Acute cardiovascular responses to slow and deep breathing in normotensive men and women

Slow and deep breathing is recommended as an effective treatment for hypertension using the RESPeRATE device. However, the acute cardiovascular responses to slow and deep breathing, including the potential mechanisms underlying its antihypertensive effect are not fully understood. This study characterised the acute cardiovascular responses to three differing, 10-minute bouts of slow and deep breathing. Twelve participants completed four conditions in a randomised order: 1) RESPeRATE, 2) dynamic slow and deep breathing frequency, 3) fixed breathing frequency of 6 breaths.min-1, 4) spontaneous breathing. Comparing mean values for all variables obscured the cardiovascular perturbations created by slow and deep breathing. However, intra- and inter-breath differences (minimum vs. maximum) in arterial blood pressure were significantly larger during slow and deep breathing compared with spontaneous breathing. The amplitude of systolic blood pressure oscillations increased by up to 10.2% (11.4 mmHg) during inspiration and 8.4% (10.0 mmHg) during expiration (spontaneous breathing; 2.9% (3.4 mmHg) and 3.4% (4.2 mmHg) respectively). Cardiovascular responses were maximised at ~6 breaths.min-1, but further research is needed to identify the optimal breathing frequency to induce maximal cardiovascular perturbations

Touching objects: a psychosocial analysis of the BBC television series The Repair Shop - Focus group transcripts

Transcripts from three focus groups concerning clips from The Repair Shop (TRS), a BBC television programme first shown in 2017. The focus groups of between three and five members were shown three clips from TRS selected to encapsulate the core recurring themes of the programme, which had emerged from the larger thematic textual analysis. The clips shown in the groups had already been subjected to researcher textual analysis. One of the clips was shot and aired prior to the pandemic; one was shown during the lockdown period, while the third was broadcast in April 2023. The focus groups had two main purposes: the showing of clips focused on the construction and emotional impact of TRS, allowing for exploring audience experiences of the programme and its tactility and meaning as well as emotional reactions to the programme’s major themes: family, loss, love, memory, mourning and reparation

Player Load Equation Comparison - Analysis Pipeline

MATLAB code supporting: Not All Player Load Equations Are Equivalent: Formula Choice Alters Load Magnitude and Interpretation in Elite Football (Callaway, Ellis & Williams). This repository contains 1) the complete analysis pipeline used to process optical positional tracking data from the 2022 FIFA World Cup and compare eleven player load equations across four signal-processing conditions. and 2) code for generating figures from those data. Starting from raw PFF Sports JSONL tracking files, the pipeline extracts XY coordinates, derives acceleration using a central finite-difference scheme, applies Butterworth and Kalman smoothing conditions, accumulates all eleven equations per player-match observation, and produces the descriptive statistics, Bland-Altman agreement analyses, conversion coefficients, and rank-order comparisons reported in the manuscript. Requirements: MATLAB R2020b or later, Signal Processing Toolbox. Input: PFF Sports JSONL tracking files and event JSON files (not included; available from PFF Sports: https://www.blog.fc.pff.com/blog/pff-fc-release-2022-world-cup-data ). Output: Per-player-match load values for all eleven equations, Bland-Altman statistics, pairwise conversion coefficients, and all manuscript figures

TikTok Usage in the UK and USA, 2026

This dataset contains survey data collected for the study “TikTok Usage in the UK and USA: Investigating the Role of Demographic Factors, Personality Traits, and User Motivation.” The research examined how demographic characteristics, personality traits, and motivations for use predict patterns of TikTok engagement among adults in the United Kingdom and the United States. Data were collected using an online survey distributed via the participant recruitment platforms Prolific and Sona Systems. The final sample consisted of 361 adult participants aged 18–68 years. Participants self-reported their TikTok usage over the previous week, including hours spent on TikTok and number of times the app was opened. Usage was recorded across three time periods: day-time (6:00–22:00), night-time (22:00–6:00), and total weekly usage. In addition to usage metrics, the dataset includes measures of demographic variables (age, gender, nationality), personality traits, and user motivations. Personality was measured using the Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10), which assesses extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness. Motivations for TikTok use were measured using the Motives for TikTok Use scale, capturing dimensions such as socially rewarding self-presentation, trendiness, escapist addiction, and novelty

Knowledge and attitudes of Bournemouth University students towards breastfeeding

This dataset was collected as part of an MRes thesis examining breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes among Bournemouth University students. The study aimed to assess levels of knowledge and attitudes toward breastfeeding, compare these between health and non-health disciplines, and explore associated factors. A cross-sectional survey design was employed using a self-administered online questionnaire hosted on JISC Online Surveys. The questionnaire comprised three sections: attitudes toward breastfeeding (using IIFAS), breastfeeding knowledge (AFORM), and demographic and contextual information. For more information on the measurement tools used in this survey, see the accompanying additional information file

Season-Long Weekly Hip Adduction and Abduction Isometric Strength in Elite Male Soccer Players: A 36-Week Premier League Dataset (2019–20)

This dataset contains weekly bilateral isometric hip adduction and abduction strength measurements collected from an elite male soccer cohort across a full competitive season. All player names have been replaced with anonymised identifiers (P01–P17). Dates have been removed. All other variables are unchanged from the original analysis dataset

A Constructivist Grounded Theory examining how trauma and the social determinants of health impacted perinatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the role of caseloading midwives in tackling widening health inequalities in England.

Background England is an unfair nation, with deep-rooted inequalities that have shown no signs of improvement since the COVID-19 pandemic. Research indicates that the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) - the root causes of health and wellbeing - negatively impact perinatal health inequalities. The evidence on the SDoH is poorly implemented in maternity care policy and interventions designed to address inequalities. Midwifery Continuity of Care (MCoC) models targeted at improving perinatal mortality and morbidity for women and babies facing multiple disadvantage, including socioeconomic inequalities, have a significant role to play in improving birth outcomes, experiences, and equity within the wider public health agenda. This doctoral study explored the social complexities women faced and their experiences of these during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the research explored the experiences of NHS midwives working in a MCoC model in a city in the south of England, to better understand how midwives tackled widening inequalities within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Examining these domains provided evidence on the social complexities women experienced during this global health crisis, mechanisms that underpin the known benefits of MCoC, and the evolving public health role of MCoC midwives in England. Methods A qualitative, Constructivist Grounded Theory (ConGT) was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews with twenty-three perinatal women and thirteen MCoC midwives were conducted remotely, either by telephone or via Microsoft™ Teams or Zoom™. Data were analysed using ConGT techniques of initial, focused, and advanced coding, along with constant comparison and theoretical sampling. Findings This research identified two core categories. The first - ‘sucking it up and getting on with it’ revealed the pervasiveness of trauma and the survival-based behaviours women had developed in response to their previous experiences. Most perinatal women were survivors of Adverse Childhood Experiences and/or traumatic experiences in later life. These experiences were cumulative and were compounded by intersectional, structural inequalities, including the SDoH. This first category, supported by multiple subcategories, highlighted the pervasiveness of trauma on women’s health and well-being during the perinatal period. These experiences significantly influenced women’s survival strategies and maternity care journeys. The second core category - ‘we’re only really scratching the surface of the complexities women face’, explained the challenges MCoC midwives faced when tackling widening inequalities. With a lack of prioritisation and investment in their professional development, plus limited community resources, MCoC midwives frequently ‘stepped up’ in place of other organisations and professionals in order to meet women’s needs. Midwives demonstrated remarkable resilience and agility, fostering strong, relationally attuned, and empathic relationships with women. Working in the MCoC model promoted the chance of midwives to establish a relationally attuned relationship with women, which enhanced midwives’ professional curiosity and the quality-of-care women received - allowing for better identification of the psychosocial issues women faced. To maintain integrity in the healthcare system, midwives attempted to influence the SDoH impacting women’s lives such as housing and income inequalities, contraception, and perinatal mental health. Targeted efforts to address perinatal inequalities in the research setting were threatened by factors including inadequate data collection, and a lack of midwifery presence at strategic levels to influence local public health interventions. Conclusion This study highlights a critical gap in trauma-informed care within NHS maternity services. Moreover, despite compelling evidence on the impact of the SDoH on population health, these factors remain insufficiently addressed in maternity policy, education, and practice. This study offers several recommendations to improve maternity care and inform policy reform. Crucially, in order for maternity services to effectively support women with complex social factors and to keep pace with the changing needs and demands of society, the professional development of midwives must be prioritised. Training about the impact of trauma and the SDoH on the life chances of women and their babies must be prioritised. In parallel, policymakers must foster stronger collaboration between midwifery, integrated care systems, Local Authorities and wider partners to enhance service delivery and drive meaningful improvements in population health

An Interview with Robert Mckee

Appendix A: Interview with Robert McKee (2023) Note: This interview was checked and accepted by Mckee for using this thesis. In addition, his assistant (Oliver) has checked transcription of this interview. My PhD research focuses on Ingmar Bergman’s screenwriting practice, examining how his creative methods intersect with both mainstream and alternative theories of screenwriting. To explore this intersection in greater depth, I conducted an in-depth interview with Robert McKee, a renowned story consultant and author of Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting. During our extended Zoom discussion, McKee elaborated on Bergman’s influence through the lens of his own theoretical framework, exploring how Bergman’s artistic and narrative choices both align with and challenge conventional models of screenwriting, thereby underscoring his pivotal role in the history of cinema. I intend to share selected excerpts from this interview with the readers of the Journal of Screenwriting, as the conversation not only provides valuable insights into the relationship between theory and creative practice but also serves as a potential foundation for future academic investigations into screenwriting methodologies. In the interview, McKee reflects on how and why he has consistently drawn upon Ingmar Bergman as a model screenwriter to reinforce his structural screenwriting principles in both his workshops and publications. By doing so, the enduring significance of Bergman’s oeuvre becomes particularly evident, as McKee explicitly acknowledges him as one of the most influential and intellectually rigorous figures in the history of world cinema

Anonymised Interview Transcripts from the Study: Care Experiences in Decompensated Advanced Liver Disease. Perspectives of People with Lived Experience, Carers and Professionals

Anonymised interview transcripts from a doctoral study exploring experiences of care in advanced liver disease. Participants include persons with liver disease (PWLD), carers, and healthcare professionals (HCPs). All transcripts have been anonymised, with pseudonyms used for participants

Player Transcripts from qualitative interviews for the thesis project Playing through the Pandemic: A Psychocultural Analysis of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants who had engaged with the game during periods of social restriction. The semi-structured format enabled a flexible approach, allowing participants to reflect on their experiences of gameplay, social interaction, and emotional engagement while also ensuring that key themes relevant to the research questions were addressed. Interviews focused on participants’ in-game activities, their relationships with other players, and the meanings they attributed to their virtual environments and avatars. The interview material was analysed using a psychocultural framework, drawing on psychoanalytic concepts to examine how gameplay functioned as a space for emotional regulation, connection, and imaginative engagement during a period of uncertainty and isolation