This thesis is composed of an ethnography of the Women’s Running Network (WRN) – a non-elite women’s-only running group – and explores participant’s lived experiences of health and ageing (and the intersection of these) in this physical context. In-depth interviews (n = 25), inclusive of case studies (n = 3), with women between the ages of 29 and 66 allowed insight into the subjective contours of participant’s lives, and their particular biographical trajectories culminating in WRN participation. Several types of narrative analyses were applied to the emergent data, and results from these revealed insights into if, why, how, and when women engaged with health and ‘active ageing’ messages across the life course. Despite a prevalence of health knowledge, participants tended to report long periods of inactivity throughout their lives – citing the often documented barriers to physical activity such as a lack of time and caregiving responsibilities. However, a vast majority of participants also cited an utter lack of confidence with respect to physical activity, often stemming from highly influential poor early experiences. Embodying a perceived ‘non-sporting’ identity for as long as they had, they were foreclosed to the idea of physical activity despite simultaneously feeling pressure to participate. For many, it was particular life events - or ‘critical moments’ – that brought participation in physical activity to the forefront (i.e., birthdays, relationship issues, bereavement, and health scares). A consideration of these within this thesis explores the complex link that exists between health consciousness and action. In addition, alternative narratives about who could be a runner (within WRN advertising and by word of mouth) ‘hailed’ participants to reconsider their foreclosed narratives, by offering a ‘fun and non-competitive’ atmosphere for people ‘of all ages, sizes, and abilities’. Once pushed to action and within the WRN setting, participants described learning about themselves and their bodies, and thus developed the capacity to tell new stories. As such, through a narrative lens, this thesis introduces the stories that participants responded to (or not), and the stories that they used to tell, felt able to tell, and – in some cases – learned how to tell about health, about ageing, and about running/physical activity. Conclusions from this work have implications for both policy and practice, advocating for the necessity of comprehensive insight into people’s perceptions and lived experiences of (active) ageing within the context of life history, current life stage, and the everyday.

Despite the widely documented physical, psychological, and social benefits of participation in physical activity (Sallis, Prochaska, & Taylor, 2000; U.S Department of Health & Human Services, 2000), less than half of young Saudi adolescents are involved in non-school organised sport (General Presidency for Youth Welfare, 2007; Al-Hazzaa, 2004). Thus, examination of social and psychological determinants of participation in leisure time physical activity is important. This PhD examined these determinants within Saudi adolescents. A mixed methods approach was adopted to identify and test the important social and psychological determinants of participation in leisure-time physical activity. Phase one of the research was qualitative in nature. The purpose of this phase was to illustrate how an elicitation method can be used to identify salient behavioural (termed consequences), normative (termed referents), and control (termed circumstances) beliefs about physical activity as perceived by adolescents. These findings, along with theoretical propositions and evidence from previous studies, contributed to the development of a model of the social and psychological determinants of participation in leisure-time physical activity. They also contributed to the development of ways to measure important concepts in the model. Phase two was quantitative in nature and used multiple regression analysis to test the relationships among the key variables of interest. In part one of this phase, self-report questionnaires measured the respondents’ intention to participate in leisure time physical activity (dependent variable); it also measured their attitude toward physical activity behaviour, as well as subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, descriptive norms, self-efficacy, self-identity, and past behaviour (independent variables). The results revealed that attitudes, subjective norms, perceptions of behavioural control predicted physical activity intentions in a Saudi Arabian context. Moreover, descriptive norms, self-efficacy, and past behaviour contributed to the prediction of intentions, while self-identity did not. The results also pointed to some gender differences: while Saudi females considered attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and self-efficacy during intention formation, Saudi males considered attitude, subjective norms, perceived behaviour control, self-efficacy, and past behaviour only during intention formation. In terms of the salient beliefs, being active, maintaining fitness and controlling weight predicted attitudes; friends, mother, and brother predicted subjective norms; and availability of place, availability of time, and bad weather predicted perceived behavioural control. The results also pointed to some gender differences. While Saudi females considered being active, maintaining fitness, controlling weight, friends, family, father, mother, and brother, availability of place, availability of time, and bad weather, Saudi males considered being active, friends, family, father, brother, availability of place, availability of time and bad weather. In part two of this phase, five weeks after completing the main questionnaire, participants completed a follow-up questionnaire that assessed self-reported physical activity during the previous five weeks. Results revealed that intention, perceived behavioural control, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and past behaviour, but not attitude, descriptive norms, or self-identity predicted physical activity. Results also pointed out important gender differences. That is, while Saudi males appeared to consider intention, perceived behavioural control, and past behaviour when predicting exercising behaviour, this was not the case for Saudi females who considered intention, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and past behaviour only. Overall, the findings of this thesis offer partial support for the capacity of the theory of planned behaviour to predict participants’ physical activity intention and behaviour. The standard TPB variables, self-efficacy and past behaviour predicted intention, while, subjective norms, self-efficacy and past behaviour predicted behaviour. In general, findings also point out important gender differences. That is, while Saudi males appear to consider the standard TPB variables, self-efficacy, and past behaviour when predicting intention, and perceived behavioural control and past behaviour when predicting physical activity behaviour, this is not the case for Saudi females. In contrast, Saudi females consider attitude, subjective norms, and self-efficacy when predicting intention, and self-efficacy and past behaviour when predicting physical activity behaviour. Implications of these findings are that in order to alter physical activity patterns, factors influencing adolescents’ intention and behaviour to participate in physical activity must be addressed. Specially, effective interventions should target cognitive, social, environmental and psychological factors aimed at promoting physical activity among adolescents.

Psychological well-being occurs when there is an absence of mental disorders and presence of positive states. Given the increasing prevalence of mental disorders, which are thought to have their roots in childhood, improving psychological well-being in children is currently an important area of research. Physical activity has been proposed as a method by which negative states can be reduced and positive states increased, thereby increasing children’s overall psychological well-being and in turn helping to protect against a decline into clinical disorders. Research focusing on physical activity and psychological well-being has mainly used self- reported measurements to assess physical activity, a method which leads to considerable non-differential misclassification that in turn will attenuate associations between physical activity and psychological wellbeing. Few studies have employed more precise, objective measures such as accelerometry. Despite providing a more precise measure of physical activity, a number of limitations are present with the use of accelerometry, specifically concerning the data reduction processes. Various decisions made when handling accelerometer data can result in misclassification of time spent in different intensities of physical activity and can introduce selection bias. The present thesis aims to address how the decisions made during data reduction can affect estimates of physical activity prevalence and alter the observed relationships between physical activity and psychological well-being in children. The first study of this thesis assessed the misclassification of activity intensities occurring as a result of the use of various accelerometer cut-points and the resulting variation in relationships between physical activity and psychological well-being that occurs. Results showed that the use of different cut-points to determine physical activity intensity alters the magnitude of the relationship between physical activity and psychological well-being; relationships were attenuated, with some becoming non-significant. The second study addressed the issue of children’s compliance with wear time requirements over multiple time points; compliance with wear time decreased over time, whilst inclusion and exclusion rules based on minimum wear times introduced selection bias. The use of more lenient wear time criteria, to reduce selection bias, introduced misclassification of physical activity intensities. Further, longitudinal relationships between physical activity and psychological well-being differed depending upon the wear time criteria employed. The third study aimed to address whether compliance, and in turn selection bias would systematically differ between groups of a trial of a physical activity intervention, and whether this would alter the results of the intervention itself. Results showed that compliance varied across trial condition, that selection bias with groups was different for each condition and that non-compliance hindered the exploration of the mediating effect of physical activity on psychological well-being. Study four involved the validation and calibration of a new wrist worn, waterproof physical activity monitor more compatible with 24 hour wear, thus potentially overcoming the compliance problems noted in the earlier studies. Results showed good concurrent and criterion validity, with high classification accuracy for the cut-points created. The final study assessed the acceptability and compliance with 24 hour wear in children and allowed a detailed examination of the underestimation of time spent in PA intensities that occurs from capturing shorter and different periods of the day. Results showed large misclassification with 10 hour capture periods relative to complete observation, with time in activity intensities varying across different periods of the day. The results of this thesis demonstrate that substantial selection bias and misclassification of time in activity intensities can be introduced through the decisions made during the processing of raw accelerometry data. Furthermore, this error alters the relationships between physical activity and psychological well-being. The results indicate that the true relationship between physical activity and psychological well-being in children may still be unknown, with researchers reporting relationships and effects only relevant to the measurement methods and data reduction processes they have employed. A method of overcoming selection bias and reducing misclassification is through 24 hour wear, which through the design of new accelerometers is now possible. Future studies should use monitors compatible with and acceptable for complete observation. This would result in more precise estimates of time spent in physical activity intensities and less selection bias. Both of these improvements would greatly increase our understanding of the relationship between physical activity and psychological well-being in children.

Low levels of physical activity and unhealthy dietary behaviours have been associated with poor health in adolescents, leading to an increased risk of chronic disease in adulthood. These behaviours are modifiable and since adolescents spend a significant amount of time in school this provides an increasingly popular setting for physical activity and dietary interventions. A systematic review of school-based interventions aimed at changing physical activity and/or dietary behaviours in adolescents was conducted. The aim was to identify successful interventions, identify effective intervention components, behavioural theories and techniques which may have facilitated interventions success and assess reporting quality. Fifteen studies were included in the review; two dietary only, seven physical activity only and six physical activity combined dietary interventions. Diet only interventions were not successful. Interventions aimed at only physical activity behaviours were the most successful, with education combined with environmental adaptations identified as being most effective. Physical activity only interventions aimed specifically at girls were generally successful. Physical activity interventions aimed at both boys and girls tended to be more effective at improving the behaviours of boys only. Interventions aimed at both physical activity and diet showed some evidence of gender differences with boys increasing physical activity behaviours and girls improving dietary behaviours. Studies based on a theory which considered environmental influences appeared more effective. No specific behaviour change techniques were identified with studies reporting significant results. The reporting of intervention design/methodology was of moderate quality. The heterogeneity of the studies made it difficult to generalise which interventions were most effective. Education combined with environmental adaptations appeared effective at changing physical activity behaviours in both boys and girls. Further research into dietary interventions is required, especially in boys. The quality of study reporting needs to improve to facilitate the identification of the active components/techniques implemented within interventions.

The broader technical objective of this work is to develop a strategy for using the biopolymer lignin in a wide variety of surfactant applications through polymer grafting. These applications include emulsion stabilizers, dispersants and foaming agents. The scientific objective of the research performed within this thesis is to understand the effect of molecular architecture and polymer grafting on the interfacial activity at the air-liquid, liquid-liquid and solid-liquid interface. Research has focused on designing of these lignopolymers with controlled architecture using polyethylene glycol, poly(acrylic acid) and polyacrylamide grafts. The interfacial activity for all polymer grafts has been tested at all three interfaces using a broad range of techniques specific to the interface. Results have shown that the hydrophobicity of the lignin core is responsible for enhanced interfacial activity at the air-liquid and liquid-liquid interface. Conversely, improved hydrophilicity and “electrosteric” interactions are required for higher interfacial activity of the lignin at the liquid-solid interface. The high interfacial activity of the polymer-grafted lignin observed in the air-liquid and liquid-liquid interfaces not only resulted in viscosity reduction but also strength enhancement at the liquid-solid interface. The broader implication of this study is to be able to predict what chemical functionalities need to be adjusted to get the desired viscosity reduction.

Bakgrund: Forskning om att förebygga och motverka sköra tillstånd hos äldre är mer aktuellt idag än någonsin då befolkningsmängden i världen stiger och andelen äldre ökar. Frailty är den internationella benämningen på skörhet, som också används som diagnos. För att vara frail skall individen uppfylla två eller fler definierade kriterier. Dessa är ofrivillig viktminskning av cirka fem kilo eller mer under det senaste året, självupplevd utmattning, nedsatt greppstyrka, långsam gång samt låg fysisk aktivitet. Det är allmänt vedertaget att frailty ökar, att det är vanligare hos äldre med kroniska sjukdomar och vanligare bland kvinnor än bland män. Undernäring och sarkopeni kan vara en orsak till frailty. Både undernäring och sarkopeni kan motverkas och frailty bör därför kunna förebyggas och behandlas. Syfte: Syftet är att sammanställa litteratur om att behandla frailty med nutrition och fysisk aktivitet. Metod: Studiens design är en systematisk litteraturstudie med 13 kvantitativa RCT-studier.   Resultat: Resultatet indikerar att behandling med nutrition respektive fysisk aktivitet minskar frailty. Kombinerad individuellt anpassad, teambaserad behandling med personlig feedback ger bäst effekt.   Slutsats: Behandling med nutrition och fysisk aktivitet kan motverka frailty.   Nyckelord: Frailty, physical activity, nutrition

This study investigates if the descent of odd nitrogen, generated in the thermosphere and the upper mesosphere by energetic particle precipitation (EPP-NOx), has a detectable impact on stratospheric wind and temperature in late winter and spring presumably through the loss of ozone and reduction of absorption of solar UV. In both hemispheres, similar downward propagating geomagnetic signals in the extratropical stratosphere are found in spring for those years when no stratospheric sudden warming occurred in mid-winter. Anomalous easterly winds and warmer polar regions are found when the 4-month averaged winter Ap index (Ap) is high, and the signals become clearer when solar F10.7 is low. In May, significant geomagnetic signals are obtained in the Northern Hemisphere when the data are grouped according to the phase of the stratospheric equatorial QBO. The magnitudes of changes in spring stratospheric wind and temperatures associated with Ap signals are in the range of 10–20 m s−1 and 5–10 K, which are comparable with those of the 11-yr SC signals typically found in late winter. The spring Ap signals show the opposite sign to that expected due to in situ cooling effects caused by catalytic destruction of stratospheric ozone by descending EPP-NOx. Thus it is unlikely that the in situ chemical effect of descending EPP-NOx on stratospheric ozone would have a dominant influence on stratospheric circulation. Instead, we suggest that the detected Ap signals in the extratropical spring stratosphere may be an indirect consequence of geomagnetic and solar activity, dynamically induced by changes in wave ducting conditions.

The essay at hand pursues the question as to how the German philosopher and poet Novalis has been able to characterize the whole of philosophy as a longing for home. In succession to a historic contextualization and research background there follows a presentation of certain ideas in Kant and Fichte. This aims to build the historico-philosophical ground for thinking the philosophy of Novalis as such a longing. A close reading of Novalis work Fichte-studies is the main justification for this interpretation. In accordance, Novalis understands philosophy as a longing for home arisen from the factual experience of the I. Feeling links this experience to theabsolute, thus providing the foundation for philosophy. Thus in thinking, this absolute ground can be set only relatively and indirectly. Philosophy can never establish direct contact with the absolute, but must be driven infinitely by thinking, through feeling, towards it. This drive shall be understood as a longing. Longing arrives through what is absolutely given in feeling. Longing moves towards re-establishing the given which thinking has lost. The I is understood as where being dwells. Herein the I's feeling of direct experience of its existence is reached — as a belonging to the world. Such a feeling of belonging is destined to evaporate with thinking. Nevertheless, thinking hopes to come home — it dreams this future. Hence we arrive at philosophy thought as a longing for home. In the end, we conclude with Novalis that philosophy thought this way must be procured by poetry.

This study identifies the various elements and factors that a financial services company needs to consider when implementing activity-based costing. This study evaluates the appropriateness of activity-based costing for financial services and proposes an implementation framework for activity-based costing in this environment. Management, in today’s constant changing and competitive world, needs management information to support strategic and pricing decisions. Traditional financial accounting information sometimes hides the economic reality of client profitability and product costs, and does not supply sufficient information for pricing decisions. This study confirmed that activity-based costing can assist in addressing this problem. Activity-based costing was originally developed for the manufacturing environment. By studying available literature, this study proved that activitybased costing can be used successfully in a financial services environment. A manufacturing environment has a higher direct cost input than a services environment. The cost structure in a services environment allows a higher percentage of cost to be allocated by identifying activities and using cost drivers to allocate these costs to cost objects. Activity-based costing models add value to management by supplying them with information that supports strategic decisions, pricing decisions, understanding client profitability and product costs. This study points out that there are crucial success factors that need to be considered before embarking on the implementation of activity-based costing. Finally the study proposes that activity-based costing be implemented in a financial services environment to support management decision making. / Prof. A.L. Boessenkool

While some cognitive decline is part of the normal aging process, certain changes have been linked to physical health or lifestyle-related diseases and may be preventable. Hypertension and type 2 diabetes are two conditions that have been associated with a heightened risk of accelerated cognitive decline. In terms of protective factors, physical activity can positively impact a broad range of cognitive processes including memory, attention, and executive function and may also protect against or delay cognitive decline and dementia. The present study examined the extent to which physical activity moderates the impacts of hypertension and diabetes (and their interactions) on different cognitive functions. Data are from the Memory and Aging Project (MAP), a longitudinal study of older adults (N = 1400, mean age = 79). A series of multilevel models evaluated baseline differences and linear and quadratic change on four cognitive measures: mental status, perceptual speed, and immediate and delayed episodic memory. Higher levels of self-reported physical activity were associated with better perceptual speed at baseline, and significantly less linear decline across all four measures. Physical activity was not significantly associated with curvilinear change. Individuals with diabetes had significantly worse immediate episodic memory performance at baseline, but diabetes was largely unrelated to rate of change and initial performance on the other measures. Hypertension was associated with better initial mental status (linear and quadratic models) and delayed episodic memory (quadratic model). Contrary to expectations, most interactions between physical activity and the two health conditions were non-significant. However, physical activity appeared to moderate the relationship between comorbid diabetes and hypertension on immediate episodic memory, such that individuals with the two conditions who were more physically active experienced a reduced rate of linear and curvilinear decline compared to inactive individuals with diabetes and hypertension. The findings from this study suggest that physical activity may reduce the impact of comorbid conditions on certain cognitive functions, and that immediate episodic memory may be particularly susceptible. / Graduate