The powerful technical capabilities of smartphones offer unprecedented opportunities for collecting dietary information. We have developed an enhanced smartphone application called MyEnergyBalance, which permits imaged-based self-monitoring of all foods consumed, and links to a convenient and user-friendly web-based dietary assessment tool. The primary objective of this pilot study was to determine if the MyEnergyBalance app (with use of images) in combination of the associated website improves dietary recall compared to diet analysis on the MyEnergyBalance website alone. We also generated preliminary data on the usability of the MyEnergyBalance iPhone app and website. This pilot study was a crossover study design of healthy, college students. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Both groups consumed their normal diet for the first day with one group recording their food intake with image functions of the MyEnergyBalance app, while the other group did not use the app. On the second day, all participants logged into the MyEnergyBalance website to record their food intake from the previous day; one group using the images from the app to assist in recalling what they ate, while the other group recalled what they ate from memory. The diet analysis results were compared to those obtained using the ASA24 website. The groups were then crossed over to the opposite vs no-image assisted recalls. Ten participants (seven females and three males) aged 20 to 22 years completed this study. The average BMI of all participants was 23.12 kg/m2 (ranging from 18.95 to 32.28 kg/m2). There was no statistically significant differences in the estimates of the energy intake between the MyEnergyBalance app and website compared to ASA24. The SUS mean score for the MyEnergyBalance app and website was 86 and 69.5, respectively. A strong, negative correlation was found between the system usability scale scores and the absolute differences in energy intake of the MyEnergyBalance app and ASA24. Although we were not able to demonstrate a significant benefit of the images from the iPhone app at improving food recall (perhaps due to the small study sample size), we were able to demonstrate a high usability score for the iPhone app, average usability score for the website, and a significant correlation between subjects' usability scores and relative accuracy of the subjects' food recall using the images from the iPhone app. A future study with a larger sample size will hopefully provide more information on the efficacy of image-based food recalls.

Mounting evidence indicates an involvement of inflammation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. While there are other mechanisms involved, it is this role of inflammatory processes that we wish to investigate. Triptolide is the major constituent in the Chinese herb, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, and has been used for centuries as part of Chinese herbal medicine. The four ringed structure has close homology to drugs of the steroid class and it has been shown to be beneficial as an anti-inflammatory for rheumatoid arthritis and for treatment of certain cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential therapeutic effect of Triptolide on the neuropathology and deficits of spatial 6 learning and memory in amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin 1 (PS1) doubletransgenic mice, a well established Alzheimer’s disease (AD) mouse model. After treatment of APP/PS1 mice with Triptolide (40μg/kg, three times weekly,), initiated when the mice were 5 months old, for as little as 8 weeks, significant decrease in β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and microglia activation was observed. Moreover, Triptolide treatment robustly rescued spatial memory deficits observed in APP/PS1 mice. However, APP processing, tau hyperphosphorylation, and the activities of the two major kinases involved in tau hyperphosphorylation, cyclin dependent kinase 5 (cdk5) and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) were not affected by the Triptolide treatment. Based on the recent finding for the inhibitory effect of Triptolide on Aβ-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines from microglia, we propose that Triptolide treatment may have beneficial properties in halting glial activation and help restore an immune system that fights plaque deposition. Although the exact mechanism of action has yet to be deduced, the increase in APP CTFs while having a significant decrease in amyloid plaque deposition suggests that alterations in gamma secretase activity may be a possible answer. Currently, these results support the use of Triptolide as an effective therapeutic to prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

The goal of this elaborate work was to describe the most often medication misconducts, errors and risks during the intravenous drug administration and dilution in the field of primary care in the Intensive Care Unit - ICU. My interest was to find out about local ICU's standards and regulations and to survey how knowledgeable nursing stuff is towards medication hazard regulation and its affect. The first theoretical part concentrates on conception of IV drug administration and dilution. It charts and shows the situation at the current time. Empirical section of my elaborate work shows findings based upon questionnaire. It serves the purpose of hypothesis verification and confirms the goals of my study. Obtained information should be a foundation for future processing and utilization standards regulation or recommendation how to safely administrate intravenous drugs.

Studien utgår ifrån posthumanistiska teorier som ser på mänsklig och icke-mänsklig materia som agentiska aktörer. Studien undersöker vad som uppstår emellan yngre barn och appar i förskolan. Utifrån utvalda videosekvenser där ett- och tvååriga barn samhandlar med avancerade appar i en förskolepraktik analyseras sekvenserna utifrån posthumanistiska begrepp och ANT-analys. Resultatet belyser mycket täta, intensiva och komplexa möten där varje intra-aktion förändrar och transformerar de innefattande aktörerna i nätverk. Fokus ligger på kommunikativa relationer av transdisciplinära tillblivelseprocesser av barns och avancerade appars möten.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disrupting disorder affecting at least 10 percent of reproductive-aged women. In many cases, women develop comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disorders. In North America and Europe, it takes several years and multiple doctors for women to receive a diagnosis of PCOS. This results in lost time for risk-reducing interventions. Menstrual tracking applications are one potential tool to alert women of their risk for PCOS and prompt them to seek further evaluation from a medical professional. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to develop the Irregular Cycles Feature (ICF) on the mobile phone application Clue®, which generates a probability of a user’s risk for PCOS. The secondary aim was to assess the accuracy of the tool by testing the feature on virtual test subjects. METHODS: A literature review was conducted to generate a list of signs and symptoms of PCOS. Probabilities were assigned to each variable and built into a Bayesian Network. The Irregular Cycles Feature, an adaptive questionnaire, was then developed in order to detect high-risk PCOS patients. The ICF detected at risk Clue® users through self-reported menstrual cycles and answers to medical history questions. Upon completion of the questionnaire, a Result Screen is displayed to the user. The Screen is a summary of the individual’s probability of having PCOS. For each eligible user, a Doctor’s Report is also generated. This is a screen containing information regarding menstrual irregularities and a brief medical history to be used by a medical professional in order to make a final diagnosis. Both the Result Screen and Doctor’s Report disclose information about PCOS and detailed explanations for consulting a medical provider. A brief statistical validation was then performed to compare the output of the network to predictions made by a physician-scientist using a correlation coefficient, a p-value, and a Pearson’s coefficient. RESULTS: The Irregular Cycles Feature successfully predicts probability of PCOS based on eight test cases. The correlation between the network’s calculation and the assessment made by a board-certified reproductive endocrinology/infertility physician-scientist was 0.82, with a p-value of less than 0.05. The Pearson’s coefficient was calculated to be 0.69. These values indicate that the ICF made statistically significant predictions when compared to the physician-scientist. CONCLUSIONS: The ICF provides consumer-friendly ways to improve interactions between medical providers and patients. The tool can be adapted to capture other causes of menstrual irregularities and can serve as an important mechanism for drawing attention to potentially hazardous health problems. Further validation studies will be conducted to confirm the utility of the ICF with Clue® users, particularly amongst those who receive an official diagnosis from a medical professional. / 2020-06-17T00:00:00Z

The chapter house of the Benedictine priory of Saint John Le Bas-Nueil, currently located in the Worcester Art Museum, is an impressive piece of architecture. However, visitors are currently restricted to admiring the structure and its restoration only, as there is limited information presented in the museum about the room’s original use. The purpose of this project was to produce a low-impact, narrative-driven audio experience designed to increase visitor interest in the museum in general and Benedictine life during the twelfth century in particular. The prototype produced combines elements of traditional audio tours, radio drama, and question-and-answer interaction sequences to provide a self-driven immersive experience.

O presente estudo se propõe a investigar a utilização do aplicativo móvel Duolingo no processo de ensino e aprendizagem de alemão como língua estrangeira em contexto de ensino presencial universitário. A pesquisa objetiva mapear os hábitos de uso de Apps, a satisfação dos usuários após o uso orientado da ferramenta, bem como o desempenho e a persistência dos aprendizes na realização de tarefas ao longo de um semestre. Com esses dados criamos um panorama que busca esclarecer em que medida o App Duolingo é apropriado para uso nas fases iniciais do processo de aprendizagem de alemão no contexto investigado. Para tanto, utilizamos três instrumentos de coleta de dados. No primeiro momento, aplicamos uma sondagem prévia para identificar os hábitos e as crenças dos informantes em relação ao aprendizado por meio de Apps. Em seguida, realizamos uma intervenção didática em uma turma de aprendizes de alemão e, com o auxílio da Plataforma Duolingo para Escolas, montamos um grupo de controle, delegando tarefas para testar a ferramenta. Dessa forma, coletamos dados mediante os relatórios automáticos de atividade, os quais permitiram verificar o desempenho, a persistência e a autonomia dos aprendizes nas atividades realizadas por meio do App. Na última fase de coleta, utilizamos um roteiro de avaliação da usabilidade pedagógica, com o qual verificamos a satisfação e a motivação dos usuários na utilização do App. Por fim, concluímos que o App Duolingo é uma ferramenta que pode ser empregada para complementar o ensino presencial de alemão, auxiliando no processo de aquisição de vocabulário. A pesquisa contribui para esclarecer as questões que se colocam acerca da utilização dos aplicativos móveis no ensino de língua estrangeira, dado que apresenta instrumentos para o desenvolvimento de avaliações da usabilidade pedagógica dos Apps destinados à aprendizagem, aponta para a importância dos Apps como ferramentas de apoio ao processo de aprendizagem de alemão, coloca à mostra a adesão massiva dos aprendizes ao uso de Apps, além de assinalar algumas relações entre as crenças, a motivação e a autonomia e os recursos digitais dos Apps. / This study aims to investigate the use of mobile application Duolingo in the process of teaching and learning German as a foreign language (FL) in the context of classroom learning at university. At first, the use of a learning App was mapped, as well as learners satisfaction after guided use of the App, their performance and persistence while doing the App tasks along one semester. With such data, an overview was established in order to verify to what extent the Duolingo App is appropriate for German basic level learning. Therefore, the data were collected in three steps. Firstly, a probe was applied to identify users habits and beliefs in learning a FL with mobile Apps. After that, a didactic intervention was made in one German class, and by using Duolingo App for Schools a control group was established to test the App tools. Thus, data were collected through automatic activities reports, which allow for the analysis of learners performance, persistence and autonomy while using the App. Lastly, an evaluation script was applied in order to check the pedagogical usability, which evidenced learners satisfaction and motivation while using the App. It was concluded that Duolingo App is a possible tool to complement the activities in a German classroom, as it helps the vocabulary learning process. This research contributes to elucidating the questions about the usability of mobile Apps such as Duolingo in FL learning, for it presents tools for developing pedagogical usability evaluation. What is more, this research shows the importance of mobile Apps in the German learning process, evidences learners massive interest in using Apps, and points out some relationships between the Apps digital resources and learners beliefs, motivations, and autonomy.

The purpose of this study was to explore the integration of a branded retail application in physical stores. Doing so, this study was conducted with a qualitative and abductive approach in the form of a case study focusing on H&M. The empirical material was collected through think-aloud observations and semi-structured interviews with 22 participants in total. The theoretical framework consisted of 6 aspects related to smart customer experience, including convenience and time convenience, personalisation, interactivity, control, usefulness, and involvement. Furthermore, the concept of the purchase decision process was also included in the theoretical framework. Five themes regarding the usage of the branded retail application in physical stores was found, including prior store visit usage and in-store usage, in-store information, selective information, visualisation of items in-store, and in-store communication. From this, it was concluded that using the app in-store provide several benefits depending on how the app is used. This leads to the conclusion that the app influences in different phases of the purchase decision process.

Submitted by FERNANDA DA SILVA VON PORSTER (fdsvporster@univates.br) on 2018-01-04T16:44:40Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) 2017AndreaAlmeidaBarros.pdf: 11987881 bytes, checksum: e110514f152b5766685b2c19feba50f5 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Lisboa Monteiro (monteiro@univates.br) on 2018-01-05T19:31:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) 2017AndreaAlmeidaBarros.pdf: 11987881 bytes, checksum: e110514f152b5766685b2c19feba50f5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-05T19:31:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) 2017AndreaAlmeidaBarros.pdf: 11987881 bytes, checksum: e110514f152b5766685b2c19feba50f5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-01 / O meio ambiente ecologicamente equilibrado é direito fundamental de terceira geração, de titularidade difusa, de acordo com a Constituição Federal que, além de constitucionalizar o Direito Ambiental, criou direitos e deveres e apresentou, implícita ou explicitamente, diversos princípios que servem para nortear a interpretação da matéria. Por se tratar de patrimônio ambiental, deve ser protegido pelo Estado e pela coletividade, motivo por que cabe ao Ministério Público, em decorrência das suas prerrogativas constitucionais, implementar instrumentos capazes de efetivar essa proteção. A mata ciliar é Área de Preservação Permanente (APP), possui importantes funções na proteção dos rios e há décadas vêm sofrendo pressão antrópica, especialmente para o cultivo de subsistência, sendo imprescindíveis ações no sentido de sua recuperação. Dos 36 municípios que integram o Vale do Taquari, 13 deles se encontram às margens do Rio Taquari, que, somado ao Rio das Antas, forma a Bacia Hidrográfica Taquari-Antas, a maior do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. A vegetação ciliar, na região, foi classificada como Floresta Estacional Decidual, integrante do Bioma Mata Atlântica, pois é dela remanescente. Portanto, trata-se de patrimônio nacional e de Reserva da Biosfera conforme a UNESCO. Mas como equacionar a aplicação das medidas de mata ciliar previstas em lei como APP com a realidade rural do VT em face do antigo Código Florestal, vigente à época da implementação do Programa de Recuperação Sustentável da Mata Ciliar do Rio Taquari (PRSMCRT) conduzido pelo Ministério Público do Rio Grande do Sul? Com a intenção de responder a tal questionamento, apresentado como problema de pesquisa, esta dissertação, utilizando-se da abordagem qualitativa quanto ao método, baseando-se em pesquisa bibliográfica e análise de documentos, buscou registrar cientificamente a metodologia desenvolvida em pesquisas junto ao Universidade do Vale do Taquari UNIVATES para a recuperação da mata ciliar do Rio Taquari, aplicadas no referido Programa, que buscou conjugar a necessária proteção ambiental, ainda que em área menor à legalmente prevista, com o direito, também constitucional, à propriedade, agregando a esta função ecológica. Justifica-se a presente pesquisa na necessidade do registro daquela, bem como na importância deste para a região, em que a sustentabilidade e o desenvolvimento sustentável dão a tônica para a efetivação da recuperação da mata ciliar e, por consequência, do direito fundamental anteriormente citado. / The ecologically balanced environment is fundamental right of third generation of ownership, in accordance with the Federal Constitution which, besides to constitutionalize the environmental law, created rights and obligations and presented, implicitly or explicitly, several principles that serve to guide the interpretation of the matter. Because it is an environmental patrimony, it must be protected by the State and by the community, the reason why it is up to the Public Prosecutor's Office, in accordance with its practical norms, to implement instruments to effect this protection. The riparian forest is Permanent Preservation Area (PPA), plays a major role in the protection of the rivers and for decades have suffered human pressure, especially for the subsistence cultivation, being indispensable actions toward your recovery. From the 36 municipalities that make part of the Taquari Valley, 13 of them are on the banks of the Taquari River, which, added to the Antas River, form the Watershed Taquari-Antas, the biggest of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The riparian vegetation in the region was classified as Deciduous Forest, part of the Atlantic Forest biome, because it is outstanding. Therefore, it is of National Heritage and Biosphere according to UNESCO. But how come the application of measures of riparian vegetation provided by law as PPA with the reality of rural life in VT, in the face of the Old Forest Code, in force at the time of the implementation of the Program of Sustainable Recovery of Riparian Forest of the Taquari River (PRSMCRT) conducted by the Public Prosecutor of Rio Grande do Sul? With the intention of answering this questioning, presented as a research problem, this dissertation, using a qualitative approach to the method, based on bibliographical research and document analysis, sought to scientifically record the methodology developed in research with the Center UNIVATES University for the rehabilitation of the riparian forest of the Taquari River, applied in said Program, which sought to combine the necessary environmental protection, although in an area smaller than legally planned. The present research is justified on the need of the record that, as well as, the importance of this for the region in which the sustainability and sustainable development give the keynote for the realization of the recovery of riparian and, consequently, of the fundamental right mentioned above.

La maladie d’Alzheimer (MA) se caractérise par une perte mnésique progressive. La quantité de cholestérol est plus élevée dans les cerveaux de patients atteints de la MA. De plus, l’existence d’un site de liaison entre le cholestérol (SLC) et l’Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) a été démontrée par résonance magnétique nucléaire. Les mutations effectuées dans le SLC de l’APP abolissent totalement l’interaction entre les peptides et des liposomes chargés en cholestérol. Tous les mutants du SLC produisent beaucoup moins d’Aβ40 et Aβ42 sans modifier les produits de clivage de l’APP. Nous avons mis en évidence deux catégories de mutations : les mutations juxtamembranaires qui augmentent la sécrétion de fragments courts d’Aβ et les mutations transmembranaires, incluant la mutation familiale italienne, qui diminuent la sécrétion de peptides courts d’Aβ. Ces résultats suggèrent un décalage du clivage des mutants par la γ-sécrétase et/ou une modification de sa processivité conduisant à la formation de peptides de courtes tailles. Parallèlement, nous avons montré que des cultures primaires de neurones exprimant l’ApoE4 sécrètent en plus grande quantité les peptides amyloïdes Aβ38, 40 et 42 comparé à des neurones exprimant l’ApoE3. Les neurones ApoE4 expriment plus fortement les protéines tau et phospho-tau, mais plus faiblement l’ApoE « full lenght » par rapport aux neurones ApoE3. Le SLC et le génotype ApoE4 contribuent donc à l’augmentation de la sécrétion de peptides amyloïdes. Il serait intéressant de connaître les mécanismes cellulaires impliquant le SLC de l’APP, le cholestérol et son transporteur l’ApoE. / Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by progressive loss of memory. The amount of cholesterol is higher in the brains of patients with AD. In addition, the existence of a cholesterol binding site (CBS) on APP sequence was demonstrated by nuclear magnetic resonance. Mutations in the CBS of APP completely abolish the interaction between peptides and liposomes loaded with cholesterol. All CBS mutants produce much less Aβ40 and Aβ42 when expressed in HEK293T cells without altering the other APP cleavage products. We identified two mutations: juxtamembrane mutations that increase the secretion of short fragments of Aβ and transmembrane mutations, including the Italian family mutation, which decrease the secretion of short Aβ peptides. These results suggest a shift in the cleavage of mutants by γ-secretase and / or a modification of its processivity leading to the formation of short peptides. Thus, the CBS is a key actor in the secretion of amyloid peptides. At the same time, we have shown that primary cultures of ApoE4-expressing neurons secrete amyloid peptides Aβ38, 40 and 42 in greater quantities compared to neurons expressing ApoE3. ApoE4 neurons express more strongly the tau and phospho-tau proteins, but more weakly the ApoE "full lenght" protein compared to the ApoE3 neurons. The CBS and the ApoE4 genotype therefore contribute to the increase of the amyloid peptides secretion. It would be interesting to know the cellular mechanisms involving the CBS of APP, cholesterol and its carrier ApoE.