AN EXPLORATION INTO FOOTBALL FANS VIEWS OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL SPONSORSHIP WITH A FOCUS ON THE CONSUMER AWARENESS OF THE SPONSORS'BUSINESS ACTIVITY

ABSTRACT This is a qualitative study that focuses on consumers' perceptions of sponsorship in English professional football. Research objectives look at the level of recall of sponsors within English football; the consumers' awareness of the business activities of the sponsors and the possible pitfalls, including ambush marketing, of being involved in football sponsorship. The relevant background is outlined in the research context, which is followed by a comprehensive literature review. The researcher conducted a thorough interview with a football sponsor, E-on, to ascertain the corporations' motivations and goals. This was followed by ten in depth, semi-structured interviews with football fans, in order to gain an understanding from consumer perspective. The findings are analysed and the results are discussed. A conclusion chapter is followed by a section which addresses the limitations of the study and suggests recommendations for future research

AN EXPLORATION INTO FOOTBALL FANS VIEWS OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL SPONSORSHIP WITH A FOCUS ON THE CONSUMER AWARENESS OF THE SPONSORS'BUSINESS ACTIVITY

ABSTRACT This is a qualitative study that focuses on consumers' perceptions of sponsorship in English professional football. Research objectives look at the level of recall of sponsors within English football; the consumers' awareness of the business activities of the sponsors and the possible pitfalls, including ambush marketing, of being involved in football sponsorship. The relevant background is outlined in the research context, which is followed by a comprehensive literature review. The researcher conducted a thorough interview with a football sponsor, E-on, to ascertain the corporations' motivations and goals. This was followed by ten in depth, semi-structured interviews with football fans, in order to gain an understanding from consumer perspective. The findings are analysed and the results are discussed. A conclusion chapter is followed by a section which addresses the limitations of the study and suggests recommendations for future research

The Leicester Cough Monitor: preliminary validation of an automated cough detection system in chronic cough.

Chronic cough is a common condition that presents to both primary and secondary care. Assessment and management are hampered by the absence of well-validated outcome measures. The present study comprises the validation of the Leicester Cough Monitor (LCM), an automated sound-based ambulatory cough monitor. Cough frequency was measured with the LCM and compared with coughs and other sounds counted manually over 2 h of a 6-h recording by two observers in nine patients with chronic cough in order to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the LCM. Automated cough frequency was also compared with manual counts from one observer in 15 patients with chronic cough and eight healthy subjects. All subjects underwent 6-h recordings. A subgroup consisting of six control and five patients with stable chronic cough underwent repeat automated measurements > or = 3 months apart. A further 50 patients with chronic cough underwent 24-h automated cough monitoring. The LCM had a sensitivity and specificity of 91 and 99%, respectively, for detecting cough and a false-positive rate of 2.5 events x h(-1). Mean+/-SEM automated cough counts x patient x h(-1) was 48+/-9 in patients with chronic cough and 2+/-1 in the control group (mean difference 46 counts x patient x h(-1); 95% confidence interval (CI) 20-71). The automated cough counts were repeatable (intra-subject SD 11.4 coughs x patient x h(-1); intra-class correlation coefficient 0.9). The cough frequency in patients undergoing 24-h automated monitoring was 19 coughs x patient x h(-1); daytime (08:00-22:00 h) cough frequency was significantly greater than overnight cough frequency (25 versus 10 coughs x patient x h(-1); mean difference 15 coughs x patient x h(-1), 95% CI 8-22). The Leicester Cough Monitor is a valid and reliable tool that can be used to assess 24-h cough frequency in patients with cough. It should be a useful tool to assess patients with cough in clinical trials and longitudinal studies

Geoenvironmental characterisation of the King River Delta: A combined geophysical, geochemical and mineralogical approach

The Mount Lyell Mining and Railway company discharged nearly 95 Mt of tailings and 1.4 Mt of slag from its copper, gold and silver production into the Queen River from 1916 to 1994. Approximately 87.4 Mt of tailings has accumulated at the King River Delta. This research presents a geoenvironmental characterisation of the King River Delta that combines geophysical, geochemical and mineralogical data. Apparent resistivity and shear wave (Vs) profiles suggest the baseline of the tailings at 3-5 m depth. Low resistivity values (i.e. < 2 Ω·m) characterise the salt water intrusion, while resistivity values between roughly 5 to 12 Ω·m. below 15 m depth, suggests bedrock boundaries. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of sediments identifies pyrite, chalcopyrite. muscovite, quartz. chlorite. barite. and iron oxides in the tailings. Additionally, chemical analysis indicates high content of S and heavy metals (e.g., Fe, Cu, Co, Ni and Zn), which contribute to rapid acid formation and risk of metal leaching into the surrounded environment, confirmed by geochemical static tests