‘Legends’ in ‘lingerie’: Sexuality and athleticism in the 2013 Legends Football League US season

This paper explores the representation of female athletes within the Legends Football League (LFL; formerly ‘Lingerie Football League’) in 2013. Specifically, the study seeks to understand the vision of women’s sport, and female athletes, which the LFL propagates. Drawing on a combined content and semiotic analysis of the commentary and visuals featured in 26 LFL matches broadcast online in 2013, our data suggests that the LFL presents apparently conflicting images of sexualised, but ‘powerful’ female athletes. We discuss these data relative to competing interpretive approaches to female sexuality in sports media, and join other sports media scholars in advocating audience reception research as a necessary next step to grasping this emergent sport’s significance

Basketball coaches’ experience in working with multicultural teams: Central and Northern European perspectives

In recent sport psychology scholarship, researchers have become increasingly sensitive to the influence of cultural phenomena on various important aspects of contemporary professional sport (Duda & Alison, 1990; Ram, Starek, & Johnson, 2004). Within a context of increasing international mobility of players and coaches (Maguire, 1999), a ‘cultural turn' (Ryba, Schinke, & Tenenbaum, 2010) in the study of sport psychology has highlighted the importance of understanding cultural factors influencing contemporary experiences of elite athletes, many of whom now perform within multicultural teams, or train and compete in culturally diverse environments. For instance, according to the latest International Basketball Migration Report (CIES Observatory, 2013), in seasons 2010/11 and 2011/12, the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) registered more than 6,500 international transfers of basketball players, with an increase of 6 per cent between these two seasons. 45.2% of transferred players were Americans, the vast majority of whom (76%) went on to play in Europe during the most recently completed season (2012/2013)

Hydration change on complexation of aromatic ligands with DNA: molecular dynamics simulations

Aim. Analysis of the hydration changes at formation of DNA complexes with biologically active aromatic compounds (BAC): antibiotics actinomycin D, daunomycin, nogalamycin, novantrone and mutagens ethidium bromide and proflavine. Methods. Molecular dynamics simulations. Results. The hydration indexes for double-helical DNA and ligands in a free and complexed states were calculated. A critical analysis of modern ideas about changing water environment at binding of aromatic ligands to DNA was performed. Conclusions. It is shown that upon binding of aromatic BAC with DNA a significant (from 2.6 for novantrone to 13.1 for actinomycin D) liberation of water molecules out of hydration shells with the disruption of hydrogen bonds takes place.Цель. Исследование изменения гидратации при образовании комплексов с ДНК ароматических биологически активных соединений (БАС): антибиотиков актиномицина D, дауномицина, ногаламицина, новантрона и мутагенов бромистого этидия и профлавина. Методы. Молекулярная динамика. Результаты. Вычислены гидратационные индексы для двуспиральной ДНК и лигандов в свободном состоянии и в составе комплекса. Проведен критический анализ современных представлений об изменении водного окружения при связывании с ДНК ароматических лигандов. Выводы. Показано, что при взаимодействии ароматических БАС с ДНК происходит значительное (от 2,6 для новантрона до 13,1 для актиномицина D) высвобождение молекул воды гидратных оболочек с разрывом водородных связей.Мета. Дослідження зміни гідратації при утворенні комплексів з ДНК ароматичних біологічно активних сполук (БАС): антибіотиків актиноміцину D, дауноміцину, ногаламіцину, новантрону і мутагенів бромистого етидію і профлавіну. Методи. Молекулярна динаміка. Результати. Обчислено гідратаційні індекси для двоспіральної ДНК і лігандів у вільному стані та у складі комплексу. Проведено критичний аналіз сучасних уявлень щодо зміни водного оточення при зв’язуванні з ДНК ароматичних лігандів. Висновки. Показано, що при взаємодії ароматичних БАС з ДНК відбувається значне (від 2,6 для новантрону до 13,1 для актиноміцину D) вивільнення молекул води гідратних оболонок з розривом водневих зв’язків

Sport psychology: combat sports. Drs Anastasiya Khomutova and Claire Rossato provide some brief comments on the current state of sport psychology within combat sports

With the recent emergence of a new, international and multidisciplinary academic field dedicated to martial arts studies (Bowman, 2015), interest in the value of sport psychology research for understanding and making effective interventions into such practices is warranted. The reported use of sport psychology within combat sports (mixed martial arts, boxing, judo, etc.) has received relatively little attention in the way of academic research or applied case studies within recent sport psychology literature. This article highlights two specific areas of interest: these are psychological preparation and weight regulation within combat sports

Role demands and psychological factors underpinning performance in mixed martial arts refereeing

This paper offers a discussion of the role demands facing referees working in mixed martial arts (MMA), as well as the factors that determine their performance in managing them. To do so, it uses data derived from a qualitative, ethnographic investigation based on field observations carried out at 16 competitive MMA events, plus interviews with 7 referees, 6 of whom had extensive experience of working at the highest international levels of the sport. This data reveals several specific problems that these professionals must navigate, along with the attributes, skills and resources they identify as necessary for doing so. The paper then discusses ways in which applied sport psychology interventions can contribute towards the work of referees, particularly with respect to handling the mental demands of working in this uniquely challenging sport

Problems and prospects for the development of the agroindustrial complex in Russia

The article deals with the problems of the dynamics of agro-industrial complex of Russia and the tendencies of its functioning in modern conditions. The peculiarities of the agrarian sector of the country, advantages and disadvantages of the agro-industrial complex development are studied. The author expresses the opinion about the necessity of certain actions in the state policy on the regulation and support of agro-industrial production. It is necessary to develop a set of measures to stimulate the development of the introduction of alternative energy in rural areas, as well as in the areas of industrial livestock complexes, as well as to develop technological regulations for the production of agricultural organic products, its evaluation standards and mechanisms for the transition of Russian agriculture from the production of higher environmental quality to “green standards”. It is necessary to pay attention to such areas as sustainable investment development, technical and technological proposals, land reclamation infrastructure, digitalization and many others