62353 research outputs found
Sort by
Inter-system and inter-unit reliability of Polar Team Pro and WIMU PRO devices during external load measurements indoors
No full textThe aim was to examine inter-system and inter-unit reliability of both WIMU PRO (UWB) and Polar Team Pro devices in measuring indoor sport-specific movements. Seventeen active and healthy adults (age: 21.4 ± 5.2 years; height 170.3 ± 8.2 cm; body mass: 71.2 ± 4.5 kg) completed one repetition of an indoor team sport circuit (i.e. accelerations, decelerations, change of direction, jumps and arc runs). Participants carried two 10-Hz Polar Team Pro GPS and wore two 20-Hz GPS (UWB) WIMU PRO chest- and back-mounted devices, respectively. Distance (absolute, relative and in different speed thresholds), mean and peak speed, accelerations and decelerations at different intensities and jumps were recorded. A repeated-measures two-way analysis of variance and ICC and CV were utilised. There was a significant (p ≤ 0.001) main effect of the system for all variables except the total distance, mean speed and distance covered during low- and high-intensity running. There were significant differences (p 0.05) between the two WIMU PRO units were detected. Poor inter-system reliability was ascertained, with inter-unit reliability being moderate-excellent for most variables of both systems
Does the travel career pattern model work for repeat tourists?
No full textTourism researchers and practitioners have an interest in understanding tourists’ travel patterns, and one of the most used models applied to reach this goal is the seminal Travel Career Pattern (TCP) model. However, repeat tourism is underexplored and in the present research, the authors provide an initial investigation of repeat tourists using the TCP model. Based on survey data from 500 international tourists in India the present research found that the TCP model is valuable for exploring repeat tourists’ travel patterns and motives. Within the TCP model results show that middle-level motives were found to be most important for tourists with more diverse travel experiences which include nature, self-development and self-actualization. Significant relationships were also found among the origin of tourists, their travel experiences and their motivational pattern
Agency amongst the entrepôts: Negotiating exchange associations between Motu hiri and Mailu seafaring exchange networks at Hood Bay on Papua New Guinea’s south coast
No full textThe exchange of specialized items and the social connections those exchanges engender play a fundamental role in the trajectories of societal relations. Processual archaeologists developed a core–periphery model to understand how these exchange relations work. The model evoked complex societal “cores” and “peripheries” at societal edges where exchanges with other cultures take place. The rigidity of core–periphery modeling led to the emergence of more nuanced network analyses to explain the qualitative as well as quantitative dimensions of cultural exchange. Yet contemporary models still focus on the agency of societal cores as central places. The agency and experiences of communities negotiating connections between exchange networks have gained little attention. In this study, we address this knowledge gap by exploring how the people of Hood Bay on Papua New Guinea’s south coast negotiated their position between the famed Motu hiri and Mailu seafaring exchange networks. Drawing on archaeological, ethnographic, and historical data, we examine how Hood Bay communities maintained and altered dynamic regional exchange associations through time. By highlighting the agency of communities living between exchange networks, this study contributes to understandings of the complex negotiation and organizing of exchange relations between cultures
Dynamic capability deployment: The roles of dominant logic and international entrepreneurial orientation
No full textTo identify factors that drive firms to deploy dynamic capabilities (DCs) more effectively and efficiently than others in changing international environments, this study explores how an explorative versus exploitative dominant logic might affect the technical fitness of firms’ DC deployment, conditional on the level of international entrepreneurial orientation (IEO). Empirical findings from Chinese firms suggest that beyond the effect of the dominant logic on the effectiveness and efficiency of their DC deployment, firms’ IEO has relevant impacts on this relationship
When is a reported air-stable PrIV complex not a PrIV complex? Answer: when it is PrIII
No full textAll the data recently reported for the purported air/water stable PrIV complex, [(L)PrIV(L)4(OH0.94Cl0.06)2PrIV(L)]n (L = N-acetylanthranilate) [1], have been reinterpreted to show that it is, in fact, the PrIII complex [Pr2L6(H2O)2]n. Importantly, it is isomorphous with its reported EuIII analogue [Eu2L6(H2O)2]n [2], providing further evidence of the incorrect assignment in the literature
Unpacking global consciousness: Identifying the psychological dimensions that foster awareness and action in an interconnected world
No full textGlobal consciousness is a critical construct in an increasingly interconnected world, encompassing an awareness of the interconnectedness and diversity of humankind and a commitment to moral action on its behalf. However, its psychological dimensions remain underexplored, necessitating further understanding of the cognitive, emotional and behavioural processes that drive meaningful engagement with global challenges. A scoping review was conducted to address this gap, analysing literature from 1989 to 2024. Thirty-one studies (quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods and reviews) were included to identify the key psychological dimensions underpinning global consciousness. The findings identified six interconnected dimensions of global consciousness: cognitive processes, encompassing reflective and integrative cognitive dispositions; core beliefs and values, including shared humanity, justice and cultural openness; social-relational dynamics, fostering cohesion, identity and collaboration; affective states, such as empathy and hope, driving emotional engagement; actions that translate awareness into behaviours like intercultural navigation and resource sharing; and motivational drives that energise efforts toward equity and well-being. Together, these dimensions demonstrate that global consciousness is a multidimensional construct, integrating cognitive, emotional and behavioural processes. Understanding these dimensions is crucial for fostering global consciousness in individuals and communities, providing a foundation for addressing contemporary global challenges and promoting collective moral responsibility
Job satisfaction among dental technologists working in the public health sector in Nigeria: A phenomenological study
No full textBackground: Job satisfaction is critical in healthcare professions, including dental technologists – influencing individual wellbeing, service delivery quality and workforce retention. This study explored factors influencing job satisfaction among dental technologists working in public health sectors in Nigeria.
Methods: This qualitative study employed a phenomenological research design to capture the lived experiences of 18 dental technologists (10 males, 8 females) working in Lagos’s federal and state government healthcare facilities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and thematic content analysis was used.
Results: The study found that job satisfaction among dental technologists in the public health sector is affected by several interconnected factors. Key themes included the workplace environment, compensation, opportunities for professional development and interpersonal relationships. Participants noted that inadequate resources, limited career advancement opportunities and unsatisfactory pay were significant challenges that impacted their job satisfaction.
Conclusion: Addressing job satisfaction challenges necessitates a holistic approach, including reforms for fair pay and placement, enhanced educational access, respectful interprofessional relationships and improved infrastructure. Such initiatives would enhance job satisfaction among dental technologists and strengthen their contributions to the healthcare system overall
Healthcare Access and Utilisation among African Refugee and Immigrant Women in Australia: A Scoping Review
No full textExisting literature has reported inequities in access to Canadian health care services among immigrants. The aim of this scoping review was (a) to explore research regarding Canadian immigrants’ unique experiences in accessing healthcare, and (b) to provide suggestions for future research and programming considering the identified immigrant-specific service gaps in health care. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Google Scholar, following the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework. The review’s findings suggest unmet health care access needs specific to immigrants in Canada, with the most common access barriers including communication, socioeconomic, and cultural barriers. The scoping review expands on the immigrant health care experiences and accessibility factors through a thematic analysis. Findings suggest that developing community-based programming, improving training for health care providers in culturally competent care, and policies that address the social determinants of health can improve health care accessibility among immigrants
Deep Learning-enabled RIS Massive MIMO Systems for Industrial IoT: A Joint Communication and Computation Approach
No full textAccurate estimation and detection, along with phase shift optimization, are vital for implementing reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-enabled multi-antenna systems in highly disruptive industrial IoT environments. Motivated by the remarkable capabilities of deep learning (DL) techniques, this paper introduces a pioneering approach to address challenges in channel estimation, channel correlation prediction, and symbol detection for industrial IoT. We develop an optimization framework for large-scale IoT deployments to maximize the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) while minimizing transmit power. We also propose a transformer-based channel correlation predictor for IoT devices, which enables adaptive pilot retransmissions and reduces training overhead through a co-design approach that integrates communication, computation, and control. Extensive simulations under realistic, time-varying industrial IoT channel conditions demonstrate the superiority of our DL-driven approach, achieving significant improvements in detection accuracy and SINR
Prevalence of Cysticercosis in Pigs and Risk Assessment Among Occupationally Exposed Workers in Benue State, Nigeria
No full textAim: Cysticercosis is a key zoonotic disease burden, posing significant public health challenges. Neurocysticercosis, a sequela associated with the larval stage of Taenia solium, is a recognised cause of late-onset epilepsy in humans, thereby highlighting the need for robust epidemiological data. This study investigated the prevalence of cysticercosis in slaughtered pigs within Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, to contribute to understanding the disease’s local epidemiology and associated risk factors.
Methods: From January to August 2019, we examined pig carcasses at four abattoirs: Utyondomarket, Wurukumabattoir, Modern market, and Railway abattoirs. Structured questionnaires were administered to butchers, pig farmers, and civil servants to gather information on disease knowledge. A total of 2,176 pig carcasses were examined.
Results: Among the examined carcasses, 24 (1.1%) were infected. Of these, 18 (0.83%) were boars, and 6 (0.28%) were sows. The highest prevalence was observed in Utyondo market (2.75%), followed by Wurukum (0.77%) and Railway markets (0.65%). The diaphragm (odds ratio (OR) = 0.09; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01-0.70) and the tongue (OR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.04-0.81) were less likely to be infected compared to the shoulder. Knowledge of cysticercosis was relatively high across all participants (71.72%, 95% CI: 61.77-80.31).
Conclusion: Our findings indicate the endemicity of porcine cysticercosis in Makurdi abattoirs. While knowledge of the disease seems relatively widespread among exposed populations, gaps exist in understanding transmission routes. A collaborative One Health approach involving studies on occupationally exposed individuals is recommended for a comprehensive understanding of the disease burden and to develop targeted control strategies