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Effects of Task Characteristics and Task-Switching on Remote Associates Test Problem Solving
Get PDFCreative problem solving is often viewed as a search process. However, little is known about the factors that impact this process. To address this question, we conducted two studies to examine whether task characteristics and task-switching influence performance on Remote Associates Test (RAT) problems — problems commonly used to measure creativity and study the creative search process. Consistent with prior research, we found that RAT problem-solving performance was positively associated with the relatedness between the answer and the problem. The association was strongest when the amount of competition within the initial search space was low. Moreover, this interaction was observed irrespective of the methods used to measure the task characteristics. By contrast, we did not replicate the positive effect of task-switching on RAT problem-solving accuracy found in previous studies. However, our findings suggest that task-switching may improve problem-solving speed and facilitate a broader search. Implications for future research are discussed
Mental Health Prevention and Promotion in General Practice Settings: A Protocol for a Feasibility Study
Get PDFBackground
A reactive approach is typically taken when addressing and intervening with mental health problems rather than a proactive or preventative one, yet preventative approaches can also reduce mental ill-health. This study protocol aims to evaluate the feasibility of recruiting general practice patients into a randomised feasibility study where they will receive either mental health treatment as usual or a brief psychological intervention for preventing the deterioration of mental health and promoting emotional wellbeing.
Methods
This is a two-arm RCT, where participants will be randomised to either: treatment-as-usual within GP; or treatment-as-usual within GP plus a mental health prevention and promotion intervention. Sixty patients, aged 16+ from GP surgeries, with mild to moderate mental health difficulties as indicated by the PHQ9 and GAD7 will be recruited. Data on engagement with the intervention will be summarised using descriptive statistics. Regression models will be fitted, using the 12-week post-intervention follow-up data as the outcome variable and age, gender, trial arm and the corresponding baseline data as covariates. Cost-effectiveness will be investigated in an explorative way. Descriptive statistics will be used to analyse participant's resource use and HRQoL. Qualitative data will understand factors that facilitate or challenge the successful implementation of interventions and a process evaluation will provide insight into the intervention's mechanisms of action.
Discussion
The research team will progress from a feasibility RCT to a larger definitive RCT and disseminate widely across stakeholders (clinical, academic, service users, caregivers, Integrated Care Board (ICB) colleagues), ensuring accessibility in collaboration with the PPI committee
Gaming to Learn: A Pilot Case Study on Students Acceptance of Playing Video Games as a Learning Method
Get PDFThis paper presents a case study on playing video games as a method to support the delivery of a game development University module, describing the teaching methodology and presenting details on a ’gaming‘ for learning approach to support the module’s learning objectives. It presents the formulation of a theoretical framework to evaluate students acceptance of playing video games as a learning method, and the results of a pilot study using a modified Technology Acceptance Model.
The results revealed that gaming as a learning activity was positively perceived by students, finding this method engaging and relevant to their learning curriculum, playful, enjoyable, useful, easy to use, with positive attitudes and behavioural intentions to use. This pilot case study serves as a practical example of implementing video games to support learning, preparing the methodology for further research to understand students acceptance, and the effect on learning outcomes and knowledge acquisition
University of Central Lancashire CoARA Action Plan
Get PDFResearch is a key pillar of the University of Central Lancashire’s Strategic Plan 2021-2028. Priority 4: Real World Research and Innovation describes how we will “establish ourselves as a leader in research, innovation and enterprise within the modern university sector”. This is directly supported by Priority 3: Our People Experience, which seeks to “continue to attract and retain the very best talent and enable everyone to do their best work”. This will be done through nurturing an environment of high performance and high support, where leaders provide direction and guidance, and colleagues are engaged and empowered to deliver their best work. Central to this, we are committed to building a culture of belonging through equality, diversity and inclusio
People, priorities and pillars: supporting the dental school mission
Get PDFAs Peter Thomson returns to the UK to commence his post as head of dentistry at the University of Central Lancashire, he reflects on the dental school's mission in the 21st century, and considers how people, strategic priority setting and robust academic support pillars all help to underpin the delivery of modern dental education, research and clinical practice
Synthesis of cerium, zirconium, and copper doped zinc oxide nanoparticles as potential biomaterials for tissue engineering applications
Get PDFA novel eco-friendly high throughput continuous hydrothermal flow system was used to synthesise phase pure ZnO and doped ZnO in order to explore their properties for tissue engineering applications. Cerium, zirconium, and copper were introduced as dopants during flow synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles, Zirconium doped ZnO were successfully synthesised, however secondary phases of CeO and CuO were detected in X-ray diffraction (XRD). The nanoparticles were characterised using X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Dynamic Light scattering Measurements, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and RAMAN spectroscopy was used to evaluate physical, chemical, and structural properties. The change in BET surface area was also significant, the surface area increased from 11.35 (ZnO_2) to 26.18 (ZrZnO_5). However. In case of CeZnO_5 and CuZnO_5 was not significant 13.68 (CeZnO_5) and 12.16 (CuZnO_5) respectively. Cell metabolic activity analysis using osteoblast-like cells (MG63) and human embryonic derived mesenchymal stem cells (hES-MP) demonstrated that doped ZnO nanoparticles supported higher cell metabolic activity compared to cells grown in standard media with no nanoparticles added, or pure zinc oxide nanoparticles. The ZrZnO_5 demonstrated the highest cell metabolic activity and non-cytotoxicity over the duration of 28 days as compared to un doped or Ce or Cu incorporated nanoparticles. The current data suggests that Zirconium doping positively enhances the properties of ZnO nanoparticles by increasing the surface area and cell proliferation. Therefore, are potential additives within biomaterials or for tissue engineering applications
An Assessment of ML-based Sentiment Analysis for Intelligent Web Filtering
Get PDFMany people are increasingly using the Web both to accomplish tasks but also for entertainment. At the same time, for many people a significant fraction of their web-browsing time is spent on reading news, both from social media sources and traditional news outlets. However, often this comes with a mental price when facing negative news: research shows that doomscrolling can have a negative impact on your well-being. In this paper, we discuss the development and evaluation of an intelligent web filtering mechanism, in the form of a web browser extension (i.e., plugin). This mechanism aims at providing an intelligent assistant that filters out undesired content, aiming at improving the user's well-being. The effectiveness of this approach is assessed with an evaluation involving 50 participants. Our results show that our approach is acceptable by the participants and that there is indeed a need for such tools
‘Vertopia’: The Future of Dark Tourism Places
No full textStone adopts Foucauldian perspectives to examine surreal future emplacements within virtual realms. He argues these will not only be physical places or (re)imagined spaces but will blend with technologies hitherto undeveloped that liminal seams of the real world and virtual world will become indistinguishable. Stone entitles these new future spaces - vertopia - where technology fuses the entire fabric of our lived reality with virtual reality, distinct only by the multiple stories that can be played out. The chapter contextualises the vertopia in a creative scenario of future dark tourism and penal heritage hyperreality. Consequently, we will engage our digital dead through augmented performances, lived and virtual experiences, as well as a deifying Artificial Intelligence
Generation of Pearl/Calcium Phosphate Composite Particles and Their Integration into Porous Chitosan Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration
Get PDFBone tissue engineering using osteoconductive scaffolds holds promise for regeneration, with pearl powder gaining interest for its bioactive qualities. This study used freeze drying to create chitosan (CS) scaffolds with pearl/calcium phosphate (p/CaP) powders, mimicking bone tissue structurally and compositionally. Characterization included scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical testing. X-ray diffraction (XRD) Fourier-transform infrared–photoacoustic photo-acoustic sampling (FTIR−PAS), and FTIR- attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) were used to characterize p/CaP. In vitro tests covered degradation, cell activity, and SEM analysis. The scaffolds showed notable compressive strength and modulus enhancements with increasing p/CaP content. Porosity, ranging from 60% to 90%, decreased significantly at higher pearl/CaP ratios. Optimal cell proliferation and differentiation were observed with scaffolds containing up to 30 wt.% p/CaP, with 30 wt.% pearl powder and 30 wt.% p/CaP yielding the best results. In conclusion, pearl/calcium phosphate chitosan (p/CaP_CS) composite scaffolds emerged as promising biomaterials for bone tissue engineering, combining structural mimicry and favourable biological responses
