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Exploring the prevalence of eating disorders, low sex drive, and exercise compulsion among professional and non-professional elite male Rugby union players
Get PDFRugby union exhibits large variations in the idealised player physical profiles across positions. The pursuit of physique ideals with limited professional support can influence eating disorder symptomology, exercise compulsion, and low sexual drive. The primary aims were to (1) explore the prevalence of elite male rugby union players who are at risk for eating disorders, low sex drive, and exercise compulsion, and (2) explore the relationship between risk and players’ professional status, weight, age, and playing position. A secondary aim was to explore the nutritional service support and dietary monitoring practices experienced by the players. Participants were recruited from four elite professional rugby union squads in Ireland. Players (≥tier3) over 18 years of age and training ≥ three times per week were eligible. Participants completed the eating disorder examination questionnaire, exercise addiction inventory, and sex drive section of the low energy availability in males questionnaire. Ninety-seven players participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 22 ± 4 years. Eating disorder risk (9.3%), reported low sex drive (20.6%), and exercise compulsion (16.5%) was indicated. Players in the forwards position, regardless of professional status, reported higher eating concerns (
p
= 0.03). No significant difference was identified between professional status or position when determining sex drive. Access to a nutritionist (99%) and dietary monitoring practices (68%) was reported by players. Awareness of low sex drive and disordered eating in elite rugby should be encouraged, alongside access to professional nutritional support. Further research is needed to understand the contextual risk factors in male players
"We're right in the foothills”: the adoption of artificial intelligence in corporate communication departments.
Get PDFPurpose
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is among the most pressing topics in contemporary corporate communication research. However, there are, so far, little empirical studies on how AI is actually implemented and how it is changing professional communication practice.
Design/methodology/approach
We apply the perspective of sociotechnical systems theory to explore current AI use and application in large corporate communication departments. Through qualitative interviews with a sample (n = 30) of chief communication officers (CCOs) from the 300 largest corporations in Europe, we examine AI implementation at the intersection of tasks, organizational structures, processes and technological properties of AI tools.
Findings
Findings reveal that the often-touted AI-induced structural shifts in communication departments are, thus far, hardly observable. The most advanced use cases of AI remain strategically limited to experimentation (i.e. “sandboxing”) or non-sensitive tasks. Currently, the primary areas of change involve training and upskilling. Results highlight important dualities in AI implementation: while AI enhances operational efficiency, it also presents challenges related to governance, technology integration and the ongoing need for human engagement in creative and strategic tasks.
Originality/value
The present study draws on a highly senior sample of communication executives to provide novel insight into the state of AI implementation and use in large corporate communication departments.
Keywords:Artificial intelligence, CommTech, Digitalization, Sociotechnical systems, Communication departments, Skills, Tasks, Technology, Roles, Processes, Structures, Semi-structured interview
The effects of isothermic heat acclimation on simple and complex cognitive performance in the heat
Get PDFLonger heat acclimation (HA) protocols more effectively improve physical performance than shorter ones, but the effect of HA duration on cognitive performance remains unclear. Twelve participants performed a 45-min cycling heat stress test [(HST) 40%Wmax; 40°C; 50% RH] on the first (HST1), seventh (HST7), and thirteenth (HST13) day of testing with five consecutive days of isothermic HA (60-min; rectal temperature ~38.5°C) between each HST. Simple (five-choice reaction time [RT]) and complex (spatial working memory [SWM]) tests were completed before and after each HST. Reaction and Movement times were slower before HST13 than HST1. Fewer errors were made in the SWM test before HST13 in the 6- (0.0v2.7), 8- (1.8v7.6) and 12- (18v31) box tests and before HST7 in the 6- and 8-box tests (1.9v7.6) compared to HST1. Search strategy was improved before HST7 (4.5v6.8) and HST13 (4.3v6.8). Fewer errors were made in the 8-box test after HST7 (1.6v8.8) and HST13 (1.1v8.6). No other differences were observed (p > 0.05). HA improved performance in some of the more challenging tasks but had no effect on the most complex task (12-box) when physiological strain was highest. 10-days of HA was more effective than 5-days at improving some aspects of cognitive performance
A Retrospective Self-Reported Audit of Injuries Amongst Grappling Athletes Competing in the United Kingdom
Get PDFPurpose: This study aimed to estimate the incidence, prevalence, type, and mechanism of injuries among grappling athletes in the United Kingdom (UK) across the following disciplines: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), Judo, Catch Wrestling, Sambo, and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
Methods: A retrospective, self-reported survey, delivered via JISC online survey software, was used to record the following information for all injuries sustained over the previous 12-month period: mechanism of injury, environment, severity, recurrence and body region. Additionally, injury diagnosis was reported where possible. Injury incidence for training exposure was calculated based on hours trained per week, while competition exposure was based on the number of bouts participated in during the year. One variable chi-square tests (X2) were used to calculate if observed values were significantly different from expected values.
Results: A total of 341 grappling athletes, 243 males and 97 females, with one participant preferring not to state gender (32 ± 9.3 years), completed the study over a 3-month period. The competition incident rates (IR) (24.16/1000 AE) were significantly higher than training (2.97/1000 AE). The knee was the most frequently injured site (24.5%). Ligament sprains were the most commonly diagnosed injury (24.3%). Most injuries occurred during practice sparring (65.8%), with the leading mechanisms being submission attempts and takedowns. Major injuries (>28 days recovery) accounted for 49.5% of all cases. BJJ exhibited the highest injury rate (3.49/1000 AE); patterns varied by discipline and gender.
Conclusion: Grappling sports pose a substantial risk of injury, particularly to the knee. Structured training, medical support, and tailored injury risk reduction programs should now be explored to enhance athlete safety
eRNAs Modulate mRNA Stability and Translation Efficiency to Bridge Transcriptional and Post-transcriptional Gene Regulation
Get PDFEnhancer RNAs (eRNAs) are best known for their role in transcriptional regulation, where they facilitate enhancer-promoter communication and chromatin remodelling. Yet growing evidence suggests that their function may extend beyond the nucleus. Here, we systematically characterise the decay kinetics of eRNAs across human cell types using time-resolved transcriptomics and kinetic modelling. While most eRNAs undergo canonical exponential decay, a subset displays non-linear dynamics, suggesting context-dependent degradation mechanisms. Perturbation of core decay regulators, including components of the m⁶A and CCR4-NOT pathways, reveals that eRNA stability is modulated by a patchwork of pathways governing mRNA turnover. Integrating transcriptome-wide ribosome profiling, RNA-Seq, and half-life data, we identify eRNAs associated with changes in mRNA stability and translation efficiency of their target protein-coding transcripts. Functional validation of one such eRNA, en4528, shows it regulates CDKN2C mRNA independently of transcription and impacts cell migration. These findings redefine the regulatory scope of eRNAs, positioning them as active participants in post-transcriptional gene control and cellular behaviour. The resulting decay profiles and regulatory annotations have been incorporated into the eRNAkit database, available at https://github.com/AneneLab/eRNAkit, enhancing its capacity for integrative systems-level analysis of eRNA function
A mathematical framework for modelling the dynamic nature of ADHD symptoms
Get PDFBackground: Attention-Deficit/Hyperctivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that fluctuate dynamically based on context. Standard diagnostic criteria provide static descriptions, failing to capture this variability, while existing computational models may lack interpretability or flexibility for clinical application. There is a need for dynamic, theory-driven models to represent ADHD.
Objective: This study aimed to develop and present a set of interpretable mathematical models representing the dynamic, context-dependent nature of the core symptoms of ADHD, grounded in established neuropsychological principles.
Methods: Algebraic equations were formulated to represent symptom dynamics. Inattention was modelled using modulated exponential decay functions. Hyperactivity was represented by a modulated sinusoidal function reflecting its oscillatory pattern. Impulsive choice was modelled using hyperbolic delay discounting combined with a probabilistic softmax choice rule.
Results: The study produced specific mathematical equations that quantify the temporal dynamics and contextual modulation for each core symptom domain. These equations provide a formal representation of how attention decays, hyperactivity fluctuates, and impulsive choices are made, incorporating individual sensitivities and situational factors pertinent to ADHD.
Conclusion: The proposed mathematical models offer a novel, quantitative framework for understanding and representing the dynamic nature of ADHD symptoms. Grounded in neuropsychological theory, these interpretable models provide a potential advance over static descriptions and may facilitate improved clinical assessment, personalized treatment strategies, and targeted research into the mechanisms underlying ADHD. Further empirical validation is warranted to establish their clinical utility. Further empirical validation is warranted to establish their clinical utility
Firm-Level Financing Strategies and Environmental Risk: Global Evidence
Get PDFDebt capital is an essential component of external financing; it is frequently dynamic in response to economic conditions and uncertainty. This study examines how environmental risks (ERs) affect capital structure for an international sample of companies in 47 countries from 2002 to 2020. The study identified ERs as a significant determinant of capital structure, and their effect on capital structure decisions varies. High ER exposure reduces debt utilisation, particularly long-term debt, while increasing short-term debt utilisation. A robust ER management profile could help mitigate the effects of ER while maintaining access to the debt capital market within borrowing boundaries
Bridging Research and Practice in the Psychology of Doping in Sport: Reflections and Future Directions
No full textDoping in sport remains a persistent global challenge, eroding sporting integrity, athlete welfare, and public trust. Over the past 25 years, psychological research on doping has progressed from individual-level explanations to embracing more nuanced, systemic perspectives. This narrative review synthesises key developments in the field, addressing definitional ambiguities, dominant theoretical frameworks, and emerging trends in anti-doping research. Social cognitive theories have been particularly influential, with meta-analytic evidence highlighting psychosocial predictors such as attitudes, perceived norms, and supplement use. However, the field remains constrained by a reliance on proxy measures of behaviour and a narrow conceptualisation of doping, typically defined as the use of prohibited substances. This review calls for a broader understanding of the behavioural violations that constitute doping, alongside a shift toward systemic thinking and transdisciplinary collaboration. It emphasises the need to engage with the lived experiences of athletes and support personnel, and to design behaviourally targeted, context-sensitive interventions. Meaningful progress depends not only intervention content but also on their alignment with the lived realities of those involved in sport. Future research priorities include co-created, theory-informed interventions, longitudinal designs, and globally inclusive agendas that reflect diverse voices and sporting cultures. Sustained investment and stronger alignment between research, policy, and practice are essential to protect sport integrity and safeguard athlete and support personnel welfare
Opportunities and costs for shared ground loops
No full textShared ground loops (SGLs) combine shared ground heat exchangers with distributed heat pumps across multiple properties and may offer a route to decarbonise heating where individual heat pumps or heat networks are not feasible. SGLs can be installed in homes and buildings with limited outside space for a heat pump or insufficient demand density to support a heat network. To make the most of potential opportunities, greater awareness of factors shaping UK deployment is needed. Through a mixed-methods approach combining rapid evidence assessment, case studies and policy mapping, this study finds SGLs mostly limited to deployment by social landlords and in new build settings, with wider use impacted by high capital costs, policy gaps around mid-scale solutions, market concentration around a single supplier, and the need for business models applicable to mixed-tenure settings. SGLs are particularly suitable for dwellings in higher density areas outside of government-designated Heat Network Zones, where it is expected that large heat networks will deliver the lowest-cost route to decarbonising heat. We suggest policy and practice recommendations intended to create conditions for wider deployment. At a national policymaker level, SGL suitability for mid-scale, medium-density settings and support for a flexible energy system should be more clearly recognised, especially in areas outside Heat Network Zones. At the individual company level, deployment would be supported through development of utility-style business models and installation approaches by infrastructure developers which can offer SGLs to households of a range of tenure types
Chapter 8: Doing Focused Coding
No full textThis chapter discusses the process of focused coding from a constructivist grounded theory (CGT) perspective (Charmaz 2014). After the first stage of open coding, which splinters the data for analysis, focused coding refocuses the data so that it can be reconstructed later during other stages of theory development. In this chapter, I summarise some of the key literature related to understanding the nature of focused coding, and I provide practical advice for helping readers to make the necessary shift towards this vital stage of the grounded theory method (GTM). An account of how focused coding was carried out during my PhD studies will offered not only as a real-world example, but also as a means of highlighting strategies which can enable new grounded theorists with ways of approaching focused coding with greater confidence
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