Exploring Survivor Experiences and Emotions Expressed about Loss and Responsibility Following a Thrombosis Event

We explored the experiences and emotions women expressed about having a blood clot, including revelations about family members' decision to avoid disclosing inherited risk for clotting. We do this through analysis of in-depth life reflection interviews (N = 20) of women who experienced a first venous blood clot between the ages of 18 and 50 years. Selective coding reduced the data to an overarching story associated with thrombosis survivorship and loss across multiple life domains. The themes identified include participant revelations about living in the shadow of genetic susceptibility for thrombosis. Participants manage changes associated with lingering health effects, and daily routines for work and life, adapting their lives to manage coagulability. A second theme reveals the fallout linked to the severity of thrombosis encompassed in haunting psychological scenarios, persistent emotional concerns, and social discrimination. Participants assumed responsibility to disclose inherited risk, with the women expressing empowerment in knowing risks and acknowledging possible genetic testing mistakes. The overarching perspective was one of hope through proactive actions in occupational, recreational, and relational realms. We offer our findings as a theoretical depiction of thrombosis survivor identity and the need for public health and clinical communication to support disclosing family history for clotting.     

Final year engineering projects in Australia and Europe

The paper starts by emphasising that final year engineering projects are regarded important in the training and education of professional engineers in Australia and Europe. The sources of projects available to students were also mentioned. Some Australian universities insist on individual projects but some not, each with their own reasons. However, it can be argued that all European universities run individual projects. In most cases, whether it is in Australia or Europe, the total load for final year engineering projects is about 6.25% of the load of engineering programmes. Assessment methods were also described. They were all different whether in Australia or Europe but not very significant. It was discovered that literature reviews, oral presentations and written reports or dissertations were important elements in the assessment schemes. Many university staff, in both continents, encouraged students to publish their work in international conferences and journals if the originality of the projects was high. It can be argued that the individual project is most effective in learning outcome; however, the cost involved is also very high and its sustainability in smaller universities in Australia is in doubt.     

DISTRIBUTIVE PARTITIONING OPERATION IN MATHEMATICAL SITUATIONS INVOLVING FRACTIONAL QUANTITIES

In the present study, we describe a participating student’s (Carol’s) distributive partitioning scheme and operations along with Steffe’s and his colleagues’ studies about children’s constructions of fraction knowledge as a particular model of mathematical learning. Analysis of Carol’s mathematical behaviors indicates that an operationally common mathematical behavior (distributive partitioning operation) was revealed in various mathematical problem situations such as fraction multiplication, fraction division, and multiplicative transformation between fractional quantities. It both provides a rationale for why becoming versed in one mathematical subject could facilitate working with another mathematical subject and also implies the necessity of describing and defining students’ mathematical behaviors from an operational view of knowledge, which might lead to building foundations of a substantial cognitive map for students’ mathematical development.

     

Correlation of axial impact forces with knee joint forces and kinematics during simulated ski-landing

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, during ski-landing, is caused by excessive knee joint forces and kinematics, like anterior tibial translation, internal tibial rotation, and valgus rotation. It is not well understood how these forces/kinematics are directly related to ski-landing impact. In the present study, we applied simulated ski-landing impact to knee specimens, and examined joint force/kinematic responses and their correlations with impact force. Ten human cadaveric knees were subjected to axial impact loading at 70° of flexion to simulate ski-landing impact. Impact was repeated with incremental magnitude until ACL failure. Axial impact forces, anterior-posterior and medial-lateral tibial forces were measured using a tri-axial load cell. Anterior-posterior tibial translation, internal-external tibial rotation, and valgus-varus rotation were determined using a motion-capture system. We found positive correlations of axial impact force with anterior tibial force, medial tibial force, anterior tibial translation, internal tibial rotation, and valgus joint rotation. Axial impact forces were more strongly correlated with anterior tibial forces (R(2) = 0.937 ± 0.050), anterior tibial translation (R(2) = 0.916 ± 0.059), and internal tibial rotation (R(2) = 0.831 ± 0.141) than medial tibial force (R(2) = 0.677 ± 0.193) and valgus joint rotation (R(2) = 0.630+0.271). During ski-landing, these joint forces/kinematics can synergistically act to increase ACL injury risk, whereby the failure mechanism would be dominated by anterior tibial forces, anterior tibial translation, and internal tibial rotation.     

Teacher knowledge about oral English instruction and teacher profiles: an EFL perspective

Teacher knowledge, as an important cognitive basis of teaching, has attracted tremendous attention in educational research in the last few decades. This study examines whether teachers’ self-perceived knowledge about oral English teaching differs with regard to their professional profiles in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context in China. A sample of 527 teachers from 56 universities in 29 cities across the country responded to a self-report questionnaire. Thirty teachers were interviewed. Teachers’ self-perceived knowledge was assessed by two factors: pedagogical content knowledge about oral English teaching (PCK) and knowledge of students’ oral English characteristics (KOS). The reliability and validity of the instrument are tested and presented. Results showed that EFL teachers generally reported having insufficient PCK and KOS. ANOVA and t-tests revealed no significant knowledge difference among teachers with different teaching experiences, training and overseas exposure. However, teachers’ learning experiences, self-perceived speaking ability and familiarity with teaching methodologies were found to influence teacher knowledge in a significant way. The findings highlight the need for the development of teacher knowledge about oral English teaching in the EFL contexts. Suggestions for further research are provided.     

An electroactive microwell array for trapping and lysing single-bacterial cells

Interest in single-cell analysis has increased because it allows to understand cell metabolism and characterize disease states, cellular adaptation to environmental changes, cell cycles, etc. Here, the authors propose a device to electrically trap and lyse single-bacterial cells in an array format for high-throughput single-cell analysis. The applied electric field is highly deformed and concentrated toward the inside of the microwell structures patterned on the planar electrode. This configuration effectively generates dielectrophoretic force to attract a single cell per well. The microwell has a comparable size to the target bacterial cell making it possible to trap single cells by physically excluding additional cells. Inducing highly concentrated electric potential on the cell membrane can also effectively lyse the trapped single-bacterial cells. The feasibility of the authors' approach was demonstrated by trapping and lysing Escherichia coli cells at the single-cell level. The present microwell array can be used as a basic tool for individual bacterial cell analysis.     

An empirical investigation of campus portal usage

This study has determined the determinants of the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness and their influence on campus portal usage. A quantitative approach was employed, using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire, adapted from previous studies. Data were gathered through a survey conducted with 341 staff working in the University of Malaya and were analysed using the partial least squares technique. The results indicate that the ease of finding and ease of understanding have a positive impact on the perceived ease of use of the campus portal. Furthermore, this study also reported a significant positive effect of service quality, information, and process on perceived usefulness of the campus portal. Our study suggests that the perceived ease of use and usefulness are vital towards enhancing the usage frequency and volume of the campus portal. This study broadens the knowledge concerning factors that increase campus portal usage which will enable academic institutions to refine the campus portal thus enhancing the portal usage.     

Computational What? Relating Computational Thinking to Teaching

Computational thinking is one of the skills critical for successfully solving problems posed in a technology driven and complex society. The limited opportunities in school settings to help students develop computational thinking skills underscores the need for helping teachers integrate it in their practices. Besides developing the knowledge of technology, content, and pedagogy, teachers need to recognize the relevance of computational thinking to their teaching, a factor influencing their future practice with it. Drawing from the literature on problem-solving and TPACK framework, this paper discusses strategies, including content-specific examples, problem-solving nature of computational thinking, and the methods of teaching problem-solving for enabling teachers to make the connections between computational thinking and their practices.     

Addressing cognitive processes in e-learning： TSOI Hybrid Learning Model

The development of e-learning materials for teaching and learning often needs to be guided by appropriate educational theories or models. As such, this paper provides alternative e-learning design pedagogy, the TSOI Hybrid Learning Model as a pedagogic model for the design of e-learning cognitively in science and chemistry education. This model is hybridized from the Piagetian science learning cycle model and the Kolb＇s experiential learning cycle. The TSOI Hybrid Learning Model represents learning as a cyclical cognitive process of four phases： translating, sculpting, operationalizing and integrating. A major feature is to promote cognitive processing in the learner for active learning proceeding from inductive to deductive. Design specificity in science and chemistry education is illustrated in terms of instructional storyboarding for the developed research-based e-learning product. Learners＇ cognitive ability for example positive concept achievement will be addressed as part of the research data collected.     

Assessing students＇ reflective responses to chemistry-related learning tasks

Key to renewed concern on the affective domain of education （Fensham, 2007） and on school graduates＇ readiness for a world of work （DEST, 2008; WDA, 2006） is the student＇s inclination-to-reflect when engaged in a learning or problem-solving task. Reflective learning is not new to education （Dewey, 1933; Ellis, 2001）. Since the inclination-to-reflect may not be obvious even among adults at work （Seibert ＆ Daudelin, 1999）, how much more can we expect from school students？ This article presents part of a research on secondary school students＇ inclination-to-reflect when engaged in chemistry learning tasks. The instrument used is the three-part Chemistry Learning and Thinking Instrument （CLTI）. The first part seeks to characterize students＇ inclination-to-reflect while attempting chemistry learning tasks and the other parts aim to characterize their learning-thinking preferences in the subject. This article shares the construction of the learning tasks in the first part and how students＇ reflective responses to these tasks are encouraged, scored and analyzed. Since assessment is said to drive teaching and learning, an alternative form of assessment, such as these CLTI items, may help students become more reflective in their learning habits and hence mare adantable tn the world of work.