Borders, boats and barges:a UK post-election analysis

This paper considers policy and rhetoric surrounding the United Kingdom’s stance on asylum seekers and undocumented migrants. This is considered from a discourse analytic perspective by examining a corpus of data drawn from three sources at critical time points in recent months. One source of data is drawn from the record of a key debate in January 2024 in the House of Commons on the Rwanda Plan Cost and Asylum System. Another data source is the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill itself and explanatory notes, presented in April 2024. The final data source is news media reporting of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants as an issue in the May-through July UK election campaign period and immediately post-election as the new Labour administration took office. The analysis reveals the different political stances taken on the issue of asylum seekers and the ways in which these are bound up with rhetorical constructions of deterrence, human rights, and practicality

Followership identity construction:an insight on the non-profit sector

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to understand and examine the relationship between follower self-identity and organisational commitment, with an examination of how trust indirectly influences the relationship between follower self-identities and organisational commitment.Design/methodology/approachTo test the established hypotheses, partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was utilised. The data were obtained from 612 European board members in the non-profit sector from organisations in the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland.FindingsThe results show that the relationship between follower identity factor with trust and commitment are positive and significant. Results also show follower identity had an indirect effect on commitment through trust. The presence of a strong level of follower identity can help reinforce the trust between the chief executive and the governors/board members in the organisation.Originality/valueThis study is innovative in the sense that it seeks to gain a better understanding of the mediating role of trust between follower identify and commitment in the non-profit sector

The self-memory system:exploring developmental links between self and memory across early to late childhood

This study tests whether developments in self-knowledge and autobiographical memory across early to late childhood are related. Self-descriptions and autobiographical memory reports were collected from 379 three- to eleven-year-old predominantly white Scottish children, Mage = 90.3 months, SD = 31.1, 54% female. Episodic memory was measured in an enactment task involving recall and source monitoring of performed and witnessed actions. The volume and complexity of self-knowledge and autobiographical memory reports increased with age, as did source monitoring ability and recall bias for own actions. Regression analyses and structural equation modeling confirmed a close association between these developments. These results inform our theoretical understanding of the development of the self-memory system in childhood, which may contribute to the gradual offset of childhood amnesia.</p

A cookbook for eye tracking in software engineering

Eye tracking technology offers valuable insights into how developers and users interact with software artifacts, tools, and interfaces. However, conducting empirical eye tracking research comes with a number of challenges. To assist researchers and students new to the field, this article provides a concise summary of the background as well as the key considerations. As an additional resource, we present a detailed checklist along with its application. Note that both the outline and the checklist are specifically tailored to, but not limited to, the context of software engineering research

ANN prediction analysis of engine performance and emissions characteristics using a new set of plastic pyrolysis oil blended with pure diesel

Artificial Neural Network a soft tool enabled by Artificial intelligence was utilized to accurately predict engine performance and emissions analysis using a new set of plastic pyrolysis oil blended with pure diesel. Under various loads, blends, and speeds, this chapter analyzed the effect of plastic pyrolysis oil (PPO) on a diesel engine's performance and emissions, which were used to forecast performance and emissions. The ANN models have the potential to produce a more accurate estimate of the brake thermal efficiency, brake-specific fuel consumption, and emission performance parameters

Coronal heating driven by random foot point motions:the effects of magnetic field topology

We investigate the effects of magnetic field geometry on energy injection and dissipation, current sheet formation, magnetic reconnection rates and plasma dynamics in the solar corona when energized by random foot point motions. Using a series of 3D magnetohydrodynamics simulations, we compared the effects of high- and low-amplitude random velocity drivers acting on two different initial magnetic fields; (a) a uniform field case and (b) a tectonics case, in which the field is anchored in localized flux patches. In all simulations, the imposed drivers stress the field, generating small scales and leading to energy dissipation through Ohmic and viscous heating. The rates of energy injection, current formation, magnetic reconnection, and the associated energy dissipation are higher when the field is concentrated in flux patches at the simulation boundary. As such, expected heating rates are larger with a tectonics field. However, when high-amplitude driving is imposed on an initially uniform field, flux patches spontaneously form as the field evolves to become a tectonics field. As a result, energy injection and dissipation rates converge to become independent of the initial field state in the high-amplitude cases. As coronal field foot points are typically embedded in concentrated flux patches, we confirm that tectonics is a viable model for coronal heating. Unsurprisingly, we find that the nature of an initial field only influences heating rates as long as this field persists. However, whether solar atmospheric heating is dominated by transverse foot-point motions, as considered here, or by flux emergence events remains an unanswered question

Impact of sprint interval training on post fatigue mitochondrial rate in professional boxers

Purpose: Professional boxing is a sport that requires a high aerobic capacity to prevent fatigue and allow athletes to perform over 4–12 rounds. Typically, athletes will go into a heavy training period in a pre-bout camp lasting 6 to 9 weeks. This study investigates the impact of 3 weeks of repeated Wingate sprint interval training, performed on standard gym ergometer bikes, on skeletal muscle endurance and mitochondrial function. Methods: Ten male professional boxers (age: 26 ± 4 years, height: 175 ± 5 cm, weight: 70 ± 5 kg) participated in the study. Baseline testing involved a NIRS monitor attached to the rectus femoris muscle prior to an incremental time to exhaustion test on a treadmill. After the treadmill test participants underwent a series of arterial occlusions to determine mitochondrial function post-volitional exhaustion. Participants then continued their own training for 3 weeks and then repeated baseline testing. After the second testing session, participants undertook three weekly sprint sessions consisting of 3 × 30 s maximal sprints with 60 s recovery. Testing was repeated 3 weeks later. Results: The time to exhaustion increased by &gt; 6% after 3 weeks of sprint interval training as compared to baseline and control (p &lt; 0.05). Skeletal muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2) at exhaustion was increased by 5.5% after 3 weeks of sprint interval training as compared to baseline and control (p = 0.008). Skeletal muscle mitochondrial rate post exhaustion was increased by 160% after 3 weeks of sprint interval training as compared to baseline and control (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that SIT led to increased incremental time to exhaustion, higher SmO2 levels at volitional exhaustion and increased mitochondrial rates in professional boxers. These findings suggest that SIT should be an integral part of a boxe’s conditioning regimen to improve performance and safety within the ring.</p

Epidemiology of injuries in UK based golfers:a retrospective study

ObjectivesGolf participation numbers have increased in recent years within the UK and globally. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of injuries in amateur and professional golfers showed over half of golfers sustain an injury during their lifetime. This review recommended that future research should utilize the recent international consensus on reporting of injury in golf. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and severity of injuries sustained by UK-based golfers in the previous year.MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional online survey consisting of 35 questions was disseminated to UK-based golfers. Non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals (CI) were utilized to indicate significant differences.ResultsThere were 303 participants included for analysis. The overall injury incidence was 41.26 injuries per 1000 hours (CI 35.96–47.33). Consistent with the wider literature, the lower back at 9.94 injuries per 1000 hours (CI 7.48–13.22) is the most frequent injury site. The lower back had a mean time loss of 54 ± 89 days before full recovery. Repetitive movement injuries were noted to have a higher incidence (22.00 per 1000 hours, CI 18.19–26.61) in comparison to acute injuries (10.79 per 1000 hours, CI 8.21 to 14.18).ConclusionAnatomically, the proportion of injuries observed was comparable to previous epidemiology studies, with the lower back and elbow having the highest incidences in this largely amateur group of golfers. Most injuries were identified to be a muscle strain, joint sprain, or tendinopathy; however, no single identifiable mechanism of injury was identified

Relationship between symptoms, sociodemographic factors, and general practice help-seeking in 10 904 adults aged 50 and over

Symptoms are a common reason for contact with primary care. This study investigated associations between symptom-related, demographic, social, and economic factors on general practice (GP) help-seeking. Secondary analysis of responses to a 25-symptom questionnaire, from 10 904 adults aged ≥50 years reporting at least one symptom in the preceding year. Cluster analysis and univariable and multivariable logistic regressions explored associations between self-reported GP help-seeking, symptom-related factors, and respondent characteristics. Most respondents, 7638 (70%), reported more than one symptom in the preceding year. Ten symptom clusters were identified. Most included common symptoms like headache and back or joint pain. There were increased odds of help-seeking in females, those with poorer health status and those unable to work due to illness/disability when multiple symptoms were reported, but not when single symptoms were reported. Age and sex had variable effects on help-seeking, depending on the symptom. Reporting poorer health status, more comorbidities, and being unable to work due to illness or disability increased odds of help-seeking across a diverse variety of symptoms. Single people and those reporting lower social contact had lower odds of help-seeking for some symptoms. Being a current smoker reduced odds of help-seeking for persistent indigestion/heartburn, persistent cough, coughing up phlegm, and shortness of breath. Factors associated with self-reported help-seeking vary for different symptoms. Poorer health and adverse economic and social factors are associated with increased GP help-seeking. These wider determinants of health interact with symptom experiences and will influence GP workload.</p

Testing of the health action process approach model to predict physical activity behaviours of women experiencing urinary incontinence

Background: This study evaluated the validity and reliability of the Health Action Process Approach model to predict physical activity behaviours in women experiencing urinary incontinence. Methods: Participants (n = 389) completed a series of measures evaluating motivational and volitional factors related to health behaviour change, with data analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. Results: The results demonstrated the model’s reliability, with the constructs of self-efficacy and outcome expectancies being strongly associated with behavioural intentions. Maintenance self-efficacy was identified as a key predictor of planning constructs, but intention and planning were less predictive of physical activity behaviour than anticipated. The inclusion of specific constructs to measure urinary incontinence outcome expectancies also highlighted the complex nature of the way urinary incontinence is experienced by women inside and outside of the physical environment. Conclusions: These findings emphasise the need for tailored interventions addressing both motivational and planning processes to bridge the intention–behaviour gap in this population. Further research is recommended to refine models for specific subgroups, incorporating age and health condition variables, to enhance intervention efficacy and promote lifelong physical activity engagement for women experiencing urinary incontinence