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The enjoyment of live magic and its relation to other forms of entertainment
No full textMagic is a performance art that allows us to experience the impossible. We present data from a questionnaire-based study that examined how the liveness and social and physical proximities of a magic performance affects people’s enjoyment and how this relates to other forms of entertainment. We found moderate to strong evidence to suggest a preference for magic performances that were live to when they were presented on video, but this preference for live performances was also found for dance, theatre, visual arts and sport, but not for film music and comedy. People’s enjoyment of live magic correlated positively with all other forms of entertainment except music at home, film on TV and sports on TV. Watching magic on TV correlated positively with all the other forms of entertainment except live dance, live music, live plays, film on TV and at the cinema. Regression analysis showed that people’s reported enjoyment for live and video magic was influenced by different factors. Enjoyment for live magic was negatively predicted by watching stand-up comedy and sports on TV. Live stand-up comedy, live sport and live dance and film at the cinema all contributed positively to people’s enjoyment of live magic. Watching magic live was the strongest predictor enjoyment of watching magic on TV, followed by stand-up comedy on TV, dance live, dance TV, sport TV play TV, sport live, and film on TV. Live dance and sports were negative predictors, implying that increase enjoyment in these forms of entertainment predicted lower levels of enjoyment of magic on TV. Our findings suggest that the enjoyment of magic operates independently from other art forms such as visual art and music. This indicates that existing aesthetic models developed for those domains may not fully account for the mechanisms underlying the appreciation of magic. We also examine how physical proximity influences reported enjoyment, revealing a consistent preference for live performances, alongside a marked aversion to magic performed over Zoom. Additionally, our study explores the frequency with which individuals engage with magic, showing a strong preference for non-live formats. Our findings offer initial insights into how environmental and social factors shape people\u27s enjoyment of magic and its connection to other art form
Validation of the yRAFFLE: an implementation of the RAFFLE inventory for loot box engagement in a youth cohort
Get PDFBackgroundPlay is pivotal in human development, and as such the human experience. In young people, play is increasingly taking the form of video gaming—capturing a large share of the entertainment sector and potentially exposing young people to new instances of harmful behaviour. Loot boxes (purchasable items where the contents are chance based, which have structural and psychological similarities to gambling) generate significant income for the sector. They have, however, been understudied in young people. The present research validates a lightly modified version of the Reasons and Facilitators for Loot box Engagement (RAFFLE) inventory in a youth population – the youth RAFFLE (yRAFFLE).ResultsFive hundred six young people were recruited from urban and rural schools, including both sexes and ages 10 to 14. The psychometric properties, internal and convergent validity of yRAFFLE were assessed. Through confirmatory factor analysis, a seven-factor (Enhancement, Progression, Social Pressure, Distraction/Compulsion, Altruism, Fear of Missing Out, and ReSale) solution was established, confirming the same factor structure previously observed in an adult cohort. Inspection of standard fit measures showed the seven-factor solution to fit above benchmarks and the original RAFFLE. Cronbach’s alpha for the whole scale was 0.95 and subscales ranged from 0.73 to 0.89. yRAFFLE was highly correlated with the Video Game Addiction questionnaire. Finally, yRAFFLE showed measurement invariance to sex, location, and age.ConclusionsThe finalised yRAFFLE is a robust measure of 23 items for the motivations for loot box engagement in young people, that acts a parallel to its counterpart in adults. The yRAFFLE functions as a methodological tool to capture, measure, and understand young people’s engagement with loot boxes
Visualizing seascapes as a method for engaging stakeholders in discussions about resilience
Get PDFCoastal communities have complex bodies of knowledge around environmental change, resilience, and sustainability, which extractive forms of research are not well suited to understand. This paper outlines an arts-based action research pilot project to understand social-ecological resilience in the Western Indian Ocean. Our project used visual, artistic, and participatory approaches to foster co-learning and action research on: (1) the arts-based methods themselves and (2) resilience building in coastal communities and ecosystems. This paper focuses on the former elements. We present our inherently phenomenological approach as a research assemblage that can be used to bring together different communities and stakeholders, disciplines, epistemologies, and perspectives to understand our shared environment. Importantly, we propose that a multi-sensory, playful, and pragmatic concertina approach that draws on more than one arts-based method can create a crescendo effect that is more than the sum of its parts, creating an engaging environment for enduring and sustainable exploration of resilience among all members of the community
Advancements in mooring systems for the OE35 wave energy converter: Dynamic design and validation
Get PDFThis research presents a comprehensive analysis of the mooring system design for the 1 MW OE35 wave energy converter, which is being developed by the WEDUSEA project. The study centres on the dynamic analysis of mooring configurations using Orcaflex software to simulate the environmental and operational conditions expected at the deployment site. The analysis involved an iterative design and validation process, refined through both numerical modelling and basin testing. These tank tests were crucial for validating the Orcaflex model outcomes by providing a controlled environment to observe the physical behaviours of the proposed mooring configurations under simulated sea conditions. The finalized mooring system design employs a three-point catenary setup, optimized through extensive simulation to withstand varied environmental loads while maintaining system integrity and device stability. This paper outlines the progression from initial mooring concepts to a thoroughly validated design, demonstrating improvements in mooring strategies that enhance the reliability and performance of wave energy converters in real sea conditions. The findings from this analysis contribute significantly to the ongoing efforts to scale wave energy technologies, aligning with broader industry targets for cost reduction and sustainability in renewable energy deployments
The role of a pelvic orthotic in the management of Chronic Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain: a feasibility study and validation of a novel body perception measure
Get PDFChronic pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) affects an estimated 10% of post-partum women and is typically recalcitrant to conservative management. One novel option to manage this is a customised Dynamic Elastomeric Fabric Orthosis (DEFO), however, currently non studies have evaluated the clinical and cost-effectiveness or acceptability of this orthotic in post-partum women. Further, the mechanism of action of this orthotic is unknown. One mechanism may be to impart an effect on the disturbed body perception, which preliminary evidence has demonstrated is affected in women with PPGP. Current understanding is limited by an absence of research into women with PPGP and limitations with testing methods for body perception. The primary aim of the thesis was to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (fRCT) in women with chronic PPGP. An additional aim was to design a central measure of implicit body perception to allow the assessment of women experiencing pain spanning the midline and evaluate the reliability of this in women with PPGP. A remotely delivered fRCT in (n=24) participants experiencing chronic (\u3e3 months) post-partum PPGP, compared standard care (advice and exercise) to standard care plus a DEFO. The pre-defined progression criteria indicated that in its current format, it is not yet feasible to progress to a definitive trial. The primary challenge was participant recruitment, achieving 40% of its target. The DEFO demonstrated some promise in reducing worst night-time pain at 24-weeks, as assessed by the NPRS (-2.63 (SD 2.88)). Implicit and explicit somatoperception did not change. Qualitative interviews (n=8) supported the remote delivery of the trial, but with a preference to incorporate a face-to-face session.A narrative review identified the most appropriate measures to study explicit and implicit body perception at the pelvic girdle; Freemantle Back Awareness questionnaire (FreBAQ) and the two-point estimation task (2-PE). The 2-PE measure lacked data on healthy individuals and had only been tested in unilateral pain. Considering this, a central version of the measure was designed, requiring reliability testing. A reliability and agreement (remote versus in-person) study was undertaken in 22 pain-free women. Two repeated measures stabilised the reliability, with good to excellent intra-rater reliability at the pelvic girdle for the central (ICC 0.89 95%CI 0.73-0.95) and lateral measure (ICC 0.91 95%CI 0.78-0.96). Inter-rater was good for all measures (in-person and remote) except for the in-person lumbar spine. There was satisfactory agreement between the in-person and remote methods of assessment of the 2-PE; lateral mean difference -3.20, and central measure (pelvic girdle), mean difference 8.09, with no proportional bias.Comparison of the sensory perception measure data between pain-free women and those with PPGP demonstrated that women with PPGP more accurately estimated their pelvic girdle area during the 2-PE measure. However, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.08). Further work is required to understand if perceptual changes (as measured with the 2-PE measure) are modified with treatment and correlate with the report of an enlarged or shrunken pelvis as measured by the FreBAQ.In conclusion, this thesis has evaluated the feasibility of conducting a RCT in women with PPGP. The results have shown that in its current format, it is not feasible to run a definitive trial. Of major importance, a greater understanding of the barriers and opportunities for recruitment of women with PGP is required. This thesis has filled a knowledge gap related to the understanding of body perception in women with PPGP. Designing a central measure, to allow the assessment of women experiencing pain spanning the midline, collecting data in a pain-free population, and comparing this to women with PPGP provides the basis for further work to understand perceptual disturbances in women with PPGP
Meta-Analysis and Survival Analysis in Healthcare: Methods, Applications and Impact
No full textWe described our novel research in medical statistics and their impact in healthcare by drawing upon the following examples: a meta-analysis within the Cochrane review on the effect of cutting portion size on consumption of food; a Stata command to regenerate individual level time-to-event data from published survival curves; and the use of the difference in restricted mean survival time as an alternative to hazard ratios when analysing time-to-event outcomes
Heterosexual-identified Men Who Have Sex with Men and Men of Diverse Sexual Identities: Protocol for an International, Multilingual, Online, Comparative Sexuality Study
Get PDFBackground: Sexuality is multidimensional and complex, comprised of identity development, attraction, and behaviour. Heterosexual-identified men who have sex with men (H-MSM) experience sexual identity and behaviour discordance yet it is unknown how H-MSM compare to concordant heterosexual men as well as gay, bisexual, and queer (GBQ+) men regarding sexuality constructs.Objective: To survey adult cisgender men in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom to gain greater insight into how different demographics, identity development, attractions, behaviours, technology use, relationship negotiation and communication skills, and PrEP and life satisfaction relate to each other, and then to interview H-MSM for in-depth follow-up on survey concepts. Methods: Purposive sampling will be utilized to recruit men via online and offline venues. Data collection will be multifaceted and include an online questionnaire for adult cisgender men and subsequent interview for H-MSM. The survey will be available in English, French, and Spanish. Structural equation modeling, underpinned by hegemonic masculinity and sexual scripts theory, will be performed to test the relationships between the survey’s variables. Interpretive phenomenology will be employed on the qualitative data to consider how unique sociocultural factors influence H-MSM’s sexuality and experiences, allowing for similarities and differences across participants to be identified and explored. Results: Data collection will begin in October 2024 and is anticipated to conclude in March 2025. Data cleaning will occur alongside data collection. Data analysis will begin in April 2025. Results will be reported in 2025 and 2026. Conclusions: This research will broaden the scope of existing literature and contribute to advancements in interventions and knowledge to support the overall health and well-being of H-MSM. An examination of potential differences between H-MSM, concordant heterosexual men, and GBQ+ men will also strengthen understanding of H-MSM and reaffirm the need to include them in further research and practice without dismissing them as closeted GBQ+ men. This study aims to provide key insights into avenues for research and practice with men whose sexuality and sexual behaviours may be outside of commonly accepted norms
‘Livewell with Dementia? An Evaluation of a Pilot Post-diagnostic Psychoeducation Group for People Diagnosed with Dementia’
Get PDFBackground: This pilot study reports the evaluation of 30 post-diagnostic, five-week structured psychoeducational intervention groups for people recently diagnosed with dementia, facilitated across Livewell CIC, Plymouth, UK.Method: Two-hundred-and-thirteen individuals were recruited using a convenience sampling methodology. A total of 167 participants (Females N=86, 51.50%, mean age 78.72, ± 8.70; Males N=81, 48.50%, mean age 78.20, ±8.21, overall mean age = 78.47, ±8.45) attended at least one session. Eighty participants completed the programme over a 12-month period.Results: Pre- and post-baseline questionnaires were analysed descriptively. Weekly sessions were analysed using an exploratory qualitative descriptive research design. Post-group evaluation revealed that the group improved participants’ understanding of dementia and provided a safe space to discuss the impact of a dementia diagnosis.Conclusion: This pilot study provides evidence of the value of post-diagnostic group therapy in offering a safe space for people with dementia to discuss the impact of their diagnosis
Post-traumatic growth and influencing factors of parents with children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a cross-sectional survey study
Get PDFBackground: The aim of the study was to identify the post-traumatic growth status and influencing factors of parents with children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Methods: We adopted a cross-section survey study. Between February and December 2022, 181 parents responded to the survey including a participants’ characteristics section, post-traumatic growth assessment scale, caregiver burden scale, and social support assessment scale. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate influencing factors of post-traumatic growth. Results: The mean score of post-traumatic growth of parents was 56.66 (SD ± 18.67). Post-traumatic growth was positively correlated with social support (r = 0.452, P \u3c 0.01) and negatively correlated with care burden (r = -0.207, P \u3c 0.01). Multiple linear regression showed that the child’s age, course of disease, self-care ability, parent’s working condition, residence, education, number of children, and health status were the main influencing factors for the post-traumatic growth of parents (P \u3c 0.001). Conclusion: The post-traumatic growth of parents with children with DMD was at a moderate level. Healthcare professionals should pay attention to the psychological state of parents with children with this rare disease and promote post-traumatic growth through psychological mindfulness interventions, strengthening family and social support, and providing care knowledge and skills
A Path Out: Using Video Games to Reduce Prejudice Towards Refugees
Get PDFHistorically, research on video games has centred on their potentially adverse effects, though more recently, work has started to explore the benefits. Here, we investigate whether playing a video game portraying a refugee’s plight in escaping war-torn Syria could affect implicit and explicit attitudes towards that social group. We show that after 30 min of game play embodying a Syrian refugee, participants showed reduced prejudicial attitudes and increased empathy towards Syrian refugees compared to those playing a mechanically similar but contextually unrelated game. While implicit attitudes followed the same direction, this difference was not statistically significant. Potential theoretical underpinnings of these findings, including perspective taking, embodiment, and contact perspectives for prejudice reduction, are discussed