Participants' perceptions of a lifestyle approach to promoting physical activity: targeting deprived communities in Kingston-upon-Hull.

BACKGROUND: The health benefits of an active lifestyle have been extensively documented and generally accepted. In the UK, declining physical activity levels are a major contributing factor to a number of public health concerns such as obesity and coronary heart disease. Clearly, there is an urgent need to support people in developing sustainable active lifestyles. In 2003, a new lifestyle-based physical activity service called Active Lifestyles (AL) was set up in Kingston-upon-Hull to help local residents to become more active and develop healthier lifestyles. The service targeted the most deprived communities in the city. The aim of the study was to explore participants' perceptions of the operation and effectiveness of the AL service. METHODS: Five focus groups were conducted in community centres and offices in the health promotion service in Kingston-upon-Hull. Sixteen white adult males (n = 5) and females (n = 11) participated in the study. Ages ranged from 15-73 years (mean age = 53 years). Data were analysed using a content analysis technique based on the 'framework' approach. RESULTS: Three broad themes emerged from the focus groups; the referral process; operational aspects of the AL service; and perceived benefits of the service. Overall, participants were extremely positive about the AL service. Many reported increased activity levels, modified eating habits, and enhanced awareness and education regarding healthier living. Most participants reported that local awareness of the AL service was low and greater promotion was required so more people could benefit. The success of the service was highly dependent upon the qualities and approach of the AL advisor. CONCLUSION: The service appears to have filled a gap in service provision since it offered support to the most sedentary, older, unfit and overweight individuals, many of whom live in the most deprived parts of Kingston-upon-Hull. Traditional exercise referral schemes that focus solely on facility-based exercise should be broadened to encompass everyday lifestyle activity, where referral to a gym or exercise facility is just one of a number of physical activity options

Active metal brazing for joining glass-ceramic to titanium-a study on silver enrichment

A hermetic encapsulation system for implantable telemetric electronic devices has been developed. It is based on the combination of a glass-ceramic material transparent to radio-frequency signals with commercially pure titanium. The materials were joined by active metal brazing, resulting in a multi-layer structure. The in vivo and in vitro behaviour of this metal-ceramic interface was studied. In vivo experiments consisted of subcutaneous implantation of capsules in piglets and pigs with different weights, while the in vitro tests consisted of electrochemical techniques aimed at characterizing the degradation behaviour of the interface. Electrochemical experiments were conducted at 37°C in a simulated physiological solution (Hank's Balanced Salt Solution; HBSS). Results show that a silver-rich phase was formed at the interface, both in living tissue and in HBSS. Chloride seems to have an important role in the reaction mechanism. The mechanical integrity of the capsules was not affected by this reaction under in vivo conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Using programme theory to strengthen research protocol and intervention design within an RCT of a walking intervention

This article provides a practical example of how to apply a theory-driven approach to research intervention and protocol design. It illustrates how reflection on both intervention theory and programme theory can inform and refine the: implementation of the intervention; research design; specification of research questions and tools; and, identify the contribution each research stage makes in the accumulation of policy-relevant learning. The article presents the logic models, associated theory and learning from the development of a pilot randomized control trial/feasibility study of a walking intervention targeting older adults

Interventionism as Practice: On ‘ordinary transgressions’ and their routinization

In this article, the aim is to bridge the gap in the international relations (IR) literature on contemporary interventionism between a strand of research mainly focusing on the concepts of intervention, sovereignty and their meanings, and a strand more interested in the particular practices bound up with the phenomenon described as ‘intervention’. This is done by exploring how the literature on the so-called ‘practice-turn’ might allow light to be shed on both dimensions. Such an approach might prove fruitful provided attention is paid both to the material and discursive practices of interventionism; both to the transgressive practices constitutive of interventionism and their routinization. Finally, this piece also introduces each of this special section’s contributions by showing how they illustrate and expand on the different problématiques here outlined.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe