Situational coupling at the ruck and its effects on phase momentum and success in international men’s and women’s rugby sevens

One of the most frequent contests for possession associated with rugby sevens is the ruck. There has been no research on the patterns of rucks in rugby sevens. The aim of this study was to examine the link between coupling at the ruck, phase momentum and success. Footage from all men’s (N=63) and women’s (N=35) IRB Sevens World Series Cup knockout matches played during 2014 were analysed. Situational coupling at the ruck was divided into four categories based on the location of players. These were wide rucks (4&0); mid to wide rucks (3&1); mid rucks (2&2) and foiled rucks for all other situations. Comparisons between winning and losing teams were examined. Winning women’s teams crossed the advantage line resulting in positive momentum significantly more than losing teams (W 64.37% v L 49.59%). Situational analysis identified that wide rucks were most commonly used. Winning women created significantly more positive momentum from wide rucks (W 59.49% v L 42.36%) and scored more tries from wide rucks (W 0.91 v L 0.26) and mid rucks (W 0.53 v L 0.2). Winning men showed that attacking from mid rucks led to positive phases (W 79.17% v L 54.6%). Winners also scored significantly more tries from wide rucks (W 0.69 v L 0.39). Positive phase momentum is associated with three or more passes in men’s rugby sevens and four or more passes in women’s rugby sevens. Phase momentum has been shown to be an important aspect of success in rugby sevens. Situational analysis has identified that wide rucks are most commonly used and winning women use wide rucks whilst winning men use mid rucks to gain positive phase momentum. This study may assist coaches in developing strategies for creating positive phases in rugby sevens

The Practice Environment—How Coaches May Promote Athlete Learning

The coaching environment is the primary teaching and learning medium for the development of athlete skills. Therefore, by understanding how practice environments are designed to facilitate learning, coaches can make decisions around the structure of specific activities and behavior to promote athlete learning and development. This short review examines the coaching environment literature, with a particular focus on the structure and content within a practice session. The review will highlight the specific activities coaches utilize to develop athletes technical and tactical skills. Further, the coaching behaviors used to promote athlete learning is discussed, and how coach athlete interactions may influence learning. Finally, we provide applied recommendations for coaches, and highlight areas for future coaching science research

Quantification of global myocardial oxygenation in humans: initial experience

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>To assess the feasibility of our newly developed cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) methods to quantify global and/or regional myocardial oxygen consumption rate (MVO₂) at rest and during pharmacologically-induced vasodilation in normal volunteers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A breath-hold T₂quantification method is developed to calculate oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and MVO₂rate at rest and/or during hyperemia, using a two-compartment model. A previously reported T₂quantification method using turbo-spin-echo sequence was also applied for comparison. CMR scans were performed in 6 normal volunteers. Each imaging session consisted of imaging at rest and during adenosine-induced vasodilation. The new T₂quantification method was applied to calculate T₂in the coronary sinus (CS), as well as in myocardial tissue. Resting CS OEF, representing resting global myocardial OEF, and myocardial OEF during adenosine vasodilation were then calculated by the model. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was also obtained to calculate MVO₂, by using a first-pass perfusion imaging approach.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The T₂quantification method yielded a hyperemic OEF of 0.37 ± 0.05 and a hyperemic MVO₂of 9.2 ± 2.4 μmol/g/min. The corresponding resting values were 0.73 ± 0.05 and 5.2 ± 1.7 μmol/g/min respectively, which agreed well with published literature values. The MVO₂rose proportionally with rate-pressure product from the rest condition. The T₂sensitivity is approximately 95% higher with the new T₂method than turbo-spin-echo method.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The CMR oxygenation method demonstrates the potential for non-invasive estimation of myocardial oxygenation, and should be explored in patients with altered myocardial oxygenation.</p

Getting to know you: Engagement and relationship building: First interim national positive futures case study research report

This report represents the culmination of the first phase of the Positive Futures (PF) Case Studies Research Project rather than a definitive set of findings as such. Rather like the PF programme itself it is very much a work in progress which is evolving all the time in the context of the action research approach we have adopted. This approach involves a cycle of action and reflection, with both the projects and research adapting in relation to the themes that emerge from the study as it progresses. Nevertheless whilst this element of the research has been concerned as much with the establishment of relations with projects and participants as investigating the relationships between them, we have begun to identify a number of tentative themes and findings. These themes are presented in a fashion which is intended to guide the future direction of projects every bit as much as to gain abstract theoretical insight. Yet this recognition of the importance of practicality and direction should not distract from the importance of gaining a wider contextual feel for the programme. For whilst this summary is intended to highlight the key themes emerging from the research and the policy and practice issues associated with them, it is in the detail of the main report that a full appreciation of the PF approach emerges. It is from the more narrative accounts in these subsequent parts that we have drawn the conclusions and recommendations presented here and which will provide the baselines against which we assess future progress. Indeed these accounts are themselves drawn from three regional reports focused on the seven case studies that constitute the overall national research project

Disruption to social dyadic interactions but not emotional/anxiety-related behaviour in mice with heterozygous \u27knockout\u27 of the schizophrenia risk gene neuregulin-1.

Clinical genetic studies have implicated neuregulin-1 [NRG1] as a leading susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. NRG1 is known to play a significant role in the developing brain, which is consistent with the prevailing neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia. Thus, the emotional and social phenotype of adult mice with heterozygous \u27knockout\u27 of transmembrane [TM]-domain NRG1 was examined further in both sexes. Emotional/anxiety-related behaviour was assessed using the elevated plus-maze and the light-dark test. Social behaviour was examined in terms of dyadic interactions between NRG1 mutants and an unfamiliar C57BL6 conspecific in a novel environment. There was no effect of NRG1 genotype on performance in either test of emotionality/anxiety. However, previous reports of hyperactivity in NRG1 mutants were confirmed in both paradigms. In the test of social interaction, aggressive following was increased in NRG1 mutants of both sexes, together with an increase in walkovers in female mutants. These findings elaborate the specificity of the NRG1 phenotype for the social rather than the emotional/anxiety-related domain. They indicate that NRG1 is involved in the regulation of reciprocal social interaction behaviour and thus suggest a putative role for NRG1 in a schizophrenia-related endophenotype

Health and social care staff responses to working with people with a learning disability who display sexual offending type behaviours

This study found that 59% of social care staff were currently supporting a client with a learning disability who had offended or displayed an offending type behaviour. The range of behaviours was similar to that displayed by clients in a secure health facility and included rape, sexual assault and exposure. Only 22.9% of social care staff had received training in this area, while none of the health stuff had. Both groups expressed low levels of confidence in supporting this client group. The areas of difficulty were common to both groups and included personal attitudes and attitudes of others to the behaviour, and concern over risk, responsibility and safety. In respect of attitudes, social care staff were found to be significantly more likely to hold negative attitudes towards the person's behaviour, while health staff were significantly more likely to feel negatively towards the person. Health staff were significantly more likely to identify training as a means of further support, while social care staff identified professional input. Both groups identified the need for theoretical training about working with this client group. Despite this no significant differences were found between those who had and had not received training and confidence, attitudes and the need for further support

Symptoms Improve After a Yoga Program Designed for PTSD in a Randomized Controlled Trial With Veterans and Civilians

Objective: Although yoga shows promise as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there are few randomized controlled trials that demonstrate significant benefits for individuals with PTSD. The present study addresses this need by comparing the effects of a holistic yoga program (HYP) to that of a wellness lifestyle program (WLP) on PTSD symptom severity with a randomized clinical trial. Method: The sample consisted of 209 participants (91.4% veterans; 66% male; 61.7% White) who met diagnostic criteria for PTSD at baseline. Participants were randomly assigned to attend one of the 2 weekly interventions for 16 weeks. The HYP consisted of yoga instruction, while the WLP consisted of didactics, discussions, and walking. PTSD severity was measured using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) and the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5). Results: Analyses revealed that the HYP reduced PTSD severity measured by the CAPS-5 significantly more than the WLP at treatment end (mean difference = −5.4, effect size = 0.46, p < .001), but not at 7-month follow up (mean difference = −0.9, p = .603). Similarly, the HYP reduced PTSD severity measured by the PCL-5 significantly more than the WLP at treatment end (difference = −6.0, p = .001), but not at 7-month follow up (mean difference = −1.0, p = .682). Conclusion: Yoga may be an effective intervention for PTSD in addition to standard treatments. Future yoga trials should consider adding a social component to interventions or booster classes to maintain effects long term