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Reducción de la procrastinación académica en estudiantes universitarios españoles mediante una intervención basada en Mindfulness
Full text linkProcrastination is defined as an irrational tendency to delay required tasks and is a complex phenomenon driven by personal, motivational and situational factors. For university students in particular, difficulties in self-regulation and reductions in coping resources and/or tolerance for negative affective states are key reasons why stressful contexts can increase vulnerability to procrastination. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a 10-week mindfulness intervention known as Flow Meditation is a feasible and efficacious tool for reducing academic procrastination in Spanish university students. A total of 51 university students completed the intervention and the final sample at a four-month follow-up assessment comprised 42 students who had been randomly allocated to a 10-week Flow Meditation group (n = 22; Mean age = 19.95; SD=2.92; 77.3% women) or a waitlist control group (n = 20; Mean age = 20.55; SD=2.74; 70% women). Measures were taken at three time points: pre-test, post-test, and 4-month follow-up. Findings revealed significant reductions in academic procrastination mediated by mindfulness competence and its different facets, which were maintained until the 4-month follow-up assessment. Effect sizes ranged from moderate to high. Flow Meditation shows promise for reducing procrastination in Spanish university students through the enhancement of mindfulness competencies, in particular the Observing, Acting with Awareness, Non-judging and Non-Reactivity dimensions of the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire
Under the blinding light of colonial ideology: The (re) formation of the tritiya prakriti in Late Modern India
Full text linkDuring the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, British linguists translated significant Sanskrit and Pali texts, laying the foundation for much of the legal system in colonial India. Notably, several nonbinary groups, which were collectively referred to as ‘eunuchs’, evolved to represent the tritiya prakriti, or India's third gender. Current scholarship addresses the tritiya prakriti through a cultural lens, distinguishing it from the institution of eunuchism. It analyses this group's historical context, professional roles, sexuality, and unique gender traits, while drawing a comparative analysis with harem-bound eunuchs. The study argues that eunuchs were historically created for specific occupational roles and are unlikely predecessors of the contemporary tritiya prakriti. However, the colonial disbandment of harems and the subsequent censuses of eunuchs changed gender classifications. While categorising the third gender groups into specific castes, these censuses inadvertently established the status of a distinct social group that predates the contemporary tritiya prakriti community. By situating the tritiya prakriti at the cusp of the eunuch framework, current research lays the groundwork for further exploration into the history of third-gender communities in India, which may contribute to addressing contemporary challenges related to inclusion and gender equality
Placing the diaspora in the frame: A case study of Zee TV’s Raj Britannia documentary series
Full text linkThis study examines the archives of current affairs programme Raj Britannia, produced by British Journalists for transnational satellite broadcaster Zee TV, to better understand historic television journalism practice in the UK. The article evaluates the role journalists at Zee TV played in advocating, empowering and educating the British Asian diaspora in the run up to the General Election in 1997. The analysis reveals that while Zee TV journalists applied advocacy practices to encourage the viewer to be politically strategic in voting, the tone of programmes mimic mainstream media deficit discourses. This suggests ethnic media may on occasions perform contradictory roles, advocate for their audience and also apply deficit models in a reflection of dominant news ideologies
Enhancing user empowerment and agency through co-creation of a nonattachment-based post-traumatic stress reduction intervention
Full text linkIntroduction: Individuals with post-traumatic stress typically experience feelings of helplessness, which are often exacerbated by current treatment approaches whereby clinicians tend to rely more on personal experiences than case-by-case, evidence-based care.
Aims: This study aimed to address this issue by extending the framework of existing public healthcare interventions to co-create a new nonattachment-based approach in collaboration with end users and clinicians. The practice of nonattachment involves intentionally releasing judgement of or attachment to events, relationships, and the self, while accepting life’s changes with openness and compassion.
Methods: This study employed a three-stage co-creation process: 1) evidence review and stakeholder engagement, 2) co-creation of an initial intervention, and 3) prototyping. Twenty participants (17 with experience of post-traumatic stress and three clinicians) contributed to the intervention’s development over the three stages through one-to-one meetings and group discussions, which were recorded and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Artificial intelligence was used to generate language featured in the final intervention.
Results: Key themes identified through the thematic analysis were empowerment and agency, the importance of grounding, as well as normalization and validation. Co-creation input from participants focused primarily on the structure and format of the intervention, while input from clinicians focused on feasibility, barriers to adoption, and safety planning. The final intervention took the form of an online program comprised of 8 self-guided modules integrating nonattachment and mindfulness principles, allowing users to control how and when they interact with the content.
Conclusions: To our knowledge, this co-created protocol is the first intervention for post-traumatic stress to be principally grounded in ancient Eastern nonattachment principles. Future studies can now evaluate the intervention to determine its feasibility in post-traumatic stress settings
Comprehensive exploration of smart cities: a systematic review of benefits, challenges, and future directions in telecommunications and urban development
Full text linkSmart Cities are considered the intersection of technology and urban development, aiming to create sustainable, efficient, and citizen-centered environments using advanced tools such as the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and big data analytics. The major components of a smart city are smart buildings, smart transport, smart energy, smart health care, public safety and security, environmental and resource management, and smart technology. These components make the cities smart, transparent, and efficient. Information and communication technology is also one of the most vital tools for modifying traditional cities into Smart Cities. Smart Cities are emerging as transformative urban ecosystems that leverage data, technology, and intelligent design to enhance sustainability, efficiency, and the quality of life for residents. Over 1,000 cities worldwide are developing or implementing smart city initiatives, with projected investments exceeding $1.5 trillion by 2025. Studies indicate Smart Cities can achieve up to 30% reductions in energy consumption and 20% improvements in public service efficiency. This paper presents a systematic review of 61 scholarly works, highlighting the benefits, challenges, and the central role of telecommunications in smart urban development. This systematic review is done to dissect the dual nature of Smart Cities regarding their revolutionary capabilities and intrinsic challenges. The study points out important gaps in the literature, especially when it comes to long-term social effects, fair resource allocation, critical gaps in ethical governance, resource distribution policies, and their long-term implications on societal development, and ethical governance, underrepresentation of telecommunications as a central enabler, and propose future research directions to address these gaps
Barriers and enablers for physical activity in culturally deaf adults: a qualitative thematic analysis
Full text linkWhilst deafness may impact a person’s ability to take part in physical activity (PA), there is a paucity of research amongst culturally Deaf adults, a unique cultural social and linguistic group. Especially, to understand the needs of Deaf adults and how to get them involved in shaping interventions that would help Deaf people to be physically active. The current study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators for engaging in PA amongst Deaf adults. Focus groups involving nine culturally Deaf adults communicating using British sign language were conducted and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Barriers including physical barriers, lack of deaf spaces and deaf awareness, and a lack of personal motivations were identified. Enablers included group/social support, Deaf-led activities, and health and wellbeing awareness. The data highlighted a strong Deaf identity. Deaf adults are personally and socially motivated to engage in PA, however, they face barriers due to spaces being made for hearing people, leading to feelings of social exclusion and a lack of spaces to engage in activity and socialise. The current paper highlights research and practice implications in how to involve and work with Deaf people to shape intervention
Connecting the dots: investigating the relationship between customer preferences, in-novation and last-mile delivery adoption: a mediated model
No full textThis study investigates the relationship between customer preferences, innovation, and last-mile delivery (LMD). Particularly, it examines the significant roles and relationships among delivery pricing, flexible delivery preferences, delivery tracking, visibility, and innovative delivery options. The mediating role of innovative delivery options between customer preferences and LMD adoption is also studied. Thus, the authors carried out a survey of 1,100 customers in the Middle East. Data was analysed using partial least squares structural equations modelling (PLS-SEM). The results indicated a significant direct relationship between flexible delivery preferences, delivery tracking, visibility, and innovative delivery options. Furthermore, LMD is directly influenced by innovative delivery options. The role of innovative delivery options between flexible delivery preferences, delivery tracking, visibility, and LMD is also proven. The combined effects of customer preferences and innovation on LMD adoption are investigated in this study, which contributes to further development in this field. This highlights the sometimes-overlooked mediating role of creative delivery techniques, arguing that LMD adoption is accelerated by customer-driven innovation. Significantly, this research suggests that direct input from consumers is instrumental in shaping and honing delivery service innovations, markedly improving the efficiency and adoption of LMD
Navigating the Republic of South Sudan’s Investment Laws and Policies: Is there need for reform?
No full textThis chapter interrogates the investment laws and policies of the Republic of South Sudan; the youngest country in the world. This chapter represents the first comprehensive assessment of South Sudan’s investment legal terrain that includes the Investment Promotions Act, 2009, the Companies Act, 2012, and the Petroleum Act, 2012. We provide recommendations on sectoral development and the legal reform needed to improve the attractiveness of the country to foreign investment. We also provide an assessment of South Sudan’s international investment policies and make recommendations for modernising Bilateral Investment Treaties and reducing their exposure to investment claims, which currently stand at five, despite gaining independence in 2011. To create an enabling business environment, we recommend several reforms that include the enactment of a Public Private Partnership Law and an Arbitration Law, the creation of a formal arbitration centre, and the ratification of the New York Convention. A stable political environment is also important. We therefore recommend the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan formed in 2020. This chapter is intended to inform the government of South Sudan, foreign investors, and the international community on the current state of South Sudan’s international investment laws and policies and the necessary reforms needed to transform the country into an investment-friendly destination and support the realisation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as the 2030 deadline approaches. Keywords: South Sudan, East African Community, Bilateral Investment Treaty, InvestorState Dispute Settlement, Investment Law, South Sudan Investment Promotion Act 200
Case studies
No full textThis chapter outlines the application of case study research approaches to researching sport coaching. Key features of the case study methodology are discussed including definitions, ontology and epistemology and the what, how and why of the approach. Within the chapter, the argument is made to consider case study research as rich, detailed and intense with the aim of providing a contextual understanding of phenomena within sports coaching. Different features of case study research are further discussed, including defining the case, bounding the case and embedded and nested case studies. This is followed by a review of examples of different types of case studies that have been utilised in sports coaching research and the associated methods used within each study. Applied issues and considerations when undertaking case study research, including misunderstandings with case study research and the steps to starting a case study, are outlined. Finally, the chapter concludes with reflections from the authors on their experiences of conducting multiple nested case studies within a sports coaching context
