Edinburgh Napier University

About: Edinburgh Napier University is a education organization based out in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 2665 authors who have published 6859 publications receiving 175272 citations.

Models of Osteoarthritis: Relevance and New Insights.

Abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive and disabling musculoskeletal disease affecting millions of people and resulting in major healthcare costs worldwide. It is the most common form of arthritis, characterised by degradation of the articular cartilage, formation of osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis, synovial inflammation and ultimate loss of joint function. Understanding the pathogenesis of OA and its multifactorial aetiology will lead to the development of effective treatments, which are currently lacking. Two-dimensional (2D) in vitro tissue models of OA allow affordable, high-throughput analysis and stringent control over specific variables. However, they are linear in fashion and are not representative of physiological conditions. Recent in vitro studies have adopted three-dimensional (3D) tissue models of OA, which retain the advantages of 2D models and are able to mimic physiological conditions, thereby allowing investigation of additional variables including interactions between the cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix. Numerous spontaneous and induced animal models are used to reproduce the onset and monitor the progression of OA based on the aetiology under investigation. This therefore allows elucidation of the pathogenesis of OA and will ultimately enable the development of novel and specific therapeutic interventions. This review summarises the current understanding of in vitro and in vivo OA models in the context of disease pathophysiology, classification and relevance, thus providing new insights and directions for OA research.

GAVEL - a new tool for genetic algorithm visualization

Abstract: This paper surveys the state of the art in evolutionary algorithm visualization and describes a new tool called GAVEL. It provides a means to examine in a genetic algorithm (GA) how crossover and mutation operations assembled the final result, where each of the alleles came from, and a way to trace the history of user-selected sets of alleles. A visualization tool of this kind can be very useful in choosing operators and parameters and in analyzing how and, indeed, whether or not a GA works. We describe the new tool and illustrate some of the benefits that can be gained from using it with reference to three different problems: a timetabling problem, a job-shop scheduling problem, and Goldberg and Horn's long-path problem. We also compare the tool to other available visualization tools, pointing out those features which are novel and identifying complementary features in other tools.

Internal customer: by design or by default

Abstract: The core concept of “customer” in marketing began as a buyer of business goods and services. It was extended into non‐business areas such as education, health, politics and religion. Now it stands poised to enter organisational life. At issue here is our understanding of what it means to be a “customer”. Aims to question the legitimacy of applying the concept “customer” to employees. In exploring this makes a contrast between the “traditional” customer as we have come to know it and “life” as an employee. Suggests a test of legitimacy in which a number of factors characteristic of the “traditional” customer are discussed with a view to determining whether they can accommodate the employee as a potential internal customer. Concludes that the concept is inappropriate for employees given what is known of organisational life and the employees’ place within it. There is considerable conceptual elasticity in the way the concept “customer” is being used that will cast serious doubt over the prospect for the achievement of internal marketing aims.

Extending the Technology Acceptance Model to Understand Students’ Use of Learning Management Systems in Saudi Higher Education

Abstract: Although learning management systems (LMS) have been widely adopted by higher educational institutions in many countries, they are considered an emerging technology in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, research has demonstrated that the students’ use of them is not always satisfactory. This quantitative study investigated the factors that affect the students use of LMS in higher education by extending the technology acceptance model (TAM) and adapting eight external variables. Based on the probability multi-stage cluster sampling technique, online surveys were sent by email to 2000 students registered in three public universities in Saudi Arabia. 851 responses were submitted by participants, and 833 responses were used for data analysis. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equations Modeling (PLS-SEM), the results revealed that perceived ease of use is affected by six factors (content quality, system navigation, ease of access, system interactivity, instructional assessment and system learnability). The findings confirmed that perceived usefulness has five determinants (content quality, learning support, system interactivity, instructional assessment and perceived ease of use). This research is relevant to researchers, decision makers and e-learning systems designers working to enhance students’ use of e-learning systems in higher education, in particular where there is not yet widespread adoption.

Resistance Exercise Increases Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Angiogenic Factors.

Abstract: ROSS, M. D., A. L. WEKESA, J. P. PHELAN, and M. HARRISON. Resistance Exercise Increases Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Angiogenic Factors. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 16–23, 2014. Introduction: Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are involved in vascular growth and repair. They increase in the circulation after a single bout of aerobic exercise, potentially related to muscle ischemia. Muscular endurance resistance exercise (MERE) bouts also have the potential to induce muscle ischemia if appropriately structured. Purpose: The objective of this study is to determine the influence of a single bout of MERE on circulating EPC and related angiogenic factors. Methods: Thirteen trained men age 22.4 T 0.5 yr (mean T SEM) performed a bout of MERE consisting of three sets of six exercises at participants’ 15-repetition maximum without resting between repetitions or exercises. The MERE bout duration was 12.1 T 0.6 min. Blood lactate and HR were 11.9 T 0.9 mmolIL j1 and 142 T 5 bpm, respectively, at the end of MERE. Blood was sampled preexercise and at 10 min, 2 h, and 24 h postexercise. Results: Circulating EPC and serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D), granulocyte colony stimulating factor, soluble Tie-2, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, and MMP-9) were higher (P G 0.05) in the postexercise period. Circulating EPC levels were unchanged at 10 min postexercise but higher at 2 h postexercise (P G 0.05). The concentration of most angiogenic factors and metalloproteinases were higher at 10 min postexercise (VEGF-A, +38%; VEGF-C, +40%; VEGF-D, +9%; soluble Tie-2, +15%; soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, +24%; MMP-1, +62%; MMP-2, +3%; MMP-3, +54%; and MMP-9, +45%; all P G 0.05). Soluble E-selectin was lower (P G 0.05) at 2 and 24 h postexercise, with endothelial microparticles and thrombomodulin unchanged. Conclusions: Short intense bouts of MERE can trigger increases in circulating EPC and related angiogenic factors, potentially contributing to vascular adaptation and vasculoprotection. Key Words: VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR, MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE, MUSCULAR ENDURANCE, MUSCLE ISCHEMIA