Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Learners' Experiences in Using e-Learning Technology in the Open University Malaysia

As an attempt to reduce the high attrition rate among its new students, Open University Malaysia (OUM) has been encouraging learners to use e-learning technology and digital learning materials for their studies and interaction with the university’s academic staff. This paper reports the findings of a study that examined new learners’ experiences at OUM in using e-learning technology and digital learning materials. The study was based on 438 usable questionnaires completed by a random sample of new learners. The constructs used include perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, computer self-efficacy and anxiety. The study found that new learners at OUM were generally receptive towards e-learning technology and digital learning materials. Usage of mobile devices for downloading study materials such as HTML modules, i-Lectures and i-Radio learning segments ranged from high for laptops and mobile phones to moderate for MP3 and MP4 players to low for tablet computers. There is no significant difference in elearning technology usage between older and younger cohorts. An interesting finding of the study was that perceived usefulness was the only significant factor influencing the use of technology while other factors including attitude were not. Finally, the study found that there are significant barriers to e-learning usage, principal among them are technology and academic support, time, and accessibility. [ABSTRACT BY AUTHORS]
Effect of seasonal changes on the quantity of phytochemicals in the leaves of three medicinal plants from Limpopo province, South Africa

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of seasonal changes on the quantity of phytochemicals in leaves of three medicinal plants: Barleria dinteri, Grewia flava and Jatropha lagarinthoides, collected from Limpopo province in South Africa. Three medicinal plants were collected during different seasons of the year and phytochemicals were quantified on plant samples collected in each season. Alkaloids and tannins were in high amounts during colder seasons (autumn and winter) in all plants, whereas flavonoids were in high amounts during warmer seasons (spring and summer). In addition, saponins were in high amounts during warmer seasons in G. flava and J. lagarinthoides, while no significant seasonal difference was recorded in B. dinteri. Furthermore, simple phenols were in high amounts during autumn in G. flava, while in high amounts during summer in J. lagarinthoides with no significant difference amongst seasons in B. dinteri. The findings of the study indicate that seasonal changes affected the quantity of inherent phytochemicals in the leaves of three medicinal plants under current study in a phytochemical specific manner. Key words: Barleria dinteri, Grewia flava, Jatropha lagarinthoides, phytochemicals, seasonal changes, quantitative
Classification of Movement Intention Using Independent Components of Premovement EEG

Many previous studies on brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) have focused on electroencephalography (EEG) signals elicited during motor-command execution to generate device commands. However, exploiting pre-execution brain activity related to movement intention could improve the practical applicability of BMIs. Therefore, in this study we investigated whether EEG signals occurring before movement execution could be used to classify movement intention. Six subjects performed reaching tasks that required them to move a cursor to one of four targets distributed horizontally and vertically from the center. Using independent components of EEG acquired during a premovement phase, two-class classifications were performed for left vs. right trials and top vs. bottom trials using a support vector machine. Instructions were presented visually (test) and aurally (condition). In the test condition, accuracy for a single window was about 75%, and it increased to 85% in classification using two windows. In the control condition, accuracy for a single window was about 73%, and it increased to 80% in classification using two windows. Classification results showed that a combination of two windows from different time intervals during the premovement phase improved classification performance in the both conditions compared to a single window classification. By categorizing the independent components according to spatial pattern, we found that information depending on the modality can improve classification performance. We confirmed that EEG signals occurring during movement preparation can be used to control a BMI.
Framing Climate Change: Economics, Ideology, and Uncertainty in American News Media Content From 1988 to 2014

The news media play a seminal role in shaping public attitudes on a wide range of issues – climate change included. As climate change has risen in salience, the average American is much more likely to be exposed to news coverage now than in the past. Yet, the content of these news stories has been underexplored in academic literature, despite likely playing an important part in fostering or inhibiting public support and engagement in climate action. In this paper we use a combination of automated and manual content analysis of the most influential media sources in the U.S., including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the Associated Press, to illustrate the prevalence of different frames in the news coverage of climate change and their dynamics over time. We focus on three types of frames, based on previous research: economic costs and benefits associated with climate mitigation, appeals to conservative and free market values and principles, and uncertainties and risk surrounding climate change. We find that many of the frames found to reduce people’s propensity to support and engage in climate action have been on the decline in the mainstream media, such as frames emphasizing potential economic harms of climate mitigation policy or uncertainty. At the same time, frames conducive to such engagement by the general public have been on the rise, such as those highlighting economic benefits of climate action. News content is also more likely now than in the past to use language emphasizing risk and danger, and to use the present tense. To the extent that citizens may not be informed of the gravity of the risk posed by uncontrolled greenhouse gas emissions, or discount threats that appear to be far in the future, these are welcome developments.
Spatial and Temporal Variability of the Alligatorweed Pathogen, Alternaria alternantherae, in Louisiana

Abstract Alligatorweed leaf spot is a disease of invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides (Alligatorweed) in the southern US, caused by Alternaria alternantherae. However, little is known about when or where this pathogen naturally occurs. To better understand this species’ life history, we examined temporal (every 2–3 weeks) and spatial (latitudinal) patterns of A. alternantherae occurrence at sites in Louisiana for 2 y. Pathogen presence reflected clear within-year temporal and spatial patterns. Overall, the percentage of leaves infected with A. alternantherae was low during spring each year (0–20% infected) but increased throughout summer (maximum of 50% infected), and plants in northern sites had lower frequency of infection relative to southern sites until later in the year (late summer/early fall) but only in 1 of the 2 years of our study. The mean proportion of leaves infected with A. alternantherae declined with latitude both years (P = 0.01) and variability increased with latitude (P = 0.04), a pattern suggestive of range limitation in northern areas. We estimate a northern distributional limit of 34°N for A. alternantherae in Louisiana, but Alligatorweed occurs farther north. Although we did not directly examine disease impacts to Alligatorweed during the study, they may be greatest in southern areas, where the pathogen is more common early and throughout the growing season, and thus may be less likely to provide control in northern infestations of the invasive Alligatorweed.
Effect of temperature and diet on Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) development with special reference to Isomegalen diagram and accumulated degree days

Immature development times of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella were studied in the laboratory at four different constant temperatures (20, 23, 25, 27°C) reared on a standard diet (D1) and chocolate (D2). The minimal duration of development from oviposition to adult emergence was inversely related to temperature, ranging from 2.3±0.36 days to 50.5±0.5 days for D1 and from 36.7±0.53 days to 106.73±1.10 days for D2 for 27°C and 20°C, respectively. The minimum development threshold (tL), obtained from linear regression model of the development rates at the four studied constant temperature regimes, for total immature development is 15.3°C and 17.1°C for D1 and D2, respectively and the accumulated degree days (ADD) for P. interpunctella is 249.51°C for D1 and 358.4°C for D2 above the threshold.
Population genomics of a bioluminescent symbiosis sheds light on symbiont transmission and specificity

All organisms depend on symbiotic associations with bacteria for their success, yet the processes by which specific symbioses are established and persist remain largely undescribed. To examine the ecological mechanisms involved in maintaining symbiont specificity over host generations, we examined the population genomics of a binary symbiosis involving the coral reef cardinalfish Siphamia tubifer and the luminous bacterium Photobacterium mandapamensis. Using restriction site-associated sequencing (RAD-Seq) methods we demonstrate that the facultative symbiont of S. tubifer exhibits genetic structure at spatial scales of tens of kilometers in Okinawa, Japan in the absence of physical dispersal barriers and in contrast to the host fish. These results suggest the host’s behavioral ecology help structure symbiont populations at a reef site by symbiont enrichment, consequently fostering symbiont specificity. This approach also revealed several symbiont genes that were divergent between host populations including genes known to play a role in other host-bacteria associations.
Alpha-2-macroglobulin and hyaluronic acid as fi bromarkers in patients with chronic hepatitis

BACKGROUND: Liver fi brosis is the fi nal common pathway of chronic liver diseases of various etiology. From the practical standpoint, it would be ideal to have a noninvasive fi bromarker. The aim of our study was to investigate the levels of alpha-2-macroglobulin, potential fi bromarker, in correlation to histological staging and another potential fi bromarker, hyaluronic acid, in patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: Population groups in this study consisted of 51 healthy volunteers and 54 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Liver biopsies were obtained under ultrasound guidance. Alpha-2-macroglobulin was determined by electroimmunodiffusion and hyaluronic acid with enzyme-linked binding protein assay. RESULTS: Both potential fi bromarkers, alpha-2-macroglobulin and hyaluronic acid, were increased in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The alpha-2-macroglobulin levels were not signifi cantly increased in the groups F0– F1. In the groups F2–F4, alpha-2-macroglobulin levels were signifi cantly higher than in the control group. The changes of hyaluronic acid were similar to changes of alpha-2-macroglobulin. Regression analysis showed a signifi cant correlation between hyaluronic acid and alpha-2-macroglobulin levels. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of our study, it can be concluded that alpha-2-macroglobulin and hyaluronic acid might be useful markers of liver fi brosis (Tab. 2, Ref. 15). Text in PDF www.elis. sk.
Changes in butterfly communities over a 10‐year period in Geum river basin in Korea

One conclusion of this study is that as the road network expands in rural and remote areas the surrounding butterfly populations are generally noted to be decreasing or even disappearing. However, there is one exception, Libythea celtis. This common species, living close to forested areas, have actually increased while thier competing species have decreased according to this study. The endangered species of Korea, Parnassius bremeri, Sinia divina and Argynnis nerippe, which inhabit the area of the study have also decreased or disappeared. Another result of this study is that, while the number of species which inhabit the grasslands have decreased, no similar changes have been noted in the number for the species which inhabit the shrubs. Furthermore, there has been a growth in the numbers of the species that inhabit trees. In addition, the number of individuals has decreased in the grasslands and shrubs but increased in the trees. Overall, the general conclusion of this study is that, while the development of rural and remote areas showed a decrease in the number of specific butterfly species, they are being replaced by more common species.
Decoherence in a one-dimensional quantum walk

In this article we study decoherence in the discrete-time quantum walk on the line. We generalize the method of decoherent coin quantum walk, introduced by Brun et al. [Phys. Rev. A 67, 32304 (2003)]. Our analytical expressions are applicable for all kinds of decoherence. As an example of the coin-position decoherence, we study the broken line quantum walk and compare our results with the numerical one. We also show that our analytical results reduce to the Brun formalism when only the coin is subjected to decoherence.
Reactive astrocyte COX 2-PGE 2 production inhibits oligodendrocyte 1 maturation in neonatal white matter injury 2 3 Running Title : PGE 2 inhibits OPC maturation 4 5

1 maturation in neonatal white matter injury 2 3 Running Title: PGE2 inhibits OPC maturation 4 5 Lawrence R Shiow*, Geraldine Favrais*, Lucas Schirmer, Anne-Laure Schang, Sara 6 Cipriani, Christian Andres, Jaclyn N Wright, Hiroko Nobuta, Bobbi Fleiss, Pierre 7 Gressens# & David H Rowitch# 8 *Co-first authors 9 #Co-corresponding authors 10 11 1. Department of Pediatrics and Division of Neonatology 12 2. Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, 13 University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA 14 3. INSERM U930, Universite Francois Rabelais, Tours, France 15 4. Neonatal intensive care unit, CHRU de Tours, Universite Francois Rabelais, Tours, France 16 5. PROTECT, INSERM, Universite Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris, France 17 6. Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, 18 Germany 19 7. PremUP, Universite Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris, France 20 8. Department of Perinatal Imaging and Health, Department of Division of Imaging Sciences and 21 Biomedical Engineering, King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, St. Thomas Hospital, 22 London, United Kingdom. 23 9. Department of Paediatrics, and Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge 24 University, Cambridge, United Kingdom 25
Acute toxicity study and effects of sesame (Sesamum radiatum) aqueous leaf extract on rabbit's electrocardiogram

Our studies examined the acute toxicity, the natural bioactive compounds contained in the aqueous leaf extract (ESera) and its actions on the electrocardiogram. They were therefore aimed to confirm the use in traditional medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and childbirth complications. After the revelation of the phytochemical compounds in S. radiatum leaves by general reactions, the determination of LD50 of acute toxicity in mice was achieved after treatment with the aqueous leaf extract (ESera). ESera was administrated intraveinously to the animal via the saphenous vein for ECG registration. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of quinones, tannins, alkaloids, sterols, terpens, polyphenols, saponosides and reducing compounds. Short treatments (24 hours) of mice with the leaves aqueous extract gave LD50 values of 169.7 ± 15 mg/kg of b.w. and of 184.2 ± 21 mg/kg of b.w. , respectively by the method of Miller and Tainter and the method of Dragstedt and Lang. ESera induced negative inotrope and chronotrope actions on the global electric activity of rabbit. In Conclusion: 1. The aqueous leaf extract has a low toxicity which permits its uses by populations. 2. As shown by the electrocardiac investigation and the phytochemical study of the leaves, S. radiatum could have many pharmacological properties justifying its traditional use to treat many diseases including cardiovascular diseases and childbirth complications.
Merced Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society Title Monitoring Affective Trajectories during Complex Learning

This study investigated the transitions between affective states (i.e., boredom, flow, confusion, frustration, delight, and surprise) during learning while college students were tutored in computer literacy by AutoTutor, an automated tutoring system with natural language dialogue. Videos of participants’ faces and the interaction histories were recorded and then played back for the participants to judge their own affective states. We developed a metric to measure the relative likelihood of transitioning from an affective state at time ti to a subsequent affective state at time ti+1. Several significant trajectories between affective states were identified. Instructional implications are discussed in the context of an expanded version of a cognitive disequilibrium model.
Use of X-box Kinect Gaming Console for Rehabilitation of an Individual with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report

The goal of the present experiment was to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing the Xbox Kinect gaming console for restoration of functional and motor abilities in a single representative patient with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The patient was a 29 year old male with severe chronic functional and motor deficits secondary to brain injury that occurred 9 years prior to the study. The patient participated in ten sessions, three times a week for four consecutive weeks playing the Xbox Kinect games. These sessions consisted of playing five different games from Kinect Adventure series. The patient was evaluated with a battery of clinical tests before and after gaming practice. In addition to clinical assessments the patient’s movement performance was recorded with the Qualysis system for motion analysis. From kinematic data, the displacement and velocity of the trunk, dominant hand and foot were calculated and analyzed. After the gaming practice, the patient showed improvements in overall game performance, clinical outcomes, and movement performance characteristics throughout the various games. Results showed that the Xbox Kinect gaming console can be utilized with relative ease for recovery of severe functional, motor, and postural deficits even in a patient at chronic stage after TBI. Larger scale trials will the next viable step in validating the Xbox Kinect in its role of rehabilitation for TBI and other acquired brain injuries.
COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF AFLATOXIN CONTROL METHODS: ECONOMIC INCENTIVES

Multiple sectors within U.S. crop industries—growers, elevators, handlers/shell- ers, processors, distributors, and consumers—are affected by aflatoxin contamination of commodities, and have the potential to control it using methods developed at both the pre- and postharvest levels. While methods exist, adoption is low; thus, we seek to investigate ways to increase adoption. We believe there are at least three ways to improve adoption of existing aflatoxin control techniques: (1) providing economic incentives; (2) proving and or improving cost-effectiveness of the control methods; and (3) education/outreach across all the relevant industry sectors. Frequently within a commodity there is a mismatch in economic incentives, such that different sectors bear the brunt of aflatoxin costs at disproportionate rates. For example, corn and cottonseed growers bear most of the cost for aflatoxin control, whereas in peanuts and tree nuts, shellers and handlers incur the costs of aflatoxin control. Thus, peanut and tree nut growers may have no economic incentive to apply preharvest aflatoxin control. Postharvest control options are limited and in many cases are not yet approved by the EPA or FDA. The Kaldor-Hicks efficiency criterion may help to resolve this economic dilemma. If this criterion was to be applied to aflatoxin control in peanut and tree nuts, growers could be compensated by shellers/handlers to adopt preharvest aflatoxin control methods. However, the control methods must be cost-effective for this compensatory arrangement to work. We present three case studies of cost-effectiveness to reduce aflatoxin contamination in different crops: AF36 in cottonseed, Bt in corn, and Afla-Guard in peanuts.
One step method of plantlet regeneration in Trichosanthes dioica Roxb . : An approach towards cost effective and shorter protocol

In order to reduce the cost and time of in vitro raised plants of Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. , a minimal medium has been formulated by substituting costly growth regulators from the medium with a cost effective constituent, the coconut milk. A semisolid Murashige and Skoogs’s medium supplemented exclusively with 15% coconut milk showed the highest percentage of plantlet regeneration (99%) in the explants. When nodal, shoot-tip and immature leaf explants were cultured on this medium, rhizogenesis was observed in about 5 to 6 days of inoculation, followed by shoot formation in about 8 to 10 days. The fully developed plantlets, 10 to 12 cm in length with professed roots were obtained in about 20 days of inoculation in a single step without adding/changing growth regulators. After transplantation in the potted soil, these plantlets showed similar growth patterns as compared to the plants obtained from a conventional three-four step method of tissue culture experiments.
Earthquake forecasting: statistics and information

The paper presents a decision rule forming a mathematical basis of earthquake forecasting problem. We develop an axiomatic approach to earthquake forecasting in terms of multicomponent random fields on a lattice. This approach provides a method for constructing point estimates and confidence intervals for conditional probabilities of strong earthquakes under conditions on the levels of precursors. Also, it provides an approach for setting a multilevel alarm system and hypothesis testing for binary alarms. We use a method of comparison for different algorithms of earthquake forecasts in terms of the increase of Shannon information. ‘Forecasting’ (the calculation of the probabilities) and ‘prediction’ (the alarm declaring) of earthquakes are equivalent in this approach.
Energy-efficient power allocation in underlay and overlay cognitive device-to-device communications

Device-to-device (D2D) communication can effectively use cognitive radio network approach to coexist with cellular users. For such a cognitive D2D system, two approaches (underlay and overlay) are considered to manage the spectrum sharing among the cellular (primary) users and the D2D (secondary) users. Energy efficiency (EE) is crucial in both these cases due to limited battery capacity and quality of service requirements of the D2D users. This study effectively models the power allocation problem of such a cognitive D2D system by maximising the EE of the D2D users subject to a minimum rate requirement for both the D2D users and the cellular users. This leads to a non-linear fractional optimisation problem which is more complicated and computationally intractable. Alternatively, geometric water-filling approach have been utilised for power allocation to solve this optimisation problem which results in an ` exact ' and ` low complexity ' solution. Simulation results reveal the benefits of the proposed algorithm.