title: Factors Affecting Students' Continued Usage Intention Toward Business Simulation Games: An Empirical Study abstract: While the impact and value of simulation games have been investigated in the context of business and management education, few studies have investigated why students are willing to reuse the games or not. The main purpose of this study is to explore the determinants of students' continued usage intention for business simulation games in a higher education context based on the expectation-confirmation theory, flow theory, and motivation theory. Data collected from 381 valid respondents were used to test the research model using the partial least squares approach. The results of this study can provide several important theoretical and practical implications for educational use of business simulation games. The results indicate that continuance usage intention is influenced by learning satisfaction, which is in turn affected by perceived learning performance, learning confirmation, and learning expectation, and that learning confirmation is affected by learning expectation through the mediation of perceived learning performance. Additionally, perceived playfulness affects perceived learning performance while learning motivation influences learning expectation.
Factors Affecting Students' Continued Usage Intention Toward Business Simulation Games: An Empirical Study
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Developing a Mobile Electronic D2B Checklist for Treatment of ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Who Need a Primary Coronary Intervention
title: Developing a Mobile Electronic D2B Checklist for Treatment of ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Who Need a Primary Coronary Intervention abstract: ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), one main type of acute myocardial infarction with high mortality, requires percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with balloon inflation. Current guidelines recommend a door-to-balloon (D2B) interval (i.e., starts with the patient's arrival in the emergency department and ends when PCI with a catheter guidewire and balloon inflation crosses the culprit lesion) of no more than 90 min. However, promptly implementing PCI requires coordinating various medical teams. Checklists can be used to ensure consistency and operating sequences when executing complex tasks in a clinical routine. Developing an effective D2B checklist would enhance the care of STEMI patients who need PCI. Mobile information and communication technologies have the potential to greatly improve communication, facilitate access to information, and eliminate duplicated documentation without the limitations of space and time. In a research project by the Chi Mei Medical Center, "Developing a Mobile Electronic D2B Checklist for Managing the Treatment of STEMI Patients Who Need Primary Coronary Intervention," a prototype version of a mobile checklist was developed. This study describes the research project and the four phases of the system development life cycle, comprising system planning and selection, analysis, design, and implementation and operation. Face-to-face interviews with 16 potential users were conducted and revealed highly positive user perception and use intention toward the prototype. Discussion and directions for future research are also presented.
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Exploring critical factors influencing physicians' acceptance of mobile electronic medical records based on the dual-factor model: a validation in Taiwan
title: Exploring critical factors influencing physicians' acceptance of mobile electronic medical records based on the dual-factor model: a validation in Taiwan abstract: Background: With respect to information management, most of the previous studies on the acceptance of healthcare information technologies were analyzed from "positive" perspectives. However, such acceptance is always influenced by both positive and negative factors and it is necessary to validate both in order to get a complete understanding. This study aims to explore physicians' acceptance of mobile electronic medical records based on the dual-factor model, which is comprised of inhibitors and enablers, to explain an individual's technology usage. Following an earlier healthcare study in the USA, the researchers conducted a similar survey for an Eastern country (Taiwan) to validate whether perceived threat to professional autonomy acts as a critical inhibitor. In addition, perceived mobility, which is regarded as a critical feature of mobile services, was also evaluated as a common antecedent variable in the model.
Methods: Physicians from three branch hospitals of a medical group were invited to participate and complete questionnaires. Partial least squares, a structural equation modeling technique, was used to evaluate the proposed model for explanatory power and hypotheses testing.
Results: 158 valid questionnaires were collected, yielding a response rate of 33.40%. As expected, the inhibitor of perceived threat has a significant impact on the physicians' perceptions of usefulness as well as their intention to use. The enablers of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness were also significant. In addition, as expected, perceived mobility was confirmed to have a significant impact on perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and perceived threat.
Conclusions: It was confirmed that the dual-factor model is a comprehensive method for exploring the acceptance of healthcare information technologies, both in Western and Eastern countries. Furthermore, perceived mobility was proven to be an effective antecedent variable in the model. The researchers believe that the results of this study will contribute to the research on the acceptance of healthcare information technologies, particularly with regards to mobile electronic medical records, based on the dual-factor viewpoints of academia and practice.
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Extending ict4d studies: the value of critical research
title: Extending ict4d studies: the value of critical research abstract: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the value of critical research for information and communications technology for development (ICT4D) studies. Most previous IS research on ICT4D projects is interpretive and has focused on the immediate organizational context, but there are very few critical studies that have engaged in macro sociopolitical analyses regarding institutional change. Hence we extend previous IS research on ICT4D by adopting a critical research perspective on the macro sociopolitical context within which most ICT4D projects take place. We illustrate this with an ethnographic study of a project that was intended to improve the education and social welfare of the aboriginal people in Taiwan. On the surface the project was tremendously successful; it became a showcase on national radio and TV showing how ICT could be used to support underprivileged children. However, our research uncovered a different story altogether-a story of the aboriginal people themselves feeling marginalized and without much of a voice. We use concepts from postcolonial theory to make sense of these two contradictory stories. We found that the interrelationship between the macro sociopolitical context and the local organizational context of the ICT4D project is the key to understanding what went wrong, something which we would not have discovered if we had taken the traditional approach. The postcolonial context is powerful and pervasive, hampering any real progress.
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Cost-effectiveness of Gemcitabine Plus Modern Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
title: Cost-effectiveness of Gemcitabine Plus Modern Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of gemcitabine plus modern radiotherapy versus gemcitabine alone in the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer in Taiwan. Methods: A Markov decision-analytic model was performed to compare the cost-effectiveness of 3 treatment regimens; gemcitabine alone (gem-alone), gemcitabine plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy (gem-IMRT), and gemcitabine plus stereotactic body radiotherapy (gem-SBRT). Patients transitioned between 5 health states: stable disease, local progression, distant metastasis, local and distant metastasis, and death. Findings: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for gem-IMRT and gem-SBRT compared with gem alone were NT$27,120,168 and NT$2,145,683 per quality-adjusted life-year gained, respectively. A willingness to pay threshold of 3 times the per capita gross domestic product was adopted according to the definition of the World Health Organization. The Taiwan per capita gross domestic product in 2015 was NT$673,920 (US$22,464; 1 NT$ = US$0.03333 in Taiwan); thus, a threshold was considered as NT $2,021,760 (US$67,392). The Monte-Carlo simulation found that the probability of cost-effectiveness at a willingness to pay threshold of NT$2,021,760 per quality-adjusted life-year was 0% chance for gem-IMRT and 50% for gem-SBRT. Implications: This study indicated that gem-IMRT or gem-SBRT in locally advanced pancreatic cancer is not cost-effective at a willingness to pay as defined by World Health Organization guideline in Taiwan. (C) 2016 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Control System Using Multithread and Stereo Vision to Tracking Target
title: Control System Using Multithread and Stereo Vision to Tracking Target abstract: This article proposes a more effective, the vision track control method for main objective increase system performance. Using multithread processing can improve the regulations monitor and quickly locked in tracking goals. In a stereo Visual Act establishes both the webcam and send images data to the calculator, is calculator multithread application control system. The main purpose of this paper is in its procedures for tracking and servo control system used in the line of control. Using strereo vision impact modifier of the head of the movement. System platforms and the precise distance between objects can be adjusted through good binocular focus and got to find this picture of a monocular distance algorithm was solved. This approach shows that when a body was identified at the center of this image, images can be applied to correct the error of the servo motor. If it can be put on to a single location, this unilateral approach will also be used to estimate the actions. In this paper compares with single thread to multithread, multithread improves tracking pace and stabilizes time [1-3], especially vision Tracking and servo control will have a large number of materials, take to improve the system.
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Development of a situational initiation training program for preceptors to retain new graduate nurses: Process and initial outcomes
title: Development of a situational initiation training program for preceptors to retain new graduate nurses: Process and initial outcomes abstract: Background: Most preceptor training programs consist of classroom-based courses, and only a few programs are conducted using films. Preceptors have identified most training courses as inapplicable in various clinical situations. Objectives: To describe the systematic development of a situational initiation training program (SITP) for preceptors and to evaluate its impacts on the stress levels of preceptors and new graduate nurses (NGNs), the preceptor-NGN relationship, support provided by preceptors to NGNs, and the intention to leave among NGNs during a 1-year preceptorship. Design: The conceptual framework of development, implementation, and evaluation was used for program completion. Participants and Settings: Preceptors and NGNs working at a teaching medical center in Taipei participated. Methods: The 1-day SITP workshop comprised four films, reflection time, and four classroom-based courses. Training outcomes were evaluated using a questionnaire survey for preceptors and NGNs at months 3, 6, 9, and 12 after employing the NGNs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance with repeated measures. Results: The annual turnover rate of NGNs was 10.5%. During the first preceptorship year, the NGNs reported moderate stress levels, good to excellent relationships with their preceptors, moderate to excellent support from their preceptors, and low intention to leave their current jobs. Similarly, preceptors reported moderate stress levels, except at month 12 (mean = 4.8), and good to excellent relationships with their NGNs. The SITP considerably improved the preceptor-NGN relationship for both NGNs and preceptors, whereas no improvement was observed in the stress levels, except in the stress levels of preceptors. Conclusions: The SITP is clinically effective for preceptors; thus, nurse educators may apply the SITP for redesigning the existing preceptor training programs to develop highly skilled preceptors and improve training outcomes. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Glutamine in Alleviation of Radiation-Induced Severe Oral Mucositis: A Meta-Analysis
title: Glutamine in Alleviation of Radiation-Induced Severe Oral Mucositis: A Meta-Analysis abstract: The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of glutamine to treat severe mucositis induced by radiation therapy in patients with head and neck cancer. We undertook electronic searches of PubMed (1990 to January 2015), Embase (1990 to January 2015), and the Cochrane Library (2013, Issue 2) to identify relevant studies. We included randomized controlled trials of glutamine to alleviate oral mucositis (OM) in patients with head and neck cancer who received radiotherapy. Information regarding methods, patients, results, and risk of bias was independently extracted by two authors. Statistical analyses were conducted to calculate the odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) using fixed-effect models. We identified five clinical studies that included 234 patients with head and neck cancer. All studies were assessed as being at low risk of bias in most items of six domains. In this meta-analysis, glutamine treatment showed a statistically significant benefit with respect to reducing the risk and severity of OM induced by radiotherapy compared to either placebo or no treatment (risk ratio 0.17, 95%CI 0.06-0.47). Overall, glutamine significantly reduces the risk and severity of OM during radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Further prospective and large trials are required to support the findings.
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Vitamin D3 Intake Dose and Common Cancer: A Population-Based Case Control Study in a Chinese Population
title: Vitamin D3 Intake Dose and Common Cancer: A Population-Based Case Control Study in a Chinese Population abstract: Objectives: Epidemiological studies suggest that vitamin D status is associated inversely with risk of common cancers in western populations. This study aimed to investigate whether vitamin D is associated with risk of common cancers in Chinese population. Methods: A population-based retrospective case-control study was conducted analyzing data retrieved from the Catastrophic Illness Patient Databases (CIPD) and longitudinal health insurance database (LHID) from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2011, respectively. Cases were identified as subjects diagnosed with site-specific cancers (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision,) and frequency matched to select controls. Use of vitamin D3 was compared between two groups. Odds ratios (ORs) were employed to quantify the risk associated with exposure to vitamin D3 by logistic regression. Results: There were 1.21% (1961/161806) patients in cases and 0.67 % (1092/161806) patients in controls identified were vitamin D3 users. Overall risk of cancers associated with vitamin D3 users was 1.67 (95% CI: 1.55 -1.81). Among these, the risk of kidney cancer and bladder cancer associated with intakes of vitamin D3 were significant (OR 2.59; 95% CI 1.81-3.70; OR 4.97; 95% CI 4.40-5.60) in an adjusted model. In further stratification analysis, we found a statistically significant risk of bladder cancer associated with high intake of vitamin D3. Except this, no statistically significant risk of other site-specific cancers associated with high intake of vitamin D3. Conclusion: Except bladder cancer in stratification analysis, we observed no statistically significant association between high intake of vitamin D3 and other site-specific cancers.
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Developing a mobile game to support students in learning color mixing in design education
title: Developing a mobile game to support students in learning color mixing in design education abstract: Chromatics provides a theoretical basis for the production of visual effects that is crucial to design education. As one of the pillars supporting chromatics, knowledge about color mixing is thus necessary for students who plan to design products. However, students tend to be bored by traditional learning methods in this regard. To remedy this deficiency, this study designed a mobile color mixing game to assist students in learning color mixing. On a more specific basis, this game not only enables students to learn color mixing anytime and anywhere but also provides them with an effective mechanism for exploring the potentials of this technology. Using the technology acceptance model, this study developed a questionnaire concerning the subjects' perceptions of the mobile game, according to which the effectiveness of the game was evaluated. The research findings of this study showed that most of the subjects found the game not only easy to use but also of significant help for them to learn color mixing.
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What influences teachers to continue using cloud services? The role of facilitating conditions and social influence
title: What influences teachers to continue using cloud services? The role of facilitating conditions and social influence abstract: Purpose - The purpose of this study is to explore the determinants of teachers' continuance intention concerning cloud services. Design/methodology/approach - This study uses a cloud service, namely, Google Sites, to support teacher collaboration and further develop a research model to explore the determinants of their continued usage intention. Findings - The findings reveal that continued intention to use the cloud services is primarily determined by their attitude towards using it; attitude towards using is affected by perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness; and perceived ease of use is influenced by facilitating conditions, while perceived usefulness is influenced by social influence. Practical implications - This study determines that teachers intend to continue using cloud services once training in using such services has been provided and if they hear favourable opinions from others. Originality/value - The paper enables us to better understand factors affecting teachers' continuance intention toward cloud services.
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Strategic Improvement for Quality and Satisfaction of Hospital Information Systems
title: Strategic Improvement for Quality and Satisfaction of Hospital Information Systems abstract: The purpose of our study aimed to identify attributes capable of improving physicians' satisfaction levels with the use of a hospital information system (HIS). A model inclusive of system quality, information quality, and service quality related to an HIS is used to form antecedents of user satisfaction. Survey methodology was used to collect an attributive set representing the system quality, information quality, and service quality made available from 150 physicians at a large health-care system in southern Taiwan. Responses were segmented into low and high satisfaction and analyzed with partial least squares and importance-performance analysis. The results reveal that system quality, information quality, and service quality may be used to significantly predict physicians' satisfaction. Two system quality attributes (reliability and response time) were identified as the highest priorities for intervention by low- and high-satisfaction users. Low-satisfaction users further expect improvement of the HIS service quality to take place. The subject health-care system should produce coping interventions for those high priorities to enhance the satisfaction of physicians.
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The Intention to Use the APPs of Smartphone: An Integration of Individual Differences and Browsing Experiences Perspective
title: The Intention to Use the APPs of Smartphone: An Integration of Individual Differences and Browsing Experiences Perspective abstract: It is critical for developers to learn how to keep mobile APPlication users using that APPlication. On the other hand, in this age of the experience economy, consumers focus on experience interactions or subjective perceptions from experiences. Previous studies write little of the influences of individual differences and experience factors on continued use of a mobile APPlication. Thus, this study includes individual differences and experience-related factors to examine the determinants of a specific consumer behavior: continued use of APPlications. This study examined a sample of 170 valid questionnaires, after excluding 33 invalid responses to evaluate this research model. The results show that individual difference factors including mobile self-efficacy, innovative personality, following public opinion, and platform service quality factors including interface design and aesthetics influenced consumers' browsing experiences. Of these, consumers' browsing experiences is the key factor influencing consumers' adherence to the APPlication and public praise for the APPlication.
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Risk of sexually transmitted infections following depressive disorder A nationwide population-based cohort study A nationwide population-based cohort study
title: Risk of sexually transmitted infections following depressive disorder A nationwide population-based cohort study A nationwide population-based cohort study abstract: Depressive disorder is a severe mental disorder associated with functional and cognitive impairment. Numerous papers in the literature investigated associations between sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and psychiatric illnesses. However, the results of these studies are controversial. . We explored the relationship between depressive disorder and the subsequent development of STIs including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, primary, secondary, and latent syphilis, genital warts, gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, and trichomoniasis. We identified patients who were diagnosed with the depressive disorder in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. A comparison cohort was constructed of patients without the depressive disorder who were matched according to age and sex. The occurrence of subsequent new-onset STIs was evaluated in both cohorts. The depression cohort consisted of 5959 patients, and the comparison cohort consisted of 23,836 matched control patients without depressive disorder. The incidence of subsequent STIs (hazard ratio [HR] 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-1.76) was higher among the depressed patients than among the patients in the comparison cohort. Furthermore, female gender compared to male (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.24-2.01) and young age
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Der f1 induces pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelia via the NLRP3 inflammasome
title: Der f1 induces pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelia via the NLRP3 inflammasome abstract: Damage to the bronchial epithelium leads to persistent inflammation and airway remodelling in various respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. To date, the mechanisms underlying bronchial epithelial cell damage and death by common allergens remain largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate Der f1, an allergen of Dermatophagoides farinae, which may result in the death of human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). Der f1 induces BECs to undergo the inflammatory cell death referred to as pyroptosis, induced by increasing lactate dehydrogenase release and propidium iodide penetration. Stimulation by Der f1 enhances interleukin (IL)-1 beta cleavage and release, which is associated with caspase-1 activation. In addition, the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), is required for the activation of caspase-1 through increasing the formation of the inflammasome complex. Consistent with these findings, pre-treatment of HBECs with a caspase-1 inhibitor, or silencing of NLRP3 by siRNA transfection, reduced Der f1-mediated IL-1 beta and pyroptosis. Therefore, the common allergen Der f1 was not only found to induce allergy, but also led to pyroptosis and IL-1 beta secretion via the NLRP3-caspase-1 inflammasome in HBECs. This newly identified connection of the Der f1 allergen with BEC damage and inflammation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma.
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An Empirical Evaluation of Online Cooperative Programming Platforms Based on the PACT Framework and Technology Readiness
title: An Empirical Evaluation of Online Cooperative Programming Platforms Based on the PACT Framework and Technology Readiness abstract: Programming instruction helps students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, and is also important for the development of professional talent in the information technology sector. Cooperative learning has been shown to promote innovative educational applications while enhancing learning motivation and performance. Referring to the People, Activities, Context, Technologies (PACT) framework and the theory of technology readiness, this study explores factors that affect continued use intention and learning performance for students using an online cooperative programming (OCP) platform. A total of 120 students were invited to participate in the programming course. Students were asked to complete programming projects on the OCP platform and fill out a questionnaire. A causal model was proposed and examined using a partial least squares regression. The results show that optimism/ innovativeness in technology readiness and trust among team members both have a positive impact on user satisfaction using the platform. In addition, both user satisfaction and trust encourage continued use intention and improve learning performance. The findings can help educators and researchers promote the development of programming teaching and learning.
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Effect of Pharmacist Intervention on a Population in Taiwan with High Healthcare Utilization and Excessive Polypharmacy
title: Effect of Pharmacist Intervention on a Population in Taiwan with High Healthcare Utilization and Excessive Polypharmacy abstract: Patients with high healthcare utilization are at increased risk of polypharmacy and drug interactions. This study investigated the changes in the number of medications, drug interactions and interaction severity in high frequency outpatients with polypharmacy at hospitals and clinics in Taiwan after home pharmaceutical care, to understand the effectiveness of interventions by pharmacists. This was a retrospective observational study. Cases with excessive polypharmacy (10+ drugs) were selected from the Pharmaceutical Care Practice System database of the Taiwan Pharmacist Association in 2017. After the home care intervention, the number of drug types used decreased 1.89-fold (p
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Separation and quantification of bioactive flavonoids from Scutellaria barbata using a green procedure
title: Separation and quantification of bioactive flavonoids from Scutellaria barbata using a green procedure abstract: Six bioactive flavonoids, including apigenin, baicalein, baicalin, luteolin, naringenin and wogonin, were extracted from a herbal tea plant, Scutellaria barbata D. Don, using a hyphenated procedure (HUAE) combining heat-reflux extraction (HRE) and ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE); the flavonoids were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS). HUAE had the highest flavonoid yield, which was 8.1-9.2% and 18.3-21.1% higher than those of UAE and HRE, respectively, while using shorter extraction times (less than 45 and 165 min) and less extraction solvent (less than 100 and 220 mL). The enhancement of the extraction efficiency obtained by HUAE was mainly due to the combined cavitation, mechanical and thermal effects caused by the ultrasonic energy. It was further found that the experimental data obtained for the total extract of S. barbata via the HUAE and HRE procedures can achieve excellent correlation using the second-order rate model. The second-order rate constant obtained by the HUAE correlation decreased with increasing temperature, which was completely opposite to that of the HRE procedure. However, the remaining two related parameters (the equilibrium concentration of analytes and the initial extraction rate), whether obtained through HUAE or HRE procedures, increased with increasing temperature. In addition, this study also relied on the evaluation of the extraction activation energy and thermodynamic parameters to explain and demonstrate the superiority of the HUAE procedure for the extraction of S. barbata. (C) 2019 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Preceptors' Subjective Competency Ratings in Acute Care Hospitals in Taiwan
title: Preceptors' Subjective Competency Ratings in Acute Care Hospitals in Taiwan abstract: Background: This study focused on developing a Subjective Competency Scale (SCS) in acute care hospitals and identified factors that affect preceptors' competency to precept new graduate nurses (NGNs). Method: This study was conducted in two stages that included collecting information on preceptor training courses and conducting a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. A total of 350 preceptors completed the survey in 2011. The validity and reliability of the SCS were determined. Results: An SCS was developed using 22 items and five factors: teaching/assessment skills, interpersonal/communication skills, confidence/self-assurance, problem-solving/stress-coping skills, and self-reflection. These explained 69.73% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha for these five factors of scale ranged from .715 to .889. Preceptors' subjective competency was correlated positively with age, years as a nurse, years as a preceptor, willingness to be a preceptor, and self-rated relationship with NGNs (p
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An Empirical Evaluation of Online Cooperative Programming Platforms Based on the PACT Framework and Technology Readiness
title: An Empirical Evaluation of Online Cooperative Programming Platforms Based on the PACT Framework and Technology Readiness abstract: Programming instruction helps students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, and is also important for the development of professional talent in the information technology sector. Cooperative learning has been shown to promote innovative educational applications while enhancing learning motivation and performance. Referring to the People, Activities, Context, Technologies (PACT) framework and the theory of technology readiness, this study explores factors that affect continued use intention and learning performance for students using an online cooperative programming (OCP) platform. A total of 120 students were invited to participate in the programming course. Students were asked to complete programming projects on the OCP platform and fill out a questionnaire. A causal model was proposed and examined using a partial least squares regression. The results show that optimism/ innovativeness in technology readiness and trust among team members both have a positive impact on user satisfaction using the platform. In addition, both user satisfaction and trust encourage continued use intention and improve learning performance. The findings can help educators and researchers promote the development of programming teaching and learning.
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