Disability [sport] and discourse: stories within the Paralympic legacy

This paper aims to encourage critical reflection on what are key and pressing social and political issues surrounding the Paralympics Games. The focus of the paper is personal narratives of six current elite Paralympic athletes who have participated in at least one Paralympic Games. In response to critical stimuli presented in the form of five ‘unfinished stories’, the self-reflexive, personal, compelling narrative reflections of these individuals were (re)presented for each of the stories as a composite narrative. The stories expose questions over fear, despair, freedom, hope, love, oppression, hatred, hurt, terror, (in)equality, peace, performance and impairment. To really learn from London and reflect for Rio, we need academic work that can understand sport, sporting bodies and physical activity as important ‘sites’ through which social forces, discourses, institutions and processes congregate, congeal and are contested in a manner that contributes to the shaping of human relations, subjectivities, and experiences in particular, contextually contingent ways.

Monuments, mobility and Medieval perceptions of designed landscapes: The Pleasance, Kenilworth

The Pleasance was a ’virandarium’ or pleasure garden, constructed by Henry V in the grounds of his castle at Kenilworth. Despite its high academic profile and the survival of well-preserved earthwork remains, the Pleasance has never previously been subjected to a programme of detailed archaeological survey and investigation. This article discusses the results of a new analytical earthwork survey undertaken by staff from English Heritage in 2012. It considers the contribution that these new findings make to the wider debate on medieval designed landscapes, with a particular focus on mobility and its role in unlocking the meaning and symbolism embedded in elite landscapes.

High-throughput phenotyping (HTP) identifies seedling root traits linked to variation in seed yield and nutrient capture in field-grown oilseed rape (Brassica napusL.)

Background and Aims Root traits can be selected for crop improvement. Techniques such as soil excavations can be used to screen root traits in the field, but are limited to genotypes that are well-adapted to field conditions. The aim of this study was to compare a low-cost, high-throughput root phenotyping (HTP) technique in a controlled environment with field performance, using oilseed rape (OSR; Brassica napus) varieties. Methods Primary root length (PRL), lateral root length and lateral root density (LRD) were measured on 14-d-old seedlings of elite OSR varieties (n = 32) using a ‘pouch and wick’ HTP system (∼40 replicates). Six field experiments were conducted using the same varieties at two UK sites each year for 3 years. Plants were excavated at the 6- to 8-leaf stage for general vigour assessments of roots and shoots in all six experiments, and final seed yield was determined. Leaves were sampled for mineral composition from one of the field experiments. Key Results Seedling PRL in the HTP system correlated with seed yield in four out of six (r = 0·50, 0·50, 0·33, 0·49; P < 0·05) and with emergence in three out of five (r = 0·59, 0·22, 0·49; P < 0·05) field experiments. Seedling LRD correlated positively with leaf concentrations of some minerals, e.g. calcium (r = 0·46; P < 0·01) and zinc (r = 0·58; P < 0·001), but did not correlate with emergence, general early vigour or yield in the field. Conclusions Associations between PRL and field performance are generally related to early vigour. These root traits might therefore be of limited additional selection value, given that vigour can be measured easily on shoots/canopies. In contrast, LRD cannot be assessed easily in the field and, if LRD can improve nutrient uptake, then it may be possible to use HTP systems to screen this trait in both elite and more genetically diverse, non-field-adapted OSR.

The Masters in Teaching and Learning (MTL): a retrospective, intrinsic case study of the process of policy into practice and its impact on teacher participants

The research reported here is a retrospective case study of the recent (2010) introduction of the Masters in Teaching and Learning (MTL) as a post-graduate level programme of professional development for teachers. It contributes to the debate and research over the past two decades about the impact of post-graduate professional development and appropriate ways of delivering it. The study is located within an extensive body of literature dealing with the importance of the teaching profession with regard to the success of schools and pupils and the impact of professional development on teaching quality and of teaching quality on attainment. A further relevant context is the ongoing tension between the teaching profession and academics on the one hand and government and political actors on the other, in respect of the approaches to professional development and to the control of educational processes. The research questions which inform the study deal with the perspectives of various participants – policy makers, programme directors, coaches and teachers studying for the MTL – on the extent to which the MTL is likely to have an ameliorative effect on teaching and pupil attainment, their experiences of the process of policy development and their experiences as course participants. The study adopts a case study approach which involves elite interviews with those responsible for the development and implementation of the MTL, questionnaires completed by MTL course participants and a comparison group taking a conventional MA and in depth interviews with participants and coaches. The results revealed tensions and difficulties associated with the development of the MTL including uneasy relationships between HE institutions and government agencies, ideas about ‘producer capture’, the relevance of the MBA model and concern over the role of coaches. However, while acknowledging various difficulties and some misconceived expectations they viewed its potential to meet its expressed aims positively, given time. Course participants were positive about their experience of the MTL and felt that it had contributed to many aspects of their professional development. Most saw it as a positive experience despite the variable quality of support from their schools, particularly in the form of the school-based coach the concept of which had been heralded as the bellwether of the MTL. It was striking that the responses of the MTL participants were very similar to those of teachers taking a conventional MA. A finding which would repay further investigation is that while the great majority of course participants felt that the MTL (and the MA) had contributed to their becoming more effective teachers they were much less confident that it had contributed to increased pupil attainment.

The effect of an adventure race on lymphocyte and neutrophil death

The effect of an adventure race (Ecomotion Pr), which lasted for 4-5 days, on neutrophil and lymphocyte death from elite athletes was investigated. Blood was collected from 11 athletes at rest and after the adventure race. The following parameters of cell death were measured in neutrophils and lymphocytes: cell membrane integrity, DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial transmembrane depolarization and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Phagocytosis capacity was also evaluated in neutrophils. The adventure race raised the proportion of cells with the loss of membrane integrity; lymphocytes by 14% and neutrophils by 16.4%. The proportion of lymphocytes with DNA fragmentation (2.9-fold) and mitochondrial transmembrane depolarization (1.5-fold) increased. However, these parameters did not change in neutrophils. ROS production remained unchanged in lymphocytes, whereas an increase by 2.2-fold was found in neutrophils due to the race. Despite these changes, the phagocytosis capacity did not change in neutrophils after the race. In conclusion, the Ecomotion Pr race-induced neutrophil death by necrosis (as indicated by the loss of membrane integrity) and led to lymphocyte death by apoptosis (as indicated by increase DNA fragmentation and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane).

Induction of Lymphocyte Death by Short- and Long-Duration Triathlon Competitions

LEVADA-PIRES, A. C., M. F. CURY-BOAVENTURA, R. GORJAO, S. M. HIRABARA. E. F. PUGGINA, I. L. PELLEGRINOTTI, L. A. DOMINGUES FILHO, R. CURI, and T. C. PITHON-CURI. Induction of Lymphocyte Death by Short- and Long-Duration Triathlon Competitions. Med. Sci. Sporty Exerc., Vol. 4 1, No. 10, pp. 1896-1901, 2009. Purpose: The effect of triathlon competitions on death of lymphocytes from elite athletes was investigated. Material and Methods: Blood was collected from sedentary volunteers and triathletes at rest and after a short-duration triathlon (SDT) and after a long-duration triathlon (LDT-half Ironman) competitions. Results: The athletes had lowered lymphocyte proliferation capacity compared with sedentary volunteers either at rest or after the competitions. There was no difference in the parameters associated with lymphocyte death when sedentary volunteers were compared with triathletes at rest. Lymphocytes from triathletes after SDT competition showed an increase in DNA fragmentation, phosphatidylserine externalization, and mitochondrial transmembrane depolarization and did not alter membrane integrity when compared with cells from athletes at rest. In contrast, the LDT competition raised the proportion of lymphocytes with loss of membrane integrity when compared with cells from athletes at rest and did not change the apoptotic parameters. The LDT competition induced an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by lymphocytes compared with triathletes at rest. The SDT competition did not alter ROS production by lymphocytes when compared with cells from triathletes at rest. ROS production by lymphocytes after LDT competition was 60% higher than in SDT. Conclusions: Evidence is presented herein that an LDT competition caused lymphocyte death by necrosis, whereas an SDT induced lymphocyte apoptosis. The mechanism for lymphocyte death induced by the triathlon competitions may involve an increase in ROS production at different extents.

Technical variation in a sample of high level judo players

Technical actions performed by two groups of judokas who won medals at World Championships and Olympic Games during the period 1995-2001 were analyzed. In the Super Elite group (n = 17) were the best athletes in each weight category. The Elite group (n = 16) were medal winners who were not champions and did not win more than three medals. Super Elite judokas used a greater number of throwing techniques which resulted in scores, even when expressed relative to the total number of matches performed, and these techniques were applied in more directions than those of Elite judokas. Further, the number of different throwing techniques and the variability of directions in which techniques were applied were significantly correlated with number of wins and the number of points and ippon scored. Thus, a greater number of throwing techniques and use of directions for attack seem to be important in increasing unpredictability during judo matches.

Elitidrottsproblem? : En kvalitativ studie om elitidrottares karriäravslutning

This paper used a qualitative technique from a social scientific perspective, a model based on Hewitt and his theory of the self-concept. The purpose of this study was to investigate why some elite athletes experience troublesome periods after their career ending. Interviews were performed with five elite athletes with varying experiences after career ending. The length of the elite athlete careers vary between 7 to 17 years. Two groups were made based upon experiences after career ending. Group 1 had experienced problems, for example suicide tendency, and group 2 had not. The result shows that a troublesome period can come up independently of career ending. The self-concept was investigated during the career and further different kind of variables which could affect the self as training and competition, social relations both before and after termination from sport. Result indicates that an individual in group 2 who has a high complexity in the self-concept based upon significant others outside the elite sport during the career copes with the new situation after career ending much better than group 1 who have not. To build up the self based only upon significant others in the elite sport seems to give expression in a strengthen self. Intensity in training and competition did not have a connection with a troublesome period after retirement from sport but it could prevent establishing contact with others outside the elite sport and reduce a high complexity in the self-concept. The result further shows that elite athletes who practise an individual sport trains in to a greater extent than elite athletes in a seasonal sport. Result also shows that practising a sport with one day off a week, contributes to better opportunities for developing a higher complexity in the self-concept. Suspicions has also rouse that practising an elite sport on the highest level can lead to extensive focusing that further leads to social isolation from individuals outside elite sport. To build up the self upon significant others outside elite sport during the career and keep in touch with significant others from elite sport after the career seems to be the key to avoid problems after the career ending. Suggestions about further investigations are made to see if medial exposure and status can affect the self.

Faktorer som påverkar uppkomsten av hot och våld inom psykiatrin

Syftet med denna systematiska litteraturstudie var att beskriva faktorer som påverkade uppkomsten av hot och våld inom psykiatrin. Till resultatet har författarna använt sig av tjugoen vetenskapliga artiklar som hämtats ur Högskolan dalarnas databaser ELIN, Academic Search Elite samt Cinahl. Sökord i olika kombinationer har använts för att få fram relevant litteratur till studien. De sökord som användes var violence, nursing, mental health nurses, aggressive patients, aggressive behaviour, psychiatric units, patients, factors, prevention, aggression, nurses, psychiatric, management, psychiatry och causes. Även manuell sökning i tidskrifter har gjorts. Artiklarna skulle vara publicerade tidigast år 2000 om inte tidigare studier ansågs innehålla relevant fakta för studien. Granskning av artiklarna genomfördes med hjälp av granskningsmallar. Resultatet visade att bemötandet av patienter inom psykiatrisk vård var av stor betydelse för om hotfulla och våldsamma incidenter skulle inträffa. Att som vårdpersonal försöka förstå anledningen till den uppkomna situationen kunde leda till att dessa situationer kunde undvikas. Patienterna upplevde ofta att personalen inte lyssnade och detta var en vanlig orsak till att våldsamma incidenter uppstod. Vårdpersonalen ansåg istället att patientens sjukdom var orsaken till uppkomsten av hot och våld. På avdelningar där patienter med paranoida och psykotiska tendenser var intagna ökade risken för våldsamma situationer. Patienterna upplevde ofta tiden på den psykiatriska avdelningen som långtråkig och det påverkade stämningen. Både vårdpersonal och patienter ansåg att mer aktiviteter skulle minska aggressionen på avdelningen.

Unga kvinnors upplevelse av beslutsprocessen vid abort

Syfte: Att belysa den unga kvinnans upplevelse av beslutsprocessen vid valet av abort, som underlag för helhetsförståelse vid omvårdnaden av denna. Metod: Litteraturstudie som redovisar resultat från artiklar med kvalitativ- och kvantitativ ansats samt två systematiska litteraturstudier. Datainsamling skedde genom databaserna ElinDalarna, Academic Search Elite (EBSCO) och SveMed+. Sökord som använts är - abortion, psychological aspects, decision-making, experience och omvårdnad. Huvudresultat: I beslutsprocessen präglades kvinnorna av ambivalens. Känslor vid oönskad graviditet skiljde sig inte mycket mellan olika kvinnor. Även kvinnor som var säkra i sitt beslut upplevde ambivalens. Abort som en lösning på oönskad graviditet hade sitt pris hur beslutsam kvinnan var. Ett abortbeslut var för många kvinnor en smärtsam nödvändighet och många kvinnor upplevde ångest vid abortbeslutet. Känslor och erfarenhet som kvinnor upplevde i beslutsprocessen och vid abort påverkde kvinnornas känsloliv resten av deras liv. Kvinnors konsultationsmönster, angående sin oönskade graviditet, är annorluna än vid andra stora händelser i livet. Kvinnor sökte ofta stöd i sitt beslutsfattande. Det var viktigt att sjuksköterskan, i mötet med den abortsökande kvinna, förhåller sig neutral i tal samt använda öppna frågor. Slutsats: Under förespegling att kvinnan har ett fritt val gör hon sitt val av abort. Detta val innehåller allehanda komplexa känslor och paradoxer. Det är viktigt med medvetenhet om detta, bland sjuksköterskor, för att ge adekvat och neutral omvårdnad.

Information och undervisning vid omvårdnad av patient med hjärt- kärlsjukdomar : En Litteraturstudie

Syfte: Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att undersöka hur information når fram till patienter med hjärt-kärlsjukdomar. Metod: Systematisk litteraturstudie. 15 artiklar, både kvalitativa och kvantitativa, granskades till resultatsdelen efter sökningar genom databaserna Academic Search Elite, CINAHL och PubMed, samt sökmotorn Elin@Dalarna. Artiklarna som använts är från 2002 och framåt. De hade en kvalitet som var antingen medel eller hög efter en granskning med hjälp av granskningsmallar för kvalitetsbedömning.Huvudresultat: Det fanns behov för patienter och deras anhöriga att få information om patientens tillstånd och kommande besvär. Riskuppfattning, riskbearbetning, känslor, personliga värderingar, social press, miljö och ekonomiska förutsättningar bidrog som barriärer för att få informationen att nå fram till patienterna. Patienterna uppgav att det behövdes förbättringar angående information och undervisning. Det fanns många områden där förbättringar kunde göras angående information och undervisning vid hjärt- och kärlsjukdomar. Ibland ges inte den informationen som patienterna tycker att de behöver.

Mjuk massage som symtomlindring inom cancervård : Litteraturstudie

Syftet med denna studie var att söka kunskap om användningsområden för mjuk massage inom cancervård som en komplementär behandlingsmetod till medicinsk behandling. Metoden var en litteraturstudie där artiklar söktes i databaserna Academic Search Elite och PubMed via Högskolan Dalarnas nätverk. 12 artiklar, varav nio kvantitativa och tre kvalitativa, ligger till grund för litteraturstudien. Artiklarna var publicerade mellan åren 2000-2010. Artiklarna kvalitetsgranskades efter vedertagna granskningsmallar. Studiedeltagarnas symtom bildade följande kategorier under analysprocessen: existentiella upplevelser, smärta, oro, depression/nedstämdhet, illamående och sömnlöshet. Resultatet visade att mjuk massage kan lindra symtom och negativa upplevelser inom cancervård. Mjuk massage kan användas inom cancervård till att bekräfta patienterna existentiellt, deltagarna blev lugnare i kropp och själ, kände sig värdefulla, omhändertagna och mindre ensamma. En tydlig smärtlindrande effekt sågs i samtliga studier där massagens inverkan på smärta studerades. Depression, nedstämdhet, oro och illamående lindrades i majoriteten av studierna.

Patientens upplevelse av den perioperativa dialogen : En litteraturöversikt

Syfte: Att beskriva hur patienten upplevde den perioperativa dialogen och dess information.Metod: Studien genomfördes som en litteraturöversikt. De vetenskapliga artiklarna söktes via databaserna Cinahl, Pubmed, Medline och Academic Search Elite. Uppsatsförfattarna valde ut 16 artiklar låg till grund för resultatet. Artiklarna bestod av både kvalitativa och kvantitativa studier. Artiklarnas kvalitet bedömdes utifrån granskningsmallar.Resultat: I studier kunde utläsas att patienterna hade goda upplevelser av den perioperativa dialogen. Patienterna kände sig delaktiga i sin egen omvårdnad och behandling samt upplevde att operationssjuksköterskan såg dem som viktiga i omvårdnadsprocessen. Patienterna blev sedda som individer och inte som objekt. Patienterna kände även en samhörighet med operationssjuksköterskan. Detta gjorde att patienterna kände sig trygga och kunde lämna över ansvaret till operationssjuksköterskan. Resultatet visade även att det fanns brister i informationsgivningen samt att olika vårdkategorier fokuserade på olika innehåll i den perioperativa informationen. Patienterna upplevde ett ökat informationsbehov rörande operationen samt uppföljning postoperativt av operationspersonal.Slutsats: Den perioperativa dialogen hade ett stort värde för patienterna. Brist på preoperativ information ledde till en oförberedd och otrygg patient. Att helt frångå en viktig bit i patienternas omvårdnad ledde till en upplevelse av att inte vara delaktig i sin egen situation. Den postoperativa uppföljningen visade sig vara viktig för patienternas välbefinnande.

Aktiviteters påverkan på livssituationen hos äldre i särskilt boende : En litteraturöversikt

Syfte: Att identifiera vilka aktiviteter som var vanligt förekommande på särskilt boende utifrån litteraturen och vilka effekter de hade på äldres livssituation. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en litteraturöversikt och artiklar söktes genom databaserna Pubmed, CINAHL with Full Text och Academic Search Elite. Studiens resultat innehåller 18 antal artiklar. Resultat: Olika sociala och fysiska aktiviteter hade en positiv inverkan på livskvalitén, men även på de boendes upplevelser av ensamhet. Deras fysiska förmåga förbättrades också i form av att de lättare kunde utföra aktiviteter i dagliga livet (ADL). Fem olika kategorier med aktiviteter skapades. Dessa var trädgårdsprogram, fysisk aktivitet, interaktion med djur, sociala aktiviteter och musik. De olika aktiviteterna hade även en positiv inverkan på äldre med demenssjukdomar i form av minskad agitation och störande beteende. Slutsats: Aktiviteters förekomst på särskilt boende bidrar till en förbättrad livssituation. Äldre bör erbjudas möjlighet att delta i olika sociala och fysiska aktiviteter.

En meningsfull tillvaro för den äldre människan : En litteraturöversikt

Syfte; Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt var att beskriva upplevelsen av vad som skapar en meningsfull tillvaro samt hur sjuksköterskan kan stödja och främja en meningsfull tillvaro för de äldre vid särskilda boenden. Metod; Studien genomfördes som en litteraturöversikt. Artiklar publicerade mellan åren 2000-2012 söktes i databaserna CHINAL, ELITE, PubMed, SweMed samt i tidskriften Vård i Norden. Resultat; Resultatet visade på att upprätthållandet av kroppens fysiska och mentala förmågor hade stor inverkan för den upplevda hälsan. Social gemenskap, goda vårdrelationer och ett aktivt delagande i den egna vardagen ansågs även placera den äldre i ett sammanhang, vilket också grundade för meningsfullhet och välbefinnande. Konklusion; För att uppnå en god omvårdnad av de äldre krävdes sjuksköterskor med ett stort kunnande och engagemang där goda omvårdnadsrelationer skapades utifrån den enskildes livsberättelse, behov och önskningar.