5112 research outputs found
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Limits of ultra:towards an interdisciplinary understanding of ultra-endurance running performance
Get PDFUltra-endurance running (UER) poses extreme mental and physical challenges that present many barriers to completion, let alone performance. Despite these challenges, participation in UER events continues to increase. With the relative paucity of research into UER training and racing compared with traditional endurance running distance (e.g., marathon), it follows that there are sizable improvements still to be made in UER if the limitations of the sport are sufficiently understood. The purpose of this review is to summarise our current understanding of the major limitations in UER. We begin with an evolutionary perspective that provides the critical background for understanding how our capacities, abilities and limitations have come to be. Although we show that humans display evolutionary adaptations that may bestow an advantage for covering large distances on a daily basis, these often far exceed the levels of our ancestors, which exposes relative limitations. From that framework, we explore the physiological and psychological systems required for running UER events. In each system, the factors that limit performance are highlighted and some guidance for practitioners and future research are shared. Examined systems include thermoregulation, oxygen delivery and utilisation, running economy and biomechanics, fatigue, the digestive system, nutritional and psychological strategies. We show that minimising the cost of running, damage to lower limb tissue and muscle fatigability may become crucial in UER events. Maintaining a sustainable core body temperature is critical to performance, and an even pacing strategy, strategic heat acclimation and individually calculated hydration all contribute to sustained performance. Gastrointestinal issues affect almost every UER participant and can be due to a variety of factors. We present nutritional strategies for different event lengths and types, such as personalised and evidence-based approaches for varying types of carbohydrate, protein and fat intake in fluid or solid form, and how to avoid flavour fatigue. Psychology plays a vital role in UER performance, and we highlight the need to be able to cope with complex situations, and that specific long and short-term goal setting improves performance. Fatigue in UER is multi-factorial, both physical and mental, and the perceived effort or level of fatigue have a major impact on the ability to continue at a given pace. Understanding the complex interplay of these limitations will help prepare UER competitors for the different scenarios they are likely to face. Therefore, this review takes an interdisciplinary approach to synthesising and illuminating limitations in UER performance to assist practitioners and scientists in making informed decisions in practice and applicable research.</p
Has anything changed?:the public perception of druidry
No full textDruidry has often been subjected to ridicule in mainstream news media and maligned as a dangerous cult that once engaged in human sacrifice. Such depictions have hampered efforts by modern religious Druids to gain public recognition and acceptance. This chapter investigates, through a survey aimed at Druids, whether practitioners believe there to have been any change to popular perceptions and representations of Druidry in the last decade or so and questions whether The Druid Network’s aim to have Druidry taken more seriously by gaining charity registration as a ‘religion’ has been fulfilled. Considering their subsequent difficulty in gaining membership to the Inter Faith Network and incidents reported in the survey, there is still a long way to go. While in the UK Druids are less frequently associated with sacrifice, it is by no means absent in discourses about them. A more common view is that Druidry is ‘made-up’, ‘not real’ or ‘no longer exists’. Another concern is that Druids are still targeted as the disruptive ‘other’ in UK society. Despite this, several respondents to the survey (in the UK, at least), mentioned, even after reporting a negative reaction, that there has been increased acceptance, even if understanding about Druidry was poor
Impact of e-procurement adoption on the performance of SMEs in emerging economy
Get PDFE-procurement is an effective approach to improving firms’ business operations and processes. While to a considerable extent, larger business organisations have embraced the technology, its adoption and impact among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing economies like Nigeria remain unclear. This study investigates the adoption and impact of e-procurement among SMEs in Nigeria, specifically examining e-ordering, e-invoicing, e-sourcing, and e-payment. Using a quantitative research design, data was collected from 150 managers of SMEs, and structural equation modelling (SEM-PLS) was used for data analysis. Results indicate a positive relationship between e-procurement adoption and the business performance of SMEs in terms of procurement operations. The ease of use of e-procurement systems also positively affects SME performance. The adoption of specific e-procurement practices, such as e-ordering, e-invoicing, e-sourcing, and e-payment, is associated with improved SME performance. This study underscores the importance of e-procurement adoption for enhancing SME performance. Findings suggest that managers and stakeholders should consider adopting e-procurement practices to improve their business operations
Criminalised, victimised or other? A reflexive engagement with queer criminology utilising a relational pedagogical approach
No full textQueer Criminology is a newfound area of exploration within the discipline of Criminology, which is uniquely positioned to deal with issues regarding crime and victimisation concerning those from the LGBTQIA+ community and gender diverse/minoritized groups. The field of 'Queer Criminology' has become vast and expanding, having explored issues of interpersonal, structural and systematic inequality concerning those from the community and beyond. To this end, narratives of victimisation, trauma and injustice have dominated (and limited) understandings of Queer Criminology. Moreover, limited thinking has been attributed within the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL), which seeks to understand LGBTQIA+ individuals and groups -beyond binarized thinking of victimhood or criminalised. In this article, we offer the perspectives of two higher education professionals teaching Queer Criminology in a 'flipped' classroom environment, which positions the learner as expert within the subject matter and utilises a relational pedagogy lens to do so (Bovil, 2020). We discuss the use of our reflexive practice, as both Feminist Decolonial and Queer Criminologists. The article touches upon trauma informed approaches to teaching Queer Criminology. We offer several steps in building a coalition of learning, which can unpick the potential policy, theory, and practical tensions of teaching Queer Criminological Scholarship
Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wellbeing:an inductive thematic analysis exploring how BJJ can increase subjective wellbeing
Get PDFPurpose: This study aims to assess the sociopsychological impact that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s (BJJ) can have on the subjective wellbeing of practitioners. Design: Data was collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews (N=8) and were analysed using thematic analysis taking an inductive approach. Findings: Improvements in the wellbeing of practitioners can be made via focusing on specific known constructs which have previously shown to increase subjective wellbeing. They included the development of mental toughness, progression towards meaningful goals and/or healthy habits and behaviours, and the forming and maintaining of positive social relationships. Research Implications/limitations: The present work demonstrates the psychological benefits of BJJ practice on several psychological wellbeing targets, albeit it in a modest sample size. Practical implications: The heightened emphasis on mental wellbeing in the general population has added increasing pressure on mental health services (Diener et al., 2018; Johnson et al., 2018; Steptoe et al., 2015; Wicking & Dean 2020). Therefore, it is of theoretical and practical advantage to explore novel ways to help individuals with both their mental health and wellbeing. Originality: The present study seeks to add to an emerging field of research which proposes that intentional activities such as BJJ can be integrated alongside traditional approaches to therapy in their promise to help those recovering from mental health issues
Must a person give their name and address to the police?
No full textThis article is designed to outline the principles of law relating to the controversial issues on stop and account to professional police officers
Collaboration and career readiness
No full textWhat impact do legal professionals have on law students as they embark on their careers
Light Matter
No full textLight Matter was commissioned by NEPN in 2019 for the project and exhibition Observe Experiment Archive.Light Matter explores the natural world illuminated by artificial light, inspired by the historical ideas of Joseph Swan. Swan’s experimental curiosity led him to be the notable inventor of the electric light bulb, changing our experience of nature and vision of the world forever. This photographic commission draws on his enduring spirit of enquiry, adopting his key scientific principles of observation and experimentation and will incorporate experimental analogue and digital approaches to photographing botanical specimens, exploring the transformative properties of light and in particular artificial light.Liza Dracup’s work often de-familiarises the familiar or re-contextualises the common-place, this project builds upon this and will allow her to experiment with more abstract forms, suggesting ambiguity of specimens, hybrid plant forms and the impact of technology on the natural world.Liza’s commission was underpinned by research visits to northern collections at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens (SMWG), The Lit & Phil, Great North Museum, Newcastle University and NMSM Bradford. In November 2019, the photographic work produced was shown in a group exhibition curated by NEPN at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens.Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England
Motivations for change in drug addiction recovery:turning points as the antidotes to the pains of recovery
Get PDFTurning points during drug addiction recovery due to painful life events have been highlighted as being instrumental as push factors for change. This paper attempts to integrate the ‘pains of desistance’ approach into a recovery capital framework. It uses the life-narratives of those in drug addiction recovery to explore the role of the pains of recovery (push factors) alongside different forms of recovery capital (pull factors) at key stages or turning points during recovery. Findings demonstrate that pull factors were more prevalent and had a greater impact in promoting positive changes, supporting a recovery capital model. The life course approach revealed that turning points act as antidotes to the pains experienced in early recovery. The implications of this research highlight the need for drug policy to embed pull factors to promote positive change and create the opportunities for turning points to emerge, for practice to help dispel the myth of the need for a rock bottom moment and for a more macro conceptualisation and understanding of drug addiction recovery.<br/
Commentary on promoting the mental health and wellbeing benefits of using student response systems (SRS) in higher education:more than just a learning device
Get PDFPurpose: This commentary discusses the broader potential of student response systems (SRS) regarding their positive impact on student mental health and wellbeing. The purpose of this paper is to draw on relevant literature to illustrate the wider social and intrapersonal benefits of SRS beyond its use as an educational tool. Design/methodology/approach: Tenets of social information processing theory are used in conjunction with the literature from health, sociological and psychological disciplines to explicate the mental health benefits of SRS. Findings: SRS can make a positive contribution students’ mental health and wellbeing, thus assisting the broader pastoral support and employability frameworks of higher education institutions.</p