‘The Day the Flame Came to Town’: The Olympic flame, symbol, community and commodification

Debates regarding the Olympic Flame Relay oscillate between questions concerning the symbolic value of the Relay and the commodified nature of the Games more generally. Whilst some argue for the potential intercultural understanding that the Flame Relay fosters, others point to the extent to which Olympism is embedded within the practices of commercial companies. Research thus tends to use either ethnographic accounts or media analysis – the former being seen by some as authentic and the latter viewed as capable of capturing the commodified context of such consumption. Attention is given here to its visit to one town and how people experienced the Relay themselves, against its (re)construction in local and national mediated accounts. Data was collected from interviews with those watching the Flame Relay, extensive photographic records, fieldwork observations, and local media coverage of the event. The ritual itself appeared temporary, superficial and contoured by the major sponsors of the Relay. While the Flame had some local significance, claims made for its broader symbolic value appeared muted – people knew less about Olympism and were less moved by its symbolism

Improving Computational Methods for Designing Polar Protein-Protein Interfaces

Computational protein design has come a long way over the past few decades, but there is still room to improve. Even state-of-the-art computational protein modeling software has challenges when attempting to design protein-protein interactions. Current rotamer optimization protocols have problems when performing sequence design at the interface of multiple protein chains, specifically with respect to desolvation penalties. Additionally, modern docking protocols use artificial energy landscapes that are poorly suited for protein interface design. In this study, I inspect the current state-of-the-art protocols, identify their shortcomings, and develop and benchmark improvements and/or replacements. I lay out three improvements (two for rotamer optimization at the interface and one for docking), benchmark them, and show that they all improve our ability to sample the energy landscape provided. The benchmarks show that, based on computational metrics, our new protocols are able to minimize risk of desolvation penalties without any energetic tradeoffs compared to existing standards.Doctor of Philosoph

Devising Work-based Learning Curricula With Apprentice Research Software Engineers

Work-based learning (WBL) is a delivery model that attempts to address the isolation of theory and practice by integrating them into a single programme. The concern is that through lack of experience and understanding, both universities and industry may devise `Frankenstein' curricula, harming individuals rather than helping them. This poster introduces a small project to support curricula development by proposing universities act as both the learning provider and workplace for apprentice Research Software Engineers (RSEs)

Which anthropometric and lower body power variables are predictive of professional and amateur playing status in male rugby union players?

The purpose of this study was to compare anthropometric and lower body power measurements between current professional and amateur male rugby union players. The present study also sought to determine which anthropometric and physical performance variables were predictive of playing standard. Thirty professional and 30 amateur RU players performed Wattbike 6 s maximal effort (WB6S) and countermovement (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) assessments, anthropometric measures were also taken. Dependant variables recorded and analysed including: body mass, stature, Σ8 site skinfolds, WB6S absolute and relative peak power, CMJ and SJ average concentric force, jump height, peak velocity, time to peak force, rate of force development (RFD) and absolute and relative peak force and power. Professional players were heavier, taller and leaner than their amateur counterparts (p < 0.05). Professional players performed significantly better in all physical performance measures except CMJ and SJ time to peak force, CMJ RFD and SJ relative peak force. Variables which were predictive of playing standard were: Σ8 skinfolds, CMJ peak velocity and WB6S absolute and relative peak power (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that the current body of male professional RU players is anthropometrically and physically superior to their amateur counterparts, although not all variables assessed here were predictive of playing standard. Data presented here indicate that Σ8 skinfolds, WB6S absolute and relative power and CMJ peak velocity are predictive of playing standard, whereas other anthropometric and strength and power variables are not

Atypical tibial fracture in a 63-Year-old woman with intermittent use of bisphosphonate unmasking hypophosphatasia

We report an unusual case of atypical proximal tibial stress fracture (APTF) associated with intermittent use of bisphosphonates (BPs) and persistently low serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. We describe the case of a 63-year-old white woman who had experienced an APTF after 4 years of intermittent exposure to alendronate given for recurrent metatarsal stress fractures. BP administration was stopped after the diagnosis of the APTF. A review of her previous serum ALP levels revealed they had been consistently low. Adult hypophosphatasia (HPP) was diagnosed by the low serum ALP activity and elevated urine phosphoethanolamine levels. She was treated conservatively with analgesics. Adult HPP is an underrecognized condition associated with atypical insufficiency fractures, and BP use compounds this risk. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of intermittent BP exposure preceding an APTF in an adult patient with HPP, highlighting the uncommon site of the proximal tibia for BP-associated atypical insufficiency fractures, the need to screen for HPP in those with persistently low ALP levels before they begin BP therapy, and the importance of avoiding BP use in those with HPP

Are dual and single exposures differently associated with clinical levels of trauma symptoms? Examining physical abuse and witnessing intimate partner violence among young children

A significant portion of children living in the United States have experienced trauma. Informed by the developmental traumatology model, we explored the effects of physical abuse and witnessing intimate partner violence (IPV) on childhood trauma symptoms. This study utilizes a convenience sample of 580 high- risk children between 3 and 12 years who received services from one- child advocacy centre during a 12- month period. We performed a series of binary logistic regression analyses to examine if physical abuse, exposure to IPV, and dual exposure (i.e., both physical abuse and IPV) are distinctly associated with six trauma symptoms, including anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress (PTS), dissociation, anger, and sexual concerns. The results indicated that dual exposure was predictive of all trauma symptoms, except for dissociation. Additionally, physical abuse was associated with PTS, anger, and sexual concerns, whereas exposure to IPV was associated with depression, PTS, and sexual concerns. Research and implications for practitioners working with young children are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154965/1/cfs12700.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154965/2/cfs12700_am.pd

Preventive Benefits of U.S. Childcare Subsidies in Supervisory Child Neglect

Using data from age 3 of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, the current study explores the complex relationships between U.S. child care subsidies and neglect. Specifically, the study examines two research questions: (1) Are U.S. child care subsidies associated with selfreported neglect among low-income mothers? (2) What individual types of self-reported neglect are significantly reduced by receipt of child care subsidy? Using negative binomial regression examining the relationships among mothers who were income-eligible for child care subsidy, we found that child care subsidy was associated with lower levels of supervisory neglect, indicating an important role of subsidy in the lives of low-income families

Clinical Topic Review: Behavioral Health Screening for Children with Well Visits

The first Clinical Topic Review was conducted in order to better understand how behavioral health screenings were occurring for children and adolescents during well visits prior to the implementation of a requirement that primary care providers perform behavioral health screening using a standardized behavioral health screening tool during every well child visit

Forming Community in Computing Science Education with Research in Practice Project Activities

The United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER) conference is emerging as a leading venue to disseminate research contributions to the community. However, it is important the venue continues to act as an entry point for individuals to participant in computing science education research. Consequently, the present proposal is to offer a new form of collaborative, community-forming activity at the UKICER conference called Research in Practice Project Activities (RIPPAs). The first RIPPA is focused on Spatial Skills and Computing Science and will be offered at UKICER 2021