Watership Down (Martin Rosen, 1978) is as controversial as it is beloved. Whether due to the tear-jerking hit song 'Bright Eyes' or its notorious representation of violence inflicted by and upon ...animated rabbits, the film retains the ability to move and shock audiences of all ages, remaining an important cultural touchstone decades after its original release. This open access collection unites scholars and practitioners from a diversity of perspectives to consider the ongoing legacy of this landmark of British cinema and animation history. The authors provide nuanced discussions of Watership Down’s infamous animated depictions of violence, death and its contentious relationship with child audiences, as well as examinations of understudied aspects of the film including its musical score, use of language, its increasingly relevant political and environmental themes and its difficult journey to the screen, complete with behind-the-scenes photographs, documents and production artwork. As the first substantial work on Watership Down, this book is a valuable companion on the film for scholars, students and fans alike. The eBook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com.
Watership Down (Martin Rosen, 1978) is as controversial as it is beloved. Whether due to the tear-jerking hit song 'Bright Eyes' or its notorious representation of violence inflicted by and upon ...animated rabbits, the film retains the ability to move and shock audiences of all ages, remaining an important cultural touchstone decades after its original release. This open access collection unites scholars and practitioners from a diversity of perspectives to consider the ongoing legacy of this landmark of British cinema and animation history. The authors provide nuanced discussions of Watership Down’s infamous animated depictions of violence, death and its contentious relationship with child audiences, as well as examinations of understudied aspects of the film including its musical score, use of language, its increasingly relevant political and environmental themes and its difficult journey to the screen, complete with behind-the-scenes photographs, documents and production artwork. As the first substantial work on Watership Down, this book is a valuable companion on the film for scholars, students and fans alike. The eBook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0licence on bloomsburycollections.com.
The fiber volume fraction (FVF) and porosity in fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) depends strongly on the manufacturing process. These parameters influence the mechanical properties and thus the ...performance of an FRP. For this research, an epoxy-pre-impregnated glass FRP was investigated to determine the FVF and matrix mass fraction taking into consideration all material constituents, including sizing, stitching thread, as well as the porosity, the area density and the fiber orientations of each lamina, the filament fiber diameter, and the inter-laminar void size and shape. Therefore, samples from a commercially manufactured wind turbine rotor blade were experimentally investigated using scanning electron (SEM) and high-resolution X-ray microscopy (micro-CT), as well as a standardized calcination method and geometric measurements. Post-processing techniques such as thresholding and edge detection were used to analyze the images. There was good FVF agreement between SEM and the method of calcination. Micro-void cross-sectional shapes were well captured by SEM while meso- and macro-voids were volumetrically resolved with a reproducible void size distribution for two sample volumes by micro-CT.
•Determination of fiber volume fraction and porosity of a commercial blade sample.•Combination of calcination with image analysis from SEM and micro-CT.•Determination of fiber volume fraction taking all material constituents into account.•Good fiber volume fraction agreement between SEM and method of calcination.
Premature rain erosion damage development at the leading edges of wind turbine rotor blades impair the efficiency of the turbines and should be detected as early as possible. To investigate the ...causes of premature erosion damage and the erosion evolution, test specimens similar to the leading edge of a rotor blade were modified with different initial defects, such as voids in the coating system, and impacted with waterdrops in a rain erosion test facility. Using CT and XRM with AI-based evaluation as non-destructive measurement methods showed that premature erosion arises from the initial material defects because they represent a weak point in the material composite. In addition, thermographic investigations were carried out. As it shows results similar to the two lab-based methods, active thermography has a promising potential for future in-situ monitoring of rotor blade leading edges.
The relationship between children and horror is fraught with tension, with children typically assumed to be vulnerable, impressionable, and in need of protection from horrific media lest they become ..."corrupted" by it. Despite this, a number of horror films intended specifically for the child demographic have been made since the 1980s. This article situates the children's horror subgenre in a generic and industrial context and addresses the key issues that its existence raises: the development of children's horror as a subgenre in Hollywood; how children's horror films, which, due to their target audience, must be inherently "less scary" than adult horror films, mediate their content, and negotiate issues of censorship in order to be recognizably of the horror genre while remaining "child-friendly"; and what pleasures the subgenre might serve its audience. The discussion concludes with analysis of the theme of "acceptance" in relation to the films ParaNorman (2012), Frankenweenie (2012), and Hotel Transylvania (2012): acceptance of monsters, of other people, and of the consumption of the horror genre as a valid children's pastime.
Abstract
Background/Aims
Physical activity and exercise for the management of inflammatory rheumatic diseases is well described in the literature and is recommended in the EULAR 2018 physical ...activity and 2021 self-management guidelines. However, the extent to which physical activity and exercise is beneficial or detrimental in these patients is unclear. The aim of this review is to critically appraise the effects of physical activity and exercise interventions on patient-centred outcomes in a range of inflammatory rheumatic diseases in order to help guide clinical practice.
Methods
Pre-defined search terms were used to identify randomised controlled trials or systematic reviews published in English, studying any form of physical activity/exercise interventions for inflammatory rheumatic diseases. This included seronegative spondyloarthritis (including axial/psoriatic/enteropathic/reactive arthritis), rheumatoid arthritis, and broadly grouped connective tissue diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and myositis. Databases included MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL, Embase and Cochrane Database of systematic reviews from January 2018 onwards. Quantitative data regarding types of physical activity, any primary or secondary outcome measures and the quality of the evidence was compiled independently by two authors. 427 studies were identified and screened of which 160 were included in the final analysis.
Results
Numerous benefits of various quality in a range of physical activities across the diseases were identified. Interventions included swimming, aquatic exercises, global posture retraining and land based aerobic exercises (including walking, Nordic walking, Pilates, Tai Chi and High Intensity Interval Training). In terms of high-quality evidence, for seronegative spondyloarthritis, benefits were found for functional outcome scores, fatigue levels and disease activity scores. In rheumatoid arthritis, benefits were seen in fitness, disease activity scores, quality of life, muscle strength and pain reduction. Across the studied connective tissue diseases, benefits were seen in fitness, ability to carry out activities of daily living, muscle strength and fatigue. Low to moderate quality evidence for improvement was seen across all diseases in areas such as mood, sleep quality and flexibility/stiffness. However, there was significant heterogeneity amongst the dose and type of exercise interventions used between identified studies. This therefore precluded a meta-analysis which meant that this review was unable to recommend one specific exercise over another. Importantly, no adverse outcomes to physical activity were found in any of the identified studies.
Conclusion
It is evident that a range of exercise and physical activity interventions can have an important role in the management of inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Moreover, the wider well-established benefits of physical activity seen in the general population, including those of mental wellbeing and in cardiovascular disease, may be pertinent to the comorbidities associated with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Future research would benefit from comparing doses and types of exercise interventions against each other in order to help further guide clinical practice.
Disclosure
R. Amarnani: None. M. Hadjidemetriou: None. A. Mundell: None. S. Katti: None. F. Chiwah: None. K. Ainsworth: None. G.S. Metsios: None. C. Lester: None.
Abstract
Background/Aims
Physical activity and exercise are often recommended to patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, based on the EULAR 2018 physical activity and 2021 self-management ...guidelines. However, multiple internal and external factors often play a role in facilitating the uptake of these interventions. The aim of this literature review is to critically appraise the motivators, facilitators and barriers to disease management, specifically exercise programmes, in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and the healthcare professionals involved in their care. This is done with a view to help further guide our clinical practice and service development.
Methods
Pre-defined search terms were used to identify papers published in English, studying any form of physical activity/exercise interventions for inflammatory rheumatic diseases. This included seronegative spondyloarthritis (including axial/psoriatic/enteropathic/reactive arthritis), rheumatoid arthritis, and broadly grouped connective tissue diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and myositis. Databases included MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL, Embase and Cochrane Database of systematic reviews from January 2018 onwards. Qualitative data regarding any motivators, facilitators and barriers to exercise for patients and health care professions were extracted. 427 studies were identified and screened of which 12 were included in the final analysis.
Results
In seronegative spondyloarthritis, the main motivators for patients included a reduction in disease activity and disability. Facilitators included social support and support from health care professionals, including the wider multidisciplinary team. Major barriers included lack of time, fatigue, pain and economic concerns. Similarly, in rheumatoid arthritis, main motivators were improvement in pain, function and strength with facilitators being social and healthcare professional support. The major barrier seen across all studies was fatigue. For the broad connective tissue diseases, motivators included general improvement in symptoms and knowledge of the benefits of physical activity. Facilitators included social and healthcare professional support as well as access to suitable exercise facilities. Finally, barriers included lack of understanding of exercise interventions and disease burden. For healthcare professionals, similar findings were found in both seronegative spondyloarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis with major motivators being increased quality of care provision and improvements in disease activity. Facilitators included ability to access high quality educational materials, and barriers included limited experience of exercise prescribing and the challenges of telehealth. No studies were identified for the viewpoints of healthcare professionals in other connective tissue diseases.
Conclusion
Exercise programmes have an important role in the management of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. By gaining a better understanding of the motivators, facilitators and barriers towards exercise in both patients and healthcare professionals, we can further develop interventions that address these domains and help better integrate physical activity into routine patient care. Particular importance should be placed on training healthcare professionals across the multidisciplinary team to facilitate the uptake of physical activity interventions.
Disclosure
R. Amarnani: None. M. Hadjidemetriou: None. K. Ainsworth: None. F. Chiwah: None. S. Katti: None. A. Mundell: None. G.S. Metsios: None. C. Lester: None.
The benefits of physical activity for people living with long-term conditions (LTCs) are well established. However, the risks of physical activity are less well documented. The fear of exacerbating ...symptoms and causing adverse events is a persuasive barrier to physical activity in this population.This work aimed to agree clear statements for use by healthcare professionals about medical risks of physical activity for people living with LTCs through expert consensus. These statements addressed the following questions: (1) Is increasing physical activity safe for people living with one or more LTC? (2) Are the symptoms and clinical syndromes associated with common LTCs aggravated in the short or long term by increasing physical activity levels? (3) What specific risks should healthcare professionals consider when advising symptomatic people with one or more LTCs to increase their physical activity levels?
Statements were developed in a multistage process, guided by the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation tool. A patient and clinician involvement process, a rapid literature review and a steering group workshop informed the development of draft symptom and syndrome-based statements. We then tested and refined the draft statements and supporting evidence using a three-stage modified online Delphi study, incorporating a multidisciplinary expert panel with a broad range of clinical specialties.
Twenty-eight experts completed the Delphi process. All statements achieved consensus with a final agreement between 88.5%-96.5%. Five 'impact statements' conclude that (1) for people living with LTCs, the benefits of physical activity far outweigh the risks, (2) despite the risks being very low, perceived risk is high, (3) person-centred conversations are essential for addressing perceived risk, (4) everybody has their own starting point and (5) people should stop and seek medical attention if they experience a dramatic increase in symptoms. In addition, eight symptom/syndrome-based statements discuss specific risks for musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, cardiac chest pain, palpitations, dysglycaemia, cognitive impairment and falls and frailty.
Clear, consistent messaging on risk across healthcare will improve people living with LTCs confidence to be physically active. Addressing the fear of adverse events on an individual level will help healthcare professionals affect meaningful behavioural change in day-to-day practice. Evidence does not support routine preparticipation medical clearance for people with stable LTCs if they build up gradually from their current level. The need for medical guidance, as opposed to clearance, should be determined by individuals with specific concerns about active symptoms. As part of a system-wide approach, consistent messaging from healthcare professionals around risk will also help reduce cross-sector barriers to engagement for this population.
•To date this is the first ever service evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDTs in elite professional rugby teams.•Despite the high acceptability of Ag-RDTs amongst players and staff in this the study, the ...performance needs ongoing real-world evaluation to support rapid transition to self-swabbing.•This study highlights the need for continued service evaluations for SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDTs in elite sport settings.
This study evaluated the validity and utility of antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) for SARS-CoV-2 in elite sports. The data on utility, ease of use and application for Ag-RDTs as a new testing format were positive from players and staff. This evaluation was limited by the low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 circulating within the three squads. This study highlights the need for continued service evaluations for SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDTs in elite sport settings.
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