An exploratory study on fade-in versus fade-out scaffolding for novice programmers in online collaborative programming settings.

Programming skills have gained increasing attention in recent years because digital technologies have become an indispensable part of life. However, little is known about the roles of fade-in and fade-out scaffolding in online collaborative programming settings. To close this research gap, the present study aims to examine the roles of fade-in and fade-out scaffolding for novice programmers in online collaborative programming. A total of 90 undergraduate students participated in the exploratory study and were assigned to 15 fade-in groups and 15 fade-out groups. All of the participants completed the same programming task. The findings reveal that fade-in scaffolding can significantly improve collaborative knowledge building, programming skills, metacognitive behaviors, emotions, and collective efficacy. Goal setting, planning, monitoring and control, enacting strategies, and evaluation and reflection are identified as the crucial metacognitive behaviors. The main contribution of this exploratory study is to shed light on how to design and implement scaffolding for novice programmers.

Sacroiliac fascial lipocele could be a neglected cause of lumbosacral pain: case study of percutaneous endoscopic treatment.

The pathological entities commonly associated with lumbosacral pain are the intervertebral discs, facet joints or surrounding muscle. However, in the absence of diagnostic confirmation of the aforementioned structures, the diagnosis may become confusing and intractable. Sacroiliac fascial lipocele (SFL), namely, pannicular hernia, could be a neglected cause. First reported by Ficarra et al in 1952, it was highlighted by the formation of lipocele in the sacroiliac fascia. Mostly, it could be spontaneously eliminated under conservative therapy. However, for intractable pain, surgical intervention may be the only choice. We will first present a typical case of SFL which was treated by percutaneous endoscopic surgery. Ultimately, a satisfactory outcome was achieved and maintained at 12 months follow-up. It is important to distinguish SFL some cases with lumbosacral back pain. Detailed physical examination, superficial ultrasonography and diagnostic nerve block are extremely valuable for acquiring a precise diagnosis. Overall, when considering the clinical outcome of such cases and the foregoing benefits, percutaneous endoscopic treatment could be an efficacious alternative treatment for SFL-related lumboscral back pain.