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Problem: Walking cadence (steps/minute) is used to prescribe walking intensity. For healthy adults, the recommended cadence is generally 100 steps per minute to reach moderate intensity. However, the required walking cadence to reach that intensity for people having risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is unknown. Methods: Ninety-one people presenting risk factors for CVD completed a graded exercise test to assess maximum oxygen consumption. In a separate session, when participants reached moderate intensity based on their maximum oxygen consumption, walking cadence was recorded. Results: Mean walking cadence to reach moderate intensity was 115.8 ± 10.3 steps per minute. Using linear regression analysis, only body weight (ß=0.24; P=0.018) significantly predicted the walking cadence required to reach moderate intensity. Conclusions: The walking cadence needed for people presenting risk factors for CVD to reach moderate intensity is about 116 steps per minute. Body weight influences the walking cadence needed to reach moderate intensity. / October 2015

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Given p independent, symmetric random walks on d-dimensional integer lattice that are the domain of attraction for a stable distribution, we calculate the moderate deviation of the intersection of ranges of the random walks in the case where the walks intersect infinitely often as time goes to infinity. That is to say, we establish a weak law convergence of intersection of ranges to intersection local time of stable processes and use this convergence as a link to establish deviation results.

The worldwide prevalence of obesity is reaching epidemic proportions in both adults and children and leading to increased risk of non-communicable diseases (WHO, 2004), including coronary heart disease, circulatory disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. In the UK, increasing levels of obesity may relate to a decrease in sport and physical activity participation as only 39% of males and 32% of females are sufficiently active to meet stated targets for physical activity (Townsend et al., 2012). In Britain, approximately 8% of the population originate from ethnic minorities that includes a high proportion of individuals from Arabic countries, with a significantly greater odds ratio for a sedentary leisure-time physical activity pattern than people from other countries. The thesis contains three studies which identify the patterns of physical activity in Arabic males (men and boys) in Liverpool, and explores the barriers and motivations to adopting physically active lifestyles, before addressing the feasibility of an intervention to enhance levels of physical activity. Study 1 examined the patterns of physical activity in 62 Arabic men and 65 boys during 7 consecutive days of continuous accelerometry recording. Men and boys were more active during weekdays than weekend days. Although boys were more active than men, they did not perform sufficient minutes of moderate to vigorous activity (60 min per day) to reach recommendations of MVPA. The men, however completed 190 mins per week of activity in the moderate intensity category and therefore satisfied Government guidelines. Study 2 investigated the barriers and motivators in becoming physically active by using focus group semi-structured interview techniques, followed by transcription and content analysis. The findings of the study indicated that physical activity plays a significant role in the individual’s health and that Arabic males perceive several benefits of physical activity for the individual, such as self-confidence, mental health and improved physical condition. There was a mixed interpretation and understanding of physical activity in these groups, with barriers to becoming more active cited as lack of time and socio-cultural barriers of not being accustomed to being physically activity. Facilitators, that encouraged participants to become physically active, included religion and enjoyment. Study 3 used a mixed methods approach to investigate the feasibility of an awareness raising intervention to increasing the levels of physical activity in Arabic males who owned exergames at home. An intervention group of men and boys were provided with physical activity guidelines. Changes in their physical activity levels were measured (using accelerometry) 4 weeks after receiving the guidelines and compared with a control group. The intervention provoked more light activity, moderate and MVPA activity in the men but no reduction in their sedentary behaviour. In boys, light and moderate activity increased, sedentary behavior decreased, but there was no significant difference in MVPA levels. Semi-structured interviews showed that the men found physical activity guidelines alone were not sufficient to motivate them to change their physical activity levels, but the boys found the provision of these useful. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that Arabic men met recommendations for physical activity, whereas boys did not. Barriers to the adoption of physical activity revolved mainly around a lack of understanding of physical activity and guidelines. The intervention strategy was regarded as family-focused and entertaining but not useful in promoting sustainable change in physical activity levels.

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The aim of this thesis is to analyze the ideological similarities and differences between the two Swedish conservative parties Sweden Democrats and the Moderate Party by study how the two parties basic ideological positions relate to liberal and traditional conservative values. The four dimensions view of human nature (pessimistic - optimistic), theory of society (collectivist - individualistic), view on moral values (collectivist - individualistic) and view on economic ideals (collectivist - individualistic) are used as the analytical instrument to study the two parties ideological positions on each dimension, where the pessimistic/collectivist positions represents traditional conservative values and the optimistic/individualistic positions represents liberal values. My result show that the Moderate Party express a predominantly optimistic view of human nature, a individualistic theory of society, a individualistic view on moral values and a individualistic basic position in their view on economic ideals. The Sweden Democrats express a pessimistic view of human nature, a collectivist theory of society, a collectivist view on moral vaues and a collectivist basic position in their view on economic ideals. My result thus shows that fundamental ideological differences can be discerned between the Sweden Democrats and the Moderate Party.

abstract: This work helps to explain the drag reduction mechanisms at low and moderate turbulent Reynolds numbers in pipe flows. Through direct numerical simulation, the effects of wall oscillations are observed on the turbulence in both the near wall and the bulk region. Analysis of the average Reynolds Stresses at various phases of the flow is provided along with probability density functions of the fluctuating components of velocity and vorticity. The flow is also visualized to observe, qualitatively, changes in the total and fluctuating field of velocity and vorticity. Linear Stochastic Estimation is used to create a conditional eddy (associated with stress production) in the flow and visualize the effects of transverse wall oscillations on hairpin growth, auto-generation and structure. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Mechanical Engineering 2019

<p>This study focuses upon the adaptation of the Swedish Social Democratic Party and Moderate Party towards the European Union. Adaptation is explored by examining attitudes the political parties have on different issues related to the EU. In other words it is assumed that adaptation is dependent on attitudes, amongst other things, and the attitudes are examined by studying officially expressed opinions by the parties in party programmes and in parliamentary protocols. By expanding the study to three years possible alterations in the attitudes can be detected and something can be said on the level of adaptation the parties show towards the EU in each research question. The questions are (1)<em> Should Sweden take an active part in developing the European integration process?, </em>(2)<em> Is it believed that participation in international collaboration provides output benefits that the nation state no longer can provide?, </em>(3)<em> Is pooling of sovereignty problematic?, </em>(4) <em>Is military non-alignment important for Sweden? </em>and (5)<em> Is it important that Sweden participates in a common European security policy? </em>The three years of research are 1995, 2006 and the first half of 2010. Two of the questions are developed by utilising the fusion perspective, that is a part of the fusion approach, which is also the theoretical framework of this study.</p><p>The findings of this study show that both the Social Democratic Party and the Moderate Party experience attitudinal alterations in almost all the questions investigated. This causes some shifts in their level of adaption towards the European Union. Furthermore the results show that the Social Democratic Party and the Moderate Party are adapted towards the Union in most of the years researched.</p>

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the basal ganglia. Primary motor deficits include resting tremor, bradykinesia, muscular rigidity, and postural instability. Most importantly, patients have difficulty both initiating movements and performing well-timed movements. This study explored the effect of rhythm on the timing of upper extremity movements in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Comparisons were made between an external rhythmic cue, an external rhythmic cue in combination with auditory feedback, and no cue. Fifteen participants performed a simple reaching task in each of the four cueing conditions with the use of an interactive touch table. Condition 1 consisted of no cue. Condition 2 included a metronome set to the participant’s baseline tempo. Condition 3 included a metronome set to the participant’s baseline tempo, and a synthesized tone that occurred as a result of contact with the table. Finally, Condition 4 included no cue, similar to Condition 1. Participants were placed into either a mild/moderate level of impairment group, or a severe level of impairment group. Data were collected for total movement time, initiation time, and delta time for each participant in all four conditions. Results of the study did not reveal a main effect of condition on total movement time, initiation time or delta time. However, post-hoc pair-wise comparisons revealed significant decreases between Condition 1 and Condition 4, which were both uncued conditions, for both total movement time and delta time. In addition, for total movement time, a significant decrease was found between Condition 2 (external rhythmic cue) and Condition 4 (no cue). An immediate effect of cueing was found for initiation time and delta time, but did not reach a level of significance. An immediate effect of cueing on total movement time was not evident. Overall, from Condition 1 to Condition 2 as well as Condition 1 to Condition 3, initiation time and delta time decreased, but total movement time did not. Further analysis of level of impairment could not be conducted because of the small number of participants in the severe level of impairment group. The results suggest that one auditory cue was not more beneficial than the other for improving total movement time, initiation time, or delta time. In addition, the improvement from Condition 1 to Condition 4 for total movement time and delta time suggests that a practice effect was evident for the participants. The results of the study suggest that long-term training of either auditory cue can be an effective rehabilitation technique for patients with Parkinson’s disease to improve the timing of upper extremity movements.