An exploration of project-based learning, gender, strategy and student interests for making Chinese learnable : a teacher action research project

As Chinese teaching is increasingly popular in Australia, there is a growing demand for Chinese language teachers. However, increasing numbers of students from diverse backgrounds in Australia with different learning needs and habits are learning Chinese and they need to be catered for with their distinctive learning needs. This thesis is designed as action research. In Chinese class at High School A in the Western Sydney Region, students have been observed having different learning strategies, interests, and motivations. The focus of this study is that they could benefit from Project-Based Learning (PBL). The study involved surveying 49 Y7 students at High School A; interviewing the Chinese teacher; and conducting a focus group in order to identify appropriate methods to make Chinese learnable for Y7 students. The study identified students’ different learning interests and strategies, while showing that gender-based differences were not significant to their different learning interests and strategies. The study also illustrated how PBL could be utilized as an effective activity involving students’ different learning interests and strategies. As the new 2017 Chinese Syllabus has been put forward and will be implemented officially at High School A in 2019, activities and tasks such as PBL will be encouraged to increase students’ engagement in Chinese learning

Transition zone: Influence of pause duration on temporal reproduction

In contrast to the concept of objective time being continuous as described in classical physics, in psychology and cognitive neuroscience it has been discussed and studied since a long time whether subjective time has to be understood as being continuous or discrete. It has been demonstrated on the basis of different experimental conditions and with different research paradigms that subjective time does not match directly objective time. Different mechanisms of temporal processing have been disclosed in studies on the question how subjective time relates to objective time. One such mechanism is reflected in a low-frequency “time window” of 2 to 3 seconds which has been confirmed in many studies; it can be understood as a pre-semantic and automatic integration mechanism. One experimental paradigm in such studies is the temporal reproduction task. Previous studies mostly focused on how standard durations influence cognitive processing; the influence of pause durations for reproduction of temporal intervals has been neglected. Some preliminary research suggests, however, that in fact pause durations between stimulus presentation and its reproduction may play an important role. In the research presented here, the influence of pause duration was systematically investigaed with a behavioral paradigm and an EEG study. Experiment 1 used pause durations from 1 to 16 seconds as independent variable and investigated how various pause durations may effect the reproduction of a 2 second standard interval. Results showed that when pause durations were below 4 seconds, the reproduced durations increased and then levelled off. To further explore whether this effect only applied to 2 second standard intervals, a 3 and 4.5 second was added as standard stimulus in the second experiment. It was observed that the reproductions for different standards showed the same pattern, i.e., a transition zone of reproductions up to 4 seconds was observed, before a “plateau” or subjective set point of constant reproductions was reached. Experiment 3 employed longer pause durations by excluding short pause durations, and in this case no transition zone was observed which confirmed the critical role of pause duration for cognitive processing, and substantiates the existence of a low frequency time window of 2 to 3 seconds. Different standard and reproduced auditory stimuli were applied in experiment 4 to test a potential dependence of reproduction on stimulus characteristics; no such effect was observed supporting the notion of a generalized temporal reproduction mechanism for a 2 to 3 second time window. Experiment 5 using measurements with EEG examined possible neural indicators for the pause duration effect. Precisely timed and intense low-beta activities in the EEG across the entire cortical mantle were observed in the reproduction phase only up to a 3 second pause duration. This observation suggests the neural entrainment of a very low frequency oscillation or temporal integration interval by the onset of the standard to be reproduced. Thus, the low-beta activity as a neural marker may indicate the representation of a temporal stimulus in working memory.Im Gegensatz zum Konzept einer objektiven Zeit, die als kontinuierlich in der klassischen Physik zu verstehen ist, wird in der Psychologie und den kognitiven Neurowissenschaften seit langem diskutiert und auch experimentell untersucht, ob die subjektive Zeit als kontinuierlich oder diskret verstanden werden muss. Auf der Grundlage verschiedener experimenteller Bedingungen mit unterschiedlichen Paradigmen konnte gezeigt werden, dass subjektive Zeit nicht direkt der objektiven Zeit entspricht. Verschiedene Mechanismen konnten in Untersuchungen über die Frage aufgedeckt werden, wie sich subjektive Zeit auf objektive Zeit bezieht. Ein solcher Mechanisms spiegelt sich in einem niederfrequenten “Zeitfenster” von etwa 2 bis 3 Sekunden wider, und dies wurde in vielen Studien bestätigt; der Mechanismus kann verstanden werden als ein präsemantischer und automatischer Integrationsprozeß. Ein experimentelles Paradigma für solche Studien ist der zeitliche Reproduktionstest. Frühere Studien haben sich darauf konzentriert, wie verschiedene Standarddauern kognitive Prozesse beeinflussen; was vernachlässigt wurde, das ist der mögliche Einfluß der Dauer einer Pause auf die Reproduktion von zeitlichen Intervallen. Einige vorläufige Studien haben gezeigt, dass die Dauer der Pause zwischen Stimulus-Präsentation und der Reproduktion der Dauer eine wichtige Rolle spielen könnte. In den hier dargestellten Untersuchungen wurde der Einfluss der Pausendauer mit einem einem Verhaltens-Paradigma und einer EEG-Studie systematisch untersucht. In Experiment 1 wurden Pausendauern von 1 Sekunde bis 16 Sekunden als unabhängige Variable genutzt, und es wurde geprüft, wie möglicherweise verschiedene Pausendauern die Reproduktion eines Standardintervalls von 2 Sekunden beeinflussen. Es ergab sich, dass dann, wenn die Pausendauern unter 4 Sekunden waren, die Dauer der Reproduktion anstieg, und danach konstant blieb. Um zu untersuchen, ob dieser Effekt nur bei der Dauer des Stimulus von 2 Sekunden vorkommen würde, wurden in Experiment 2 Reizdauern auch von 3 und 4.5 Sekunden untersucht. Es zeigt sich das gleiche Muster der Reproduktion; es wurde ebenfalls eine Übergangszone für Reproduktionen bis zu 4 Sekunden Pausendauern beobachtet, bevor ein “Plateau” gleichbleibender Reproduktionen erreicht wurde. In Experiment 3 wurde kürzere Pausendauern ausgeschlossen und nur längere Pausendauern geprüft, wobei in diesem Fall keine Übergangszone beobachtet wurde; dies bestätigt die kritische Bedeutung der Pausendauer für kognitive Prozesse, und der Befund unterstützt das Konzept eines niederfrequenten Zeitfensters von 2 bis 3 Sekunden. In Experiment 4 wurden verschiedene Stimuli für den Standardreiz und seine Reproduktion verwendet um zu prüfen, ob spezifische Reizcharakteristiken für die Reproduktionsweisen entscheidend sind; ein solcher Effekt wurde mit diesem Paradigma nicht beobachtet, was das generelle Konzept eines Zeitfensters von 2 bis 3 Sekunden stützt. In Experiment 5 wurde mit Hilfe von EEG-Aufzeichnungen geprüft, ob sich ein neuronaler Indikator für den Effekt der unterschiedlichen Pausendauern finden lässt. Es ergab sich, dass eine zeitlich präzise und intensive Aktivität von Beta-Wellen im niederen Frequenzbereich (“low beta”) über den ganzen corticalen Mantel zu beobachten war, doch dieses nur bei den Reproduktionen von Pausendauern bis zu 3 Sekunden. Diese Beobachtung weist darauf hin, dass durch den Reizauftritt eine neuronale Synchronisation eines zeitlichen Integrationsprozesses beziehungsweise einer stark niederfrequenten Oszillation angestoßen wird, was sich entscheidend auf die Reproduktion auswirkt. Die selektive Beta-Aktivität kann möglicherweise somit als ein neuronaler Indikator für die Repräsentation von Zeit-Stimuli im Arbeitsgedächtnis angesehen werden

Minimal sets determining universal and phase-covariant quantum cloning

We study the minimal input sets which can determine completely the universal and the phase-covariant quantum cloning machines. We find that the universal quantum cloning machine, which can copy arbitrary input qubit equally well, however can be determined completely by only four input states located at the four vertices of a tetrahedron. The phase-covariant quantum cloning machine, which can copy all qubits located on the equator of the Bloch sphere, can be determined by three equatorial qubits with equal angular distance. These results sharpen further the well-known results that BB84 states and six-states used in quantum cryptography can determine completely the phase-covariant and universal quantum cloning machines. This concludes the study of the power of universal and phase-covariant quantum cloning, i.e., from minimal input sets necessarily to full input sets by definition. This can simplify dramatically the testing of whether the quantum clone machines are successful or not, we only need to check that the minimal input sets can be cloned optimally.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Clinical Application of Transrectal Ultrasound Guided Prostate Biopsy

Objective: To analyze the clinical application of transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy. Method: 100 suspected prostate cancer patients admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 were selected and underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy. Based on the pathological results of the surgery, the disease detection rate (such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic intraepithelial tumor, prostate cancer, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, etc.), visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, and Complication rate (hematuria, urinary retention, fever, vasovagal reflex, etc.), diagnostic efficacy (sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic coincidence rate, misdiagnosis rate, missed diagnosis rate, negative predictive value, positive predictive value). Result: According to the surgical and pathological results, there were 33 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia, 11 cases of prostatic intraepithelial tumors, 7 cases of prostate cancer, and 17 cases of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia. The patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy included 33 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia, 11 cases of prostatic intraepithelial tumors, 7 cases of prostate cancer, and 7 cases of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, with a disease detection rate of 98% (98/100); The patient's VAS score is (2.13 ± 0.45) points, and the incidence of complications is 3% (3/100); The sensitivity of transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy was 92.50% (30/33), specificity was 90.47% (57/63), diagnostic accuracy was 94% (94/100), misdiagnosis rate was 3.17% (2/63), missed diagnosis rate was 9.09% (3/33), negative predictive value was 95% (67/70), and positive predictive value was 92.85% (26/28). Conclusion Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy for prostate cancer has high diagnostic accuracy, low incidence of complications such as hematuria and urinary retention, light pain and high application value

Pelvic Floor Ultrasound Evaluation of the Impact of Delivery Times and Delivery Methods on the Anterior Pelvic Cavity

Objective: To evaluate the impact of delivery frequency and delivery method on the anterior pelvic cavity using pelvic floor ultrasound. Method: 200 women who gave birth in our hospital from January 2019 to January 2022 were selected as the research subjects, including 100 first-time vaginal delivery women, 50 second-time vaginal delivery women, and 50 cesarean section women each. The control group consisted of 100 women who underwent a 15 day follow-up examination after the first artificial abortion surgery in our hospital during the same period. The patients were divided into a control group, a first-time delivery group, a second-time delivery group, and a cesarean section group. Observing the changes in the anterior pelvic structure during resting state and maximum Valsalva movement through perineal ultrasound examination. Result: The distance from the bladder neck to the reference line in the resting state was significantly different between the control group, cesarean section group, first vaginal delivery group, and second vaginal delivery group (P<0.05); During the maximum Valsalva maneuver, the detection rate of bladder neck mobility, urethral rotation angle, posterior angle of bladder, and funneling of internal urethral orifice, the second vaginal delivery group, the first vaginal delivery group>the cesarean section group>the control group, and the difference between each group was statistically significant (P<0.05). During the maximum Valsalva maneuver in the first and second vaginal delivery groups, the lowest point of the bladder was located below the reference line, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05); During the maximum Valsalva maneuver in the cesarean section group and control group, the lowest point of the bladder was located on the reference line, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05); The difference between the vaginal delivery group and the cesarean section and control group was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Different birth times and delivery methods have varying degrees of impact on the anterior pelvic cavity of women. Pelvic floor ultrasound can early evaluate these structural changes and provide reliable basis for the screening and diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunction disease (PFD)

Predictive Effect of Pelvic Floor Ultrasound Parameters on Stress Urinary Incontinence After Cesarean Section

Objective: To explore the predictive effect of pelvic floor ultrasound parameters on stress urinary incontinence after cesarean section. Methods: The pregnant women who underwent cesarean section in our hospital from April 2021 to April 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Fifty pregnant women with SUI within 6 months after delivery were selected as the study subjects in the experimental group. However, 50 patients who underwent cesarean section for 6 months after delivery and did not initially choose SUI were selected as the control group study subjects. The experimental content was to observe the probability of PUA, BNS, LHA, BND, URA in two groups of pregnant women under resting state. To analyze the predictive effect of ultrasound parameters on SUI after cesarean section. Results: There was no significant difference in PUA and LHA between the two groups of pregnant women at rest (P>0.05); The BNS in the resting state and the maximum Valsalva state in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Through comprehensive collection of six data, it is possible to summarize the predictive role of pelvic floor ultrasound parameters for stress urinary incontinence after cesarean section. The data obtained by the combined diagnosis method is significantly higher than the single prediction data. Conclusion: Basin ultrasound parameters have a high predictive value for postpartum SUI after cesarean section, and combining ultrasound parameters can improve the diagnostic efficacy of postpartum SUI after cesarean section

Observation of Pelvic Floor Structure in Women Undergoing Second Natural Delivery Using Intelligent Pelvic Floor Ultrasound

Objective: To observe and study the pelvic floor structure of women undergoing second natural childbirth using intelligent pelvic floor ultrasound. Methods: Fifty pregnant women who completed second natural delivery in our hospital from April 2019 to April 2020 were selected as the experimental group, while 50 pregnant women who underwent first natural delivery during the same postpartum review were selected as the control group. Analyzing the test data of the two groups of patients, use two-dimensional ultrasound to observe whether there is pelvic floor organ prolapse and related parameter abnormalities in the two groups of pregnant women, and measure the movement of the bladder neck, urethral rotation angle, and posterior bladder angle of the pregnant women under Valsalva status; Real-time three-dimensional ultrasound was used to measure the area of the levator ani muscle hiatus under resting and Valsalva conditions, and to measure the pelvic floor muscle strength of the two groups of pregnant women. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in bladder neck movement, urethral rotation angle, and posterior bladder angle under Valsalva status (P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the area of levator ani muscle hiatus between the two groups of parturients at rest [(14.00 ± 3.76) cm2 vs (14.51 ± 3.60) cm2] and Valsalva [(24.98 ± 326) cm2 vs (25.53 ± 3.40) cm2] (P>0.05); There was no significant difference in the incidence of pelvic floor organ prolapse and related abnormalities between the two groups (P>0.05); There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the unqualified rate of Class I (64.07% vs 69.00%) and Class II pelvic floor muscle strength (74.58% vs 78.00%) (P>0.05). Conclusion: The incidence of abnormal pelvic floor structure in women after second natural delivery is not significantly higher than that after first natural delivery, which provides imaging evidence for clinical guidance in selecting delivery methods and postpartum pelvic floor rehabilitation training for women after second natural delivery