title: Automated Technology Based Behavioural Intervention to Promote Exercise Adherence: A Pilot Study to Ascertain Efficacy

authors: Allen, Vincent Thor

subjects: Exercise adherence

abstract: Exercise has been shown to be an effective treatment for a range of physical and mental health problems. Development of automated exercise therapy options will result in greater accessibility of treatment for those who would be otherwise unable to access it. The purpose of this study was to design and evaluate an automated technology based behavioural intervention for the purpose of increasing the participant’s physical exercise adherence.
The study was run as a non-concurrent multiple baseline across participants design over a 12 week period. Nine participants (2 male, 7 female) aged 18 to 34 (M = 23.11) took part in the study. They completed a baseline phase of three to six weeks during which exercise data were recorded. The intervention phase lasted seven to eight weeks, during which an intervention was delivered via email and online survey in an attempt to increase physical exercise, and promote long term exercise adherence. Effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated using measures of duration and intensity of exercise activity, and an 18 item Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale.
For most participants there was a significant increase in exercise activity and exercise self-efficacy score as a result of the intervention. Component analysis of the intervention provided information as to which aspects were effective, and which may need to be modified for subsequent iterations. These results show that an automated technology based behavioural intervention can increase exercise behaviour in such a way that promotes long term adherence. Future studies could focus on using a smartphone app as the delivery method for similar interventions as this would allow for additional features to be added, and more effective delivery of the aspects of the intervention that have been shown to work.

text: Automated Technology Based Behavioural Intervention to Promote Exercise Adherence: A Pilot Study to Ascertain Efficacy Exercise has been shown to be an effective treatment for a range of physical and mental health problems. Development of automated exercise therapy options will result in greater accessibility of treatment for those who would be otherwise unable to access it. The purpose of this study was to design and evaluate an automated technology based behavioural intervention for the purpose of increasing the participant’s physical exercise adherence.
The study was run as a non-concurrent multiple baseline across participants design over a 12 week period. Nine participants (2 male, 7 female) aged 18 to 34 (M = 23.11) took part in the study. They completed a baseline phase of three to six weeks during which exercise data were recorded. The intervention phase lasted seven to eight weeks, during which an intervention was delivered via email and online survey in an attempt to increase physical exercise, and promote long term exercise adherence. Effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated using measures of duration and intensity of exercise activity, and an 18 item Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale.
For most participants there was a significant increase in exercise activity and exercise self-efficacy score as a result of the intervention. Component analysis of the intervention provided information as to which aspects were effective, and which may need to be modified for subsequent iterations. These results show that an automated technology based behavioural intervention can increase exercise behaviour in such a way that promotes long term adherence. Future studies could focus on using a smartphone app as the delivery method for similar interventions as this would allow for additional features to be added, and more effective delivery of the aspects of the intervention that have been shown to work.

year: 2015

title: Tensile properties and fracture behaviour of an ultrafine grained Ti–47Al–2Cr (at.%) alloy at room and elevated temperatures

authors: Nadakuduru, Vijay Navaratna

subjects: brittle to ductile transition temperature

abstract: An ultrafine grained (UFG) Ti–47Al–2Cr (at.%) alloy has been synthesized using a combination of high energy mechanical milling and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) of a Ti/Al/Cr composite powder compact. The material produced has been tensile tested at room temperature, 700 and 800 °C, respectively, and the microstructure of the as-HIPed material and the microstructure and fracture surfaces of the tensile tested specimens have been examined using X-ray diffractometry, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The alloy shows no ductility during tensile testing at room temperature and 700 °C, respectively, but very high ductility (elongation to fracture 70–100%) when tensile tested 800 °C, indicating that its brittle to ductile transition temperature (BDTT) falls within the temperature range of 700–800 °C. The retaining of ultrafine fine equiaxed grain morphology after the large amount of plastic deformation of the specimens tensile tested at 800 °C and the clear morphology of individual grains in the fractured surface indicate that grain boundary sliding is the predominant deformation mechanism of plastic deformation of the UFG TiAl based alloy at 800 °C. Cavitation occurs at locations fairly uniformly distributed throughout the gauge length sections of the specimens tensile tested at 800 °C, again supporting the postulation that grain boundary sliding is the dominant mechanism of the plastic deformation of the UFG TiAl alloys at temperatures above their BDTT. The high ductility of the UFG alloy at 800 °C and its fairly low BDTT indicates that the material a highly favourable precursor for secondary thermomechanical processing.

text: Tensile properties and fracture behaviour of an ultrafine grained Ti–47Al–2Cr (at.%) alloy at room and elevated temperatures An ultrafine grained (UFG) Ti–47Al–2Cr (at.%) alloy has been synthesized using a combination of high energy mechanical milling and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) of a Ti/Al/Cr composite powder compact. The material produced has been tensile tested at room temperature, 700 and 800 °C, respectively, and the microstructure of the as-HIPed material and the microstructure and fracture surfaces of the tensile tested specimens have been examined using X-ray diffractometry, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The alloy shows no ductility during tensile testing at room temperature and 700 °C, respectively, but very high ductility (elongation to fracture 70–100%) when tensile tested 800 °C, indicating that its brittle to ductile transition temperature (BDTT) falls within the temperature range of 700–800 °C. The retaining of ultrafine fine equiaxed grain morphology after the large amount of plastic deformation of the specimens tensile tested at 800 °C and the clear morphology of individual grains in the fractured surface indicate that grain boundary sliding is the predominant deformation mechanism of plastic deformation of the UFG TiAl based alloy at 800 °C. Cavitation occurs at locations fairly uniformly distributed throughout the gauge length sections of the specimens tensile tested at 800 °C, again supporting the postulation that grain boundary sliding is the dominant mechanism of the plastic deformation of the UFG TiAl alloys at temperatures above their BDTT. The high ductility of the UFG alloy at 800 °C and its fairly low BDTT indicates that the material a highly favourable precursor for secondary thermomechanical processing.

year: 2012

title: Maori perspectives of the environment: Proposed action strategies

authors: Whangapirita, Laura

subjects: Maori

abstract: The purpose of this report is to develop an action plan that identifies strategies to meet the future information needs of Environment Waikato with respect to Maori information.

text: Maori perspectives of the environment: Proposed action strategies The purpose of this report is to develop an action plan that identifies strategies to meet the future information needs of Environment Waikato with respect to Maori information.

year: 2003-12