A Case Study on the Effects of a Computer Game on a Homeschooled Student's Motivation and Performance in Algebra

Mathematics is crucial in our technologically oriented world, and it is important that all children become proficient in the subject, including in algebra. Homeschooled students are perhaps at a particular disadvantage in this regard. Without the rigor of daily mathematics instruction in a classroom with a trained educator, they may need additional reinforcement and tools to further develop algebraic understanding and competency. Computer games are popular and engaging, and have been used for educational purposes, though research has been inconclusive as to their effectiveness in learning mathematics. The purpose of this case study was to investigate and understand the ways the computer game Dimension M could improve the motivation and performance of a homeschooled high school student in beginning Algebra. This study was conducted using interviews, a pre-test, a log of the student's comments regarding game play, and a post-test. Although no measurable improvement in mathematics performance was demonstrated by the post-test, the student went on to pass the mathematics portion of the CAHSEE, a significant accomplishment. The student's motivation to learn algebra appeared to increase as a result of his experience with the game. Previous research as well as the results of this study suggest that incorporating computer games such as Dimension M into daily learning activities may be advantageous and warrants additional research

Sense of community online : self-regulated learning and avoiding the drama triangle

xi, 105 leaves ; 29 cmThis project addresses how developing online students’ self-regulated learning skills and applying the concept of the drama triangle (Karpman, 1968)—part of the game theory associated with transactional analysis (Berne, 1961)—can be used by post secondary instructors teaching online to build a sense of community (Rovai, 2002a) and decrease students’ dependence on instructors. The project begins with an extensive overview of sense of community, highlighting the significant role online instructors have in online community formation. A detailed discussion on how fostering online students’ selfregulatory learning behaviours can contribute to their sense of community and encourage their community building efforts is presented. Utilizing experiences as an online instructor, the drama triangle and its applicability to online instruction is analyzed. Experiences as an online instructor are utilized to illustrate how drama triangle interactions in the online environment can stall sense of community formation. In addition, this project provides online instructors with specific online community-building strategies that focus on developing self-regulated learning skills and strategies for avoiding drama triangle interaction

Behavioral Management of Auditory Hallucinations: Implementation and Evaluation of a 10-Week Course

A 10-session behavioral course for self-management of auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia has demonstrated positive outcomes. This article evaluates both the course’s implementation and benefits to patients attending the course. Teleconferencing, electronic media, and 26 monthly conference calls were used to educate six advanced practice nurses (APNs) at six sites about the course implementation. Thirty-two patients within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs participated in the course. All of the APNs reported course helpfulness, improved communication with patients about voices, and improved harm assessment. Of the patients, 96% found the course helpful: 67% no longer heard voices to harm self or others, and 60% had improved auditory hallucination intensity scores. The project demonstrated successful implementation and practice integration with APNs’ activities corresponding to Rogers’ stages of innovation adoption. Facilitators and barriers to implementation are also described

Massive Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding from the Appendix

Massive rectal bleeding from the appendix, considered a rare case of lower gastrointestinal bleeding, is not easily recognized by various diagnostic modalities. A multidisciplinary approach for both a diagnosis and a differential diagnosis is important because the identification of the bleeding site is crucial to proceed to a proper intervention and there are various causes of appendiceal bleeding. Because early colonoscopy plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage, we report a case of a life threatening massive rectal bleeding from the appendix diagnosed by colonoscopy. We also present a review of the literature

Target screening of chemicals of concern in recycled water

The results of a characterisation study of water samples collected from an Advanced Water Recycling Plant (AWRP) operating in Perth, Western Australia are presented. The AWRP treats secondary wastewater by ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis (RO) and ultraviolet radiation (UV) to produce recycled water for groundwater replenishment. Water samples collected after RO and UV treatment were characterised by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry, using an established protocol for target screening. The target screening of 291 compounds detected a total of 13 chemicals in post-RO and post-UV water, including 2 corrosion inhibitors (4+5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole, benzotriazole), 3 pesticides (metolachlor, propiconazol, prosulfocarb), 3 pharmaceuticals (lamotrigin, metformin, tramadol), 1 personal care product (galaxalidone), 3 artificial sweeteners (saccharin, acesulfame, sucralose) and 1 flame retardant (triethyl phosphate). The corrosion inhibitors benzotriazole and 4+5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole, and the pharmaceutical metformin were detected in hundreds of ng L−1, while the other compounds were present in low ng L−1 concentrations. Analysis of UV treated water samples showed that UV treatment also helped to reduced UV degradable compounds such as the corrosion inhibitors (>50% removal), triethyl phosphate (~50% removal) and the artificial sweetener acesulfame (~95% removal). Overall, the detection of 13 chemicals through target screening analyses did not account for the residual dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in post RO water, the majority of which is still an intriguing unknown. However, the target screening did show that there were no obvious “known” anthropogenic contaminants contributing to the majority of the DOC in post-RO and post-UV treated water. Calculated risk quotients (RQ) for all detected chemicals in UV treated water were 2 to 6 order of magnitude below 1, implying an high degree of safety associated with human consumption of recycled water. Overall the chemicals screening provided further evidence of the overall safety of the use of recycled wastewater treated by RO and UV as a potable water source

Clear cell carcinoid tumor of the distal common bile duct

BACKGROUND: Carcinoid tumors rarely arise in the extrahepatic bile duct and can be difficult to distinguish from carcinoma. There are no reports of clear cell carcinoid (CCC) tumors in the distal bile duct (DBD) to the best of our knowledge. Herein, we report a CCC tumor in the DBD and review the literature concerning extrahepatic bile duct carcinoid tumors. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-old man presented with fever and occult obstructive jaundice. Ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCP) demonstrated a nodular tumor projection in the DBD without regional lymph node swelling. Under suspicion of carcinoma, we resected the head of the pancreas along with 2(nd )portion duodenectomy and a lymph node dissection. The surgical specimen showed a golden yellow polypoid tumor in the DBD (0.8 × 0.6 × 0.5 cm in size). The lesion was composed of clear polygonal cells arranged in nests and a trabecular pattern. The tumor invaded through the wall into the fibromuscular layer. Immunohistochemical stains showed that neoplastic cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and pancreatic polypeptide and negative for inhibin, keratin, CD56, serotonin, gastrin and somatostatin. The postoperative course was uneventful and he is living well without relapse 12 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Given the preoperative difficulty in differentiating carcinoid from carcinoma, the pancreaticoduodenectomy is an appropriate treatment choice for carcinoid tumors located within the intra-pancreatic bile duct