Search

Integrating learning analytics in digital game-based learning has gained popularity in recent decades. The interactive nature of educational games creates an ideal environment for learning analytics data collection. However, past research has limited success in producing accessible and effective assessments using game learning analytics. In this study, a mathematics educational game called The Nomads was designed and developed to train learners' adaptive expertise in rational number arithmetic. Players' game log data were captured and fitted to a cognitive diagnostic model (CDM)--CCM (continuous conjunctive model). CCM lends itself well to the complex and dynamic nature of game learning analytics. Unlike traditional CDMs, CCM generates parameters at an attribute level and offers more parsimonious diagnoses using continuous variables. The findings suggest that learners' attribute mastery improved during the gameplay and that learners benefit from using the scaffolds for three of the attributes instructed by the game. This study presents the application of a powerful new tool for game learning analytics. Future studies can benefit from more generalized analytics models and more specified learning attributes and game tasks.

Objective: To design and synthesize dialdoxylose, a glutaraldehyde analogue which is expected to have a low toxicity, and to characterize its performance in crosslinking chitosan in 1% acetic acid solution. Methods: Dialdoxylose was obtained by sodium periodate oxidation and deprotection of monoacetone glucose and used to form crosslinked chitosan gels. The gel strength, fluid properties, water activity and thermal stability of chitosan gels were analyzed by texture profile analysis (TPA), low field-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results: It was found that dialdoxylose exhibited two structures in water, (α,β) and (β,β), with a ratio of 44.4:65.6. The hardness, viscosity and water-holding capacity of the chitosan gel crosslinked with 0.002 g/mL dialdoxylose were highest. Conclusion: Dialdoxylose has an obvious crosslinking effect on chitosan, which is greatly affected by its concentration. The results of this study are of theoretical guiding significance for the development of new low-toxicity small-molecule crosslinking agents.

Under the few-shots condition caused by non-cooperative scenes, robust extraction of communication emitter features and accurate identification of targets are the difficulties and hotspots of current research. Aimed at the problem of emitter identification under the few-shots condition of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals, this paper proposes a non-cooperative target identification method based on phase/time domain flipping data augmentation and source domain instance-based transfer learning. The data set is expanded by different domain flipping data augmentation methods, and the improved residual network is applied to achieve the purpose of promoting the identification rate of the OFDM emitter. Then, transfer learning is introduced to strengthen the generalization ability of the identification model. The experimental results show that the data augmentation method can significantly improve the OFDM emitter identification rate under the few-shots condition. Furthermore, the transfer learning method accelerates the convergence speed, slightly increases the recognition rate, and improves robustness of the model.

Simple Summary: Given the low incidence, heterogeneous behavior, and diverse anatomical sites of salivary gland cancer (SGC), there are a limited number of clinical studies on its management. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to report the cumulative evidence on postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for SGC of the head and neck. Based on 2962 patients with SGC from 26 studies, this study demonstrated the long-term survival and toxicities of PORT as a local treatment modality for SGC. Considering the suboptimal disease-free survival and distant metastasis-dominant recurrent patterns, however, an intensified treatment strategy is needed. Background: Because of the rarity, heterogeneous histology, and diverse anatomical sites of salivary gland cancer (SGC), there are a limited number of clinical studies on its management. This study reports the cumulative evidence of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for SGC of the head and neck. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases between 7th and 10th November 2023. Results: A total of 2962 patients from 26 studies between 2007 and 2023 were included in this meta-analysis. The median RT dose was 64 Gy (range: 56–66 Gy). The median proportions of high-grade, pathological tumor stage 3 or 4 and pathological lymph node involvement were 42% (0–100%), 40% (0–77%), and 31% (0–75%). The pooled locoregional control rates at 3, 5, and 10 years were 92% (95% confidence interval [CI], 89–94%), 89% (95% CI, 86–93%), and 84% (95% CI, 73–92%), respectively. The pooled disease-free survival (DFS) rates at 3, 5, and 10 years were 77% (95% CI, 70–83%), 67% (95% CI, 60–74%), and 61% (95% CI, 55–67%), respectively. The pooled overall survival rates at 3, 5, and 10 years were 84% (95% CI, 79–88%), 75% (95% CI, 72–79%), and 68% (95% CI, 62–74%), respectively. Severe late toxicity ≥ grade 3 occurred in 7% (95% CI, 3–14%). Conclusion: PORT showed favorable long-term efficacy and safety in SGC, especially for patients with high-grade histology. Considering that DFS continued to decrease, further clinical trials exploring treatment intensification are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]