Punnett Squares or Protein Production? The Expert–Novice Divide for Conceptions of Genes and Gene Expression

Through the lens of model-based reasoning, this work explores and uncovers important differences in how experts and novices conceptualize and reason about genes and gene expression. Findings from this work will help inform future research into the development and refinement of mental models.

Application of a Validated Innovative Smart Wearable for Performance Analysis by Experienced and Non-Experienced Athletes in Boxing

An athlete’s sporting performance depends to a large extent on the technical execution of the athletic motion in order to achieve maximum effectiveness in physical performance. Performance analysis provides an important means of classifying and quantifying athletic prowess in terms of the significant performance aspects of the sport to provide objective feedback. This study aimed to analyze technical execution in terms of punch trajectory, force, velocity and time, considering the expert-novice paradigm by investigating the technical execution of 31 experienced and non-experienced athletes for the four main punching techniques of the cross, jab, uppercut and hook strike. The kinetic and kinematic data were collected by means of a boxing monitoring system developed and validated for in-field use. The research revealed significant correlation for executed punching trajectory and punch force in intragroup comparison and significant differences in intergroup comparison. No significant differences were detected for punch velocity in either inter- or intra-group paradigms. This study, through use of the sensor system, aligns with the results of existing publications conducted in laboratory conditions, in the assessment of punch force, punch speed and punch time and thus extends the state of research by use of a smart wearable in field method.

A Computer-Aided Diagnosis System and Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System for Dual Validation of Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration of Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules

PurposeThe fully automatic AI-Sonic computer-aided design (CAD) system was employed for the detection and diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of the AI-Sonic CAD system with the use of a deep learning algorithm to improve the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA).MethodsA total of 138 thyroid nodules were collected from 124 patients and diagnosed by an expert, a novice, and the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS). Diagnostic efficiency and feasibility were compared among the expert, novice, and CAD system. The application of the CAD system to enhance the diagnostic efficiency of novices was assessed. Moreover, with the experience of the expert as the gold standard, the values of features detected by the CAD system were also analyzed. The efficiency of FNA was compared among the expert, novice, and CAD system to determine whether the CAD system is helpful for the management of FNA.ResultIn total, 56 malignant and 82 benign thyroid nodules were collected from the 124 patients (mean age, 46.4 ± 12.1 years; range, 12–70 years). The diagnostic area under the curve of the CAD system, expert, and novice were 0.919, 0.891, and 0.877, respectively (p < 0.05). In regard to feature detection, there was no significant differences in the margin and composition between the benign and malignant nodules (p > 0.05), while echogenicity and the existence of echogenic foci were of great significance (p < 0.05). For the recommendation of FNA, the results showed that the CAD system had better performance than the expert and novice (p < 0.05).ConclusionsPrecise diagnosis and recommendation of FNA are continuing hot topics for thyroid nodules. The CAD system based on deep learning had better accuracy and feasibility for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules, and was useful to avoid unnecessary FNA. The CAD system is potentially an effective auxiliary approach for diagnosis and asymptomatic screening, especially in developing areas.

Neural Efficiency in Athletes: A Systematic Review

According to the neural efficiency hypothesis (NEH), professionals have more effective cortical functions in cognitive tasks. This study is focusing on providing a systematic review of sport-related NEH studies with functional neuroimaging or brain stimulation while performing a sport-specific task, with the aim to answer the question: How does long-term specialized training change an athlete's brain and improve efficiency? A total of 28 studies (N = 829, Experimental Group n = 430) from 2001 to 2020 (Median = 2014, SD = 5.43) were analyzed and results were organized into four different sections: expert-novice samples, perceptual-cognitive tasks and neuroimaging technologies, efficiency paradox, and the cluster analysis. Researchers examined a wide range of sport-specific videos and multiple object tracking (MOT) specific to 18 different sports and utilized blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and electroencephalogram (EEG). Expert-novice comparisons were often adopted into investigations about the variations in general about optimal-controlled performance, neurophysiology, and behavioral brain research. Experts tended to perform at faster speeds, more accurate motor behavior, and with greater efficiency than novices. Experts report lower activity levels in the sensory and motor cortex with less energy expenditure, experts will possibly be more productive. These findings generally supported the NEH across the studies reviewed. However, an efficiency paradox and proficient brain functioning were revealed as the complementary hypothesis of the NEH. The discussion concentrates on strengths and key limitations. The conclusion highlights additional concerns and recommendations for prospective researchers aiming to investigate a broader range of populations and sports.

A comparative Scripture-reading analysis of Latter-day Saint experts and novices

This study employs an expert--novice research design to examine how five Latter-day Saint scholars and five Latter-day Saint youths read Scripture. Qualitative analyses of semi-structured interviews and verbal protocols point to six practices participants used: theorizing scriptural possibilities, connecting to Scripture, applying Scripture, managing Scripture-reading uncertainties, using self-contained scriptural resources, and situating Scripture in historical contexts. Use of these practices demonstrates the different ways experts and novices read Scripture and where and how their differences are manifest. Findings build a fuller explanation of the nature of Scripture-reading practice and raise questions for religious education research and practice across Christian traditions.

Pair dynamics and language-related episodes in child EFL task-based peer interaction

Previous research shows young learners are indeed able to interact in a foreign language (FL) and negotiate for meaning while also attending to form. One of the variables that has been least studied among young learners (YLs) in FL contexts is the kind of relationships established among the members of a dyad and how the nature of pair dynamics affects the learners’ ability to attend to language. The present study explores the pair dynamics and the frequency and types of language learning opportunities in the form of language-related episodes (LREs) that emerge during peer interaction in a spot-the-differences task completed by young learners in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context. We also examine the effects of age and pair dynamics on the production of these LREs. Results suggest that children interact mainly using collabo­rative patterns and can actually attend to language in episodes which are mainly meaning-focused and are resolved particularly in expert/novice dyads. Age has been found to significantly affect the production of LREs but pair dynamics seems to be less determinant. Findings corroborate the need for YLs to be given the chance to interact with their peers in class to foster learning opportunities.

A Corpus-based Study of the Impact of Directionality on EnglishChinese Simultaneous Interpreting

This PhD thesis investigates the impact of directionality on English<>Chinese simultaneous interpreting (SI) based on a purposely built spoken corpus. The study examines disfluencies (filled pauses and repetitions) and repairs from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives. An expert-novice paradigm is also adopted with the aim of determining if directionality influences these two different groups. The quantitative analyses look at the frequency of filled pauses and repetitions, as well as the frequency of different types of repairs (including appropriateness repairs, different repairs, error repairs, mid-articulatory repairs and repair failures) and the proportion of each category of disfluencies and repairs. The aims are to determine if directionality influences SI fluency and to provide a holistic view of the extent to which directionality influences the occurrence of disfluencies and repair behaviour. These quantitative analyses are complemented by qualitative analyses of filled pauses and repetitions, as well as each category of repairs. The aims are to examine the influence of directionality on the occurrence of filled pauses and repetitions and to examine the reasons that cause these repairs. The results indicate that directionality has some impact on the interpreting performance of student interpreters, but such impact is negligible on the performance of professionals. The results also show that expertise helps professional interpreters cope with the challenge caused by directionality better in comparison with student interpreters, even with an average of 3.5 years’ experience. Findings in this study provide new insights on the understanding of disfluencies and repairs through interpreters’ performance. In addition, the study contributes to closing the current gaps in the literature regarding the impact of directionality on disfluencies and repairs in English<>Chinese SI and presents pedagogical implications for SI training in these two directions.