Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Method for Building Massive Open Online Courses for Elderly People MOOCEP: From the User Perceptions

This Research Full Paper presents the user perceptions when elderly people use a MOOC which was built by using the method for building massive open online courses for elderly people (MOOCEP). Context: Currently, the elderly population has increased in respect to the total population. According to Administration on Aging (AoA) for the year 2060, the elderly population will be double than presented in the results of the last census. Likewise, a reduced proportion of the population of elderly people is involved with technology or have a very close relation with it. However, the universal access to technology is important in the field of education and interactive systems due to the need of promoting the equality of opportunities for all. Moreover, it is considered that the effectiveness of e-Learning consists in knowing about the learning objectives of users and their needs. As a result of that, it is important to know the perceptions when users adopt any technology. The creation of a method for building massive open online courses (MOOCs) for elderly people named MOOCEP considers andragogical strategies to improve learning objects. This methodology has five tasks aligned to ADDIE method (i.e., Analysis, Design, Development, Deployment, and Evaluation). It presents a flexible and extensible solution, adaptable to any specific situation, to design and create effective MOOCs, which takes into consideration, that the e-learning process can vary considerably in complexity and size, depending on interest and needs of its target of people. Objective: In FIE 2017, it was presented the analysis task, which is related to the learning techniques and involves different considerations (i.e., andragogy, accessibility). For this year’s FIE, in order to provide evidence on the use of MOOCs built by using MOOCEP, a group of 36 subjects aged from 65 to 85 years old had participated and provided their perceptions and suggestions by means of a questionnaire that allow us to understand the acceptance of the artifacts created by using this method. The user perceptions that have been measured are related to the ease of use, usefulness and the intention to use in the future. Method: In order to perform these tests, the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM) has been employed. Results: The results have been favorable, and they provide insights that the method for building these artifacts allow the creation of easy to use and useful products, which can be considered as good technological elements to be employed for the education of elderly people. Conclusions: The results are positive and concludes that MOOCEP allows the creation of appropriate MOOCs from the elderly people perceptions.
Current Distribution and Input Impedance of a VLF Linear Antenna in an Anisotropic Plasma

In this paper, the problem of a very low frequency (VLF) linear antenna in an infinite homogeneous anisotropic plasma is treated both analytically and numerically. Based on the current distribution formula in an isotropic medium, the analytical expression for the current distribution in an anisotropic plasma is derived. The current distribution under an anisotropic condition is composed of the contributions from both the ordinary and extraordinary waves, and thus has a more complicated form. Computations show that the amplitude coefficients for the ordinary wave are obviously greater than those for the extraordinary wave, and the current distribution in an anisotropic plasma is more sensitive to parameter changes. The input impedance of the antenna becomes much larger in this case because of the high refractive index of the ionosphere at the VLF range. Despite that, the impedance can still be adjusted to a small value by selecting a proper electrical length. Finally, the method proposed in this paper may help improve the efficiency of a space-borne linear antenna by determining the optimal antenna parameters.
Smart 311 Request System with Automatic Noise Detection for Safe Neighborhood

The aim of the smart city is to provide the technological access for the automation of city. This paper examines an audio classification application based on Machine Learning for detecting urban noise that is one of the major problems in many cities nowadays. There is an urgent need to develop an automatic urban noise detection system in enforcing public security and safe neighborhood. The urban noise detection was conducted using various Machine Learning algorithms including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Long Short Term Memory (LSTM), Support Vector Machines, Decision Tree, Random Forest, Naïve Bayes with 311 dataset and urban noise dataset. Our experiments validated that CNN shows the best performance (98% accuracy) compared to other ML algorithms. The prototype of the proposed system, Smart311, was developed for automatic urban noise detection in smart cities. The noise detection was conducted on mobile devices and connected to a real-time complaint system by sending a 311 request automatically.
PAS/poly‐HAMP signalling in Aer‐2, a soluble haem‐based sensor

Poly‐HAMP domains are widespread in bacterial chemoreceptors, but previous studies have focused on receptors with single HAMP domains. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa chemoreceptor, Aer‐2, has an unusual domain architecture consisting of a PAS‐sensing domain sandwiched between three N‐terminal and two C‐terminal HAMP domains, followed by a conserved kinase control module. The structure of the N‐terminal HAMP domains was recently solved, making Aer‐2 the first protein with resolved poly‐HAMP structure. The role of Aer‐2 in P. aeruginosa is unclear, but here we show that Aer‐2 can interact with the chemotaxis system of Escherichia coli to mediate repellent responses to oxygen, carbon monoxide and nitric oxide. Using this model system to investigate signalling and poly‐HAMP function, we determined that the Aer‐2 PAS domain binds penta‐co‐ordinated b‐type haem and that reversible signalling requires four of the five HAMP domains. Deleting HAMP 2 and/or 3 resulted in a kinase‐off phenotype, whereas deleting HAMP 4 and/or 5 resulted in a kinase‐on phenotype. Overall, these data support a model in which ligand‐bound Aer‐2 PAS and HAMP 2 and 3 act together to relieve inhibition of the kinase control module by HAMP 4 and 5, resulting in the kinase‐on state of the Aer‐2 receptor.
Improving the Flux Pinning With Artificial BCO Nanodots and Correlated Dislocations in YBCO Films Grown on IBAD-MgO Based Template

To improve the performance of high-temperature superconductors in electrical power systems, a modified IBAD-MgO based template is used as a substrate for the growth of YBa<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{2}$</tex-math></inline-formula>Cu<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{3}$</tex-math></inline-formula>O<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{6+x}$</tex-math></inline-formula>(YBCO) doped with various concentrations of BaCeO<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{3}$</tex-math></inline-formula>(BCO). The highest critical current density (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$J_\mathrm{c}$</tex-math></inline-formula>) in a wide applied field and angular range is realized in the films doped with 2<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> and 4<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> BCO content. This is explained to arise from the optimized BCO dopant concentration, which helps to immobilize more vortices both in low and high field ranges. Besides the vortex pinning by randomly distributed BCO nanoparticles, the edge-type dislocations, mainly occurring due to the underlying IBAD-MgO based template, are also a main source of pinning the vortices as seen by the appearance of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$c$</tex-math></inline-formula>-axis peak of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$J_\mathrm{c} (\theta)$</tex-math></inline-formula> in undoped and 2<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> doped films. The disappearance of c-peak in films doped with higher concentration can be qualitatively explained by the vortex path model, where the paths of the vortices arising because of high density of BCO particles disguise the columnar type pinning effect coming from the threading dislocations within the films. Therefore, the BCO nanodots can be used for improving the flux pinning besides the threading dislocations in YBCO films on metal substrates.
NOMA-Based Energy-Delay Trade-Off For Mobile Edge Computation Offloading in 5G Networks

Mobile edge computing (MEC) is a promising technology which is able to provide cloud computing (CC) capabilities in the vicinity of the users in a fifth-generation network. In this way, the users can overcome the constraints of their devices such as battery, computational and storage capacity, and also the long delay of CC. In this paper, we first introduce the proposed system model assuming that network users can accomplish their processing in two ways. The first method is local processing in the users’ equipment and the second method is offloading the processing in the edge server (ES) which is embedded in the base station (BS). The main goal of this paper is to minimize the total cost of the network which includes a weighted combination of the consumed energy and the latency of accomplishing the users’ processing of the whole network. Weighting these functions will be performed based on the percent of the remained energy in each device. Then, we model this problem as a constraint optimization problem and since the resulting problem is a non-convex and also mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) problem, we use the successive convex approximation (SCA) algorithm to find the optimal solution for this problem. Simulation results show that this joint optimization of the parameters leads to a reduction in the total cost of the network.
Prospects of Electrooculography in Human-Computer Interface Based Neural Rehabilitation for Neural Repair Patients

Disable persons are facing a lot of problems in daily life activities. They need some help from others to fulfil their needs every day. To avoid this condition modern technology help such persons to overcome the problem in a natural way like bio signal based-human–computer interaction. In this paper, we focused to study the performance of male subjects compared with female subjects to analyze the performance to design Electrooculographgy-based HCI using periodogram and neural network. Five male subjects and five female subjects are involved in this experiment. From the experimental analysis, we identified that male performance was maximum compared to female performance. From this paper, we analyzed that subject S4 from male subjects and subject S10 from female subjects performance was marginally high compared with other subjects performance took part in this experiment. From the classification accuracy, we conclude that male subject performance was encouraged with 93.67 % and 92.28% for female subjects. The offline test was conducted in the indoor environment to identify the tasks to confirm the performance of individual subjects. From the offline analysis, we conclude that subject S4 performance was high compared to other subjects take part in this paper. Subject S4 took less time to perform the task as per the protocol. Through this paper, we confirm that scheming HCI is achievable.
Segmenting Sky Pixels in Images: Analysis and Comparison

This work addresses sky segmentation, the task of determining sky and non-sky pixels in images, and improving upon existing state-of-the-art models. Outdoor scene parsing models are often trained on ideal datasets and produce high-quality results. However, this leads to inferior performance when applied to real-world images. The quality of scene parsing, particularly sky segmentation, decreases in night-time images, images involving varying weather conditions, and scene changes due to seasonal weather. We address these challenges using the RefineNet model in conjunction with two datasets: SkyFinder, and a subset of the SUN database containing sky regions (SUN-sky, henceforth). We achieve an improvement of 10-15% in the average MCR compared to prior methods using the SkyFinder dataset, and nearly 36% improvement from an off-the-shelf model in terms of average mIOU score. Employing fully connected conditional random fields as a post processing method demonstrates further enhancement of our results. Furthermore, by analyzing models over images with respect to two aspects, time of day and weather conditions, we find that when facing the same challenges as prior methods, our trained models significantly outperform them.
Improving Student’s Learning and Cooperation Skills Using Coding Dojos (In the Wild!)

Collaborative development approaches (e.g., pair programming, coding dojo, and hackathons) have gained increasing attention in recent years, mostly because they help to share knowledge during software development activities and might shorten development cycles and increase the quality of software products. Collaborative development approaches bring also the potential benefit to contribute to learning activities. For instance, novices might participate on collaborative development sessions in order to learn new development practices, tools, and techniques used in a software development project. Besides these potential benefits, little is known about the perception of students engaged in collaborative development efforts. Therefore, in this paper we investigate whether or not the engagement of students in collaborative development efforts contributes to the learning process of software development practices and techniques, as well as the perceived benefits and challenges related to collaborative software development activities. To this end, we first performed several of coding dojo sessions during a period of 18 months. These development sessions have been conducted within the context of a real software modernization effort, which aims to modernize two enterprise systems of the Brazilian Army. After that, we carried out a qualitative study where the participants (students, software developers, and software architects) answered a survey, in order to understand the learning benefits of using coding dojo in software development activities. The results so far are encouraging. Coding Dojos allowed professors and software architects to seamless share their experience in software development with the students. According to the answers, the methodology created a better environment for the team, allowing better discussions and ideas to be shared and implemented. This has helped the team members to solve problems easier than by themselves, bringing additional benefits, such as steep the learning curve in programming languages, usage of development tools, understanding the requirements, and code refactoring.
Determination of Power Transfer Capability by a Bisection-Like Algorithm via Power-Flow Solutions

The objective of this study is to present an algorithm that can determine power transfer capability of transmission lines via power-flow solutions. The calculation of transfer capability is carried out by obtaining power flows for various scenarios of operation under various amounts of power transfer. This paper deals with the bisection-like algorithm to compute transfer capability. The main motivation in this work results from the need to develop an efficient algorithm that can calculate maximum power transfer between selected buses and perform the numerical simulations for corresponding power-flow solutions. The accompanying program is easily expandable with new applications when necessary.
Dual reporter approaches for identification of Cre efficacy and astrocyte heterogeneity

Gene inactivation reporters are powerful tools to circumvent limitations of the widely used Cre/loxP system of conditional mutagenesis. With new conditional transgenic mouse lines expressing the enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP) instead of connexin43 (Cx43) after Cre‐mediated recombination, we demonstrate dual reporter approaches to simultaneously examine astrocyte subpopulations expressing different connexins, identify compensatory up‐regulation within gene families, and quantify Cre‐mediated deletion at the allelic level. Analysis of a newly generated Cx43 knock‐in ECFP mouse revealed an unexpected heterogeneity of Cx43‐expressing astrocytes across brain areas. —Degen, J., Dublin, P., Zhang, J., Dobrowolski, R. , Jokwitz, M. , Karram, K. , Trotter, J., Jabs, R. , Willecke, K. , Steinhäuser, C. , Theis, M. Dual reporter approaches for identification of Cre efficacy and astrocyte heterogeneity. FASEB J. 26, 4576–4583 (2012). www.fasebj. org
Transmission Characteristics of a Graphene-Based Plasmonic Decoder for THz Applications

Graphene has many outstanding electrical and optical properties which can support plasmonic waves in THz frequencies. A new kind of electro-optical decoder based on graphene-plasmonic waveguides is proposed. Simulations show that the minimum extinction ratios are more than 23 dB at a wavelength of 25 μm. Also, the whole size of the structure is less than 29 μm2. Flexibility in controlling the propagation of input light to intended output port, ultra-compact footprint and high extinction ratios are features of the proposed decoder. This structure has promising potentials to be used in THz logical applications.
2-D Synthesized Magnetic Field Focusing Technology With Loop Coils Distributed in a Rectangular Formation

In this paper, a novel loop coil structure for synthesized magnetic field focusing (SMF) technology and two current distribution calculating algorithms in the structure are proposed. The proposed structure enables field focusing in two-dimensional (2-D) space for the first time. The loop coil structure with a rectangular formation is adopted for a 2-D SMF system to minimize the volume and weight of the transmitting (Tx) coil array considering that conventional SMF systems inevitably have a volumetric design due to their dipole-based structure. Two algorithms to calculate the current distribution so as to focus the magnetic field at the target point are proposed. The first algorithm applies the Biot–Savart law to a loop-coil-based 2-D SMF system to calculate the distribution. The second algorithm utilizes a time-efficient synthesis method which reduces the matrix dimensions used in current distribution calculation. The second algorithm shows synthesis results with similar synthesis resolution compared with the first algorithm. Although the magnetic field distribution with the second algorithm has a little difference with that of first algorithm, its synthesis result focuses the magnetic field on the target point successfully, and it becomes more powerful as the number of coils increases. Synthesis results using two algorithms were compared with a finite-element method simulation with 100 Tx coils and 25 receiving (Rx) points. The synthesis resolution, as determined by –3 dB points, was enhanced by 4.45 times and 6.15 times for the first and the second algorithm, respectively, when compared to nonfocused case. An experimental prototype with 36 Tx coils and 9 Rx points with each coil 10 × 10 cm in size was built to demonstrate field focusing with current distributions calculated by the second algorithm at a frequency of 145 kHz. The experimental results were in good agreement with the simulated results, including a case in which the magnetic field was focused at Rx point other than center.
Modeling of Information Processes for Modern Information System Security Assessment

A new approach of a formalism of hybrid automatons has been proposed for the analysis of conflict processes between the information system and the information’s security malefactor. An example of probability-based assessment on malefactor’s victory has been given and the possibility to abstract from a specific type of probability density function for the residence time of parties to the conflict in their possible states. A model of the distribution of destructive informational influences in the information system to connect the process of spread of destructive information processes and the process of changing subjects’ states of the information system has been proposed. An example of the destructive information processes spread analysis has been given.
Using Sequential Exploratory Mixed Methods Design to Explore Readability of ISPs

There are many readability formulae that aim to assess how difficult a text document is to comprehend; so far, little is known about the effect of readability on the interpretation of information security policies (ISPs) and whether examination of readability may prove to be a beneficial factor. This paper reports the first study, to examine the effectiveness of employing readability metrics as an indicator of policy comprehensibility through a mixed methods approach, with the formulation and implementation of a seven phase sequential exploratory fully mixed methods design. The original data in this paper were collected from 450 participants by a variety of instruments. The data generated were used to determine whether we might rely on a software readability scale for evaluating the difficulty of a text document in the domain of ISPs as well as factors that increase understanding of texts or enhance difficulty in understanding texts. The research contributes to our understanding of readability factor in general and offering an optimal technique to measure the readability factor in particular.
TextCaps: Handwritten Character Recognition With Very Small Datasets

Many localized languages struggle to reap the benefits of recent advancements in character recognition systems due to the lack of substantial amount of labeled training data. This is due to the difficulty in generating large amounts of labeled data for such languages and inability of deep learning techniques to properly learn from small number of training samples. We solve this problem by introducing a technique of generating new training samples from the existing samples, with realistic augmentations which reflect actual variations that are present in human hand writing, by adding random controlled noise to their corresponding instantiation parameters. Our results with a mere 200 training samples per class surpass existing character recognition results in the EMNIST-letter dataset while achieving the existing results in the three datasets: EMNIST-balanced, EMNIST-digits, and MNIST. We also develop a strategy to effectively use a combination of loss functions to improve reconstructions. Our system is useful in character recognition for localized languages that lack much labeled training data and even in other related more general contexts such as object recognition.
Genome-wide Analysis Identifies Interleukin-10 mRNA as Target of Tristetraprolin*

Tristetraprolin (TTP) is an RNA-binding protein required for the rapid degradation of mRNAs containing AU-rich elements. Targets regulated by TTP include the mRNAs encoding tumor necrosis factor-α, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and immediate early response 3. To identify novel target mRNAs of TTP in macrophages, we used a genome-wide approach that combines RNA immunoprecipitation and microarray analysis. A list was compiled of 137 mRNAs that are associated with TTP with an estimated accuracy on the order of 90%. Sequence analysis revealed a highly significant enrichment of AU-rich element motifs, with AUUUA pentamers present in 96% and UUAUUUAUU nonamers present in 44% of TTP-associated mRNAs. We further show that IL-10 is a novel target regulated by TTP. IL-10 mRNA levels were found to be elevated because of a reduced decay rate in primary macrophages from TTP-/- mice. Our study demonstrates the importance of experimental approaches for identifying targets of RNA-binding proteins.