Describes Actel’s programmable technology. Early adopters of this technology, in both Europe and North America in experimental and telecommunication space programmes used these…
Abstract
Describes Actel’s programmable technology. Early adopters of this technology, in both Europe and North America in experimental and telecommunication space programmes used these field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) very successfully. Owing to the success of these early adopters, Actel transferred its technology to a radiation hardened wafer fab and now offers a rad hard version of its commercial product, serving the needs of the traditional government end use space market and long lifetime missions. Since the introduction of the rad hard FPGAs the industry has undergone major shifts in attitudes. While there is still a significant demand for radiation hardened devices, lower cost alternatives with a lower level of radiation tolerance are expected to exist in the majority of space programmes.
Mat Jones, Amy Beardmore, Michele Biddle, Andy Gibson, Sanda Umar Ismail, Stuart McClean and Jo White
Background: Evidence from a range of major public health incidents shows that neighbour-based action can have a critical role in emergency response, assistance and recovery…
Abstract
Background: Evidence from a range of major public health incidents shows that neighbour-based action can have a critical role in emergency response, assistance and recovery. However, there is little research to date on neighbour-based action during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. This article reports on a survey of people engaged in supporting their neighbours in weeks three and four of the UK COVID-19 lockdown.
Methods: Members of area-based and community of interest COVID-19 support groups in the Bristol conurbation were invited to complete an online survey. Of 1,255 people who clicked on the survey link, 862 responded; of these, 539 responses were eligible for analysis.
Results: Respondents reported providing a wide range of support that went beyond health information, food and medical prescription assistance, to include raising morale through humour, creativity and acts of kindness and solidarity. A substantial proportion felt that they had become more involved in neighbourhood life following the lockdown and had an interest in becoming more involved in future. Neighbour support spanned all adult age groups, including older people categorised as being at-risk to the virus. With respect to most measures, there were no differences in the characteristics of support between respondents in areas of higher and lower deprivation. However, respondents from more deprived areas were more likely to state that they were involved in supporting certain vulnerable groups.
Conclusions: As with previous research on major social upheavals, our findings suggest that responses to the viral pandemic and associated social restrictions may increase existing social and health inequalities, and further research should explore this issue in more depth.
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Chris Griffiths, Kate Walker, Andy Willis and Lorraine Pollard
Depression, physical health, well-being, sleep and physical activity are interlinked. Healthy levels of physical activity and effective night-time sleep can reduce depressive…
Abstract
Purpose
Depression, physical health, well-being, sleep and physical activity are interlinked. Healthy levels of physical activity and effective night-time sleep can reduce depressive symptoms. In the context of their lives and symptoms of depression, this paper aims to understand participants’ experiences of using a Fitbit, physical activity and sleep and the barriers and facilitators for healthy sleep and physical activity.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative methods were used to conduct interviews with 19 patients (4 male; 15 female) diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression undergoing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment for depression. Reflexive thematic analysis was used.
Findings
Healthy sleep and physical activity levels are interlinked and reduce depressive symptoms as well as improving well-being and physical health. A Fitbit is useful to enhance physical activity, self-awareness, motivation, healthier lifestyles and effective sleep. Barriers to healthy sleep and physical activity levels included depressive symptoms, environmental factors and anxieties. Facilitators for healthy sleep and physical activity levels included knowledge of the benefits, support from family and friends and applying sleep hygiene.
Practical implications
There is a need to provide interventions using wearable activity trackers that build on the links between increased physical activity, improved sleep, enhanced well-being, better physical health and lower depressive symptoms.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that patients undergoing TMS have had their experiences of sleep, activity and using a Fitbit investigated and reported.
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Ron Butterly, Dan Adams, Andy Brown and Jim Golby
The paper provides an evaluation of client perceptions of a community‐based physical activity project (MUSCSEL) in Leeds. Over a period of five months, all newcomers to the…
Abstract
The paper provides an evaluation of client perceptions of a community‐based physical activity project (MUSCSEL) in Leeds. Over a period of five months, all newcomers to the project were invited to take part in the evaluation by completing a questionnaire. All were living independently in the community. All 34 respondents were unemployed, and perceived themselves as less active and less fit than the norm for their age and gender. Incidence of smoking was higher than the national average, and the majority of respondents would have liked to be more active than they were, but perceived many barriers. Subsequent interviews (n=17) found that the project increased self‐confidence and self‐esteem, perceived fitness levels and perceived habitual physical activity levels. It also facilitated social contact and enabled the service users to manage their mental health issues better, supporting previous research findings. Further work is needed to follow subjects living independently in the community on a longitudinal basis, to determine the time course of any benefits, particularly over the period of transition from hospital to independent‐living status.
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Gwen Irving, Andy Flockton and Steve Webster
In Hull, staff in the mental health service have established a link with colleagues at the university and worked together to make a qualitative evaluation of a sports group for…
Abstract
In Hull, staff in the mental health service have established a link with colleagues at the university and worked together to make a qualitative evaluation of a sports group for mental health service users ‐ the Sport in the Community programme. Their findings reveal that a substantial level of organisational commitment is required to make the most of the opportunity.
Adam Smith is revered as the father of modern economics. Analysis of his writings, however, reveals a profoundly medieval outlook. Smith is preoccupied with the need to preserve…
Abstract
Adam Smith is revered as the father of modern economics. Analysis of his writings, however, reveals a profoundly medieval outlook. Smith is preoccupied with the need to preserve order in society. His scientific methodology emphasises reconciliation with the world we live in rather than investigation of it. He invokes a version of natural law in which the universe is a harmonious machine administered by a providential deity. Nobody is uncared for and, in real happiness, we are all substantially equal. No action is without its appropriate reward – in this life or the next. The social desirability of individual self-seeking activity is ensured by the “invisible hand,” that is, the hand of a god who has moulded us so to behave, that the quantity of happiness in the world is always maximised.