Social policy on the Web: the online institutional structure of social policy domains in the UK

Our traditional image of government is often of the Parliament or of bricks and mortar government service delivery offices, such as NHS hospitals or Benefits Agency sites. However, in an online world, government is increasingly seen and experienced through the internet. Moreover, in the online world, government websites can be readily connected into hyperlink networks. What do the online 'footprints' of social policy domains look like? And how do these online social policy networks relate to equivalent offline networks? This paper examines these questions in relation to three policy domains in the United Kingdom, namely: foreign affairs, health and education. It draws on large-scale web crawls and sophisticated web-metrics and Social Network Analysis techniques to map and compare the shapes of these different policy domains. It explores the shape, nature and make-up of these various online networks and the participants in them, including the relevant contribution of non-government and commercial websites. It considers whether or not online networks may reflect or contribute to social policy networks, or government ambitions of 'joined-up' service delivery, and whether jurisdictional boundaries are evident in the online world. In examining these topics, this paper seeks to provide an empirical and conceptual contribution to understanding 21 government and service delivery

Networks of communities and communities of networks in online government

Over the past decade the World Wide Web has become a core platform for the electronic operation of government. Yet the shape and nature of government presence on the Web and the online community in which it resides remains poorly understood and relatively under-theorised. This paper analyses large-scale web crawling data that map the hyperlink network structure between government websites and the broader Web ecology in the UK. In particular, it reports the ‘communities’ of websites within a hyperlink network of over 19,000 websites and over 135,000 hyperlinks derived from 75 key UK government seed sites at national, regional (i.e. Scotland and Wales) and local government levels. These website communities were derived by utilising Infomap, a state-of-the-art community detection algorithm that operate on the principle that flows of information in complex networks reveals community structure. Identifying and analysing online communities in which government websites reside provides insights in how hyperlink communities are arranged, that is, their emergent organizing principal and the importance of government in these online communities. It is hypothesized that online ‘communities’ can occur around different policy topics (such as health, education or policing), or along institutional or jurisdictional boundaries (such as England, Scotland and Wales). Using this novel approach this paper demonstrates that communities emerge on both axes, and that social media and government portals are some of the most significant communities based on information flows. This research provides foundational knowledge about the role of government websites in the World Wide Web, the emergent online associations, and the changing dynamic of state information in the twenty-first century. It points to strategies for developing government Web presence in networks that matter

THE INFLUENCE OF SIZE ON PERFORMANCE IN WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS

Thirty-seven female gymnasts, aged initially between 10 and 12 years, completed a mixed longitudinal study over 3.3 years to investigate the effect of size on gymnastic performance. Subjects were tested at four-monthly intervals on a battery of measures including structural growth, strength and gymnastic performance. The size of these gymnasts at 150 months had a varying effect on perfmmance. Performances of front and back rotations, as well as the twisting jump were significantly, 'but inversely related to the height and mass of the gymnast. The twisting jump was positively influenced by a high ratio of strength to body mass. Gymnasts with large bodies also took Ilonger to perform the v-sit action, thus indicating poorer performance. A theoretical model was developed to demonstrate the effect of size on the ability to perform generic gymnastic skills

SOFT TISSUE LOADS AT THE HUMAN KNEE DURING RUNNING AND CUTTING MANOEUVRES

Tensile forces on the ACL increase when the knee is in an extended posture and required to accommodate applied moments in flexion, varus, valgus and/or internal rotation. However, the loading of knee joint support structures during sporting actions that are related to non-contact injuries are largely unknown. We studied external loading of the knee during running, side-stepping and cross-over cutting in 10 male subjects under both pre-planned and unanticipated conditions. Soft tissue structures of the knee were exposed to high FE, VV and IE applied moments during the cutting tasks, especially when performed in the unanticipated condition. Whilst muscle activation could accommodate some of this applied load, soft tissue structures were particularly vulnerable during the cross-over cut task where the residual loads were high

Anthropometry in physical performance and health.

Anthropometry is defined as 'the scientific procedures and processes of acquiring surface anatomical dimensional measurements such as lengths, breadths, girths and skinfolds of the human body by means of specialist equipment' (Stewart 2010). This approach has altered little if at all over the last hundred years, and even in ancient Greece, we hear of systematic body measurement in order to produce statues that were appropriately sized to real individuals. Sculptors would have appreciated that this approach demands painstaking detail, adherence to best practice, and diligence in reducing errors, and few scientists would argue with this. Anthropometry sits within the field of kinanthropometry — 'the academic discipline which involves the use of anthropometric measures in relation to other scientific parameters and/or thematic areas such as human movement, physiology or applied health sciences' (Stewart 2010). However, one of the issues for kinanthropometry, particularly in its applications for physical activity and sport, is that the tools have not advanced in parallel with those of other disciplines such as sports physiology and biomechanics. Researchers, therefore, may be persuaded to think that its relevance is reducing in a contemporary research context. Indeed, for publications in two main research journals, the prevalence of anthropometry as central to research (estimated from key word searches using similar terms) appears to have peaked a generation ago (Olds 2004). But perhaps kinanthropometry is on the verge of a renaissance for two reasons. First, the field has now largely embraced tightly defined standard procedures and error control, the lack of which previously diminished its ability to convince a research community becoming accustomed to more sophisticated methods. Second, recent advances in digital anthropometry, using three-dimensional (3D) body scanning, enable an unprecedented range of new measurement possibilities. These new measures can augment traditional anthropometry, and the combination of manual and digital anthropometry may allow new research questions to be addressed

ANTHROPOMETRY AND STRENGTH PREDICTORS OF GRINDING PERFORMANCE IN AMERICA'S CLIP SAILORS

This study aimed to determine what anthropometric and strength factors could predict performance in America's Cup grinding. Eleven male America's Cup sailors were measured for 42 anthropometric dimensions, and bench pull strength, and their power output was obtained from repeated eight-second maximal bursts of high load backwards grinding. Strength and body mass had the highest relationships with grinding performance. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that strength was the major determinant in grinding ability, explaining 64% of the known variance in grinding performance. Total arm length and total leg length were the best anthropometric predictors of performance, each explaining 9% of the remaining variance

AMERICA'S CUP GRINDERS' POWER OUTPUT CAN BE IMPROVED WITH A BIOMECHANICAL TECHNIQUE INTERVENTION

Grinding provides the power behind tacking and gybing, where the yacht crosses the wind to change direction. This study evaluated the effect of a technique intervention on grinding performance. Ten America's Cup grinders were assessed, via videoed joint kinematics and grinder ergometer power output, before and after a technique intervention based on biomechanical principles. Anthropometric measures were obtained from each grinder using ISAK protocols. Maximal strength was assessed using 1 RM bench pull. The intervention produced a 4.7% increase in mean power output (p = 0.012). Regression analysis indicated predictors for grinding performance were COM. position and maximal strength

Oral health and elite sport performance

While the research base is limited, studies have consistently reported poor oral health in elite athletes since the first report from the 1968 Olympic Games. The finding is consistent both across selected samples attending dental clinics at major competitions and more representative sampling of teams and has led to calls from the International Olympic Committee for more accurate data on oral health. Poor oral health is an important issue directly as it can cause pain, negative effects on appearance and psychosocial effects on confidence and quality of life and may have long-term consequences for treatment burden. Self-reported evidence also suggests an impact on training and performance of athletes. There are many potential challenges to the oral health of athletes including nutritional, oral dehydration, exercise-induced immune suppression, lack of awareness, negative health behaviours and lack of prioritisation. However, in theory, oral diseases are preventable by simple interventions with good evidence of efficacy. The consensus statement aims to raise awareness of the issues of oral health in elite sport and recommends strategies for prevention and health promotion in addition to future research strategies

Effect of a Perioperative, Cardiac Output-Guided Hemodynamic Therapy Algorithm on Outcomes Following Major Gastrointestinal Surgery A Randomized Clinical Trial and Systematic Review

Importance: small trials suggest that postoperative outcomes may be improved by the use of cardiac output monitoring to guide administration of intravenous fluid and inotropic drugs as part of a hemodynamic therapy algorithm.Objective: to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a perioperative, cardiac output–guided hemodynamic therapy algorithm.Design, setting, and participants: OPTIMISE was a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized, observer-blinded trial of 734 high-risk patients aged 50 years or older undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery at 17 acute care hospitals in the United Kingdom. An updated systematic review and meta-analysis were also conducted including randomized trials published from 1966 to February 2014.Interventions: patients were randomly assigned to a cardiac output–guided hemodynamic therapy algorithm for intravenous fluid and inotrope (dopexamine) infusion during and 6 hours following surgery (n=368) or to usual care (n=366).Main outcomes and measures: the primary outcome was a composite of predefined 30-day moderate or major complications and mortality. Secondary outcomes were morbidity on day 7; infection, critical care–free days, and all-cause mortality at 30 days; all-cause mortality at 180 days; and length of hospital stay.Results: baseline patient characteristics, clinical care, and volumes of intravenous fluid were similar between groups. Care was nonadherent to the allocated treatment for less than 10% of patients in each group. The primary outcome occurred in 36.6% of intervention and 43.4% of usual care participants (relative risk [RR], 0.84 [95% CI, 0.71-1.01]; absolute risk reduction, 6.8% [95% CI, ?0.3% to 13.9%]; P?=?.07). There was no significant difference between groups for any secondary outcomes. Five intervention patients (1.4%) experienced cardiovascular serious adverse events within 24 hours compared with none in the usual care group. Findings of the meta-analysis of 38 trials, including data from this study, suggest that the intervention is associated with fewer complications (intervention, 488/1548 [31.5%] vs control, 614/1476 [41.6%]; RR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.71-0.83]) and a nonsignificant reduction in hospital, 28-day, or 30-day mortality (intervention, 159/3215 deaths [4.9%] vs control, 206/3160 deaths [6.5%]; RR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.67-1.01]) and mortality at longest follow-up (intervention, 267/3215 deaths [8.3%] vs control, 327/3160 deaths [10.3%]; RR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.74-1.00]).Conclusions and relevance: in a randomized trial of high-risk patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery, use of a cardiac output–guided hemodynamic therapy algorithm compared with usual care did not reduce a composite outcome of complications and 30-day mortality. However, inclusion of these data in an updated meta-analysis indicates that the intervention was associated with a reduction in complication rate