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How exercise makes us feel matters: a qualitative investigation into the affective experiences of physically active university students
Get PDFUniversity students represent a population at heightened risk of physical inactivity, with significant implications for both physical and mental health. While exercise promotion strategies often focus on cognitive and behavioural mechanisms, there is growing interest in the role of affective experiences, how exercise makes individuals feel, in shaping long-term engagement. This qualitative study explored exercise-related affect within university settings among physically active UK students. 19 students (10 female, 9 male) participated in semi-structured interviews, and data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, incorporating both inductive and deductive reasoning. Five primary themes were identified: The Temporality of Exercise Goals, Establishing Routine Amidst the Chaos, The Exercise Context, A Path to Belonging, and Digital Technology. Together, these themes highlight how students’ affective responses to exercise, and the associations they form with these experiences, are shaped by the interplay of physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors. Notably, participants’ accounts revealed the disruptive nature of university life, where academic pressures, irregular schedules, and competing demands frequently undermined sustained exercise engagement. Considering these challenges, the findings offer a range of strategies that may support students’ engagement with exercise by enhancing the affective and emotional experience. Practical strategies identified included prioritising proximal goals, exercising in outdoor environments, and adapting intensity around academic pressures. These insights can inform the design of affect-based interventions to support student exercise engagement and wellbeing. They also highlight directions for future research on the role of affect in exercise behaviour within university populations
Deep learning in plant phenotyping: the first ten years
Get PDFAs with many fields of science, plant science and agriculture have seen a rapid adoption of deep learning in recent years. The present moment is significant as it marks one decade since the first applications of deep learning began to appear in the literature on plant phenotyping. In this short time, a new research community was founded and new connections between computer vision and biology were established. In this letter, we reflect on this critical period of time from the inception of the field to where it stands today
Understanding reputational risks: The impact of ESG events on European banks
Get PDFThis study examines the financial impact of negative ESG events on European banks. Exploiting a dataset of 11,832 reputational shocks from 2007 through 2023, we find evidence of significant negative abnormal stock returns and increased volatility following negative media coverage. High-severity media coverage, as well as the reporting of previously unknown problems, increases the magnitude of the shock. We complement the main analysis with a rich dataset of bank characteristics to explain variations in the results. Furthermore, we find that deposit instability exacerbates these effects, such that banks with more volatile deposit bases suffer more pronounced stock price declines following ESG incidents, indicating that investors perceive them as more vulnerable to sudden changes in sentiment. However, banks with stronger ex-ante ESG engagement experience less deposit volatility and more muted market responses, which highlights the role of ESG practices in mitigating reputational risk. A range of placebo testing procedures are employed to demonstrate that these effects are specific to the bank-level ESG events in our data and not caused by general market movements. Our findings highlight the interconnection between ESG risk, investor and depositor reactions, and the protective value of sustained ESG engagement
The just-follow conversation test: a quick, reproducible measure ofsubjective intelligibility that is not sensitive to amplification
No full textObjective: Listening in a conversation has numerous demands not addressed by traditional speech-intelligibility tests. We here examine the utility of an alternative way to assess conversational listening, the just-follow conversation (JFC) test, namely its reproducibility and sensitivity to stimulus changes, as well as what it can tell us about conversational demands. Design: Participants repeatedly adjusted the overall level of one monologue, one dialogue and two simultaneous monologues in the front hemifield until they could just follow the speech. Speech was presented in surrounding fixed-level café and same-spectrum noise backgrounds. Study sample: Fifty-four adults, including 27 bilateral hearing-aid (HA) users, participated. HA users adjusted aided and unaided in separate blocks; non-users repeated each condition to evaluate reproducibility. Results: JFCs were greater for dialogues than monologues, but not greater for two simultaneous monologues than dialogues. Individual JFCs correlated with self-reported speech understanding as well as pure-tone threshold averages. Aiding did not have a significant effect on results. Measures of reproducibility were comparable to more traditional speech-intelligibility tests. Conclusion: The current results show that the JFC test is a relatively quick, repeatable measure that invokes both subjective and objective components of speech understanding, but it may be of limited use in evaluating amplification
Optimum sizing and configuration of electrical system for telecommunication base stations with grid power, Li-ion battery bank, diesel generator and solar PV
No full textThe rising demand for cost effective, sustainable and reliable energy solutions for telecommunication base stations indicates the importance of integration and exploring the feasibility of hybrid energy systems. This study develops a mathematical model and investigates an optimization approach for optimal sizing and deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV), battery bank storage and a diesel generator for grid connected telecommunication base station. The proposed optimum hybrid electrical system is designed to minimize total capital and operational costs while achieving 100% power availability for telecommunication equipment under varying grid power availabilities. A detailed analysis was conducted under different grid power availabilities and base station load profiles heterogeneous to different geographical locations where telecommunication base stations are located. A comprehensive analysis is conducted by genetic algorithm for different system configurations under specified constraints and specifications of electrical systems. The analysis results demonstrate the dynamic and adaptive behaviour in the levelized cost of energy against grid power availability, combinations in energy resources and cost intensity of selected resources while maintaining the levelized cost of energy of the proposed electrical system between 0.047 /kWh which is well below the considered tariff of utility grid of 0.087 $/kWh in the optimization
Ice-source heat pump for residential heating: A case study on energy storage and pipeline repurposing in the UK
Get PDFTransitioning from natural gas to cleaner heating methods is crucial for reducing carbon emissions. Heat pumps, which extract heat from air, water, or geothermal sources, offer an efficient alternative but significantly increase peak electricity demand, particularly in cold climates. This study introduces an innovative ice-source heat pump system that utilizes pipelines for water circulation, reducing installation complexity, operational costs, and energy consumption. The proposed system draws energy from both the electrical grid and pipelines, optimizing supply and reducing reliance on electricity during peak hours. This research concerns the feasibility of repurposing gas pipelines for heat pump operation and their energy transmission capacity in a post-gas era.A typical UK residential unit in Nottingham's climate was modelled, revealing that heat pumps create two consumption peaks compared to one with gas heating. Peak electricity demand for air-source, ice-source, and water-source heat pumps was found to be 2.84, 2.70, and 2.56 times higher, respectively. While the ice-source heat pump performs between air- and water-source systems in electricity consumption, its significantly lower water demand enables better integration with existing pipelines. Additionally, phase change material (PCM) energy storage was explored to mitigate peak demand. Optimizing storage tank sizes and heat pump capacities reduced peak electricity consumption for the ice-source heat pump from 2.65 kW to 1.57 kW (40.75 %). The results show that repurposing existing gas pipelines could supply 39.66 % of the energy demand of current gas network consumers, making it a highly successful solution for non-fuel-based, low-temperature heat pump systems
Performance Feedback Theory
No full textPerformance Feedback Theory (PFT) is a scholarly field that examines how organizations respond to feedback on their performance. Other keywords used by researchers in this area include “adaptive aspirations,” “attainment discrepancy,” “organizational learning from performance feedback,” “performance aspiration,” or a more generic label like a “behavioral theory/approach/perspective.” The origin of PFT can be found in the Carnegie School approach. PFT explicitly and predominantly positions itself as part of the “Behavioral Theory of the Firm” (BTOF). PFT shares many of the same foundational ideas and continues to be influenced by other strands of BTOF scholarship. The main concepts in this theory are performance feedback, aspiration levels, and responses or responsiveness. Aspiration level refers to the minimum level of performance deemed satisfactory by a decision maker, and, thus, it serves as the benchmark against which to evaluate performance. Two types of aspiration levels are common: historical ones, which are based on the organization’s own prior performance, and social ones, which are based on the performance of comparable peer organizations, usually all other firms active in a focal firm’s industry. The comparison of actual performance with aspiration levels constitutes performance feedback. Depending on whether performance feedback is favorable, i.e., exceeds a particular aspiration level being examined, PFT predicts different responses and levels of responsiveness. Commonly, predictions and findings indicate responses that diverge from previous firm actions and greater responsiveness in any area of firm activity where performance is below the aspiration level. Such responses include a wide range of strategic and operational choices, such as new market entry, investment in fixed assets, research and development (R&D) spending, innovation adoption, and so on. In fact, as PFT continues to develop and gain in popularity, the range of firm and decision maker behaviors linked to performance feedback has grown. While there is consensus on the core theory, PFT scholarship is still developing. Discussions are ongoing on the extent to which its main predictions apply universally, irrespective of the type of organization examined, the performance measure used, and the type of aspiration level considered. Specifically, research efforts are examining what boundary conditions limit the applicability of PFT’s predictions and which contingencies modify them and, thus, should be included as moderators in PFT models
Hemodynamic and neuronal contributions to low-frequency vascular oscillations in a preclinical model of Alzheimer’s disease
Get PDFSignificanceVasomotion, a temporal oscillation in vascular diameter centered around 0.1 Hz, may be altered in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with both increases and decreases reported.AimWe aimed to better characterize vasomotion in vivo, assess its feasibility as an early biomarker for vascular dysfunction in AD, and determine the relationship of vasomotion to underlying neuronal activity.ApproachLow-frequency (0.06 to 0.2 Hz) oscillations (LFOs) in the cerebral arteries of anesthetized 9- to 12-month-old J20-AD (n=12) and wild-type (n=10) mice were extrapolated from hemodynamic data obtained using 2D optical imaging spectroscopy (2D-OIS). Changes in LFO power were determined after an inspired gas challenge and compared between groups. Simultaneously gathered multi-unit neuronal activity data were used to determine whether LFOs were independent of neural activity.Results LFOs increased as inspired oxygen was reduced, but the change in LFO power did not differ between groups. LFOs were found to be driven by neuronal activity, suggesting that they represent spontaneous low-frequency neurovascular coupling rather than vascular-only derived activity.ConclusionsArterial LFOs obtained by 2D-OIS were not a suitable metric to distinguish anesthetized J20-AD males from healthy male controls. Furthermore, hemodynamic oscillations occurring within the same frequency range as vasomotion may reflect underlying neuronal activity
Future-ready AI: A framework for ethical and sustainable adoption
No full textThe rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries through automation, data-driven decision-making, and innovation. However, its adoption also poses challenges, including high implementation costs, limited technical capacity, and growing concerns around ethical and sustainable practices. While research on AI adoption continues to grow, the intersection of ethics, sustainability, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remains underexplored. This study addresses that gap by investigating the dynamics of AI adoption among SMEs in Thailand-a key Southeast Asian economy-through multiple in-depth case studies. Within-case and cross-case analyses reveal that AI adoption presents both opportunities and challenges across the technological, organizational, and environmental (TOE) framework. Key factors include job security, data protection, and cost savings, while user education, mental well-being, and financial access emerge as critical concerns. The study further explores how TOE dimensions interact with sustainability and ethical considerations, conceptualized as ESG+E (Environmental, Social, Governance, and Economic). This expanded lens offers a more comprehensive understanding of responsible AI adoption. A novel integrative framework is proposed, providing actionable insights for SMEs, policymakers, and technology providers. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on AI adoption by advancing a sustainability-and ethics-oriented perspective relevant to emerging economies
Comparative functional tongue morphology in male omnivorous bogue (Boops boops) and carnivorous red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) in relation to feeding habits: A study using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and morphometric analysis
Get PDFUnderstanding how feeding strategies influence oral morphology is fundamental to fish functional anatomy and trophic ecology. However, comparative data on tongue structure across dietary groups remain scarce in teleosts. This study examined tongue morphology in Boops boops (bogue), an omnivorous teleost with opportunistic feeding habits, and Pagrus pagrus (red porgy), a carnivorous benthic feeder with specialized prey preferences. By selecting species with distinct trophic niches, we aimed to elucidate how tongue architecture reflects dietary adaptations within teleosts. Morphometric analysis supported by light and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the bogue exhibited a higher tongue length-to-body weight ratio (34.1 %) than the red porgy (14.3 %). In contrast, the red porgy showed a greater tongue length-to-body length ratio (7.1 % vs. 5.4 %) and consistently broader tongue dimensions. The bogue tongue was sword-shaped with a pointed apex, while the red porgy’s tongue featured a rounded apex. Papillary patterns differed markedly: the bogue displayed gustatory structures including fungiform papillae at the apex, mixed filiform and fungiform papillae in the body, and volcano-like filiform papillae at the root. In contrast, the red porgy exhibited predominantly mechanical structures, such as filiform papillae at the apex, dome-like filiform papillae in the body, and dome-to scale-like papillae at the root. Histologically, both species shared a common organization of mucosa, submucosa (with connective and adipose tissues), ento-glossal hyaline cartilage, and striated muscle fibers. However, the bogue’s tongue showed stratified squamous epithelium with gustatory papillae, apical taste buds, and nerve endings. At the same time, the red porgy had abundant mucous cells and mechanical papillae concentrated at the root. Additionally, vascular channels with nucleated erythrocytes were observed in both species. These findings highlight distinct structural specializations of the tongue associated with omnivorous versus carnivorous feeding modes, offering new insights into the functional morphology and evolutionary adaptation of oral structures in teleost fishes
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