Uses and gratifications of wearable technology adoption

This study applies the Uses and Gratifications (U and G) approach and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to determine key influencers of wearable technology adoption. Wearable technology (i.e., "wearables") is defined as any personal device worn on either the body or on clothing, often with data collecting or motion sensing capabilities. The predicted success of wearables is under considerable scrutiny. It is, therefore, vital that innovators and product managers comprehend the prominent drivers of wearable technology use. This study utilized both in-depth interviews and an online survey with wearable technology users 18-34 in the United States (N=387). A principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation was performed, revealing nine gratifications of wearable technology use. Contextual age and gender were significant influencers on the gratifications fulfilled. The outcome of this study revealed that user motives do, indeed, influence one's perceptions of wearable technology, supporting the integration of U and G and TAM for describing the most important factors of technology adoption. These observations provide important implications for next-step strategies for scholarship and industry

Panning peptide libraries on filamentous phage

1996 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.This Ph.D. project involved using the filamentous phage as a tool to express peptide libraries on its external appendage called the pIII protein. The peptide libraries were designed based on a motif of the honeybee toxin Apamin. Apamin is expressed on the end of the pIII protein and a portion of the apamin section is randomized to produce all possible combinations of amino acids to give a peptide library. The library phage are then panned on a derivatized solid support to determine if any library members have an affinity to a target ligand. The target chosen is a portion of the peptidoglycan layer in bacterial cells called L-lysine-D-alanine-D-alanine. This is the site for binding of the antibiotic vancomycin. Library members that bind to this site should have vancomycin-like activity. This project entailed preparing the libraries, synthesizing the ligand, and derivatizing a variety of solid supports for panning. Many different panning experiments were performed on several libraries and the results are described herein

Youth and Public Transit: A Knowledge Synthesis of Recent Publications

Historically, youth (13-25) have been one of the most active user groups of public transit in Canada, accounting for one-third of ridership nation-wide, and up to two-thirds in cities such as Moose Jaw, SK and Red Deer, AB (Canadian Urban Transit Association, 2004). Despite their high usage of public transportation, youth as a specific category of riders have received an underwhelming amount of focus by academics and transit authorities. This report synthesizes the last ten years of evidence, policy, and pilot projects related to youth as a public transportation user group in order to provide an up-to-date summary of the state of knowledge in this area. Youth and public transportation research is identified and evaluated, including data sources and gaps. Media coverage of the issue is also considered, as many of the concerns of youth, public debates, and pilot programs related to youth and public transit are only referenced in this format. The final section of this work consists of an evidence-based agenda for future research and policy, with an eye toward enhancing the equity of access to transit systems for youth riders

Free and Reduced-Fare Transportation for Youth

This short report summarizes the literature related to free and reduced-fare transportation for youth, including motivations for such programs, Canadian initiatives, and assessments

Evidence Brief: Youth and Public Transit

This short report summarizes the literature related to youth and transit, with a focus on demand, barriers, youth advocacy, various types of passes (i.e., U-PASS, free or reduced-fares), and active transportation

LSE’s experts explain what awaits Britain and Europe ahead of Brexit

On Thursday 8 December, LSE hosted a day of EU- and UK-focused expert panel events and networking activities about Brexit. Below is the full programme, along with audio recordings of each session

Management strategies to minimize the dredging impacts of coastal development on fish and fisheries

Accelerating coastal development and shipping activities dictate that dredging operations will intensify, increasing potential impacts to fishes. Coastal fishes have high economic, ecological, and conservation significance and there is a need for evidencebased, quantitative guidelines on how to mitigate the impacts of dredging activities. We assess the potential risk from dredging to coastal fish and fisheries on a global scale.We then develop quantitative guidelines for two management strategies: threshold reference values and seasonal restrictions. Globally, threatened species and nearshore fisheries occur within close proximity to ports. We find that maintaining suspended sediment concentrations below 44 mg/L (15–121 bootstrapped CI) and for less than 24 hours would protect 95% of fishes from dredging-induced mortality. Implementation of seasonal restrictions during peak periods of reproduction and recruitment could further protect species from dredging impacts. This study details the first evidence-based defensible approach to minimize impacts to coastal fishes from dredging activities

Strong population structure deduced from genetics, otolith chemistry and parasite abundances explains vulnerability to localized fishery collapse in a large Sciaenid fish, Protonibea diacanthus

As pressure on coastal marine resources is increasing globally, the need to quantitatively assess vulnerable fish stocks is crucial in order to avoid the ecological consequences of stock depletions. Species of Sciaenidae (croakers, drums) are important components of tropical and temperate fisheries and are especially vulnerable to exploitation. The black-spotted croaker, Protonibea diacanthus, is the only large sciaenid in coastal waters of northern Australia where it is targeted by commercial, recreational and indigenous fishers due to its food value and predictable aggregating behaviour. Localised declines in the abundance of this species have been observed, highlighting the urgent requirement by managers for information on fine and broad-scale population connectivity. This study examined the population structure of P. diacanthus across northwestern Australia using three complementary methods: genetic variation in microsatellite markers, otolith elemental composition and parasite assemblage composition. The genetic analyses demonstrated that there were at least five genetically distinct populations across the study region, with gene flow most likely restricted by inshore biogeographic barriers such as the Dampier Peninsula. The otolith chemistry and parasite analyses also revealed strong spatial variation among locations within broad-scale regions, suggesting fine-scale location fidelity within the lifetimes of individual fish. The complementarity of the three techniques elucidated patterns of connectivity over a range of spatial and temporal scales. We conclude that fisheries stock assessments and management are required at fine scales (100's km) to account for the restricted exchange among populations (stocks) and to prevent localised extirpations of this species. Realistic management arrangements may involve the successive closure and opening of fishing areas to reduce fishing pressure