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The associations between digit ratio (2D:4D and right – left 2D:4D), maximal oxygen consumption and ventilatory thresholds in professional male football players
Get PDFIntroduction
Digit ratio (2D:4D: the relative length of the 2nd and 4th digit) is thought to be a negative correlate of prenatal testosterone. The 2D:4D is related to oxygen metabolism, but the precise nature of this relationship is unclear. The purpose of the present study was to consider associations between digit ratios (right 2D:4D, left 2D:4D, right–left 2D:4D [Dr-l]) and VO2max and ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2).
Methods
One hundred and thirty-three Caucasian (n = 133) professional football players competing in Cyprus participated in the study. Players underwent anthropometric measurements, and digit lengths were measured from hand scans. They also completed an incremental cardiopulmonary test to exhaustion on a treadmill.
Results
There were negative correlations between digit ratios and VO2max (right 2D:4D, r = −.65; left 2D:4D r = −.37, both p < .0001; Dr-l r = −.30, p = .0005). There were no relationships between digit ratios and VT1. For VT2, there were negative relationships with digit ratios (right 2D:4D, r = −.43, p < .0001; left 2D:4D, r = −.21 and Dr-l, r = −.21, both p = .02). Digit ratios are negatively related to VO2max with large (right 2D:4D) and medium (left 2D:4D, Dr-l) effect sizes. For VT2, there were also negative correlations, which were medium (right 2D:4D) and small (left 2D:4D, Dr-l).
Conclusion
Our findings may help clarify the relationships between digit ratios and high-intensity actions for extended periods, which are dependent on efficient oxygen metabolism
Destination image/branding of Sicily and the Mafia phenomenon: a corpus-based analysis of keywords in English guidebooks
Get PDFThrough an analysis of tourism discourse – more specifically, of the English language as a specialised and promotional discourse in the tourism field – this study examines critically the manner in which three English language guidebooks to the island of Sicily address the Mafia phenomenon. Whether viewed positively (Sicily as a ‘film tourism’ destination) or as a potential risk factor, the Mafia is arguably an aspect taken into account by tourists when visiting the island. Hence, the study seeks to investigate how and to what extent the tourism discourse, when applied in guidebooks to describe the Mafia, may modify, positively or otherwise, the potential tourists’ destination image of Sicily. A combined methodological approach, both qualitative and quantitative, is adopted. Specifically, the Corpus Linguistics approach is privileged to extract quantitative data; a qualitative analysis is derived from the percentage data interpreted from a linguistic perspective. The results of the research suggest that, whilst the guidebooks may influence potential tourists’ destination image, that influence is largely positive. In addition, the research contributes to a further reflection on tourism discourse used for promotional communication to increase the tourist impact and potentially influence destination image formation and consumer purchase behaviour
CRITICAL INCIDENTS: DEVELOPING AN INTEGRATED MODEL OF UNDERSTANDING
Get PDFThis PhD program of work aimed to enhance understanding of the factors that influence engagement in critical incidents in forensic contexts, drawing on perceptions of forensic
psychiatric patients, trained crisis negotiators, media perspectives, and findings from the literature. Study one involved qualitative analysis of perpetrator perspectives of critical
incidents. Thirteen identified perpetrators of critical incidents from a high secure psychiatric sample completed a SORC functional assessment (Goldfried and Sprafkin, 1976) pertaining to a critical incident they had engaged in. Qualitative data from these SORC assessments were coded and subsequently qualitatively analysed using Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Seven main themes related to individual background factors were identified: (1) coping related factors, (2) personality factors, (3) criminal background, (4) mental health factors, (5) unhelpful beliefs, (6) prior experience of critical incidents, and (7) substance misuse. Five main themes related to events or stimuli occurring prior to a critical incident were identified: (1) environmental factors, (2) experience of difficult emotion, (3) feeling challenged/disempowered, (4) a significant event, and (5) use of substances/intoxication. Finally, six main themes related to the functions of critical incidents were identified: (1) to achieve a specific goal, (2) to cope with or remove difficult emotions/symptoms, (3) to make others listen, (4) to gain a positive experience and/or emotions, (5) to seek a sense of belonging/affinity with others, and (6) to establish sense of power/control. These findings highlighted a range of factors that appear relevant to the perpetration of a critical incident. The findings also revealed that the factors can co-exist and vary across both individual and situation, thus highlighting a need for an individualised approach to case formulation.
Study two explored the perspectives of negotiation staff in relation to the motivations for critical incidents, also capturing perceived protective mechanisms and environmental
factors. 20 professionals with active experience of critical incident negotiation completed semi-structured interviews. Four main themes related to functions of critical incidents were identified using thematic analysis, these included: (1) to seek deliberate isolation from others (2) to achieve goals/get needs met, (3) to gain control, and (4) to fulfil a need to communicate or to be listened to. Protective factors included: (1) the presence of inhibitory thoughts, (2) perception of a valued and pro-social support network, (3) pro-social problem solving and coping skills, and (4) self-belief and self-efficacy. The findings revealed that environmental factors were relevant to both functions and protective factors, thus highlighting the need for further exploration.
Study three further investigated the motivating factors for engagement in critical incidents, as documented in media/public enquiry publications. This enabled further exploration of
events and stimuli that occurred prior to the event and from an additional source. A review of media publications and public enquiries led to the identification of 165 suitable media and public enquiry publications relating to 24 critical incidents. SORC assessments (Goldfried and Sprafkin, 1976) were completed for each critical incident and thematic analysis was completed. Four main themes related to motivating factors were identified. These included: (1) criminal motivation, (2) achieving goals/getting needs met, (3) to gain control, and (4) a need to communicate or be listened to. Four main themes related to contributory factors for critical incidents were also identified. These included: (1) mental health factors, (2) criminal background, (3) experience of acute emotion, and (4) relationship difficulties. The findings of this study suggested that there are several individual characteristics and background factors relevant to engagement in critical incidents that have yet to be fully captured within existing literature, thus warranting further exploration.
The final study included an exploration of the impact of personality styles/domains, personality traits, personality functioning, social problem-solving style, protective factors, and resilience on critical incident engagement. Several questionnaires were completed by males residing within high and medium secure forensic psychiatric settings. Comparisons were made between those who had a history of critical incident engagement and those who did not. Extraversion and dissocial tendencies were found to predict critical incident engagement. Neuroticism, impairment of interpersonal functioning, an impulsive/careless problem-solving approach, a positive problem orientation, and resilience were not found to predict likelihood of critical incident engagement. Finally, internal and external protective factors were found to significantly predict non-engagement in critical incidents. As such, the findings highlighted the importance of the role of protective factors in further understanding critical incident engagement.
The findings of this thesis indicates that engagement in critical incidents is multifaceted, yet there are a range of identifiable vulnerability and protective factors, relevant to both the individual and the environment, across a range of forensic contexts. This research suggests that in order to target, address, and effectively manage critical incidents, specialist support and intervention should view critical incident engagement primarily as a maladaptive or dysfunctional means of coping or meeting individual need(s). Moreover, there should be more attention to key external socioenvironmental considerations. This is pivotal in addressing the current and arguably reductionist perceptions of why individuals engage in critical incidents, and the current overfocus on consequences or systemic outcomes of critical incidents. This thesis proposes a preliminary integrated model of understanding that accounts for vulnerability factors, protective factors, socio-environmental factors, and motivations related to the perpetration of critical incidents within a forensic context
Functionalism and Law-making by Dispute Settlement Mechanisms in the International Law of the Sea
Get PDFThis thesis analyses the phenomenon of law-making by dispute settlement bodies in thepublic international law of the sea system from a functionalist perspective through multiple
ways. It starts from two premises. First, it identifies different functions undertaken by dispute settlement bodies, particularly those under the LOS Convention, in modern world
order in the era of the UN. In traditional view, the only function of dispute settlement bodies under the international legal system is to resolve dispute based on existing principles and rules which agreed by sovereign states; in practice, however, there has been some agreement on the idea that dispute settlement bodies have been performing certain new functions other than settling disputes, including stabilizing normative expectations, controlling and legitimating public authority, and making laws, in order to deal with the challenges of globalisation as well as to improve the global governance in the era of the UN.
Second, the thesis confirms the applicability of the theory of functionalism which can be seen as a useful approach to analyse and explain the phenomenon of law-making by the
dispute settlement bodies under the law of the sea. Functionalists emphasize the need for diversity in international law, and welcome the current trend to providing maximum choice in conflict management in areas such as the law of the sea. In choosing the mode of their preference, states lacking any pre-commitment or cultural predisposition might be expected to base their choice on the kind of conflict or dispute in question and on the relationship between the contending parties. Functionalist logic suggests also that in choosing the intermediary mode, the parties to the dispute must compare different kinds of outcomes: interpretative, declaratory, resolutive, or facilitative. In most issue contexts or problem situations, a functionalist might be inclined to assign priority to the facilitative function of conflict management, even in recourse to third party adjudication.
Based on above premises, the activity of law-making by dispute settlement bodies, which makes the modern law of the sea as a “living law,” is defined as a phenomenon that differs from the formal international legislative activities by sovereign states or through international organisations, differs from the approaches of the establishment of customary
law, as well as differs from the legal interpretation in a narrow sense. The thesis then evaluates the law-making function of dispute settlement bodies in the law of the sea system
through four functionalist angles. Firstly, the reasons and necessities for the law-making. Secondly, the methods and approaches of the law-making, which pays particular attentions to two main methods: the functional interpretation of treaties, and the functional shortcuts in the reasoning on ascertaining customary law. Thirdly, the effectiveness of the rules generated by the law-making. And finally, the potential “disequilibrium” caused by the expansion of competences of dispute settlement bodies by themselves’ law-making
Greek-Cypriot learners’ perception and production of L2 English vowels
Get PDFAcquiring L2 segments is particularly challenging for L2 learners, especially when the L1 and L2 inventories involve different contrasts and acoustic cues. The present research investigated the perception and production of L2 English vowels by adult Greek-Cypriot learners and examined the effects of orthographic cues and consonantal context in their
performance. Perceptual performance was assessed through a forced-choice identification task and production performance through a wordlist-reading and an elicitation task, both analyzed acoustically and through intelligibility ratings.
The findings showed the influence of the L1 on both the perception and production of L2 segments, supporting the assumptions of current models of speech perception and
roduction. Learners faced challenges in perceiving the members of L2 contrasts and mostly used their L1 articulatory routines in their productions of L2 vowels. Orthographic cues or consonantal context did not significantly affect learners’ productions or overall perception, although strong contextual effects were observed in individual target vowels. This study is the first to provide an in-depth comparison of CYG and English vowels as well as an examination of the acquisition of L2 English vowels by this population, which can guide EFL teachers and course developers in developing appropriate EFL curricula that incorporate pronunciation instruction
The clockwork of champions: Influence of circadian biology on exercise performance
Get PDFExercise physiology and circadian biology are distinct and long-standing fields. Recently they have seen increased integration, largely due to the discovery of the molecular components of the circadian clock and recognition of human exercise performance differences over time-of-day. Circadian clocks, ubiquitous in cells, regulate a daily tissue specific program of gene expression that contribute to temporal patterns of physiological functions over a 24-h cycle. Understanding how circadian clock function in skeletal muscle, as well as other tissues contribute to exercise performance is still in the very early stages. This review provides background on this emerging field with a review of early exercise and time-of-day studies in both human and animals. We then move into the role of the circadian clock and its daily program of gene expression in skeletal muscle with a focus on specific metabolic and physiological outputs that vary over time-of-day. Lastly, we discuss the recognition that the timing of exercise communicates with the skeletal muscle circadian clock to adjust its phase settings and why this maybe important for performance and health
State of Open Banking in India and UK
Get PDFOpen banking, facilitated by APIs, is revolutionising the financial sector by enabling secure third-party access to consumer banking data. This fosters innovation, competition, and efficiency, empowering customers with control over their financial information and supporting personalized financial services.
Regulatory frameworks like PSD2 in the EU and CDR in Australia play crucial roles in ensuring security, privacy, and interoperability. Despite challenges such as data privacy concerns and regulatory compliance, open banking offers a trillion-dollar growth opportunity globally, promising enhanced financial inclusion, customer experience, and increased operational efficiency across diverse economies.
The UK's Open Banking initiative, launched in 2018 under the Open Banking Standard, has fostered a dynamic ecosystem of fintech innovation by mandating major banks to provide APIs for third-party access to customer data. Despite initial growth challenges, including limited acceptance points, Open Banking payments in the UK have shown significant uptake. Projections indicate continued expansion driven by fintech adoption and regulatory support.
Open Banking in India is rapidly transforming the financial landscape, driven by regulatory mandates and market competition. Enabled by APIs like UPI, it enhances financial inclusion, fosters innovation, and challenges traditional banking models, promising a dynamic future for financial services.
The adoption of Open Banking APIs in the UK and India faces significant challenges, including data security and privacy concerns, compliance risks, and cybersecurity threats. These issues can affect customer perception and hinder their willingness to share data readily, potentially limiting the model’s promotion and acceptance.
Addressing these challenges through IT modernization, developer platforms, robust API architectures, revenue sharing models, and enhanced data strategies will be crucial for sustainable growth and customer trust in the open finance ecosystem. Investment in cyber-security measures, along with effective governmental supervision, is also essential
A systematic review of stock market responses to COVID-19 and future research agendas
Get PDFWorldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced stock markets in different dimensions. This paper examines the stock market responses to COVID-19 recently and explores future research agendas. This study considers both bibliometric methods and systematic literature reviews with PRISMA guidelines. In the bibliometric part, we found that authors from China or Chinese collaborations make the highest contributions regarding the number of publications, country-wise corresponding authorship, and countries' collaboration network. However, China or Chinese collaboration papers tend to be lower in terms of the average citation score of publications compared to other top publishing countries. Second, literature review reveals that COVID-19 has positively and negatively affected global stock markets. Finally, we discuss some prospective research agendas, which clarifies the direction of future studies. Universities, organisations, and researchers in this field can use these helpful reviews to do research and learn more about future research agendas
The Handbook of Creative Data Analysis
No full textCreative research methods for data generation have expanded over recent decades and researchers are eager to take a creative approach to data analysis.
It is challenging to bring creativity into data analysis while retaining a systematic, rigorous, and ethical approach. Written by experts in the field, this handbook addresses these challenges. The chapters adapt analytical techniques in creative ways for novice and expert researchers. Existing and novel methods from analysis of quantitative data to embodied, performative, visual, written, arts-based, and collaborative analysis are featured with case examples that are transferable across disciplines.
This collection offers a definitive practical guide to creative data analysis