Exploring Current Practice of Using Technology to Support Collaborative Argumentation in Science Classrooms

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how middle school science teachers enact the practice of using technology to support collaborative argumentation in their science classroom. This study employed qualitative case study and drew on data sources of interviews and observations. This study identified two themes. Six teachers regarded scientific argumentation as an important science practice, but five of them integrated this practice into their science class without formally introducing it. All teachers integrated different forms of technology to engage students in scientific argumentation. In this study, the findings suggested there is a need to provide professional development for teachers to learn about scientific argumentation. The findings can be used as a basis for the design and development of professional development training experiences for in-servic

The Effect of Varied Gender Groupings on Argumentation Skills among Middle School Students in Different Cultures

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore the effect of varied gender groupings on argumentation skills among middle school students in Taiwan and the United States in a project-based learning environment that incorporated a graph-oriented computer-assisted application (GOCAA). A total of 43 students comprised the treatment condition and were engaged in the collaborative argumentation process in same-gender groupings. Of these 43 students, 20 were located in the U.S. and 23 were located in Taiwan. A total of 40 students comprised the control condition and were engaged in the collaborative argumentation process in mixed-gender groupings. Of these 40 students, 19 were in the U.S. and 21 were in Taiwan. In each country, verbal collaborative argumentation was recorded and the students’ post essays were collected. Among females in Taiwan, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that statistically a significant gender-grouping effect was evident on the total argumentation skills outcome, while MANOVA indicated no significant gender-grouping effect on the combined set of skill outcomes. Among females in the U.S., MANOVA indicated statistically significant gender-grouping effect on the combined set of argumentation skills outcomes Specifically, U.S. female students in mixed-gender groupings (the control condition) significantly outperformed female students in single-gender groupings (the treatment condition) in the counterargument and rebuttal skills. No significant group differences were observed among males. A qualitative analysis was conducted to examine how the graph-oriented computer-assisted application supported students’ development of argumentation skills in different gender groupings in both countries. In each country, all teams in both conditions demonstrated a similar pattern of collaborative argumentation with the exception of three female teams in the U.S. Female teams, male teams, (the treatment condition) and mixed-gender teams (the control condition) demonstrated metacognition regulation skills in different degrees and with different scaffolding

El encuentro entre Oriente y Occidente a través de mi obra

Esta tesis es para reflexionar sobre mi trayectoria artística, analizando las distintas etapas creativas por las que ha evolucionado mi obra desde mis origenes en Taiwán hasta la actualidad. Desde las influencias iniciales en mi obra del pensamiento oriental, hasta los posteriores cambios que se han ido produciendo desde mi llegada a España.Hsu, S. (2007). El encuentro entre Oriente y Occidente a través de mi obra. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/12489Archivo delegad

Hedonic Values And Utilitarian Values As Predicators Of Social Media Participation

This research proposes a model to investigate the behavior of posting articles and the continued use of social media via Babin’s value perspective. The antecedents of values are web quality and users’ emotions. The model was tested with PLS-Graph software based on its structural equation modeling approach. Data was gained from 310 users. The results revealed that antecedents have a strong impact on user values, which in turn influences users’ intention to post articles and continue to use social media. Several implications for research and practice have been derived from these findings

A New Design for Low Impact Development in Urban Area- Infiltration Pipe and Gravel Pile

Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchive

Observation of the Ωc0\Omega_{c}^{0} Charmed Baryon at CLEO

The CLEO experiment at the CESR collider has used 13.7 fb$^{-1}$ of data to search for the production of the $\Omega_c^0$ (css-ground state) in $e^{+}e^{-}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} \simeq 10.6$ {\rm GeV}. The modes used to study the $\Omega_c^0$ are $\Omega^- \pi^+$, $\Omega^- \pi^+ \pi^0$, $\Xi^- K^- pi^+ \pi^+$, $\Xi^0 K^- pi^+$, and $\Omega^- \pi^+ \pi^- \pi^+$. We observe a signal of 40.4$\pm$9.0(stat) events at a mass of 2694.6$\pm$2.6(stat)$\pm$1.9(syst) {\rm MeV/$c^2$}, for all modes combined.Comment: 10 pages postscript, also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN

Evaluation of invasive and non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in symptomatic children and adolescents

CONTEXT: Multiple diagnostic methods are available for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection, but at present no single one can be used as the gold standard. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 3 invasive and 2 non-invasive methods for detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in symptomatic children and adolescents. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study SETTING: Peptic Disease outpatients service, Discipline of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) / Escola Paulista de Medicina. PATIENTS: Forty-seven patients who underwent endoscopy because of dyspeptic symptoms. DIAGNOSTIC METHODS: Endoscopy with gastric biopsies for 3 invasive (rapid urease test, histology and culture) and 2 non-invasive methods (a commercial ELISA serology and 13carbon urea breath test - isotope ratio mass spectrometry) for detection of Helicobacter pylori infection. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of each method and agreement and disagreement rates between the methods. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients [mean age, 11y9mo (SD 2y10mo), 27 female and 20 male]; 62% of them were Helicobacter pylori-positive. All methods agreed in 61%, and were negative in 21% and positive in 40%. The greatest concordance between 2 methods occurred between the invasive methods: histology and rapid urease test (89.6%) and histology and culture (87.5%). The greatest sensitivity, considering Helicobacter pylori-positive cases, for any combination of 3 or more tests, was achieved by the rapid urease test (S=100%), followed by histology, serology and 13carbon-urea breath test (S=93.1%) and lastly by culture (S=79.3%). The highest specificity was obtained by histology (100%) and culture (100%), followed by the rapid urease test (84.2%), serology (78.9%) and 13carbon-urea breath test (78.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that among invasive methods, an association between the rapid urease test and histology constituted the best choice for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection. If results of histology and the rapid urease test are different, serology may be recommended.CONTEXTO: Vários métodos diagnósticos estão disponíveis para a detecção da infecção por Helicobacter pylori (Hp), porém, até o presente momento, não há um teste que possa ser utilizado isoladamente como padrão-ouro. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a acurácia de três métodos invasivos e dois não-invasivos na detecção da infecção por Hp em crianças e adolescentes sintomáticos. TIPO DE ESTUDO: Estudo coorte prospectivo. LOCAL: Ambulatório de Doença Péptica, Disciplina de Gastroenterologia Pediátrica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) / Escola Paulista de Medicina. PACIENTES: 47 pacientes sintomáticos que realizaram exame endoscópico devido a sintomas dispépticos. MÉTODOS DIAGNÓSTICOS: Exame endoscópico com biopsias gástricas para três métodos invasivos (teste rápido da urease, histologia e cultura) e dois métodos não-invasivos (teste sorológico ELISA industrializado e teste respiratório com uréia marcada com Carbono13). VARIÁVEIS ESTUDADAS: Sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo e negativo de cada método e taxas de concordância e discordância entre os métodos. RESULTADOS: 47 pacientes [idade média de 11a9m (DP 2a10m), 27 do sexo feminino e 20 do masculino], 62% deles com infecção por Hp. Todos os 5 métodos concordaram em 61%, sendo negativo em 21% e positivo em 40%. As maiores concordâncias entre dois métodos ocorreram entre os métodos invasivos: histologia e teste rápido da urease (89,6%) e entre a histologia e cultura (87,5%). A maior sensibilidade, considerando como Hp positivo, qualquer combinação de 3 ou mais testes, foi encontrada no teste rápido da urease (S=100%), seguido pela histologia, sorologia e o teste respiratório com uréia marcada com Carbono13 (S=93,1%) e por fim a cultura (S=79,3%). A maior especificidade foi obtida pela histologia e cultura (100%), seguidos pelo teste rápido da urease (84,2%), sorologia (78,9%) e teste respiratório com uréia marcada com Carbono13 (78,9%). CONCLUSÕES: Nossos resultados sugerem que, entre os métodos invasivos, a associação do teste rápido da urease e histologia constituem a melhor escolha para a detecção da infecção por Hp. Se os resultados da histologia e do teste rápido da urease forem discordantes é recomendada a sorologia.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Pediatric DepartmentUNIFESP, EPM, Pediatric DepartmentSciEL

Exploring interdisciplinary aspects for conservation management: The case of land hermit crab wildlife trade in Taiwan

Most conservation policies and management primarily focus on vertebrate animals. However, considering the high demand for invertebrate species in the exotic pet markets, it is crucial to give them great consideration. This research explores Coenobita purpureus, a land hermit crab newly recorded in Taiwan in 2017. We noticed that it has gained popularity in the online pet market recently, despite limited studies confirming its population. To mitigate the potential risks associated with this species, our study investigated online wildlife trade markets, conducted field surveys for its distribution and scrutinised relevant regulations in Taiwan. The price of the species increased significantly following its scientific record, suggesting a growing demand in the exotic pet market, potentially driven by an advertisement effect. Additionally, both the sales platform and the individuals' coloration were found to influence market prices. Furthermore, we discovered that C. purpureus is more widely distributed in Taiwan than initially described in the literature, confirming its native status, though the population may be small. We also identified limitations in current Taiwanese regulations and policies regarding the risk of unsustainable trade in potentially threatened invertebrate species. Moreover, we found evidence of individuals being smuggled from China through e‐commerce channels. Regulatory measures addressing the smuggling of small amounts of wildlife are also insufficient, potentially posing invasion risks from alien species. Finally, we drew upon the conclusions from these aspects to provide integrated and practical management implications for policymakers. Additionally, we aim to offer this valuable case study to spotlight the state of the global invertebrate trade. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog

Discharging patients before 10:00 a.m.: A pilot study

The aim of this study is to increase the morning discharges in a university medical center in Taiwan. Total of 21,670 patients\u27 discharges were analyzed. The early discharge percentage increased from 15% to 19% over the 5-month intervention. The non-elderly group has more earlier hospital discharges than the elderly group