Kinematics of cycling in relation to anterior knee pain and patellar tendinitis

The coronal and sagittal plane leg movements of 24 experienced male cyclists were assessed using video analysis while cycling on a Kingcycle windload simulator. The cyclists were grouped into those with a history of injury and an asymptomatic group on the basis of self-reported injury status. The ages, cycling experience, competition distances and competition speeds of the two groups were compared using Student's t-test. No significant differences (P < 0.05) were found for any of these variables. The maximum and minimum shank adduction, shank adduction velocities, knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion values were also compared using Student's t-test. Significant differences were found at the point of maximum adduction (1.9 degrees; P = 0.019) and minimum dorsiflexion (4.9 degrees; P = 0.014). These differences indicated more dorsiflexion and greater abduction on the part of the symptomatic cyclists, supporting previous research that found that cyclists with a history of injury differ from those without a history of injury in the coronal plane leg movement patterns they adopt. Also, the most extreme medial position of the knee relative to the ankle occurred during knee extension. This supports the potential injury mechanism proposed by Francis (1986), which had previously only been examined using coronal plane kinematics.     

Education policy and the question of child labour: the Lancashire cotton industry and R. D. Denman's Bill of 1914

Those of our people who avail themselves of the advantages of education, are generally distinguished for their good conduct, steadiness, neatness and self respect; and I perceive them afterwards becoming attendants in our reading room for their recreation and improvement instead of frequenting the ale‐houses

(John Walsh MacMaster, 12 January 1851).     

'The Kids are Doing All Right': Differences in parental satisfaction,expectation and attribution in St Petersburg,Sunderland and

Comparative studies of attitudes in different countries have resulted in the claim that parents in the USA and England tend to have unrealistically positive views of their children's schools and academic performance. Low expectations, together with a belief in the importance of natural ability, it has been argued, lead to low standards and reduce striving to succeed. The present study builds upon earlier investigations of children's attitudes, beliefs and behaviours in Sunderland, Eastern Kentucky and St Petersburg by surveying parental perspectives. Findings from these three regions reinforce earlier findings about English and American complacency and the more demanding nature of the Russian context. In line with our earlier studies, and contrary to the suggestion of a number of writers, an emphasis upon effort, rather than ability, was a strong feature of the English and American responses, although it is pointed out that such beliefs may not actually result in high work rates. The paper concludes by suggesting that the important role of parents in instilling important attitudes and behaviours in their children is undermined by the current emphasis upon schools as fundamentally responsible for ensuring high levels of achievement.     

Exploring service issues within the IT organisation: Four mini-case studies

This case study paper presents four mini-case studies which explore IT service management issues within IT departments. It suggests that there is a shift in focus in IT away from the technical artefacts towards customer directed services. The case studies concern a hospital, a provider of marine charts, a logistics company and the batch operations of a bank. A range of issues are discussed including the provision of customer support, the acquisition of software and services, relationships with suppliers and the development of service strategy. The mini-case study is presented as a vehicle for identifying research issues and for teaching IT service management concepts in short tutorial sessions.