Taking the First Step to Develop Scalable, Asynchronous Library Instruction

Scalable equals asynchronous. And asynchronous equals boring. Or does it? The First Year Writing program at JMU offers more than 60 sections of the foundational first‐year writing course each semester to more than one thousand students and is supported by one librarian. In an effort to reach more than the usual 20 one‐shot sessions each semester, a small team from the library planned and built an asynchronous, modular tutorial series. Now, information literacy instruction is provided using a tool called Guide on the Side (GotS) and uses short scenario videos and additional content followed by activities and assessment to improve student outcomes and engagement. In this foundational program, the new and engaging asynchronous materials are the first step of a library instruction model that aims to reach as many students as possible while still being sustained by one librarian

The effect of social media interventions on physical activity and dietary behaviours in young people and adults:a systematic review

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this systematic review were to update the evidence base on social media interventions for physical activity and diet since 2014, analyse the characteristics of interventions that resulted in changes to physical activity and diet-related behaviours, and assess differences in outcomes across different population groups. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was conducted across 5 databases (Medline, Embase, EBSCO Education, Wiley and Scopus) using key words related to social media, physical activity, diet, and age. The inclusion criteria were: participants age 13+ years in the general population; an intervention that used commercial social media platform(s); outcomes related to changes to diet/eating or physical activity behaviours; and quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies. Quality appraisal tools that aligned with the study designs were used. A mixed methods approach was used to analyse and synthesise all evidence. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were included: randomised control trials (n = 4), non-controlled trials (n = 3), mixed methods studies (n = 3), non-randomised controlled trials (n = 5) and cross-sectional studies (n = 3). The target population of most studies was young female adults (aged 18–35) attending college/university. The interventions reported on positive changes to physical activity and diet-related behaviours through increases in physical activity levels and modifications to food intake, body composition and/or body weight. The use of Facebook, Facebook groups and the accessibility of information and interaction were the main characteristics of social media interventions. Studies also reported on Instagram, Reddit, WeChat and Twitter and the use of photo sharing and editing, groups and sub-groups and gamification. CONCLUSIONS: Social media interventions can positively change physical activity and diet-related behaviours, via increases in physical activity levels, healthy modifications to food intake, and beneficial changes to body composition or body weight. New evidence is provided on the contemporary uses of social media (e.g. gamification, multi-model application, image sharing/editing, group chats) that can be used by policy makers, professionals, organisations and/or researchers to inform the design of future social media interventions. This study had some limitations that mainly relate to variation in study design, over-reliance of self-reported measures and sample characteristics, that prevented comparative analysis. Registration number: PROPSERO;CRD42020210806. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12966-021-01138-3

Notification for Victims of Assault (NoVA): A Guide for Communities with Untested Sexual Assault Kits

This document is a comprehensive guide about sexual assault kit (SAK) testing and the resulting need for victim notification regarding the forensic results or details on the progression of a case. This guide addresses the need for a coordinated community response to re-engage victims after testing unrequested or untested SAKs using trauma-informed, victim-centered protocols, and to build effective practices moving forward. The key to creating this lasting change is to build multidisciplinary engagement and collaboration. This resource is to be used in conjunction with state and federal statutes about confidentiality, as well as other resources, to seek the most expedient justice in sexual assault cases. We have distilled best practices and current science into a comprehensive guide and procedures called the NoVA Change Process. The NoVA Change Process is empirically based and describes the steps for victim notification to be undertaken through a coordinated community response.Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (IDVSA

Examining the emotional impact of sarcasm using a virtual environment

This study aimed to investigate the emotional impact of sarcasm. Previous research in this area has mainly required participants to answer questions based on written materials, and results have been mixed. With the aim of instead examining the emotional impact of sarcasm when used in a more conversational setting, the current study utilised animated video clips as stimuli. In each clip, one individual answered general knowledge questions while the other provided feedback that could be delivered either literally or sarcastically, and either complimented or criticised the question answerer’s performance. Participants rated the feedback based on (1) the anticipated emotional impact on the recipient, (2) how the speaker intended the recipient to feel, and (3) whether the speaker intended to be humorous. Results overall supported the Tinge Hypothesis (Dews & Winner, 1995), showing that sarcastic criticism was rated as less negative than literal criticism, and sarcastic compliments (also termed “ironic praise”) were rated as less positive than literal compliments, when judged from both the perspective of the recipient and of the speaker. The speaker was also perceived to be intending to be more humorous when sarcastic feedback was given

Beyond the Paleolithic prescription: incorporating diversity and flexibility in the study of human diet evolution

Evolutionary paradigms of human health and nutrition center on the evolutionary discordance or “mismatch” model whereby human bodies, reflecting adaptations established in the Paleolithic era, are ill-suited to modern industrialized diets resulting in rapidly increasing rates of chronic metabolic disease. Whereas this model remains useful, we argue that its utility in explaining the evolution of human dietary tendencies is limited. The assumption that human diets are mismatched to our evolved biology implies that they are instinctual or genetically determined and rooted in the Paleolithic. We review current research indicating that human eating habits are primarily learned through behavioral, social and physiological mechanisms starting in utero and extending throughout the life course. Those adaptations that appear to be strongly genetic likely reflect Neolithic, rather than Paleolithic, adaptations and are significantly influenced by human niche-constructing behavior. Incorporating a broader understanding of the evolved mechanisms by which humans learn and imprint eating habits and the reciprocal effects of those habits on physiology would provide useful tools for structuring more lasting nutrition interventions

The Role of Myosin II in GLUT4 Activity and Membrane Fusion during Insulin-Stimulated Glucose Uptake in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is a vital physiological process, which requires the translocation and fusion of insulin sensitive glucose transporter (GLUT4) vesicles from intracellular pools to the plasma membrane. Previous studies have implicated cortical actin reorganization in proper GLUT4-mediated glucose uptake. However, not much is known about how cortical actin is reorganized to allow GLUT4 vesicle fusion to the plasma membrane. A recent study found that myosin II is necessary in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and implicated myosin II as a possible mechanism for cortical actin reorganization. Our study further examined the role of myosin II in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. We found that myosin II associates with GLUT4 vesicles upon insulin stimulation. This study also found that myosin II is necessary for proper GLUT4 vesicle fusion and activation. The findings in this study are the first to demonstrate the dual role myosin II plays in GLUT4 vesicle fusion and activation during insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Our results provide further understanding into cellular and molecular mechanisms necessary for proper glucose uptake