Arts-based research and social justice in sport and leisure

The importance of social justice research is well recognised in current times, in particular the need for innovative studies that intervene into the complex challenges faced within twenty-first century societies. Research that makes a difference. Research that works with, on and around the political, economic and sociocultural obstacles that can conspire to inhibit change where it is most badly needed. As the chapters in this Handbook demonstrate, the importance of social justice scholarship across the field of sport, leisure and physical activity is recognised. Here, too, researchers, scholars and activists work in ways that strive to make a positive difference. In this chapter, we consider the utility of arts-based approaches to social justice research and reflect on examples of two film-based projects in sport, leisure and physical activity. We engage with public responses to these examples, demonstrating the personal, social and cultural meaning and impact of the work and showing how arts-based research can generate community, solidarity, and personal or social change. We propose that arts-based research offers a means to radically democratize social justice research and scholarship

Evaluating a model of best practice in primary care led post-diagnostic dementia care: feasibility and acceptability findings from the PriDem study

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a primary care-based intervention for improving post-diagnostic dementia care and support (PriDem), and implementation study procedures. Design: A non-randomised, mixed methods, feasibility study. Setting: Seven general practices from four primary care networks (PCNs) in the Northeast and Southeast of England. Participants: We aimed to recruit 80 people with dementia (PWD) and 66 carers. Intervention: Clinical Dementia Leads delivered a 12-month intervention in participating PCNs, to develop care systems, build staff capacity and capability, and deliver tailored care and support to PWD and carers. Outcomes: Recruitment and retention rates were measured. A mixed methods process evaluation evaluated feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and study procedures. Using electronic care records, researchers extracted service use data and undertook a dementia care plan audit, preintervention and postintervention, assessing feasibility of measuring the primary implementation outcome: adoption of personalised care planning by participating general practices. Participants completed quality of life, and service use measures at baseline, 4 and 9 months. Results: 60 PWD (75% of recruitment target) and 51 carers (77% of recruitment target) were recruited from seven general practices across four PCNs. Retention rate at 9 months was 70.0% of PWD and 76.5% of carers. The recruitment approach showed potential for including under-represented groups within dementia. Despite implementation challenges, the intervention was feasible and acceptable, and showed early signs of sustainability. Study procedures were feasible and accessible, although researcher capacity was crucial. Participants needed time and support to engage with the study. Care plan audit procedures were feasible and acceptable

Activation of LXRs alleviates neuropathic pain-induced cognitive dysfunction by modulation 2 of microglia polarization and synaptic plasticity via PI3K/AKT pathway.

Background Cognitive dysfunction is one of the most common comorbidities in patients with chronic pain. It has been shown that activation of Liver X receptors (LXRs) plays a potential role in improving cognitive disorders in multiple central nervous diseases by modulating neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity. In this study, we mainly investigated whether LXRs could reverse cognitive deficits induced by neuropathic pain. Methods The spared nerve injury (SNI) model was established to explore the roles of LXRs in neuropathic pain induced-cognitive dysfunction. Pharmacological activation of LXRs by T0901317 or inhibition by GSK2033 was applied. In addition, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 was administered to examine the downstream mechanism of LXRs. Changes in neuroinflammation, microglia polarization, and synaptic plasticity were assessed using biochemical technologies. Results We found that SNI induced mechanical allodynia and novel object recognition dysfunction in mice, accompanied by the reduction in expression levels of LXRβ, synaptic proteins, and the PI3K/AKT pathway in the hippocampus. Microglia were activated in the hippocampus after SNI, with an increase in M1 phenotype and decrease in M2 phenotype, as well as upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Activation of LXRs with T0901317 significantly ameliorated SNI-induced cognitive dysfunction including anxiety, learning and memory. Neuroinflammation and microglia M1-polarization also induced by SNI were reversed after using T0901317. Moreover, T0901317 upregulated expression levels of synaptic proteins and phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT. However, administration of the LXRs inhibitor GSK2033 or PI3K inhibitor LY294002 abolished all the protective effects of T0901317 on cognitive dysfunction in SNI mice. Conclusion Our data indicate that LXRs activation alleviated neuropathic pain-induced cognitive dysfunction by modulating microglia polarization, neuroinflammation, and synaptic plasticity via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and thus, LXRs may be identified as potential new targets for pain-related cognitive deficits. Keywords Liver X receptors; Neuropathic pain; Microglia polarization; Cognitive dysfunction; Neuroinflammatio

Tell-Tall Signs of Voice and Exit’s Hirschman Theory in this Digital Age: Analysis of the Zimbabwean Healthcare Sector

The Zimbabwean healthcare sector has faced a challenging shortage of health professionals in recent days. This study investigates the phenomenon of health professionals leaving the country, and to understand the situation, this review used (Hirschman, Exit, voice, and loyalty: Responses to decline in firms, organizations, and states, Harvard University Press, 1970) voice and exit theory. The researchers took advantage of the digital age and obtained relevant reports on the internet; after a vigorous selection process, the six most relevant reports on Zimbabwean health professionals were selected and analysed in this review. The findings indicate that Hirschman’s theory applies to understanding the employment relations in the Zimbabwean healthcare sector. The data shows that Zimbabwean health professionals used their voices to challenge the status quo before leaving the country. However, the evidence from the data obtained highlighted that these health professionals had no option but to exit the country since the Zimbabwean government’s reaction was powerful and gave no room for active voice behaviours. However, this study recommends the Zimbabwean government consider allowing some voices in the healthcare sector to get a meaningful chance to sort the situation in this sector, as the reports will always be available due to this digital age. Despite limitations in this study, such as the limited data used, the findings are valid, although future researchers should consider larger samples to get an in-depth understanding of the employment relationship in the Zimbabwean healthcare sector

Performance Mapping and Control; Enhanced Musical Connections and a Strategy to Optimise Flow-State

The technical act of routing and combining control signals from physical interfaces and mapping their parameters to a sound-generating device requires focus and attention to detail. This is at odds with the performative intention of achieving the state of flow described by Nakamura and Csikszentmihalyi (2014), which in improvisational performance and gaming vernacular is known as 'being in the zone' (Vyas, 2021). Parameter mapping occurs when a musician performs with a traditional MIDI keyboard, knobs or faders. Alternatively, a performance artist could use movement sensors, or a sound designer utilises a variety of controllers, or develops customised physical interfaces for performance control. The mappings define possibilities, dimensions, and limitations for creative interaction. This mapping process involves connecting tactile physical controls to specific and meaningful parameters within a given sound-generating construct. Parameter mapping both defines the interaction between humans and machines, and enables fluid and intentional performances. However, this logical mapping process is often tedious and time-consuming, and is incompatible with achieving and maintaining a creative flow state. To better understand, and improve this technology, the researcher conducted interviews with practitioners using live MIDI control. After thematic analysis of the interviews, two key issues were revealed. First, practitioners typically deploy any control interface they possess or design, regardless of the quantity and style of physical controls and their direct compatibility with the target system. Second, practitioners do not want to reconfigure each new sound structure to provide compatibility with their performance apparatus. These interviews informed strategies to enhance the mapping flow between two different systems. The Kyma sound-design platform was used as a host to generate a dynamic set of sound structures that contain several varied control types. Max and a Node.js (JavaScript) server were used to map, combine, and route control signals to Kyma. These mappings could then be assigned, merged and swapped in real time without interrupting the sound processing or performance flow. This new system allowed performers and their directors to interact with the same sound structure, moving an offline logical configuration process toward a real-time reflexive, and creative act. This chapter demonstrates the emergent development of the system, and then extrapolates towards future possibilities of the system

Backstepping-Based Quasi-Sliding Mode Control and Observation for Electric Vehicle Systems: A Solution to Unmatched Load and Road Perturbations

The direct current (DC) motor is the core part of an electrical vehicle (EV). The unmatched perturbation of load torque is a challenging problem in the control of an EV system driven by a DC motor and hence a deep control concern is required. In this study, the proposed solution is to present two control approaches based on a backstepping control algorithm for speed trajectory tracking of EVs. The first control design is to develop the backstepping controller based on a quasi-sliding mode disturbance observer (BS-QSMDO), and the other controller is to combine the backstepping control with quasi-integral sliding mode control (BS-QISMC). In the sense of Lyapunov-based stability analysis, the ultimate boundedness of the proposed controllers has been detailedly analyzed, assessed, and evaluated in the presence of unmatched perturbation. A modified stability analysis has been presented to determine the ultimate bounds of disturbance estimation error for both controllers. The determination of ultimate bound and region-of-attraction for tracking and estimation errors is the contribution achieved by the proposed control design. The performances of the proposed controllers have been verified via computer simulations and the level of ultimate bounds for the estimation and tracking errors are the key measures for their evaluation. Compared to BS-QISMC, the results showed that a lower level of ultimate boundedness with a higher convergent rate can be reached based on BS-QSMO. However, a higher control effort can be exerted by the BS-QSMO controller as compared to BS-QISMC; and this is the price to be paid by the BS-QSMO controller to achieve lower ultimate boundedness with a faster convergence rate

Re-imagining Healthy Ageing Through the Lens of Flagship Campaigns: An Introduction

The Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030 and related campaigns are promising initiatives aimed at supporting older adults and their families. Some crises that are experienced globally (e.g. climate change, natural disaster/earthquake, war/violence, infectious diseases, and extreme industrialisation), however, can offset the desired outcomes of these campaigns and make their action plans unachievable. This edited book offers an interdisciplinary discourse on how healthy ageing can be made more realistic amidst crises. It reframes healthy ageing using action plans of flagship campaigns as a lens and comprises 15 chapters contributed by 43 authors in 13 countries. The multidisciplinary nature of the book’s authorship underscores the applicability of its models and evidence in a wide spectrum of disciplines, including public health, architecture, sociology, engineering, finance, human resources management, geography, and social marketing. The themes covered span action plans of the Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030 related to age-friendly communities, ageism, and research data and evidence for healthy ageing. The book suggests that healthy ageing is analogous to ‘sustainable ageing’ in contexts experiencing crises where individuals ultimately maintain healthy longevity despite health and social threats

Patients’ satisfaction with healthcare services among older people with multimorbidity: Subnational gender perspective

The universal use of patient satisfaction as a measure of quality of healthcare cannot be overemphasized, but studies of healthcare satisfaction between older women and older men with multimorbidity in our contemporary society has been questioned over the years. This paper explores the disparities in patient satisfaction between older women and men with multimorbidity in Nigeria using survey data. Methods We analyzed data collected between October 2021 to February 2022 from a cross-section of randomly sampled 734 participants with multimorbidity with age 60 years and above who presented for routine check-ups and consented to participate in the study. The data were entered into JISC online data collection tool and exported to IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 27 for analysis. Mann-Whitney U test analysis was performed to compare the participant’s mean satisfaction level and gender. Results Despite higher education among males, females utilize healthcare services more. Our study shows that females are less likely to be satisfied with factors that are linked to access and quality of healthcare, and financial burden of medical care. Whereas males are more likely to be satisfied with factors that relate to patient-physician interaction time and patient waiting time and confidence and trust in medical care. Conclusions Female and male patients may have different expectations regarding healthcare, especially in our society where men are more educated, but females utilize the healthcare services more. The development of appropriate strategies for the implementation of knowledge about patient gender differences will be crucial for the delivery of high-quality gender-sensitive healthcare

Architectural Strategies for Flood Mitigation in Urban Environments: A Study of Traditional Elements and Contemporary Resilience

Natural disasters cause extensive losses worldwide annually. Flood events are responsible for economic and life-threatening damages[1]. To mitigate flood risks and resulting damages, particularly in the construction of residential buildings, two approaches exist. First: constructing in areas with lower flood susceptibility, and second: implementing architectural solutions to fortify structures against floods and associated hazards. Due to the presence of water resources, rivers, etc., prompting urban expansion due to reasons like transportation, trade, agricultural use, household consumption, etc., construction near rivers and flood-prone areas becomes inevitable[2]. This underscores the importance of the second approach—architectural fortification. In this study, areas highly susceptible to flooding were identified from flood zoning maps using artificial intelligence to adapt these maps and estimate the most hazardous regions[3]. Subsequently, by examining the specific elements of traditional architecture in each of these areas and exploring the cause and function of each element in facing floods over time, attention is given to the particular and regional (indigenous) architectural features that have responded to floods. Finally, appropriate architectural measures and responses to reduce flood risks, such as constructing at elevation or suitable gradients, is combined with early warning systems to provide a proper route for the future construction projects