Has the science of mindfulness lost its mind?

The excitement about the application of mindfulness meditation in mental health settings has led to the proliferation of a literature pervaded by a lack of conceptual and methodological self-criticism. In this article we raise two major concerns. First, we consider the range of individual differences within the experience of meditation; although some people may benefit from its practice, others will not be affected in any substantive way, and a number of individuals may suffer moderate to serious adverse effects. Second, we address the insufficient or inconclusive evidence for its benefits, particularly when mindfulness-based interventions are compared with other activities or treatments. We end with suggestions on how to improve the quality of research into mindfulness interventions and outline key issues for clinicians considering referring patients for these interventions

Dynamic Weighting Methods in Portfolio Construction: A Hidden Markov Model Approach

MSc in FinanceThis paper explores the application of dynamic portfolio weighting strategies through the integration of Hidden Markov Models with risk parity and equal weighting techniques. Using the concept of market regimes, this study identifies distinct economic conditions based on inflation and growth metrics and develops an investment strategy that adjusts asset allocation conditioned on the macroeconomic climate. The paper contributes to the existing literature by creating a hybrid model that navigates through economic cycles with the goal of improving precision in asset allocation, portfolio diversification, and portfolio resilience. The results underline the Hidden Markov Model’s capability to identify market regime shifts based on macroeconomic data and yields positive outcomes in the application of estimated state probabilities as a weighting scheme in a dynamic regime-based investment strategy. The integration of a Hidden Markov Model in the Risk Parity framework, creating the papers hybrid model, improved the portfolio performance, resulted in a higher risk adjusted return and significantly lower drawdowns during the outof-sample period, compared to the standalone risk-parity portfolios and other portfolios used in the study

The role of the chemical composition of monetite on the synthesis and properties of α-tricalcium phosphate

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The Importance of Industry-, Country- and Global Factors for the Return on Technology Stocks

We investigate to what degree return on technology stocks are affected by industry-, country- and global factors. Furthermore, the analysis is extended to look deeper into the industry factors by examining what the exposure of technology stocks to industry-specific shocks is caused by. In previous studies, the aim has been to try to determine whether industry-, country- or global effects are the most prominent for international stock returns; however, the technology industry has not yet been thoroughly investigated. There are 27 countries included in the analysis, from both developed and emerging markets. The years investigated are 1990-2015 and include returns from a technology index and an equity index for each country, a global technology index and a global equity index. The results show that industry-, country- and global effects exist in the technology industry. Moreover, high-technology export is found to have a significantly positive impact on the exposure to industry-specific shocks, whereas the dot-com crisis had a negative impact on the exposure. These results are important for forming an optimally diversified portfolio that includes technology stocks, when diversifying across industries and countries

Kun järjestöt mielistelevät viranomaisia, niin syntyy viranomaisia, jotka uskovat järjestöjen hommaksi mielistelyn. Tutkimus valtion ja kansalaisyhteiskunnan välisestä suhteesta kansalaisyhteiskuntapolitiikan neuvottelukunnan jäsenten ja dokumenttien kuvaamana.

Pro Gradu -työssäni aiheena on kansalaisyhteiskunnan ja valtion välinen suhde. Tuo suhde on murroksen tilassa poliittisen aktiivisuuden vähenemisen, julkisen sektorin kasvavan asiantuntijatarpeen ja kansalaisyhteiskunnan palveluntuotantoroolin vahvistumisen myötä. Työssäni selvitän kansalaisyhteiskunnan roolia suomalaisessa nyky-yhteiskunnassa ja sitä, miten kansalaisyhteiskunnan ja valtion välinen suhde vaikuttaa tämän roolin toteutumiseen. Työni teoreettinen viitekehys nojaa Olaf Corryn ja Michael Edwardsin kansalaisyhteiskunnan teoriaryhmiin, jotka ovat eräänlaisia yleistyksiä modernien kansalaisyhteiskuntateorioiden kentästä. Corryn kahtiajaossa sektoriajattelun alaiset teoriat korostavat kansalaisyhteiskunnan selkeästi rajattua ja staattista roolia, jossa kansalaisyhteiskunta on alisteinen muille sektoreille. Prosessiajattelussa puolestaan kansalaisyhteiskunta on aloitteellinen ja mukautuva toimija. Edwardsin kolmijaossa kansalaisyhteiskunta yhdistyselämänä ja kansalaisyhteiskunta hyvänä yhteiskuntana -ajattelut kuvataan ongelmallisiksi tavoiksi mieltää kansalaisyhteiskunta. Ensimmäisen ryhmän teorioissa kansalaisyhteiskunnan suhde muihin sektoreihin on epärealistisen vähäinen ja toisessa ryhmässä verkostoitunut kansalaisyhteiskunta on valjastettu yksilöiden ja ryhmien etujen tavoitteluun yleisen hyvän kustannuksella. Kolmas ryhmä, kansalaisyhteiskunta julkisena tilana, korostaa kansalaisyhteiskunnan kykyä tarjota puitteet deliberatiiviselle demokraattiselle prosessille. Työni aineisto kumpuaa kansalaisyhteiskuntapolitiikan neuvottelukunnasta. Oikeusministeriön asettama neuvottelukunta on toiminut vuodesta 2007 tehtävänään edistää yhteistyötä kansalaisyhteiskunnan toimijoiden ja viranomaisten välillä. Se koostuu niin ministeriöiden kuin kansalaisyhteiskunnan toimijoista. Aineisto koostuu 25 neuvottelukunnan julkaisemasta dokumentista, joissa ilmenee neuvottelukunnan virallinen kanta, sekä 12:sta neuvottelukunnan jäsenen nimettömästä haastattelusta. Tätä aineistoa on käsitelty kahdella metodilla. Ensin dokumentit on jäsennelty tietokoneavusteisella aineistolähtöisellä sisällönanalyysillä. Esiin nousseiden teemojen ovat toimineet perustana toimijoiden haastatteluille, jotka on lopuksi liitetty osaksi aiempaa sisällönanalyysiä. Näin on rakentunut selkeä temaattinen kartta niin kansalaisyhteiskunnan roolista kuin kansalaisyhteiskunnan ja valtion välisen suhteen luonteesta, yksityiskohdista, mahdollisuuksista ja ongelmista. Tutkimustulokseni kuvaavat aineiston pääasiallisesti pitävän ihanteena tilannetta, jossa kansalaisyhteiskunta toimii kuin deliberatiivinen julkinen tila. Käytännössä kuitenkin valtion kanssa tapahtuvan kanssakäymisen keinot ovat julkista tilaa rajoittavia. Lähinnä valtion rajapintaa on yleensä järjestöjen ammattilaismaisia asiantuntijoita, jotka voivat olla haaste paikallistason rivijäsenten äänten kuulumiselle. Kansalaisyhteiskunnan jäsenistörakenteen muutokset heikentävät mahdollisuuksia saavuttaa suuria sosiaalisia reformeja. Kansakaisyhteiskunta kykenee olemaan mukautuva toimija, mutta niin sen monimuotoinen luonne kuin vaihtelevat roolit asettavat sen eri ryhmät eriarvoiseen asemaan suhteessa valtioon

Tjukk, stygg, lat og dum? Hvordan fordommer og diskriminering kan påvirke selvkonseptet til personer med overvekt

This theoretical thesis explores how prejudice and discrimination against people with overweight can affect their self-concept. Stereotypical opinions about obesity was compared with studies of obese people’s self-concept in order to investigate possible similarities. This thesis also explores the process behind internalization of weight stigma. Three models of internalized stigma was compared with each other. I have suggested a new theoretical model for internalization of weight stigma, based on the comparisons between stereotypes and self-concept, as well as the three models. The new model includes underlying factors, groups at risk for internalizing weight stigma and central risk- and protective factors in the internalization process. The model also contains possible consequences of internalized weight stigma and sustaining factors. This thesis concludes that similarities between stereotypical opinions about obesity and the selfconcept of people who are overweight exists, and that such findings can be an indication of internalized weight stigma. The internalized weight stigma can contribute to the maintenance of overweight and discrimination. More research on factors that can contribute to the internalization of weight stigma is needed. Such research can have clinical implications for the people concerned, as well as implications at the community level.Denne teoretiske oppgaven undersøker hvordan fordommene og diskrimineringen overvektige utsettes for kan påvirke deres selvkonsept. Stereotypier om overvektige ble sammenlignet med studier av overvektiges selvkonsept for å se om det finnes likhetstrekk. Videre undersøker oppgaven hvilke prosesser som ligger bak overvektiges internalisering av fordommer i samfunnet. Tre modeller for internalisering av stigma ble sammenlignet. Med utgangspunkt i sammenligningen av stereotypier og selvkonsept, samt de tre modellene, har jeg foreslått en ny teoretisk modell for internalisering av vektstigma. Modellen inneholder bakenforliggende faktorer, risikogrupper for internalisering og sentrale sårbarhets- og beskyttelsesfaktorer i internaliseringsprosessen. Modellen inneholder også konsekvensene av internalisert vektstigma, samt opprettholdende faktorer. Oppgaven konkluderer med at det eksisterer likhetstrekk mellom stereotypier og overvektiges selvkonsept, og at slike funn kan tyde på internalisert vektstigma. Det internaliserte stigmaet kan bidra til å opprettholde overvekt og diskriminering. Mer forskning trengs på faktorer som kan bidra til internalisering av vektstigma. Slik forskning kan ha kliniske implikasjoner for personene det gjelder, samt implikasjoner på samfunnsnivå.Hovedoppgave psykologprogrammetPROPSY317PRPSY

The Diamond, April 5, 2012

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"Perus flickor och social queens" : kläder och stil som uttrycksmedel för den egna identiteten bland flickor i årskurs nio

Besides the knowledge-based learning, the school plays a central role in students' identity formation. The study aims to analyze girls' appearance and style related options in the ninth grade in a Swedish-speaking high school, and to examine how this is connected with identity formation. The research questions are: How do girls use clothing and style related choices in shaping their own identity? What aspects of appearance do the girls perceive as important in school? What affects one's own style? The study was ethnographic, the collection of data began in the autumn of 2010 and lasted until spring 2011. The core of the material for this study consists of a diary project conducted with 12 girls in grade nine. Semi-structured interviews were carried out based on the diaries. A thirteenth girl further contributed in an interview, though lacking the diary. The material has been analyzed with the use of thematic analysis, as well as content analysis regarding the images in the diaries, and partly also discourse analysis. The theoretical perspectives set out for the study examines issues concerning the perception of girls' roles, positions and importance in girlhood studies, youth studies and in the public discourse. The issue of different interpretations and definitions of girlhood is also outlined in the study. The matter of status groups' influences in schools in terms of inclusion and exclusion for the yet accurate and vague, but unspoken rules existing within the school creates a framework for this study. This set of codes often takes place beyond the actual teaching. The identity in relation to clothing and style in both the school and the students' private life, is seen as a complex network, where social class, gender, friends, media, popular culture and status group membership, all have an impact on the individual. Identity is created and shaped through interplay with others. When the individuality and uniqueness are compounded with the social mechanisms of fashion, the individual faces a struggle of standing out or fitting in. The classic sociologically orientated ideas of fashion and taste are of great importance in this study, since social class plays a significant role in terms of clothes, style and identity. The result of the study clearly shows that the school has a central role in girls' identity making, where questions about self-identification, group identity and alienation constantly are present. The girls' construction of style took place in an interaction between the school and other elements, such as friends, family, home and spare time activities. One of the key findings in the study is the dualism which prevailed in the matter of the girls balancing between fitting in with the crowd and the urge to be unique, constantly confronted with the peer pressure that was present in school. As their biggest source of inspiration for their own style the girls' mentioned fashion blogs, music, magazines, television shows, friends and oneself. The diaries functioned as a space where the girls could reflect upon different notions about girlhood through literary and visual expression. The diaries conveyed opportunities in showing the contrasts and the complexity in being a girl. Also, the study exhorts for further discussion according to the use of creative and multidisciplinary approaches to the field for educational research. The girls' use of clothing and style as means of expression embodied meanings, dreams, fantasies, and worked as extensions of their identity. This study shows that there is a certain style among the girls that is considered typical for Swedish-speaking Finns. The style has been influenced by upper class style, with roots in the more exclusive sports and recreational activities such as golf and sailing. The style influenced by the upper class, were considered worth striving for. The girls willingly bought certain garments and accessories, which can be seen as a form of symbolic capital. The need for conformity was vital and few students differed radically with regard to their appearances in the school. The study seeks to demonstrate the importance of the identity formation processes taking place in schools. The identity formation processes are essential in the lives of young people. Therefore, it would be important to consider both the problems and opportunities that exist in these identity making processes, and also to include them to a larger extent to the everyday life in schools.Utöver det kunskapsbaserade lärandet har skolan en central roll för elevers identitetsskapande. Syftet med studien är att analysera flickors utseendemässiga och stilrelaterade val på årskurs nio i ett svenskspråkigt högstadium, och att granska hur detta är sammanbundet med identitetsbildning. Studiens forskningsfrågor är följande: Hur använder flickor kläder och andra stilrelaterade val i formandet av den egna identiteten? Vilka utseendemässiga aspekter upplever flickorna som betydelsefulla i skolan? Vad inverkar på den egna stilen? Studien genomfördes med den etnografiska metoden. Insamlingen av materialet pågick från hösten 2010 fram till våren 2011. Kärnan för materialet till denna studie består av ett dagboksprojekt som gjordes med 12 flickor i årskurs nio. På basis av dagböckerna gjordes halvstrukturerade intervjuer. Ytterligare medverkade en trettonde flicka i en intervju men utan dagbok. Materialet har analyserats med hjälp av tematiserande analys, innehållsanalys för bilderna samt delvis av diskursanalys. I de teoretiska utgångspunkterna granskas frågeställningar angående synen på flickans roll, position och betydelse i flickforskningen, ungdomsforskningen samt i den samhälleliga diskursen. Statusgruppers inflytande i skolan i fråga om tillhörighet och utanförskap skapar i denna studie en ram för de samtidigt noggranna och diffusa men outtalade regelverk som finns inom skolans väggar, bortom den konkreta undervisningen. Identiteten i relation till kläder och stil i skolan och privatlivet ses som ett komplext nätverk, där social klass, kön, umgänge, medier, populärkultur och statusgrupptillhörighet alla har en inverkan på individen. Identitet skapas i samspel med andra, och när det individuella och unika sammanförs med de sociala mekanismerna bakom modet, ställs individen inför en kamp om att stå ut eller passa in. De klassiska sociologiska synerna på mode och smak är av stor vikt i denna studie eftersom social klass har en betydande roll i fråga om kläder, stil och identitet. I studien framkom tydligt att skolan har en central roll i fråga om flickornas identitetsskapande, där frågor angående självidentifikation, grupptillhörighet och utanförskap ständigt är närvarande. Flickornas stilproduktion skedde i ett samspel mellan skolan och andra faktorer så som kompisar, hem, familj och fritidsintressen. Ett av studiens centrala resultat är den dualism som var rådande i fråga om flickornas vilja att passa in i mängden men samtidigt vara unika, genom att ständigt konfronteras med det grupptryck som var närvarande i skolan. Flickornas största inspirationskälla för den egna stilen var modebloggar, musik, tv-serier, tidningar, kompisar och det egna jaget. Dagböckerna gav även utrymme för flickorna att spegla olika föreställningar genom litterärt och visuellt uttryck, vilket ingav möjligheter att visa de kontraster och den komplexitet som var rådande i att vara flicka. I denna studie uppmuntrade dagboken till kreativitet och reflektion i relation till forskningsfrågorna. Studien uppmanar även till en diskussion om användning av kreativa och tvärvetenskapliga metoder för fältet inom den pedagogiska forskningen. I flickornas användning av kläder och stil som uttrycksmedel gestaltas innebörder, drömmar, fantasier och förlängningar av den egna identiteten. Denna studie påvisar att det bland dessa flickor finns en stil som anses vara typiskt finlandssvensk och att stilen tagit influenser från överklass klädsel med rötter i dyrare fritidsaktiviteter, så som golf och segling. Likaså ansågs stilen vara eftersträvansvärd och man köpte gärna vissa plagg och accessoarer, som kan ses som en form av symboliskt kapital. Även behovet av likformighet var en avgörande faktor, få elever stack ut på ett radikalt sätt i skolan. Studien eftersträvar att påvisa vikten av de identitetsskapande processer som äger rum i skolan. Dessa processer är betydande i ungdomarnas liv, därför vore det viktigt att beakta de problemställningar och möjligheter som finns i identitetsskapandet och även inkludera dessa i större utsträckning i skolans vardag

Group storytelling for emotionally disturbed pre-adolescent children

This paper discusses the theoretical framework for storytelling in group as a possible intervention technique for troubled pre-adolescent children. This technique is adaptable to many settings and with many different diagnoses. The therapeutic processes that evolve from integrating the two techniques, storytelling and group therapy, are discussed as v\'ell as the different approaches in storytelling and strategies for group leaders. Therapeutic stories are also presented here with suggestions for use and the directives they contain.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-41)California State University, Northridge. Department of Education