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Demystifying the role of information provision in travellers’ satisfaction: insights from a randomized controlled trial
Get PDFWe conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to explore whether providing tourists with information about the weather conditions in the destination country has a positive impact on their satisfaction level. We show that providing accurate weather information enables tourists to form more correct expectations i.e., closer to the actual weather conditions in the destination country – which in turn improves their satisfaction and makes them more likely to recommend relatives and friends to make the same trip. These findings reveal the role of information provision in improving tourists’ satisfaction. Finally, our study encourages the application of the RCT approach as it addresses interesting questions in tourism research
The smallest bimolecular mass-action system with a vertical Andronov–Hopf bifurcation
Get PDFWe present a three-dimensional differential equation, which robustly displays a degenerate Andronov–Hopf bifurcation of infinite codimension, leading to a center, i.e., an invariant two-dimensional surface that is filled with periodic orbits surrounding an equilibrium. The system arises from a three-species bimolecular chemical reaction network consisting of four reactions. In fact, it is the only such mass-action system that admits a center via an Andronov–Hopf bifurcation
Applying sequential mixed-methods approaches when working with businesses: insights from longitudinal research into the influence of business on sustainable lifestyles
Get PDFWorking with businesses can be complex and equally demanding requiring flexible and rigorous research approaches to ensure sufficient data is captured to fully answer the respective research questions. Sequential mixed-methods approaches allow to combine quantitative and qualitative methods in ways that allow for exploration and explanation. While often multifaceted and resource-intense, sequential designs such as sequential exploratory and sequential explanatory approaches utilize a wide breadth of data in an attempt to capture the real world in its entirety. The application of both types of sequential mixed-methods designs is presented by drawing on a longitudinal behavior change study with IKEA UK & Ireland, a leading multi-national home furniture retailer. A variety of qualitative data mining techniques were used to collect data including qualitative data from in-depth semi-structured interviews and blog posts, among others. Quantitative data were collected following a pre-post survey design. The case example demonstrates the potential of sequential designs, addressing advantages and potential challenges. It also highlights the need to stay flexible throughout the research process to adapt to changes while applying a rigorous approach to data collection and analysis
The Krishnacore Chronicles #17: Krishna Das interviewed by Mike Dines and Madhu Brata Das
No full textMadhu Brata das and Mike Dines interview Krishna Das from Invocation
Acute effects of a fatiguing protocol on peak force and rate of force development of the hamstring muscles in soccer players
Get PDFHamstring strain injuries (HSI) represents a significant burden in soccer. High speed running is one of the most common HSI mechanism, in particular during match congested periods. Peak force and rate of force development (RFD) of the hamstring muscles tested at long muscle length have shown reductions following fatiguing tasks. However, no study has used a meticulous fatiguing protocol nor reliability scores have been provided. Hamstring peak force, RFD50-100 and RFD100-150 were assessed at long muscle length in 19 soccer players (26.0 ± 4.1 years) before and after the repeated sprint ability (RSA) test. We aimed to calculate reliability scores for both limbs before and after the fatiguing task, and to compare peak force, RFD50-100 and RFD100-150 following the RSA test to baseline values. Peak force displayed “excellent” reliability scores before and after the RSA test, whereas RFD ICC showed “good” values in both time points, but CV scores were not acceptable (i.e., > 10%). Significant moderate to large decreases were found in peak force (g = -1.11 to -0.90), RFD50-100 (g = -1.37 to -1.11) and RFD100-150 (g = -0.84 to -0.69) in both dominant and non-dominant limbs. Maximal isometric peak force, RFD50-100 and RFD100-150 of the hamstrings tested at long muscle length reduced following the RSA test. However, only peak force displayed “excellent” reliability scores, whereas RFD measures could not be considered acceptable owing to their lower reliability scores. Thus, practitioners can be confident about peak force changes, whilst caution should be used when examining such changes in RFD
Linguistic profile automated characterisation in pluripotential clinical high-risk mental state (CHARMS) conditions: methodology of a multicentre observational study
Get PDFIntroduction: Language is usually considered the social vehicle of thought in intersubjective communications. However, the relationship between language and high- order cognition seems to evade this canonical and unidirectional description (ie, the notion of language as a simple means of thought communication). In recent years, clinical high at-risk mental state (CHARMS) criteria (evolved from the Ultra-High-Risk paradigm) and the introduction of the Clinical Staging system have been proposed to address the dynamicity of early psychopathology. At the same time, natural language processing (NLP) techniques have greatly evolved and have been successfully applied to investigate different neuropsychiatric conditions. The combination of at-risk mental state paradigm, clinical staging system and automated NLP methods, the latter applied on spoken language transcripts, could represent a useful and convenient approach to the problem of early psychopathological distress within a transdiagnostic risk paradigm.
Methods and analysis: Help-seeking young people presenting psychological distress (CHARMS+/− and Clinical Stage 1a or 1b; target sample size for both groups n=90) will be assessed through several psychometric tools and multiple speech analyses during an observational period of 1-year, in the context of an Italian multicentric study. Subjects will be enrolled in different contexts: Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa—IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy; Mental Health Department—territorial mental services (ASL 3—Genoa), Genoa, Italy; and Mental Health Department—territorial mental services (AUSL—Piacenza), Piacenza, Italy. The conversion rate to full-blown psychopathology (CS 2) will be evaluated over 2 years of clinical observation, to further confirm the predictive and discriminative value of CHARMS criteria and to verify the possibility of enriching them with several linguistic features, derived from a fine-grained automated linguistic analysis of speech.
Ethics and dissemination: The methodology described in this study adheres to ethical principles as formulated in the Declaration of Helsinki and is compatible with International Conference on Harmonization (ICH)-good clinical practice. The research protocol was reviewed and approved by two different ethics committees (CER Liguria approval code: 591/2020—id.10993; Comitato Etico dell’Area Vasta Emilia Nord approval code: 2022/0071963). Participants will provide their written informed consent prior to study enrolment and parental consent will be needed in the case of participants aged less than 18 years old. Experimental results will be carefully shared through publication in peer- reviewed journals, to ensure proper data reproducibility.
Trial registration number DOI:10.17605/OSF.IO/BQZTN
Diversity, transmission and selective pressure on the proteome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
No full textIn 1956, Williamson [1] contested the singular morphological description of Pseudomonas aeruginosa presented in Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, Such a limited description was proposed as inadequate at describing this diverse bacterial species. Traditional phenotypical methods for bacterial identification would reveal the phenotypic diversity in P. aeruginosa isolates, with the isolation of at least six colony types from different samples [2, 3]. Further variability would be unveiled in the morphologies, pigments, and substrate use, with reports of ‘atypical’ isolates. Nonetheless, these atypical traits were detected more and more frequently and instead pointed towards an extremely diverse species. This chapter examines the diversity of P. aeruginosa and its close relationship with the proteome. We discuss the cutting-edge mass spectrometry (MS) techniques that are continuing to reveal the extent and impact of proteomic diversity with respect to transmission and human infections of P. aeruginosa. In a parallel study, we undertake phylogenomic analysis of the species based upon its core protein sequences against eight other Pseudomonas species that may help to elucidate molecular markers that distinguish subtypes
Why is cardiometabolic risk monitoring important?
Get PDFMonitoring of cardiometabolic effects in people with severe mental illness helps to identify those at risk of developing metabolic-related disorders and provides an opportunity for timely interventions
The effects of a 6-week unilateral strength and ballistic jump training program on the force-velocity profiles of sprinting
Get PDFThe aims of this study were: a) to investigate the effects of a unilateral training program, compared to a control group, on F-V profile in soccer players; b) to explore such effects on linear speed. Twenty-four soccer players, randomly assigned to a 6-week unilateral strength and ballistic jump training (UNI) (n = 12) or a control group (CON) (n = 12), performed 30 meter linear sprint test. Findings showed small to moderate improvements (p < 0.05) in linear speed time (g = 0.66 to 0.81) and in most F-V variables: maximal running velocity (V0) (g = 0.81), maximal power output (Pmax) (g = 0.49), maximal ratio of force (RFmax) (g = 0.55), optimal velocity (Vopt) (g = 0.83) and maximal speed (g = 0.84) from pre- to post-intervention in the UNI group, whereas no meaningful changes were found in the CON group. The between-group comparison indicated small to large significant changes in V0 (g = 0.95), RFmax (g = 0.48), Vopt (g = 0.95), maximal speed (g = 0.98) and linear speed time performance (g = 0.42 to 1.02), with the exception of the 0-5 meter distance, in favour of the UNI group. Thus, a unilateral strength and ballistic jump training program can be used to improve the F-V profile and linear speed performance of amateur soccer players
Sustainable procurement in a pandemic: A case study in pragmatic research
Get PDFAs organisations and Governments seek to tackle environmental, social, and economic issues, the role of the Procurement function has never been more important for driving sustainability throughout supply chains. In the UK’s largest employee-owned organisation, sustainable procurement had not been a priority leaving both opportunity and risk unaddressed. Existing behaviours of Procurement professionals in the organisation did not consider sustainable procurement a priority as they balanced competing demands for commercial and operational deliverables. Through this research, I sought to influence sustainable procurement attitudes and behaviours to create improved outcomes. This research used a blended model of appreciative inquiry and action research to explore pragmatic change. Pragmatism provided the research paradigm, and a decision-making approach that resulted in an exploration of the implications of pragmatism for organisational change. This thesis articulates how the research was tested by factors outside of its control, and how pragmatism enabled progress despite the many and significant challenges faced