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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
The green ICU:how to interpret green? A multiple perspective approach
Get PDFMitigating environmental impacts is an urgent challenge supported by (scientific) intensive care societies worldwide. However, making green choices without compromising high-quality care for critically ill patients may be challenging. The current paper describes a three-step approach towards green intensive care units. Starting with the measurement of environmental sustainability, intensive care units can identify hotspots, quantify the environmental impacts of products and procedures, and monitor sustainable progress. Subsequently, a multidisciplinary approach is proposed to improve environmental sustainability, including a collaboration of procurement specialists and healthcare professionals, using co-creation and green teams as efficient grassroots change agents. A context-specific approach for enhancing sustainable healthcare practices is key in order to fit local regulatory requirements and create support of professionals. A final step is to share results and create momentum, including publishing initiatives and participating in online (inter)national networks. Based on the core sustainability principles, this three-step approach towards green ICUs provides a valuable tool to professionals worldwide to facilitate change towards environmentally responsible intensive care units
Simulated Results of a Passive Energy Retrofit Approach for Traditional Listed Dwellings in the UK
Get PDFEnergy performance improvements in existing homes play a substantial role in the achievement of the UK’s net-zero emissions target. However, retrofitting dwellings remains a particularly challenging task in the UK, where traditional dwellings make up a large part of the building repository. Traditional dwellings’ contribution to decarbonization has not yet been fully realized due to the risks imposed to the thermo-hygrometric balance of their constructions and to their heritage value. These tend to hinder the “fabric-first” approach for the retrofit of such dwellings, where active measures are often prioritized. The aim of this research is to propose a systemic approach to intervene in Traditional Listed Dwellings (TLDs) to improve their energy performance by means of passive retrofit measures and to shape a more future-proof heritage. A mixed methodology was developed that utilizes 19th C TLD case studies (CSs) in South-East England and dynamic energy simulation (DES) to investigate their current energy performance and possible improvements using responsible, safe and effective energy retrofit scenarios. Providing an overview of the methodology adopted in this research, this paper presents the main results of this study. This paper highlights the savings associated with the best-performing combinations of retrofit measures and the areas of intervention where the highest energy and carbon savings can be achieved
Involvement Of Fathers And Siblings In Home Rehabilitation Programmes Of Children With Neuro-Developmental Delay: Insights From Rehabilitation Professionals In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
No full textBackgroundNeuro-developmental delays (NDDs) present significant challenges for children and families, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Full family participation in home rehabilitation programmes is essential for optimal functional outcomes. However, the involvement of fathers and siblings is suboptimal and underexplored. This study investigates the perspectives of rehabilitation professionals on the involvement of fathers and/or siblings in home rehabilitation programmes for children with NDD in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.MethodsA qualitative exploratory study was conducted. Data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) with 18 rehabilitation professionals. The FGDs were transcribed verbatim, coded, and thematically analysed.ResultsRehabilitation professionals highlighted the critical role of fathers and siblings in home rehabilitation; noting fathers' emotional support and provision of financial stability and siblings' contributions to social interactions and play therapy. Barriers to involvement included cultural norms and time constraints for fathers, while siblings faced challenges such as limited age-appropriate understanding and the emotional burden of coping with the caregiving role.ConclusionAccording to rehabilitation professionals, involving fathers and siblings seems important for successful home rehabilitation of children with NDD. Addressing cultural and practical barriers to participation requires context-specific strategies, including culturally sensitive community outreach programmes and targeted interventions to promote family-centred care. Such efforts could help overcome these barriers, fostering greater participation of fathers and siblings and enhancing the effectiveness of home rehabilitation within the local context.<br/
Development of High-Strength Aerogel Concrete
No full textAerogel is a synthetic porous ultralight material with very low thermal conductivity, and it is mainly used in buildings for external insulation in the form of blankets. In this study, the development of high-strength concrete with a partial replacement of sand with aerogel powder and aerogel beads is presented. Compressive strength, thermal conductivity, and shrinkage measurements have been conducted, and the results indicate that a replacement of sand with 30% aerogel beads leads to a high compressive strength (70 MPa) and relatively low thermal conductivity (1 W/mK) concrete
Science communication in the digital age:trends, gaps, and interdisciplinary opportunities
Get PDFThis manuscript reviews the evolution of science communication research over the past 2 decades, highlighting publication trends and citation patterns. Key areas include public engagement, media influence, and digital tools. The study shows a rise in both the volume and impact of literature, especially after global events like the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it identifies gaps in research on digital tools and outreach strategies, particularly in non-Western contexts. This work aims to improve public understanding and foster informed engagement with scientific issues.<br/
Research in Motion:Making Blue Spaces Accessible for All (Speaking of Research Podcast, SCDTP)
No full textIn the first episode of Speaking of Research, a podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, we meet Sadie Rockliffe a doctoral researcher from the University of Brighton, who is reshaping our understanding of accessibility in natural environments.Sadie shares insights from her research on sensory inequalities and access to blue spaces—like rivers, lakes, and the sea—for people with visual impairments. Using innovative swim-along interviews, she captures the lived experiences of participants highlighting both the barriers they face and the deep sensory connections they form with nature.Sadie discusses her unique methodology, which emphasises interdependence over independence, and the importance of building trust with participants
Psychosocial profiles of men who have sex with men (MSM) influencing PrEP acceptability:a latent profile analysis
Get PDFDespite the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the United Kingdom (UK), uptake among men who have sex with men (MSM) remains inconsistent, signalling a persistent ‘PrEP Gap’. Empirical studies show the important role of psychosocial factors (e.g., stigma, identity, trust in science, and sexual behaviours) in PrEP acceptability and uptake. This study aimed to identify subgroups of MSM in the UK based on psychosocial predictors of PrEP acceptability. A cross-sectional survey of MSM (N = 500) was conducted between June and September 2023. Participants completed validated measures assessing identity resilience, internalised homonegativity, LGBTQ+ connectedness, trust in science, NHS perceptions, HIV stigma, PrEP self-efficacy, condom self-efficacy, sociosexual orientation, perceived HIV risk, and PrEP acceptability. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to identify distinct subgroups based on these psychosocial dimensions. Four psychosocial profiles were defined: (1) PrEP Ambivalent (15%); (2) PrEP Accepting (36.2%); (3) PrEP Hesitant (37%); and (4) PrEP Rejecting (11.8%). These profiles provide evidence for varied combinations of personal and structural factors influencing PrEP acceptability. PrEP acceptability among MSM in the UK is shaped by distinct psychosocial configurations, influenced by identity, stigma, trust, and perceived risk. These findings highlight the need for differentiated and targeted interventions for enhancing PrEP acceptability based on psychosocial profile. Audience segmentation strategies offer a promising pathway to bridge the awareness-to-engagement gap and address the nuanced barriers facing diverse subgroups within the MSM community
Ontological Crosscurrents in Digital Culture:Woolf/Derrida – Being/UnBeing
Get PDFWhether through Rachel Vinrace’s death in The Voyage Out (1915), or through Jacob’s empty shoes in Jacob’s Room (1922), or via Mrs Dalloway’s and Septimus’ inner-monologues in Mrs Dalloway (1925), or indeed through Isa Haines’ three-fold mirror reflecting her eidolon but also her tripartite oppression in Between the Acts (1937), Virginia Woolf’s work demonstrates a sustained preoccupation with Being. This preoccupation becomes explicit in ‘A Sketch of the Past’ (1939), in which she links ‘Being’ with writing (p. 70). Her ontological appurtenances (absence, loss, mourning) constitute the inspiration for and impetus behind my own work which theorises (the) digital Being as UnBeing, a radical new concept in digital ontology, which provides me with a metalanguage for the ways in which our digital reality reassesses questions of ethico-political nature. In this presentation, I echo Woolf in theorising (the) digital Being qua UnBeing as ‘writing’, but further problematise her approach by combining it with Jacques Derrida’s work on writing and attendant concepts such as the spectre and mourning. My work therefore capitalises on, and is indebted to, Woolf’s sustained preoccupation with Being and shows the urgency of Woolf’s thoughts on writing and creativity in enabling us to comprehend but also cope with (and resist?) the multiple challenges of contemporary life, thought and (creative and pedagogical) practice