Examining teachers’ technological pedagogical and content knowledge in the era of cloud pedagogy

With the ongoing innovation of instructional technologies there has been an emerging call to examine what types of knowledge teachers require to survive in the era of cloud pedagogy. In response to this call we proposed a research model – TLPACK – which is based on technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK), information communication technologies - technological pedagogical content knowledge (ICT-TPCK), and education technology, pedagogy and didactics, academic subject-matter discipline, educational psychology and educational sociology knowledge (TPACK-XL), to explore the types of knowledge that teachers at various levels – from kindergarten to post-secondary level – should equip themselves with in detail. TLPACK consists of five constructs (technology knowledge, learner knowledge, pedagogy knowledge, academic discipline, content knowledge, and context knowledge) but in total the TLPACK scale comprises 39 items. All items were converged based on the viewpoints of five experts from academia and practice following six rounds of the Delphi method, and the finalised version was prepared for reliability and validity examination. Proportional stratified sampling was adopted to conduct a questionnaire survey among teachers from kindergarten to post-secondary levels in Taiwan (n = 301). Rigorous statistical analyses were undertaken to examine the reliability and validity of this new model. Based on the results of statistical analyses, including item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis, it is reasonable to state that the proposed TLPACK scale has good reliability and validity for practical use. The conclusion and limitations of this study were drawn based on the extracted results, and suggestions for future study are reported at the end of this report.Keywords: Delphi method; hospitality education; ICT-TPCK; TLPACK; TPACK; TPACK-X

A STUDY ON DEVELOPMENT AND CURRENT APPLICATION OF MOTION GRAPHIC IN TAIWAN’S POPULAR MUSIC

With the advances in technology, the way of communications has become more diverse. Motion graphic combines graphic design, animation design, and film languages. Motion graphic is a new industry with intense performance styles and can be used in different media and platforms, such as commercials, music videos, film and television titles, web pages, and various display screen sizes, etc. Because motion graphic is a non-narrative time-based media, mostly it combines with music. The Taiwan 25th Golden Melody Awards introduced motion graphic design for the first time in 2014. This changed the monotony of past awards ceremony and reignited audience’s attention and discussion, as well as sparked a wave of motion graphic within the country. Through in-depth interviews with some industry experts, this study has defined the concept of motion graphic, analyzed its applications and development in popular music, and explored its future trends. The results of the study show that motion graphic is a cross-domain integration. With the appearance of interactive technology products, motion graphic strengthens the connection between the media and the audience, bringing different interactive experiences to the audience. The development of the Internet has also led to the spread of motion graphic due to high image quality, which has changed the speed of message dissemination and the way people listen to music. Because motion graphic has the advantage of actively transmitting messages, it has three main applications in popular music, which are music videos, concert video design, and the visual presentation of award ceremony. It is an inevitable trend that future music will be presented in the form of motion graphic

Using the CVP Traffic Detection Model at Road-Section Applies to Traffic Information Collection and Monitor - the Case Study

This paper proposes a using Cellular-Based Vehicle Probe (CVP) at road-section (RS) method to detect and setup a model for traffic flow information (info) collection and monitor. There are multiple traffic collection devices including CVP, ETC-Based Vehicle Probe (EVP), Vehicle Detector (VD), and CCTV as traffic resources to serve as road condition info for predicting the traffic jam problem, monitor and control. The main project has been applied at Tai # 2 Ghee-Jing roadway connects to Wan-Li section as a trial field on fiscal year of 2017-2018. This paper proposes a man-flow turning into traffic-flow with Long-Short Time Memory (LTSM) from recurrent neural network (RNN) model. We also provide a model verification and validation methodology with RNN for cross verification of system performance

Asian Students’ Cultural Orientation and Computer Self-Efficacy Significantly Related to Online Inquiry-Based Learning Outcomes on the Go-Lab Platform

Learning and teaching Mendelian genetics are central topics in school science. This study explored factors associated with the learning outcomes of Taiwanese junior high school students in an online inquiry learning environment. Research within face-to-face classroom settings had revealed that Asian students are more likely to be tutor-oriented and collectivistic learners. However, results of how these orientations affect learning in online environments are needed. In this analysis, seventh-grade students from Taiwan (N = 290) completed a genetics lesson using an Inquiry Learning Space (ILS) on the Go-Lab platform. Students were randomly assigned conditions in which support was provided either by general text or by an expert person in the form of a cartoon figure. In addition, students completed questionnaires assessing their cultural orientations, as well as their computer self-efficacy. Results revealed that the presence of a virtual expert did not influence students’ learning outcomes. However, the extent to which students identified as collectivistic and their level of computer self-efficacy were positively associated with the learning outcomes. Students’ computer self-efficacy was positively related to their behavioral intentions as well. These results illustrate the importance of Asian students’ disciplined personality and computer self-efficacy for online inquiry-based learning.</p

Suan Zao Ren Tang as an Original Treatment for Sleep Difficulty in Climacteric Women: A Prospective Clinical Observation

Little scientific evidence supports the efficacy of herbal medicines in the treatment of women with sleep difficulty during the climacteric period. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Suan Zao Ren Tang (SZRT) in reducing the impact of sleep disturbance on climacteric women, as measured by Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI) and the World Health Organization quality of life (WHOQOL). Sixty-seven climacteric women with sleep difficulty intending to treat received SZRT at a rate of 4.0 g, thrice daily for four weeks (MRS < 16, n = 34; MRS ≥ 16, n = 33). After taking into account potential confounding factors, the mean PSQI total scores had fallen from 13.0 (±2.9) to 9.0 (±3.2) (95% confidence interval −4.93, −3.10). Further analyses showed that SZRT produced superior benefit of daytime dysfunction in women with severe menopausal symptoms (MRS ≥ 16). There were three of the withdrawals involved treatment-related adverse events (stomachache, diarrhea, and dizziness). Excluding women with a past history of stomachache, diarrhea, or dizziness, four weeks of therapy with SZRT appears to be a relatively safe and effective short-term therapeutic option in improving daytime function of climacteric women with poor sleep quality

Ceftriaxone attenuates hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Perinatal brain injury is the leading cause of subsequent neurological disability in both term and preterm baby. Glutamate excitotoxicity is one of the major factors involved in perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Glutamate transporter GLT1, expressed mainly in mature astrocytes, is the major glutamate transporter in the brain. HIE induced excessive glutamate release which is not reuptaked by immature astrocytes may induce neuronal damage. Compounds, such as ceftriaxone, that enhance the expression of GLT1 may exert neuroprotective effect in HIE.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used a neonatal rat model of HIE by unilateral ligation of carotid artery and subsequent exposure to 8% oxygen for 2 hrs on postnatal day 7 (P7) rats. Neonatal rats were administered three dosages of an antibiotic, ceftriaxone, 48 hrs prior to experimental HIE. Neurobehavioral tests of treated rats were assessed. Brain sections from P14 rats were examined with Nissl and immunohistochemical stain, and TUNEL assay. GLT1 protein expression was evaluated by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Pre-treatment with 200 mg/kg ceftriaxone significantly reduced the brain injury scores and apoptotic cells in the hippocampus, restored myelination in the external capsule of P14 rats, and improved the hypoxia-ischemia induced learning and memory deficit of P23-24 rats. GLT1 expression was observed in the cortical neurons of ceftriaxone treated rats.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that pre-treatment of infants at risk for HIE with ceftriaxone may reduce subsequent brain injury.</p

Transactive Memory System, Job Competence and Individual Performance

The purpose of this paper is to understand important variables that impact individual performance within a team. This will enhance knowledge management within a team context and facilitate competence development of individuals. This research proposes and examines a multi-level model which elaborates how transactive memory system and job competence (i.e., technology competence and teamwork competence) affect individual performance. An empirical study was conducted with 19 teams of television news reporters, with 211 valid survey responses. Hierarchical linear modeling was applied to analyze the data. The result indicated that transactive memory system and technology competence helped to improve a reporter’s job performance. Furthermore, the relationships were fully mediated by teamwork competence. Our findings thus suggest teamwork competence is the core. Neither technology competence nor transactive memory system will necessarily translate directly into enhanced individual performance. Therefore, for organizational investment on transactive memory system and digital technologies to take effect, management should help develop the employee’s teamwork competence

One-stage reconstruction of large lower lip defect and oral competence with free composite anterolateral thigh-tensor fasciae latae flap

SummaryReconstruction for a large lower lip defect is a challenge to reconstructive surgeons. The most challenging problem is to maintain oral competence and prevent sialorrhea. We present three cases of such a defect reconstructed with composite anterolateral thigh-tensor fascia lata free flaps in one stage. The patients reported in this communication had advanced squamous cell carcinoma in the lower lip. A large lower lip defect (>90%) resulted in each case from wide excision of the tumor. A composite anterolateral thigh-tensor fasciae latae free flap was used to reconstruct the defect and to restore the dynamic oral competence in one stage. A tensor fasciae latae sling was attached by two strips sutured together to the upper orbicularis oris muscle in the first case. The four-strip method, a modification of the method described by Serkan,1 was adopted in the second case. The upper two strips bilaterally sutured to the orbicularis oris muscles in a mode somewhat different from Serkan’s method. The tensor fasciae latae sling was attached by two strips sutured to the periosteum of both zygomatic eminences in the third case. The tensor fasciae latae sling of Case 1 failed with persistent sialorrhea. The second case had good oral competence and comprehensible speech ability without sialorrhea. The third case had an acceptable result before he was lost to follow-up. A composite anterolateral thigh-tensor fasciae latae free flap is a good choice for a large lower lip defect to achieve oral competence reconstruction in one stage. Simultaneous dynamic and static suspensions are suggested to maintain oral competence and prevent sialorrhea