Equestrian cultures in global and local contexts

This edited volume demonstrates the broader socio-cultural context for individual human-horse relations and equestrian practices by documenting the international value of equines; socially, culturally, as subjects of academic study and as drivers of public policy. It broadens our understanding of the importance of horses to humans by providing case studies from an unprecedented diversity of cultures. The volume is grounded in the contention that the changing status of equines reveals - and moves us to reflect on - important material and symbolic societal transformations ushered in by (post)modernity which affect local and global contexts alike. Through a detailed consideration of the social relations and cultural dimensions of equestrian practices across several continents, this volume provides readers with an understanding of the ways in which interactions with horses provide global connectivity with localized identities, and vice versa. It further discusses new frontiers in the research on and practice of equestrianism, framed against global megatrends and local micro-trends. © Springer International Publishing AG 2017. All rights reserved

What people really think about safety around horses: The relationship between risk perception, values and safety behaviours

The equestrian industry reports high rates of serious injuries, illness and fatalities when compared to other high-risk sports and work environments. To address these ongoing safety concerns, a greater understanding of the relationship between human risk perception, values and safety behaviours is required. This paper presents results from an international survey that explored relationships between a respondents’ willingness to take risk during daily activities along with, their perceptions of risk and behaviours during horse-related interactions. Respondents’ comments around risk management principles and safety-first inspirations were also analysed. We examined what humans think about hazardous situations or activities and how they managed risk with suitable controls. Analysis identified three important findings. First, safe behaviours around horses were associated with safety training (formal and/or informal). Second, unsafe behaviours around horses were associated with higher levels of equestrian experience as well as income from horse-related work. Finally, findings revealed a general acceptance of danger and imminent injury during horse interactions. This may explain why some respondents de-emphasised or ‘talked-down’ the importance of safety-first principles. In this paper we predominantly reported quantitative findings of respondents self-reported safety behaviours, general and horse-related risk perceptions despite injury or illness. We discussed the benefits of improved safety-first principles like training, risk assessments, rider-horse match with enriched safety communications to enhance risk-mitigation during human–horse interactions. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Anthocyanin supplementation in alleviating thrombogenesis in overweight and obese population: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

The aim was to evaluate the effect of anthocyanin (ACN) supplementation in reducing thrombogenesis and maintaining hemostasis in pro-thrombotic overweight and obese individuals. Twenty-six (M = 9, F = 17) overweight/obese (BMI > 25) individuals participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design dietary intervention trial. Volunteers consumed ACN (320 mg/day) or placebo capsules for 28-days followed by a two-week wash-out period. ACN supplementation inhibited adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet activation-related conformational change and degranulation by reducing PAC-1 expression by 12% and P-selectin expression by 9% respectively. ACN supplementation also alleviated thrombogenic progression by reducing monocyte-platelet aggregate formation by 29% and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) expression by 21%. Platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen and arachidonic acid was reduced by 36%, 17%, and 24% respectively. ACN supplementation has the potential to reduce the risk of thrombosis in overweight/obese population by targeting specific pathways of platelet activation/aggregation and endothelial dysfunction associated leucocyte migration

Healthy choice rewards: A feasibility trial of incentives to influence consumer food choices in a remote Australian Aboriginal community

Poor diet including inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians experience a disproportionate level of preventable chronic disease and successful strategies to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote areas to consume more fruit and vegetables can help address health disadvantage. Healthy Choice Rewards was a mixed methods study to investigate the feasibility of a monetary incentive: store vouchers, to promote fruit and vegetable purchasing in a remote Australian Aboriginal community. Multiple challenges were identified in implementation, including limited nutrition workforce. Challenges related to the community store included frequent store closures and amended trading times, staffing issues and poor infrastructure to support fruit and vegetable promotion. No statistically significant increases in fruit or vegetable purchases were observed in the short time frame of this study. Despite this, community members reported high acceptability of the program, especially for women with children. Optimal implementation including, sufficient time and funding resources, with consideration of the most vulnerable could go some way to addressing inequities in food affordability for remote community residents. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Modelling low-velocity impact damage and compression after impact of 3D woven structures considering compaction

A novel finite element modelling approach is presented which incorporates representative binder yarn compaction, for simulating the low-velocity impact (LVI) and compression after impact (CAI) response of 3D woven layer-to-layer carbon/epoxy composite architectures. Simulations of out-of-plane drop-weight impact tests were performed at energies of 32 J and 42 J. Warp and weft layers were modelled as continuous plies and three different approaches were explored to model the binder reinforcement; (i) with a rectangular cross-section and non-compacted, (ii) with an elliptical cross-section and non-compacted, and (iii) an elliptical cross-section which accounts for compaction. Predictions were compared with experimental results from literature and it is shown that modelling the binder reinforcement as an elliptical cross-section with compaction leads to a predicted damage area, on the impacted side, which is within 2%, and the non-impacted side within 6% of experimental measurements. The predicted CAI strength is within 11% of the experimental values. </p