Cardiff Metropolitan University Research Articles

A Contemporary analysis of tackle height: Implications for head injury risk and tackler technique in Rugby Union

Rugby tackles pose significant head injury risks, raising concerns for players' well-being. Despite advocating for lower tackle heights for safety, limited research exists explaining how tackle height influences head characteristics and tackler technique. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two tackle heights, aligned with recent law changes in the community game, on head and joint kinematics for both tackler and the ball carrier. To strengthen ecological validity, innovative techniques were employed, including markerless motion capture and Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), for tracking of the tackler's joint kinematics and head accelerations until ground contact, addressing a key limitation in previous research. Ethical approval was granted by Cardiff Metropolitan University. Ten male participants (mean ± SD age: 22 ± 3 years, stature: 184 ± 10 cm, mean mass: 94 ± 15 kg) alternated between tackler and ball carrier roles, executing upper and lower body tackles. Theia3D markerless motion capture software (Theia3Dv2022.1.0.2309, Theia Markerless, Inc., Kingston, ON, Canada) and Vicon IMeasureU Blue Trident dual-G IMUs measured tackle height's impact on head and joint kinematics. Discrete joint angles at key events and continuous joint angles normalised from 0% at Step 1 to 100% at Contact were exported. Peak head accelerations and continuous normalised head acceleration data were exported. Statistical analyses included a paired t-test for discrete joint angle data and the Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test for peak linear and angular accelerations. Cohen’s d and effect sizes were calculated for respective analyses. One-dimensional statistical parametric mapping (SPM) and one-dimensional statistical non-parametric mapping (SnPM) facilitated statistical differences across continuous variables of interest. Significant increases (P < 0.05) were noted in ball carriers' inertial head kinematics in the upper body tackle, while no such distinctions were observed for tacklers. The low tackle condition consistently exhibited substantial reductions in bilateral hip flexion, particularly during contact (Effect size; lead: −1.866; rear: −1.977). Lumbopelvic flexion significantly decreased in each event for the low tackle condition, with the largest effect size during contact (−3.91). These findings underscore the heightened inertial loading with higher tackles, indicating an elevated risk of head injury, despite current tackle height regulations. The adjustments made by the tackler in response to varying tackle heights are not evident in knee flexion. Increased knee flexion during the preparatory phase could alleviate the necessity for such a flexed lumbopelvic angle. This study, utilising innovative techniques, highlights the potential for more ecologically valid approaches to biomechanical research in rugby tackling.

How athletes’ biomechanical running characteristics effect running economy during the use of running shoes with and without carbon inserts

To maximise running economy (RE), shoe manufacturers placed carbon plates within the midsole of shoes. Shoe technology research is limited on understanding the variability of individual responses to carbon-plated shoes and how these responses vary across running velocities. Little research on same shoe characteristics with and without a stiff element has been completed. This study aimed to investigate how running shoes with carbon versus without a carbon composite stiff element alter individual running biomechanics and the metabolic cost of running. Ethical approval was gained from Cardiff Metropolitan University Ethics Committee. Ten male athletes (69 ± 9 kg; 174 ± 4 cm; 28 ± 9 years) completed two submaximal incremental treadmill runs. One test was completed in a shoe without carbon (C1), the other test was completed in carbon shoes (C2), the order of testing for each shoe were randomised. Running velocity started at 9 km/h and increased by 1 km/h every four mins, blood lactate samples were taken after every stage. Once 4 mmol·L−1 (OBLA; the second lactate turn point) had been reached one more stage was completed. Gas exchange was analysed throughout the whole test. The first 15 s of the final 2 minutes of each stage was recorded using Theia3D markerless motion capture software (Theia3Dv2022.1.0.2309, Theia Markerless, Inc., Kingston, ON, Canada). Data were analysed in 4 stages, the initial stage, pre-OBLA, OBLA and post-OBLA. Physiology data were averaged over the final two mins of each stage. Discrete joint angles were taken from each stage, and an average of the 15 s recording was taken for spatiotemporal measure. Data were analysed using a four-way repeat measures ANOVA, to show individual differences. Non-parametric data were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Hedges g calculations were completed to calculate effect size (ES). Results showed significant increase in flight time (FT; P = 0.04, ES = 0.20) in the pre-OBLA stage when using C2. Metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP) dorsiflexion showed significant increase during the initial stage in C2 (P = 0.05, ES = 0.8), and ankle dorsiflexion had significant increase in the post-OBLA stage in C2 (P = 0.03, ES = 0.2). The were no significant differences present in the physiology data. Across the physiological, spatiotemporal and kinematics, high dispersions around the mean were exhibited. Findings suggest that to improve RE, mechanical and spatiotemporal changes need to be present when using C2. Further findings show carbon shoes elicit highly individual responses to both RE and mechanics of running.

“I wasn’t interested until I actually had that consultation”: Exploring the acceptability of a community pharmacy-based hypertension visualisation intervention

Abstract Introduction Hypertension affects around 30% of the UK population and is the leading modifiable cause of cardiovascular disease1. Despite available evidence-based treatments, nonadherence to antihypertensive medication is prevalent. Health psychology theory suggests that beliefs about a condition and its treatment influence health-related behaviours such as medication adherence through the formation of ‘illness representations’, a lay perception of the health threat. Accurate illness representations and an increased belief in the necessity for medication are associated with greater medication adherence2. Visualisation of the internal process of an illness has been shown to support the accuracy of illness representations3. ViSTA-BP (Visualisation to Support Treatment Adherence for High Blood Pressure) is a digital intervention used within a healthcare consultation, enabling individuals to visualise and conceptualise hypertension and the resulting changes to the circulatory system using real-time animations. The purpose is to support medication adherence through the improved understanding of hypertension and increased perception of medication necessity. Aim To explore the acceptability of a community pharmacy-based hypertension visualisation intervention (ViSTA-BP) with community pharmacists and patients. Methods Acceptability of ViSTA-BP was investigated in a community pharmacy setting in South Wales by conducting semi-structured qualitative interviews with pharmacists and patients. Ethical approval was granted by NHS Research Ethics Committee Wales (REC) 5 (20/WA/0280) and Cardiff Metropolitan University Ethics Committee (PGR-3806). Template analysis, a form of qualitative thematic analysis, was used to guide data interpretation. The Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) provided a lens through which to investigate acceptability, considering affective attitude towards the intervention burden, intervention coherence, ethicality, opportunity costs, perceived effectiveness and self-efficacy. Patients were purposely selected, incorporating a range of locations, adherence and treatment beliefs, thus minimising bias. Results Interviews were conducted with fifteen patients and eight pharmacists who provided feedback. Both groups demonstrated a positive attitude towards ViSTA-BP. Patients were both interested in and reassured by the intervention. They showed good intervention coherence, articulating an increased understanding of hypertension and suggesting patient groups that could benefit from ViSTA-BP. Pharmacists felt ViSTA-BP illustrated the necessity for medication, demonstrating that hypertension could be managed effectively. Patients and pharmacists were positive about ViSTA-BP’s potential for effectiveness. Patients felt it provided context for their understanding of hypertension and could prompt action. Pharmacists liked the visual elements, with ViSTA-BP providing a useful addition to their consultation ‘toolkit’. Patients felt that ViSTA-BP fits well within a community pharmacy setting. Intervention accessibility and facilitator knowledge were key; patients found the intervention duration acceptable. Pharmacists felt that ViSTA-BP fits within their current practice. However, the evolving role of the community pharmacy workforce and time pressures from competing workloads created uncertainty regarding the future feasibility of ViSTA-BP within this setting. Discussion/Conclusion Both patients and pharmacists were positive about ViSTA-BP, acknowledging the potential effectiveness of the personalised interactive visual to engage the viewer and conceptualise hypertension through visual-based communication. However, pharmacists’ perceptions of future roles supported by the community pharmacy contractual framework in Wales and staff time constraints provide potential barriers to future implementation.

Questions of Identity in Sport Psychology Scholar-Practitioners.

As with other academic disciplines, sport psychology academics working in higher education (HE) in the United Kingdom (UK) in lecturer and senior lecturer positions are typically required to hold a PhD in sport psychology or a related discipline. To work in applied practice with athletes, coaches, National Governing Bodies (NGBs), and sporting organisations, practitioners are required to acquire a qualification that affords registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) through either the British Psychology Society (BPS) or the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). Accordingly, scholar-practitioners, who have "a foot in both worlds" (Tenkasi and Hay, 2008), are required to have two related but distinct qualifications, each of which requires considerable resources (i.e., time, finances, and commitment) to achieve. This paper addresses some of the dilemmas and conflicts that these individuals may encounter in their primary workplace, which typically does not provide for applied practice (either in time or financial incentives). Specifically, issues around the knowledge-transfer gap will be addressed. Real-world examples will be in the form of reflections from the author's own experiences. I am a senior lecturer in sport and exercise psychology at Cardiff Metropolitan University and the programme director of the MSc Sport Psychology. The role requires me to be HCPC registered, as well as have a PhD in sport psychology. I am also an HCPC Practitioner Psychologist, registered following completion of the BPS Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP). My practice is limited to minimal private work and the supervision of trainee sport psychologists (BPS). At the end of the paper, I leave the reader with three questions to prompt reflection on what being a sport psychologist means and what contributions scholar-practitioners may offer to academic institutions and the clients we work with.

Tools and Techniques for Teaching and Research in Network Design and Simulation

Computer networking is taught for some time at universities. A network is a complex mix of applications, communications protocols and link technologies, traffic flows and routing algorithms. Teaching the networking concept, the network design process is a challenging task, requiring designers to balance user performance expectations with costs and capacities. One of the obvious approaches employed to deal with its complexity is through the use of modelling and simulation techniques. This paper examines three best educational tools that can be used in the Computer Networking course at Cardiff Metropolitan University or any University for educational purpose. The paper demonstrates that a successful teaching programme needs to combine a range of teaching tools to achieve its aims. Analysing various aspects of the course provides evaluation of the overall success of the tools. Many network design and simulation tools have been studied. Based on our research and experiment, the best educational tools were selected that could be used for the purpose of teaching in the area of computer communications networks. The wide area network modelling tool Delite, the network simulator ns-3, the topology generation tool Brite can be used together to teach students the networking concepts. These tools can not only help students to understand computer network principles but also improve their network practical skills. Currently there are various tools available that are created by different companies and groups of researchers in academia and that are intended for use as practical and/or educational tools for network design including security issues. To make this task easy, different users, researchers and companies have developed different network modelling and simulation (MS) tools. Very often, such tools are addressing different issues in the network design process which are complementary to each other. It would be useful for learning and improving the network design process by allowing the use of a variety of tools.

Digital transformation experiences in the Balkan countries

THE ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIESVolume 89, Issue 2 e12262 EDITORIAL Digital transformation experiences in the Balkan countries Valentina Ndou, Corresponding Author Valentina Ndou valentina.ndou@unisalento.it Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy Correspondence Valentina Ndou, Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy. Email: valentina.ndou@unisalento.itSearch for more papers by this authorEglantina Hysa, Eglantina Hysa Department of Economics, Epoka University, Tirana, AlbaniaSearch for more papers by this authorVanessa Ratten, Vanessa Ratten Department of Management, Sport and Tourism, La Trobe Business School (LBS), Melbourne, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorVera Ndrecaj, Vera Ndrecaj Cardiff School of Management, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UKSearch for more papers by this author Valentina Ndou, Corresponding Author Valentina Ndou valentina.ndou@unisalento.it Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy Correspondence Valentina Ndou, Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy. Email: valentina.ndou@unisalento.itSearch for more papers by this authorEglantina Hysa, Eglantina Hysa Department of Economics, Epoka University, Tirana, AlbaniaSearch for more papers by this authorVanessa Ratten, Vanessa Ratten Department of Management, Sport and Tourism, La Trobe Business School (LBS), Melbourne, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorVera Ndrecaj, Vera Ndrecaj Cardiff School of Management, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UKSearch for more papers by this author First published: 11 January 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/isd2.12262Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Volume89, Issue2Special Issue: ‘Digital Transformation in Latin America: Challenges and Opportunities’ and ‘Digital Transformation Experiences in the Balkan Countries’March 2023e12262 RelatedInformation

The task ahead for Labour if it came to power

The task ahead for Labour if it came to power

Beliefs, behaviour, and blood pressure: preliminary analysis from a pharmacy-based hypertension visualisation intervention to support medication adherence

Abstract Introduction Hypertension is the leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, with an estimated prevalence of 31% worldwide1. Antihypertensive medication reduces both blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular risk; however, approximately 50% of patients become nonadherent to antihypertensives within a year of treatment initiation2. Nonadherence can be considered as either intentional or unintentional. Research suggests that rather than being a solely passive process, illness beliefs and treatment perceptions may influence nonintentional nonadherence3, highlighting the importance of considering patients’ beliefs when supporting adherence. The use of visuals is one method to aid understanding of complex health information and influence treatment beliefs. Aim To investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a community pharmacy-based visualisation intervention (ViSTA-BP) and explore the preliminary effect on patients’ perceptions of hypertension, medication adherence and blood pressure. Methods ViSTA-BP is a digital intervention that allows users, through real-time animations, to visualise both the condition that is hypertension and how blood pressure affects the circulatory system. The purpose of ViSTA-BP was to improve patients’ understanding of hypertension, increase perceived necessity of treatment and ultimately support medication adherence. A mixed-methods pre-post design pilot study was conducted. NHS Research Ethics Committee Wales Rec 5 (reference 20/WA/0280) and Cardiff Metropolitan University (reference PGR-3806) granted ethical approval. The intervention was consultation-based and researcher-facilitated. Outcomes were recorded at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at three-months. Validated questionnaires were used to measure illness and treatment beliefs (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ)/Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ)), adherence captured using self-report measures (Medicines Adherence Rating Scale (MARS-5)/recent adherence questionnaire) and medication dispensing/collection data. BP was measured at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Semi-structured interviews with patients and pharmacists explored intervention acceptability. Results Pharmacists recruited 69 patients with hypertension across five community pharmacies (CP) in South Wales; 54 attended the three-month follow-up. The ease of participant recruitment and high retention rates demonstrated the feasibility of delivering ViSTA-BP in this setting. ViSTA-BP content and the CP location were acceptable to patients and pharmacists. Time to deliver the intervention was a concern for pharmacists but not patients. There was no statistically significant change in adherence outcomes at three-month follow-up; however, the median scores for both self-report questionnaires were maximal at baseline. Changes were seen in illness belief scores, with a significant improvement in total B-IPQ score over time (p=0.04). Significant changes in B-IPQ treatment control (p=0.01), illness coherence (p<0.001) and BMQ Necessity subscale scores (p=0.003) were reported at all time-points. There was a statistically significant improvement in both systolic (SBP) (p<0.01) and diastolic BP (DBP) (p=0.03) three-months post-intervention. At baseline, 31% of participants had SBP at or below the UK target; however, at three-month follow-up, 59% were at or below the UK target. Discussion/Conclusion ViSTA-BP was considered a feasible researcher-facilitated intervention in this CP setting. Improvements seen in blood pressure control, patients’ understanding of hypertension, and perceptions of utility and necessity of treatment highlight the potential for the ViSTA-BP intervention to help reduce cardiovascular risk in the future. While preliminary analysis shows promise, further adequately powered research studies are necessary to evaluate future ViSTA-BP impact.

Dan, S., Ivana, D., Zaharie, M., Metz, D., & Dragan, M. (2021). Digital talent management: Insights from the information technology and communication industry. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 978–3–030‐76,750‐1. doi: 10.1007/978‐3‐030‐76750‐1

Thunderbird International Business ReviewEarly View BOOK REVIEW Dan, S., Ivana, D., Zaharie, M., Metz, D., & Dragan, M. (2021). Digital talent management: Insights from the information technology and communication industry. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 978–3–030-76,750-1. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-76750-1 Verma Prikshat, Verma Prikshat Cardiff School of Management, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UKSearch for more papers by this authorParth Patel, Corresponding Author Parth Patel parth.patel@aib.edu.au parthpatel81@outlook.com orcid.org/0000-0003-3359-977X Department of HRM and Strategic Management, Australian Institute of Business, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Correspondence Parth Patel, Department of HRM and Strategic Management, Australian Institute of Business, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Email: parth.patel@aib.edu.au; parthpatel81@outlook.comSearch for more papers by this author Verma Prikshat, Verma Prikshat Cardiff School of Management, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UKSearch for more papers by this authorParth Patel, Corresponding Author Parth Patel parth.patel@aib.edu.au parthpatel81@outlook.com orcid.org/0000-0003-3359-977X Department of HRM and Strategic Management, Australian Institute of Business, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Correspondence Parth Patel, Department of HRM and Strategic Management, Australian Institute of Business, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Email: parth.patel@aib.edu.au; parthpatel81@outlook.comSearch for more papers by this author First published: 29 November 2022 https://doi.org/10.1002/tie.22326Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Early ViewOnline Version of Record before inclusion in an issue RelatedInformation

P02-08 This has just given me life back’ – mixed method evaluation of the Wild Skills, Wild Spaces ecotherapy project, Wales, UK

Wild Skills Wild Spaces (WSWS) is a Welsh Government funded project which aims to deliver and evaluate an ecotherapy programme to improve the health, skills, and wellbeing of local communities in rural Montgomeryshire, Wales. Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust (a third sector organisation) deliver the programme which is evaluated by Cardiff Metropolitan University.The 2-year project, which began in April 2020, involves the running of 12-week interventions of weekly physically active ecotherapy activities such as tree pruning, woodwork, growing vegetables, walking and bushcraft skills. Participants (n = 40; mean age = 24.75 SD = 15.22) are people with mental health and/or behavioral problems referred via the National Health Service, health and social care partners, and schools.The mixed method evaluation includes two phases: (i) a quantitative phase which involves pre and post intervention measures concerning connectedness to nature, wellbeing, and physical activity level; and, (ii) a qualitative phase which involves interviews and focus groups with participants, referrers, and programme leaders.At this early stage in the data collection, to date no significant changes in pre and post ecotherapy intervention quantitative scores have been apparent. However, 100% of respondents have stated that they would like to continue taking part in ecotherapy programme. From the qualitative phase, participants described positive experiences of the programme particularly referring to how the programme supported their mental health, wellbeing, and social interactions. Additionally, participants highlighted the importance of the programme leaders in facilitating an enjoyable and safe environment in which they could relax, interact with others, and learn new skills.Findings from year 1 of the 2-year evaluation provide promising results that ecotherapy programmes have the potential to attract socially excluded individuals into purposeful programmes. These programmes appear, through the qualitative findings to date, to benefit participants' self-reported holistic health but are also valued by them, for their contribution to supporting the environment through playing a part in the management of outdoor, green space in our communities.

Health Psychology from a global perspective: Piloting virtual mobility workshops for Stage 1 Trainees

This report reviews a teaching project run between the MSc Health Psychology programmes at Cardiff Metropolitan University and their Transnational Education partner City Unity College, Athens. We reflect on the benefits of global exchange within Health Psychology training and discuss how virtual mobility can facilitate collaborative learning as an adjunct or alternative to in-person visits.

Provisional Designation of the Interleukin-6 Receptor (IL-6R) as a Novel Marker Gene for Exercise Tolerance

Objectives: Genomic markers linked to exercise-associated health benefits and/or sporting performance are increasingly used to guide decision-making in healthcare and sport/exercise science. This project investigated whether the IL-6R SNP “rs2228145” might be provisionally designated a novel physical activity/exercise marker. rs2228145 results in an Aspartate358/Alanine358 change adjacent to the site where the IL-6R protein is cleaved into two fragments, resulting in ~two-fold increases in blood-borne levels of soluble IL-6R [‘sIL-6R’].Methods: Cohorts of staff/students at Cardiff Metropolitan University donated/completed: [i] finger-prick capillary blood samples (subjected to ELISAs for sIL-6R, the associated signalling protein sgp130, and the IL-6/sIL-6R complex); [ii] cheek-swab samples containing buccal epithelial cell DNA (subjected to PCR-based IL-6R/rs2228145 genotyping assays); [iii] International Physical Activity Questionnaires (to estimate physical activity levels in the week preceding sample donation).Results: As expected, we observed significant genotype-dependent differences in blood-borne sIL-6R levels (CC (44.1±21.7ng/mL) vs. AC (28.6±7.3ng/mL) vs. AA (19.9±6.5ng/mL; P<0.05)); Importantly, AA homozygotes undertook significantly more physical activity than AC heterozygotes (6318±899 v. 3904±2280 MET-mins/week; P<0.01). Genotype was significantly associated with physical activity levels (P<0.05), and sIL-6R (P=0.197) and sgp130 (P=0.160) showed non-significant correlations with physical activity levels.Conclusions: These data suggest that IL-6R/rs2228145 genotype may influence participation in physical activity/exercise, perhaps by impacting on abilities to tolerate activity without experiencing adverse-effects. Although more research is required to confirm these preliminary findings, designation of IL-6R/rs2228145 as a novel marker, and determination of participants’ IL-6R/rs2228145 genotypes, may in future be useful tools to aid exercise-providers in designing personalised exercise programmes matched to clients/patients.

Career management for UK food degree students at multiple institutes using an industry‐developed professional competencies framework

AbstractRecruitment of food science and technology graduates remains a priority for the UK food industry in the wake of skills shortages. As a result of the contemporary pressures faced by the food industry, it is essential that students applying for such roles are aware of and ready for management, leadership, and relevant professional competencies. This collaborative study uses the industry‐informed established framework, namely, Competencies for Food Graduate Careers (CFGC) and assesses the integration of this resource into careers education for food‐related programs of four higher education institutions: Cardiff Metropolitan University, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Nottingham and University of Reading. Mixed method analysis was conducted with students prior to and on conclusion of the teaching sessions, including surveys and focus groups. Students confirmed that CFGC was informative and useful for preparing them for a graduate career in food science and technology. No single method of integration of CFGC was proposed; instead, intervention can be undertaken by a variety of approaches, suitable for the level of study and Institutional operation as outlined in the study.

A Two-Phase, Single Cohort Study of COVID-19 Antibody Sera-Surveillance

Objective: The infectious corona virus, COVID-19 has high case mortality in those whom suffer with severe symptoms requiring hospitalisation. A major problem associated with COVID-19 is the spread of infection by a-symptomatic carriers, or those with mild symptoms. We aim to determine the antibody prevalence in a professional Welsh cohort and begin to explore the longevity of COVID-19 antibodies. Methods: 739 Cardiff Metropolitan University staff members took part in an observational study to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies in a two-phase, single cohort study. All participants were tested for IgM and IgG antibodies against COVID-19 using a lateral flow detection assay. Venous blood samples from positive participants and a randomly selected negative population were collected to confirm antibody titre, using two gold standard immunoassays, carried out independently by the Specialist Virology Centre, UHW. Results: 3.65% of the population tested positive for antibodies against COVID-19, with a higher prevalence seen in male participants (5% vs. 2.73% of females). In addition to gender, both pre-existing asthma and age were key determinants in antibody positivity. 78.26% retained antibodies at the 3 months follow up test. 36.36% of females lost antibody positivity between the 3 - and 6 - month time points compared with 8.3% of males. Lateral flow antibody testing was shown to have 96% sensitivity and 95% specificity compared with standard tests. Conclusion: We conclude that prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies is evident in the asymptomatic population, and in 78.26% of those initially antibody positive prevails at approximately 6 months from perceived time of exposure. Males are 4 times more likely to retain antibodies for longer than females.

Exploring the Influence of Age on 3D Wideband Absorbance Immittance and the Automated Diagnosis of Otitis Media With Effusion Using Machine Learning

Background: Wideband Absorbance Immittance (WAI) has great potential as a diagnostic tool for identifying middle ear dysfunction in the ENT/Audiology clinic. The challenge to its widespread use is the limited understanding and interpretation of WAI results by practitioners because the WAI dataset contains thousands of values. This study investigated energy absorbance at varying frequency-pressure domains in normal and ears with otitis media with effusion (OME) in different age groups using machine learning (ML) tools to determine the accuracy of automated diagnosis of OME. Methods: A total of 1178 sets of WAI data (551 normal middle ears and 627 ears with OME) were divided into three age groups for statistical analysis. ML approaches included classification model development and significant region extraction from the frequency-pressure WAI plots. Findings: Significant differences were found across various frequency-pressure regions between normal and OME ears in the three different age groups. Feature selection using ML classifiers identified areas of importance at mid frequencies and pressures between -50 to +150 daPa in age groups over 3 years. More accurate OME classification was seen with the ML models in the groups over the age of 3. Interpretation: The ML approach provides great potential for the automated diagnosis of middle ear diseases using WAI data. The important discriminative regions extracted using the ML tools provide practical guidance to clinicians to decide whether an ear is normal or OME. There were however significant age influences on ML accuracies, particularly in the age group under 3 years. Funding Information: This work is supported by NIHR (AI Award, 02305), Ser Cymru III Enhancing Competitiveness Infrastructure Award (MA/KW/5554/19), Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation (5826), Cardiff Metropolitan University Research Innovation Award and The Global Academies Research and Innovation Development Fund. Declaration of Interests: None declared. Ethics Approval Statement: This study received ethical approval for data collection from Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences Ethical Committee under the Cardiff Metropolitan University ethical guidelines and regulations (Ethical reference number: Sta-3013).

A Systematic Review for Service Humanoid Robotics Model in Hospitality

Nowadays, the Fourth Industrial Revolution has brought artificial intelligence to the forefront, and more and more intelligent robots begin to be used in the hospitality industry. In this study, the application of service humanoid robots in the hospitality industry is investigated based on Cardiff Metropolitan University EUREKA Robotics Lab’s robot as reported by Lab (in Eureka robotics lab, 2017, https://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/technologies/Pages/EUREKA-Robotics-Lab.aspx). The research ontology of this study is post-positivism. The research philosophy of this research is phenomenology. Phenomenological studies have indicated that this phenomenon can only be truly understood and experienced through subjective immersive research directly involving researchers, and the interaction among researchers is an integral part of the research. In this study, the data are collated through case researches and experimental interviews. Finally, Some proposals for transforming the traditional hospitality industry into the direction of intelligence is summarized. In future research, a technical model combining artificial intelligence will be further developed.

From the President and IFST News

From the President and IFST News

Dreams for Sale: Ideal Beauty in the Eyes of the Advertiser

Dreams for Sale: Ideal Beauty in the Eyes of the Advertiser

Qualitative Methods in Psychology and History of Philosophy and Psychology Conference, Cardiff Metropolitan University, 3–5 July 2019

Qualitative Methods in Psychology and History of Philosophy and Psychology Conference, Cardiff Metropolitan University, 3–5 July 2019

The Use of Machine Learning Tools to Analyse Wideband Absorbance Immittance in Normal and Ears With Otitis Media With Effusion

Background: Wideband Absorbance Immittance (WAI) has been available for more than a decade, however its clinical use still faces the challenges of limited understanding and poor interpretation of WAI results. This study aimed to develop Machine Learning (ML) tools to identify the WAI absorbance characteristics across different frequency-pressure regions in the normal middle ear and ears with otitis media with effusion (OME) to enable diagnosis of middle ear conditions automatically. Methods: A total of 672 sets of WAI sample data (423 normal middle ears and 249 ears with OME) were collected using the Titan IMP440. Data analysis included pre-processing of the WAI data, statistical analysis and classification model development, together with significant region extraction from the 2D frequency-pressure WAI images. Findings: Statistical analysis at each frequency-pressure point showed 88% of the data points to have significant differences in absorbance values between normal ears and ears with OME. The performance of the examined classifiers to automatically diagnose the OME and normal cases showed the accuracy at around 80%. Feature selection using RF classifiers and tests of statistical significance identified an area of importance at frequencies between 1090Hz to 2310 Hz and pressures from -40 to +90 daPa from the 2D frequency-pressure WAI images. Interpretation: ML tools appear to hold great potential for the automated diagnosis of middle ear diseases from WAI data. The identified key regions in the WAI provide guidance to practitioners to better understand and interpret WAI data and offer the prospect of quick and accurate diagnostic decisions. Funding Statement: This work is supported by Ser Cymru III Enhancing Competitiveness Infrastructure Award (MA/KW/5554/19), Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation (5826), Cardiff Metropolitan University Research Innovation Award and The Global Academies Research and Innovation Development Fund. Declaration of Interests: None declared. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences under the Cardiff Metropolitan University Ethics Framework (Ethical reference number: Sta-3013).