Is it Real? An Exploratory Case Study of Empathy in a Virtual Game

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to determine what characteristics in a virtual game could motivate participants to feel empathy. Participants were invited to play an allegorical educational game that was staged with fictional fantasy characters in a simulated underwater endangered environment. The study design utilized was an exploratory case study to examine the participant responses to components of the game that had the potential for promoting empathy. The participants were educators attending a virtual conference in Second Life. Data collected included a questionnaire of avatar competency and experience, an Interpersonal Reactivity Inventory survey, and open-ended narratives. Results indicated that four conditions needed to be present in participants and the environment for empathy to occur: 1) if player participants had high competence and high experience in the virtual environment, 2) if they identified strongly with their avatar, 3) if the environment was designed with high realism, and, 4) if the topics in the game were relatable

Human Rights, Think Aloud Protocols and Magic Drums: Revealing Character in Pre-Service Teachers

This paper describes a qualitative study that examined how preservice teachers engaged in a Second Life activity intended to help them reflect on how knowledge of human rights may affect their professional practice. This process utilized a problem-solving strategy to determine their goal-oriented character traits. Therefore, the research question explored was, how do preservice teachers create a character that respects human rights? Through a symbolic introspective journey, participants engaged in think aloud protocols to reveal goal-oriented behavior guided by a strong moral compass. Data analysis utilized a means-end process, and results were recorded along two dimensions: stability and change and named insights. The first indicated a general inclination toward a persistent character with goals defined, while the second revealed insights into personal character traits that potentially aid or hinder achieving a goal, and as a result, possibly transfer to real world action

The Journey into Ba: A Phenomenology of Computer-Mediated Communications

This study describes the phenomenon of ba within a computer-mediated communications environment, a lived experience shared by the participants through the join.me application. Data were gathered from online meetings with study participants while they were engaged in the process of developing professional development courses specific to their various areas of expertise. Study results indicated that the essence of experience could be reduced to four themes: equalized power structures, affirmed mutual expertise, learner guided mediation, and negotiated concerns

Assessing Excited State Energy Gaps with Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory on Ru(II) Complexes

A set of density functionals coming from different rungs on Jacob's ladder are employed to evaluate the electronic excited states of three Ru(II) complexes. While most studies on the performance of density functionals compare the vertical excitation energies, in this work we focus on the energy gaps between the electronic excited states, of the same and different multiplicity. Excited state energy gaps are important for example to determine radiationless transition probabilities. Besides energies, a functional should deliver the correct state character and state ordering. Therefore, wavefunction overlaps are introduced to systematically evaluate the effect of different functionals on the character of the excited states. As a reference, the energies and state characters from multi-state second-order perturbation theory complete active space (MS-CASPT2) are used. In comparison to MS-CASPT2, it is found that while hybrid functionals provide better vertical excitation energies, pure functionals typically give more accurate excited state energy gaps. Pure functionals are also found to reproduce the state character and ordering in closer agreement to MS-CASPT2 than the hybrid functionals

Designing a UDL and UX Heuristic to Evaluate the Design of Online On-Demand Modules

The purpose of this heuristic methodology study was to develop a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) heuristic evaluation. The heuristic utilizes online learning design evaluation frameworks, as well as user experience (UX) heuristic evaluation processes to create an instrument that best evaluates online on-demand modules. This study follows the design of the heuristic, with data collected from literature and online instruments. The results found that developing a UDL heuristic evaluation focused on the first two levels of the UDL framework, which included access and build. These two provided criteria that are specific to design choices that do not require an instructor facilitator. Its components are those that use accessible technologies, varied materials and choices, clean and routine navigation, multiple ways to demonstrate content, and feedback mechanisms

Transformation or Resistance? A Case Study of Pre-Service Teachers Engaged in Technology Integration

This case study examined the context of one social studies methods course and its use of technology in instruction. The purpose was to determine to what extent pre-service teacher views and practice transformed to embrace technology use in their own teaching. The lens of Transformative Learning Theory (Mezirow, 2012) was used to analyze and describe the results of this embedded single case study. Results suggest that some transformation of beliefs occurred among participants, but that more sustained exposure and experience is needed for practice to change

current clinical practice and available resources

Objective To assess European pediatric rheumatology providers’ current clinical practices and resources used in the transition from child-centered to adult-oriented care. Methods European pediatric rheumatologists were invited to complete a 17-item anonymized e-survey assessing current transition practices, transition policy awareness, and needs in advance of the publication of EULAR/PReS recommendations on transition. Results The response rate was 121/276 (44%), including responses from 115 centers in 22 European Union countries. Although 32/121 (26%) responded that their centers did not offer transition services, the majority (99%) agreed that a formalized process in transitioning patients to adult care is necessary. A minority (<30%) of respondents stated that they have a written transition policy although 46% have an informal transition process. Designated staff to support transitional care were available in a minority of centers: nurse (35%), physiotherapist (15%), psychologist (15%), social worker (8%), and occupational therapist (2%). The existence of a designated team member to coordinate transition was acknowledged in many centers (64% of respondents) although just 36% use a checklist for young people as part of individualized transitional care. Conclusion This survey of European pediatric rheumatology providers regarding transitional care practices demonstrates agreement that transitional care is important, and wide variation in current provision of transition services exists

REVISIÓN DE LAS PROPIEDADES PSICOMÉTRICAS DEL INVENTARIO DE ROLES SEXUALES DE BEM

El propósito del presente estudio fue reevaluar la consistencia interna y la estructura factorial del In - ventario de Roles Sexuales de Bem. Participaron 766 estudiantes universitarios (375 hombres y 391 mujeres), de entre 18 y 34 años de edad, divididos en dos muestras independientes. En la primera muestra se analizó la consistencia interna y probada, mediante un análisis factorial confirmatorio, de la estructura de dos escalas propuesta por Bem; sin embargo, el modelo obtenido mostró un ajuste pobre. Por tanto, se optó por examinar la estructura factorial de la versión original del instrumento, de modo que los ítems que lo conforman se sometieron a un análisis factorial exploratorio. La mejor estructura resultó en las mismas dos escalas, aunque con ciertos cambios respecto a los ítems conte - nidos en ellas. La versión final de las escalas mostró tener una consistencia interna satisfactoria. En general, los resultados de este estudio indican que, a casi cuatro décadas de su creación, el instrumen - to revisado tiene propiedades psicométricas adecuadas si se reconforman parcialmente sus escalas.

On the pharmacogenetics of non-small cell lung cancer treatment

Abstract: Introduction. Despite many clinical efforts, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a dismal 5-year survival rate of 16%, and high incidence of recurrence. The success of biologically targeted agents, as well as the activity of well-established chemotherapeutic regimens, has been limited by inherited/acquired resistance, and biomarkers to adapt the prescription of anticancer drugs to patients' features are urgently warranted. Areas covered. In oncology, pharmacogenetics should provide the way to select patients who may benefit from a specific therapy that best match the individual and tumor genetic profile, thus allowing maximum activity and minimal toxicity. The present review summarizes the main findings on NSCLC pharmacogenetics, critically reappraising the most important studies on polymorphisms correlated with outcome of pemetrexed and EGFR-inhibitors, and provides perspective on clinical application of genomic tests for treatment decision-making. Expert Opinion. A major challenge in NSCLC is the identification of subgroups of diseases/patients that will truly benefit from specific treatments. Ideally, convenient and minimally invasive tests to decipher biomarkers of chemosensitivity/resistance and toxicity should be developed alongside novel anticancer treatments. Integration with the latest generation of whole-genome analyses and liquid biopsies as well as prospective validation in large cohorts of patients will overcome the limitations of the traditional pharmacogenetic approaches

Language and Literacy Practices of Bilingual Education Preservice Teachers at a Hispanic-Serving College of Education

This chapter focuses on an exploratory study of the language and literacy practices of undergraduate students within our Hispanic-Serving College of Education (HSCOE). HSCOEs must first understand and approach the language and literacy practices of bilingual education preservice teachers from an asset-based perspective. Language and literacy practices shape people’s identities and how they exist in the world. Language and literacy development also have an essential role in adult success since reading allows people to access, analyze, synthesize, and use knowledge to understand the world and learn new things. Much of the literature related to language and literacy practices at the postsecondary level focuses on academic literacy, especially the particular language of higher education and academia. The intersection of language and academic preparedness and performance for bilingual Latinx students is particularly noteworthy. The bilingual education preservice teachers used multiple linguistic codes and engaged in translanguaging in various aspects of their lives