Little is known about the mechanisms underlying the relation between perceived teacher emotional support and intrinsic motivation to learn English. The primary purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional correlation study was to examine the mediating effects of foreign language enjoyment, anxiety, and self-efficacy on the relationship between Chinese college students’ perceptions of teacher emotional caring and intrinsic motivation in EFL classrooms. Undergraduates (N = 1,464) enrolled in six public four-year universities in mainland China completed five student self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed using an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression-based path analysis with the PROCESS macros for SPSS and utilizing the Amos program version 26.0 for structural equation modeling (SEM) with maximum likelihood method. Five specific indirect effects of emotional support from teachers on intrinsic motivation to learn English were tested. Specifically, the five indirect effects (or mediating) pathways were hypothesized as: (1) teacher emotional support to enjoyment to intrinsic motivation, (2) teacher emotional support to anxiety to intrinsic motivation, (3) teacher emotional support to self-efficacy to intrinsic motivation, (4) teacher emotional support to enjoyment to self-efficacy to intrinsic motivation, and (5) teacher emotional support to anxiety to self-efficacy to intrinsic motivation. Results of mediation analyses revealed that foreign language enjoyment and anxiety independently mediated the relationship between teacher emotional support and intrinsic motivation to learn English. However, self-efficacy did not independently mediate the effect of teacher emotional caring on intrinsic motivation. Further, there was evidence of mediating pathways from teacher emotional support to intrinsic motivation through enjoyment then to self-efficacy as well as anxiety then to self-efficacy. Additionally, when estimating the mediation model, the results are the same whether SEM or an OLS regression is used. The findings of the present research make a contribution to the SLA motivation literature and add additional support for the Self-Determination Theory (SDT). I discuss implications and limitations as well as recommendations for future search.

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Robotics has gained a great deal of popularity across the United States as a means to engage youth in science, technology, engineering, and math. Understanding what motivates youth and adults to participate in a robotics project is critical to understanding how to engage others. By developing a robotics program built on a proper understanding of the motivational influences, the program can be built on a foundation that addresses these influences. By engaging more youth in the robotics program, they will be able to envision a future for themselves as a high-school or college graduate, in addition to a viable employee with marketable skills in tough economy. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the underlying motivational attributes or factors that influenced 4-H youth, parents, volunteers, and agents to participate in the Mississippi 4-H robotics project. Specifically, this research focuses on two unique counties in Mississippi with very diverse populations. Interviews with participants, observation, and document analysis which took place occurred over the course of a robotics year – October to July. This study sought to identify motivational attributes of participants in the robotics project. Once identified these attributes could be used when developing new program curricula or expanding into new counties in Mississippi. Data analysis revealed that there are many unique motivational factors that influence participants. Among these factors, (1) the desire to build and construct a robot, (2) competition and recognition, (3) desire for future success and security, (4) safe place to participate and build relationships, (5) teamwork, (6) positive role models, and (7) encouragement.

We examined the formation of Intrinsically Localized Modes (ILMs) for a pair of harmonic phonons along the direction [111] of the Sodium Iodide (NaI) crystalline lattice. The tendency for ILMs to form at a certain center-of-mass momentum ▁q and corresponding relative momentum vector ▁k is attributed to the van-Hove singularities condition in the non-interaction two-phonon density of states continuum. We observed that, as ▁q converges to the high-symmetry point L=▁q (π/a,π/a,π/a) of the Brillouin zone, the relative momentum vector ▁k remains invariant at ▁k (π/2,π/2,π/2) for a certain threshold value of ▁q, and coalesces at the upper-edge of the two-phonon density of states spectrum with high degeneracy in the two-phonon critical energy. We conclude that the excitation spectra of the pairs of harmonic phonon excitations become energetically degenerate past the threshold ▁q value towards L at the invariant vector ▁k, announcing the strong presence of ILMs. The calculated ILMs were observed at critical energies of 20.0 meV and 25.0 meV for the spring coupling constants ratios K_2/K_1 ≈0.598 and K_2/K_1 ≈0.202 respectively. Reports of Inelastic Neutron Scattering experiments have identified one-phonon breather excitations energy of 10.2 meV at elevated temperatures of 555 K. The formation of ILMs, or multi-phonon bound states, is expected to arise as a result of the anharmonic interactions that lift these degeneracies to enhance the formation of ILMs. / Physics

The large conductance calcium dependent potassium (BKCa) channels are expressed in a large variety of cell types including neurons where they modulate excitability and action potential shape. Within the enteric nervous system, stretch-sensitive BKCa channels are expressed on intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) where they decrease the neurons’ excitability during intestinal contractions. A major determinant of peristalsis is slow excitatory neurotransmission (sEPSPs) within the IPAN to IPAN sensory network, and we wondered whether such transmission might also alter BKCa channel opening. All experiments were performed on longitudinal-muscle myenteric preparations prepared from jejunal segment taken from freshly euthanized adult male Swiss Webster mice. With the myenteric plexus exposed by microdissection, BKCa channel activity was recorded in cell-attached mode via the patch clamp technique. BKCa channel activity was recorded before and after presynaptic electrical stimulation, which was designed to evoke postsynaptic sEPSPs. The morphotype was verified by intracellular injection of a marker dye (neurobiotin). In addition, a blocker and opener were used to identify the effects of BKCa currents on IPAN properties. Analysis of unitary channel recordings revealed increased BKCa open probability (NPo) at fixed trans-patch potentials following sEPSPs. All BKCa channels were independently voltage sensitive with increased NPo during patch depolarisation. Analysis of whole-cell experiments also revealed BKCa channels have a significant effect on the undershoot amplitude of action potentials, and the rate at which IPANs repolarise. This study demonstrates that sEPSPs within the enteric nervous system modulate the function of BKCa channels in IPANs adding to the mechanistic understanding of enteric synaptic transmission and providing a potential target for therapeutic modulation of enteric nervous system excitability. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Intrinsic Quantum Thermodynamics (IQT) is a theory that combines Thermodynamics and Quantum Mechanics into a single theory and asserts that irreversibility and the increase of entropy has its origin at the fundamental, atomistic level. The merits and details of IQT are discussed and compared with the well-known theory of Quantum Statistical Mechanics (QSM) and the more recent development of Quantum Thermodynamics (QT). IQT is then used to model in 3D the time evolution of the adsorption of hydrogen on a single-walled carbon nanotube. The initial state of the hydrogen molecules is far from stable equilibrium and over time the system relaxes to a state of stable equilibrium with the hydrogen near the walls of the carbon nanotube. The details of the model are presented, which include the construction of the energy eigenlevels for the system, the treatment of the interactions between the hydrogen and the nanotube along with the interactions of the hydrogen molecules with each other, and the solution of the IQT equation of motion as well as approximation methods that are developed to deal with extremely large numbers of energy eigenlevels. In addition, a new extension to the theory of IQT is proposed for modeling systems that undergo heat interactions with a heat reservoir. The formulation of a new heat interaction operator is discussed, implemented, tested, and compared with a previous version extant in the literature. IQT theory is then further extended to encompass simple mass interactions with a mass reservoir. The formulation, implementation, and testing of the mass interaction operator is also discussed in detail. Finally, IQT is used to model the results of two experiments found in the literature. The first experiment deals with the spin relaxation of rubidium atoms and the second tests the relaxation behavior of single trapped ion that is allowed to interact with an external heat reservoir. Good agreement between experiment and the model predictions is found. / Ph. D.

Yes / Much of the scholarly debate on the extrinsic-intrinsic motivation dichotomy to date has focused on organisational context. However, the recent upsurge of technology use amongst individuals in non-organisational context has led to consumer-focused research model such as extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2). The objective of this study is to bring back much needed focus on motivation dichotomy from the consumer perspective. This involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of hedonic motivation an affective construct in UTAUT2 studies. The findings from 79 UTAUT2 empirical studies revealed that only 46 studies (58%) utilised hedonic motivation while the remaining 33 studies (42%) omitted the construct. Extrinsic motivation was the major driver of non-hedonic and non-significant hedonic motivation studies with individuals using technologies for utilitarian outcomes. Unlike UTAUT2, moderators association of hedonic motivation were non-significant in determining consumer intention to use technology. The findings also revealed an important association between hedonic motivation and effort expectancy, in addition to fruitful directions for research and practice.