Little is known about the effects of different instructional approaches on learner affect in oral interaction in the foreign language classroom. In a randomized experiment with Dutch pre-vocational learners (N = 147), we evaluated the effects of 3 newly developed instructional programs for English as a foreign language (EFL). These programs differed in instructional focus (form-focused vs. interaction strategies- oriented) and type of task (pre-scripted language tasks vs. information gap tasks). Multilevel analyses revealed that learners’ enjoyment of EFL oral interaction was not affected by instruction, that willingness to communicate (WTC) decreased over time, and that self-confidence was positively affected by combining information gap tasks with interactional strategies instruction. In addition, regression analyses revealed that development in learners’ WTC and enjoyment did not have predictive value for achievement in EFL oral interaction, but that development in self-confidence did explain achievement in EFL oral interaction in trained interactional contexts.
Background: Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) networks are versatile tools in toxicology and risk assessment that capture and visualize mechanisms driving toxicity originating from various data sources. They share a common structure consisting of a set of molecular initiating events and key events, connected by key event relationships, leading to the actual adverse outcome. AOP networks are to be considered living documents that should be frequently updated by feeding in new data. Such iterative optimization exercises are typically done manually, which not only is a time-consuming effort, but also bears the risk of overlooking critical data. The present study introduces a novel approach for AOP network optimization of a previously published AOP network on chemical-induced cholestasis using artificial intelligence to facilitate automated data collection followed by subsequent quantitative confidence assessment of molecular initiating events, key events, and key event relationships. Methods: Artificial intelligence-assisted data collection was performed by means of the free web platform Sysrev. Confidence levels of the tailored Bradford-Hill criteria were quantified for the purpose of weight-of-evidence assessment of the optimized AOP network. Scores were calculated for biological plausibility, empirical evidence, and essentiality, and were integrated into a total key event relationship confidence value. The optimized AOP network was visualized using Cytoscape with the node size representing the incidence of the key event and the edge size indicating the total confidence in the key event relationship. Results: This resulted in the identification of 38 and 135 unique key events and key event relationships, respectively. Transporter changes was the key event with the highest incidence, and formed the most confident key event relationship with the adverse outcome, cholestasis. Other important key events present in the AOP network include: nuclear receptor changes, intracellular bile acid accumulation, bile acid synthesis changes, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. Conclusions: This process led to the creation of an extensively informative AOP network focused on chemical-induced cholestasis. This optimized AOP network may serve as a mechanistic compass for the development of a battery of in vitro assays to reliably predict chemical-induced cholestatic injury.
Kinderen van ouders met psychische problemen of verslavingsproblemen (KOPP/KOV) ervaren vaak chronische stress, mentale en lichamelijke gezondheidsproblemen. Ook hun financiële situatie, sociale welzijn en studiesucces kunnen worden beïnvloed door het leven met ouders met psychische en/of verslavingsproblematiek. Vaak zijn zij niet in beeld bij professionals of krijgen alleen verbale therapieën, zoals cognitieve gedragstherapie, terwijl lichaamsgerichte activiteiten geschikter lijken voor mensen die niet makkelijk over gevoelens praten. Sport en bewegen worden weinig ingezet in preventieve en behandelprogramma’s voor KOPP/KOV, alhoewel sport en bewegen positief zijn geassocieerd met gezondheid en welzijn. Boksen heeft aantrekkingskracht op jongeren in kwetsbare posities, heeft de potentie om het zelfvertrouwen, de persoonlijke groei en mentale gezondheid van KOPP/KOV te bevorderen en victimisatie te voorkomen of beperken. Voorwaarde is dat de manier waarop, en context waarin, het boksen wordt aangeboden zijn afgestemd op de wensen, behoeften en mogelijkheden van de doelgroep. Vanuit boks-, sport-, welzijns- en zorgprofessionals is er op dit moment een duidelijke vraag maar ook discussie over de manier waarop boksen ingezet kan worden als adequate preventieve interventie voor KOPP/KOV. Om deze handelingsverlegenheid weg te nemen, vragen bokstrainers maar ook buurtsportcoaches, welzijns- en zorgprofessionals om hulp bij het komen tot een passende en veilige boksinterventie die de mentale gezondheid van KOPP/KOV bevordert. Vanuit ondernemers perspectief zijn er daarnaast ook vragen rondom financiering en scholing van de trainers. Met een ontwerpgerichte aanpak wordt in dit project de volgende onderzoeksvraag beantwoord: “Aan welke inhoudelijke en organisatorische criteria moet een boksinterventie ter bevordering van de mentale gezondheid van KOPP/KOVV in de leeftijd 16-24 jaar voldoen?”. Het beantwoorden van deze vraag zal resulteren in een boksinterventie die kan worden aangeboden in samenwerking tussen ondernemers binnen de boks- en sportwereld én welzijns- en zorgprofessionals, en inzicht geven in de werkzame elementen, bruikbaarheid en haalbaarheid van deze lichaamsgerichte interventie voor KOPP/KOV.
The Dutch main water systems face pressing environmental, economic and societal challenges due to climatic changes and increased human pressure. There is a growing awareness that nature-based solutions (NBS) provide cost-effective solutions that simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help building resilience. In spite of being carefully designed and tested, many projects tend to fail along the way or never get implemented in the first place, wasting resources and undermining trust and confidence of practitioners in NBS. Why do so many projects lose momentum even after a proof of concept is delivered? Usually, failure can be attributed to a combination of eroding political will, societal opposition and economic uncertainties. While ecological and geological processes are often well understood, there is almost no understanding around societal and economic processes related to NBS. Therefore, there is an urgent need to carefully evaluate the societal, economic, and ecological impacts and to identify design principles fostering societal support and economic viability of NBS. We address these critical knowledge gaps in this research proposal, using the largest river restoration project of the Netherlands, the Border Meuse (Grensmaas), as a Living Lab. With a transdisciplinary consortium, stakeholders have a key role a recipient and provider of information, where the broader public is involved through citizen science. Our research is scientifically innovative by using mixed methods, combining novel qualitative methods (e.g. continuous participatory narrative inquiry) and quantitative methods (e.g. economic choice experiments to elicit tradeoffs and risk preferences, agent-based modeling). The ultimate aim is to create an integral learning environment (workbench) as a decision support tool for NBS. The workbench gathers data, prepares and verifies data sets, to help stakeholders (companies, government agencies, NGOs) to quantify impacts and visualize tradeoffs of decisions regarding NBS.
Creating and testing a Virtual Reality Therapy Application to reduce alcohol addiction. Develop and test a Virtual Reality application to be used in therapy, within Novadic Kentron, that helps people deal with alcohol addiction. By recreating real contexts in VR that either stimulate craving or elicit positive feelings, the VR application should increase, for example, self-confidence to deal with these situations and reduce relapse risks. In addition, together with students from BUas and other universities, we study the effects of different forms of realism and resemblance within virtual reality worlds. We are testing, among other things, differences between CGI-created and 360-recorded worlds that differ in level of personalisation.Partner:Novadic-Kentron
