229 research outputs found
Exploring mini rugby union coaches’ perceptions of competitive activities
The purpose of this study was to explore volunteer rugby
union coaches’ perceptions of organised competitive
participation during childhood. Participants were 202 under-9
(U9) mini rugby union coaches who had coached during
the 2010/11 season. Coaches completed an Internet-based
survey, and cluster analysis was used to identify different
groups based on attitudes towards the Rugby Football
Union’s current rules and proposed changes to these rules.
Three distinct groups were identified based on whether they
wanted to maintain the status quo (Traditionalists); maintain
some elements of structure (Moderates); or have a much
less structured introduction to rugby (Radicals). In total, over
three quarters of coaches favoured structured elements
(early specialisation), while less than a quarter favoured a less
structured game (late specialisation). Only the Radical’s views
matched those espoused by elite coaches and U9 players
themselves, raising several issues regarding coach education
for player development during childhood. In the short term
there are the difficulties of aligning disparate views of U9
player development via coaching for and during competitive
games. This is further complicated by the challenges of
enhancing the skills of thousands of volunteer coaches with
limited experience, knowledge and expertise in coaching
during childhood
Playing by the rules: A developmentally appropriate introduction to rugby union
The current study examined the effect of rules changes on game behaviours and opinions of under-nine rugby union players. Eighty-nine games were filmed in five counties in England; two governed by the then current rules and three governed by new pilot rules. The pilot rules were designed to create a less structured game; reducing numbers on the pitch and limiting set pieces and specialised skills. Games played under the pilot rules had 25% more ball-in-play time; 55% more runs with the ball; more than twice as many successful passes; and nearly twice as many tries scored (ps<.001). 272 players participated in a survey. Irrespective of the rules, players identified that passing, running and tackling were key activities, while having fun and playing with friends were their main reasons for playing rugby. The results suggest that the pilot rules create a competitive game that closely matches child-led informal activities.This research was funded by a CASE studentship from the ESRC’s Capacity Building Cluster in Sport, Leisure and Tourism, based at the University of Exeter (RES-187-24-0002), in partnership with the Rugby Football Union. The authors would like to thank all the clubs and players who took part in this research and to Gary Townsend (RFU) for facilitating the process. We would also like to thank Kris James for his assistance in performance analysis of matches
Smart screens for thyroid disrupting substances in the environment
The interaction of recombinant TR with TRE-containing double-stranded DNA duplexes was monitored using the electrophoretic shift assay (EMSA). A protein titration allowed the calculation of the K& of TR for DNA. This quantitation of the affinity of TR for DNA was subsequently measured in the presence of known T3 analogues, thus providing the basis of a TR-DNA binding assay.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
Simultaneous Energy Harvesting and Hand Gesture Recognition in Large Area Monolithic Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Internet of Things (IoT) devices have become prevalent, embedding
intelligence into our environment. It is projected that over 75 billion IoT
devices will be connected by 2025 worldwide, with the majority being operated
indoors. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have recently been optimized for
ambient light, having the capabilities of providing sufficient energy for
self-powered IoT devices. Interaction with digital technologies, termed Human
Computer Interaction (HCI), is often achieved via physical mechanisms (e.g.
remote controls, cell phones) which can hinder the natural interface between
users and IoT devices, a key consideration for HCI. What if the solar cell that
is powering the IoT device can also recognize hand gestures which would allow
the user to naturally interact with the system? Previous attempts to achieve
this have necessarily employed an array of solar cell/photodiodes to detect
directionality. In this work, we demonstrate that by monitoring the
photocurrent output of an asymmetrically patterned monolithic (i.e., single
cell) DSSC, and using machine learning, we can recognize simple hand gestures,
achieving an accuracy prediction of 97.71%. This work shows that, DSSCs are the
perfect choice for self-powered interactive technologies, both in terms of
powering IoT devices in ambient light conditions and having aesthetic qualities
that are prioritized by users. As well as powering interactive technologies,
they can also provide a means of interactive control.Comment: Main body: 10 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables. Document includes
supplementary info: 30 pages, 47 supplementary figure
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