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The effects of high adiposity on concentric and eccentric muscle performance of upper and lower limb musculature in young and old adults
Get PDFhe present study uniquely examined the influence of old age and adiposity on maximal concentric and eccentric torque and fatigue of the elbow (EF, EE) and knee (KF, KE) flexors and extensors. 40 males were recruited and categorised into young (n=21, 23.7±3.4) and old (n=19, 68.3±6.1) and then further into normal (young = 16.9±2.5%, old = 20.6±3.1%) and high adiposity (young = 28.9±5.0%, old = 31.3±4.2%) groups. Handgrip strength, sit-to-stand performance, and isokinetic assessments of peak torque at 60°, 120° and 180° s-1 were measured. Older men produced significantly less concentric and eccentric peak torque (P0.055). For KE and KF, high adiposity groups demonstrated reduced peak torque normalised to body mass (P0.30) and perceived muscle soreness, measured up to 72 hours post, was only enhanced in the upper body of the young group following eccentric fatigue (P=0.009). Despite the impact of adiposity on skeletal muscle function being comparable between ages, these results suggest high adiposity will have greater impact on functional performance of older adults
Lessons from London: A contemporary examination of the factors affecting attrition among rape complaints
Get PDFSevere levels of attrition in rape cases within the criminal justice system are widely recognised. Previous reviews (e.g., Hohl and Stanko, 2015) have provided information on the general profile of cases, their outcomes, and the relationship between the two, in attempts to understand these patterns. However, recent changes to the landscape of rape investigation (e.g., the impact of technology) justify a more contemporary assessment. The present study coded 446 cases of rape reported in London in April 2016, on a variety of victim, suspect, offence, and procedural characteristics, as well as case outcomes. We conducted descriptive analyses of case profiles and inferential examinations of the relationship between case characteristics and outcomes. Findings suggest the profile of victims, suspects, and the context of offences has remained mostly similar, with some noticeable changes (e.g., a larger array of victim vulnerabilities). Moreover, several existing, exacerbated, as well as novel procedural challenges present (e.g., delay due to workload, third party materials). Additionally, many rape-myth related case factors no longer predict case outcomes and officers instead may now engage in greater ‘downstream’ orientation, and anticipation of case uptake, when evaluating cases. Recommendations for policy and practice are discussed
Adapting Copla: the interplay of languages in making The Copla Musical
Get PDFSummary
The process of creating The Copla Musical involved the translation and integration of twentieth-century Spanish copla songs into a theatre narrative in English. The songs had been rarely translated before, let alone presented in a theatrical context outside Spain. The development of this show involved the collaboration of an international team who helped transform a culturally and historically charged artistic form by tapping into the intercultural potential and subversive nature of the material. The results of this work were then presented internationally in the form of a contemporary theatre production. This practice opened questions of how cultural translation may effectively function in a global Anglo-centric musical theatre industry. In this article, I will engage with translation debates and discuss how the selection and translation of songs impacted on performance and music languages also subject to cultural translation. The article aims to explore how new dynamics of collaboration and creativity conditioned the making of The Copla Musical, an intercultural project from conception to execution.
Resumen
El proceso de creación de The Copla Musical supuso la traducción e inserción de algunas canciones de copla española del siglo XX dentro de una narrativa teatral en inglés. La copla ha sido raramente traducida o presentada en un contexto teatral fuera de España, y el desarrollo de este espectáculo implicó la colaboración de un equipo internacional que ayudó a transformar esta forma de expresión artística de importante carga histórica y cultural. A raíz de este proyecto, se desveló el potencial subversivo e intercultural del material y los resultados han sido presentados internacionalmente como obra teatral contemporánea. Este proyecto ha cuestionado las políticas de traducción en una industria de teatro musical globalizada y marcada por el anglocentrismo. En este artículo, me adentraré en debates de traducción y exploraré cómo la selección y traducción de canciones ha impactado en los lenguajes performativo y musical de la obra, también susceptibles a una traducción cultural. El artículo explorará las nuevas dinámicas de colaboración y creatividad que han condicionado la creación de The Copla Musical, un proyecto intercultural desde su planteamiento hasta su ejecución
Bridge monitoring and deformation time-series analysis by high-resolution Multi-Temporal SAR Interferometry (MT-InSAR)
Get PDFMulti-temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is a space-borne monitoring technique capable of detecting cumulative surface displacements with millimeter accuracy in the Line of Sight (LOS) of the radar sensor [1-3]. Several developments in the processing methods and
the increasing availability of SAR datasets from different satellite missions, have proven the viability of this technique in the near-real-time assessment of bridges and the health monitoring of transport infrastructures [2-4].
This research aims to demonstrate the potential of satellite-based remote sensing techniques as an innovative health-monitoring method for structural assessment of bridges and the prevention of damages by structural subsidence, using high-resolution SAR datasets integrated with
complementary Ground-Based (GB) Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques. To this purpose, high-resolution COSMO‐SkyMed (CSK) products provided by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) were acquired and processed.
In particular, a multi-temporal InSAR analysis was developed to identify and monitor the structural displacements of the Rochester Bridge, located in Rochester, Kent, UK. To this extent, a clustering operation is realised to collect the identified Persistent Scatterers (PSs) over the structural elements of the bridge (i.e., bridge piers and arcs). Furthermore, several sub-clusters with a comparable deformation trend were identified and located over the bridge elements. This operation paves the way for an automatisation of the process through a Machine Learning (ML) clustering algorithms to assign each PS data-point to specific groups, based on the structural element type and the trend of seasonal deformation time-series.
The outcomes of this study demonstrate how multi-temporal InSAR remote sensing techniques can be synergistically applied to complement non-destructive ground-based analyses, paving the way for future integrated methodologies in the monitoring of infrastructure assets
Evoking embodied presence: these things, songwriting, filmmaking, and borrowing a performative trick from Bob Dylan
Get PDFOur performative contribution to the 2019 Special Interest Group in autoethnography provided an opportunity to consider the materiality of absence and presence. Using the film These Things and the research-inspired song that underpins the film, we explore how a 5-min multimedia performative act opened possibilities for solidarity and resistance, offering ways to include the absent other
Dramaturgy
No full textGiselle Garcia’s “Dramaturgy” looks at dramaturgic practices from the viewpoint of cartography: on the one hand, finding affiliations between dramaturgy and mapping might reveal colonial mechanisms that are inscribed in cartographic practices, a “colonial fetish for discovery,” dramaturgy as a “case of my own double consciousness.” On the other hand, Garcia points out that dramaturgy-as-mapping can also resist colonial machinations: “dramaturgical mapping as a set of cultural practices that focus on contemporary contexts that shape global storytelling.
The Feldenkrais Method in Creative Practice: dance, music, and theatre
No full textBringing together scholars and researchers in one volume, this study investigates how the thinking of the Ukrainian-Israeli somatic educationalist Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-84) can benefit and reflect upon the creative practices of dance, music and theatre.
Since its inception, the Feldenkrais Method has been associated with artistic practice, growing contiguously with performance, cognitive and embodied practices in dance, music, and theatre studies. It promotes awareness of fine motor action for improved levels of action and skill, as well as healing for those who are injured. For creative artists, the Feldenkrais Method enables them to refine and improve their work.
This book offers historical, scientific and practical perspectives that develop thinking at the heart of the Method and is divided into three sections: Historical Perspectives on Creative Practice, From Science into Creative Practice and Studies in Creative Practice. All the essays provide insights into self-improvement, training, avoiding injury, history and philosophy of artistic practice, links between scientific and artistic thinking and practical thinking, as well as offering some exercises for students and artistic practitioners looking to improve their understanding of their practice.
Ultimately, this book offers a rich development of the legacy and the ongoing relevance of the Feldenkrais Method. We are shown how it is not just a way of thinking about somatic health, embodiment and awareness, but a vital enactivist epistemology for contemporary artistic thought and practice
Mobile consumer behaviour on apps usage: the effects of perceived values, rating, and cost
Get PDFThe rapid development of technology and the use of smartphones and mobile applications (apps) have become significant and influential in today’s living. Despite the growing amount of research on mobile app usage, little is known on the role they play in shaping the behaviour of the mobile consumer. By deploying the framework, this study revises Sheth’s fundamental propositions of consumption values. While the fit of values has been recognised by many behavioural studies, insight into the theoretical interface in the mobile communication studies remains unsubstantiated. Therefore, this study explores the perceived consumption values on mobile apps behaviour and investigates the role of the rating of the apps and cost in influencing the behaviour. A total of 392 questionnaires were collected through an online survey with 9 hypotheses examined. The analysis of the structural equation modelling determined a final model with four significant factors (functional, social, emotional, and conditional values). It confirmed that the usage is influenced by the apps rating and cost towards a certain degree. This study indicates the potential significance variables in mobile consumer literature and sheds light on mobile communication marketing in the area of apps marketing, specifically in designing an effective user-experience (UX) apps for mobile consumers
Residential Demand Response Strategies and Applications in Active Distribution Network Management.
Get PDFElectricity distribution is moving towards active, more flexible, smarter and decentralized energy systems. This transition requires System Operators (SO) to dynamically monitor and control the power flow across the network. Demand Response (DR) can be considered as an alternative solution to the costly investment of upgrading conventional Distribution Networks (DN). Hence, the role of DR as a considerable potential of elastic demands in the Active Distribution Network Management (ADNM) is vital. The aim of this paper is to review the recent literature and pilot implementations towards residential DR activation and applications at the electricity distribution level. Background concepts, DR programmes and key participants in ADNM are explained. DR activation strategies for residential demand responsiveness at the network level are categorized and discussed together with the challenges and future directions of this technology. The most relevant DR innovation trials in Great Britain (GB) and their outcomes are also discussed
Private Sector Investment in Infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa Post-COVID-19: The Role of Law
Get PDFSub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the lowest income region of the world with a considerable number of low-income countries. The region is challenged by a massive infrastructure deficit. In recent years, the governments of the countries in the region have expressed the desire to bridge the huge gap in infrastructure assets through a partnership with the private sector using the public-private partnership model. However, the advent of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which has resulted in unplanned public sector expenditure poses a new kind of hurdle to climb for states in the region. As such, there is a need for governments in SSA to create and sustain efficient opportunities for private sector investment in infrastructure procurement and maintenance. This article adopted the doctrinal legal research method as well as review of literature in the examination of the role of law in creating a healthy and sustainable business environment for private sector participation in infrastructure financing and operation in a post-COVID-19 era in the SSA region. The article recommends among others, the enactment of legislation to create an enabling environment for raising domestic capital for the purposes of private sector–led public infrastructure procurement as well as the implementation of strategies suited for developing economies to attain successful outcomes in private sector backed infrastructure procurement