How to evaluate science problem solving in a computerized learning environment? Construction of an analyzing scheme

Περιέχει το πλήρες κείμενοThis paper describes the construction of a ‘computerized science problem solving’ scheme, which enables analysis and evaluation of the effectiveness of science problem-solving by junior high-school students working in a computerized learning environment. The scheme was based on observations of 187 students as they solved qualitative science problems taken from a specific computerized learning environment. Students were also interviewed before and after the problem solving. The scheme is presented on two levels. The large-scale comprises 11 main categories, each sub-divided into sub-categories to yield the detailed-level. The sub-categories were based on a repertoire of activities found in the observation protocols, and were approved by external judgement and a validation process. The detailed-level scheme enables evaluation and statistical analysis of the participants' problem-solving effectiveness, providing substantial evidence for the construct validity of the scheme, and demonstrating its potential as a valid analyzing and evaluative tool for computerized science problem solving

Large-scale mapping observations of the CI(3P1-3P0) and CO(J=3-2) lines toward the Orion A molecular cloud

Large scale mapping observations of the 3P1-3P0 fine structure transition of atomic carbon (CI, 492 GHz) and the J=3-2 transition of CO (346 GHz) toward the Orion A molecular cloud have been carried out with the Mt. Fuji submillimeter-wave telescope. The observations cover 9 square degrees, and include the Orion nebula M42 and the L1641 dark cloud complex. The CI emission extends over almost the entire region of the Orion A cloud and is surprisingly similar to that of 13CO(J=1-0).The CO(J=3-2) emission shows a more featureless and extended distribution than CI.The CI/CO(J=3-2) integrated intensity ratio shows a spatial gradient running from the north (0.10) to the south (1.2) of the Orion A cloud, which we interpret as a consequence of the temperature gradient. On the other hand, the CI/13CO(J=1-0) intensity ratio shows no systematic gradient. We have found a good correlation between the CI and 13CO(J=1-0) intensities over the Orion A cloud. This result is discussed on the basis of photodissociation region models.Comment: Text file is 13 pages long, and 3 figure files (pdf format). NRO Report No. 508 (1999). University of Tokyo, Resceu 41/9

Genetic polymorphysms of circadian and its related genes in psychiatric disorders.

科学研究費補助金研究成果報告書研究種目: 基盤研究(C)研究期間: 1998～2000課題番号: 10670896研究代表者: 山田 尚登（滋賀医科大学・医学部・助教授）研究分担者: 柏 淳（滋賀医科大学・医学部・助手）研究分担者: 尾関 祐二（滋賀医科大学・医学部・助手）研究分担者: 野口, 俊文（滋賀医科大学・医学部・非常勤講師

Explosive sound without external stimuli following electroencephalography kappa rhythm fluctuation: A case report.

Background:The pathology underlying exploding head syndrome, a parasomnia causing a loud sound/sense of explosion, is not well understood. Kappa rhythm is a type of electroencephalogram alpha band activity with maximum potential between contralateral temporal electrodes We report a case of preceding kappa activity before exploding head syndrome attacks.Case report:A 57-year-old woman complained of explosive sounds for 2 months; a loud sound would transpire every day before sleep onset. She was diagnosed with exploding head syndrome. During polysomnography and the multiple sleep latency test, the exploding head syndrome attacks occurred six times. A kappa wave with activity disappearing a few seconds before most exploding head syndrome attacks was observed. The alpha band power in T3-T4 derivation gradually waxed followed by termination around the attacks.Conclusion:This case demonstrated that the dynamics of kappa activity precede exploding head syndrome attacks. Finding ways to modulate electroencephalogram oscillation could elucidate their causality and lead to therapeutic intervention

Limited social support is associated with depression, anxiety, and insomnia in a Japanese working population

Background:Lack of social support is associated with depression, anxiety, and insomnia. This study aimed to determine the source of support related to depression, anxiety, and insomnia among Japanese workers.Results:A total of 1,852 Japanese employees (38.4% male, 45.9 ± 12.9 years) participated in the survey, with 15.5, 10.8, and 8.2% of the participants having depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10), anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 ≥ 10), and insomnia (ISI ≥ 15), respectively. The logistic regression analysis suggested that job stressors were associated with depressive symptoms (p < 0.001), anxiety symptoms (p < 0.001), and insomnia (p = 0.009). In contrast, support from co-workers (p = 0.016) and family members (p = 0.001) was associated with decreased depressive symptoms. Support from family members was associated with decreased insomnia (p = 0.005).Conclusion:Social support from co-workers and family may be associated with reduced depressive symptoms, and family support may be associated with reduced insomnia in the Japanese working population.Clinical trial registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03276585

Revista complutense de educación

Resumen basado en el de la publicaciónSe lleva a cabo una revisión general del procedimiento cloze, procedimiento que es ampliamente conocido y utilizado como instrumento de evaluación de la lectura en los países de habla inglesa pero que apenas es conocido y empleado en España. Dicha revisión hace referencia tanto a los aspectos metodológicos relacionados con dicho procedimiento como a los distintos usos para los que puede emplearse en el campo de la evaluación de la lectura.ES

Phamacogenomics of Clozapine-Induced Agranulocytosis

Background: Clozapine-induced agranulocytosis (CIA)/clozapine-induced granulocytopenia (CIG) (CIAG) is a life-threatening event for schizophrenic subjects treated with clozapine. Methods: To examine the genetic factor for CIAG, a genome-wide pharmacogenomic analysis was conducted using 50 subjects with CIAG and 2905 control subjects. Results: We identified a significant association in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region (rs1800625, p = 3.46 × 10−9, odds ratio [OR] = 3.8); therefore, subsequent HLA typing was performed. We detected a significant association of HLA-B*59:01 with CIAG (p = 3.81 × 10−8, OR = 10.7) and confirmed this association by comparing with an independent clozapine-tolerant control group (n = 380, p = 2.97 × 10−5, OR = 6.3). As we observed that the OR of CIA (OR: 9.3~15.8) was approximately double that in CIG (OR: 4.4~7.4), we hypothesized that the CIG subjects were a mixed population of those who potentially would develop CIA and those who would not develop CIA (non-CIA). This hypothesis allowed the proportion of the CIG who were non-CIA to be calculated, enabling us to estimate the positive predictive value of the nonrisk allele on non-CIA in CIG subjects. Assuming this model, we estimated that 1) ~50% of CIG subjects would be non-CIA; and 2) ~60% of the CIG subjects without the risk allele would be non-CIA and therefore not expected to develop CIA. Conclusions: Our results suggest that HLA-B*59:01 is a risk factor for CIAG in the Japanese population. Furthermore, if our model is true, the results suggest that rechallenging certain CIG subjects with clozapine may not be always contraindicated

Resting Heart Rate Variability Is Associated With Subsequent Orthostatic Hypotension: Comparison Between Healthy Older People and Patients With Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder.

Background:Orthostatic hypotension (OH) caused by autonomic dysfunction is a common symptom in older people and patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD). The orthostatic challenge test is a standard autonomic function test that measures a decrease of blood pressure during a postural change from supine to standing positions. Although previous studies have reported that changes in heart rate variability (HRV) are associated with autonomic dysfunction, no study has investigated the relationship between HRV before standing and the occurrence of OH in an orthostatic challenge test. This study aims to examine the connection between HRV in the supine position and the occurrence of OH in an orthostatic challenge test.Methods:We measured the electrocardiograms of patients with iRBD and healthy older people during an orthostatic challenge test, in which the supine and standing positions were held for 15 min, respectively. The subjects were divided into three groups: healthy controls (HC), OH-negative iRBD [OH (–) iRBD], and OH-positive iRBD [OH (+) iRBD]. HRV measured in the supine position during the test were calculated by time-domain analysis and Poincaré plots to evaluate the autonomic dysfunction.Results:Forty-two HC, 12 OH (–) iRBD, and nine OH (+) iRBD subjects were included. HRV indices in the OH (–) and the OH (+) iRBD groups were significantly smaller than those in the HC group. The multivariate logistic regression analysis for OH identification for the iRBD groups showed the model whose inputs were the HRV indices, i.e., standard deviation 2 (SD2) and the percentage of adjacent intervals that varied by more than 50 ms (pNN50), had a receiver operating characteristic curve with area under the curve of 0.840, the sensitivity to OH (+) of 1.000, and the specificity to OH (–) of 0.583 (p = 0.023).Conclusions:This study showed the possibility that short-term HRV indices in the supine position would predict subsequent OH in iRBD patients. Our results are of clinical importance in terms of showing the possibility that OH can be predicted using only HRV in the supine position without an orthostatic challenge test, which would improve the efficiency and safety of testing

Characteristics of heat balance during the snowmelt season in Ny-Alesund, Spitsbergen Island (scientific paper)

Heat balance observations were carried out at Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen Island during the snowmelt seasons in 1993 and 1994 in order to understand characteristics of heat balance at high latitude by comparing heat balance components at the snow surface before and after snowmelt initiation. In the snowmelt period, air temperature was higher than that in the pre-snowmelt period. Mean air temperature in the snowmelt period was about +3&acd;4℃, and daily minimum temperature never fell below 0℃. Water vapor pressure was also higher than that in the pre-period. Albedo of the snow surface was relatively high, and remained higher than 0.65 even in the snowmelt period. The main snowmelt heat source was net radiation in both years. Net radiation in the snowmelt period was about 20Wm^ larger than that in the pre-snowmelt period; however, the shortwave radiation budget was almost constant. Heat loss by the longwave radiation budget in the snowmelt period was less than that in the pre-period and consequently net radiation increased. The reason for the decrease of heat loss by the longwave radiation budget was the increase of atmospheric radiation accompanied by a decrease in solar radiation