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The use of individualised, media-based sleep hygiene education for professional female footballers
Get PDFSleep hygiene can be defined as practicing habits that facilitate sleep; poor sleep hygiene is common among elite athletes, and improving this can be one way to enhance sleep indices. Given the large inter-individual variability of sleep, there is a need for further investigation into individualised sleep hygiene for elite female athletes, with consideration for the practical application of the method. Using a self-controlled time series design with repeated measures, n = 16 professional female footballers completed a 9-week study during mid-season. Monitoring of sleep (actigraphy, self-report) occurred at week 1, 4, 7 and 9—a control period occurred at week 2 and 3, and a subsequent intervention period occurred at weeks 5 and 6. Based on baseline sleep monitoring, media-based messages were designed with the purpose of giving a singular sleep hygiene message; all participants received these individualised messages daily across the 2-week intervention period at a standardised time of 8.00 p.m., with the intention of them actioning the sleep hygiene point. One-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was conducted to assess the differences between control period, intervention period and follow-up for each measured variable. Significant differences were observed post-intervention for sleep efficiency (p < 0.001) and sleep latency (p < 0.001), whereas the athlete sleep behaviour questionnaire score significantly improved in the follow-up period (week 9) post intervention (p = 0.039). This is the first study to present this novel method of individualised sleep hygiene education for elite female athletes and is also the first study to demonstrate the use of sleep hygiene interventions to improve sleep factors for female athletes' mid-season. This demonstrates a promising, time-efficient approach to sleep hygiene education, with a potentially wide scope of application, as well as demonstrating there is indeed potential for elite female athletes to gain sleep improvements mid-season
“I’m Not as Gay as Some Other Queer People”:Exploring Bi + Men’s Perceptions of Masculinity and Sexual Identity
Get PDFResearch has highlighted the constraints imposed on bi + people as they navigate sexual and romantic encounters within a society which privileges exclusive attraction to one gender. For bi + men, these expectations are complicated by hegemonic masculine norms which dictate the boundaries of gender expression. This qualitative study explores how bi + men navigate the boundaries of normative gender and sexual expression in constructing a bisexual-masculine identity. Twenty-two cisgender bi + men participated in semi-structured interviews, where they were invited to discuss their beliefs about bisexuality and masculinity. The findings explore the ways that bi + men navigate the borders of hetero- and queer masculinities in constructing a bisexual-masculine identity, identifying traits and characteristics which affirm a sense of masculinity. The findings also identify the barriers bi + men experience in aligning their masculine and bisexual identities, which often led to a feeling of liminality and erasure of their bisexual identity
A systematic in vitro study of the effect of normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic conditions on the biochemical and cellular interactions of clinically-available wound dressings with different physicochemical properties
Get PDFDiabetic foot, leg ulcers and decubitus ulcers affect millions of individuals worldwide leading to poor quality of life, pain and in several cases to limb amputations. Despite the global dimension of this clinical problem, limited progress has been made in developing more efficacious wound dressings, the design of which currently focusses on wound protection and control of its exudate volume. The present in vitro study systematically analysed seven types of clinically-available wound dressings made of different biomaterial composition and engineering. Their physicochemical properties were analysed by infrared spectroscopy, swelling and evaporation tests and variable pressure scanning electron microscopy. These properties were linked to the interactions with inflammatory cells in simulated normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic conditions. It was observed that the swelling behaviour and evaporation prevention at different glucose levels depended more on the engineering of the fibres than on the hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of their biomaterials. Likewise, the data show that the engineering of the dressings as either non-woven or woven or knitted fibres seems to determine the swelling behaviour and interactions with inflammatory cells more than their polymer composition. Dressings presenting absorbent layers made of synthetic, non-woven fibres supported the adhesion of monocytes macrophages and stimulate the release of factors known to play a role in the chronic inflammation. Non-woven absorbent layers based on carboxymethyl cellulose mainly stimulating the iNOS, an enzyme producing free radicals; inthe case of Kerracel this was combined with a swelling of fibres preventing the penetration of cells. Kaltostat, an alginate-based wound dressing, showed the higher level of swelling and supporte the adhesion of inflammatory cells with limited activation. Knitted dressings showed a limited adhesion of inflammatory cells. In conclusion, this work offers insights about the interactions of these wound dressings with inflammatory cells upon exudate changes thus providing further criteria of choice to clinicians
Single-use materials and poorly recycled waste in intensive care:An argument for improving sustainability
No full textIntensive care unit (ICU) clinical items and packaging made from plastic, paper, and other (mixed) materials have a significant environmental impact. the waste generation, effects on climate from disposal and suggestions for alternatives are presented
Race/ Ethnicity and COVID-19
No full textIn several Western countries, such as the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (US), individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups appeared to be at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 and also exhibited a higher incidence of severe illness and mortality. Initially, there was much speculation about the possible epidemiological causes, with some researchers highlighting biological causes and others behavioral causes. Khunti (2020) noted that socioeconomic, cultural and lifestyle factors, as well as pathophysiological factors (e.g., prevalence of vitamin D deficiency) may all be contributing variables. Subsequent research also revealed a greater risk of other health sequelae, such as poor mental health, in racial and ethnic minority individuals (Jaspal & Lopes, 2021). Despite the higher incidence of ill health and mortality in racial and ethnic minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, empirical research during the initial outbreaks inadequately reported on race/ ethnicity even when this was asked about (Raghav et al., 2021). In other cases, population samples tended to include relatively small samples of specific racial and ethnic minority groups which precluded analysis of intergroup differences on key variables (Jaspal et al., 2022). Furthermore, studies used various categories to refer to racial and ethnic minorities, such as “people of color” in the US, “Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic” or “BAME” in the UK and “White” in both countries, thereby homogenizing very diverse groups of people. On the whole, studies have used more specific categories, such as “Asian” or “Latino”, inconsistently. All this limits the ability to draw firm conclusions about the differential impact of race and ethnicity upon COVID-19 health outcomes. Yet, some valuable research has been conducted in this area which enables us to begin to understand the multifarious effects of the pandemic on particular racial and ethnic groups and the likelihood of engaging in various preventive behaviors. Much of this work has been conducted in the UK and USA, which is the focus of this chapter. Accordingly, key empirical research into three areas of race, ethnicity and COVID-19 is discussed, namely (1) the relationship between race/ ethnicity and COVID-19 physical health outcomes; (2) the impact of the pandemic on mental health in racial and ethnic minorities; and (3) reported engagement in COVID-19 preventive and vaccination behaviors in racial and ethnic minorities. The chapter concludes by highlighting the main social psychological factors that appear to contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in relation to COVID-19.<br/
Future reference
No full textSweetshop window gallery exhibition, showing work by Naomi Salaman and Atomhaw
Exposure to ghosting, gaslighting and coercion in religious and non-religious people in the United Kingdom
No full textThis study examines various demographic differences in reported exposure to the psychologically harmful dating behaviours of ghosting, gaslighting, and coercion from a current or past partner. A sample of 544 participants provided demographic data and completed measures of exposure to ghosting, gaslighting, and coercion. Mann–Whitney U tests showed that men reported higher coercion than women; single people reported higher ghosting and gaslighting than partnered people; and participants aged 18–30 reported higher ghosting than those aged 31-40. Religion had an impact on exposure to all three behaviours, with religious people reporting higher ghosting, gaslighting, and coercion than non-religious people. Multiple regression analyses showed that religion was a significant predictor of ghosting, gaslighting, and coercion, over and above other demographic factors. It is important to increase awareness of ghosting, gaslighting, and coercion among psychotherapists. Psychotherapeutic practice must be sensitive to the religious and cultural identities of clients exposed to these behaviours.</p
The Intellect Handbook of Popular Music Methodologies
No full textThe Intellect Handbook of Popular Music Methodologies provides a comprehensive overview of methodological approaches within the field of popular music studies. Alongside contributions from key thinkers already established in popular music studies, the strength of the collection lies in its inclusion of many new and emerging writers in the field. Therefore, the collection incorporates a wide range of practitioners, pedagogues and academics from an extensive range of disciplines, and thus drawing from a diversity of methodological approaches. These include those that are perhaps more established, such as semiotics, ethnography and psychology, alongside exciting new approaches within popular music, including eco-musicology, religion, intersectionality and archeology. Although previous books have provided an overall of concepts studied within popular music studies, this will be the first comprehensive Handbook of popular music methodologies
Mechanical properties of 3D printed concrete:a RILEM TC 304-ADC interlaboratory study — flexural and tensile strength
Get PDFThis paper discusses the flexural and tensile strength properties of 3D printed concrete, based on the results of a RILEM TC 304-ADC interlaboratory study on mechanical properties. These properties are determined using different testing techniques, including 3- and 4-point flexural tests, splitting tests, and uniaxial tension tests, on specimens extracted from large 3D printed elements in accordance with a prescribed study plan. The relationship between compressive and flexural or tensile strengths, cast or printed samples, different types of tests, and different loading orientations, are analysed to understand the influence of 3D printing. As expected, the strength can reduce significantly when the main tensile stress is acting perpendicular to the interface between layers. The role of deviations from the standard study procedure, in terms of the time interval between the placing of subsequent layers, or the adoption of a different curing strategy, are also assessed. While the increased time interval significantly impacts the strength in the critical direction, the use of variable curing conditions does not seem to have a clear-cut effect on the strength ratios of the printed to cast specimens. Additionally, the paper looks at the variability in the results for the printed specimens, in order to emphasize the need for multiple replicates for obtaining a proper result. An extensive insight into the aspects affecting the variability is presented in the paper. Finally, with the limited dataset available for specimens tested at a larger scale, it is difficult to arrive at a clear understanding of the role of specimen size (i.e., greater number of layers)