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

Detection of initial angiogenesis from dorsal aorta into metanephroi and elucidation of its role in kidney development

AbstractReconstruction of blood vessels is considered the most difficult part for the complicated organs, therefore, blood vessel construction is regarded as a key point for kidney regeneration in vitro. Vasculogenesis and angiogenesis are the two mechanisms to form blood vessels in embryonic organs, and most studies resided in vaculogenesis. Angiogenesis resided mostly in adult diseases such as wound healing, growth of tumors, and psoriasis diseases. However, renal angiogenesis is simply attributed to the sprouting of pre-existing blood vessel from dorsal aorta into metanephroi, and its occurrence is considered to be at a late stage of metanephric development. Since no techniques are available for delicate detection, the initial angiogenesis from dorsal aorta into metanephroi as well as its role in kidney development still remained unclear. In this study, we developed a method to detect the initial angiogenesis of dorsal aorta into metanephroi, and firstly clarified that dorsal aorta angiogenesis occurred at an early stage of metanephric development. We also elucidated the role of dorsal aorta angiogenesis in promoting the early blood vessel formation, tubule formation and glomeruli maturation. It is suggested that blood flow and dynamic circulation of various factors at the early developing stage may be prerequisite to a successful construction of blood vessels in the complicated organs either in vitro or in vivo. These findings contribute to a better understanding of dorsal aorta angiogenesis during kidney development and shed light on its significant value for the application of tissue engineering to complicated organs

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

Infection with hepatitis B virus carrying novel pre-S/S gene mutations in female siblings vaccinated at birth: two case reports

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>After the initiation of a mass hepatitis B vaccination program in Taiwan, the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection has declined progressively. However, about 1 percent of the young generation, who received hepatitis B vaccination at birth, remain carriers. Infection with vaccine-escape hepatitis B virus mutants always occurs shortly after birth. Here, we report two female siblings in whom the infection occurred in their adolescence. This report raises the question of whether a booster for hepatitis B vaccination is needed.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Two 19 and 14-year-old Taiwanese female siblings were born to a mother infected with hepatitis B virus and received a complete course of hepatitis B vaccination at birth. They remained negative for serum hepatitis B surface antigen and positive for serum anti-hepatitis B surface antibody throughout their childhood. However, both were infected with the hepatitis B virus in their adolescence. Hepatitis B virus DNA was extracted from serum samples from the mother and two siblings. Hepatitis B virus pre-S/S sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction followed by nucleotide sequencing. When compared with the sequence obtained from the mother, multiple amino acid substitutions located near or in the major hydrophilic region of the surface antigen were identified in the elder sister. Four of these mutations (sL97S, sL98S, sG102R, and sA159P) were novel. A novel in-frame deletion (14 amino acids deleted, pre-S 127-140) was found in the hepatitis B virus pre-S2 region in the younger sister.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Despite having received hepatitis B vaccination at birth, hepatitis B virus infection can still occur in adolescence with the emergence of novel mutations in the pre-S/S gene. This is a rare event and, to the best of our knowledge, has not been previously reported.</p

Quantifying the linkages and leakages of construction activities in an open economy using multiregional input–output analysis

This study proposes an analytical framework to evaluate the economic influence and leakage of the construction sector in a small and open economy, using Hong Kong as a case study. Input–output analysis (IOA) is used to capture the domestic intersectoral linkages, and multiregional IOA is used to measure the leakages resulting from international trade. In the absence of Hong Kong official input–output tables (IOTs), five IOTs during 1995–2013 and three multiregional IOTs from 2004, 2007, and 2011 are compiled using the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) database in conjunction with official statistics. Comparisons with other economies are included to disclose the relative economic influences of Hong Kong’s construction sector. The results reveal the declining economic importance of Hong Kong’s construction sector in stimulating economic growth, along with increased leakage to the manufacturing sectors abroad. The domestic backward linkage dropped from 1.74 in 1995 to 1.55 in 2013 per unit of final demand. In 2011, 40.55% of the economic contribution leaked out through international trade. The outcomes provide a rational basis with which to inform the decision making of the Hong Kong government in infrastructure planning, resource utilization, and benefit optimization. An import substitution policy is recommended to ease foreign dependence through local production of construction products