Suchergebnisse

AbstractE-learning systems are widely deployed in higher education institutions but sustaining students' continued use of e-learning systems remains challenging. This study investigated the relationship between e-learning engagement, flow experience and learning management system continuance via a mediated moderation interaction model. The context of the study is a Moodle LMS supporting a blended learning environment. After controlling age and gender, a PLS analysis of 92 students' samples with a reflective flow construct explained 49% of the variance in the research model. The analysis shows that flow mediates e-engagement and perceived ease of use with a direct positive impact on e-learning system continuance. Flow has an indirect impact through perceived usefulness on e-learning system continuance. However, the direct impact of flow on system continuance weakens as e-learning engagement increases. This finding may help to explain the mixed and inconsistent impact of flow in the e-learning system continuance literature. The dual effect of flow suggests that instructors must carefully balance pedagogical decisions intended to heighten flow experience to generate positive learning outcomes through e-engagement and its consequence of reduced impact on continued system use.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine effects of practice and age on step-up movements onto raised structures. Background: Falls from laterally compliant structures, such as stepladders, often cause injuries in elderly persons. Although age differences in step-up movements onto raised structures with unexpected structural compliance have been reported, practice effects of such movement control have not been investigated. Method: Movement behavior of 20 healthy adults (10 young and 10 older males) was measured while they stepped up onto a raised structure with no compliance (i.e., rigid) (C0), a small amount of mediolateral compliance (C1), or greater mediolateral compliance (C2). The conditions C 0, C1, and C2 were presented in three sets of six fixed-order trials with step-up movements performed at a comfortable speed. Practice effects in step-up behavior were examined by comparing data within each trial block with the use of repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: Practice significantly reduced the stepping duration ( Ts) needed to complete the step-up movement ( p < .001). With practice, older males reduced their lateral oscillations 26% to 40% for C1 and C2, whereas the corresponding results for young males lay between 8% and 17%, respectively. The age difference in Ts decreased across six consecutive trials but remained significant, especially on the structure with greater compliance. Conclusion: With practice, both young and elderly men adapted their stepping behavior to the presence of lateral structural compliance, but it is noteworthy from a fall-injury prevention perspective that the elderly men required more trials to do so. Application: Designers and users of raised structures, such as stepladders, should be aware of the age difference of people using such structures and should minimize the structure compliance when designing them.

Objective: To investigate the effects of gender and age on the kinematics and kinetics associated with stepping onto, and balancing on, a raised structure with lateral compliance. Background: Falls from a stepladder tipping sideways are associated with considerable socioeconomic costs. Method: Ten young women (YF) and 10 young men (YM), aged 23 to 29 years, and 10 older men (OM) aged 66 to 75 years were asked to step up onto one of two raised structures with increasing lateral compliance (C1 and C2), presented in sets of six trials separated by up to 12 rigid (C0) structure trials. Results: Structural compliance (C1 or C2) significantly affected step duration ( p < .05) and lateral weight transfer velocity ( p < .01). Significant age ( p < .001) and gender ( p < .05) differences were found in step duration and center of mass adjustments: With increasing structural compliance, participants required more time (YM: 15%; YF ranged from 33% to 45%; OM 35%-37%) to complete the step-up movement. Conclusion: Increasing age and structural compliance were both associated with larger and longer-lasting structural oscillations that increase the risk for a lateral fall. Application: Older adults, in particular, should not hurry their movements on raised structures. Actual or potential applications of this research include additional safety instructions for ladder users and considerations of structural compliance for designers and authors of national or international standards for raised structures.

The Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+ (PDQ-4+) has been regarded as an effective instrument for screening people with personality disorders in Western countries. Recently, it has also been widely used in research of personality disorders on the Chinese mainland. Using a sample
of 4,811 Chinese college students, the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the PDQ-4+ (Yang, Rorbert, & Paul, 2000) were examined. Results indicated that the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of PDQ-4+ subscales were psychometrically acceptable. Exploratory
factor analysis resulted in a 3-factor solution, which conforms to the conceptual categorization of personality disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders - III (American Psychiatric Association, 1987). Significant correlation was found between PDQ-4+ subscale scores and
the factor scores of the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire (Bifulco, Bernazzani, Moran, & Jacobs, 2005). The sensitivity and specificity of the PDQ-4+ in the Chinese mainland population need further study.

AbstractThe degradation of wetlands has caused regional environment and climate problems in the Sanjiang Plain. To provide a reference for wetland protection and restoration, two artificial water replenishment schemes were designed and four indicators—water quantity, ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen and total phosphorus—were chosen to analyse results simulated by an environmental fluid dynamics code model. Simulation results showed that the wetlands receive a suitable amount of water and reach a normal water elevation, and the concentration of most water quality indicators decreased. In addition, a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process was used to select the four indicators and 30 different combinations were designed. Following the fuzzy calculation, the comprehensive scores of 29 combinations showed that a scheme involving multiple replenishments is better than a scheme of a single replenishment. This study indicates that an effective method for restoring wetlands near or surrounding irrigation areas is rational allocation of water resources.

Self-support (Zili) is a personality trait rooted in the Chinese culture. Based on the results of open-ended interviews, 2 dimensions, field and function related to external behavior and internal psychology, respectively, were examined in relation to school children's self-supporting
behaviors. A survey was then constructed for assessing self-supporting behaviors of children aged between 6 and 12 years. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed that the factor structure of the survey was clear. The survey was found to be stable and internally consistent according
to the reliability test.