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The European Union and the Fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing
No full textThis chapter offers a chronological exposition of the ways in which key Law of the Sea instruments have imprinted the evolution of EU law in relation to fish stocks conservation, especially with regard to IUU fishing control. It argues that the UNCLOS and its implementing fisheries treaties and non-binding instruments have performed an essential role in the development of the EU Common Fisheries Policy in the context of the prevention and control of iuu fishing. It identifies key provisions contained in those international instruments and follows their assimilation in EU fisheries legislation.</p
A formative investigation assessing menstrual health literacy in professional women’s football
No full textThe aim of this study was to assess and compare menstrual health literacy in professional women’s football. A three-section questionnaire was completed by professional players (n = 25), development players (n = 22) and staff (n = 19). The mean total knowledge score (out of 19) was lower for development players (5.4 ± 2.9) than professional players (7.8 ± 3.2) and staff (9.1 ± 4.8) (p 50% correct answers. For each group, knowledge of the menstrual cycle (MC) was greater than knowledge of hormonal contraceptives (HC) (p < 0.001). Previous MC and HC education did not correspond to higher knowledge scores in professional players (p = 0.823) or development players (p = 0.274). In professional and development players, comfort of communication was influenced by the sex of whom they were communicating with (p < 0.001), with a preference for females. In conclusion, results from the present study suggest refined education strategies and new approaches are required for both players and staff to improve menstrual health literacy in professional women’s football</p
The prevalence of gambling and gambling related harm in individuals with Neurodevelopmental Disorder (NDD): a systematic review
No full textA systematic review of studies looking at links between neuro developmental disorders and gambling disorder.</p
From land-based to people-based Spatiotemporal cooling effects of peri-urban parks and their driving factors in China
No full textPeri-urban areas are essential for human habitation and provide significant green spaces to improve the thermal environment, especially when urban land is limited. Understanding the factors influencing the cooling intensity of peri-urban parks is crucial for guiding decision-making in climate-responsive urban planning and management. However, relevant studies generally focus on the short-term cooling effect of urban parks, and the effect of “people-based” socio-demographics, such as park age, have rarely been analyzed. This study focuses on a comprehensive spatiotemporal analysis of 647 national forest parks in urban peripheries across China from 2000 to 2021. It considers three categories of driving factors: park morphology, landscape patterns, and social de mographic characteristics. The findings reveal that (1) In contrast to urban parks, the geometric morphology of peri-urban parks has limited influence on cooling intensity. (2) The landscape pattern within the park signifi cantly affects the cooling intensity. The proportion of woodland in the park increases year by year, and the negative impact of cropland on the cooling intensity decreases from − 4.788 in 2000 to − 0.547 in 2021. Besides, the negative impact of impervious surfaces has increased, with the coefficient decreasing from − 1.022 in 2000 to − 1.877 in 2021. (3) Park age significantly promotes cooling intensity when the park is between 31 and 35 years old. (4) The increase in per capita GDP and population density are associated with diminishing cooling intensity. (5) Heterogeneous analysis results reveal variations in cooling effects among parks in different climate zones. Peri-urban parks that combine blue and green spaces exhibit a more pronounced cooling effect. These research outcomes offer valuable insights for designing, planning, and managing parks and ecosystems in China, which can enhance urban climate resilience and the well-being of urban residents.</p
Guidelines for Bibliometric-Systematic Literature Reviews: 10 steps to combine analysis, synthesis and theory development
No full textThe steady increase in academic production has been paralleled by a surge in the number of bibliometric and systematic literature reviews (SLRs) published. Over the years, scholars began to combine bibliometric analyses with SLRs. However, such combined approaches relied on fragmented methodological suggestions without clear guiding frameworks. This article introduces integrated guidelines for undertaking multi-method literature reviews, combining bibliometric analyses with SLRs and theory development, which we call ‘Bibliometric-Systematic Literature Review’ (B-SLR). In doing so, we develop a 10-step process on how to apply the B-SLR. In each of the proposed steps, we discuss critical decisions and best practices to support researchers while crafting meaningful and theoretically relevant literature reviews. The B-SLR is intended as a flexible toolbox designed to accommodate diverse research objectives in the miner–prospector continuum, spanning from reviewing, theorising, tracing future roadmaps or creating bridges among different topics. The B-SLR incorporates the pillars of critical analysis, timeliness, coverage, rigour, coherence and originality of contribution, also emphasising the need for a novel and relevant theoretical contribution. The B-SLR is supported by a companion website, providing additional resources to assist researchers in this 10-step process: https://www.b-slr.org.</p
Tempo and mode of skull size evolution in Temnospondyli (Tetrapoda: Amphibia) and lineage diversification in the largest group of early tetrapods
No full textThe evolution of skull length in temnospondyl amphibians is investigated using a variety of phylogenetic comparative methods applied to a time-calibrated supertree of 288 species. Temnospondyls expressed greater among-group than within-group variation in skull dimensions, pointing to a rapid occupation of distinct regions of trait space early in their history and during major episodes of clade diversification. Consistent with this pattern is the occurrence of regime shifts along basal branches in their phylogeny, especially within a diverse clade consisting of dendrerpetids, dvinosaurs, zatracheids, and dissorophoids. An additional, conspicuous shift marks the separation between the two main clades of derived stereospondyls, the trematosauroids and the capitosauroids. Mean skull length differs significantly among taxonomic groups and across three main time intervals (Carboniferous; Permian; Mesozoic). However, the distribution of skull lengths across groups varies from nearly symmetrical to markedly skewed. Despite these differences, analyses of skewness show that the evolution of skull length conformed for the most part to expectations of a driven trend, i.e., a sustained and directional pattern of change mirrored across separate lineages. Trait values and evolutionary rates tend to increase through time across the entire group, but individual lineages show contrasting patterns, revealing either no temporal trends or varying degrees of increase/decrease through time. Reduction in skull length features predominantly in terrestrial groups, such as amphibamid dissorophoids, although exceptions are observed. In contrast, most groups exhibiting an aquatic lifestyle tend to attain large, or even gigantic sizes, particularly among stereospondyls.</p
Identification and quantification of carotenoids in supra-orbital combs of male Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix)
No full textColoured patches of skin are seen across the animal kingdom and serve multiple functions. For many species, carotenoid pigments are often incorporated into the skin, hair or feathers and feature prominently in colourful signals used as sexual signals. Animals cannot synthesise carotenoids de novo and as a result, carotenoid-based signals have long been considered indicators of individual quality. We identified and quantified the carotenoids within the eye combs of Black Grouse (Lyurus tetrix) using ultra high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. We found that black grouse incorporate two ketocarotenoids, astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, into their eye combs in different proportions depending on total eye comb size, with individuals with smaller combs incorporating significantly more canthaxanthin than astaxanthin. Additionally, a higher ratio of astaxanthin to canthaxanthin significantly decreased brightness, but was positively associated with both the λUV peak and the λR peak. The results found here highlight the need to also consider the additional effects of tissue structure on carotenoid, and overall colouration.</p
Determinants of child body weight categorization in parents and health care professionals: An experimental study
No full textObjectivesParents infrequently recognize childhood overweight/obesity and healthcare professionals (HCPs) also struggle to visually identify it, potentially limiting the offer and uptake of weight management support. This study examined perceptual and attitudinal/cognitive determinants of child weight judgements amongst parents and HCPs to identify targets for intervention.DesignWe used a mixed experimental design with parents and HCPs as the between-participants factor. Stimulus gender, age and BMI centile were the within-participant repeated measures factors.MethodsOne hundred and fifty-six HCPs and 249 parents of children aged 4–5 or 10–11 years viewed simulated child images. They estimated their relative size and categorized the weight status of each figure. Stimuli were photo-realistic figural scales based on 3D-scans of 4- to 5- and 10- to 11-year-old children varying in adiposity. Participants also reported their beliefs about causes, controllability and categorization of child weight.ResultsBoth groups accurately estimated the figures' relative size. However, categorization of higher weight figures was poor, demonstrating a mismatch between perceptual judgements of size and categorization of weight status. Lower levels of comfort with assigning ‘overweight’ categorizations to children, and a stronger belief that weight was controllable by the child/parent, predicted less accurate weight status categorizations.ConclusionsParental and HCP misperceptions when categorizing children's higher weight are related to attitudinal/cognitive factors, including reluctance to label a child's weight status as overweight and beliefs about whether a child's weight can be controlled by them or their family.</p
Equivalent Circuit Modelling of the Dielectric Response of the Components of a Composite Insulation
No full textThe dielectric composite found in the ISIS dipole bending magnets has been investigated using broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Frequency scans obtained at different temperatures have been plotted. Master curves have been constructed above the glass transition temperature in order to obtain activation energies via Arrhenius plots. Dielectric relaxation and charge transport mechanisms have been observed in the frequency spectra with different activation energies. A generic equivalent circuit model (ECM) has been constructed from the dielectric data and validated for all components of the composite dielectric.</p
A comparison of rapid weight loss practices within international, national and regional powerlifters’
No full textBackground: Rapid weight loss (RWL) practices are common amongst strength-sport athletes to ‘make weight’ for a chosen weight class. Aim: This study compared the RWL practices of International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) powerlifters from Great Britain. Methods:Participants (n =69, male =36, female =33) were recruited from IPF lifting populations (mandatory 5%), this should be cautioned against given the IPF’s mandatory <2-hour competition weigh-in.</p