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The Time-Loop: Cycles of Play and Inequality
Get PDFThis video-essay analyses a selection of time-loop films, exploring how their unique puzzle structure evokes elements of play while highlighting racial disparities within this specific genre. The video-essay considers the playfulness of time-looping, beginning with an omniscient scene in Groundhog Day (1993) (a blueprint for time-loop films) and continuing with the more recent The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021). The repeated pattern of reliving the same day is compared to the trial-and-error processes of computer gaming, introducing play culture, which I argue is an integral part of time-loop films.
Drawing on Johan Huizinga’s Homo Ludens (1938) and Roger Caillois’s Man, Play and Games (1958), the video essay delves into the fundamental categories of play: chance, competition, simulation, and vertigo (explained further in the video-essay). These concepts are applied to different time-loop texts, often highlighting how white protagonists are placed in positions of power, setting the stage for the second part of the argument.
In the time-loop genre, white protagonists typically overcome the loop through a combination of the aforementioned play categories. Films that follow the ‘Groundhog Day-Structure’ often depict characters engaging in self-competition, striving for personal improvement to escape the loop.
In contrast, time-loop films featuring black protagonists, such as Naked (2017), Two Distant Strangers (2020), and Groundhog Day For a Black Man (2016), present the loop as a rigged game involving repeated suffering for these characters. Black protagonists face unjust and insurmountable challenges from adversaries and circumstances beyond their control. A dynamic that is seemingly foreshadowed in an early scene from The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, where a black character repeatedly dies in a video game. When asked by the white time-looping protagonist what he would do if he could relive the same day in reality, he responds, "other than this?" highlighting an allusion towards ongoing suffering.
Unlike the playful omniscience granted to white time-loopers, black characters in the genre are often denied the opportunity to explore their world or experience any form of meaningful change. Instead, they endure a cycle of unfair play, in which they demonstrate resilience rather than omniscience. White characters, on the other hand, leverage their infinite knowledge for short-term indulgence or long-term spiritual fulfilment, which ultimately allows them to break free from the loop. These opportunities are often denied to black characters, revealing how the genre’s structure can be racially biased through an uneven distribution of rules and play, making us question whether the time-loop is a racist mechanism
Sleep staging using PPG-derived heart rate and accelerometer data from a smart ring with lightweight neural networks
Get PDFSleep staging plays an important role in assessing and diagnosing sleep disorders, however, polysomnography, the gold standard for sleep monitoring, is expensive, time-consuming, and often inaccessible. Wearable devices offer a promising alternative, providing a more convenient and scalable solution for long-term sleep monitoring. Compared to wrist-worn devices, smart rings offer a more stable signal acquisition environment, reducing motion artifacts and improving data reliability. This work investigates sleep staging using photoplethysmography (PPG)-derived instantaneous heart rate (IHR) signal and zero-crossing mode (ZCM) feature obtained from accelerometer data, both captured using a wearable smart ring. We propose a lightweight neural network model designed for wearable-based sleep staging, incorporating feature extraction, temporal modeling, and class balancing strategies. The IHR-based model consists of 503 k learnable parameters, while the ZCM-based model has 133 k learnable parameters, making them well-suited for efficient deployment on wearable devices. The proposed method is evaluated on a dataset of expert-annotated overnight sleep studies, using both IHR signal and ZCM features individually and in combination, in subject-independent cross-validation. The experimental results demonstrate that IHR features alone yield strong classification performance, achieving macro-average recall (unweighted average recall) values of 0.849, 0.805, 0.750, and 0.663 in two-class (wake vs. sleep), three-class (wake vs. non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep (N1, N2, N3) vs. REM sleep), four-class (wake vs. light sleep vs. deep sleep vs. REM sleep), and five-class (wake vs. N1 vs. N2 vs. N3 vs. REM) classification tasks, respectively. When combining IHR and ZCM features, classification performance improves further, reaching macro-average recall values of 0.866, 0.832, 0.772, and 0.671 in the respective tasks. These results highlight the effectiveness of IHR-based sleep staging and the additional benefit provided by movement-based ZCM features, particularly in two-, three-, and four-class sleep staging where we could achieve macro-average recall values of 0.750 or higher. The proposed smart ring-based system demonstrates strong potential for real-world sleep assessment by integrating multimodal physiological signals through lightweight neural networks, advancing non-invasive measurement and intelligent instrumentation
A machine learning approach to facilitate parasitic egg identification in a conspecific brood parasite
Get PDFAvian brood parasitism offers an excellent system for studying coevolution. While more common than interspecific parasitism, conspecific brood parasitism (CBP) is less studied owing to the challenge of detecting parasitic eggs. Molecular genotyping accurately detects CBP, but its high cost has led researchers to explore egg appearance as a more accessible alternative. Barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) are suspected conspecific brood parasites, yet parasitic egg detection has largely relied on subjective human assessment. Here, we used UV–visible photographs of genetically confirmed non-parasitized barn swallow clutches and simulated parasitism to compare the accuracy of human assessment with supervised machine learning models. Participants and models completed two classification tasks, identifying parasitic eggs from either six or two options. Both humans and the ‘leave-one-clutch-out’ model performed better than chance, with accuracies of 72 and 87% (humans) and 76 and 92% (models). An improved ‘leave-one-egg-out’ model achieved 97% accuracy, greatly exceeding human performance, likely by integrating more visual information, with egg dimensions being the most important trait, followed by colour and spotting pattern. We present a complete and accessible pipeline for replicating our supervised models, offering a powerful tool to identify parasitic eggs in other species also, and advance research on the evolution of egg phenotypes
Self-censorship in Saudi cinema: aesthetics and representations
No full textThe thesis examines how self-censorship manifests in Saudi cinema and how it defines on-screen representations and aesthetics. Conventional studies on film censorship have typically adopted a binary framework, positioning filmmakers in opposition to institutional censorship. In contrast, this thesis reconfigures the discourse by treating filmmakers as active agents in the censorship process. Framed by the theoretical work of Michel Foucault and Christian Metz, the study moves beyond traditional definitions of censorship to explore how self-censorship operates at multiple levels: internalized, conforming, and resistant. Internalized self-censorship is an unconscious, ingrained power of discipline, manifesting as automatic practices shaped by the filmmaker’s internalization of societal expectations and a result of functioning within a panoptic environment. Conforming self-censorship is a conscious, deliberate response to societal pressures, where the fear of surveillance or public scrutiny governs creative decisions. Both forms of self-censorship can be recognized in gender representations and visual strategies that align with cultural and religious norms, adhering to deeply embedded concepts of gender and honor. Sensitive or taboo topics, including representations of relationships and desire, are often condensed, displaced, and symbolized rather than shown directly. These choices reflect self-censoring operations and shape Saudi cinema's visual language, creating an aesthetic that prioritizes implication over explicit representation. Resistance, a counterpart of power, is also visible through meta-cinematic techniques that expose the decisions made by filmmakers to navigate, critique, or engage with the constraints imposed on them. The thesis also considers the persistence of self-censorship practices amidst ongoing cultural and social transformations in Saudi Arabia. In addressing these dynamics, the research contributes to an understanding of how the interplays of restriction, negotiation, and resistance ultimately shape the evolving aesthetics of Saudi cinema
The Correlations Between Training Load Parameters and Physical Performance Adaptations in Team Sports: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Get PDFBackground Collating evidence on the relationship between training load and physical fitness adaptations in team sport players can help refine training plans.
Objectives This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to: (i) identify research designs and methods examining the relationship between training load and physical performance in team sport players, and (ii) synthesize key findings, advancing to meta-analysis where correlations could be established.
Methods Eligible participants were men and women in team sports at least at the trained or developmental level. Studies included had training loads of at least two weeks with pre-post physical performance evaluations. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science. Study quality was assessed using the Downs and Black scale, and evidence certainty was evaluated with the GRADE framework.
Results Of 29,552 records screened, 40 studies with 726 players were included. Significant correlations were evident between heart rate (HR)-based training impulse (TRIMP) and changes in maximal oxygen uptake (r=0.63, p<0.05), velocity at a blood lactate concentration of 2 mmol·L⁻¹ (VLT) (r=0.47, p<0.05), and velocity at the onset of blood lactate accumulation (r=0.43, p<0.01). A significant correlation between session-rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) and changes in VLT (r=0.29, p<0.05) was found.
Conclusions HR-based TRIMP methods to quantify internal training load appear to be effective indicators for potential endurance adaptations around training phases in team sport players. In contrast, sRPE and external training load measures demonstrated limited associations with performance adaptations surrounding training
Towards understanding the experiences of agency of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people in the UK
Get PDFThis study explores the experiences of agency among unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people navigating the UK asylum system. While existing literature often frames unaccompanied young people through a lens of trauma and vulnerability or resilience, this research shifts the focus to examine whether and how young people experience agency within the asylum system and what this looks like. Using a qualitative approach, the study employs semi-structured interviews with 14 participants - young people as primary participants and professionals in the field as secondary participants. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.
Findings reveal that agency among young people appears to be dynamic, relational, and interdependent, shaped by their particular context and their interactions with others. Factors such as safety, support, and status facilitate the expansion of agency, whereas prolonged uncertainty, a hostile and complex system, and the impact of the work on professionals constrain this experience. Agency was also noted to impact their self-perception positively. This research considers agency as a therapeutic dimension to be taken into account when working with young asylum seekers and refugees. It also contributes to critical discussions on agency in the context of asylum and refugees, offering insights into perspectives on young people, the impact of quality of support, the importance of funding, and the efficiency of the asylum system itself
Understanding perceived COVID-19 changes, collectivism, and social exclusion: A cross-cultural study in 32 countries
No full textThis cross-cultural study examines the relationship between perceived COVID-19 changes due to the impacts on everyday life by the pandemic with social exclusion and across 32 cultures and their levels in collectivism. With data from the start of the first outbreak from March 2020 to June 2020 (N = 9245), multilevel analysis indicated that as individuals perceive greater daily life changes induced by the pandemic, they experience heightened levels of social exclusion, with this association being particularly pronounced in less collectivistic cultures. These findings underscore the importance of considering cultural context in understanding responses to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, with implications for culturally sensitive interventions aimed at promoting social inclusion across diverse cultural contexts
Improving Real Estate Investment Trust (REITs) time-series prediction accuracy using Machine Learning and Technical Analysis indicators
Get PDFThe primary goal of investors who include Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in their portfolios is to achieve better returns while reducing the overall risk of their investments. REITs are entities responsible for owning and managing real estate properties. To achieve greater returns while reducing risk, it is essential to accurately predict future REIT prices. This study explores the predictive capability of five different machine learning algorithms used to predict REIT prices. These algorithms include Ordinary Least Squares Linear Regression, Support Vector Regression, k-Nearest Neighbours Regression, Extreme Gradient Boosting, and Long/Short-Term Memory Neural Networks. Additionally, historical REIT prices are supplemented with Technical Analysis indicators (TAIs) to aid in price predictions. While TA indicators are commonly used in stock market forecasting, their application in the context of REITs has remained relatively unexplored. The study applied these algorithms to predict future prices for 30 REITs from the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, along with 30 stocks and 30 bonds. After obtaining our price predictions, we employ a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to optimise weights of a diversified portfolio. Our results reveal several key findings: (i) all machine learning algorithms demonstrated low average and standard deviation values in the error rate distributions, outperforming commonly used statistical benchmarks such as Holt’s Linear Trend Method (HLTM), Trigonometric Box-Cox Autoregressive Time Series (TBATS), and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA); (ii) incorporating Technical Analysis indicators in the ML algorithms resulted in a significant reduction in prediction errors, up to 60% in some cases; and (iii) a multi-asset portfolio constructed using predictions that incorporated Technical Analysis indicators outperformed a portfolio based solely on predictions derived from past prices. Furthermore, this study employed Shapley Value-based techniques, specifically SHAP and SAGE, to analyse the importance of the features used in the analysis. These techniques provided additional evidence of the value added by Technical Analysis indicators in this context
The last taboo? Exploring clinical psychologists’ attitudes towards older adult sexuality
Get PDFAims: To explore the experiences of trainee clinical psychologists and clinical psychologists who have qualified in the last 5 years of talking to older adult about sex, sexual health and sexuality. This thesis will explore (1) The training neophyte clinical psychologists received concerning sexual health through their programme of study and through clinical practice (2) How neophyte clinical psychologists have found exploring and addressing sexual health through their clinical practice and as part of a multi-disciplinary team (3) Adaptions made to case formulation as a result of sexual health issues being raised (4) The modalities favoured by the clinician to formulate and use therapeutically (5) The impact this has on their ability to integrate sexual health issues into both formulations and their clinical practice. Background: It is unclear the level of consideration that is given to older adult sex, sexual health and sexuality by clinical psychologists and on clinical psychology doctorate courses. This may impact how often trainee and clinical psychologists consider and discuss the sex lives of older adults. Healthcare professionals have been shown to struggle to know what their role is when discussing sex with the older adult population. However, there is limited research exploring topic with newly qualified clinical psychologists and trainee clinical psychologists in the United Kingdom. Methodology: A reflexive thematic analysis design was used to explore and analyse 15 semi-structured interviews of trainee and qualified clinical psychologists on their experiences of speaking about sex, sexual health and sexuality with older adults in a clinical setting. MDT discussions, supervision and training will also be considered. Results: The reflexive thematic analysis identified four main themes and 23 sub themes from the interviews: (1) Who am I and who are you? (2) I am a psychologist I should know what to do (3) How can we possibly talk about this? (4) You shouldn’t be having or 7 talking about sex. Conclusion: The themes that have been identified in this project highlight the different barriers clinicians face when exploring sex, sexual health and sexuality with older adults. Barriers were felt to include their own and the client’s background and the personal views around sex and cultural factors and how this interacts and conflicts between clinicians’ personal and cultural views of sex. The service clinicians work in and the views of their supervisor can also alter the ease with which they broach the topic, as can the quality and time training clinicians received on the topic
IVX Tests for Return Predictability and the Initial Condition
Get PDFWe address the sensitivity of asset return predictability tests to the initial conditions of predictors. The IVX test of Kostakis et al. (2015, Review of Financial Studies) assumes asymptotically negligible initial conditions, which we show can result in large power losses for strongly persistent predictors. We propose a modified test that initialises the instruments at estimates of the predictors’ initial conditions, enhancing robustness and detection power. Additionally, a hybrid test is introduced, combining the strengths of the original and modified tests to deliver robust performance across varying magnitude initial conditions. Empirical and simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of these approaches in improving predictability testing