Are ambient intelligent applications more universally accessible?

The emergent HCI literature shows universal accessibility and ambient intelligence as growth hot spots. If so, it is important to ask if the latter can contribute to the former. One approach, taken here, is to evaluate the accessibility of ambient intelligent systems. To answer this question a sample of 200 papers were generated from the ACM Digital Library and six papers were selected for in-depth evaluation. Surprisingly, the data showed that, whilst they were rated well for accessibility, they were significantly less so for system smartness or user satisfaction. Usability was also rated more highly than user satisfaction and smartness

Investigating heuristic evaluation as a methodology for evaluating pedagogical software: An analysis employing three case studies

This paper looks specifically at how to develop light weight methods of evaluating pedagogically motivated software. Whilst we value traditional usability testing methods this paper will look at how Heuristic Evaluation can be used as both a driving force of Software Engineering Iterative Refinement and end of project Evaluation. We present three case studies in the area of Pedagogical Software and show how we have used this technique in a variety of ways. The paper presents results and reflections on what we have learned. We conclude with a discussion on how this technique might inform on the latest developments on delivery of distance learning. © 2014 Springer International Publishing

Genetic interaction between Lef1 and Alx4 is required for early embryonic development

Lymphoid Enhancer Factor-1 (Lef1) facilitates the assembly of transcriptional regulatory complexes and mediates nuclear responses to Wnt signals. We determined previously that the mesenchymally restricted, paired-like homeodomain protein Aristaless-like 4 (Alx4) interacts with Lef1 and together alters promoter activity of candidate genes. In order to define their overlapping functions, mice deficient for both Lef1 and Alx4 activity (Lef1^-/-/Alx4^lstD/lstD) were produced. Whereas embryos lacking either Lef1 or Alx4 activity remain viable up to or after birth, early embryonic lethality results when both factors were absent. No viable Lef1^-/-/Alx4^lstD/lstD embryos were recovered beyond 9.5 dpc. Between E8.5 and E10, viable Lef1^-/-/Alx4^lstD/lstD embryos were developmentally delayed 0.5 days relative to littermates of all other genotypes. Principle among the alterations seen in Lef1^-/-/Alx4^lstD/lstD animals was defective vasculature in both embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues. In the yolk sac, while the vascular network is present, it were greatly diminished and large vitelline vessels were largely absent. Platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM) staining revealed that the major vessels in the head of compound mutant embryos were absent, while the other vessels were finer than those seen in normal littermates. Pools of blood and pericardial effusion were also apparent in Lef1^-/-/Alx4^lstD/lstD animals, further indicative of a defective vasculature. These data confirm genetically the interaction between Lef1 and Alx4 and further reveal unknown, overlapping roles for these transcription factors in embryonic vasculogenesis

The recent secular trend in grip strength among older adults: findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Purpose: Weaker grip strength in older adults is associated with adverse health outcomes and is a key component of sarcopenia. The secular trend of grip strength is, therefore, relevant in the setting of ageing populations. A recent study suggested differences in this trend among countries in mainland Europe. We used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) to investigate the recent secular trend of older English adults. Methods: We used data on participants aged 50–89 having their first measurement of grip strength in waves 2 (2002/2003), 4 (2008/2009) or 6 (2012/2013) of ELSA. Grip was measured using a Smedley dynamometer. We expressed grip values as Z-scores (number of standard deviations above the age and gender mean from normative data) for use in linear regression analyses examining the annual secular trend after adjustment for potential confounders. Results: We included a total of 11,476 participants from the three waves of ELSA. Grip strength declined across the three waves, with mean (SD) Z-scores of 0.01 (0.94), − 0.06 (0.97) and − 0.20 (0.98) in waves 2, 4 and 6, respectively. The annual Z-score decline after adjustments was 0.03 SDs (95% CI 0.02, 0.03) per year. Conclusion: We saw evidence of a recent slight decline in the grip strength of older English adults. Over the 9-year period of this study, the decline seen is equivalent to 65-year-olds’ mean strength declining to that previously seen in individuals at age 69. Further monitoring of secular trends in grip strength and investigation of possible causes are warranted

Pretreatment with Lovastatin Prevents N-Methyl-D-Aspartate-Induced Neurodegeneration in the Magnocellular Nucleus Basalis and Behavioral Dysfunction

Besides a beneficial cardiovascular effect, it was recently suggested that statins can also exert neuroprotective actions. In a previous study, we provided in vitro evidence that lovastatin treatment abates excitotoxic cell death in primary cortical neurons. Here, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of lovastatin in an in vivo mouse model. We found that administration of lovastatin (20 mg/kg) significantly protects cholinergic neurons and their cortical projections against N-methyl-D-aspartate (60 nmol)-induced cell death in the magnocellular nucleus basalis, a neuronal cell group that is characteristically affected in Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, lovastatin-mediated neuroprotection was shown to be dependent on protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt signaling since treatment with the PKB/Akt inhibitor LY294002 blocked the lovastatin-induced neuroprotective effect. The loss of cholinergic neurons after the lesion in the magnocellular nucleus basalis resulted in memory impairment as tested in a passive avoidance paradigm. This was reverted by pre-lesion lovastatin treatment. From these studies we conclude that treatment with lovastatin may provide protection against neuronal injury in excitotoxic conditions associated with neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and cognitive decline in the very old: the Newcastle 85+ Study.

This is the final version of the article. Available from Wiley via the DOI in this record.BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Studies investigating the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and cognition in the very old (85+) are lacking. METHODS: Cross-sectional (baseline) and prospective data (up to 3 years follow-up) from 775 participants in the Newcastle 85+ Study were analysed for global (measured by the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination) and attention-specific (measured by the attention battery of the Cognitive Drug Research test) cognitive performance in relation to season-specific 25(OH)D quartiles. RESULTS: Those in the lowest and highest season-specific 25(OH)D quartiles had an increased risk of impaired prevalent (1.66, 95% confidence interval 1.06-2.60, P = 0.03; 1.62, 95% confidence interval 1.02-2.59, P = 0.04, respectively) but not incident global cognitive functioning or decline in functioning compared with those in the middle quartiles adjusted for sociodemographic, health and lifestyle confounders. Random effects models showed that participants belonging to the lowest and highest 25(OH)D quartiles, compared with those in the middle quartiles, had overall slower (log-transformed) attention reaction times for Choice Reaction Time (lowest, β = 0.023, P = 0.01; highest, β = 0.021, P = 0.02), Digit Vigilance Task (lowest, β = 0.009, P = 0.05; highest, β = 0.01, P = 0.02) and Power of Attention (lowest, β = 0.017, P = 0.02; highest, β = 0.022, P = 0.002) and greater Reaction Time Variability (lowest, β = 0.021, P = 0.02; highest, β = 0.02, P = 0.03). The increased risk of worse global cognition and attention amongst those in the highest quartile was not observed in non-users of vitamin D supplements/medication. CONCLUSION: Low and high season-specific 25(OH)D quartiles were associated with prevalent cognitive impairment and poorer overall performance in attention-specific tasks over 3 years in the very old, but not with global cognitive decline or incident impairment.This work was supported by the National Institute for Health Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre based at Newcastle Hospitals Foundation Trust and Newcastle University (AG). The Newcastle 85+ Study has been funded by the Medical Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Dunhill Medical Trust. Additional work has also been funded by the British Heart Foundation, Unilever Corporate Research, Newcastle University and National Health Service (NHS) North of Tyne (Newcastle Primary Care Trust). The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Health Service, UK. We acknowledge the operational support of NHS North of Tyne, the local general practitioners and their staff, the research nurses, laboratory technicians, data management and clerical team, as well as many colleagues for their expert advice. Thanks are due especially to the study participants