Howard Caygill: author of 'Resistance: a philosophy of defiance' - interviewed by Alastair Gray and Philip Holmburg

An interview with the philosopher Howard Caygill, primarily concerning his book 'Resistance', conducted in December 201

Antagonist conditioning contractions impair agonist functioning

This study assessed the effect of antagonist conditioning contractions (ACC) on the subsequent force and electromyography of an agonist. Twelve subjects performed isokinetic elbow flexion on a dynamometer in 4 test conditions including a baseline condition without, and 1, 3 and 6 seconds after, isometric triceps extension. Average peak torque (T), peak torque/body weight (T:BW), average power (P), and rate of torque development (RTD) were assessed. Electromyographic data were obtained from elbow extensors and flexors. A repeated measures ANOVA with post hoc analysis demonstrated that T, T:BW, P, and RTD were higher in the baseline, compared to the post ACC conditions (P ≤ 0.05), and appears to be due to higher brachioradialis activation in the baseline condition in compared to some post ACC conditions (P ≤ 0.05)

''That truth that lives unchangeably'': The role of ontology in the just war tradition

The just war tradition as we know it has its origins with Christian theology. In this dissertation, I examine the theological, in particular ontological, presuppositions of St. Augustine of Hippo in his elucidation of just war. By doing so, I show how certain metaphysical ideas of St. Augustine (especially those on existence, love, and the sovereignty of God) shaped the just war tradition. Following this, I examine the slow evacuation of his metaphysics from the just war tradition. Through the systemization of just war by St. Thomas Aquinas, aided later on by Bartolomé de Las Casas and Hugo Grotius, the doctrine became a shadowy reflection of the tradition. By analyzing the notions of morality in warfare by political realists (Waltz, Morgenthau), international law, and liberal thinkers (Rawls, Walzer), I show the incoherence of the doctrine when it is separated from its ontological and metaphysical roots

The Effectiveness and Perceptions of Three Moderate Intensity Walking Cadence Aids and their Effects on Affective States: a Mixed Methods Study

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 531-550, 2024. Substantial health benefits can be derived from walking at a moderate intensity cadence. To help regulate this cadence, three distinct aids exist 1) self-perception; 2) cadence prescription; 3) auditory cues. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness and explore perceptions of these aids to promote moderate intensity walking and effects on affective states, thereby addressing an important research gap. Individualised moderate relative intensity waking cadence was determined for participants (n = 23, Mage = 26.35, SD = 10.11). A convergent mixed-methods design was employed. A within-persons repeated measures design was used to explore the effectiveness of three aids (general guidelines, cadence prescription, and music) on promoting moderate intensity physical activity and positive affective states. Perceptions of these aids were elicited through qualitative interviews and thematic content analysis. Main effects for condition on relative physical activity intensity (η2 = .72) and positive affect (η2 = .25) were observed. Music evoked significantly higher relative physical activity intensity than other conditions (p values \u3c .01), and higher positive affect compared to the general guidelines condition (p = .038). A significantly greater proportion of participants achieved moderate relative intensity physical activity during the music compared to general guidelines condition (p = .03). Congruently, qualitative findings suggested that participants predominantly perceived music as most effective for promoting a moderate intensity cadence and positive affect. However, individual variability existed in ability to utilise this aid. Implications of the findings for practitioners seeking to promote a moderate intensity cadence and positive affect during walking are discussed

(Re)Writing Communities and Identities

(Re)Writing Communities and Identities enables college-level students to develop their ability to compose various informative and expressive genres, including analyses, reflections, summaries, syntheses, and informative reports. While students raise their consciousness about their writing process and audience-based informative strategies, they also familiarize themselves with important social and cultural issues related to the theme of identities and communities.https://newprairiepress.org/ebooks/1041/thumbnail.jp

Politics, social and economic change and crime: exploring the impact of contextual effects on offending trajectories

Do government policies increase the likelihood that some citizens will become persistent criminals? What is the role of other organisations and institutions in mediating offending over the life-course? Using concepts derived from criminology (such as the idea of a ‘criminal career’, an individual’s repeated, longitudinal sequence of offending), and concepts such as the life-course from sociology, this paper assesses the outcome of macro-level economic policies on individuals’ engagement in crime from age 10 to 30. Whilst many studies have explored the impact of 1980s ‘New Right’ governments on welfare spending, housing and the economy, few studies in political science, sociology or criminology have directly linked macro-economic policies to individual offending careers. Employing individual-level longitudinal data, we track a sample of Britons born in 1970 from childhood to adulthood, examining their offending trajectories between ages 10 and 30, and hence through a period of dramatic economic and social change in the UK throughout the early-1980s, during which the economy was dramatically restructured. As such, we are primarily concerned with the effects of economic policies on an individual’s repeated offending. Using data from the British 1970 Birth Cohort Study, we develop a model that incorporates individuals, families and schools, and which takes account of national-level economic policies (which were driven by New Right political ideas) and which, we argue, shaped individual offending careers. Our paper suggests that processes of economic restructuring were a key causal factor in offending during this period. This broader framework also emphasises the importance of considering political and economic forces in criminal careers and related research. The paper therefore encourages criminologists to draw upon ideas from political science when developing explanations of offending careers, and shows how the choices over the political management of the economy encourage individual-level responses.Economic and Social Research Council (award ES/P002862/1

The role of the emergency department in the management of acute heart failure: an international perspective on education and research

Emergency departments are a major entry point for the initial management of acute heart failure (AHF) patients throughout the world. The initial diagnosis, management and disposition - the decision to admit or discharge - of AHF patients in the emergency department has significant downstream implications. Misdiagnosis, under or overtreatment, or inappropriate admission may place patients at increased risk for adverse events, and add costs to the healthcare system. Despite the critical importance of initial management, data are sparse regarding the impact of early AHF treatment delivered in the emergency department compared to inpatient or chronic heart failure management. Unfortunately, outcomes remain poor, with nearly a third of patients dying or re-hospitalised within 3 months post-discharge. In the absence of robust research evidence, consensus is an important source of guidance for AHF care. Thus, we convened an international group of practising emergency physicians, cardiologists and advanced practice nurses with the following goals to improve outcomes for AHF patients who present to the emergency department or other acute care setting through: (a) a better understanding of the pathophysiology, presentation and management of the initial phase of AHF care; (b) improving initial management by addressing knowledge gaps between best practices and current practice through education and research; and (c) to establish a framework for future emergency department-based international education and research

Children's motivation for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the Daily Mile: A theory of planned behaviour perspective

Sustained motivation for Daily Mile participation at higher physical activity intensities may contribute to the attainment of children's daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) targets and long-term health benefits. However, individual variability exists in the amount of MVPA accumulated by children during the Daily Mile. The current study explored children's motivation for participating in the Daily Mile at MVPA intensity, using a theory of planned behaviour framework. Twenty-five children (mean age = 10.07 ± 0.60 years) from the Northwest of England were recruited to the study; 52% were female and 88% were White. Participants completed a questionnaire, with an open-ended response format, probing behavioural, control, and normative beliefs for participation in the Daily Mile at MVPA intensity. Template analysis was conducted independently by two researchers to identify main themes and subthemes. Findings showed that children possessed a range of behavioural, control, and normative beliefs about MVPA participation during the Daily Mile. Prominent behavioural beliefs included fitness enhancement, implications for concentration and learning, positive affective states, and pain and discomfort. Key control beliefs included weather, space and health restrictions, and distractions from peers. Finally, peers and parents were salient normative beliefs. Children possessed a range of modal beliefs in relation to MVPA participation during the Daily Mile. Implications of the findings, and methods for practitioners seeking to maximise the contribution of the Daily Mile to children's daily MVPA targets are discussed

Controlling the dopant profile for SRH suppression at low current densities in λ ≈ 1330 nm GaInAsP light-emitting diodes

The quantum efficiency of double hetero-junction light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be significantly enhanced at low current density by tailoring the spatial profile of dopants to suppress Shockley–Read–Hall recombination. To demonstrate this effect, we model, design, grow, fabricate, and test a GaInAsP LED (λ≈ 1330 nm) with an unconventional dopant profile. Compared against that of our control design, which is a conventional n⁺-n-p⁺ double hetero-junction LED, the dopant profile near the n-p⁺ hetero-structure of the design displaces the built-in electric field in such a way that the J₀₂ space charge recombination current is suppressed. The design principle generalizes to other material systems and could be applicable to efforts to observe and exploit electro-luminescent refrigeration at practical power densities