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The nexus between sovereign credit ratings, environmental performance, and voice & accountability
Full text linkThe economic benefits offered by the improvement in sovereign credit ratings may be channelized by governments and corporates to improve environment-friendly regulations and infrastructure or to pursue economic growth without scaling out environmental effects. The choice among these two paths may depend upon the Voice (freedom of expression) and Accountability (VA) norms of the economic agents. Based upon this theoretical construct, this study analyzes firms’ environmental performance in response to sovereign credit ratings and finds that a rating upgrade (downgrade) in a year translates to a lower (higher) environmental performance in the following year. Results also show that the VA positively moderates the negative association between SCRs and environmental performance. Furthermore, geographical heterogeneity exists in the SCRs-environmental performance as Middle Eastern and African (South Asia and the East-Asia-Pacific) firms are the least (most) responsive to SCRs. Based upon these findings, it is recommended that a coordinated effort is needed at the government and corporate level to act responsibly to combat issues of climate change and environmental degradation
Urban image change over two decades: comparing the images of six British urban areas 20 years apart
No full textThis paper addresses a significant lacuna in the literature of urban image by examining urban image change for multiple towns and cities over a period of two decades. It revisits and repeats a survey of UK conference and events organisers from 2000 that explored the images they hold of six British towns and cities that had all positioned themselves as key venues for business and leisure tourism meetings, events and conferences. It found both continuities and changes in the images of the towns and cities examined across this time period. Whilst the images of some towns and cities had changed significantly, others had changed very little. Further, the ways in which this audience collectively talked about these urban areas had changed little over this time. The results show that, across an extended time period, significant change in the images of urban areas can occur but that it is not inevitable. The results point to the significance of individual circumstances rather than general processes of urban image change. Our results also reveal the significance of ongoing personal experiences of cities to the processes of urban image formation and change amongst this audience
When load doesn’t tell the whole story: Acute Effects of volume and effort matched resistance training on arterial stiffness.
No full textThis study examined acute vascular responses to three resistance training (RT) protocols differing in load and volume but matched for proximity to failure. Eleven adults (6 males, 5 females) performed three RT protocols consisting of the Hexagonal bar Deadlift (HDL) and Bench Pull (BP) exercises with the following: i). low-volume, moderate-load, high-repetition (LModHigh: 2×10 reps), ii). low-volume, high-load, low-repetition (LHighLow: 2×4 reps), and iii). high-volume, high-load, low-repetition (HHighLow: 5×4 reps). Proximity to failure was set at 2 repetitions in reserve (RIR). Measurements of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and pulse wave analysis (PWA; e.g., augmentation index) were collected at baseline, immediately post, and 15 min post-training, while muscle oxygenation (MO) was monitored during performance of the HDL. The LModHigh condition induced significantly greater increases in cfPWV (6.2 ± 0.6 to 6.9 ± 0.8 m/s) and AIx (16.1 ± 5.3 to 30.6 ± 10.7), than both LHighLow and HHighLow (all p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in MO variables across conditions. These findings suggest that the number of repetitions per set and total time under tension, rather than absolute load or volume, play a more important role in mediating acute haemodynamic responses following RT
The effect of adherence to a Tai Chi intervention on quality of life of older people living with dementia
Full text linkBackground/Objectives: Adherence to exercise programs is required to reap their established benefits and to sustain Quality of Life (QoL). This study explored People Living with Dementia’s (PLWD) adherence to a Tai Chi exercise program and its effects on their QoL. The study included assessment of factors affecting adherence to a Tai Chi exercise intervention, causes of nonadherence, and effect of adherence on PLWD’s QoL. Methods: This study was part of a randomized controlled trial where 41 community-dwelling PLWD received a Tai Chi exercise intervention in addition to usual care for 20 weeks. The measures used in this study included PLWD’s QoL, global cognitive function, moderate physical activity, intention and confidence to attend classes, record of PLWD’s and their carers’ health conditions, and percentages of PLWD’s Tai Chi class attendance and home practice during the intervention phase. Multiple linear regression, bivariate correlation, and independent sample t-test analyses were conducted to evaluate associations between these variables. Results: PLWD’s overall percentage of class attendance, M (SD) = 69.19 (29.95), demonstrated high adherence. Moreover, QoL of highly adherent PLWD was significantly higher than low adherents. Among all variables, PLWD’s and carers’ health conditions (β = −0.64; p < .001, β = −0.38; p < .001, respectively) were the dominating factors that reduced PLWD’s Tai Chi adherence, while PLWD’s moderate physical activity at baseline (β = 0.27; p = .02) was significant positive predictor. Significance/Implications: PLWD’s and their carers’ health issues must be addressed to enhance PLWD’s exercise adherence and sustain good QoL
philosophy for/with children (p4wc) and primary education: through the lens of a pre-service teacher reflecting on their practice,filosofia para/com crianças (fpcc) e educação primária: através das lentes de um professor em formação que reflete sobre sua prática,filosofía para/con niños (fpcn) y educación primaria: a través de la perspectiva de un docente que reflexiona sobre su práctica
No full textPhilosophy for/with Children (P4wC) is used widely as a pedagogical approach in schools. However, it can also be used beyond schools and is increasingly being utilised in university based pre-service teacher education. This article shares reflections from pre-service teacher educators using P4wC in their institution in the south of England both to encourage critical reflection upon education itself, and also as a practice to share with pre-service teachers in the hopes that they may carry it forward as a pedagogical approach in their own future classrooms. These pre-service teacher educators share and reflect upon a case study provided by one of their students, a pre-service teacher in their final year of an undergraduate degree in primary education at the university. Within this case study, the pre-service teacher shares a critical discussion about their research exploring literature surrounding P4wC and reflects upon their early exploration of this approach within a primary school classroom. The pre-service teacher concludes their case-study with a recognition of some challenges but also with a commitment to continuing to engage with P4wC moving forward in their career. The pre-service educators conclude the article by reflecting upon their student’s experiences, the impact using P4wC had upon that pre-service teacher and the value of embedding P4wC in pre-service teacher education
