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Inside the Rehearsal Room
No full textWith an exclusive focus on text-based theatre-making, Inside the Rehearsal Room is both an instructional and conceptual examination of the rehearsal process. Drawing on professional practice and underpinned by theory, this book moves through each stage of rehearsals, considering the inter-connectivity between the actor, director, designers and the backstage team, and how the cumulative effect of the weeks in rehearsal influences the final production.
The text also includes:
- Auto-ethnographic and fully ethno-graphic case study approaches to different rehearsal rooms
- Interviews with directors, actors, designers and actor trainers
- A consideration of the ethics of the rehearsal room and material selected for production
- Practical exercises on how to creatively read a text from an acting and directing perspective
Informed by over 20 years of directing experience in the UK and Europe, Robert Marsden's book offers a practical guide that ultimately demystifies the rehearsal process and challenges how the rehearsal room should be run in the twenty-first century
Biomechanical Assessment of Soft Tissues in the Foot and Ankle Using Ultrasound
No full textThere has been an increasing use of ultrasound as an imaging modality in the assessment of foot and ankle function with implications in a range of diagnostic applications. The importance of the mechanical characteristics of the soft tissue within the foot and ankle and their relationship to physical and physiological functions during weightbearing activities have been previously established. Given this significance, this chapter has a focus on the application of ultrasound as an imaging modality for biomechanical assessment of the soft tissues of the foot and ankle. This chapter provides an overview of ultrasound-based assessment to examine the mechanical behavior of the soft tissues, expanding on methods like ultrasound assessment when the tissue is under realistic loading conditions and ultrasound elastography (sonoelastography). In addition, the role of ultrasound in assessment of the mechanical properties of plantar fat pad, plantar fascia, and Achilles tendon in healthy and pathological conditions are discussed
International Migration
Get PDFInternational migration is one of the most controversial and divisive areas in public debate. This chapter explores some of the main themes in the current conversation around immigration, crime, and harm in a global context. It begins by describing a convergence in public perceptions of the migrant as an alien Other and their association with criminality/terrorism. The entry then expands its scope by delving into the wider debate on climate change and military conflict, both key drivers of international migration. Lastly, there is an examination of some of the state interventions that have been adopted to address the inflow of migrants into the West and the problems that these strategies have incurred
Gait analysis – kinematics
No full textModern biomechanical movement analysis is undertaken using motion capture (camera) based systems. Simple 2-D dimensional analyses which are now almost completely limited to field-based analyses require as little as one camera, whereas 3-D examinations of human movement can require many cameras depending on the movement and space requirements of the examination. From a 3-D analysis standpoint, it is important to consider several factors to optimise the quality of the kinematic data (on which this chapter focusses) that you collect and maximise its usefulness in both clinical and sports settings
An online questionnaire study investigating the impact of psychosocial factors on the duration of breastfeeding
Get PDFObjective:
To examine the psychosocial factors of intention to breastfeed, perceived stress, social support, self-efficacy and their ability to predict the duration of breastfeeding in first-time mothers up to six months postnatally.
Design:
Cross-sectional, quantitative study using a retrospective online survey.
Setting:
Women across West Yorkshire, in the north of the United Kingdom.
Participants:
First-time mothers (n=98) who had given birth in the past six months.
Measures:
An online survey included three established survey instruments measuring the main study variables: The Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al., 1983), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (Schwarzer and Jerusalem, 1995). The fourth variable was Intention to breastfeed and was measured using a single question. The survey was structured into five main sections 1) During pregnancy, 2) Once the baby was born, 3) Support to feed my baby, 4) Psychosocial factors and 5) Demographics. Open text responses allowed women to elaborate on their infant feeding experiences.
Findings:
80% of the sample said they had intended to breastfeed their baby. Although 96% initiated breastfeeding while in hospital, this decreased to 82% at one week and 75% at six weeks. By six months, the rate had dropped to below 50%. Survival Analysis using Cox’s Regression found no significant predictors of duration of breastfeeding at one week and six weeks. However, a significant negative correlation between perceived stress and self-efficacy suggests that greater perceived stress is linked to lower self-efficacy. Other findings included 91% of mothers decided how they would feed their baby before they were pregnant (57%) or during pregnancy (34%) and the majority answered that breastfeeding support was most useful straight after the birth and up to one week.
Key conclusions:
The findings from this sample of new mothers showed that although many intended to breastfeed, a considerable number of them had stopped by the time their baby was six weeks old. The content analysis highlighted the multiple challenges new mothers can experience with breastfeeding and furthers understanding of the support needs of this group of women.
Implications for practice:
Many of the mothers had already decided how to feed their baby before the baby was born. In this sample, a quarter of those who intended to breastfeed or thought they might breastfeed had stopped by six weeks. In order to increase breastfeeding duration, new mothers with high intention to breastfeed need to be better prepared for potential breastfeeding challenges and given more support with breastfeeding shortly after their baby is born
Cormac McCarthy, Philosophy and the Physics of the Damned
Get PDFThis book explores Cormac McCarthy’s literature (novels, plays, screenplays, philosophical essays and unpublished archive material) to uncover a distinct literary philosophy. More specifically, this study elucidates how McCarthy articulates a philosophical perspective which pivots on philosophical themes of mortality, the political, education, nihilism, materialism and language. Tracing these themes from the publication of his earliest novels to his most recent philosophical essays, this book argues that McCarthy offers a unique synthesis of spiritual, ethical and materialist concerns, the understanding of which is essential for coming to terms with his literature
Pantomime
No full textPantomime is a uniquely British artform, with deep European influences and worldwide roots in folk law and fairy tale. Far from being passive, the audience in a contemporary pantomime can be seen as the final character in the theatrical event. This short argues that pantomime requires the audience and performers to enter into an inter-dependent relationship, including completing the routines (such as the ‘ghost gags’), warning characters of a threat (the infamous ‘it’s behind you’) and often bringing about the story’s denouement. Drawing on practitioner interviews and personal reflections, the short also acknowledges Marvin Carlson’s notion of ‘ghosting’ in relation to an audience’s implicit expectation of their role in the pantomime experience
‘Hands, face, space’: The material turn in board gaming during Covid-19
Get PDFIn the early months of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic meant millions of people around the world had to change their daily behaviours with immediate effect, often with no real indications of when ‘normality’ (whatever that was) would return. Fundamental alterations in social, physical and cultural norms occurred overnight. Millions of people were confined to their homes or near home environments. The deadly invisible pandemic was here, and it was taking our lives away, both literally and figuratively. In retrospect, perhaps we should have realized what living through a global pandemic might be like, but the fiction imagining such disasters shows either the direct moments of an outbreak, as in such texts as Max Brooks’s World War Z (2006) or Emily St John Mandell’s Station Eleven (2014), or the world as it recovers in the years afterwards, as in such texts as Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic series (2003–19) and Namwali Serpell’s The Old Drift (2019). It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that we were less prepared for what might happen during the months, possibly years, of a viral outbreak, for which there was no immediate vaccine...
Long-term clinical and socio-economic outcomes following wrist fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDFObjective. Wrist fractures constitute the most frequently occurring upper limb fracture. Many patients report persistent pain and functional limitations up to 18 months following wrist fracture. Identifying which patients are likely to gain the greatest benefit from rehabilitative treatment is an important research priority. This systematic review aimed to summarize effectiveness of rehabilitation after wrist fracture for pain and functional outcomes and identify potential effect moderators of rehabilitation. Methods. A comprehensive search of 7 databases (including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database [PEDro]) was performed for randomized controlled trials involving adults >50 years of age who sustained wrist fracture and had received 1 or more conservative treatments (eg, exercise/manual therapy, lifestyle, diet, or other advice). Study selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment were conducted independently by 2 reviewers. Results of included trials were summarized in a narrative synthesis. Results: A total of 3225 titles were screened, and 21 studies satisfying all eligibility criteria were reviewed. Over half of included studies (n = 12) comprised physical therapist and/or occupational therapist interventions. Rehabilitative exercise/manual therapy was generally found to improve function and reduce pain up to 1 year after wrist fracture. However, effects were small, and home exercises were found to be comparable to physical therapist–led exercise therapy. Evidence for the effects of other nonexercised therapy (including electrotherapy, whirlpool) was equivocal and limited to the short term (< 3 months). Only 2 studies explored potential moderators, and they did not show evidence of moderation by age, sex, or patient attitude of the effects of rehabilitation. Conclusion: Effectiveness of current rehabilitation protocols after wrist fracture is limited, and evidence for effect moderators is lacking. Currently available trials are not large enough to produce data on subgroup effects with sufficient precision. To aid clinical practice and optimize effects of rehabilitation after wrist fracture, potential moderators need to be investigated in large trials or meta-analyses using individual participant data. Impact. Many patients report persistent pain and functional limitations up to 18 months following wrist fracture. Effectiveness of current rehabilitation protocols after wrist fracture is limited and may be due to insufficient targeting of specific rehabilitation to patients who are likely to benefit most. However, evidence for effect moderators is lacking within currently available literature. To aid clinical practice and optimize effects of rehabilitation, investigating potential moderators of rehabilitation in patients with wrist fracture via large trials or meta-analysis of individual participant data is research and policy imperative
An exploratory study of entrepreneurial social networks in the digital age
Get PDFPurpose – Drawing on social network and social capital literature, this study seeks to explore how digital entrepreneurs utilize social networks to build their entrepreneurial capability, creating and developing business ventures in a digitally networked society.
Design/methodology/approach – The study takes a qualitative approach, interviewing 35 digital entrepreneurs with businesses operating across multiple industry sectors in Western Australia.
Findings – The findings suggest that structural social capital provides a key resource with groups of relational contacts who facilitate in building entrepreneur capability, the venture, and customer markets. Relational social capital provides a foundation of trust between entrepreneurs and social network members that is strategically important for digital entrepreneurship. Cognitive social capital provides mechanisms to form relationships based on shared values across social networks.
Research limitations/implications – The study produces early evidence that in a multiplexed networking world, social capital accrual and use online, is different from that of offline. More empirical studies are needed to understand the complexity of the changing nature of online and offline social networks, the consequential social capital, and their interdependence in digital entrepreneurship.
Practical implications – This is an exploratory qualitative study using a limited sample of 35 Australian digital entrepreneurs to explore the impact of social network interaction on digital entrepreneurs and their ventures, with the purpose of stimulating a social network approach when studying digital entrepreneurship. This study confirms the critical importance of entrepreneurial social networks in the digital age and provides empirical evidence that online networks foster business development, while offline networks feed self-development.
Originality/value – The study contributes to current research on digital entrepreneurship as a dedicated new research stream of entrepreneurship. Specifically, the study contributes to a greater understanding of how digital entrepreneurs leverage social networks in today’s digitally connected society
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