Case Study: The effects of a three-week restricted carbohydrate diet on exercise metabolism and performance of three cyclists

Introduction. Restricted carbohydrate diets (RCDs) have become popular amongst endurance athletes as a means of increasing fat oxidation and improving health outcomes. However, it is unclear if these adaptations improve exercise performance. Aim of Study. This case study investigated the effect of a three-week RCD on exercise metabolism and performance, alongside evaluating the subjective experiences, of three recreational cyclists. Material and Methods. Participants were randomly assigned to the normal diet (ND) (~50% CHO, ~30% fat, ~20% protein) or RCD (10% carbohydrate, 70% fat and 20% protein) and switched diets after three weeks. The participant’s performed a weekly laboratory assessment consisting of an incremental, sub-maximal cycling step-test and a 20-minute time trial (TT). Body fat (skinfold) measures were repeated after each diet and the participants recorded their food/drink intake using a smartphone app throughout the study. Results. Whole-body peak fat oxidation, measured during sub-maximal cyc…

Why gay men make great coaches: how the experience of developing a positive gay identity impacts coaching practice

While studies on the experiences of gay men working in the helping professions have explored the personal strengths and attributes they bring to their work, there is limited literature about gay men working in coaching. This heuristic inquiry provides insight into how nine gay male coaches felt their experience of developing a positive gay identity impacted their identity as a coach. The findings reveal a parallel between the experience of ‘coming out’ about sexuality and the process that coaching can facilitate in supporting clients to ‘come out’ about their challenges and ambitions. This is the first qualitative study to explore the experience of gay male coaches and has the potential to be of interest to coaches who identify as being from other minority groups.

Settling the Sacred: refugee & migrant women - narratives of faith, settlement, and acculturation.

While it has been estimated that approximately eighty four percent of the world’s population hold religious beliefs and adhere to some type of religious practice (Pew Research Centre, 2012), it has historically been neglected as a field of interest and study for development scholars and practitioners (De Wolf & Wilkinson, 2019). In 2020 the global number of refugees reached 26.3 million, and the resettlement and positive integration of refugees in third countries became an UNHCR global priority (UNHCR, 2020). The aim of this study was to gain a more nuanced and practical understanding of how religion interacts with the settlement and acculturation experience of migrant and refugee women in Australia. The research built on Berry’s (1997; 2005) acculturation framework and used an Arts-Based Engagement Ethnography (ABEE) approach. This facilitated the collection of qualitative data through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with six women from Zara’s House – refugee women and children’s centre in Newcastle. T…

The value of mentoring in supporting career progression and a sense of belonging for Black social workers, when working in a predominantly White-dominant profession

Mentoring is embedded in social work education, but little is known of how workplace mentoring supports the career progression of Black social workers. Using narrative analysis this UK-based study interviewed five Black social workers. Findings highlight the importance of psychosocial mentoring (provided by same-ethnicity mentors) and sponsorship mentoring (provided by cross-ethnicity mentors). This study also raises challenges for all mentors when working in contexts of disadvantage.

Editorial

Medicine, black magic and supernatural beings: Cultural rituals as a significant threat to slender lorises in India

1. Trade of wildlife for use in traditional medicines, rituals, magical spells and cultural practices occurs globally and has been studied mostly in Africa and Asia. 2. The grey slender loris Loris lydekkerianus is used for both medicinal and ritual purposes, but little information is available on how the user is meant to extract their medicinal properties, or the potential impact these practices have on the species' populations. 3. From 2014-2021, we used open-ended interviews with 293 informants in three slender loris range states in Southern India to collect qualitative information on people's beliefs regarding the use of slender lorises in traditional medicine, black magic rituals and other cultural practices. To understand this further, we analysed data on 139 live slender loris rescues from three rescue and rehabilitation centres and one government organization in Bengaluru, India collected over an 18- year period. 4. We found that 116/139 live individuals had been involved in black magic rituals, i…

Dreaming of a Flat Earth

Since the turn of the Millennium, it has become increasingly difficult to understand the socio-political landscape using the traditional models. Although this is a global phenomenon, it is particularly evident in the United States, which is where we will focus the majority of this article. The current era is dominated by a series of overlapping phenomena, rooted in a series of what we term “disconnections,” that bring into view a new “spherical” political reality. These disconnections describe situations where the empirical, or observable, world differs from the actual, but often hidden, reality. Deriving from these disconnections, the traditional “flat” understanding of political structures, focused on “traditional” axes of Liberal to Conservative and Libertarian to Authoritarian, ignores an important third dimension that we will examine. This third axis relates to issues of rural / nationalist / science-skeptical versus urban / globalist / science-positive. This article explores how this third axis informs,…

Administrative discretion to adjourn possession claims where Universal Credit leads to serious rental arrears

Systemic features as well as maladministration in the operation of the Universal Credit system expose tenants claiming support with their housing costs to an increased risk of serious rental arrears through no fault of their own. However, following Matthews v North British Housing [2004], tenants who are in receipt of support with their housing costs, and who face problems with decisions on entitlement or payment through no fault of their own, currently have no defence to claims for possession based on mandatory Ground 8. This steers mandatory possession claims towards summary possession hearings and outright (immediate) possession orders, and so operates to preclude the protections that would otherwise act as a safety net against this outcome. This discussion proposes that the combined effects of these measures justifies a reconsideration of Matthews. Underlying this proposal, it is argued that there are insufficient grounds for excluding administrative discretion to adjourn mandatory possession claims wher…

How does engaging in authentic research at undergraduate level contribute to student wellbeing?

In the context of rapidly growing numbers of university students reporting that they have experienced mental health problems, this paper argues that doing research as an undergraduate can contribute to student wellbeing. Although the benefits of undergraduate research are well documented, underlying reasons for its efficacy on positive student outcomes require investigation. This paper uses Self-Determination theory, which has empirically shown that fulfilling one’s need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness fosters wellbeing. Using authenticity as a conceptual lens to understand undergraduate research experiences, and a novel connection to Self-Determination theory, the theoretical proposition that authenticity within undergraduate research contributes to wellbeing is elaborated. The paper suggests that authenticity within undergraduate research experiences offers a way to stimulate wellbeing among our students which hinges on effective curriculum design and mentoring. Two case studies, drawn from Medici…

Gluten-free diet intervention reduces thiamine intake in two weeks, increases glycaemic response and body weight in four weeks, with no long term nutritional deficiencies

This research investigated the effects of gluten free diet (GFD) on nutritional intake, glycaemic and insulin response. In a cross-sectional study, participants who consumed gluten-containing diet (GCD; n=11) and GFD (n=11) completed a food diary, blood glucose and insulin measurements. In a pre-post intervention study (n= 11), glycaemic and insulin responses were tested before and after four weeks of a GFD. Food intake was recorded before and after two weeks. No significant differences in nutrient intake, glycaemic or insulin responses were found in the cross-sectional study. In the intervention study, there was a significant reduction in body weight (p=0.007) and body mass index (BMI) (p=0.004) after four weeks and lower thiamine intake (p=0.021) after two weeks of GFD. Glycaemic response was significantly higher (p<0.05) following GFD with no differences in insulin response. These differences were not evident if GFD was followed for a longer period, possibly due to improved food choices.