Effects of Video Length on a Flipped English Classroom

Although the flipped pedagogical approach has been exhaustively explored, the effect of video length remains sparsely studied. Through a mixed design, videos, and three ratio scales, this study determined the effect of video length on English proficiency, student engagement, and satisfaction in a flipped English classroom in China. We concluded that: (1) The short video (shorter than 5 minutes)-assisted English flipped classroom could lead to significantly higher English proficiency, student engagement, and satisfaction than the flipped classroom assisted with medium videos (10–20 minutes); and (2) The medium video-assisted English flipped classroom could lead to significantly higher English proficiency, student engagement, and satisfaction than the flipped classroom assisted with long videos (longer than 30 minutes). Designers of videos could make every effort to provide short videos to improve English proficiency, engagement, and satisfaction. They could also seriously consider a scale, a mobile platform, quizzes, pictures, and multimedia in the future design and innovation of videos.

Microscopic Fractional Anisotropy Detects Cognitive Training-Induced Microstructural Brain Changes

Cognitive training-induced neuroplastic brain changes have been reported. This prospective study evaluated whether microscopic fractional anisotropy (μFA) derived from double diffusion encoding (DDE) MRI could detect brain changes following a 4 week cognitive training. Twenty-nine healthy volunteers were recruited and randomly assigned into the training (n = 21) and control (n = 8) groups. Both groups underwent brain MRI including DDE MRI and 3D-T1-weighted imaging twice at an interval of 4–6 weeks, during which the former underwent the training. The training consisted of hour-long dual N-back and attention network tasks conducted five days per week. Training and time-related changes of DDE MRI indices (μFA, fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD)) and the gray and white matter volume were evaluated using mixed-design analysis of variance. In addition, any significant imaging indices were tested for correlation with cognitive training-induced task performance changes, using partial correlation analyses. μFA in the left middle frontal gyrus decreased upon the training (53 voxels, uncorrected p < 0.001), which correlated moderately with response time changes in the orienting component of attention (r = −0.521, uncorrected p = 0.032). No significant training and time-related changes were observed for other imaging indices. Thus, μFA can become a sensitive index to detect cognitive training-induced neuroplastic changes.

The Effectiveness of Istighfar Dzikr Therapy in Increasing Domestic Violence Victims’ Resilience

Resilience encourages individuals to face, overcome, and become stronger in difficult situations, especially for wives of domestic violence victims to face their issues. This study aims to observe the effectiveness of istighfar dzikr therapy in increasing the resilience of the wives. This study used a mixed-method with sequential explanatory design. The first stage was a quantitative approach involving 12 wives as victims of domestic violence in Yogyakarta. The second stage was a qualitative approach to deepen the quantitative data. The participants were divided into the control group (n=6) and the treatment group (n=6). They were selected using a purposive sampling technique, and the data were collected by CD-RISC (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale). This study applied a nonrandomized control group with a pre-test-post-test design. The data analysis technique quantitatively used the SPSS software version 25. Then, Anava Mixed Design was used to analyze. The results showed an increase in resilience scores in the treatment group, and the treatment group had higher resilience scores than the control group. Participants in the treatment group were able to maintain the therapeutic effect two weeks after the istighfar dzikr therapy.

Learning Monologues at Bedtime Improves Sleep Quality in Actors and Non-Actors

Several studies show that pre-sleep learning determines changes in subsequent sleep, including improvements of sleep quality. Our aims were to confirm this finding using a more ecological task (learning a theatrical monologue) and to investigate whether the effect is modulated by expertise. Using a mixed design, we compared polysomnographic recordings of baseline sleep (BL, 9-h TIB) to those of post-training sleep (TR, with the same TIB but preceded by the training session), in one group of actors (N = 11) and one of non-actors (N = 11). In both groups, TR appears reorganized and re-compacted by the learning session, as shown, among others, by a significant decrease of WASO%, awakenings, arousals, and state transitions and by a trend towards an increased number of complete cycles and total cycle time. Concerning memory performance, the number of synonyms produced was significantly higher in the morning relative to immediate recall. No between-groups differences emerged either for sleep or memory variables. Our data confirm pre-sleep learning’s beneficial effect on sleep quality in an ecological context. While expertise appears not to influence memory-related sleep mechanisms, results on morning recall support the recent view that sleep’s role in memory processes consists in trace “transformation” for adaptive purposes, rather than rote consolidation.

The Buffer Effect

The mediating nature of communication technologies (e.g., telephone, voice message, or chat) can buffer the experience of conversations by establishing a figurative shield between sender and receiver. From a psychological perspective, this buffer effect may affect senders’ communication channel choices depending on their respective communication goals. Building on the impression management model of strategic channel use ( O’Sullivan, 2000 ), we examine how valence and locus of a message and the interlocutors’ relationship lead to differences in the buffer effect people establish through their channel choices. In two vignette-based, mixed-design studies, participants indicated which channel they would choose to communicate with a receiver in different situations, depending on the valence of the episode (positive vs. negative; Studies 1 and 2), who is at the center of the issue (self vs. other; Studies 1 and 2), and their interpersonal closeness (friend vs. acquaintance; Study 2). In Study 1, people chose channels with a higher buffer effect for negative (vs. positive) issues and episodes that focused on themselves (vs. the receiver). Study 2 supported a moderating effect of relationship. While people still chose channels with higher buffer effects for negative (vs. positive) issues in the acquaintance condition, the opposite was true when people were to communicate with friends. We attribute this to the higher salience of relational compared to self-presentational communication goals under increasing interpersonal closeness. The present studies expand the impression management model by focusing on the subjective buffer effect of communication channels and introducing the decisive role of relationship in its application.

Patient and Provider Perspective of Smart Wearable Technology in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention: A Systematic Review

Background and Objectives: Smart wearable devices are effective in diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) prevention. However, factors determining their acceptance are poorly understood. This systematic review aims to examine the literature on patient and provider perspectives of smart wearable devices in DFU prevention. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched up to October 2021. The selected articles were assessed for methodological quality using the quality assessment tool for studies with diverse designs. Results: A total of five articles were identified and described. The methodological quality of the studies ranged from low to moderate. Two studies employed a quantitative study design and focused on the patient perspective, whereas three studies included a mixed, quantitative/qualitative design and explored patient or provider (podiatrist) perspectives. Four studies focused on an insole system and one included a smart sock device. The quantitative studies demonstrated that devices were comfortable, well designed and useful in preventing DFU. One mixed design study reported that patients did not intend to adopt an insole device in its current design because of malfunctions, a lack of comfort. and alert intrusiveness, despite the general perception that the device was a useful tool for foot risk monitoring. Two mixed design studies found that performance expectancy was a predictor of a podiatrist’s behavioural intention to recommend an insole device in clinical practice. Disappointing participant experiences negatively impacted the podiatrists’ intention to adopt a smart device. The need for additional refinements of the device was indicated by patients and providers before its use in this population. Conclusions: The current evidence about patient and provider perspectives on smart wearable technology is limited by scarce methodological quality and conflicting results. It is, thus, not possible to draw definitive conclusions regarding acceptability of these devices for the prevention of DFU in people with diabetes.

A Predictive Mimicker of Fracture Behavior in Fiber Reinforced Concrete Using Machine Learning

Due to the exceptional qualities of fiber reinforced concrete, its application is expanding day by day. However, its mixed design is mainly based on extensive experimentations. This study aims to construct a machine learning model capable of predicting the fracture behavior of all conceivable fiber reinforced concrete subclasses, especially strain hardening engineered cementitious composites. This study evaluates 15x input parameters that include the ingredients of the mixed design and the fiber properties. As a result, it predicts, for the first time, the post-peak fracture behavior of fiber-reinforced concrete matrices. Five machine learning models are developed, and their outputs are compared. These include artificial neural networks, the support vector machine, the classification and regression tree, the Gaussian process of regression, and the extreme gradient boosting tree. Due to the small size of the available dataset, this article employs a unique technique called the generative adversarial network to build a virtual data set to augment the data and improve accuracy. The results indicate that the extreme gradient boosting tree model has the lowest error and, therefore, the best mimicker in predicting fiber reinforced concrete properties. This article is anticipated to provide a considerable improvement in the recipe design of effective fiber reinforced concrete formulations.

Violence as a main symptom of schizophrenia and expressed emotion in relatives of users from Instituto Jalisciense de Salud Mental

Introduction. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects 21 million people worldwide, and it brings about environments with high Expressed Emotion (EE) in the families of these individuals. High EE is characterized by negative evaluations, criticism, and overinvolvement of family members towards the person with schizophrenia. Objective. Recognize the relationship between the cultural agreement about the symptoms of schizophrenia and EE. Method. The study had a mixed design, with a cognitive anthropology method. The sample had a probabilistic estimate based on Weller and Romney proposal, with a competence higher than 50%, a confidence level of 95%, and 5% of type I error. The 40 participants were selected with a simple randomized probability sampling, conformed by relatives of patients from the Instituto Jalisciense de Salud Mental (SALME). Results. The 45% of the sample showed a high EE according to the Questionnaire for Measuring the Level of Expressed Emotion (CEEE). A single valid cultural model with statistical significance was found, in which violence was identified as the main symptom of schizophrenia. The best-informed relatives showed a lower EE (Mann-Whitney U = 1,000, p #abr# .001). Discussion and conclusion. Schizophrenia disorder has been associated with stigmas that generate rejection and fear. A total of 40% of the world’s population believe people with schizophrenia are dangerous and violent. It must be considered opportune to reconsider the use of the term “schizophrenia”, which is etymologically imprecise and supports stigmas that have excluded and defamed people with schizophrenia for more than a century.

VIEWS AND ATTITUDES OF PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS TOWARDS LIFE STUDIES TEACHING

This study aimed to determine the primary school teachers’ attitudes towards life studies teaching and their views about the teaching process. The study was conducted using the convergent parallel mixed design. The participants were 209 primary school teachers working in the central district of Uşak. In the study, the quantitative data were collected via the Life Studies Teaching Attitude Scale developed by Sarıkaya, Özgöl and Yılar (2017). The scale was administered online (Google forms). The qualitative data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The findings obtained via the scale showed that the primary school teachers had high levels of attitudes towards the life studies course. Similarly, the qualitative findings demonstrated that the teachers expressed positive opinions about life studies teaching. From the gender perspective, the male teachers’ attitudes towards life studies teaching were higher than those of the female teachers. The teachers working in schools with low socio-economic level had lower attitudes towards life studies teaching than those working in schools with medium and high socio-economic levels. The interviews revealed that the scope of the course was very wide, which caused the teachers to have difficulty in presenting the subject. Lastly, the study highlighted problems arising from parents such as being a wrong role-model, ignoring the course, and not paying attention to values or education at home.