NEX3001 : Laboratory Techniques in Nutrition and Exercise Sciences (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2023/24
- Module Leader(s): Dr Carl Hulston
- Lecturer: Dr Adrian Holliday, Mr Wouter Peeters
- Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
The aims of this module are to develop students' competency in laboratory research techniques for the study of nutrition and exercise sciences, and to prepare students to undertake independent laboratory-based research in this area.
Outline Of Syllabus
The syllabus will cover the following topics:
- Equipment calibration and use
- Principles of validity and reliability
- Health and safety and good laboratory techniques
- Preliminary screening and ethical considerations
- Pre-trial standardization in human physiological and metabolic research
- Dietary assessment, planning and intervention
- Considerations for experimental design
- Expired gas analysis and indirect calorimetry
- Endurance exercise testing: cycling and/or treadmill tests of aerobic capacity
- Capillary blood sampling, processing and storage
- Saliva and urine collection, storage and analysis
- Biochemical sample analysis, use of pipettes, spectrophotometry
- Data handing and interpretation
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | Preparation for written laboratory assessment |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | PIP - Introduction to the module and essential background theory |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 18:00 | 18:00 | Research and reading |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 6 | 4:00 | 24:00 | PIP - Combined theory and laboratory sessions |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | PIP - Seminar - Data analysis and interpretation |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 100:00 | 100:00 | Independent study |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Combined lecture and laboratory sessions provide the platform for providing key information ahead of data collection. Students will conduct mini nutrition-exercise research projects varying in experimental design. Data will be collected and interrogated in supporting seminars. Biological samples (e.g. capillary blood samples) will be collected, processed, and stored and then analysed in wet lab/biochemistry practical’s embedded in this module. The design of the module facilitates hand-on learning and develops practical skills in conducting research.
Formative practice will be integrated into practical sessions.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | 30 | Methods and results from in-class data collection (1500 words) |
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | 70 | Full write-up from in-class data collection (3000 words) |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
This module is designed to give the student an awareness of the considerations required when planning and conducting research in nutrition and exercise sciences, and to enhance their skills in data interpretation. The laboratory reports will assess student understanding of issues relating to study design and measurement choice as well as their ability to determine the validity and reliability of the data they have collected. The reports will also assess student ability to interrogate their data in the context of literature. Two reports have been set, with the first one being shorter and with lower overall weighting to allow the student to capitalize on feedback received.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NEX3001's Timetable