Isometric exercise training has been shown to bring about beneficial reductions in resting blood pressure, however the physiological mechanism responsible remain equivocal. It is currently unknown whether isometric exercise training-induced reductions in resting blood pressure are associated with improvements in vascular endothelial function and structure. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect of an 8-week isometric exercise training intervention on resting blood pressure, conduit artery vascular endothelial function, artery diameter and blood flow patterns at rest. Fourteen healthy young males (mean age: 23 ± 4 years; body mass: 80.7 ± 11.0kg; height: 178.8 ± 6.2cm) completed 8-weeks of isometric bilateral leg extension exercise training at high intensity (105.4% 2-min torquepeak). Three exercise sessions were performed each week and each session consisted of four 2-minute isometric muscular contractions each separated by a 3-minute recovery period. Resting blood pressure was measured using brachial artery oscillometric methods at pre, mid and post intervention. Brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatation and resting artery diameter and blood flow were assessed at pre, week 2, mid, week 6 and post intervention using high-resolution duplex Doppler ultrasound. Total peripheral resistance and cardiac output were determined at pre and post intervention using high-resolution echocardiography. A generalised estimating equation analysis was used to estimate the effect of exercise versus non-exercise intervention over time on resting blood pressure, brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatation, artery diameter and blood flow, total peripheral resistance and cardiac output. Isometric bilateral leg extension exercise training reduced resting systolic blood pressure (training: 117 vs. control: 121 mmHg) (P=0.002) and resting mean arterial pressure (training: 88 vs. control: 91 mmHg) (P=0.001) following 4 weeks of exercise training compared to the control condition. Brachial artery flowmediated vasodilatation was increased (mid training: 8.65 ± 1.02% vs. mid control: 6.38 ± 1.14%) (P=0.011). Superficial femoral artery diameter, antegrade blood flow and antegrade shear rate were increased (all P≤0.05), whilst superficial femoral retrograde shear rate was decreased (P=0.013) following 2 weeks of exercise training compared to the control condition. There were no significant condition by time interactions observed in resting blood pressure, vascular endothelial function, artery diameter or blood flow patterns following 8 weeks of exercise training (all P≥0.05). Cardiac output was not significantly different following 8 weeks of exercise training (P=0.148). Total peripheral resistance was increased following 8 weeks of exercise training compared to the non-exercising control condition (P=0.054). Isometric bilateral leg extension exercise training can effectively lower resting blood pressure and increase conduit artery endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in healthy young men after 4 weeks with a concomitant reduction in resting blood pressure. These beneficial adaptations were no longer evident from mid to post exercise training in healthy normotensive young men.

This reflexive account is of a phenomenological study that took place over two years. It explores how a group of primary-aged children perceive, express and reflect on their embodiment through movement. Children aged between four and eleven took part in sessions of yoga, somatic movement and developmental play during the school day. The data include field notes, observations, a reflexive journal, photographs of and by the children, their drawings, mark-makings, writing and posters. Children were also interviewed at the end of the study, when they had an opportunity to reflect on all their work and experiences. All the children were capable of expressing and reflecting on their experiences, and the oldest children in particular appeared to enjoy and seemed to benefit from the reflective process. By linking together a sense of self-awareness and reflection, the children appeared able to gain insight into their embodied experience and reflect on emotions, feelings and events. Embodiment is a process as much of a state of being, and as such has implications for perceptions of mind and body, learning, and reflective practice. This approach to embodied reflective practice thus has potential for educators, and teacher trainers as well as direct work with children.

Physical activity (PA) is a modifiable behaviour that carries implications for the mental health of the UK. Theory-driven research highlights that the reasons why we participate in PA, not just the act of participation, carry important consequences for human psychological growth, optimal functioning and well-being. Implementing cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental designs, this thesis, tests the application and predictive utility of Selfdetermination theory in the health domain of PA behaviour change. Results highlight that the social-environment surrounding individuals before, during and after an exercise referral programme, along with one’s motivational regulations, have important consequences for intentions to be physically active and mental well-being. A SDT-based observational instrument operationalised the environment afforded by exercise professionals during one-to-one PA interactions. This more objective measure may provide further insight into the psychological processes responsible for behavioural and psychological outcomes. Finally, this thesis commences investigations into the moderating role of motivation on the limited self-control resource and the ability to employ counteractive control strategies that help one to achieve important health goals. Knowledge of the processes responsible for psychological health and behavioural intentions before, during and after PA interventions along with the ability to employ self-control, may carry important practical implications for future PA interventions.

This thesis adopts an integrated tourism research approach to investigate the role of tourism in sustainable rural development. It identifies what the key ingredients of sustainable rural tourism development (SRTD) could be, which include an effective policy framework, good partnerships between stakeholders and a strong connection between tourism and local resources. A qualitative approach is adopted in investigating the cases of the Puli, Yuchih, and Renai townships in Taiwan, and the investigation focuses on three key concepts of policy, partnership and place (3Ps). Several issues emerged from the investigation. Due to dependence on central government support, the public-private partnership appears problematic; however, the strong level of business support networks and community organisations engaging in tourism strengthens local initiative in promoting sustainable development. The effects of tourism on local development are perceived as having more positive outcomes than negative ones, even though, the contribution of tourism to SRTD is still considered limited due to the scale of the rural decline problem it is trying to address. The influential correlations between policy, partnership, and place that emerged from the empirical findings evidently support the 3 Ps integrated tourism concept proposed by this research. This provides a more realistic and holistic understanding of tourism in rural areas. The thesis contributes to the literature by introducing the 3 Ps integrated tourism concept, and empirically, through the case studies, it also contributes to the understanding of current rural tourism development in an East Asian context.

Today, sport managers view their teams, leagues and properties as brands to be managed. Researchers revealed that positive brand image generates additional revenue, increased merchandise sales, national media exposure, corporate supports, and increased ticket sales (Gladden et al., 1998). Consequently, understanding consumers perspective and how to enhance stronger brand equity are important for Turkish soccer clubs. From this point / the purpose of this study was to examine consumers&rsquo / perception on brand associations and affects of some factors on brand equity of soccer teams. In order to measure the consumer-based brand associations of Turkish soccer teams, the Turkish version of Team Association Scale was distributed to 156 undergraduate university students at Middle East Technical University and Gazi University.Results of this study indicated that tradition, product, affect and coach and nostalgia were perceived as the most important factors associated to the brand image of soccer teams. The findings of this study also revealed that, while males, heavy users and merchandise buyers associate tradition, product features, affect and coach and nostalgia with their team&rsquo / s brand, females, light users and fans who have not bought merchandise give more importance to star players in regards their contribution to brand image of soccer teams. Therefore, Turkish soccer teams should use marketing strategies to emphasize brand associations to create and enhance stronger brand equity and to gain additional revenues.

Tourism is an important economic activity in our country as it is all around the world. It is also defined as an industry which is related to other economical sectors. Therefore, governments need to manage, develop and market the tourism facilities so that tourism industry can help economical growth effectively. Tourism planning means to manage large amount of data. Therefore, it is desirable to integrate Geographic Information Systems and also Remote Sensing to planning. The aim of the thesis is to define how to increase the contributions of GIS for site selection purposes for new tourism types. The case study is chosen as Bodrum Peninsula that is the hearth of Turkey in tourism sector. The fast and unplanned tourism development is causing some problems in nature, transportation, social and technical infrastructure of Bodrum. Summer houses, hotels, holiday villages are built up increasingly, so a huge difference occurs between winter (97.000) and summer (1.500.000) populations, which produce one of the reasons for problems. In this study, new tourism types, which are camping, caravanning, grass-skiing, site-parachuting and biking activities, are suggested in Bodrum Peninsula. Site selection process for these types is performed according to the requirements defined by the Youth and Sport Association. Slope, aspect, and proximity analyses are performed in order to find the suitable areas for each tourism type. Then, analytical hierarchy process technique is used to give weight to each criterion to emphasize their effects. Finally, site selection results are compared with the environmental plan.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the acute effects of local vibration on muscle performance at different durations and frequencies. Fifteen male handball players participated in the study voluntarily. University&rsquo / s Ethics Committee approved the study and the informed consent forms were filled by all participants. Different vibration durations, (10 sec, 1 min, 10 min), different frequencies (40 and 80 Hz), dominancy (dominant and non-dominant) and conditions (vibration and no-vibration) were independent variables of study. Dependent variables were maximum isometric strength measures under different situations. One way Repeated measures ANOVA, Bonferoni adjusted paired sample t-tests and Two way Repeated ANOVA was used for statistical analyses. Result of this study demonstrated that local vibration (LV) induced significantly higher muscle activity than no vibration (NV) condition. Strength improvements were obtained in quadriceps muscles of dominant and non-dominant legs for 40 Hz and 80 Hz. When 40 Hz vibration was applied to dominant leg with different durations (10 sec, 1 min, 10 min), significantly higher strength measures were found than no vibration. When 80 Hz vibration was applied to dominant leg with different durations (10 sec, 1 min, 10 min), only 10-sec vibration duration revealed significant increase in strength measures. When 40 Hz vibration was applied to non-dominant leg with different durations, (10 sec, 1 min, 10 min) significantly higher strength measures were found than no vibration. When 80 Hz vibration was applied to non-dominant leg with different durations (10 sec, 1 min, 10 min), 10-sec and 1 min vibration durations revealed significant increase in strength measures. However, no significant difference was obtained when the different vibration durations were compared between 40 Hz and 80 Hz.

Marine Parks are established to protect an area of the sea zoned as a sanctuary for the protection of its marine eco-systems, especially coral reefs and its associated fauna and flora, like sea grass beds, mangroves and the sea shores. In Malaysia, there are 6 marine parks to-date. Ironically, the establishment of marine parks also attracts more tourists to the areas. For example, the number of visitors to Payar Marine Park increased tremendously from 3,668 visitors in 1990 to 133,775 visitors in 2002. Environmentalists and scientists have voiced concern that too many tourists have adverse effects on the coral reefs. This study estimates how much visitors are willing to pay for two separate issues; first, to reduce the damages due to crowding effect and second, to reduce the damages due to inland development, of three marine parks in Malaysia; Payar, Redang and Tioman Marine Park. The willingness-to-pay estimates were obtained from the respondents using the Contingent Valuation Method. A total of 650 questionnaires were distributed to the respondents. Then, half of the total respondents were asked to answer the crowding effect issue, and the other half was asked the inland development issue. For the crowding effect issue the respondents were presented with a hypothetical situation in which the park authority wanted to reduce the damage to the corals by limiting the number of visitors to half the number who came in 2000. The reduction in the total number of visitors is to be achieved by imposing an increased entrance fee. For the inland development issue, an increase in the entrance fee is intended for the authority to hire more people to monitor and enforce rules, to treat sewage and to implement coastal zone management and planning. Estimation was done using the double-bounded dichotomous choice method. The willingness to pay (WTP) per person per visit to moderate the environmental impact of inland development is RM23.79, which is lower than the WTP to reduce crowding, RM31.59. In addition, when both data were combined to estimate the differences between the WTP of foreign and local visitors, we found that the WTP of foreign visitors was much higher than the WTP of locals at RM39.11 and RM19.52, respectively. Analyses using the Individual Travel Cost Method gave quite poor results since two thirds of the visitors were first-timers. Therefore, consumer surplus cannot be obtained due to the insignificant result of the respondent’s total spending on the number of trips. However, using the Zonal Travel Cost Method (ZTCM), the average consumer surplus was found to be the same, RM1,000 for each park. The ZTCM was also used to calculate the elasticity of demand. The results for the three marine parks were found not to vary much, ranging between 1.07 and 1.36.

Battlefield sites are some of the most iconic locations in any nation’s store of heritage attractions and continue to capture the imagination of visitors. They have strong historic, cultural, nationalistic and moral resonances and speak to people on a national as well as a local scale. They have the power to provoke contention but at the same time foster understanding and respect through the consideration of deep moral questions. Battlefields are suffused with powerful stories of courage, sacrifice, betrayal and even cowardice. They have a strong sense of place and can provoke a range of cognitive and emotional reactions. But as sites they are inherently unremarkable and rely on the incarnative powers of interpretation to inform and enliven otherwise empty landscapes. This thesis is a wide ranging analysis of what battlefields mean to tourists and the effect interpretation has on battlefield sites. In order to further understand these aspects the development of the sites is also investigated including the historical and cultural forces which have been at play in creating such ‘attractions’. This makes use of the semiotic interpretation of tourist sites and the ‘site sacralisation’ model of Dean MacCannell in addressing the important question of what factors are present in the creation of an attraction. The study uses the four main ‘managed’ battlefield sites in the UK – Hastings (1066), Bannockburn (1314) , Bosworth (1485) and Culloden (1746) – to illustrate these objectives and comparisons are also made with a more recent conflict, that of the First World War (1914-18) at the Western Front in France and Belgium. Using an array of qualitative and quantitative methods the study addresses a hitherto relatively understudied area of tourism in exploring the meanings attached to the more historic sites and how they compare and contrast with visitor experiences at sites of more modern conflict. Interviews with experts/stakeholders involved with battlefield sites as well as both visitors at conventional times and at a re-enactment event were made and a large corpus of material was gathered from which conclusions were drawn. Although not statistically generalisable because of methodological constraints the results from the study add an important dimension to our understanding of battlefield tourism and what conflict sites mean to people. The study demonstrates how there is a very dynamic relationship between site and visitor and this is manifested in deep and wide ranging discourses which are reflected by the visitor comments. This is complemented by the views of experts/stakeholders. The study addresses some of the salient points surrounding the nature of visitor experience using the theory of the tourist ‘gaze’ propounded by John Urry. It asserts that a broader appreciation of the visitor interaction needs to be adopted utilizing a multi-sensory approach and not restricted to the dominance of the visual in interpreting the battlefield site. Interpretation is seen as critical in endowing relatively unremarkable sites with meaning and the existing approaches taken by the agencies managing the case study sites are found to be particularly effective in educational terms. The study examined the deeper meanings thought to be attached to places of suffering and death (the numen) but found a very weak response suggesting that the commercialisation of such sites results in a diminution of any visceral type of experience. For the Western Front the deeper meanings were eclipsed by grief and the study thus concluded that the numen can be subsumed into more complex reactions to places of death and suffering. With regard to the development of the historical sites the study challenges the stages of sacralisation in that more contemporary forces involved in attraction creation are neglected. A further commercialisation stage is added to update the model. Battlefield sites have much to inform us about how heritage is received and understood by the public. This is even more instructive in the case of a conflict site where the nature of the attraction might sit uncomfortably with public perception. This study aims to shed light on the meanings of such ‘dark’ sites within society and in doing so can in turn provide vivid reflections on our own culture milieu.

This thesis tries to provide a historical examination of the Scottish National Players, from the first proposals in 1913 until the disbandment of the Scottish National Theatre Society in 1934. The SNP aimed to produce plays of Scottish life and character; to encourage the public's taste for good drama of any kind; and to found a National Theatre. The golden years of the Players were the early and mid twenties, but by the end of the decade their ideals were crumbling away and they faced increasing dissatisfaction from the public and the press. They did not successfully fulfil any of their stated aims, but their attempts were far from being worthless. The influence of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin upon the SNP is detailed in the first chapter, along with the Player's own statements that they set out to create a similar venture in Glasgow. The Players' debt to the Glasgow Repertory Theatre is discussed. In chapters two to five a detailed history of the Players has been given. This concentrates on the policies, organisation, achievements, people involved, and actual productions, rather than being a literary critique of the plays themselves. Chapter six discusses the main achievement of the Scottish National Players, that they provided a training for the theatre profession which could not at that time be obtained anywhere else in Scotland. The SNP's contribution to the setting up of the BBC in Scotland is also discussed.