Relationship Between Evidence Requirements, User Expectations, and Actual Experiences : Usability Evaluation of the Twazon Arabic Weight Loss App

Acknowledgments: This research project was supported by a grant from the Research Center of the Female Scientific and Medical Colleges, Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Resourcefulness, Desperation, Shame, Gratitude and Powerlessness : Common Themes Emerging from A Study of Food Bank Use in Northeast Scotland

Acknowledgements This study received funding support from the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS), Theme 7 ‘Healthy Safe Diets’ Research Programmed. The authors would also like to thank and acknowledge the invaluable support and time given by Fiona Rae and Dave Simmers, the Community Food Initiative North East food bank volunteers and study participants. The authors would also like to thank Professor Elizabeth Dowler and Dr Lucia d’Ambruoso, and the anonymous peer reviewers for their helpful comments during the preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

An inbred line of the diploid strawberry Fragaria vesca f. semperflorens for genomic and molecular genetic studies in the Rosaceae

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The diploid woodland strawberry (<it>Fragaria vesca</it>) is an attractive system for functional genomics studies. Its small stature, fast regeneration time, efficient transformability and small genome size, together with substantial EST and genomic sequence resources make it an ideal reference plant for <it>Fragaria </it>and other herbaceous perennials. Most importantly, this species shares gene sequence similarity and genomic microcolinearity with other members of the Rosaceae family, including large-statured tree crops (such as apple, peach and cherry), and brambles and roses as well as with the cultivated octoploid strawberry, <it>F</it>. ×<it>ananassa</it>. <it>F. vesca </it>may be used to quickly address questions of gene function relevant to these valuable crop species. Although some <it>F. vesca </it>lines have been shown to be substantially homozygous, in our hands plants in purportedly homozygous populations exhibited a range of morphological and physiological variation, confounding phenotypic analyses. We also found the genotype of a named variety, thought to be well-characterized and even sold commercially, to be in question. An easy to grow, standardized, inbred diploid <it>Fragaria </it>line with documented genotype that is available to all members of the research community will facilitate comparison of results among laboratories and provide the research community with a necessary tool for functionally testing the large amount of sequence data that will soon be available for peach, apple, and strawberry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A highly inbred line, YW5AF7, of a diploid strawberry <it>Fragaria vesca </it>f. <it>semperflorens </it>line called "Yellow Wonder" (Y2) was developed and examined. Botanical descriptors were assessed for morphological characterization of this genotype. The plant line was found to be rapidly transformable using established techniques and media formulations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The development of the documented YW5AF7 line provides an important tool for Rosaceae functional genomic analyses. These day-neutral plants have a small genome, a seed to seed cycle of 3.0 - 3.5 months, and produce fruit in 7.5 cm pots in a growth chamber. YW5AF7 is runnerless and therefore easy to maintain in the greenhouse, forms abundant branch crowns for vegetative propagation, and produces highly aromatic yellow fruit throughout the year in the greenhouse. <it>F. vesca </it>can be transformed with <it>Agrobacterium tumefaciens</it>, making these plants suitable for insertional mutagenesis, RNAi and overexpression studies that can be compared against a stable baseline of phenotypic descriptors and can be readily genetically substantiated.</p

Perceived Benefits of Technology Enhanced Language Learning in Beginning Language Classes

This paper examines the perceptions of benefit of Technology EnhancedLanguage Learning (TELL) on students’ language learning, comfort &amp;enjoyment, and increased confidence using technology at a large SouthernCalifornia University during one university term. Through a surveyadministered to 345 beginning language students, 11 tutors and 12instructors, and through selective interviews and classroom observations,several questions were examined: 1.) Perceived confidence, benefits, andcomfort/enjoyment with TELL for instructors, tutors, and students at thebeginning and end of the semester; 2.) Students’ perceived impact ofTELL between pre and post survey measures on second language skills,learning culture, student motivation to learn a language, and preparingstudents for class tests and quizzes; 3.) Whether or not target languageorthography, exposure to TELL, student gender, and instructors’ ortutors’ previous confidence in using TELL, impacted perception of benefitby students; 4.) Positive and negative aspects of incorporating a TELLcomponent in the language classroom for instructors and tutors. Theresults showed that incorporating TELL in a new, but limited, way in allbeginning level classes at one university was a positive experience formany participants, especially in the areas of comfort/enjoyment, andincreased confidence in using technology. However, unless tasks wereclearly tied to learning objectives, students did not recognize theirinstructional value

The Twazon Arabic Weight Loss App : App-Based Intervention for Saudi Women With Obesity

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Assessing the relative validity of the Scottish Collaborative Group FFQ for measuring dietary intake in adults

Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank Jacqueline Burr and Lindsey Shaw for collecting the data for this study. Data coding and entry for the food diaries was completed by Dr Lindsey Masson. The authors would also like to acknowledge the Scottish Health Survey Team, the Scottish Government and the National Centre for Social Research for their support in conducting this research. Financial support: This work was supported by funding from the Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) programme of the Scottish Government (J.L.H., L.C.A.C., S.W. and G.Mc.N.). The RESAS programme had no role in the design, analysis or writing of this article. Conflict of interest: None. Authorship: J.L.H., L.C.A.C., S.W. and G.Mc.N. were responsible for the design of the study and formulated the research question. L.C.A.C. and S.W. carried out the study. J.L.H. completed the literature review, conducted the statistical analysis and drafted the initial paper. All authors were responsible for drafting and revising the manuscript and have approved the final version. Ethics of human subject participation: This study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki and all procedures involving human subjects were approved by the Rowett Human Studies Ethical Review Panel. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.Peer reviewedPostprintPostprintPostprintPostprintPostprintPostprintPostprintPostprin

Autonomous Satellite Recovery Vehicle

In collaboration with ERFSEDS, we would like to send a small satellite attached to a quad-copter as the payload for ERFSEDS rocket which will reach an altitude of 10,000 feet. The quad-copters objective will be to collect atmospheric data as it descends. Our plan is to 3-D print a new chassis for the quad-copters electronic components and arms that will allow the quad-copter to fold its arms inwards to meet the required space constraints. After launching the rocket, the satellite will be deployed at the target altitude and begin collecting data once jettisoned from the rocket. Once reaching 2,000 feet the quad-copter will be programmed to deploy a parachute. After reaching a safe velocity the arms will extend and autonomously navigate to a prearranged location. Flight planning will be done using the preexisting flight planning application. In addition to the critical components of the quad-copter, our design will integrate a number of other data collecting sub-systems currently being used in a weather balloon designed by the Society 4 S.P.A.C.E. team. These sensors will be able to collect pressure, temperature, humidity, wind, and video. This project will give us a better understanding of rocket propulsion systems and the effect of launch on the payload. It will also allow us to gain valuable research, data retrieval, team development and multi-club collaboration experience

Yeast Miro GTPase, Gem1p, regulates mitochondrial morphology via a novel pathway

Cell signaling events elicit changes in mitochondrial shape and activity. However, few mitochondrial proteins that interact with signaling pathways have been identified. Candidates include the conserved mitochondrial Rho (Miro) family of proteins, which contain two GTPase domains flanking a pair of calcium-binding EF-hand motifs. We show that Gem1p (yeast Miro; encoded by YAL048C) is a tail-anchored outer mitochondrial membrane protein. Cells lacking Gem1p contain collapsed, globular, or grape-like mitochondria. We demonstrate that Gem1p is not an essential component of characterized pathways that regulate mitochondrial dynamics. Genetic studies indicate both GTPase domains and EF-hand motifs, which are exposed to the cytoplasm, are required for Gem1p function. Although overexpression of a mutant human Miro protein caused increased apoptotic activity in cultured cells (Fransson et al., 2003. J. Biol. Chem. 278:6495–6502), Gem1p is not required for pheromone-induced yeast cell death. Thus, Gem1p defines a novel mitochondrial morphology pathway which may integrate cell signaling events with mitochondrial dynamics

Effect of increasing fruit and vegetable intake by dietary intervention on nutritional biomarkers and attitudes to dietary change : a randomised trial

This work was funded by The Scottish Government Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Sciences Division (RESAS) and supported by the Rank Prize Funds.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

'Weather cloudy & cool harvest begun’: St Andrews output usage beyond the repository

St Andrews might be small but, as a research intensive University with around 700 research active staff and over 8500 students, its research output is considerable. The St Andrews Research Repository has been accepting deposits since 2006 and since 2007 the University has required electronic thesis submission. Use has grown and the repository currently comprises electronic theses, research articles, conference proceedings, working papers, book chapters, research monographs and other items. The Library Open Access and Cataloguing teams have marked several deposit milestones in the Repository - 5000 (February 2015), 8000 (July 2016) and 9000 (February 2017) - so content has risen sharply. Deposits of research publications are driven from a connected CRIS, primarily due to funderimposed Open Access mandates, with continued direct deposit of new theses and an ongoing programme of thesis digitisation adding to the increase. Our mature infrastructure and supporting processes mean the University has excellent funder compliance rates – RCUK (93%), Hefce (92%). But it's not all about compliance. We are keen to understand and share how institutional research outputs can have wide reach and visibility, and how the repository can be used to promote user engagement and public outreach with other content. We use reports from the British Library EThOS service and IRUS-UK (Institutional Repository Usage Statistics UK) for signs and hints of how downloaded items might be used and suggest how usage statistics might be publicly presented. In this brief 10 x 10 presentation we're excited to show several items from the St Andrews Research Repository and what we discovered about their life in St Andrews and beyond