53417 research outputs found
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Evaluating the pro-environmental strategies of ethnic minority retail SMEs
No full text Purpose Despite increasing pressure to adopt pro-environmental behaviour (PEB), limited research acknowledges the sustainability efforts of ethnic minority retail small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is despite forming over half of all UK SMEs. Consequently, this research aims to advance our understanding of if, how and to what extent commercial gains (CG) (i.e. profit) and social embeddedness (SE) (i.e. people) impact ethnic minority retail SME'sdecisions to adopt pro-environmental behaviours (i.e. planet). Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the theoretical lens of the value-beliefs-norm theory, this research uses survey data from 352 owner-managers. The hypothesised model is tested in a structural equation model (SEM) using maximum likelihood estimation. Findings Our results indicate that SE and CG have a positive direct impact on PEB. However, in contrast to previous studies, results reveal an insignificant indirect relationship between CG and values. Similar to previous studies, our results confirm that values influence PEB indirectly and directly through general beliefs to activate personal norms (PN) to predict PEB. Practical implications Theoretical and practical implications are discussed to assist retail owner/managers and policy makers. Originality/value This research provides a nuanced insight into the under-researched, PEB of ethnic minority retail SMEs. By incorporating SE and CG as two important antecedent constructs, we reveal that profit objectives are prioritised over both people and planet. Subsequently, we envisage that voluntary opt-in, net-zero policies towards environmental targets are unlikely to be adopted at the pace necessary to meet either industry or policy targets by 2040 and 2050, respectively. </jats:sec
Intracortical inhibition, corticospinal excitability and voluntary activation in people with and without patellofemoral pain
No full textAbstract The aims of this study were to investigate the intra‐rater reliability of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in people with and without patellofemoral pain (PFP) and to compare nervous system function between these groups, using a case–control design. We sought people with and without PFP to participate in PNS and TMS testing to calculate maximal compound motor action potential, maximal force, voluntary activation (VA), active motor threshold (AMT), corticospinal excitability (CSE), silent period, and short‐interval intracortical inhibition. People with PFP also rated their current pain and function. Single‐measure intraclass correlation coefficients with 95% confidence intervals were used to determine intra‐rater reliability, with standard error of measurement and minimum detectable change calculated. Between‐group differences in PNS and TMS variables were determined using Student's two‐tailed, independent samples t ‐tests or Mann–Whitney U ‐tests. Twenty‐seven people without and 23 people with PFP completed PNS and TMS testing. For intra‐rater reliability, 18 people without and 17 people with PFP returned for a second testing session, and intraclass correlation coefficient values ranged from good to excellent (0.62–0.96). People with PFP demonstrated significantly lower VA ( P < 0.0001), higher AMT ( P = 0.014) and lower CSE ( P = 0.018). In conclusion, both PNS and TMS demonstrate acceptable intra‐rater reliability in people with and without PFP. Elevated AMT and reduced CSE indicate that people with PFP might have a hypoexcitable motor cortex–corticospinal pathway, and lower VA indicates reduced recruitment of high‐threshold motor units. These findings indicate that a neurophysiological mechanism might underpin the poor prognosis of PFP. </jats:p
An International Interdisciplinary Commentary on the Revised Guidelines for Music-based Interventions Checklist, Elaboration Guide and Validation Study.
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A novel use of metformin and glucokinase activators in the prevention of diabetes mellitus and immunomodulation post-kidney transplant
No full textChronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasing global health problem, affecting an estimated 800 million people worldwide. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) contributes to about 44% of new cases of CKD. Renal transplantation is accepted as the best modality of renal replacement therapy for people with end-stage kidney disease. However, transplantation is associated with dysglycaemia due, in part, to immunosuppressive medications, leading to worsening of glycaemic control in people with pre-existing T2DM and the development of post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) in people without pre-existing diabetes. Both these conditions are associated with poorer outcomes including cardiovascular morbidity, graft loss and death. In this PhD thesis, I undertook 2 separate double-blind placebo controlled randomised trials in the field of diabetes and renal transplantation. The first examined whether it is possible to prevent the development of PTDM in non-diabetic new transplant recipients with a 3 month course of metformin. The primary outcome was the diagnosis of PTDM as defined by a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 1 year post-transplant. Whilst this study did not show a significant impact of metformin, it demonstrated the dynamic nature of dysglycaemia in the first-year post-transplant and showed that metformin is safe in early transplantation. In the second, I examined novel glucokinase activator (AZD1656) in transplant recipients with pre-existing T2DM. The primary outcome was the effect of AZD1656 on peripheral regulatory T cells (Tregs), as quantified by flow cytometry analysis. If AZD1656 could promote a state of immune tolerance it might reduce the requirement for high immunosuppression whilst simultaneously improving glycaemic control. AZD1656 significantly reduced the number of Tregs but was also associated with a decrease in renal function at 1 year post-transplant and an increased rate of infections. Further work is required to investigate the role of Tregs in the acute transplant setting
Acceptability of, and preference for, HPV self-sampling for physically Disabled women: a cross-sectional survey
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