Southampton Solent University
  • Southampton, United Kingdom
Recent publications
The utilisation of new information technologies is essential for the design of remote-controlled ships. However, cyber threats pose significant risks to both their safety and security. Since 2021, international regulatory innovation has focused on the cyber hygiene of ships, focusing on ship procedures and training. This study investigates the potential exploitation of remote-controlled ships during port navigation. Therefore, this study proposes a risk-based methodology to evaluate ship cybersecurity threats within port limits. Leveraging STPA-SafeSec’s analysis, security threats are identified. FAHP is employed to assess the severity of each constraint. The study focuses on UK ports. Twenty-one cases in the UK are used to weigh the severity of an accident caused by a ship in port. The study highlights the importance of port facilities in monitoring cyber threats for ships. Overexposure to web ship information, combined with the proximity of UK ports in cities, is found to be a severe threat.
This paper examines the exploitation of marginalized children and youth at risk of violent victimization and sexual exploitation by networks of adult criminals. Using the UK as an example, we consider various public inquiries that identified serious failings in UK criminal justice, social care, public health, and educational systems. These reports said that children and youth had been exploited by networks of adult criminals over time. They also described a sense of defeatism and lack of agency among the criminal justice and social service agencies to address the social, criminal, and public health problems associated with this form of child and youth exploitation. We discuss research that illuminates this issue and suggest some avenues for building trust between victims/survivors, community members, criminal justice agencies, and social services.
The workplace is a key environmental determinant of health and wellbeing. Food choices can be influenced by several workplace related factors including, but not limited to, working hours, the workplace food environment, job roles and workplace culture. Therefore, the workplace is increasingly viewed as an important place for public health nutrition interventions. However, research in this area is fragmented and heterogeneous due to the wide range of workplace settings and occupational groups. This editorial summarises the research presented at The Nutrition Society Workplace Diet and Health Special Interest Group Satellite Symposium in July 2024 as part of the inaugural Nutrition Society congress.
This study compared the effects of 90° versus 40° hip flexion in the leg extension exercise on quadriceps femoris muscle hypertrophy. Twenty-two untrained men completed a ten-week intervention comprising two resistance training sessions per week. A within-participant design was used, with the lower limb side randomly allocated to the 40 or 90° condition. Muscle thickness of distal and proximal rectus femoris and vastus lateralis was quantified via ultrasound. Data were analysed within a Bayesian framework including univariate and multivariate mixed effect models with random effects to account for the within participant design. Differences between conditions were estimated as average treatment effects (ATE) and inferences were made based on posterior distributions and Bayes Factors (BF). Results indicated a greater hyper-trophic response in the rectus femoris for the 40° condition, with "extreme" evidence supporting a hypertrophic response favouring the 40° hip angle for the rectus femoris (BF > 100; p(Distal/ATE & Proximal/ATE >0) > 0.999), and "strong" evidence supporting no difference in hypertrophic response for the vastus lateralis (BF = 0.07). Therefore, both conditions could be viable options for increasing quad-riceps femoris hypertrophy. However, when training for maximizing rectus femoris hypertrophy among untrained men, we suggest training with a reduced hip flexion in the leg extension exercise.
The murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in 2020 incited a surge in anti-racism efforts across the world. Many organisations, including those related to sport and exercise, were quick to make their stances on racism clear. In efforts to promote anti-racism, new equality, equity, diversity and inclusion (EEDI) groups were formed, while many individuals joined protests and took to social media to raise awareness of the racism that Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) continue to face. In the sporting world, a significant burden and labour is placed on athletes of colour to make strides towards anti-racism. However, every individual working with the sport and exercise industry must act to condemn and eradicate racism. Sport and exercise organisations are in an opportune place to contribute to anti-racism efforts because of their wide reach, yet there is a need for clear advice on how to make change. Therefore, we provide commentary on 10 simple "rules" that can support sport and exercise organisations in creating and sustaining an anti-racism.
This chapter explores effective bridge simulator training for future remotely controlled (RC) maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS) navigators. The investigation focused on advanced modern ship remote navigation through combined scaled unmanned models in a lake and manned bridge simulators. Remote control by laptop emerges as a dependable choice, offering direct line-of-sight control and proving highly effective for precise manoeuvres such as berthing operations. On the contrary, remote control using the simulator instructor station set-up provides enhanced connection reliability through digital twin technology, although lacking direct visual feedback. Despite challenges, remote control using digital twins in the bridge simulator allows navigators access to comprehensive navigational equipment, while scaling issues remain a concern. The outcome of this research could be an objective for further investigation on finding the future RC MASS maritime training requirements using bridge simulators, of which the training may be linked to the way in which remote navigation is conducted in the future.
Ship collision avoidance is crucial in maritime navigation and a significant challenge is translating the Collision Regulations (COLREG) into collision avoidance algorithms suitable for fully autonomous ships. To investigate, a mixed-method experimental research of criteria-based subjective performance was undertaken. This mixed approach involved gathering quantitative data through bridge simulator experiments and qualitative data through subjective assessments conducted by maritime simulation lecturers. Bridge simulators were effectively adapted to serve as a testing bed for autonomous navigation. During the algorithm validation stage, it became obvious the main challenge was to overcome the variety and subjectivity of COLREGs and the diverse ways seafarers take to avoid collisions in various situations. ‘Seamanship ordinary practice of seamen’ or by ‘the special circumstances of the case’ was a huge challenge for developing machine interpretation algorithms. The results achieved in the simulation trials uniquely identified the benefits of using iterative testing and development in collaboration with experienced seafarers and software developers.
Changes in skeletal muscle size may be affected by resting blood flow (e.g., nutrient delivery) and this change in size is a hypothesized mechanism for changes in strength. Purpose To determine: 1) whether the relationship between isometric training and muscle growth depends on baseline blood flow or is mediated by a change in blood flow and 2) whether muscle growth mediates changes in maximal isometric strength. Methods 179 participants were randomized into: low-intensity isometric handgrip exercise (LI), low-intensity isometric handgrip exercise with blood flow restriction (LI-BFR), maximal handgrip exercise (MAX), and a non-exercise control (CONTROL). Muscle thickness, strength, and resting limb blood flow were measured before and after the six-week intervention. Results Baseline blood flow did not moderate training effects on muscle thickness changes (MTHchg) ( p = 0.666), and moderated mediation tests were non-significant. Although the LI-BFR group showed a significant effect on MTHchg ( p = 0.018), MTHchg was not significantly related to handgrip strength change (HGchg) ( p = 0.281), suggesting no mediation of the training-to-strength effect by MTHchg. Both the LI-BFR ( p = 0.004) and MAX ( p < 0.001) groups exhibited positive direct effects on HGchg compared to CONTROL. Furthermore, there were no differences between training groups and CONTROL on blood flow change (BFchg), BFchg and MTHchg were not significantly related, and neither BFchg nor MTHchg predicted HGchg, providing no evidence for mediated pathways. Conclusions Muscle growth may not have occurred to an extent that would require vascular adaptation. Training maximally induced the greatest strength adaptations but was seemingly not driven by muscle growth.
Background: Reactive astrogliosis and microgliosis are coordinated responses to CNS insults and are pathological hallmarks of traumatic brain injury (TBI). In these conditions, persistent reactive gliosis can impede tissue repopulation and limit neurogenesis. Thus, modulating this phenomenon has been increasingly recognized as potential therapeutic approach. Methods: In this study, we investigated the potential of the flavonoid agathisflavone to modulate astroglial and microglial injury responses and promote neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) neurogenic niche. Agathisflavone, or the vehicle in controls, was administered directly into the lateral ventricles in postnatal day (P)8-10 mice by twice daily intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections for 3 days, and brains were examined at P11. Results: In the controls, ICV injection caused glial reactivity along the needle track, characterised immunohistochemically by increased astrocyte expression of glial fibrillary protein (GFAP) and the number of Iba-1+ microglia at the lesion site. Treatment with agathisflavone decreased GFAP expression, reduced both astrocyte reactivity and the number of Iba-1⁺ microglia at the core of the lesion site and the penumbra, and induced a 2-fold increase on the ratio of anti-inflammatory CD206+ to pro-inflammatory CD16/32+ microglia. Notably, agathisflavone increased the population of neuroblasts (GFAP+ type B cells) in all SVZ microdomains by up to double, without significantly increasing the number of neuronal progenitors (DCX+). Conclusions: Although future studies should investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms driving agathisflavone effects on microglial polarization and neurogenesis at different timepoints, these data indicate that agathisflavone could be a potential adjuvant treatment for TBI or central nervous system disorders that have reactive gliosis as a common feature.
Training one limb with a high‐load has been shown to augment strength changes in the opposite limb training with a low‐load (via cross‐education of strength), indicating that within‐subject models can be problematic when investigating strength changes. This study examined if the cross‐education of strength from unilateral high‐load training could augment the strength changes in the opposite arm undergoing the same unilateral high‐load training. 160 participants were randomized to one of four groups: (1) training on the dominant arm followed by the non‐dominant arm (D + ND), (2) training on the dominant arm only (D‐Only), (3) training on the non‐dominant arm only (ND‐Only), and (4) a non‐exercise control. All exercise groups performed 18 sessions of unilateral high‐load elbow flexion exercise over 6 weeks. Participants were compared for changes in 1RM strength and muscle thickness. Changes in strength of the non‐dominant arm were greater in D + ND (2.7 kg) and ND‐Only (2.6 kg) compared to D‐Only (1.5 kg) and control (−0.2 kg), while the changes were greater in D‐Only compared to control. The same finding was observed in the dominant arm. Only the arms being directly trained observed increases in muscle thickness. Unilateral high‐load resistance training increased strength in the opposite untrained arm, without changes in muscle thickness. This cross‐education of strength did not augment the strength changes in the contralateral arm undergoing the same unilateral high‐load training. However, it does not necessarily indicate that within‐subject models are methodologically sound to investigate strength change if both limbs are trained with a high‐load.
The Solent Student Partnership Project is a cross-institutional co-creation scheme hosted by the Education Office at Solent University. This chapter discusses how and why, over a three-year period, the project has moved from being hierarchically managed to being operationalised through a matrix environment. The chapter starts by outlining the evolution of the co-creation initiative in our context. It then shares our mixed experiences of moving our project into a matrix environment via three themes of contradiction: (1) losing sight and gaining visibility, (2) cohesive and conflicting identities, and (3) ground moving and groundbreaking. The chapter concludes by reflecting on the lessons learned and proposes some possible ways forward for staff-student co-creation in a matrix environment.
Background Sexual health service engagement is important for the healthy sexual development of young people. Further, as later adolescence and early adulthood are critical periods for relationship development, sexual health needs may vary across this period and be associated with relationship status. Methods A total of 468 participants, aged 16–25 years (mean age: 19.7 years) and living in the United Kingdom, completed an anonymous, online survey about their sexual health service use. To explore how relationship status is associated with engagement for five different sexual health services, we conducted chi-squared and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results In general, engagement with sexual health services was low: 28.2% reported accessing free condoms, 21.4% reported STI testing, and 9.4% had used relationship advice services. Among women only, 57.2% had accessed services to start the pill and 19.6% had done so for pregnancy testing. Among all participants, those in relationships were more likely to have accessed sexual health services for free condoms (aOR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.59). Among female participants, those in relationships were more likely to have accessed sexual health services to start the pill (aOR: 2.21, 95% CI: 1.45, 3.36) and for pregnancy testing (aOR: 3.86, 95% CI: 2.20, 6.78). There were no differences by relationship status for accessing sexual health services for STI testing or relationship advice. Conclusions Health care providers and relationship and sexual education providers should encourage all young people to engage with sexual health services, while also recognising that sexual health needs are likely to vary depending on relationship status.
Background/Objectives: Resistance training (RT) can improve the functional performance of older adults, maintaining independence and quality of life. It has been proposed that training interventions should implement exercises associated with the movements needed in everyday life. However, this strength training philosophy presents challenges, specifically to older adults, and the use of resistance machines might present an efficacious alternative. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to explore the impact of machine-based RT on strength and functional capacity in older adults. Methods: The inclusion criteria were for strength training interventions to be a minimum of 6 weeks, using only resistance machines, with pre- and post-intervention measurements of functional capacity of either a timed up-and-go and/or a sit-to-stand test, and including healthy older adults (>60 years). Results: Following the screening, 17 articles met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review, 15 of which were included in the meta-analysis for functional outcomes (n = 614 participants), and 11 of which were included in the meta-analysis for strength outcomes (n = 511 participants). Analyses revealed significant standardized mean change in favor of machine-based RT for functional outcomes (0.72, 95% CIs 0.39 to 1.07) and strength outcomes (0.71, 95% CIs 0.34 to 1.08) compared to control conditions (functional = 0.09, 95% CIs − 0.1 to 0.28, strength = 0.1, 95% CIs − 0.05 to 0.24). Substantial heterogeneity was noted in the manipulation of RT variables and the magnitude of effects between studies. Conclusions: The data presented support the idea that significant strength and functional performance outcomes are attainable using uncomplicated, machine-based RT.
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5,523 members
Mohammad Aref Kyyaly
  • Centre for Health, Exercise and Sport Science
Teresa Katherine Corbett
  • Faculty of Sport, Health & Social Science
Craig Allison
  • School of Sport, Health, and Social Sciences
Karen Burnell
  • School of Sport Health and Social Sciences
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