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Levelling the playing field: The case of The Hundred and gender equality in Cricket
Get PDFThe England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) introduced "The Hundred," a flagship domestic cricket competition, in July 2021, as part of their "long-term commitment to making cricket a gender-balanced sport" (Martin, 2020). Despite The Hundred's success in attracting a new audience to cricket, there is still a limited understanding of the spectator experience and specifically how this aligned tournament brought about greater gender equality within cricket. This study addresses this gap using a mixed-methods approach, combining online surveys with a series of focus groups. Our findings point to the success of The Hundred in creating a positive experience for female spectators, increasing the audience for women’s cricket, and breaking down men’s negative perceptions of women’s cricket. However, poor / drunken crowd behaviour detracted from the match-day experience for some spectators, highlighting a clash between this behaviour and the marketing of the tournament as family-friendly
FEPSAC position statement on safeguarding athletes in sport
Get PDFThrough the publication of this position statement, FEPSAC aims to continue with its commitment to quality and safe sport experiences through the promotion of safeguarding in sport, a responsibility collectively shared by both group and individual members of the organisation. In this paper, we provide a brief overview of the academic research on interpersonal violence and safeguarding in sport in a European context, focusing on safeguarding athletes. The position statement further includes recommendations and practical guidelines that will equip readers with knowledge and processes for recognising and responding to IV in sport. Through enhancing safeguarding literacy among FEPSAC members, we aim to inspire and empower both neophyte and more experienced practitioners in sport and exercise psychology toward fostering safer sporting relationships, spaces and practices
A versatile energy-based SPH surface tension with spatial gradients
No full textWe propose a novel simulation method for surface tension effects based on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics framework, capturing versatile tension effects using a unified interface energy description. Guided by the principle of energy minimization, we compute the interface energy from multiple interfaces solely using the original kernel function estimation, which eliminates the dependence on second-order derivative discretization. Subsequently, we incorporate an inertia term into the energy function to strike a balance between tension effects and other forces. To simulate tension, we propose an energy diffusion-based method for minimizing the objective energy function. The particles at the interface are iteratively shifted from high-energy regions to low-energy regions through several iterations, thereby achieving global interface energy minimization. Furthermore, our approach incorporates surface tension parameters as variable quantities within the energy framework, enabling automatic resolution of tension spatial gradients without requiring explicit computation of interfacial gradients. Experimental results demonstrate that our method effectively captures the wetting, capillary, and Marangoni effects, showcasing significant improvements in both the accuracy and stability of tension simulation
Then they’re not there. Women’s experiences following admission of their newborn to a neonatal intensive care unit
Get PDFBackground
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a complication of pregnancy associated with neonatal morbidities including admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Previous research highlights a lack of birth satisfaction and trauma for women following admission of their baby. Previously, research has focussed on a pre-term population. This study aimed to explore the experiences of women, diagnosed with GDM, whose babies were admitted to NICU at any gestation.
Methods
A 24-item, fully qualitative online survey was launched through JISC on 28th July 2023, shared through social media and online platforms. Inclusion criteria specified women who had been diagnosed with GDM, lived and received care in the UK and whose baby was admitted to NICU at or shortly after birth. Ethical approval was granted by Bournemouth University.
Results
18 women participated in the survey. Two primary themes were identified: ‘experience’ and ‘understanding’, further separated into five and three sub-themes respectively. A lack of understanding and knowledge was identified, with calls for enhanced education and joint decision making. Women recalled feelings of grief, isolation and stress as a result of the admission. For many, this experience was traumatic with lasting effects. For babies born at term, feelings of surprise and separation were paramount, in contrast to those born pre-term.
Conclusion
There is need to increase education and improve current material to support women who find themselves facing this outcome. Future research should also focus on reducing the incidence of admission to NICU for women who have received a diagnosis of GDM
Conspicuous consumption as a mediator between body esteem and athleisure purchases among millennials
Get PDFPurpose
Grounded in self-concept and social comparison, the purpose of the study was to examine the relationship among body esteem, conspicuous consumption tendency and purchasing intention towards athleisure products.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors gathered data from 348 Amazon Mechanical Turk workers through an online survey.
Findings
Findings revealed that attribution was positively related to Millennials’ conspicuous consumption tendency and purchasing behaviour towards athleisure product, and these associations were mediated by their conspicuous athleisure consumption. Although weight was not directly related to Millennials’ intention to purchase athleisure products, their conspicuous consumption tendency mediated this link negatively.
Originality/value
This is the first study examining the association among body esteem, conspicuous consumption tendency and purchase intention among Millennials. The findings offer insights for marketing practitioners and academics to increase the demand of athleisure products. The authors also addressed limitations and provided suggestions for future research
Non-native species in the Philippines and Southeast Asia
Get PDFNon-native species introductions threaten global biodiversity, ecosystems, and the services they provide. The limited capacity of developing countries to mitigate and manage biological invasions increases their vulnerability to the resulting impacts. Developing countries’ lack of comprehensive information on non-native species to help formulate sound management efforts is a key challenge. Here, we provide the most comprehensive national list of established non-native species in the Philippines, along with an update on the Southeast Asian region to aid national and regional efforts in addressing the threats posed by biological invasions. Our assessment indicates that the Philippines currently hosts at least 1,029 established non-native species, the highest number among Southeast Asian countries, amidst a total of 2,528 non-native species established in the region. A taxonomic breakdown showed species of the division Tracheophyta and phylum Chordata to be the majority of established non-native species in the Philippines, most of which are found in terrestrial ecosystems. A network analysis further highlighted a high degree of similarity in the composition of established non-native species among Southeast Asian countries, with the Philippines’ non-native species community most closely resembling that of Indonesia, likely due to close socio-economic ties and similar climatic niches and environmental conditions. Finally, we identified 1,499 non-native species established in Southeast Asia but not the Philippines, which may pose potential future threats for the country. We highlight the need for more comprehensive research on established non-native species in the Philippines and the Southeast Asian region, particularly taxonomic studies and research at broader geographic scales, to better understand the distribution and impact of these species and stress the critical need to address this transboundary threat
Supporting Police Well-Being Through an Adaptive Shift Management System: Co-Design Study
Get PDFBackground: Police personnel work under challenging conditions commonly associated with complex shift patterns, unpredictable last-minute changes, and high stress levels, with shift work identified as the major contributor to police personnel health and well-being challenges. These challenges negatively impact their mental well-being, physical health, and job performance, leading to potential health concerns such as fatigue, poor sleep, long-term physical disabilities, anxiety, and poor work-life balance. Existing digital interventions fail to address the needs of shift workers due to focusing solely on conventional 9-to-5 schedules. This gap highlights the need for tailored interventions that incorporate shift management systems into health and well-being applications to support emergency service personnel. Objective: This study aimed to co-design a shift management system that can be incorporated into a well-being app tailored to address the health and well-being challenges caused by shift work in police personnel. Methods: This study used interactive management methodology combined with user-centered design and cocreation to facilitate 6 co-design workshops with a diverse group of stakeholders. Each session was structured around idea generation, structural prioritization, and iterative prototyping. User-centered design principles such as persona mapping, scenario walk-throughs, and structured feedback exercises were integrated into the workshop sessions to ensure that the system met diverse user needs. Data were analyzed through participatory feedback and thematic analysis, which allowed for continuous iteration and prioritization of system features based on stakeholder inputs. Results: Participants highlighted the need for a shift management system capable of managing complex and variable shift schedules with real-time adaptability and support for work-life balance. Thematic analysis revealed shift management challenges such as limited flexibility in accommodating schedule changes and issues managing rotating shift patterns. In response to these identified challenges, a prototype was developed that included features such as bulk creation and modification of shift schedules, shift customization, and visualization tools for monitoring and identifying shift trends and reusable patterns for efficiency. This study demonstrated that integrating a schedule management system into a well-being app could provide personalized support based on users’ shift schedules. The integration showed significant potential in supporting the health and well-being of police personnel. Conclusions: The co-designed shift management system demonstrated strong feasibility and high acceptability among the participants. The integration of shift scheduling into a well-being app can provide tailored support across several domains such as nutrition, hydration, sleep, and physical activity. This combination shows promise in providing a sustainable approach to enhancing the health, well-being, and work-life balance of personnel working in high-stress occupations such as policing
Evaluation of a smartphone-based point-of-care neuropathy testing device for remote monitoring and early detection in diabetic patients: A clinical study comparing accuracy and feasibility with traditional neurothesiometer for improved management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and foot care in routine clinical practice
Get PDFAims/Objectives: Peripheral neuropathy is a common complication in diabetes, leading to loss of sensation, ulceration, and amputation
risks. Current assessments depend on infrequent professional reviews, delaying diagnosis and treatment. This study evaluated a
smartphone-based point-of-care neuropathy testing device that would allow patients to monitor their condition remotely. The study aimed to
validate its accuracy compared to the Neurothesiometer.
Methods: Participants with diabetes were recruited from clinics and community invites. Each participant completed the Diabetic Foot
Disease and Foot Care questionnaire (DFDFC-Q) and underwent neuropathy assessment with a Neurothesiometer and the new device.
The study was conducted in two stages: accuracy comparison using Bland-Altman analysis and test-retest reliability assessments. Adverse
Device Events (ADEs) and Serious Adverse Effects (SADES) were monitored. Usability data was collected from patients, buddies, and
healthcare providers (HCPs) using the NASA Task scale. The study was ethically approved and funded by NIHR grant 201316.
Results: A total of 314 participants with diabetes, 8 buddies, and 6 HCPs completed the tests. The Bland-Altman plot indicated equivalence
between the two devices. No ADEs or SADES were reported.
Conclusions: Final results, including accuracy comparisons, test-retest data, and usability outcomes, will be available. This study
demonstrates the feasibility of using a smartphone-based device for neuropathy assessment and suggests potential improvements for
diabetic foot care and patient self-management
Telework dynamics: Communication at work moderates the relationship between resilience and stress
No full textThis study examines the relationship between resilience and mental health outcomes, specifically anxiety, depression, and stress, among remote workers. Additionally, it explores how communication with superiors and peers may influence this relationship. A sample of 200 Spanish employees, recruited incidentally through social networks, participated in the study. Inclusion criteria required participants to be currently employed with at least six months of remote work experience. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were conducted to assess the relationships between variables and test the hypotheses. To explore moderation effects, Hayes’ PROCESS Model 1 was employed, providing a robust framework for examining whether communication with superiors and peers moderates the association between resilience and mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, and stress). The findings revealed negative correlations between resilience and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Furthermore, analyses indicated that effective communication with both superiors and peers significantly moderates the resilience-stress relationship. Communication was found to bolster the stress-buffering effects of resilience. Overall, these results emphasize the critical importance of fostering robust communication channels in remote work environments to enhance employee resilience and mitigate stress. Organizational strategies such as regular check-ins, transparent communication practices, and supportive environments can facilitate better mental health outcomes for remote workers
Progress of the unique fellowship in health research evidence synthesis in Nepal
Get PDFSecond editorial reporting on work conducted as part of our British Council–funded research capacity-building project in Nepal