AI Chatbots as Multi-Role Pedagogical Agents: Transforming Engagement in CS Education

This study investigates the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered, multi-role chatbots as a means to enhance learning experiences and foster engagement in computer science education. Leveraging a design-based research approach, we develop, implement, and evaluate a novel learning environment enriched with four distinct chatbot roles: Instructor Bot, Peer Bot, Career Advising Bot, and Emotional Supporter Bot. These roles, designed around the tenets of Self-Determination Theory, cater to the three innate psychological needs of learners - competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Additionally, the system embraces an inquiry-based learning paradigm, encouraging students to ask questions, seek solutions, and explore their curiosities. We test this system in a higher education context over a period of one month with 200 participating students, comparing outcomes with conditions involving a human tutor and a single chatbot. Our research utilizes a mixed-methods approach, encompassing quantitative measures such as chat log sequence analysis, and qualitative methods including surveys and focus group interviews. By integrating cutting-edge Natural Language Processing techniques such as topic modelling and sentiment analysis, we offer an in-depth understanding of the system's impact on learner engagement, motivation, and inquiry-based learning. This study, through its rigorous design and innovative approach, provides significant insights into the potential of AI-empowered, multi-role chatbots in reshaping the landscape of computer science education and fostering an engaging, supportive, and motivating learning environment

Stability of the timing of food intake at daily and monthly timescales in young adults

Cross-sectional observations have shown that the timing of eating may be important for health-related outcomes. Here we examined the stability of eating timing, using both clock hour and relative circadian time, across one semester (n = 14) at daily and monthly time-scales. At three time points ~ 1 month apart, circadian phase was determined during an overnight in-laboratory visit and eating was photographically recorded for one week to assess timing and composition. Day-to-day stability was measured using the Composite Phase Deviation (deviation from a perfectly regular pattern) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to determine individual stability across months (weekly average compared across months). Day-to-day clock timing of caloric events had poor stability within individuals (~ 3-h variation; ICC = 0.12–0.34). The timing of eating was stable across months (~ 1-h variation, ICCs ranging from 0.54–0.63), but less stable across months when measured relative to circadian timing (ICC = 0.33–0.41). Our findings suggest that though day-to-day variability in the timing of eating has poor stability, the timing of eating measured for a week is stable across months within individuals. This indicates two relevant timescales: a monthly timescale with more stability in eating timing than a daily timescale. Thus, a single day’s food documentation may not represent habitual (longer timescale) patterns

‘Post-Olympic Blues’ –The Diminution of Celebrity in Olympic Athletes

Objectives: To explore the concept of the ‘post-Olympic blues’ through examining the antecedents of the negative affect experienced following Olympic participation and to articulate whether the post-Olympic blues is a ‘normal’ short-term phenomenon or whether it is more serious and enduring.Design and method: Four female British athletes who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games were interviewed and asked to draw timelines about their Olympic experiences on one or two occasions. The interviews and timelines were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.Results: The athletes’ experiences of the Olympic and post-Olympic period were characterized by highs around the Olympic Games and lows following their return to the United Kingdom. There were distinct temporal periods that were pertinent in the consideration of the ‘post-Olympic blues’; The Olympic Experience, The Homecoming, and Moving Forwards. A fourth theme Celebrity involved integral and dynamic development over time. Celebrity comprised the development and the subsequent destruction of the athletes as celebrities.Conclusion: This study has articulated what post-Olympic blues means to those who have experienced it, identified the negative impact that the athletes’ celebritization had on their mental wellbeing, and suggested that the negative emotions and subsequent behaviors were interpreted to be a normal response to returning home following Olympic participation. It is hoped that this research will engage coaching teams to formulate what support should be offered for athletes prior to and after the Olympic Games to limit the wellbeing impact that that the post-Olympic blues has on athletes

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Challenges and Opportunities Related to Landing the Dream Chaser® Commercial Reusable Space Vehicle at a Public-Use Airport

Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC) Space Systems is developing the Dream Chaser® reusable space vehicle for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The Dream Chaser is a lifting body vehicle that lands on a runway similar to the Space Shuttle. Unlike the Shuttle, the Dream Chaser does not require any unique landing aids or specialized equipment as it uses all non-toxic propellants and industry standard subsystems. This allows for immediate access to crew and cargo at wheels-stop. Requiring only 8,000 ft/2,400 m of runway for landing, the Dream Chaser is compatible with numerous public runways. There are, however, unique and complex challenges associated with landing a commercial reusable spacecraft on a public-use runway. In order to identify and address these issues, SNC has selected the planned Spaceport at Ellington Airport in Houston for its initial landing study. SNC’s team includes the Houston Airport System, RS&H, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and several related organizations. Initial work has outlined the driving issues associated with integrating the Dream Chaser vehicle into existing public airways and airports, as well as the team’s plan forward; key examples are as follows: Dream Chaser Approach-and-Landing Considerations: - Shuttle-like re-entry profile - Runway requirements - Landing gear consideration - Post landing procedures and timeline Issues Requiring Forward Work: - Risk management, safety, policy overview - Trajectory shaping to manage and abate sonic booms - Air Traffic Control (ATC) integration for crewed and uncrewed vehicles - Ground operations at a public-use airport - National Airspace considerations for procedure and equipment requirement

Culture and gender differences in boredom proneness

The present study investigated cultural differences in boredom proneness scores. The participants consisted of undergraduate students from the United States (N = 449) and Germany (N = 767) who completed the 28- item Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS). The results indicated that students from the United States possessed significantly higher BPS scores than their German counterparts. Specifically, U.S. participants had greater scores on the BPS subscales of External Stimulation, Affective Responses, and Perception of Time. In addition, a main effect for gender was found with males possessing higher BPS total scores than females. Males had greater scores on the BPS subscales of External Stimulation, Time, and Constraint. The findings are discussed as to how they contribute to past research examining the role of culture and gender on boredom proneness levels. © NAJP

Frailty and Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

RationaleFrailty represents an increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. The frailty phenotype conceptual model (three or more patient attributes of wasting, exhaustion, low activity, slowness, and weakness) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in geriatric populations.ObjectivesOur objective was to describe the risks associated with frailty in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.MethodsData from the National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) were retrospectively analyzed. The frailty phenotype conceptual model was operationalized as three or more frailty parameters (a body mass index decrease of ≥5% over 12 months, self-reported exhaustion, low 6-minute walk distance, or physical activity or respiratory muscle strength in the lowest quartile). Frail participants were compared with participants with two or fewer frailty parameters. Participants were followed starting 12 months after NETT randomization (to minimize surgical effect) for 24 months. Univariate, multivariate, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed, adjusting for treatment arm, age, modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, sex, and baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). Multiple imputation was used for missing values.ResultsThe participants (N = 902) were predominantly white (94.5%) males (59.5%), with a median age of 67 years (interquartile range, 63-70 yr) and a median FEV1% predicted of 26 (interquartile range, 20-33). Six percent of the participants (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.5 to 7.6) were frail. The incidence rate of frailty was 6.4 per 100 person-years. Frail participants reported significantly worse disease-specific and overall quality of life by St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire total score (mean difference of 11.6; 95% CI, 7.6 to 15.6; P < 0.001), mental composite on Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-36 (mean difference -6.8; 95% CI, -10.0 to -3.6; P < 0.001), and physical composite scores on Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-36 (mean difference -16.7; 95% CI, -21.3 to -12.1; P = 0.001). Frail participants had an increased rate of hospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.5; P = 0.02) and an adjusted increase in hospital use of 8.0 days (95% CI, 4.4 to 11.6; P < 0.001) compared with nonfrail participants. Frail participants had a higher mortality rate (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.97 to 2.0; P = 0.07).ConclusionsAmong adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, our measure of frailty (modified from the Fried frailty phenotype) was associated with incident and longer-duration hospitalization, and with poor quality of life