Instagram’s ‘Fitspiration’ Trend and Its Effect on Young Women’s Self-Esteem

Increasingly, sports and fitness brands are using a variety of social media platforms. Instagram has come to the fore in the area of fitness, asserting itself as the de facto channel for users to catalogue their athletic activities, and offering inspirational training advice to followers. Considering this increasingly-popular ‘fitspiration’ trend, we see a significant impact upon young female users self-esteem, specifically in relation to their perception of body imagery. Hence, this paper will develop understanding of fitness brands’ social media activities by investigating the impact of Instagram upon the selfesteem of young women. Nascent literature has examined influence upon self-esteem among women throughout a variety of advertising mediums, however, none have explored the connection between self-esteem and social media. Accordingly, semistructured interviews with female sports enthusiasts are proposed to uncover opinions and perceptions relating to their use of Instagram. Initial findings reveal a strong correlation between participant perception of the ‘fitspiration’ social media accounts they subscribe to, as well as the impact upon their self-esteem. Ultimately, this paper makes two theoretical contributions relating to the effect of social media upon female self-esteem, as well as contributing to a wider debate of body image within a modern digital economy

Operationalising love within austerity: an analysis of the opportunities and challenges experienced by the voluntary and community sector in Greater Manchester under the coalition government (2010-2015).

The British voluntary and community sector (VCS) is currently experiencing unprecedented funding cuts. Many small voluntary groups are ceasing to exist under the strain of increasing demand for services and simultaneous funding cuts. As a consequence, the VCS is in transition, experiencing new challenges and opportunities. This thesis is an analysis of the opportunities and challenges experienced by the adult social care VCS in Greater Manchester under the Coalition government 2010-2015. I have developed a reflexive feminist ethnography, using participatory approaches within the adult social care VCS of Greater Manchester and one adult social care homelessness VCS organisation. The thesis begins by considering the historical, ideological and policy background to the VCS before exploring the challenges and opportunities that the VCS of Greater Manchester experience. I then focus on the experiences of one adult social care homelessness VCS organisation in depth. Gender is considered throughout the thesis comparing the experiences of women within the VCS and reflecting on my gendered role as a researcher. As a piece of feminist emancipatory participatory research, my thesis has implications for VCS policy and practice. Part of my participatory focus has included the development of a Sustainable Livelihoods Toolkit for VCS organisations. This toolkit supports VCS organisations to carry out an assets based organisational evaluation. The toolkit empowers small community and voluntary groups to focus on organisational assets and supports groups to develop strategy based upon these assets. The adaptation of SLA for VCS groups and my addition of a sixth sustainable livelihoods capital, love, forms my contribution to original knowledge

Should hepatomas be treated with hepatic resection or transplantation?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this collaborative study was to compare the long term results of hepatic resection (Hx) with those of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) in large numbers of cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to delineate the roles of these two surgical treatments. METHODS: The databases of the National Cancer Center Hospital in Japan and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in the U. S. were exchanged and 294 cirrhotic patients who underwent curative Hx and 270 cirrhotic patients who underwent curative OLTx were selected for comparison. RESULTS: The mortality rate within 30 days and that within 150 days after Hx were significantly lower than those after OLTx (P = 0.001 and P = 0.00007, respectively). Overall survival was similar between the Hx group and the OLTx group (P = 0.40). When compared in the HCC patients without macroscopic vascular invasion and lymph node metastases, the overall survival rate after OLTx was significantly higher than that after Hx (P = 0.006). However, this difference was not significant between the patients with Child-Pugh Grade A tumors in the Hx group and all patients (majority with Child-Pugh Grade C tumors) in the OLTx group (P = 0.25). Tumor free survival after OLTx was significantly higher than that after Hx (P 5 cm and those with macroscopic vascular invasion, the tumor free survival rate was similar between the Hx group and the OLTx group. CONCLUSIONS: In the face of organ shortage, HCC developing in a well compensated cirrhotic liver initially may be treated with Hx. However, the authors believe OLTx should be applied selectively to those patients with tumor recurrence and/or progressive hepatic failure

Modelling solar coronal magnetic field evolution

Footpoint motions at the photosphere can inject energy into the magnetic field in the solar corona. This energy is then released in the corona as heat. There are many mathematical approaches to model the evolution of these magnetic fields. Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) provides the most convenient and practical approach. However, there are many alternative approximate methods. It is difficult to know when an approximate method is valid and how well the assumptions need to be satisfied for the solutions to be accurate enough. To illustrate this, a simple experiment is performed. Four approximate methods, including Reduced MHD (RMHD), are used to model the evolution of a footpoint driven coronal loop through sequences of equilibria. The predicted evolution from each method is compared to the solution from full MHD simulations to test the accuracy of each method when the relevant assumptions are adjusted. After this initial test, the validity of RMHD is investigated for the particular case of the magnetic field evolution involving the development of the tearing instability. Full MHD simulations are used to argue the applicability of the assumptions and conditions of RMHD for this evolution. The potential of this setup to heat the corona is considered by performing full MHD simulations including thermodynamic processes of optically thin radiation and thermal conduction. These additional processes are not included in RMHD

Preliminary Analysis of the Feasibility and Effectiveness of Whole Body Vibration as a Therapeutic Intervention in a Skilled Nursing Facility

Skeletal muscle sarcopenia results in loss of strength, power and functional capabilities leading to decreased independence and an increased reliance on the healthcare system. Exercise is an effective countermeasure to age related loss of muscle, but may be difficult in elderly patients with complex functional limitations. Whole body vibration (WBV) is a novel tool used to stimulate the neuromuscular system; research indicates it may improve strength, power, and balance in many populations. Purpose: The purposes of this study were to determine if WBV training is feasible in a skilled nursing facility and if standard of care (SOC) with augmented WBV training improves physical function in patients compared to SOC alone. Methods: A prospective cohort design was used to accomplish the study objectives. Twelve patients (10 females; 2 males) who were residents at a skilled nursing facility consented to the study protocol and were divided into two groups. Group 1 (CON; 73.8 ± 5.7 y; 165.0 ± 0.03 cm; 77.5 ± 11.6kg) underwent SOC therapy intervention including progressive balance, strength, and range of motion exercises. Group 2 (VIB; 74.1 ± 2.3y; 169.0 ± 0.04cm; 70.5 ± 4.3kg) underwent a similar physical therapy intervention but also completed progressive WBV treatment on a symmetrically vibrating plate (2mm; 25-35 Hz). Patients completed clinical tests of physical function before and after the 23 ± 2.3 day intervention. Physical function tests included timed up-and-go (TUG) tests from a 40cm chair and a Berg balance assessment (BBA). Additionally, manual muscle tests were completed using a hand-held dynamometer for hip flexion (HF), hip abduction (HA), knee extension (KE), knee flexion (KF), plantar flexion (PF), and dorsi-flexion (DF). Student’s t-tests were used to compare the difference scores pre- and post-intervention; alpha was set at p\u3c0.05 to determine statistical significance. Results: No adverse effects were documented in either group throughout the study. Mean physical function improved in all tested variables for both groups. However, no between group differences (CON vs. VIB) were observed in BBA (p=0.52), TUG (p=0.07), HF (p=0.80), HA (p=0.47), KE (p=0.73), KF (p=0.97), PF (p=0.59), and DF (p=0.83). Conclusions: Use of WBV as an adjunct exercise intervention in a skilled nursing facility was feasible and safe in this small sample. Although no between group differences were evident, a larger sample is needed to definitively accept or reject the hypothesis. Moreover, systematic research is needed to develop precise protocols to effectively and efficiently utilize WBV in hospitalized elders

Co-producing artistic approaches to social cohesion

This paper examines the potential of co-produced arts-based methodologies through the lens of a social cohesion project, from the perspectives of five artists. Arts methodologies can be useful in working across different disciplines and across university and community boundaries to create equitable knowledge production processes. The ways in which art is used in community settings as a mode of collaboration are explored, using the reflections from five artists who were involved in the social cohesion project together. This paper argues that coproducing artistic approaches to social cohesion is a complex, multilayered and sometimes fragile process, but that recognizing and discussing understandings of the role of power and voice within co-produced projects enables effective team communication

Editorial 'Action on Poverty and Hardship in the English Potteries'

This special edition of the Journal of Local Economy is focussed on Action on Poverty and Hardship in the Potteries. The special issue draws on a range of local and national expertise which emerged from an Action on Poverty and Hardship Conference held in Stoke-on-Trent in June 2022. Stoke on Trent is a post-industrial city, home of the once thriving potteries industry and a creative hub for the region. Post-industrial cities can have higher mortality rates, which can correlate with people being engaged in riskier unhealthy behaviours (van der Pol, Walsh and McCartney, 2015). Stoke-on-Trent has acknowledged health and social inequality challenges (Hurst et al, 2012; Murray & Leighton, 2008; MacLeod & Jones, 2018) and is the sixteenth most deprived area in England, with child poverty rates sitting at 43% (Etherington, 2021). The citywide deprivation issues are one of the reasons that historically the city was awarded a health action zone to bolster innovative commission to address health and social inequalities (Goldstraw and Page, forthcoming). Sadly, such government initiatives were short lived, but a legacy of change activism towards tackling poverty lives on in the city today, which is reflected across the articles in this special edition. With the cost of living increasing and employment incomes being less than average, and the further exacerbation of the negative legacy of the pandemic continuing to bite, it is no wonder that city resources are strained and in need of levelling-up uplift. Stoke-on-Trent is a well utilised dispersal area for asylum seekers in the UK (Sturge, 2019b) and dispersal areas are more commonly recognised as impoverished (Easton and Butcher, 2018; Pearl and Zetter, 1999; Cruddas, 2007). Whilst the city has positive green spaces (Gidlow, Ellis and Bostock, 2012), it had also been named by the World Health Organisation in 2014 in the top ten places in England for unsafe levels of air pollution (The Sentinel, 2016), which has implications for life expectancy. Recently in receipt levelling up funding (Etherington, Jones and Telford, 2022) the city has emerging opportunities within its post industrial challenges. This special issue examines solutions, activism and creative approaches to community hardship. The special issue is a place-based examination of action on poverty and hardship that seeks to link local, creative, place-based solutions to national and international anti-poverty agendas. Each article is linked to how the authors contribute to action on poverty and hardship in the potteries and reflects on national, place based anti-poverty perspectives