279 research outputs found
The significance of motivation in student-centred learning : a reflective case study
The theoretical underpinnings of student-centred learning suggest motivation to be an integral component. However, lack of clarification of what is involved in motivation in education often results in unchallenged assumptions that fail to recognise that what motivates some students may alienate others. This case study, using socio-cognitive motivational theory to analyse previously collected data, derives three fuzzy propositions which, collectively, suggest that motivation interacts with the whole cycle of episodes in the teachinglearning process. It argues that the development of the higherlevel cognitive competencies that are implied by the term, student-centred learning, must integrate motivational constructs such as goal orientation, volition, interest and attributions into pedagogical practices
Neutrophil extracellular traps in thrombi retrieved during interventional treatment of ischemic arterial diseases
IntroductionThe ultrastructure and cellular composition of thrombi has a profound effect on the outcome of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), coronary (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD). Activated neutrophils release a web-like structure composed mainly of DNA and citrullinated histones, called neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) that modify the stability and lysability of fibrin. Here, we investigated the NET-related structural features of thrombi retrieved from different arterial localizations and their interrelations with routinely available clinical data.Patients and methodsThrombi extracted from AIS (nâŻ=âŻ78), CAD (nâŻ=âŻ66) or PAD (nâŻ=âŻ64) patients were processed for scanning electron microscopy, (immune)stained for fibrin, citrullinated histone H3 (cH3) and extracellular DNA. Fibrin fiber diameter, cellular components, DNA and cH3 were measured and analyzed in relation to clinical parameters.ResultsDNA was least present in AIS thrombi showing a 2.5-fold lower DNA/fibrin ratio than PAD, whereas cH3 antigen was unvaryingly present at all locations. The NET content of thrombi correlated parabolically with systemic inflammatory markers and positively with patients' age. The median platelet content was lower in PAD (2.2%) than in either AIS (3.9%) or CAD (3.1%) and thrombi from smokers contained less platelets than non-smokers. Fibrin fibers were significantly thicker in male patients with CAD (median fiber diameter 76.3âŻnm) compared to AIS (64.1âŻnm) or PAD (62.1âŻnm) and their diameter correlated parabolically with systemic inflammatory markers.ConclusionsThe observed NET-related variations in thrombus structure shed light on novel determinants of thrombus stability that eventually affect both the spontaneous progress and therapeutic outcome of ischemic arterial diseases
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Disorientating, fun or meaningful? Disadvantaged families' experiences of a science museum visit
It is widely agreed that there is a need to increase and widen science partici- pation. Informal science learning environments (ISLEs), such as science museums, may provide valuable spaces within which to engage visitorsâyet the visitor profile of science museums remains narrow. This paper seeks to understand the experiences of socially disadvantaged families within such spaces. Using a Bourdieusian analytic lens, we analyse qualitative data from a small study conducted with ten parents and ten children from an urban school who visited a large science museum. Data includes pre- and post-interviews, audio recordings and visit fieldnotes. We characterised familiesâ experiences as falling into three discourses, as âdisorientatingâ, âfunâ or âmeaningfulâ visits. Analysis identifies how the familiesâ experiences, and the likelihood of deriving science learning from the visit, were shaped through interactions of habitus and capital. Implications for improving equity and inclusion within ISLEs are discussed
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Process account of curiosity and interest: a reward-learning perspective
Previous studies suggested roles for curiosity and interest in knowledge acquisition and
exploration, but there has been a long-standing debate about how to define these concepts
and whether they are related or different. In this paper, we address the definition issue by
arguing that there is inherent difficulty in defining curiosity and interest, because both curiosity
and interest are naĂŻve concepts, which are not supposed to have a priori scientific definitions.
We present a reward-learning framework of autonomous knowledge acquisition and use this
framework to illustrate the importance of process account as an alternative to advance our
understanding of curiosity and interest without being troubled by their definitions. The
framework centers on the role of rewarding experience associated with knowledge acquisition
and learning and posits that the acquisition of new knowledge strengthens the value of further
information. Critically, we argue that curiosity and interest are the concepts that they subjectively construe through this knowledge-acquisition process. Finally, we discuss the implications of the reward-learning framework for education and empirical research in educational
psychology
The soluble guanylate cyclase activator cinaciguat prevents cardiac dysfunction in a rat model of type-1 diabetes mellitus
BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) leads to the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy, which is associated with altered nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signalling. Cardioprotective effects of elevated intracellular cGMP-levels have been described in different heart diseases. In the current study we aimed at investigating the effects of pharmacological activation of sGC in diabetic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Type-1 DM was induced in rats by streptozotocin. Animals were treated either with the sGC activator cinaciguat (10 mg/kg/day) or with placebo orally for 8 weeks. Left ventricular (LV) pressure-volume (P-V) analysis was used to assess cardiac performance. Additionally, gene expression (qRT-PCR) and protein expression analysis (western blot) were performed. Cardiac structure, markers of fibrotic remodelling and DNA damage were examined by histology, immunohistochemistry and TUNEL assay, respectively. RESULTS: DM was associated with deteriorated cGMP signalling in the myocardium (elevated phosphodiesterase-5 expression, lower cGMP-level and impaired PKG activity). Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, fibrotic remodelling and DNA fragmentation were present in DM that was associated with impaired LV contractility (preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW): 49.5 +/- 3.3 vs. 83.0 +/- 5.5 mmHg, P < 0.05) and diastolic function (time constant of LV pressure decay (Tau): 17.3 +/- 0.8 vs. 10.3 +/- 0.3 ms, P < 0.05). Cinaciguat treatment effectively prevented DM related molecular, histological alterations and significantly improved systolic (PRSW: 66.8 +/- 3.6 mmHg) and diastolic (Tau: 14.9 +/- 0.6 ms) function. CONCLUSIONS: Cinaciguat prevented structural, molecular alterations and improved cardiac performance of the diabetic heart. Pharmacological activation of sGC might represent a new therapy approach for diabetic cardiomyopathy
Comparison of Two Smallâgroup Learning Methods in 12thâgrade Physics Classes Focusing on Intrinsic Motivation and Academic Performance
Analysis of the Decline in Interest Towards School Science and Technology from Grades 5 Through 11
The Role of Content and Context in PISA Interest Scales: A study of the embedded interest items in the PISA 2006 science assessment
Studentsâ Experiences of Autonomy, Competence, Social Relatedness and Interest Within a CSCL Environment in Vocational Education: The Case of Commerce and Business Administration
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