Challenges experienced by women high performance coaches and its association with sustainability in the profession

High performance (HP) coaching is a demanding profession (Didymus, 2017). The proportion of woman HP coaches is reported to be in the range of 8.4% - 20% (Bentzen, Lemyre, & Kenttä, 2016a; Kidd, 2013). Mental health concerns in elite sports have recently gained attention, but mainly focusing on athletes (Henriksen et al., 2019). Beyond coach burnout, limited attention has been given to coaches’ mental health. A recent coach burnout review (Olusoga, Bentzen, & Kenttä, 2019) included only one paper that focused exclusively on women. It has been argued that women HP coaches face greater challenges in a male-dominated coaching culture. The purpose of this study was to explore challenges experienced by women HP coaches and their perceived associations with sustainability and mental health. Thirty-seven female HP coaches participated by answering a semi-structured, open-ended questionnaire. All responses were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, which resulted in two general dimensions: Challenges of Working as a WHPC and Sustainability and Well-being as a WHPC. Overall, results indicate that challenges reported might be common for all HP coaches, but also highlight gender specific elements. Consequently, coach retention and sustainability would benefit from more attention on well-being and mental health among HP coaches

Studies of Norspermidine Uptake in Drosophila Suggest the Existence of Multiple Polyamine Transport Pathways

Polyamines are a class of essential nutrients involved in many basic cellular processes such as gene expression, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Without polyamines, cell growth is delayed or halted. Cancerous cells require an abundance of polyamines through a combination of synthesis and transport from the extracellular environment. An FDA-approved drug, D,L-α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), blocks polyamine synthesis but is ineffective at inhibiting cell growth due to polyamine transport. Thus, there is a need to develop drugs that inhibit polyamine transport to use in combination with DFMO. Surprisingly, little is known about the polyamine transport system in humans and other eukaryotes. Understanding the transport system would allow us to identify compounds that inhibit polyamine transport, which could then be used in tandem with DFMO to treat cancer. Our laboratory has identified one gene in Drosophila, called CG32000, as a component of this transport system, and numerous other candidate genes remain to be tested. To better characterize this system, this project investigated the ability of the Drosophila transport system to take up a toxic polyamine analogue called norspermidine, with the initial goal of developing a new screening method to find polyamine transport genes. My experiments have demonstrated significant differences in norspermidine uptake and toxicity between C. elegans and Drosophila which may imply a secondary polyamine transport system in higher eukaryotes. In the long term, it is hoped that this thesis will facilitate the development of more effective cancer medications by providing new information about the polyamine transport system

Developmental Disabilities and Independent Living: A Systematic Literature Review

This paper examines the available literature on the correlation between quality of life and type of living arrangement for adults with a developmental or learning disability. The purpose was to examine whether or not adults living semi-independently experienced better outcomes than peers in traditional group homes. In general, outcomes in semi-independent living were equal to or better than the outcomes achieved in traditional group homes, and typically cost the same or less. Impacts on the provision of services and areas for future research are discussed

Developmental Disabilities and Independent Living: A Systematic Literature Review

This paper examines the available literature on the correlation between quality of life and type of living arrangement for adults with a developmental or learning disability. The purpose was to examine whether or not adults living semi-independently experienced better outcomes than peers in traditional group homes. In general, outcomes in semi-independent living were equal to or better than the outcomes achieved in traditional group homes, and typically cost the same or less. Impacts on the provision of services and areas for future research are discussed

What Factors Influence the Racial Identity Development of Young Biracial Adults

This study explored biracial identity development and the key factors that influence the racial identity development of biracial young adults. In this study biracial is defined as having parents who are African-American and Euro-American. The study participants were fourteen biracial college students between the age of 18 and 26. Data for the study was collected using indepth individual interviews. Participants\u27 perceptions of when their racial identity emerged and their current attitudes about being biracial in todays society was also examined. The majority of participants reported that the right and opportunity of racial choice was a predominate issue that contributed to their racial identity development. Furthermore, the majority of respondents indicated that family, peers, and access to diverse communities were key elements that contributed to their racial identity development. The results of this study provide insight into the developmental stages of these participants\u27 racial identity formation. Results of this study will provide social workers with an understanding of and insight into the main factors which influence the racial identity development process of bi or multiracial children

HYDRODYNAMIC MOTION OF ELECTRON BEAM HEATED WARM DENSE MATTER

The hydrodynamic motion of warm dense matter produced by intense electrons is being experimentally studied on the Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test Facility (DARHT). Experimental results are compared to hydrodynamic simulation codes for verification. Copper and titanium foils of varying thickness are heated in two stages, the first being isochoric, by an electron bunch with ~100 ns pulse length, energy of 19.8 MeV, current of 1.7 kA, and beam spot size of 2 mm. Aluminum, nickel, and carbon are heated in a similar fashion, but with a current of ~1.44 kA and beam spot size of 1 mm. The corresponding hydrodynamic motion of the foils during energy deposition is measured instantaneously with photonic Doppler velocimetry (PDV). The PDV diagnostic provides time-resolved measurement of the foil velocity, inferred pressure in the foil, and hydrodynamic disassembly time. The 1-D hydrodynamic HELIOS-CR code models the electron energy deposition on these foils. Calculated results of foil velocity and plasma pressure profiles are then compared to experimental results and 2-D hydrodynamics simulations with LASNEX. These parametric studies are crucial in understanding the evolution of warm dense matter during energy deposition, and optimizing electron-target interactions that improve the Bremsstrahlung targets and radiographic spot size capabilities on DARHT

Facilitating and supporting the elite athlete-to-coach transition: Lessons learned from Norwegian coaches and federations

Elite athletic career termination is inevitable in high performance sport. Whether due to interest, injury, age or combination of factors, athletes will undergo a shift in their professional and personal identity. While retirement out of sport has been scrutinized to both understand and support athletes, we have not thought through what the athlete-to-coach, within-sport retirement, signifies for the person undergoing it and for our applied practice and lack the approach(es) for supporting it. Based on recent research advances, we build on a range of resources to be developed in supporting athletes during the transition and in the coaching profession.publishedVersio

An Exploration of Recruitment of Elite Athletes to Coaching Within Federations

The aim of the study was to explore what sport federations look for when recruiting elite athletes into coaching, and what resources are offered to retiring elite athletes transitioning to coaching careers. The authors interviewed 10 federation officials representing eight different sports, winter and summer, individual and team sports. Thematic analysis was employed and four “what recruiters look for” higher-order themes were found, including: having the whole package essential for coaching, personal attributes displayed in their time as an athlete, singular dedication to the sport, and knowing them from their time as an athlete. Three higher-order themes surrounding resources were identified, on the support provided to those going from athlete-to-coach to facilitate a stable start, professional development, and holistic wellbeing. These resources were also considered in relation to the phase at which they were offered in the transition process, such as upon hiring, early on in the career, and as ongoing ones. While a standard or universal approach to this does not appear to exist, practices and approaches were identified here that were considered within the scope of the existing research and can be used to inform future coach development work.acceptedVersio

Use of relaxation skills in differentially skilled athletes

Objectives: To examine the use of relaxation skills by differentially skilled athletes in relation to the deliberate practice framework. Design: Differentially skilled athletes completed a survey about their use of relaxation skills. Method: 150 athletes representing three skill levels (recreational, college, and professional) completed the deliberate relaxation for sport survey, which assessed relaxation on three deliberate practice dimensions (relevancy, concentration, and enjoyment); time spent in different relaxation skills in a recent typical week; and functions of relaxation. Results: Athletes perceived relaxation as relevant to performance, requiring concentration, and enjoyable, and the relationships between these dimensions were positive. Professional and college athletes perceived relaxation as more relevant to effective competition than recreational athletes. Professional athletes engaged in more relaxation in a typical week than college and recreational athletes. In a typical week, autogenic, eastern, and muscle relaxation types were used least, deep breathing, meditation, and imagery relaxation types moderately, and stretching most. Athletes reported the primary functions of relaxation were to cope with competitive anxiety and promote recovery but relaxation was also reported to be used to cope with “everyday” anxieties associated with being an athlete. More physical (e.g., muscle relaxation) than mental relaxation types were used in relation to coping with competitive anxiety, whereas more mental (e.g., meditation) than physical relaxation types were used in relation to coping with everyday anxiety. Conclusions: The study provides support for the sport-specific framework of deliberate practice in relation to use of relaxation skills and informs the current understanding of self-regulation by athletes