Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Math Wars

During the 1990s, the teaching of mathematics became the subject of heated controversies known as the math wars. The immediate origins of the conflicts can be traced to the “reform” stimulated by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics. Traditionalists fear that reform-oriented, “standards-based” curricula are superficial and undermine classical mathematical values; reformers claim that such curricula reflect a deeper, richer view of mathematics than the traditional curriculum. An historical perspective reveals that the underlying issues being contested—Is mathematics for the elite or for the masses? Are there tensions between “excellence” and “equity”? Should mathematics be seen as a democratizing force or as a vehicle for maintaining the status quo? —are more than a century old. This article describes the context and history, provides details on the current state, and offers suggestions regarding ways to findaproductive middle ground.
Simulation Video Games as Learning Tools: An Examination of Instructor Guided Reflection on Cognitive Outcomes

SIMULATION VIDEO GAMES AS LEARNING TOOLS: AN EXAMINATION OF INSTRUCTOR GUIDED REFLECTION ON COGNITIVE OUTCOMES by Kevin R. Wood Simulation video games potentially offer students the opportunity to participate in activities designed to bring about higher order thinking. Gee (2005b, 2007) elucidates that without the guidance of instructors, humans involved in a simulation experience have a high probability of finding creative but spurious patterns and generalizations that send learners down miseducative paths. The focus of this study is an examination of the function of instructor guided reflection and prior participant interest and exposure to video games in promoting affective and cognitive learning during participant use of single and multiplayer simulation video games in the classroom. One hundred twentyeight students enrolled in World History classes at a suburban high school located in the Southeastern United States participated in this research study. Participants completed a survey of their interest and prior exposure to video games, played a tutorial of the simulation video game, played a single player or multiplayer version of the game with or without instructor guided reflection, and completed a posttest of reasoning and knowledge ability. The researcher used independent samples t tests, analysis of variance, and descriptive statistical analysis in combination with qualitative methods outlined by Miles and Huberman (1994) to analyze the data. Thomas (2003) described the mixed methodology used to analyze and interpret the data in this research study. Quantitative analysis of the data revealed that participants who engaged in both reflection and multiplayer groups scored significantly higher on posttest of reasoning ability at the . 05 level. Furthermore, qualitative analysis revealed that participants in the multiplayer and reflection treatment groups were more likely to be engaged in the lesson, participate in more cognitive discussions, and made more connections to the large context of the lesson. Participants with a high level of prior interest in video games scored significantly higher on a posttest of reasoning ability at the . 05 level of significance and were more likely to participate actively during the lesson. The findings from this study suggest the need for teaching educators to utilize reflective and collaborative practices in the incorporation of digital technology in the classroom. SIMULATION VIDEO GAMES AS LEARNING TOOLS: AN EXAMINATION OF INSTRUCTOR GUIDED REFLECTION ON COGNITIVE OUTCOMES by Kevin R. Wood
A Novel Method for Semi-automatic 2D to 3D Video Conversion

In this paper, we present a novel semi-automatic method for converting monoscopic video to stereoscopic video. An efficient interactive image cutout tool is first used to segment the object-of-interest in the key frames. Then, we assign the initial depth information to the segmented objects. These objects are tracked in the whole video sequence through a bi-directional KIT (Kanade-Iucas- Tomashi) algorithm. In addition, depth interpolation is employed to produce the depth information in the non-key frames. Finally, stereoscopic video is synthesized in consideration of different 3D display types. The experimental results show that our method can fulfill 2D to 3D video conversion both reliably and efficiently.
Serine protease HtrA1 accumulates in corneal transforming growth factor beta induced protein (TGFBIp) amyloid deposits

Purpose Specific mutations in the transforming growth factor beta induced (TGFBI) gene are associated with lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) type 1 and its variants. In this study, we performed an in-depth proteomic analysis of human corneal amyloid deposits associated with the heterozygous A546D mutation in TGFBI. Methods Corneal amyloid deposits and the surrounding corneal stroma were procured by laser capture microdissection from a patient with an A546D mutation in TGFBI. Proteins in the captured corneal samples and healthy corneal stroma were identified with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and quantified by calculating exponentially modified Protein Abundance Index values. Mass spectrometry data were further compared for identifying enriched regions of transforming growth factor beta induced protein (TGFBIp/keratoepithelin/βig-h3) and detecting proteolytic cleavage sites in TGFBIp. Results A C-terminal fragment of TGFBIp containing residues Y571-R588 derived from the fourth fasciclin 1 domain (FAS1–4), serum amyloid P-component, apolipoprotein A-IV, clusterin, and serine protease HtrA1 were significantly enriched in the amyloid deposits compared to the healthy cornea. The proteolytic cleavage sites in TGFBIp from the diseased cornea are in accordance with the activity of serine protease HtrA1. We also identified small amounts of the serine protease kallikrein-14 in the amyloid deposits. Conclusions Corneal amyloid caused by the A546D mutation in TGFBI involves several proteins associated with other varieties of amyloidosis. The proteomic data suggest that the sequence 571-YHIGDEILVSGGIGALVR-588 contains the amyloid core of the FAS1–4 domain of TGFBIp and point at serine protease HtrA1 as the most likely candidate responsible for the proteolytic processing of amyloidogenic and aggregated TGFBIp, which explains the accumulation of HtrA1 in the amyloid deposits. With relevance to identifying serine proteases, we also found glia-derived nexin (protease-nexin 1) in the amyloid deposits, making this serine protease inhibitor a good candidate for the physiologically relevant inhibitor of one of the amyloid-associated serine proteases in the cornea and probably in other tissues. Noteworthy, the present results are in accordance with our findings from a previous study of corneal amyloid deposits caused by the V624M mutation in TGFBI, suggesting a common mechanism for lattice corneal dystrophies (LCDs) associated with mutations in the TGFBIp FAS1–4 domain.
Practising the Diffusion of Organizational Routines

Ever since Nelson and Winter published their Evolutionary Theory of Economic Change in 1982 there has been lively debate in the fields of organizational theory and evolutionary economics about the characteristics and effects of organizational routines. The authors discuss a practice-based perspective on routines in connection with diffusion processes. An approach is developed by placing Feldman and Pentland's concept of routines, which draws on structuration and actor network theories, in relation to a knowing in practice perspective. Within a relational approach, the authors propose taking a practice-based perspective to the diffusion of organizational routines, with (i) knowing, (ii) collaborations, and (iii) policy relevance being the critical categories.
Biocellion: accelerating computer simulation of multicellular biological system models

MOTIVATION Biological system behaviors are often the outcome of complex interactions among a large number of cells and their biotic and abiotic environment. Computational biologists attempt to understand, predict and manipulate biological system behavior through mathematical modeling and computer simulation. Discrete agent-based modeling (in combination with high-resolution grids to model the extracellular environment) is a popular approach for building biological system models. However, the computational complexity of this approach forces computational biologists to resort to coarser resolution approaches to simulate large biological systems. High-performance parallel computers have the potential to address the computing challenge, but writing efficient software for parallel computers is difficult and time-consuming. RESULTS We have developed Biocellion, a high-performance software framework, to solve this computing challenge using parallel computers. To support a wide range of multicellular biological system models, Biocellion asks users to provide their model specifics by filling the function body of pre-defined model routines. Using Biocellion, modelers without parallel computing expertise can efficiently exploit parallel computers with less effort than writing sequential programs from scratch. We simulate cell sorting, microbial patterning and a bacterial system in soil aggregate as case studies. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION Biocellion runs on x86 compatible systems with the 64 bit Linux operating system and is freely available for academic use. Visit http://biocellion.com for additional information.
Comparative Global Gene Expression Profiles of Wild-Type Yersinia pestis CO92 and Its Braun Lipoprotein Mutant at Flea and Human Body Temperatures

Braun/murein lipoprotein (Lpp) is involved in inflammatory responses and septic shock. We previously characterized a Δlpp mutant of Yersinia pestis CO92 and found that this mutant was defective in surviving in macrophages and was attenuated in a mouse inhalation model of plague when compared to the highly virulent wild-type (WT) bacterium. We performed global transcriptional profiling of WT Y. pestis and its Δlpp mutant using microarrays. The organisms were cultured at 26 and 37 degrees Celsius to simulate the flea vector and mammalian host environments, respectively. Our data revealed vastly different effects of lpp mutation on the transcriptomes of Y. pestis grown at 37 versus 26°C. While the absence of Lpp resulted mainly in the downregulation of metabolic genes at 26°C, the Y. pestis Δlpp mutant cultured at 37°C exhibited profound alterations in stress response and virulence genes, compared to WT bacteria. We investigated one of the stress-related genes (htrA) downregulated in the Δlpp mutant relative to WT Y. pestis. Indeed, complementation of the Δlpp mutant with the htrA gene restored intracellular survival of the Y. pestis Δlpp mutant. Our results support a role for Lpp in Y. pestis adaptation to the host environment, possibly via transcriptional activation of htrA.
Coordinating dangerous goods vehicles: C-ITS applications for safe road tunnels

Despite the existing regulation efforts and measures, vehicles with dangerous goods still pose significant risks on public safety, especially in road tunnels. Solutions based on cooperative intelligent transportation system (C-ITS) are promising measures, however, they have received limited attention. We propose C-ITS applications that coordinate dangerous goods vehicles to minimize the risk by maintaining safe distances between them in road tunnels. Different mechanisms, including global centralized coordination, global distributed coordination, and local coordination, are proposed and investigated. A preliminary simulation is performed and demonstrates their effectiveness.
Energy-efficient hybrid precoding for broadband millimeter wave communication systems

Due to the power consumption and hardware implementation cost limitation, hybrid analog and digital precoding is a promising candidate for millimeter wave (mmWave) large-scale multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. Most of the prior work on hybrid beamforming considers frequency-flat channels. However, in practice, thanks to the large amount of available spectral resource, mmWave communication systems are expected to be broadband with frequency selective channels. In this paper, we focus on the design of the energy efficient transmission for broadband mmWave MIMO orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication systems. A low complexity optimization algorithm is proposed to calculate the hybrid radio frequency (analog) and baseband (digital) precoding matrices. Extensive numerical results are provided to evaluate the energy efficiency performance of the system and confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Effects of Accent and Age on the Transcription of Medically Related Utterances

This pilot study investigated the effect speaker language and participant age had on the transcription of medically related utterances. Utterances were produced by native and nonnative English speakers. Sixty adults across three age groups participated. Measures of total number of words correct indicated participants had significantly higher scores on items produced by the native English speaker compared to the nonnative English speakers. Young adults had statistically significant higher scores compared to the other age groups. Findings from this study indicate that the presence of an accent and the age of the listener may affect accurate transcription of medically related utterances.
Nano-LED array fabrication suitable for future single photon lithography

We report on an alternative illumination concept for a future lithography based on single-photon emitters and important technological steps towards its implementation. Nano light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are chosen as the photon emitters. First, the development of their fabrication and their integration technology is presented, then their optical characteristics assessed. Last, size-controlled nano-LEDs, well positioned in an array, are electrically driven and utilized for illumination. Nanostructures are lithographically formed, demonstrating the feasibility of the approach. The potential of single-photon lithography to reach the ultimate scale limits in mass production is discussed.
Glutamine May Repress the Weak LPS and Enhance the Strong Heat Shock Induction of Monocyte and Lymphocyte HSP72 Proteins but May Not Modulate the HSP72 mRNA in Patients with Sepsis or Trauma

Objective. We assessed the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or heat shock (HS) induction of heat shock protein-72 (HSP72) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with severe sepsis (SS) or trauma-related systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), compared to healthy individuals (H); we also investigated any pre- or posttreatment modulating glutamine (Gln) effect. Methods. SS (11), SIRS (10), and H (19) PBMCs were incubated with 1 μg/mL LPS or 43°HS. Gln 10 mM was either added 1 h before or 1 h after induction or was not added at all. We measured monocyte (m), lymphocyte (l), mRNA HSP72, HSP72 polymorphisms, interleukins (ILs), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and cortisol levels. Results. Baseline lHSP72 was higher in SS (p < 0.03), and mHSP72 in SIRS (p < 0.02), compared to H. Only HS induced l/mHSP72/mRNA HSP72; LPS induced IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and MCP-1. Induced mRNA was related to l/mHSP72, and was related negatively to cytokines. Intracellular l/mHSP72/HSP72 mRNA was related to serum ILs, not being influenced by cortisol, illness severity, and HSP72 polymorphisms. Gln did not induce mRNA in any group but modified l/mHSP72 after LPS/HS induction unpredictably. Conclusions. HSP72 mRNA and l/mHSP72 are higher among critically ill patients, further induced by HS, not by LPS. HSP72 proteins and HSP72 mRNA are related to serum ILs and are negatively related to supernatant cytokines, not being influenced by HSP72 polymorphisms, cortisol, or illness severity. Gln may depress l/mHSP72 after LPS exposure and enhance them after HS induction, but it may not affect early induced HSP72 mRNA.
MHC Haplotype Matching for Unrelated Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Background Current criteria for the selection of unrelated donors for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) include matching for the alleles of each human leukocyte antigen (HLA) locus within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), however, remains a significant and potentially life-threatening complication even after HLA-identical unrelated HCT. The MHC harbors more than 400 genes, but the total number of transplantation antigens is unknown. Genes that influence transplantation outcome could be identified by using linkage disequilibrium (LD)-mapping approaches, if the extended MHC haplotypes of the unrelated donor and recipient could be defined. Methods and Findings We isolated DNA strands extending across 2 million base pairs of the MHC to determine the physical linkage of HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 alleles in 246 HCT recipients and their HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1 allele-matched unrelated donors. MHC haplotype mismatching was associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of severe acute GVHD (odds ratio 4.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.34–8.70, p < 0.0001) and with lower risk of disease recurrence (hazard ratio 0.45; 95% CI, 0.22–0.92, p = 0.03). Conclusions The MHC harbors genes that encode unidentified transplantation antigens. The three-locus HLA-A, -B, -DRB1 haplotype serves as a proxy for GVHD risk among HLA-identical transplant recipients. The phasing method provides an approach for mapping novel MHC-linked transplantation determinants and a means to decrease GVHD-related morbidity after HCT from unrelated donors.
LEAP: a Manual for Learning Evaluation and Planning in Community Development

This manual is designed to assist in the planning and evaluation of practice in a participatory manner. This is a detailed exploration of the LEAP model. Shorter introductory explanations are available in ' LEAP - step by step' and in the online learning tool. These may be particularly useful for those coming to LEAP for the first time.
Simvastatin Augments Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Proinflammatory Responses in Macrophages by Differential Regulation of the c-Fos and c-Jun Transcription Factors1

The 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, or statins, are a widely used class of drugs for cholesterol reduction. The reduction in mortality and morbidity in statin-treated patients is incompletely explained by their effects on cholesterol, and an anti-inflammatory role for the drug has been proposed. We report in this work that, unexpectedly, simvastatin enhances LPS-induced IL-12p40 production by murine macrophages, and that it does so by activating the IL-12p40 promoter. Mutational analysis and dominant-negative expression studies indicate that both C/EBP and AP-1 transcription factors have a crucial role in promoter activation. This occurs via a c-Fos- and c-Jun-based mechanism; we demonstrate that ectopic expression of c-Jun activates the IL-12p40 promoter, whereas expression of c-Fos inhibits IL-12p40 promoter activity. Simvastatin prevents LPS-induced c-Fos expression, thereby relieving the inhibitory effect of c-Fos on the IL-12p40 promoter. Concomitantly, simvastatin induces the phosphorylation of c-Jun by the c-Jun N-terminal kinase, resulting in c-Jun-dependent activation of the IL-12p40 promoter. This appears to be a general mechanism because simvastatin also augments LPS-dependent activation of the TNF-α promoter, perhaps because the TNF-α promoter has C/EBP and AP-1 binding sites in a similar configuration to the IL-12p40 promoter. The fact that simvastatin potently augments LPS-induced IL-12p40 and TNF-α production has implications for the treatment of bacterial infections in statin-treated patients.
A 3D Searchable Database of Transgenic Zebrafish Gal4 and Cre Lines for Functional Neuroanatomy Studies

Transgenic methods enable the selective manipulation of neurons for functional mapping of neuronal circuits. Using confocal microscopy, we have imaged the cellular-level expression of 109 transgenic lines in live 6 day post fertilization larvae, including 80 Gal4 enhancer trap lines, 9 Cre enhancer trap lines and 20 transgenic lines that express fluorescent proteins in defined gene-specific patterns. Image stacks were acquired at single micron resolution, together with a broadly expressed neural marker, which we used to align enhancer trap reporter patterns into a common 3-dimensional reference space. To facilitate use of this resource, we have written software that enables searching for transgenic lines that label cells within a selectable 3-dimensional region of interest (ROI) or neuroanatomical area. This software also enables the intersectional expression of transgenes to be predicted, a feature which we validated by detecting cells with co-expression of Cre and Gal4. Many of the imaged enhancer trap lines show intrinsic brain-specific expression. However, to increase the utility of lines that also drive expression in non-neuronal tissue we have designed a novel UAS reporter, that suppresses expression in heart, muscle, and skin through the incorporation of microRNA binding sites in a synthetic 3′ untranslated region. Finally, we mapped the site of transgene integration, thus providing molecular identification of the expression pattern for most lines. Cumulatively, this library of enhancer trap lines provides genetic access to 70% of the larval brain and is therefore a powerful and broadly accessible tool for the dissection of neural circuits in larval zebrafish.
Design of matrix wiener filter for noise reduction and speech enhancement in hearing aids

This paper proposes an algorithm for matrix wiener filter for speech processing in case of hearing aids. Hearing aid (HA) devices currently used are less efficient as environmental noise already added into speech signal corrupts it and heard by listener. Introducing wiener filter in HA device allows reducing noise to particular level. By increasing number of secondary channels can enhance the performance of the device. Matrix wiener filter is a technique which considers matrix combination of speech and noise correlations and has better performance than multichannel wiener filter. A multi input multi output (MIMO) system having multiple target speech signals is used, it utilizes matrix wiener filter for nullifying noise in speech which estimates the speech coming towards listener. Wiener matrix coefficients are calculated from speech and noise correlation matrices. Simulation results prove that matrix wiener filter performs better compared to multichannel and single channel wiener filter.