Effectiveness of peers in delivering programs or motivating older people to increase their participation in physical activity: Systematic review and meta-analysis

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of peers to deliver programs or encourage older people to be physically active and improve physical outcomes. Peer reviewed articles published in English between January 1976 and June 2016, retrieved from six databases according to the predefined inclusion criteria were included. Where possible results were pooled and meta-analyses conducted. Eighteen articles were included in the review, a total of 3,492 intervention participants, average age 66.5 years and 67.1% were female. Overall, study quality was medium to high. Interventions mainly included resistance, flexibility and cardiovascular training, however there was one aquatic exercise group. Eight studies were delivered by peers and five utilised peer support, which included advice and being positive but was not directly linked to an exercise intervention. While 16 of the 18 studies reported improvement in levels of physical activity and/or noted physical benefits by peer involvement, the meta-analyses findings supported the control groups for the six minute walk test (favoured intervention) and the timed-up-and-go (favoured controls) tests. Meta-analyses data were limited due to studies using a variety of measurement tools and included predominantly small sample size studies. Findings from this review suggest exercise programs involving peers can promote and maintain adherence to exercise programs. However, results are inconclusive as to whether peers have a positive effect on improving physical function for older people

Simulating Early Word Learning in Situated Connectionist Agents

Recent advances in Deep Learning (DL) and ReinforcementLearning (RL) make it possible to train neural network agentswith raw, first-person visual perception to execute language-like instructions in 3D simulated worlds. Here, we inves-tigate the application of such deep RL agents as cognitivemodels, specifically as models of infant word learning. Wefirst develop a simple neural network-based language learningagent, trained via policy-gradient methods, which can inter-pret single-word instructions in a simulated 3D world. Tak-ing inspiration from experimental paradigms in developmentalpsychology, we run various controlled simulations with the ar-tificial agent, exploring the conditions in which established hu-man biases and learning effects emerge, and propose a novelmethod for visualising and interpreting semantic representa-tions in the agent. The results highlight the potential util-ity, and some limitations, of applying state-of-the-art learningagents and simulated environments to model human cognition

A Decade of Encounter Biblical Studies

Starting with a brief history of the development of the Encounter Bible curriculum and summary of the evaluative research methodology, this paper draws on teacher, student and administrator interview data in its account of teachers’ attempts to teach Encounter Bible. The writers refer to selected points of interest from their evaluation as they discuss teacher perceptions of the Encounter resource, assessment practice, the theory behind planning, the teaching and learning process, spirituality in schools and classrooms, and professional development. They also review student perceptions of teaching, and administrator involvement in supporting teachers. In surveying teacher achievements and challenges, the paper addresses a limited number of key issues that could ultimately be of critical reflective importance for Christian schools

Biosynthetic bifunctional enzyme complex with high-efficiency luciferin-recycling to enhance the bioluminescence imaging

Firefly luciferase is a prominent reporter on molecular imaging with the advantage of longer wavelength on light emission and the ATP linear correlation, which makes it useful in most of current bioluminescence imaging model. However, the utility of this biomaterial was limited by the signal intensity and stability which are respectively affected by enzyme activity and substrate consumption. This study demonstrated a series of novel synthetic bifunctional enzyme complex of Firefly luciferase (Fluc) and Luciferin-regenerating enzyme (LRE). A peptide linker library was constructed for the fusion strategy on biosynthesis. The findings of both experimental data and structural simulation demonstrated that the intervention of fused LRE remarkably improve the stability of in vitro bioluminescence signal through luciferin recycling; and revealed the competitive relationship of Fluc and LRE on luciferin binding: Fluc performed higher activity with one copy number of rigid linker (EAAAK) at the C terminal while LRE acted more efficiently with two copy numbers of flexible linker (GGGGS) at the N terminal. With the advantage of signal intensity and stability, this fused bifunctional enzyme complex may expand the application of firefly luciferase to in vitro bioluminescence imaging

Effect of channel size on sweet potato storage root enlargement in the Tuskegee University hydroponic nutrient film system

The potential of the sweet potato as a food source for future long term manned space missions is being evaluated for NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS) program. Sweet potatoes have been successfully grown in a specially designed Tuskegee University nutrient film technique (TU NFT) system. This hydroponic system yielded storage roots as high as 1790 g/plant fresh weight. In order to determine the effect of channel size on the yield of sweet potatoes, the width and depth of the growing channels were varied in two separate experiments. Widths were studied using the rectangular TU NFT channels with widths of 15 cm (6 in), 30 cm (12 in) and 45 cm (18 in). Channel depths of 5 cm (2 in), 10 cm (4 in), and 15 cm (6 in) were studied using a standard NASA fan shaped Biomass Production Chamber (BPC) channel. A comparison of preliminary results indicated that, except for storage root number, the growth and yield of sweet potatoes were not affected by channel width. Storage root yield was affected by channel depth although storage root number and foliage growth were not. Both experiments are being repeated

Effect of biweekly shoot tip harvests on the growth and yield of Georgia Jet sweet potato grown hydroponically

Sweet potato shoot tips have been shown to be a nutritious green vegetable. A study was conducted to determine the effect of biweekly shoot tip harvests on the growth and yield of Georgia Jet sweet potato grown in the greenhouse using the nutrient film technique (NFT). The nutrient solution consisted of a modified half Hoagland solution. Biweekly shoot tip harvests, beginning 42 days after planting, provided substantial amounts of vegetable greens and did not affect the fresh and dry foliage weights or the storage root number and fresh and dry storage root weights at final harvest. The rates of anion and cation uptake were not affected by tip harvests