Stirling Online Research Repository (RIOXX)
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An Exploration of the Eligibility Conditions for the 2024 Olympic Games: Russians Out, Belarussians In
Full text linkIn 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The attack was facilitated by Belarus, the territory that was used as a launchpad for Russia’s assault from the North on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv. In response to the invasion, some international sports federations decided to exclude athletes from these two countries, while others continued to regard them eligible. In early 2023, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach spoke out in favor of including Russian and Belarussian athletes in the Olympic Games under a neutral flag. He later explained his position as a defense of the Olympic principles as formulated in the Olympic charter. In this article, we examine if Bach’s position is justifiable, based on the Olympic charter. Our analysis leads us to the conclusion that it is not. Although we concede that individual athletes should not be held responsible for the unlawful acts of their country, we find that because of the way Russia conducts the war and exploits their athletes in its war propaganda, the principles outlined in the Olympic charter nevertheless justifies the exclusion of Russian athletes from the Paris Olympics. However, the exclusion of Belarusian athletes cannot be justified by the same principles as Belarus was not responsible for the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, does not actively take part in the war, and has not been at war with anyone since it reclaimed sovereignty after the breakup of the Soviet Union
The 'five-inch course'
No full textWill McConn-Palfreyman, Head of Psychology for Scottish Golf, on the psychology within and beyond the mental gam
Combined Depth and Semantic Segmentation from Synthetic Data and a W-Net Architecture
Full text linkMonocular pixel level depth estimation requires an algorithm to label every pixel in an image with its estimated distance from the camera. The task is more challenging than binocular depth estimation, where two cameras fixed a small distance apart are used. Algorithms that combine depth estimation with pixel level semantic segmentation show improved performance but present the practical challenge of requiring a dataset that is annotated at pixel level with both class labels and depth values. This paper presents a new convolutional neural network architecture capable of simultaneous monocular depth estimation and semantic segmentation and shows how synthetic data generated using computer games technology can be used to train such models. The algorithm performs at over 98% accuracy on the segmentation task and 88% on the depth estimation task
Mental health and weight loss in men: an exploratory mixed methods study of the Game of Stones trial
Full text linkObjective: Weight management interventions can affect mental health. Mental health can affect engagement with weight loss interventions or services. This study explored mental health and wellbeing outcomes, retention and participant experiences of mental health within the Game of Stones trial. Methods: Mixed methods process evaluation within a 3-group randomised controlled trial: behavioural text messages with financial incentives, texts alone, and waiting list control, for 585 men with obesity. Secondary outcomes analysed descriptively included: Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire, EQ-5D-5L, EQ-5D-5L anxiety and depression subscale, Patient Health Questionniare-4, and retention. Three categories of participants were compared: ever diagnosed with a mental health condition (n=146; 25.0%), latent mental health condition (n=142; 24.3%) no mental health condition (n=295; 50.6%). Semi-structured interviews (n=54) were conducted after 12 months and analysed using Framework method. Results: A higher proportion of men who self-reported ever having a mental health condition had a disability, multiple long-term conditions, were under financial strain and were single compared to those with those with a latent mental health condition and no mental health condition. Improvements from baseline were shown for weight stigma, wellbeing and PHQ-4 at 12 months for men in intervention groups with a mental health condition and latent mental health condition. EQ-5D-5L Visual Analogue Scale scores improved across all mental health categories and trial groups, but EQ-5D-5L and EQ-5D-5L-AD scores were inconsistent. Retention at 12 months was 76.0% (mental health condition), 70.4% (latent mental health condition) and 72.5% (no mental health condition). The qualitative evidence indicated that stress, anxiety and depression were experienced in different ways by men during the programme. Mental health difficulties were unique to the individual, could be episodic, recurrent, cyclical or ongoing and were a barrier to behaviour change for some but not for others. Conclusion: The trial was able to engage and retain men regardless of mental health category. Behavioural text messages with or without incentives helped some men lose weight, but not others. Observed heterogeneity for mental health and wellbeing measures is problematic for weight management trials with men
Representing Scotland: Conservative Narratives of Nation, Union, and Scottish Independence
Full text linkThe United Kingdom’s vote to exit the European Union reignited the debate about Scottish independence, requiring statewide political parties to rearticulate the case for the Union. The UK Conservative Party, as the party of government and one with a tumultuous history vis-à-vis Scotland and devolution, was at the fore in making this case. This article explores representations of Scotland, its position within the United Kingdom, and Scottish nationalism as a political force by the Conservative Party at a prolonged moment of significant political and constitutional tension. We focus, therefore, on 2019 to 2024, a parliamentary term and political period defined by protracted debates on Scotland’s place within the Union, playing out against the backdrop of the Brexit negotiations, the Covid-19 pandemic, and a worsening cost-of-living crisis. To this end, we draw upon parliamentary debates, two daily English newspapers (The Daily Telegraph and the Sun) and two online right-leaning news sites (ConservativeHome and The Spectator online). Our analysis identifies three distinct but interrelated strands in Conservative representations of Scotland, each of which is centred on a contrast. First, a distinction between an inclusive unionism versus a narrow nationalism; second, a largely economic narrative, contrasting a prosperous union with the economic risks of independence; and finally, a contrast between governmental competence at Westminster and the SNP-led Scottish Government failing Scotland. These contrasting narratives elucidate the ways in which Conservatives construct representations of Scotland, particularly at moments of constitutional contestation
Reducing alcohol harms whilst minimising impact on hospitality businesses: ‘Sweetspot’ policy options
Full text linkBackground During COVID-19, hospitality businesses (e.g. bars, restaurants) were closed/restricted whilst off-sales of alcohol increased, with health consequences. Post-covid, governments face lobbying to support such businesses, but many health services remain under pressure. We appraised ‘sweetspot’ policy options: those with potential to benefit public services and health, whilst avoiding or minimising negative impact on the hospitality sector. Methods We conducted rapid non-systematic evidence reviews using index papers, citation searches and team knowledge to summarise the literature relating to four possible ‘sweetspot’ policy areas: pricing interventions (9 systematic reviews (SR); 14 papers/reports); regulation of online sales (1 SR; 1 paper); place-shaping (2 SRs; 18 papers/reports); and violence reduction initiatives (9 SRs; 24 papers/reports); and led two expert workshops (n = 11). Results Interventions that raise the price of cheaper shop-bought alcohol appear promising as ‘sweetspot’ policies; any impact on hospitality is likely small and potentially positive. Restrictions on online sales such as speed or timing of delivery may reduce harm and diversion of consumption from on-trade to home settings. Place-shaping is not well-supported by evidence and experts were sceptical. Reduced late-night trading hours likely reduce violence; evidence of impact on hospitality is scant. Other violence reduction initiatives may modestly reduce harms whilst supporting hospitality, but require resources to deliver multiple measures simultaneously in partnership. Conclusions Available evidence and expert views point to regulation of pricing and online sales as having greatest potential as ‘sweetspot’ alcohol policies, reducing alcohol harm whilst minimising negative impact on hospitality businesses
Floral scent changes in response to pollen removal are rare in buzz-pollinated Solanum
Full text linkMain conclusion One of seven Solanum taxa studied displayed associations between pollen presence and floral scent composition and volume, suggesting buzz-pollinated plants rarely use scent as an honest cue for foraging pollinators. Abstract Floral scent influences the recruitment, learning, and behaviour of floral visitors. Variation in floral scent can provide information on the amount of reward available or whether a flower has been visited recently and may be particularly important in species with visually concealed rewards. In many buzz-pollinated flowers, tubular anthers opening via small apical pores (poricidal anthers) visually conceal pollen and appear similar regardless of pollen quantity within the anther. We investigated whether pollen removal changes floral scent composition and emission rate in seven taxa of buzz-pollinated Solanum (Solanaceae). We found that pollen removal reduced both the overall emission of floral scent and the emission of specific compounds (linalool and farnesol) in S. lumholtzianum. Our findings suggest that in six out of seven buzz-pollinated taxa studied here, floral scent could not be used as a signal by visitors as it does not contain information on pollen availability
Social Enterprise as a Pathway to Work, Wellness, and Social Inclusion for Canadians with Mental Illnesses and/or Substance Use Disorders Social Enterprise as a Pathway to Work, Wellness and Social Inclusion for Canadians with Mental Illnesses and/or Substance-Use Disorders’
Full text linkPeople with serious and persistent mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders are among the most economically and socially disenfranchised populations in Canada, and often present with long histories of labour market detachment and underemployment. Work engagement has the potential to improve social determinants of health while also harnessing productive capacity. This article re-ports on a five-year study examining the social, economic, and health impacts of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) in the mental health sector in Ontario, Canada. The findings shed light on the population that works in WISEs, its levels of social and labour market integration, and or-ganizational features that influence worker outcomes. Results highlight both the importance of WISEs as a means of supporting employment, and challenges to organizational sustainability
Relationships influencing organisational culture in men’s elite football clubs in Norway
Full text linkThis paper examines the relationships within and outside organisations that have the leverage to influence culture in the context of men’s elite football clubs in Norway. Participants from three clubs held positions as Performance Director (n=2), sport psychology practitioner (n = 3), and physiotherapist (n = 2) and participated in semi-structured interviews focusing on the relationships, tensions, and dynamic organisational forces in their respective clubs. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we developed two overarching themes showing (1) Organisational cultures in time frames and (2) Relationships among stakeholders influencing organisational culture. Developing these themes indicated that an organisational culture is not only a point of arrival, but also a point of departure for future activities. Hence, those charged with organisational culture work must maintain awareness of the influence of a club’s history and how it influences dynamic tensions with stakeholders within and outside clubs. It is also critical that cultural practitioners are mindful of players’ and staffs’ individual journeys, which influence how they self-organise into fluid and temporary subgroups. The findings can sharpen our understanding of working with culture in elite football by emphasising other sources of culture besides leaders’ attempts at controlling or steering it in their preferred way. Using the findings provided in this study can help practitioners recognise organisational tensions or slippage towards cultural problems before they lead to traumatic organisational crises
Forged-GAN-BERT: Authorship Attribution for LLM-Generated Forged Novels
Full text linkThe advancement of generative Large Language Models (LLMs), capable of producing human-like texts, introduces challenges related to the authenticity of the text documents. This requires exploring potential forgery scenarios within the context of authorship attribution, especially in the literary domain. Particularly, two aspects of doubted authorship may arise in novels, as a novel may be imposed by a renowned author or include a copied writing style of a well-known novel. To address these concerns, we introduce Forged-GAN-BERT, a modified GAN-BERT-based model to improve the classification of forged novels in two data-augmentation aspects: via the Forged Novels Generator (i.e., ChatGPT) and the generator in GAN. Compared to other transformer-based models, the proposed Forged-GAN-BERT model demonstrates an improved performance with F1 scores of 0.97 and 0.71 for identifying forged novels in single-author and multi-author classification settings. Additionally, we explore different prompt categories for generating the forged novels to analyse the quality of the generated texts using different similarity distance measures , including ROUGE-1, Jaccard Similarity, Overlap Confident, and Cosine Similarity
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