The influence of motivation and comfort-level on learning to program

This paper documents a study, carried out in the academic year 2004-2005, on the role of motivation and comfort-level in a first year object-oriented programming module. The study found that intrinsic motivation had a strong correlation with programming performance as did self-efficacy for learning and performance, r=0.512, p < 0.01 and r=0.567, p < 0.01 respectively. Aspects of comfort level were found to have significant correlations with performance with an instrument on programming-esteem rendering the most interesting results. A regression model based upon these factors was able to account for 60% of the variance in programming performance results

The influence of motivation and comfort-level on learning to program

This paper documents a study, carried out in the academic year 2004-2005, on the role of motivation and comfort-level in a first year object-oriented programming module. The study found that intrinsic motivation had a strong correlation with programming performance as did self-efficacy for learning and performance, r=0.512, p < 0.01 and r=0.567, p < 0.01 respectively. Aspects of comfort level were found to have significant correlations with performance with an instrument on programming-esteem rendering the most interesting results. A regression model based upon these factors was able to account for 60% of the variance in programming performance results

Made in America? Assumptions About Service Learning Pedagogy as Transnational: A Comparison Between Ireland and the United States

Using exploratory, qualitative interviews, the authors studied conceptions of academic service-learning in the United States and the Republic of Ireland in order to elucidate the ways in which culture and social context shaped practitioners\u27 perceptions and practices regarding service-learning pedagogy. Participants articulated a shared understanding of service-learning, identified similar barriers to utilizing service-learning and institutionalizing its practice, and discussed tensions surrounding the purpose of service-learning. However, Irish participants distanced their practice from the historical and cultural context of U.S. service-learning, demonstrating the process of localization. We conclude that the overarching tenets of service-learning may be transferable but the social, cultural, economic, historical, and political conditions of individual countries define how these are to be achieved

Towards Automatic Blotch Detection for Film Restoration by Comparison of Spatio-Temporal Neighbours

In this paper, a new method of blotch detection for digitised film sequences is proposed. Due to the aging of film stocks, their poor storage and/or repeated viewing, it is estimated that approximately 50% of all films produced prior to 1950 have either been destroyed or rendered unwatchable [1,2]. To prevent their complete destruction, original film reels must be scanned into digital format; however, any defects such as blotches will be retained. By combining a variation of a linear time, contour tracing technique with a simple temporal nearest neighbour algorithm, a preliminary detection system has been created. Using component labelling of dirt and sparkle the overall performance of the completed system, in terms of time and accuracy, will compare favourably to traditional motion compensated detection methods. This small study (based on 13 film sequences) represents a significant first step towards automatic blotch detection

Reducing emission of Argon-41 from the MIT reactor

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 1984.MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE.Includes bibliographical references.by Susan M. Reilly.M.S

Natural History of Stuttering to 4 Years of Age: A Prospective Community-Based Study

These findings from a community-ascertained cohort refute long-held views suggesting that developmental stuttering is associated with a range of poorer outcomes. If anything, the reverse was true, with stuttering predicting subsequently better language,nonverbal skills, and psychosocial health-related quality of life at 4 years of age.Future research with this cohort will support a more complete longitudinal understanding of when and in whom recovery occurs. Current best practice recommends waiting for 12 monthsbefore commencing treatment, unlessthe child is distressed, there is parental concern, or the child becomes reluctant to communicate. It may be that for many children treatment could be deferred even longer. Treatment is efficacious15 but is both intensive (median of 15.4o ne-hour clinical sessions followedby 10 one-hour clinical maintenance sessions) and expensive; this "watchful waiting" recommendation would therefore help target allocation of scarce resources to the small number of children who do not resolve and experience adverse outcomes, secure in the knowledge that delaying treatment by a year or more has been shown not to compromise treatment efficac

Experiences of staff and family members of inpatients with dementia where personal passports are used to support care in an acute setting

Background The National Dementia Strategy indicates that people with dementia represent up to 29% of acute hospital admissions. With the prevalence of dementia predicted to rise significantly, it is reasonable to assume that the number of people with dementia presenting at acute hospital services will also increase. Yet, the National Audit of Dementia Care in Acute Hospitals identified that inpatients with dementia had notably poorer care outcomes than inpatients without dementia. The effective use of personal passports for inpatients with dementia leads to more positive care outcomes and the promotion of person centred care. Despite this, their introduction into Irish acute hospital settings is at best ad hoc. There is also a dearth of research evidence into their use, particularly the experiences of staff and families of inpatients with dementia using personal passports to support care. This study is part of a wider study to improve the care outcomes of people with dementia in acute settings. Method Using a qualitative descriptive approach, this study consisted of two parts: Part 1: Six individual semi structured interviews with family members. Part 2:Two focus group interviews with staff members. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. Results Part 1: Two themes emerged from the family interviews: Guardianship and Advocacy. Personal passports allowed families to give staff an insight into the person with dementia and highlight what is important to the person. Part 2: Two themes emerged from the staff focus groups: Care and Knowing the Person. Personal passports were important for communication, management of responsive behaviours and recognising the humanness of the person. Conclusions Using personal passports enhances the provision of quality person centred dementia care. Families and staff differentiated this care from the delivery of clinical care tasks. Challenges, such as the acute care environment and lack of dementia awareness and education, inhibit using personal passports in acute hospital settings

Targeting danger molecules in tendinopathy: the HMGB1/TLR4 axis

Objectives: To seek evidence of the danger molecule, high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) expression in human tendinopathy and thereafter, to explore mechanisms where HMGB1 may regulate inflammatory mediators and matrix regulation in human tendinopathy. Methods: Torn supraspinatus tendon (established pathology) and matched intact subscapularis tendon (representing ‘early pathology’) biopsies were collected from patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Control samples of subscapularis tendon were collected from patients undergoing arthroscopic stabilisation surgery. Markers of inflammation and HMGB1 were quantified by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Human tendon-derived primary cells were derived from hamstring tendon tissue obtained during hamstring tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and used through passage 3. In vitro effects of recombinant HMGB1 on tenocyte matrix and inflammatory potential were measured using quantitative RT-PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry staining. Results: Tendinopathic tissues demonstrated significantly increased levels of the danger molecule HMGB1 compared with control tissues with early tendinopathy tissue showing the greatest expression. The addition of recombinant human HMGB1 to tenocytes led to significant increase in expression of a number of inflammatory mediators, including interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-33, CCL2 and CXCL12, in vitro. Further analysis demonstrated rhHMGB1 treatment resulted in increased expression of genes involved in matrix remodelling. Significant increases were observed in Col3, Tenascin-C and Decorin. Moreover, blocking HMGB1 signalling via toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) silencing reversed these key inflammatory and matrix changes. Conclusion: HMGB1 is present in human tendinopathy and can regulate inflammatory cytokines and matrix changes. We propose HMGB1 as a mediator driving the inflammatory/matrix crosstalk and manipulation of the HMGB1/TLR4 axis may offer novel therapeutic approaches targeting inflammatory mechanisms in the management of human tendon disorders