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The ‘land-based rural’ – land, landscape and ecosystems
No full textDiscussions of the land-based rural reflect on the complexity of managing the environment for nature in conjunction with ensuring agricultural productivity and the maintenance of access to the countryside. The chapter debates how alternative perceptions of nature in rural areas are influenced by cultural, ecological, and socio-economic factors. It goes on to discuss a series of tensions between landowners, users of rural areas and impacts of political decision making on the ways in which planning policy and environmental designations shape these relationships. The chapter then presents three case studies of landscape management in Cambridgeshire (England), the development of the North West Greenway Network in Ireland/Northern Ireland, and the coastal rainforest of Taynish (Scotland) to examine how thinking on land-based capital varies geographically and socio-culturally. The chapter concludes by reflecting on future directions for the planning of the land-based rural and considers how best to shape praxis to support ecological and socio-economic interests in rural areas
Variation in countermovement jump metrics following competitive soccer matches throughout a season in professional players
No full textPurpose: This study aimed to analyze the variations in the countermovement jump (CMJ) derived metrics in professional soccer players due to match exposure; in addition, it was analyzed if these responses are dependent on the time played by the athlete.
Methods: Thirty professional soccer players performed a CMJ test one day before and in the second day after the match (i.e. MD-1 and MD+2), throughout a competitive season. The comparison of the CMJ performance in the situations MD-1 vs. MD+2 was made by a paired t test. The effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d. We also compared MD-1 vs. MD+2 according to the different time played by athletes (G1, with > 69 minutes played; G2, 40 to 69 minutes played and G3, < 40 minutes played) by using an ANOVA. Level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: The analyzed CMJ metrics presented decrements in MD+2 compared to MD-1 (p<0.05). It was observed that the declines in jump height (JH; p=0.37) and reactive strength index modified (RSI-mod; p=0.02) on MD+2 were more pronounced in players with greater match exposure.
Conclusions: This study suggests that measures of CMJ are sensitive for monitoring post-match neuromuscular fatigue in professional soccer players and can distinguish fatigue levels among groups of players with different match exposures
General reservations to multilateral conventions: a study of the reservations of the State of Qatar
No full textThe present study explores the reservations entered by the state of Qatar when ratifying or signing international treaties, their validity, as well as the consequences of these reservations in light of the traditional doctrines of reservations to multilateral treaties in general and to human rights instruments in particular.
The research constitutes the first major study on Qatari reservations and the first comparative analysis of the topic in the Gulf region, where States share legal structures based on Sharia. The discussion on the differentiated treatment of the reservations to human rights conventions is presented in more detail where the author aligns with the view that the regime of reservations is uniform and should not differentiate between human rights and non-human rights reservations. The scope of this study covers all international treaties but places particular emphasis on human rights treaties. It extends over other reservations as well - treaties on international relations matters and agreements regarding the jurisdiction of the ICJ - since analogies and insight can be drawn from them as well. At the same time, it is recognised that these treaties receive differentiated treatment in the practice of many states, and this is valid for the position of Qatar as well.
The dissertation highlights many misconceptions concerning Sharia based legal systems as well as clear inconsistencies with the positions of states in their treatment of states from the Global North and the West on one hand and states in other regions, including the Gulf States. Most notably, however, the research defends the legality of these reservations. They are not prohibited and they do not breach the object and purpose of the respective treaties.
The Qatari position towards reservations to multilateral treaties has significantly evolved and this is especially relevant as regards reservations to human rights treaties. The main accomplishment in that regard is that the state no longer issues general reservations against the whole human rights treaties on the basis of incompliance with Sharia law and has withdrawn its general reservations. The research demonstrates further that Qatar might reconsider its position towards the jurisdiction of ICJ which can be expected to facilitate the resolution of international conflicts involving the state of Qatar, including in the latter’s interest. However, some states and international organizations are sceptical of Qatari progress and point to specific deficiencies, particularly in the field of human rights protection and these observations can serve as suggestions for further improvement of the regime
Editorial [Reconceptualizing Educational Research Methodology 16 (2)]
Get PDFThis issue of Reconceptualizing Educational Research Methodology gathers together an exciting collection of papers that seek to make contributions to the field of educational enquiry by taking the reader on unexpected journeys that are intentionally provoking. Traversing multiple continents and geopolitical contexts together these papers offer a series of unlikely entry points, as well as myriad opportunities to pause and consider what approaching research differently can potentiate in the pursuit of more critical scholarship and deeper connections to life on/with this troubled planet. In various ways the authors in this issue of the journal work with methodological innovation as the means to activate ethics, ideologies and philosophical ways of knowing and acting upon the world – that are sensed, that reverberate, and that also hold the potential to disorientate – with generative consequences. Or as McKittrick (2020, 16) stresses, there is a burning imperative for researchers ‘to read outside ourselves, not for ourselves but to actively unknow ourselves, to unhinge, and come to know each other’
Online fan community engagement : bright and dark sides for human brand loyalty
No full textThe current study aims to examine how engaging in online fan communities influences loyalty behavior for a human brand in positive and negative ways through members’ feelings of social well-being and normative community pressure. Structural equation modeling analysis was conducted to test our proposed hypotheses by using data collected from various online fan communities of human brands in South Korea, such as singers, actors, athletes, and politicians. Our study finds that social well-being and normative community pressure, both of which stemmed from fan community engagement, played significant roles in human brand loyalty. More specifically, fan community engagement increases members’ social well-being, which, in turn, enhances members’ loyalty to the respective human brands. On the other hand, fan community engagement also increases the normative community pressure for members, which, in turn, decreases the loyalty for human brands. Our findings contribute to the extant literature by showing how dynamics in fan community engagement influence human brand loyalty, as the previous studies focusing on the relationship between fan communities and human brand loyalty in the literature are scarce
Public engagement for student empowerment
Get PDFThe ability to disseminate and communicate densely mathematical and technical material to a non-technical audience and coworkers is a key employability skill for mathematics graduates. As educators it is important that we consider how to bridge this gap and how we can embed these skills into already tightly packed programmes. At Middlesex University we have long believed in embedding communication skills in our undergraduate mathematics programmes to empower our students from diverse backgrounds. Importantly, while these students are with us, we also present them with the opportunity to work as mathematical ambassadors and apply these skills in-situ during outreach and public engagement events. These events include SMASHFest, Big Bang, Thorpe Park, World Skills, Teen Tech, and MDX STEMFest. This increases their confidence and knowledge of mathematical topics further while enhancing their employability, communication skills, and social capital
Exercise and inflammation in female survivors of breast cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis with secondary mediation analysis on body composition
Get PDFPurpose
Inflammation plays a key role in breast cancer recurrence and mortality by promoting tumor progression. Exercise significantly reduces pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP, potentially reducing mortality risk. However, it is yet to be determined whether exercise-induced changes in body composition can modulate inflammatory biomarker responses in the breast cancer setting.
Methods
We conducted a secondary mediation analysis based on the findings from our previously published systematic review with meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials examining the effects of exercise on IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and CRP and body composition and anthropometry measures such as lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), body weight and body mass index (BMI) were included. Random-effect meta-regression models were undertaken.
Results
Sixteen studies were included in the secondary analysis (n = 752). Increases in LM were significantly associated with reductions in IL-6 (p = 0.03) and there was a trend toward decreases in IL-8 (p = 0.05). In addition, there were non-significant trends suggesting that reductions in FM may be associated with decreases in IL-6 (p = 0.08) and TNF-α (p = 0.06), and that decreases in BMI may be linked to changes in IL-8 (p = 0.06).
Conclusions
Changes in body composition following exercise were not consistently associated with inflammatory biomarker responses in breast cancer survivors with only LM significantly associated with IL-6 while a trend in LM and FM existed for some other inflammatory markers. Although these findings do not provide conclusive evidence, they highlight a possible role of exercise-induced body composition changes in mediating inflammation. Further research is needed to clarify whether targeted exercise interventions that improve body composition can contribute to reducing inflammation and, ultimately, impact breast cancer progression, recurrence, and mortality
EEL-GA: an evolutionary clustering framework for energy-efficient 3D wireless sensor networks in smart forestry
Get PDFWireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are very important for monitoring complex 3D environments like forests, where energy efficiency and reliable communication are critical. This paper presents EEL-GA, an Energy Efficient LEACH-based clustering protocol optimized using a Genetic Algorithm. Cluster head (CH) selection is guided by a dual-metric fitness function combining residual energy and intra-cluster distance. EEL-GA is evaluated against EEL variants using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Differential Evolution (DE), and the Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) across key performance metrics, including energy efficiency, packet delivery, and cluster lifetime. Simulations using real environmental data confirm EEL-GA’s superiority in sustaining energy, minimizing delay, and improving network stability, making it ideal for smart forestry and mission-critical WSN deployments. The model also incorporates environmental dynamics, such as temperature and humidity, enhancing its robustness in real-world applications. These findings support EEL-GA as a scalable, adaptive solution for future energy-aware 3D WSN frameworks
Enabling community maintenance for local flood risk management: briefing note for policy and strategy staff: enabling and supporting communities in voluntary maintenance of flood assets (C821c)
No full textA short briefing note created for strategy/policy staff, which traces a line through existing policies involving community groups in maintaining flood risk assets
Music with displaced dyads: Ukrainian parents’ perspectives on a music therapy group
Get PDFThe war in Ukraine has caused a major humanitarian crisis, compelling many citizens, particularly children, to flee and seek refuge in other nations. Numerous studies have highlighted the significant impact of parenting practices in either mitigating or exacerbating the effects of mass trauma on children’s ability to adapt. Particularly, music therapy has shown promise in addressing trauma and displacement, with multiple studies demonstrating its potential benefits. The current study explores the experience of parent-child dyads displaced from Ukraine (as perceived by parent-participants and group-leader), who took part in an eight-week music therapy group intervention. The project sought to create effective protocols in collaboration with the displaced community. The current work focuses on the qualitative aspect of the project. Semi-structured interviews were conducted both with the parent-participants as well as with the music therapy group-leader. A thematic analysis of all data revealed four central themes: (A) The music space as a safe haven; (B) A gentle, attuned approach enabling parental leadership; (C) Emerging group cohesion and community; and (D) Music as a catalyst for developmental change. This study highlights how structured, trauma-informed music therapy facilitates emotional regulation and resilience in displaced parent-child dyads by integrating predictable musical routines with improvisational play. Through co-regulation, shared musical engagement, and the creation of a safe, attuned group environment, music emerged as a powerful medium for fostering connection, empowerment, and developmental recovery in the aftermath of trauma