11237 research outputs found
Sort by
Laterality and performance in elite male golfers
No full textHuman beings display laterilised behaviour. In sport, including golf, players adopt a right- or left-handed stance. There may be advantages in going against convention in the position of the dominant hand relative to golf stance. However, no work has investigated this in an elite sample of golfers or considered how various combinations of hand, eye, and foot dominance may be associated with elite golfing ability. This study aimed to establish the lateralised preferences of elite golfers, and how the combination of lateralised behaviours may associate with high-level performance. We elicited hand preference, eye dominance, foot dominance, and full swing stance in 71 male golfers all currently playing professionally on tour and ranked in the top 500 in the world. Performance was measured using rankings and 'strokes gained' statistics. There was an underrepresentation of left-hand dominance and left-hand stance in the sample, with a large proportion of players having 'crossed' eye dominance. There was limited association between performance and hand dominance, eye dominance and stance. However, higher ranking position was associated with right foot dominance and uncrossed combinations between hand, eye, and foot dominance. This study provides an enhanced understanding of lateralised behaviour in an elite golfing sample.</p
Predicting Multi-Scale Positive and Negative Stock Market Bubbles in a Panel of G7 Countries: The Role of Oil Price Uncertainty
No full textWhile there is a large body of literature on oil uncertainty-equity prices and/or returns nexus, an associated important question of how oil market uncertainty affects stock market bubbles remains unanswered. In this paper, we first use the Multi-Scale Log-Periodic Power Law Singularity Confidence Indicator (MS-LPPLS-CI) approach to detect both positive and negative bubbles in the short-, medium- and long-term stock markets of the G7 countries. While detecting major crashes and booms in the seven stock markets over the monthly period of February 1973 to May 2020, we also observe similar timing of strong (positive and negative) LPPLS-CIs across the G7, suggesting synchronized boom-bust cycles. Given this, we next apply dynamic heterogeneous coefficients panel databased regressions to analyze the predictive impact of a model-free robust metric of oil price uncertainty on the bubbles indicators. After controlling for the impacts of output growth, inflation, and monetary policy, we find that oil price uncertainty predicts a decrease in all the time scales and countries of the positive bubbles and increases strongly in the medium term for five countries (and weakly the short-term) negative LPPLS-CIs. The aggregate findings continue to hold with the inclusion of investor sentiment indicators. Our results have important implications for both investors and policymakers, as the higher (lower) oil price uncertainty can lead to a crash (recovery) in a bullish (bearish) market.</p
Ciliary muscle traction during accommodation is able to induce optic nerve head deformation
No full textObjectives: To use finite element (FE) modeling and in vivo optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging to explore the effect of ciliary muscle traction on optic nerve head (ONH) deformation during accommodation. Methods: We developed a FE model to mimic the ciliary muscle traction during accommodation, and varied the stiffness of the sclera, choroid, Bruch’s membrane (BM), prelaminar neural tissue and lamina cribrosa (LC) to assess their effects on accommodation-induced ONH strains. To validate the FE model, OCT images of the right eyes’ ONHs from 20 subjects (25 ± 1.5 years, range: 24–28 years) were taken for an accommodative stimulus of 6-diopters (6D) and a relaxed state of 0D. Based on OCT images, the accommodation-induced ONH effective strains, choroidal thickness and BM opening (BMO) changes were measured. Results: Our FE model predicted that the ciliary muscle pulling force could be transmitted to the ONH through the choroid and BM. The LC strain caused by the ciliary muscle pulling (0.0177) is comparable to that induced by an IOP elevation of 45 mmHg (0.0173). The accommodation-induced LC strain increased with stiffer choroid and BM. Three-dimensional strain tracking showed that the LC strains under 6D and 0D accommodation were 0.057 ± 0.033 and 0.023 ± 0.014 (p </p
Vocal efficiency in crows
No full textMany communicative systems have been selected for efficiency, shaped by the trade-off between information transmission and energetic or temporal constraints. Linguistic laws such as Menzerath’s law—predicting shorter elements in longer sequences—have emerged as widespread principles across vocal communication in many species. While these laws have been predominantly studied at the species level, the influence of individual and social factors remain underexplored. In this study, we investigated adherence to Menzerath’s law in the vocal communication of carrion crows, Corvus corone corone, hooded crows, Corvus corone cornix and hybrids. Our findings show that crow call sequences adhere to Menzerath’s law, with shorter calls occurring in longer sequences, demonstrating structural efficiency in vocal communication. In carrion crows specifically, we analysed call sequences in relation to individual characteristics (sex, age) and social variables (group size, dominance status, strength of affiliative relationships). Interestingly, adherence to Menzerath’s law was stronger in males and younger individuals, while no effects were found for group size, dominance, or affiliative relationships. This study provides the first evidence of Menzerath’s law in corvid vocal communication and suggests that individual-level traits, rather than broader social dynamics, may shape vocal efficiency. These findings broaden our understanding of widespread principles in animal communication and raise new questions about the ontogeny and flexibility of vocal efficiency in complex social species.</p
National trends in hypertension stratified by central adiposity using waist-to-height ratio in South Korea, 2005–2022
No full textNo description supplied</p
The role of AI in mitigating the impact of radiologist shortages: a systematised review
No full textPurpose: This study aims to explore the application of Artificial intelligence (AI) systems in radiology departments and the role they play in the shortage of radiologists. It examines the ethical and legal considerations for uptake of AI both in relation to patient safety and for the profession of radiology. Methods: A systematised review was selected for this research study to collect maximum relevant evidence that provides a comprehensive overview of AI application in radiology specifically in terms of addressing radiologist shortages in hospitals. The search was complemented by grey literature to fill potential gaps. Results: Findings suggest that AI can read and interpret images more effectively and faster than radiologists and that it could be more widely used to reduce the impact of the global radiologist shortage, leading to better patient outcomes and safety. However, there are potential challenges predominantly ethical and legal. Concerns over complete radiologist replacement by AI do not currently seem likely, but rather the use of AI to complement radiologists in their work. Conclusions: AI cannot replace radiologists, instead radiology services will need the input of radiologists, AI systems and radiographers to provide a safe healthcare for all patients, therefore they are complementary. Radiologist jobs will most probably change to reduce repetitive tasks that can be conducted by AI. Radiologists and radiographers play a role in the provision of quality care in both normal day-to-day events and during times of disaster. Their role in diagnosing and prognosing diseases provides guidance during preparedness, response and recovery.</p
Of poly-rhythmic time and the City: how an urban Community Land Trust is attempting to confront the slow violence of housing inequality
No full textGradual and invisible, “slow violence” (Nixon, 2011) has been applied to housing and urban redevelopment, gentrification, and its embodiment as stress and anxiety by those affected, usually the least well-off. This paper presents a case study of London Community Land Trust (CLT), which was engendered from a combination of the longstanding traditions of East End opposition to social harms, combined with new mutual housing forms that emerged in the early 2000s. Campaigners invested energy in the CLT, generating new rhythms and an imagination of territory that would provide an alternative to the failure of mainstream housing systems. The homes would be affordable to local people on average incomes and the neighbourhood characterised by a sense of belonging and community. The case study’s findings offer a fresh perspective on London’s housing crisis, and the potential of CLTs, by centring the experience and reflections of some whose lack of a suitable home threatened them with spatial displacement. Participant observation, surveys, and interviews with residents show the depth and impact of London’s housing crisis through reflections on the past, the joys and challenges of moving to an affordable and secure home, while building new relationships with neighbours and the physical environment.</p
The Usefulness of a Wearable Electronic Vision Enhancement System for People With Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Randomized Crossover Trial
No full textPurpose: To determine the usefulness of a wearable electronic vision enhancement system (wEVES) for people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Thirty-four adults with AMD, 64.7% female, mean age 80.2(±6.0), were recruited from a UK low vision service. A 12-week non-masked randomized crossover trial compared wEVES usefulness with participants’existing low vision solutions. Primary outcome measures were visual ability, vision-related quality of life (VRQoL), device usage, and user-reported preferred device. Secondary outcomes were adverse effects, willingness to purchase, and qualitative reactions. Results: Overall visual ability improved with wEVES compared to existing solutions alone (mean difference −0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.48 to −0.04; P = 0.02). The wEVES were used for varied activities, including distance tasks, with few reported alternative strategies. However, these findings did not translate into changes in VRQoL (mean difference 0.10; 95% CI, −0.27 to 0.46; P = 0.59) or sustained device use. The wEVES were not the most preferred device for any task or individual, even when selfreported performance surpassed existing solutions. Adverse effects were minor, but participants’ satisfaction and willingness to use wEVES declined significantly from trial baseline to end. Conclusions: The wEVES improved self-reported visual ability, indicating their potential to support vision rehabilitation for people with AMD, albeit in a device that was largely not preferred over existing solutions. A user-led home trial evaluated using mixed methods is more indicative of the usefulness of wEVES for people with AMD than a short clinical demonstration. Translational Relevance: To understand the usefulness of wEVES for people with AMD, broader measures than visual function and visual ability should be applied within longer user-led assessments.</p
Evaluating differential basic resistive skills training effects on sprint, jump, and agility in young basketball athletes
No full textObjectives: This study examined how differential basic resistive skills training influences basketball players’ physical performance. Methods: Seventeen young male athletes completed two weekly sessions of bodyweight strength exercises based on movement variability for 6 weeks. Countermovement jump (CMJ), sprinting, and change of direction (COD) tests were used to evaluate performance before and after the intervention and after a retention phase. Based on previous research, the experimental group followed a differential strength training protocol incorporating movement fluctuations to promote adaptability alongside basketball training. The control group only engaged in standard basketball training. Results: Bayesian analysis showed moderate improvements in sprint performance (0–20 m and 10–20 m sprinting times) for the experimental group, though these gains were not sustained during the retention phase. Slight, non-significant increases in CMJ left leg height were observed, and no significant differences were found in COD performance. Conclusions: The findings suggest that differential strength training may enhance sprint performance and adaptability in young athletes. However, the findings suggest that modifications to the training protocol, such as increasing training volume (e.g., from one set to three sets of 10 repetitions) or incorporating external resistance (e.g., medicine balls, kettlebells, and barbells), may further optimize performance outcomes. This study highlights the potential of differential training methods to address the multidirectional and dynamic demands of youth basketball. Future research should explore refined protocols and their long-term impact on athletic performance and retention.</p
The role of sense of place in maintaining resilience in social-ecological systems: a case study of the sacred groves in the Western Ghats, India
No full textThe exclusion of people from conservation decision-making poses a significant challenge, affecting the effectiveness and efficiency of conservation actions. However, understanding the intricate social-ecological relationship between people and places necessitates a paradigm shift to address conservation challenges through a stewardship-focused resilience approach. Focusing on social-ecological systems (SES) such as the devrahati (sacred groves, SG) in the northern Western Ghats, India, this study explores the local community's sense of place (SoP), shaped by their lived experiences, emotions, and perceptions, as a crucial link between social and ecological aspects that foster resilience of these systems.Place-based concepts like place meanings, place attachments, and place attitudes were investigated using a qualitative approach combining semi-structured interviews and participatory observations. Data was collected from the local community members to gain insights into their knowledge, practices, and beliefs related to the devrahati. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify recurring patterns and themes that illustrate what shapes the SGs.The devrahatis are a complex sacred space deeply intertwined with the community’s history, spirituality, and identity. They have multifaceted meanings that seep deep into spiritual, ecological, and cultural aspects; however, changing relationships impact the frequency and nature of people-place interactions with the space. The shift from working-spiritual landscapes to primarily spiritual landscapes, along with generational and gender disconnects with the place, and weak governance, is leading to the erosion of knowledge and the weakening of ritual practices. This research provides valuable empirical evidence for using SoP to build stewardship-focused resilience in the devrahati.While the research establishes the deep-rooted significance of SoP in the people-place relationship, it also offers a useful tool, the linked SES-SoP framework (framework), for identifying and understanding opportunities to cultivate knowledge sharing, which can encourage social learning, fostering a sense of ownership, enhancing collective efficacy and empowering local actors to develop a shared understanding and vision for a resilient future. The framework's six enablers (understanding social-ecological diversity, connectivity, participation and partnership, governance, funding/ resources, and learning and evaluation) facilitate identifying the challenges and assist in making coherent decision-making for resilient SES.</p
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Open Research Online? Become a CORE Member to access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard! 👇