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Article
Publication date: 21 June 2022

Amir Pakravan, Marjan Ghazirad and Farshad Shaddel

People with learning disabilities can be affected by complex health needs and their life expectancy is significantly reduced. Physical activity has a role in enhancing quality of…

Abstract

Purpose

People with learning disabilities can be affected by complex health needs and their life expectancy is significantly reduced. Physical activity has a role in enhancing quality of life and better management of multiple health issues in this population especially if they are individually tailored to the service users’ abilities and care needs. Considering the complexities of communication, there is a need for a specific physical activity assessment tool in people with learning disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

A multidisciplinary team of experts devised the Learning Disability Physical Activity Questionnaire (LDPAQ) as a tool to measure physical activity. The tool was tested within community and inpatient settings.

Findings

An easy-read, picture-based, self-reported and concise questionnaire with options relevant to people with learning disabilities was developed. Feedback from the audit confirmed ease of use and high levels of respondent satisfaction. A small-scale audit of the tool also confirmed the need for promoting physical activity within this population.

Originality/value

The LDPAQ is a novel questionnaire that aims to be a universally applicable tool for the assessment of physical activity status in people with learning disabilities. It is designed to be used by people with learning disabilities themselves, professionals and organisations. Further research is needed to explore the full potential of this tool.

Details

Tizard Learning Disability Review, vol. 27 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-5474

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 January 2024

Robert Muwanga, Johnson Ssekakubo, Grace Nalweyiso, Slyvia Aarakit and Samuel Kusasira

This study aims to examine the effect of the different forms of attitudes on the behavioural intentions to adopt solar energy technologies (SETs) in Uganda. Although commonly…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of the different forms of attitudes on the behavioural intentions to adopt solar energy technologies (SETs) in Uganda. Although commonly examined, the effect of attitudes on people’s behavioural intentions to adopt SETs ought to be more distinctively examined to have a clear picture of how each of the identified sets of attitudes influences the adoption of SETs.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample of 360 households from three urban districts in Uganda sampled using a multi-stage sampling technique, data were collected using a self-administrated structured questionnaire. The data were then analysed using partial least square–structural equation model with SmartPLS 3.0 software.

Findings

The study establishes that more specific attitudes affect behavioural intentions to adopt SETs than general pro-technology attitudes. Results reveal that both pro-environment and application-specific attitudes matter for behaviour intentions to adopt SETs amongst households. However, the general pro-technology attitudes are not significantly associated with behavioural intentions to adopt SETs.

Practical implications

The results are important for producers and promoters of solar technology to craft appropriate promotion campaigns intended to increase the acceptance and usage of SETs. This means focussing on creating positive attitudes specific to particular applications and popularising specific uses of solar technologies.

Originality/value

The study provides an alternative approach to the general representation of the attitudes–intentions relationships by examining the differences in the attitudes developed towards the different aspects of these technologies as a substantial source of variations in adoption behaviour, which is rarely addressed.

Details

Technological Sustainability, vol. 3 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2754-1312

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 May 2023

Pradeep Kumar Mishra and Jagadesh T.

The tensile behavior of additively manufactured nylon-based carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRP) is an important criterion in aerospace and automobile structural design. So…

Abstract

Purpose

The tensile behavior of additively manufactured nylon-based carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRP) is an important criterion in aerospace and automobile structural design. So, this study aims to evaluate and validate the tensile stiffness of printed CFRP composites (low- and high-volume fraction fiber) using the volume average stiffness (VAS) model in consonance with experimental results. In specific, the tensile characterization of printed laminate composites is studied under the influence of raster orientations and process-induced defects.

Design/methodology/approach

CFRP composite laminates of low- and high-volume fraction carbon fiber of different raster orientations (0°, ± 45° and 0/90°) were fabricated using the continuous fiber 3D printing technique, and tensile characteristics of laminates were done on a universal testing machine with the crosshead speed of 2 mm/min. The induced fracture surface of laminates due to tensile load was examined using the scanning electron microscopy technique.

Findings

The VAS model can predict the tensile stiffness of printed CFRP composites with different raster orientations at an average prediction error of 5.94% and 10.58% for low- and high-volume fiber fractions, respectively. The unidirectional CFRP laminate composite with a high-volume fraction (50%) of carbon fiber showed 50.79% more tensile stiffness and 63.12% more tensile strength than the low-volume fraction (26%) unidirectional composite. Fiber pullout, fiber fracture and ply delamination are the major failure appearances observed in fracture surfaces of laminates under tensile load using scanning electron microscopy.

Originality/value

This investigation demonstrates the novel methodology to study specific tensile characteristics of low- and high-volume fraction 3D printed CFRP composite.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 29 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 October 2018

Sana Ben Salah and Mohamed Bechir Ben Hamida

The purpose of this paper is to compare the thermal effect between square and circular geometry of light emitting diode (LED) with respect of the same surface for the intent of…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the thermal effect between square and circular geometry of light emitting diode (LED) with respect of the same surface for the intent of reducing the junction temperature.

Design/methodology/approach

The heat equation is presented in a dimensionless form. To solve it numerically subject to the boundary conditions, the authors realized a three-dimensional code with Comsol Multiphysics.

Findings

The model is validated with previously published works. The authors found a good agreement.

Originality/value

New design of heat sink is improved for circular LED and a reduction of 18 per cent of the junction temperature is permitted. The authors study the influence of various parameters: number and length of fins and number and width of splits. New distribution of multichip LED in circular geometry permits to put 42 chips instead of 36 chips with respect of the same surface and pitch and with reduction of the junction temperature by 16 per cent.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 29 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

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