduced cognitive and somatic anxiety, increased quiet eye durations, and heightened cognitive effort. In Experiment 2, a preliminary assessment of the Mindset-Reappraisal intervention was undertaken, demonstrating enhancements in esport action performance, including accelerated completion times and heightened shooting accuracy. This intervention cultivated a stress-enhancing mindset, lowered cognitive and somatic anxiety, fostered challenge appraisals, and underscores the practical efficacy of cost-effective interventions within the specific context of our performance task. Effective management of arousal levels and educating esports competitors on stress mindset implications may improve performance under pressure, offering valuable insights for esports performance psychology. These findings suggest opportunities for refining pressure-response strategies, paving the way for comprehensive approaches to optimize performance in competitive esports
Markerless 3D kinematics and force estimation in cheetahs
Get PDFThe complex dynamics of animal manoeuvrability in the wild is extremely challenging to study. The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a perfect example: despite great interest in its unmatched speed and manoeuvrability, obtaining complete whole-body motion data from these animals remains an unsolved problem. This is especially difficult in wild cheetahs, where it is essential that the methods used are remote and do not constrain the animal’s motion. In this work, we use data obtained from cheetahs in the wild to present a trajectory optimisation approach for estimating the 3D kinematics and joint torques of subjects remotely. We call this approach kinetic full trajectory estimation (K-FTE). We validate the method on a dataset comprising synchronised video and force plate data. We are able to reconstruct the 3D kinematics with an average reprojection error of 17.69 pixels (62.94% PCK using the nose-to-eye(s) length segment as a threshold), while the estimates produce an average root-mean-square error of 171.3N (~17.16% of peak force during stride) for the estimated ground reaction force when compared against the force plate data. While the joint torques cannot be directly validated against ground truth data, as no such data is available for cheetahs, the estimated torques agree with previous studies of quadrupeds in controlled settings. These results will enable deeper insight into the study of animal locomotion in a more natural environment for both biologists and roboticists
Exploring decision-making practices during coaching sessions in grassroots youth soccer: a mixed-methods study
Get PDFDecision-making ability in players during match-play is mostly acquired through practice activities with the same underlying structure as competition. However, researchers have not fully investigated how coaches design practice sessions at the participation level of the sport (i.e. ‘grassroots’), or why they use a particular activity at a specific time point. This study explores the practice activities employed by youth soccer coaches at the participation level in England and aims to understand their underlying intentions. Twelve male coaches working with players aged 9–11 years across ten clubs in the London region participated. Thirty-five practice sessions were filmed and analysed to assess the proportion of time spent in activities involving ‘non-active decision-making’ (e.g., technical practices, fitness training) versus ‘active decision-making’ (e.g., small-sided and conditioned games, skills practice with realistic opposition). A brief on-field interview with the coaches about the session purpose took place immediately after each systematic observation. Coaches allocated similar amounts of time to activities with active (M = 41%) and non-active (M = 42%) decision making, with the remaining 17% being transitions. There was a common progression from non-active decision-making activities early in the session towards increased active decision-making later in the session. Interviews with coaches revealed a belief in the necessity of frequent non-active decision-making practices for technique development, despite potential disparities with improving match performance. Findings highlight a potential gap between scientific understanding and coaching practices for young soccer players at the participation level, suggesting implications for coach education programmes and the optimisation of player development strategies
Novel application of the Oxford knee score to assess knee pain, function, and quality of life after weight loss surgery: The European Orthopaedic Research Society (EORS) 32nd Annual Meeting, Aalborg, Denmark, 18–20 September 2024
No full textIntroduction:
Many patients with obesity experience knee pain. Excess body weight is a modifiable risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA) and weight loss is encouraged in patients with OA. Bariatric surgery could improve or limit the progression of these conditions through significant weight loss. The Oxford Knee Score (OKS) is a validated tool in the assessment of knee replacement surgery for OA. We present a novel application of the OKS to assess knee pain & function after weight loss surgery. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether there was a significant difference in mean OKS before and 24 months after weight loss surgery.
Method:
Eighteen female participants were included in this study. They underwent sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Patient demographics, body mass index (BMI) and OKS were collected pre- and 24 months post operatively.
Result:
There was an increase in the mean OKS from 31.8 (SD 11.8) pre surgery to 36.6 (SD 12.3) at 24 months. This was statistically significant (95% CI 0.99-10.5, p=0.02). Mean BMI reduced from 46.6 kg/m2 (SD 5.8) to 33.0 kg/m2 (SD 3.5).
Conclusion:
A significant improvement in mean OKS was seen after weight loss surgery. These findings demonstrate an improvement in knee pain & function with weight loss. This study contributes to a larger project evaluating the kinetic and kinematic changes to walking gait from weight loss