Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE LANGUAGE OF EMAIL

Electronic mail, or email, as it has come to be known, is one of the most popular applications of online digital technologies. The specific technology that made email possible already existed in the 1960s and 1970s, but only 20 or so years later did this new means of communication become truly widespread. By the late 1990s, the expression "You've got mail! " no longer necessarily meant a paper letter waiting in a brightly painted mailbox, and a popular Hollywood movie was created around this theme. Hundreds of millions of people now use email daily for countless purposes, from carrying out administrative tasks and distributing announcements of public events to sharing recipes and keeping in touch with family and friends. In my last lecture I briefly reviewed the main forms of computer-mediated communication, distinguishing between synchronous and asynchronous forms. In that lecture, I emphasized synchronous forms; in today’s lecture, I will focus primarily on asynchronous communication, most specifically on two-person email. Most research on this topic to date has been about group-based asynchronous communication, for instance Usenet newsgroups and listserv discussion lists. It is not surprising that the group forms of asynchronous communication have been a popular subject for research: this really is a new
Visual masking at video scene cuts

We examined the sensitivity of the human visual system to video coding artifacts following a scene cut. Based on classical studies of visual masking, we would expect that sensitivity to coding artifacts would be reduced immediately following a cut. This study focused on the visibility of coding artifacts introduced by an MPEG-2 codec. Three image sequences were selected, each with a scene cut in the middle, such that image content in the first half was different from that in the second half. Using psychophysical methods, visibility threshold were estimated for coding artifacts inserted in the first, second, or third frame following the scene cut. Visibility thresholds were also estimated for coding artifacts that were inserted simultaneously in the first and second frames following the cut. it was found that visual masking effects were present in the first frame following a scene cut, but were virtually absent by the second or the third frame. The results of this research may be used to optimize the behavior of video coding algorithms at scene cuts.
TECHNOLOGIES FOR SECOND LANGUAGE LITERACY

Information and communication technology (ICT) has been used in language classrooms for more than two decades. Over this time, classroom use has moved from drill, text manipulation, and word processing to more interactive and communicative applications such as e-mail, chat, and web-based programs, requiring learners to acquire computer literacies. This chapter will begin by discussing both the parameters of ICT and the scope of literacies. It is then organized around discussion of the two types of literacies at the intersection of ICT and L2 learning: how new technologies facilitate acquisition of L2 literacies and what L2 literacies are needed for learners to participate in an increasingly digital world. Although research has mostly been limited to small-scale context-dependent case studies of individual classrooms, it has identified a number of issues that need to be considered as teachers (and learners) use ICT for language learning. Although ICT provides a natural context for learner autonomy, that autonomy needs to be developed systematically. In addition, ICT provides a context for learner identity formation through hybrid uses of language(s), in ways unexpected by teachers and learners. These new ways of using language may empower and motivate learners. Similarly, whereas ICT provides opportunities for collaboration and interaction, they are not automatic, and instruction needs to be skillfully scaffolded for learners to benefit from such opportunities.
Aspects of Modeling Dynamical Systems by Differential-Algebraic Equations

In recent years the analysis and synthesis of control systems in descriptor form has been established. The general description of dynamical systems by differential-algebraic equations (DAE) is important for many applications in mechanics and mechatronics, in electrical and electronic engineering, and in chemical engineering as well. In this contribution the pros and cons of system modelling by differential-algebraic equations are discussed and an actual state of the art of descriptor systems is presented. Firstly, the advantages of modelling are touched in general and illustrated in detail by Lagranges equations of first kind, by subsystem modeling and by the statement of the tracking control problem. Secondly, the development of tools for numerical integration is discussed resulting in the comment that today stable and efficient DAE solvers exist and that the simulation of descriptor systems is not a problem any longer. Thirdly, the methods of analyzing and designing descriptor systems are considered. Here, linear and nonlinear systems have to be distinguished. For linear descriptor systems more or less the required methods to solve usual control tasks are available in principal. But actually a related program package for fast and reliable application of these methods is still missed. However, in the near future such a toolbox is expected. Main difficulties arise for nonlinear problems. A few results on stability and optimal control are known only and still a lot of research work has to be effected. In spite of these deficiencies, all over the descriptor system approach is very attractive for modeling and simulation, and will become attractive more and more for analysis and design.
Graphical Literacy Moderates the Interaction of Decorative Dimensionality and Cognitive Demand in Computer-Based Graph Comprehension

Scholars have argued that imprecise data graphics, specifically those displaying decorative dimensionality of data, may lead to inaccurate interpretations. Empirical tests of decorative dimensionality have produced mixed results. The literature also suggests that the effects of decorative dimensionality may depend on the cognitive demand of a given task. This study employs an experimental design in which participants receive three levels of decorative dimensionality amidst systematically varying levels of cognitive demand. Graph type and subject matter knowledge are controlled for by design. The hypothesis that the impact of decorative dimensionality on comprehension not only depends on the cognitive demand of the task at hand, but also on the user's graphical literacy, is tested. Results indicate that graphical literacy moderates the interaction between cognitive demand and decorative dimensionality. A familiarity effect may also be present during the display of common two-dimensional bars.
Price and persistence in distance education

This article reports on a research project aimed at investigating the effect of employment and a substantially increased fee level on student persistence and attrition at one of the two major New Zealand distance learning institutions, the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. Student perceptions of fees’ importance are classified into five groups encompassing both economic and ‘education as investment’ considerations. Employer reimbursement of fees upon successful course completion was found to be a strong influential factor in student persistence.
Toward a Theory of Computer Support for Collaborative Learning

Things change. For decades teachers have adhered to the familiar and the routine, teaching largely as they themselves were taught (Cuban, 1993). But there are signs of change in today's classroom. Teachers are beginning to seek new theories and approaches to learning. One currently prominent theme of change is the movement away from the traditional, teacher-centered approach to instruction toward more collaborative approaches such as cooperative learning (Slavin et al., 1985), project-based learning (Blumenfeld et al., 1991), problem-based learning (Barrows & Tamblyn, 1980), and reciprocal instruction (Palincsar & Brown, 1984) in which peerto-peer interaction is highly valued. One interesting question, with respect to these newly emerging forms of instruction, is how can they be supported and enhanced by technology? The dominant paradigm for past work in the use of computers (both in instruction and in other settings) has involved designing software for the solitary user. Recently, however, researchers have begun to investigate the practices and shared artifacts by which groups coordinate their work with an eye toward the development of new facilitating technologies (Bodker & Pederson, 1991). This emerging area of study, known as computer support for cooperative work (CSCW), is founded on the notion that computers can be used to facilitate, augment, and even redefine interactions among members of a work group (Galegher & Kraut, 1990). The term groupware has been coined for software that is meant to be used by groups rather than single individuals (Stefik & Brown, 1989). Research in this area has stimulated interest in the educational possibilities engendered by CSCW, and the acronym CSCL is often used for computer support of collaborative learning, the more focused study of the use of collaboration technology in instruction.
Set Mapping in the Method of Imprecision

The Method of Imprecision, or MoI, is a semi-automated set-based approach which uses mathematics of fuzzy sets to aid the designer making decisions with imprecise information in the preliminary design stage. The Method of Imprecision uses preference to represent the imprecision in engineering design. The preferences are specified both in the design variable space (DVS) and the performance variable space (PVS). To reach the overall preference which is needed to evaluate designs, the mapping between the DVS and the PVS should be explored. Many engineering design tools can only produce precise results with precise specifications, and usually the cost is high. In the preliminary stage, the specifications are imprecise and resources are limited. Hence, it is not cost-effective nor necessary to use these engineering design tools directly to study the mapping between the DVS and the PVS. An interpolation model is introduced to the MoI to construct metamodels for the actual mapping function between the DVS and the PVS. Due to the nature of engineering design, multistage metamodels are needed. Experimental design is used to choose design points for the first metamodel. In order to find an efficient way to choose design points when a priori information is available, many sampling criteria are discussed and tested on two specific examples. The difference between different sampling criteria when the number of added design points is small, while more design points do improve the accuracy of the metamodel substantially. The metamodels can be used to induce preferences in the DVS or the PVS according to the extension principle. The Level Interval Algorithm (LIA) is a discrete approximate implementation of the extension principle. The resulting preference by the LIA is presented as an alpha-cut, which is the set of designs or performances with a certain level of preference. There are some limitations of the LIA, especially for multidimensional DVS and PVS. A new extension of the LIA is proposed to compute alpha-cuts with more accuracy and less limitations. The designers have more control over the trade-off between the cost and accuracy of the computation with the new extension of the LIA. The results of the Method of Imprecision should be the set of alternative designs in the DVS at a certain preference level, and the set of achievable performances in the PVS. The information about preferences in the DVS and the PVS is needed to transfer back and forth. Usually the mapping from the PVS to the DVS is unavailable, while it is needed to induce preference in the DVS from the PVS. A new method is constructed to compute the alpha-cuts in both spaces from preferences specified in the DVS and the PVS. Finally, a new measure is proposed to find the most cost-effective sampling region of new design points for a metamodel. Also, the full implementation of the Method of Imprecision is listed in detail. Then it is applied to an example of the structure design of a passenger vehicle, and comparisons are made between the new results and previous results.
Micro‐cavity design of bottom‐emitting AMOLED with white OLED and RGBW color filters for 100% color gamut

Abstract— Two optical structures used for a bottom‐emitting white organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) is reported. An RGBW color system was employed because of its high efficiency. For red, green, and blue (RGB) subpixels, the cavity resonance was enhanced by the use of a dielectric mirror, and for the white (W) subpixel, the mirror was removed. The optical length of the cavities was controlled by two different ways: by the thickness of the dielectric filter on top of the mirror or by the angle of oblique emission. With both methods, active‐matrix OLEDs (AMOLEDs) that reproduced a color gamut exceeding 100% of the NTSC (National Television System Committee) standard were fabricated. More importantly, the transmission of a white OLED through R/G/B color filters was significantly higher (up to 50%) than that of a conventional structure not employing a mirror, while at the same time as the color gamut increased from ∼75 to ∼100% NTSC.
Individualized Classroom Environment Questionnaire

perceptions of actual or preferred classroom environment. The scales are called Personalization, Participation, Independence, Investigation, and Differentiation. A typical item in the Independence scale is &dquo;Students choose their partners for group work,&dquo; which is answered using five responses, from &dquo;almost never&dquo; to &dquo;very often. &dquo; Data collected from a sample of 766 students and their 34 teachers supported the internal consistency and discriminant validity of each form of each scale, and showed that each scale of the student &dquo;actual&dquo; form differentiated between the perceptions of students in different class-
The Effects of Videotape Recording on Microteaching Training Techniques for Education Students.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate whether the use of videotape recordings is an effective method of teacher education prior to full‐time teaching practice. Two groups of students were used for the study. The first group was allowed to practice their classroom skills through micro‐teaching with the aid of video recording equipment. The second group also practised their skills through micro‐teaching but without the aid of video recording equipment. At the end of the study it was discovered that the group which used the video recording equipment had made more significant progress in the mastery of the specified teaching skills
Removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution using activated charcoal modified manganese ferrite (AC-MnFe2O4): kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics studies

Abstract The potential of activated charcoal supported on Manganese ferrite (AC-MnFe2O4) powder, for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solution was investigated. Batch adsorption studies were conducted and various parameters such as initial dye concentration, pH, and temperature were studied to observe their effects in the dye adsorption process. The optimum conditions for the adsorption of MB onto AC-MnFe2O4 were found to be time and pH dependent. The amount of dye adsorbed increases from 1.67 to 27.49 mg/g as the initial concentration increases from 10 to 50 mg/L. Kinetics modeling showed that the pseudo-second-order model best described the process while Freundlich isotherm gives the best fit. The maximum adsorption isotherm of 77.44 mg/g was obtained for the adsorbent. The adsorption/desorption study showed that the adsorbent has over 99% for more than seven cycles. Increase in temperature from 30 to 50 °C raised the Qe, equilibrium adsorption capacity from 86.39 to 101.79 mg/g while the thermodynamic study shows that the process is favored with ΔG < 0, ΔH value shows that the process is endothermic.
Optimizing of maseration with ethanol and water solvents against the toxicity of extract of wuluh starfruit (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) in controlling larva of Aedes aegypti

The control of Aedes sp. mosquito need to be conducted appropriately and environmental friendly. Wuluh starfruit (Aaverrhoa bilimbi l.) contains alkaloids, saponins, and flavonoids, can be used as insecticides. In its usual use through maceration, good maceration will produce good toxicity as well as the death of Aedes aegypti larvae. In this study an optimization of the composition of ethanol and water was carried out as a dancer in the maceration process, on fruit and tested for toxicity to Aedes mosquito larvae. Aim: To determine the toxicity of carambola fruit in killing Aedes aegypti larvae using the difference maceration method on the ratio of ethanol-water dancers (100% -0%, 75% -25%, 50% -50%, 25% -75% and 0% -100%). Materials and Methods: This was an experimental study, the object of the research was the extract of Wuluh starfruit and the difference in maceration on the spread between ethanol and water. Mortality data were analyzed by ANOVA, if there was a real effect of the treatment, it was followed by LSD test, and phytochemical analysis of Wuluh starfruit. Results and Discussions: The results obtained by extract of carambola fruit (Averrhoa bilimbi l.) The highest number of dead mosquitoes was obtained through an extraction process with the composition of ethanol and water solvents with a ratio of 100%: 0% with an average number of deaths of 25 (100%), significant influence on the average mortality of Aedes aegypti larvae from various variations of ethanol and water solvents in the extraction of fruit and wuluh starfruit leaves (Averrhoa bilimbi l.).
On the detectability of marine oil pollution in European marginal waters by means of ERS SAR imagery

The authors have analyzed more than 700 ERS SAR images of European marginal waters (acquired between December 1996 and November 1998 over the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and the northwestern Mediterranean Sea) with respect to the detectability of marine oil pollution. By taking into account mean surface winds the authors define the "normalized visibility" of marine oil pollution, i.e., the dependence of the oil spill detectability on wind speed. The normalized visibility, therefore, is a quantitative estimate of the usefulness of satellite-borne SAR techniques for oil spill monitoring, and it enables the authors to show that the Baltic Proper, even though less pollution has been detected by the ERS SAR, is likely to be as polluted as the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Finally, they compare the results of the analysis of SAR images from the Baltic Sea with pollution data provided by local oil surveillance authorities. They use surveillance data from oil spills detected by both satellite-borne and airborne sensors to get more information on the life time of such oil spills. Again, this comparison helps to better describe the efficiency of the ERS SAR for oil spill monitoring.
Mobile phone images and video in science teaching and learning

This article reports a study into how mobile phones could be used to enhance teaching and learning in secondary school science. It describes four lessons devised by groups of Sri Lankan teachers all of which centred on the use of the mobile phone cameras rather than their communication functions. A qualitative methodological approach was used to analyse data collected from the teachers' planning, observations of the lessons and subsequent interviews with selected pupils. The results show that using images and video captured on mobile phones supported the teachers not only in bringing the outside world into the classroom but also in delivering instructions, in assessing students' learning and in correcting students' misconceptions. In these instances, the way the images from the mobile phone cameras supported students' learning is explained using a variety of approaches to understand how images support learning.
Allophone clustering for continuous speech recognition

Two methods are presented for subword clustering. The first method is an agglomerative clustering algorithm. This method is completely data-driven and finds clusters without any external guidance. The second method uses decision trees for clustering. This method uses an expert-generated list of questions about contexts and recursively selects the most appropriate question to split the allophones. Preliminary results showed that when the training set has a good coverage of the allophonic variations in the test set, both method are capable of high-performance recognition. However, under vocabulary-independent conditions, the method using tree-based allophones outperformed agglomerative clustering because of its superior generalization capability. <<ETX>>
Planning Bioinformatics Education and Information Services in an Academic Health Sciences Library

This article describes a planning process for the development of bioinformatics education and information services in an academic health sciences library. The project’s five goals were to:(1) understand the changing environment for information related to bioinformatics;(2) understand the information needs of faculty whose work involves bioinformatics; (3) explore potential service offerings; (4) anticipate factors influencing the implementation of new services; and (5) envision strategies for recruiting and training information professionals to fill these roles. The authors describe the library’s practice environment and review recent research on the information needs of biomedical researchers and clinicians. A variety of potential library-based services in relation to bioinformatics are enumerated, and the institutional, environmental, and personnel factors affecting the deployment of services are examined. Finally, the authors describe the educational and training context of the library, and explore potential roles for librarians and information professionals in the context of bioinformatics services.
Quality asessment of coded images using numerical category scaling

The large variety of algorithms for data compression has created a growing need for methods to judge (new) compression algorithms. The results of several subjective experiments illustrate that numerical category scaling techniques provide an efficient and valid way not only to obtain compression ratio versus quality curves that characterize coder performance over a broad range of compression ratios, but also to assess perceived image quality in a much smaller range (e.g. close to threshold level). Our first object is to discuss a number of simple techniques that can be used to assess perceived image quality. We show how to analyze data obtained from numerical category scaling experiments and how to set up such experiments. Second, we demonstrate that the results from a numerical scaling experiment depend on the specific nature of the subject's task in combination with the nature of the images to be judged. As results from subjective scaling experiments depend on many factors, we conclude that one should be very careful in selecting an appropriate assessment technique.