This longitudinal study describes and analyses the shifts in students’ perceptions on the usefulness of language learning strategies (LLS) when learning Spanish as a foreign language, and explains ...the roles that these learning strategies play at various moments in time during students’ language learning journey at the undergraduate level. The richness of this investigation lies in the examination of the changing roles and the perceived usefulness of these strategies over a period of 3 years by using a mixed-method approach. Its main contribution is twofold. On the one hand, it offers practical insights within the linguistic field of language acquisition that can be applied to the learning of foreign languages by students with no previous knowledge of them. On the other hand, its longitudinal design not only goes beyond the traditional quantitative approach that offers a limited snapshot view, but also captures changes in strategy use over time while providing details on why strategies were or were not used in the new language at different proficiency levels. The study found some strategies that were initially perceived as useful and helpful at the beginning of the journey were later perceived as neutral, useless or obstructive by the same group of students who had become more proficient in the foreign language. And, conversely, other strategies that were initially perceived as neutral, unhelpful or frustrating, were later perceived as necessary to improve language proficiency, useful and stimulating by the same cohort of students. In this respect, it was found that the perceived role played by these strategies alternated between essential roles to catalytic roles, imperceptible roles, retarding roles and preventing roles, and vice versa.Contribution The main contribution of this study is that it shows that students’ perceptions on the usefulness of certain LLS over time are influenced by their level of proficiency. This in turn influences, and is influenced by, language attitudes and language learning policy, which fall under the scope of this journal.
Achieving adherence to physical exercise training is essential in elders and adults with neurological disorders. Immersive technologies are seeing wide adoption among new neurorehabilitation ...therapies, as they provide a highly effective motivational and stimulating component. The aim of this study is to verify whether the developed virtual reality system for pedaling exercise is accepted and could be safety, useful and motivating for these populations. A feasibility study was conducted with patients with neuromotor disorders and elderly people from Lescer Clinic and the residential group Albertia, respectively. All the participants performed a pedaling exercise session with virtual reality platform. Then, the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, the System Usability Scale (SUS), Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire, were assessed in the group of 20 adults (mean age = 61.1; standard deviation = 12.617, 15 males and 5 females) with lower limb disorders. While the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, Presence Questionnaire, Game user Experience Satisfaction Scale and SUS were assessed in the group of 18 elders (mean age = 85.16; standard deviation = 5.93, 5 males and 13 females). In light of the outcomes, PedaleoVR is considered to be a credible, usable and motivational tool towards adults with neuromotor disorders to perform cycling exercise, and therefore its usage could contribute to adherence to lower limb training activities. Moreover, PedaleoVR does not generate negative effects related to cybersickness while the sensation of presence and the degree of satisfaction generated have been positively evaluated by the geriatric population. This trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier: NCT05162040, Dec 2021.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The development of complex in vitro hepatic systems and artificial liver devices has been hampered by the lack of reliable sources for relevant cell types, such as hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Here ...we report efficient differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into HSC-like cells (iPSC-HSCs). iPSC-HSCs closely resemble primary human HSCs at the transcriptional, cellular, and functional levels and possess a gene expression profile intermediate between that of quiescent and activated HSCs. Functional analyses revealed that iPSC-HSCs accumulate retinyl esters in lipid droplets and are activated in response to mediators of wound healing, similar to their in vivo counterparts. When maintained as 3D spheroids with HepaRG hepatocytes, iPSC-HSCs exhibit a quiescent phenotype but mount a fibrogenic response and secrete pro-collagen in response to known stimuli and hepatocyte toxicity. Thus, this protocol provides a robust in vitro system for studying HSC development, modeling liver fibrosis, and drug toxicity screening.
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•A protocol mimicking liver development enables generation of HSCs from hPSCs•iPSC-HSCs possess properties similar to those of their in vitro counterparts•iPSC-HSCs can form liver spheroids when aggregated with hepatocytes•Liver spheroids can be used to model fibrosis and liver toxicity
Coll et al. describe efficient differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into hepatic stellate cell-like cells (iPSC-HSCs). iPSC-HSCs share phenotypic and functional features with primary HSCs and are useful for studying HSC development and for the generation of 3D in vitro liver systems for toxicity assessment and fibrosis modeling.
The lack of consensus about overcoming the negative impact of conflict on team performance within research teams has become a challenge. Based on the complex context of knowledge‐intensive teams, ...this study examines the effect that a transformational leadership style of the Principal Investigator has on the relationship between team conflict and team performance. We propose an inverted U‐shaped relationship between research team conflict and research team performance, and examine the impact that the Principal Investigators’ transformational leadership has on this curvilinear relationship. Using survey data from 205 research teams, our results confirm both hypotheses. Actually, those PIs who apply the transformational leadership style will extend the positive conflict area, so, they will be able to manage a higher level of conflict in the research team. Our findings contribute to enhancing the understanding of the impact of conflict and the principal investigator’s transformational leadership style on team performance. Both theoretical and practical considerations are discussed.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are well-known regulators of disease pathogenesis and have great potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. We aimed at profiling miRNAs in alcoholic hepatitis (AH) and ...identifying miRNAs potentially involved in liver injury.
MiRNA profiling was performed in liver samples from patients with AH, alcohol liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, HCV disease and normal liver tissue. Expression of miRNAs was assessed in liver and serum from patients with AH and animal models. Mimic and decoy miR-182 were used in vitro and in vivo to evaluate miR-182's biological functions.
MiRNA expression profile in liver was highly altered in AH and distinctive from alcohol-induced cirrhotic livers. Moreover, we identified a set of 18 miRNAs predominantly expressed in AH as compared with other chronic liver conditions. Integrative miRNA-mRNA functional analysis revealed the association of AH-altered miRNAs with nuclear receptors, IGF-1 signalling and cholestasis. Interestingly, miR-182 was the most highly expressed miRNA in AH, which correlated with degree of ductular reaction, disease severity and short-term mortality. MiR-182 mimic induced an upregulation of inflammatory mediators in biliary cells. At experimental level, miR-182 was increased in biliary cells in mice fed with 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) diet but not upregulated by alcohol intake or fibrosis. Inhibition of miR-182 in DDC-fed mice reduced liver damage, bile acid accumulation and inflammatory response.
AH is characterised by a deregulated miRNA profile, including miR-182, which is associated with disease severity and liver injury. These results highlight the potential of miRNAs as therapeutic targets and biomarkers in AH.
There is burgeoning literature on principal investigators (PIs) and their influential role in science, technology transfer and research commercialisation. However, there is yet no analysis of this ...actor from the perspective of their human capital (HC), i.e., the combination of knowledge, abilities and skills that they possess. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by identifying whether a range of different PI profiles exists, based on their different HC. A cluster analysis was developed using a database comprised of 224 PIs of research teams, from a wide range of scientific fields. Three different PI profiles were identified,
research-oriented PIs, accomplished PIs, management-focused PIs
. The relationship between each of these profiles and their performance was analysed at both individual and research team level, and our findings reinforce the idea that there is not a size that fits all. Indeed, contrary to the ‘more is better’ statement, higher levels of HC are not necessarily connected to better results, our findings suggested an adequate combination of HC as the best option for PIs. Results of the relationship between PI gender, performance and the three different PI profiles have been examined, as well.
The study explored how Spanish is learnt at a South African university by analysing students' self-reports on the use of language learning strategies. A mixed methods design was used. Considering ...that learning a foreign language poses particular and distinct challenges (as opposed to learning a second language), special attention was paid to aspects related to the learners' ability to learn and the actions that they undertake to self-regulate their learning. The study found that the most frequently used strategies as perceived by students were compensation and metacognitive strategies. However, the study only found a statistically significant positive correlation between the perceived use of metacognitive strategies and the final marks received in the beginners' course. Students who intended to continue studying Spanish also reported using statistically significantly more metacognitive strategies than those who eventually passed the beginners' course but did not continue.
The Unified Protocol (UP) as a transdiagnostic intervention has primarily been applied in the treatment of anxiety disorders and in face-to-face-settings. The current study investigated the efficacy ...of a 10-week Internet-based adaptation of the UP for anxiety, depressive, and somatic symptom disorders. The trial was registered under DRKS00014820 at the German Clinical Trial Registry, DRKS. Participants (n = 129) were randomized to treatment or waitlist control. Significant treatment effects were found for symptom distress, satisfaction with life, positive/negative affect and markers of anxiety, depression, and somatic symptom burden (within-group Hedges' g = 0.32-1.38 and between-group g = 0.20-1.11). Treatment gains were maintained at 1- and 6-month-follow-up. Subgroup analyses showed comparable effects in participants with anxiety and depressive disorders. 26.6% dropped out of treatment and 35.38% did not provide post-treatment assessments. The results strengthen the application of the UP as an Internet-based treatment for alleviating symptom distress across emotional disorders. More research on the applicability for single disorders is needed and avenues to improve adherence and attrition rates should be explored.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Biomimetic photonics extract the good design of nature and mimic it with photonics. The weakly electric fish genus, Eigenmannia, has a unique neural algorithm - jamming avoidance response, to ...facilitate their survival in the deep dark ocean, by automatically adjusts the local transmitter carrier frequency to move away from the jamming frequency when it is within the jamming spectral range. Examining our own wireless microwave systems, the situation of inadvertent jamming is very similar as that in Eigenmannia. In this article, a biomimetic photonic approach inspired by the jamming avoidance response in a weakly electric fish genus, Eigenmannia, is naturally adopted to experimentally tackle signal jamming in wireless systems. Mimicking the system with photonics enables the proposed scheme to work for frequencies from hundreds of MHz to tens of GHz.
Hip fracture is one of the most common traumatisms associated with falls in the elderly, severely affecting the patient's mobility and independence. In recent years, the use of robotic technology has ...proven to be effective in gait rehabilitation, especially for neurological disorders. However, there is a lack of research validating these devices for hip fracture in elderly patients. This paper presents the design and evaluation of a novel assistive platform for hip rehabilitation, SWalker, aimed at improving the rehabilitation of this condition. Functional validation of the SWalker platform was carried out with five healthy elderly subjects and two physiotherapists. Clinical validation was conducted with 34 patients with hip fracture. The control group (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\text {n}=24 </tex-math></inline-formula>, age<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">= 86.38\pm 6.16 </tex-math></inline-formula> years, 75% female) followed conventional therapy, while the intervention group (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\text{n}=10 </tex-math></inline-formula>, age<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">= 86.80\pm 6.32 </tex-math></inline-formula> years, 90% female) was rehabilitated using SWalker. The functional validation of the device reported good acceptability (System Usability Scale >85). In the clinical validation, the control group required 68.09±27.38 rehabilitation sessions compared to 22.60±16.75 in the intervention group (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\text{p}< 0.001 </tex-math></inline-formula>). Patients in the control group needed 120.33±53.64 days to reach ambulation, while patients rehabilitated with SWalker achieved that stage in 67.11±51.07 days (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\text{p}=0.021 </tex-math></inline-formula>). FAC and Tinetti indexes presented a larger improvement in the intervention group when compared with the control group (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\text{p}=0.007 </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\text{p}=0.01 </tex-math></inline-formula>, respectively). The SWalker platform can be considered an effective tool to enhance autonomous gait and shorten rehabilitation therapy in elderly hip fracture patients. This result encourages further research on robotic rehabilitation platforms for hip fracture.
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