title: Practical application of a mixed active and passive heat acclimation protocol in elite male Olympic team sport athletes

authors: Fenemor, Stephen Paul

subjects: Olympic sport

abstract: To investigate effectiveness and retention of heat acclimation (HA) integrated within an elite rugby sevens team training program, 12 elite male rugby sevens athletes undertook 10 days of mixed active/passive HA across 2 weeks of normal training. Physiological and performance variables were assessed using a sport-specific, repeated high-intensity heat-response test pre-HA; after 5 days (mid-HA) and 10 days (post-HA); and 16 days post-HA (decay). Resting, submaximal, and end-exercise core temperatures were lower at mid-HA (≤-0.26 °C; d ≥ -0.47), post-HA (≤-0.30 °C; d ≥ -0.72), and decay (≤-0.29 °C; d ≥ -0.56), compared to pre-HA. Sweat rate was greater at post-HA compared to pre-HA (0.3 ± 0.3 L·h-1; d = 0.63). Submaximal heart rate (HR) was lower at mid- (-9 ± 4 bpm; d = -0.68) and post-HA (-11 ± 4 bpm; d = -0.90) compared to pre-HA. Mean and peak 6 s power output improved at mid-HA (83 ± 52 W; 112 ± 67 W; d ≥ 0.47) and post-HA (125 ± 62 W; 172 ± 85 W; d ≥ 0.72) compared to pre-HA. Improvements in HR and performance persisted at decay (d ≥ 0.66). The initial 5 days of mixed-methods HA elicited many typical HA adaptations, with an additional 5 days eliciting further thermoregulatory, sudomotor, and performance improvements. Adaptations were well retained after 16 days of normal training, without any further heat stimulus. The trial was retrospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622000732785).

text: Practical application of a mixed active and passive heat acclimation protocol in elite male Olympic team sport athletes To investigate effectiveness and retention of heat acclimation (HA) integrated within an elite rugby sevens team training program, 12 elite male rugby sevens athletes undertook 10 days of mixed active/passive HA across 2 weeks of normal training. Physiological and performance variables were assessed using a sport-specific, repeated high-intensity heat-response test pre-HA; after 5 days (mid-HA) and 10 days (post-HA); and 16 days post-HA (decay). Resting, submaximal, and end-exercise core temperatures were lower at mid-HA (≤-0.26 °C; d ≥ -0.47), post-HA (≤-0.30 °C; d ≥ -0.72), and decay (≤-0.29 °C; d ≥ -0.56), compared to pre-HA. Sweat rate was greater at post-HA compared to pre-HA (0.3 ± 0.3 L·h-1; d = 0.63). Submaximal heart rate (HR) was lower at mid- (-9 ± 4 bpm; d = -0.68) and post-HA (-11 ± 4 bpm; d = -0.90) compared to pre-HA. Mean and peak 6 s power output improved at mid-HA (83 ± 52 W; 112 ± 67 W; d ≥ 0.47) and post-HA (125 ± 62 W; 172 ± 85 W; d ≥ 0.72) compared to pre-HA. Improvements in HR and performance persisted at decay (d ≥ 0.66). The initial 5 days of mixed-methods HA elicited many typical HA adaptations, with an additional 5 days eliciting further thermoregulatory, sudomotor, and performance improvements. Adaptations were well retained after 16 days of normal training, without any further heat stimulus. The trial was retrospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622000732785).

year: 2022-10-01

title: Tourism to polluted lakes: issues for tourists and the industry. An empirical analysis of four Chinese lakes

authors: Ryan, Chris

subjects: pollution

abstract: The paper seeks to address two specific questions. First, does the existence of polluted waters impact on the levels of satisfaction experienced by visitors to Chinese lakes? Second, does the local tourism industry (represented by a sample of hotel managers) correctly assess the importance of place attributes as assessed by visitors? The data presented are obtained from a sample of 913 visitors to four polluted lakes that are holiday or day visit locations and from 121 managers of hotels in those same areas. The evidence suggests that polluted areas can still function successfully as tourist locations because visitors in these instances view the lakescapes as part of a wider attraction that includes a built environment but that the hotel industry over-emphasises the importance of that built structure as a contributor to tourist place experience. Limitations to the research include the role played by an aesthetic gaze, which may have more importance within a Chinese culture than among Western counterparts because, particularly for the older Chinese, concepts of harmonization with nature are directed through the visual senses and references to classical literature rather than physical participation in water-based sports.

text: Tourism to polluted lakes: issues for tourists and the industry. An empirical analysis of four Chinese lakes The paper seeks to address two specific questions. First, does the existence of polluted waters impact on the levels of satisfaction experienced by visitors to Chinese lakes? Second, does the local tourism industry (represented by a sample of hotel managers) correctly assess the importance of place attributes as assessed by visitors? The data presented are obtained from a sample of 913 visitors to four polluted lakes that are holiday or day visit locations and from 121 managers of hotels in those same areas. The evidence suggests that polluted areas can still function successfully as tourist locations because visitors in these instances view the lakescapes as part of a wider attraction that includes a built environment but that the hotel industry over-emphasises the importance of that built structure as a contributor to tourist place experience. Limitations to the research include the role played by an aesthetic gaze, which may have more importance within a Chinese culture than among Western counterparts because, particularly for the older Chinese, concepts of harmonization with nature are directed through the visual senses and references to classical literature rather than physical participation in water-based sports.

year: 2010

title: Māori women’s perspectives of leadership and wellbeing

authors: Ruru, Stacey Mariu

subjects: Māori women leadership

abstract: This research sought to understand how Māori women leaders maintain their wellbeing within their leadership roles. Semi-structured interviews acknowledging kaupapa Māori theory (Māori philosophy, framework) principles were used to gather the leadership journeys of five Māori women leaders from academic and business backgrounds across the North Island, New Zealand. Kaupapa Māori principles such as kānohi kitea (greeting, meeting face to face), ako Māori (learning, teaching, reciprocity, cultural pedagogy) and manāki ki te tangata (caring, hosting people) provided a methodological framework to follow during interviews with Māori women leaders. From the interviews, thematic analysis was undertaken and patterns, similarities and differences were uncovered that led to the identification of eight main themes: Humility, collective work, the influence of others, overcoming boundaries, balance between te taha hinengaro (mental or psychological wellbeing) and te taha tinana (physical wellbeing), fostering pathways, quieting the mind, and whānau (family) connections. Secondary analysis further developed and explored the themes using indigenous whakataukī Māori (Māori proverbs), which became the overarching theme and connected the eight themes to the five whakataukī. The study found that balance between te taha hinengaro (the psychological, mental wellbeing dimension) and te taha tinana (the physical dimension) from Te Whare Tapa Whā (the four corners of a house) and Te Wheke (the octopus) Māori wellbeing models supported Māori women leaders’ waiora (health, wellbeing). Central to the success of these Māori women leaders was being connected to whānau and friends, and being influenced by tāmariki (children), tauira (students) and employees. These social connections made Māori women leaders strong and resilient to change and challenges. Māori leadership practices and values such as hūmarie (humility), mana wahine (Māori women’s leadership style), manākitanga (caring) and aroha (compassion, love) contributed to leadership drivers that enhanced Māori women within their leadership roles. Finally, recommendations include enhancing practices such as those that encourage mana (influence, power, and identity), mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and ako Māori for future generations to follow.

text: Māori women’s perspectives of leadership and wellbeing This research sought to understand how Māori women leaders maintain their wellbeing within their leadership roles. Semi-structured interviews acknowledging kaupapa Māori theory (Māori philosophy, framework) principles were used to gather the leadership journeys of five Māori women leaders from academic and business backgrounds across the North Island, New Zealand. Kaupapa Māori principles such as kānohi kitea (greeting, meeting face to face), ako Māori (learning, teaching, reciprocity, cultural pedagogy) and manāki ki te tangata (caring, hosting people) provided a methodological framework to follow during interviews with Māori women leaders. From the interviews, thematic analysis was undertaken and patterns, similarities and differences were uncovered that led to the identification of eight main themes: Humility, collective work, the influence of others, overcoming boundaries, balance between te taha hinengaro (mental or psychological wellbeing) and te taha tinana (physical wellbeing), fostering pathways, quieting the mind, and whānau (family) connections. Secondary analysis further developed and explored the themes using indigenous whakataukī Māori (Māori proverbs), which became the overarching theme and connected the eight themes to the five whakataukī. The study found that balance between te taha hinengaro (the psychological, mental wellbeing dimension) and te taha tinana (the physical dimension) from Te Whare Tapa Whā (the four corners of a house) and Te Wheke (the octopus) Māori wellbeing models supported Māori women leaders’ waiora (health, wellbeing). Central to the success of these Māori women leaders was being connected to whānau and friends, and being influenced by tāmariki (children), tauira (students) and employees. These social connections made Māori women leaders strong and resilient to change and challenges. Māori leadership practices and values such as hūmarie (humility), mana wahine (Māori women’s leadership style), manākitanga (caring) and aroha (compassion, love) contributed to leadership drivers that enhanced Māori women within their leadership roles. Finally, recommendations include enhancing practices such as those that encourage mana (influence, power, and identity), mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and ako Māori for future generations to follow.

year: 2016