Investigating Effects of Perceived Technology-enhanced Environment on Self-regulated Learning: Beyond P-values

This study examined the effects of a technology-enhanced intervention on the self-regulation of 262 eighth-grade students, employing information and communication technology (ICT) and web-based self-assessment tools set against science learning. The data were analyzed using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian structural equation modeling to unravel the intricate relationships between self-regulation, self-efficacy, perceptions of ICT, and self-assessment tools. Our research findings underscored the direct and indirect impacts of self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, and perceived use of technology on self-regulation. The results revealed the predictive power of self-assessment tools in determining self-regulation outcomes, underlining the potential of technology-enhanced self-regulated learning environments. The study posited the necessity to transcend mere technology incorporation and to emphasize the inclusion of monitoring strategies explicitly designed to augment self-regulation. Interestingly, self-efficacy appeared to indirectly influence self-regulation outcomes through perceived the use of technology rather than direct influence. Analytically, this research indicated that Bayesian estimation could offer a more comprehensive insight into structural equation modeling by more accurately assessing our estimates' uncertainty. This research substantially contributes to comprehending the influence of technology-enhanced environments on students' self-regulated learning, stressing the importance of constructing practical tools explicitly designed to cultivate self-regulation

Impacts of tai chi exercise on functional fitness in community-dwelling older adults with mild degenerative knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled clinical trial

[[abstract]]Background: Degenerative osteoarthritis (OA) often leads to pain and stiffness of the affected joints, which may affect the physical performance and decrease the quality of life of people with degenerative knee OA. Compared to traditional exercise, tai chi is a safe exercise with slow movements which can facilitate physical functioning and psychological well being, and might be suitable for improving the physical activities of older adults with knee OA. Therefore, this study investigated the impacts of tai chi exercise on the functional fitness of community-dwelling older adults with degenerative knee OA. Methods: Sixty-eight community-dwelling older adults with knee OA were recruited from the local community to participate in this randomized controlled clinical trial. All subjects were randomly assigned to either an TCE group that practiced tai chi exercise (TCE) (n = 36) or a control group (CON) (n = 32) that received regular health education programs twice per week for 12 weeks. Outcome measurements were determined using functional fitness tests before and after the intervention, including a 30-s chair stand (number of repeats), 30-s arm-curl (number of repeats), 2-min step (number of steps), chair sit-and-reach (reaching distance, cm), back-scratch flexibility (distance between hands, cm), single-leg stand (time, s), functional reach (reaching distance, cm), 8-foot up-and-go (time, s), and 10-m walk tests (time, s). Pre-post comparisons of functional fitness were analyzed using the ANCOVA test with SPSS software version 18.0. Results: Results revealed that participants' functional fitness in the TCE group had significantly higher adjusted mean post-tests scores than that in the CON group after the intervention, including the 8-foot up-and-go (s) (mean difference [MD]=-2.92 [-3.93, -1.91], p = 2.39*10- 7), 30-s arm curl (MD = 4.75 (2.76, 6.73), p = 1.11*10- 5), 2-min step (MD = 36.94 [23.53, 50.36], p = 7.08*10- 7), 30-s chair stand (MD = 4.66 [2.97, 6.36], p = 6.96*10- 7), functional-reach (MD = 5.86 [3.52, 8.20], p = 4.72*10- 6), single-leg stand with eyes closed (MD = 3.44 [1.92, 4.97], p = 2.74*10- 5), chair sit-and-reach (MD = 3.93 [1.72, 6.15], p = 0.001), and single-leg stand with eyes opened (MD = 17.07 [6.29, 27.85], p = 0.002), with large effect sizes (η²=0.14 ~ 0.34). Conclusions: Community-dwelling older adults with knee OA in the TCE group had better functional fitness performances after the 12-week tai chi intervention than those receiving only health education

Postoperative radiotherapy alone is as effective as postoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with pT4aN0 gingival cancer with negative surgical margins

Background and purpose: This study compared the survival outcomes following postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and postoperative radiotherapy (RT) alone for patients with gingival cancer with negative surgical margins and only bone invasion. Materials and methods: Of the 2579 gingival cancer cases reviewed from 2002 to 2018, 156 were enrolled in the study (CCRT: 63 patients; RT: 93 patients). The primary endpoints were the impact of adjuvant treatment (RT vs. CCRT) on overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). Subgroup analyses were conducted based on surgical margins (<5 mm vs. ≥ 5 mm) and different adjuvant treatments (RT vs. CCRT). Results: Median follow-up time, age, and invasion depth were 88.5 months, 57 years, and 14 mm, respectively. More patients undergoing adjuvant CCRT had surgical margins < 5 mm (47.6% vs. 21.5%, p < 0.01) than those undergoing RT. No significant difference was observed in the 5-year OS, LRRFS, and DMFS of patients undergoing adjuvant RT and CCRT. Although adjuvant RT alone and CCRT provided similar local control for patients with surgical margins ≥ 5 mm, worse LRRFS trends were observed in patients with surgical margins < 5 mm (hazards ratio, 6.15, 95% confidence interval 0.92–41.13, p = 0.06). Conclusion: Postoperative RT alone may be effective for patients with gingival cancer with negative surgical margins (≥5 mm) and only bone invasion, while postoperative CCRT may result in better LRRFS than RT alone for patients with surgical margins < 5 mm

Alterations in Gut Microbiota and Upregulations of VPAC2 and Intestinal Tight Junctions Correlate with Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Electroacupuncture in Colitis Mice with Sleep Fragmentation

The relationship between inflammatory bowel disease and sleep disturbances is complicated and of increasing interest. We investigated the inflammatory and immunological consequences of EA in sleep-deprived colitis and found that dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in sleep-fragmented (SF) mice was more severe than that in mice with normal sleep. This increase in the severity of colitis was accompanied by reduced body weight, shortened colon length, and deteriorated disease activity index. DSS with SF mice presented obvious diminished intestinal tight junction proteins (claudin-1 and occludin), elevated proinflammatory cytokines (CRP, IFN-&gamma;, IL-6), lowered melatonin and adiponectin levels, downregulated vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) type 1 and 2 receptor (VPAC1, VPAC2) expression, and decreased diversity of gut bacteria. EA ameliorated colitis severity and preserved the performance of the epithelial tight junction proteins and VIP receptors, especially VPAC2. Meanwhile, the innate lymphoid cells-derived cytokines in both group 2 (IL-4, IL5, IL-9, IL-13) and group 3 (IL-22, GM-CSF) were elevated in mice colon tissue. Furthermore, dysbiosis was confirmed in the DSS group with and without SF, and EA could maintain the species diversity. Firmicutes could be restored, such as Lachnospiraceae, and Proteobacteria become rebalanced, mainly Enterobacteriaceae, after EA intervention. On the other hand, SF plays different roles in physiological and pathological conditions. In normal mice, interrupted sleep did not affect the expression of claudin-1 and occludin. But VPAC1, VPAC2, and gut microbiota diversity, including Burkholderiaceae and Rhodococcus, were opposite to mice in an inflamed state

Performance Characterization of Dye-Sensitized Photovoltaics under Indoor Lighting

Indoor utilization of emerging photovoltaics is promising; however, efficiency characterization under room lighting is challenging. We report the first round-robin interlaboratory study of performance measurement for dye-sensitized photovoltaics (cells and mini-modules) and one silicon solar cell under a fluorescent dim light. Among 15 research groups, the relative deviation in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the samples reaches an unprecedented 152%. On the basis of the comprehensive results, the gap between photometry and radiometry measurements and the response of devices to the dim illumination are identified as critical obstacles to the correct PCE. Therefore, we use an illuminometer as a prime standard with a spectroradiometer to quantify the intensity of indoor lighting and adopt the reverse-biased current–voltage (<i>I</i>–<i>V</i>) characteristics as an indicator to qualify the <i>I</i>–<i>V</i> sampling time for dye-sensitized photovoltaics. The recommendations can brighten the prospects of emerging photovoltaics for indoor applications