W2ID – Web 2.0 for People with Intellectual Disabilities

This report describes the work undertaken by the W2ID project partnership over two years of activity from January 2011. The W2ID project aimed to improve the employability skills, active citizenship and community participation of the European intellectual disability community. The Project co-developed and distributed a fully participatory Web.2.0-based peer-learning system called 'Klikin' that features 'easy-build' website software alongside learning and support resources. This was trialled and evaluated in a Pilot with a range of young learners and adults with intellectual disability in 5 European countries: Portugal, Latvia, Finland, United Kingdom and Austria. The W2ID project engaged partner organisations from across Europe that included national service provider agencies as well as smaller teaching and training organisations, a research and development centre and a pan European agency for organisations that deliver services for people with disabilities. The diverse expertise of the project partners and the input of people with intellectual disabilities were combined in the project to establish an innovative and inclusive European Web system. By actively involving the intellectual disability community as co-developers and participants, the project created a unique peer-learning network that enabled people to build and share personal experiences, knowledge and information. The project goal set out to make it easier for people of all abilities to participate in Web 2.0 activity such as generating their own content and using tools like blogs, social networks and wiki websites to enrich their lives. Participants with intellectual disabilities worked with partners to explore how cameras, microphones, computers and online software packages could be made more accessible for as wide a range of people to use as possible. A major review of the preferred activities of web users with intellectual disability was firstly undertaken. Learners with intellectual disability told the project partners what they like to do online; what they would like to do but found difficult; and what tools and websites they found most interesting and useful. This study informed the development of a new 'Klikin' online package and a European Support Hub website with training and support resources with a network of 'easy-build wiki websites', linked to national Web Portals managed for each of the participating countries. Over the second year of the project the Portals, Wiki Websites and the Support Hub have been populated with a mix of web 2.0 tools, advice and multimedia stories, that celebrate the lives of Europeans with intellectual disabilities and inspire the target group to use the Web in creative, safe and social ways. The W2ID project developed a clear brief from the people with intellectual disabilities who took part. Project partners refined the software packages and learning approaches to create the project‟s uniquely accessible online resource set. Participants were recruited for a pilot delivery of the Klikin system in year two of the Project, with training and support provided for the numerous organisations that took part in this large-scale project trial. Learners and their supporters participated in an in-depth survey of their experience of taking part in the Klkin pilot and their views about Web 2.0 technologies and what they could achieve. This evaluation survey demonstrated considerable personal impact for learners who took part in Klikin and has provided the first piece of authoritative research-based evidence of the potential benefit of the use of these technologies for inclusive lifelong learning. The Project partners also worked together to come up with a model that will enable Klikin to remain an easy to access resource for learners with intellectual disabilities, beyond the life of the project and into the future. Partners have formed an Alliance that will coordinate joint work across European countries to promote and deliver the Klikin package and continue the partnership to keep abreast of technological changes in the world of the Web and the further opportunities that these might bring for people at risk of exclusion in the future. The project developed a website to introduce the project in easy to understand terms, using multimedia content to help make the information accessible for potential participants with intellectual disabilities (www.w2id.eu ). A „European Support Hub‟ was also created, with resources and inspiring stories about the rich variety of ways in which the Klikin package has been used by learners, to help with the recruitment and dissemination process (http://blog.klikin.eu ). Over 370 people with intellectual disabilities took part in the W2ID project pilot and produced more than 140 'wiki websites' of multimedia content about themselves, their jobs and activities, what they like to do when they go out in their local communities and their interest in ICT, the web and multimedia. Most of these websites have been published on the Project‟s 'Klikin' European Portal where they can be accessed via sections organised according to the different languages used by the partner organisations (www.klikin.eu) The project partnership embraced a uniquely diverse range of organisations and the innovative teaching and learning methods that have been applied have resulted in the development of a rich and complex Klikin package. Over the project period this has built into an innovative online resource that has been developed in a genuinely inclusive programme of work across the partner countries. The project team are confident that this is an exemplary contribution to the quest for a really inclusive World Wide Web for all the citizens of the European Community

Longitudinal development of match-running performance in elite male youth soccer players [forthcoming]

This study longitudinally examined age-related changes in the match-running performance of retained and released elite youth soccer players aged 8-18 years. The effect of playing position on age-related changes was also considered. Across three seasons 263 elite youth soccer players were assessed in 1-29 competitive matches (988 player-matches). For each player-match, total distance and distances covered at age-group-specific speed zones (low-speed, high-speed, sprinting) were calculated using 1 Hz or 5 Hz GPS. Mixed modelling predicted that match-running performance developed non-linearly, with age-related changes best described with quadratic age terms. Modelling predicted that playing position significantly modified age-related changes (p<0.05) and retained players covered significantly more low-speed distance compared to released players (p<0.05), by 75 ± 71 m.h-1 (mean ± 95% CI) (effect size ± 95% CI: 0.35 ± 0.34). Model intercepts randomly varied, indicating differences between players in match-running performance unexplained by age, playing position or status. These findings may assist experts in developing training programmes specific to the match-play demands of players of different ages and playing positions. Although retained players covered more low-speed distance than released players, further study of the actions comprising low-speed distance during match-play is warranted to better understand factors differentiating retained and released players

The running and technical performance of U13 to U18 elite Japanese soccer players during match play

The aims of the current study were: 1) to examine age-related differences in match-running performance with two different approaches (speed vs metabolic power) in U13 to U18 Japanese elite soccer players; 2) to examine age-related differences in technical match performance in U13 to U18 Japanese elite soccer players. Participants were 110 field players from academies of two professional soccer clubs in Japan. Forty-eight 11-a-side official league matches (13, 6, 9, 7, 6 and 7 matches for U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18 age groups, respectively) were analyzed (152 complete match-files). Global Positioning System (15Hz) and video analysis were employed to analyze running and technical performance during matches, respectively. Total distance covered in absolute terms (U13 < (U14 and U15) < (U16-U18), P < 0.05 for all), high-intensity running distance ((U13-U15) < (U16-U18), P < 0.05 for all) and distance covered during the metabolic power zone ≥ 35 w∙kg-1 relative to match playing time ((U13 < U16), (U13-U15) < (U17 and U18), P < 0.05 for all), increased with age. The speed zone based approach (high-intensity running distance, ≥ 4.0 m∙s-1) underestimated high-intensity demands compared to the metabolic power zone based approach (≥ 20 W·kg-1) by ~33% to ~57% (P < 0.01 for all), with the underestimation declining with age (P < 0.001). Pass accuracy improved with age from 73% at U13 to 85% at U18 (P < 0.001). Therefore, distance covered at high speeds and at high metabolic powers, and pass accuracy increase with age. Moreover, the speed zone-based approach underestimates the demands of match play in Japanese elite youth soccer players. The current results could support coaches to develop players, identify talent and produce age-specific training programs

Longitudinal physical development of future professional male soccer players: implications for talent identification and development?

The present study examined if elite youth male association football (soccer) players aged 8–19 y (n = 2,875) from the English talent development system, who ultimately achieved professional status differed in stature, body mass, and physical performance (20-m sprint speed, slalom agility speed, vertical counter-movement jump with arm swing jump height, multistage fitness test distance) compared with their non-professional peers. The study also examined the longitudinal pattern of development of stature, body mass, and physical performance, and if this was different between future professionals and non-professionals, while considering the effects of playing position. Multilevel modeling of the 8,898 individual (player-occasion) data points suggested that from age 12.0, the future professionals performed better in a vertical counter-movement jump with arm swing test and slalom agility test than future non-professionals, and improved at a faster rate, so that by age 18.0 the differences in vertical counter-movement jump with arm swing and slalom agility performance were 1.7 cm (p < 0.001, d = 0.3) and 0.14 s (p < 0.001, d = 0.5), respectively. In addition, future professionals were faster (by 0.02–0.04 s on the 20-m sprint, p < 0.001, d = 0.2) and ran further in the multistage fitness test (by 47 m, p = 0.014, d = 0.2) than future non-professionals throughout their development, but there were no differences in stature or body mass during development between the groups. Whereas, multistage fitness test performance improved linearly with age, the development of all other physical characteristics was non-linear. There were inter-individual differences in the development of all characteristics, and there were differences between playing positions in the development of all characteristics. Thus, in summary, future professionals jump higher, are more agile, faster, and more endurance fit than future non-professionals as they age, and the pattern of development is different in professionals and non-professionals for vertical jumping and slalom agility performance

Mobile radio propagation prediction using ray tracing methods

The basic problem is to solve the two-dimensional scalar Helmholtz equation for a point source (the antenna) situated in the vicinity of an array of scatterers (such as the houses and any other relevant objects in 1 square km of urban environment). The wavelength is a few centimeters and the houses a few metres across, so there are three disparate length scales in the problem. The question posed by BT concerned ray counting on the assumptions that: (i) rays were subject to a reflection coefficient of about 0.5 when bouncing off a house wall and (ii) that diffraction at corners reduced their energy by 90%. The quantity of particular interest was the number of rays that need to be accounted for at any particular point in order for those neglected to only contribute 10% of the field at that point; a secondary question concerned the use of rays to predict regions where the field was less than 1% of that in the region directly illuminated by the antenna. The progress made in answering these two questions is described in the next two sections and possibly useful representations of the solution of the Helmholtz equations in terms other than rays are given in the final section

The effect of playing status, maturity status, and playing position on the development of match skills in elite youth football players aged 11–18 years: a mixed-longitudinal study

This mixed-longitudinal study examined the development of match skills in elite male youth footballers (aged 11–18 years), while considering the effect of playing status, maturity status, and playing position. Across two seasons, 126 elite male youth footballers were assessed in 1–10 competitive matches (401 player-matches). For each match, the on-the-ball actions of each player were recorded using a notation system. The match skills observed were frequencies of successful passes, on-target shots, dribbles, crosses, clearances, and tackles/blocks/interceptions. Multilevel Poisson analysis was used to model the development of players, with regard to each match skill. Modelling revealed significant (p < .05) age-related changes in the frequency of several match skills. That is, dribbles increased, on-target shots, crosses and tackles/blocks/interceptions decreased, whereas changes in successful passes were position-specific. Players retained by an academy performed more dribbles compared to released players (p < .05) (e.g. retained vs. released 18-year-old centre forward = 4.1 vs. 2.0 dribbles per hour), and retained defenders performed more tackles/blocks/interceptions than released defenders (p < .05) (e.g. retained vs. released 18-year-old, on-time maturing centre back = 12.5 vs. 10.2 tackles/blocks/interceptions per hour). Moreover, compared to on-time maturing players, early maturing players performed more tackles/blocks/interceptions (p < .05) (e.g. on-time vs. early maturing retained 18-year-old centre back = 12.5 vs. 15.2 tackles/blocks/interceptions per hour). Playing position affected all match skills (p < .05). The developmental profiles of match skills presented here may support experts in identifying and developing talented footballers across a wide age range, while considering the influence of maturity status and playing position

Bioluminescence imaging of chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infections reveals tissue-specific parasite dynamics and heart disease in the absence of locally persistent infection.

Chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infections lead to cardiomyopathy in 20-30% of cases. A causal link between cardiac infection and pathology has been difficult to establish because of a lack of robust methods to detect scarce, focally distributed parasites within tissues. We developed a highly sensitive bioluminescence imaging system based on T. cruzi expressing a novel luciferase that emits tissue-penetrating orange-red light. This enabled long-term serial evaluation of parasite burdens in individual mice with an in vivo limit of detection of significantly less than 1000 parasites. Parasite distributions during chronic infections were highly focal and spatiotemporally dynamic, but did not localize to the heart. End-point ex vivo bioluminescence imaging allowed tissue-specific quantification of parasite loads with minimal sampling bias. During chronic infections, the gastro-intestinal tract, specifically the colon and stomach, was the only site where T. cruzi infection was consistently observed. Quantitative PCR-inferred parasite loads correlated with ex vivo bioluminescence and confirmed the gut as the parasite reservoir. Chronically infected mice developed myocarditis and cardiac fibrosis, despite the absence of locally persistent parasites. These data identify the gut as a permissive niche for long-term T. cruzi infection and show that canonical features of Chagas disease can occur without continual myocardium-specific infection

Synthesis and antitrypanosomal activities of novel pyridylchalcones

Collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.A library of novel pyridylchalcones were synthesised and screened against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Eight were shown to have good activity with the most potent 8 having an IC50 value of 0.29 M. Cytotoxicity testing with human KB cells showed a good selectivity profile for this compound with a selectivity index of 47. Little activity was seen when the library was tested against Leishmania donovani. In conclusion, pyridylchalcones are promising leads in the development of novel compounds for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT)

Non-state actors in hybrid global climate governance: justice, legitimacy, and effectiveness in a post-Paris era

In this article, we outline the multifaceted roles played by non-state actors within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and place this within the wider landscape of global climate governance. In doing so, we look at both the formation and aftermath of the 2015 Paris Agreement. We argue that the Paris Agreement cements an architecture of hybrid multilateralism that enables and constrains non-state actor participation in global climate governance. We flesh out the constitutive features of hybrid multilateralism, enumerate the multiple positions non-state actors may employ under these conditions, and contend that non-state actors will play an increasingly important role in the post-Paris era. To substantiate these claims, we assess these shifts and ask how non-state actors may affect the legitimacy, justice, and effectiveness of the Paris Agreement

Politics in Spain: A Case of Monitory Democracy

Analysing the current political context in Spain is a major challenge to political theory. Spain is experiencing the accumulation of trends that in recent years have focused the attention of most theorists and political scientists: discrediting of the major parties, falling numbers of party members, disaffection, etc. In parallel, this trend has been accompanied by citizen mobilisations that, since 15 May 2011, are manifest in numerous channels and strategies. The aim of this paper was to analyse the complex Spanish context from the monitory democracy proposal. The results show how in recent years processes of public scrutiny have been consolidated through a range of citizen initiatives. The study offers an in-depth analysis of the main characteristics of the most notable cases and monitoring initiatives, and also reflects on their democratising potential.El análisis del contexto político actual en España es un reto importante para la teoría política. España está experimentando la acumulación de tendencias que en años recientes han centrado la atención de la mayor parte de teóricos y científicos políticos: desacreditación de los principales partidos, caída del número de miembros de los partidos, desafección, etc. Paralelamente, esta tendencia se ha visto acompañada por movilizaciones ciudadanas que, desde el 15 de mayo de 2011, son manifiestas en numerosos canales y estrategias. El objetivo de este documento es analizar el complejo contexto español desde la propuesta de democracia monitorizada. Los resultados muestran que en años recientes se han consolidado los procesos de escrutinio público mediante una serie de iniciativas ciudadanas. El estudio ofrece un análisis en profundidad de las principales características de los casos e iniciativas de monitorización más notables, y reflexiona también sobre su potencial democratizador