Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computer Support for Knowledge-Building Communities

In this article we focus on educational ideas and enabling technology for knowledge-building discourse. The conceptual bases of computer-supported intentional learning environments (CSILE) come from research on intentional learning, process aspects of expertise, and discourse in knowledge-building communities. These bases combine to support the following propositions: Schools need to be restructured as communities in which the construction of knowledge is supported as a collective goal, and the role of educational technology should be to replace classroom discourse patterns with those having more immediate and natural extensions to knowledge-building communities outside school walls. CSILE is described as a means for refraining classroom discourse to support knowledge building in ways extensible to out-of-school knowledgeadvancing enterprises. Some of the most fundamental problems are logistic, and it is in solving these logistic problems that we see the greatest potential for educational technology.
The integration of personal computers into the electrical engineering curriculum at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Since 1984, each freshman at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) College of Engineering is required to purchase a personal computer. The authors detail how personal computers have been integrated throughout the entire electrical engineering (EE) undergraduate curriculum at Virginia Tech. Besides detailing the computer packages used, they address the concerns, problems, and benefits which relate to computer integration in the EE program. Such issues include justification of PC utilization versus mainframe/workstation use, familiarization of faculty with available computer packages, and the progression of hardware and software through the seven-year program for students, faculty, and laboratories. <<ETX>>
Spatial Audio System for Surround Video

In this paper we present the design processes of a spatial audio system for Surround Video. Surround Video is a method of reproducing two simultaneous video streams captured by two cameras onto a main television screen and onto the walls of a room via a projector. Through the use of distortion software to correctly map the surround image to the geometry of the viewing room, the user experiences 180 degrees of video reproduction, immersing them in the content. The design of a spatial audio system was necessary to give 360 degree coverage of audio so that, like for the video, the viewer is immersed into the programme world. We discuss the design process and decisions made that concluded in using a mixed reproduction system of Vector Base Amplitude Panning with Ambisonics to match the audio localisation precision with the video precision; high localisation around the main monitor image whilst the surrounding audio is immersive, but with less localisation. Attributes associated with objects in the real world are discussed and methods for recreating the effect of distance, in-head panning, sound scene rotations, reverberation and movement that alter the reverberation placement are presented. The end result is an immersive video and audio system that can be used by the BBC Research & Development department to demonstrate the potential of such technologies where the audio system uses 14 loudspeakers, a subwoofer signal and a discrete ‘4D’ type effects channel.
Differential involvement of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors α and δ in fibrate and fatty-acid-mediated inductions of the gene encoding liver fatty-acid-binding protein in the liver and the small intestine

Liver fatty-acid-binding protein (L-FABP) is a cytoplasmic polypeptide that binds with strong affinity especially to long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs). It is highly expressed in both the liver and small intestine, where it is thought to have an essential role in the control of the cellular fatty acid (FA) flux. Because expression of the gene encoding L-FABP is increased by both fibrate hypolipidaemic drugs and LCFAs, it seems to be under the control of transcription factors, termed peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), activated by fibrate or FAs. However, the precise molecular mechanism by which these regulations take place remain to be fully substantiated. Using transfection assays, we found that the different PPAR subtypes (α, γ and δ) are able to mediate the up-regulation by FAs of the gene encoding L-FABP in vitro. Through analysis of LCFA- and fibrate-mediated effects on L-FABP mRNA levels in wild-type and PPARα-null mice, we have found that PPARα in the intestine does not constitute a dominant regulator of L-FABP gene expression, in contrast with what is known in the liver. Only the PPARδ/α agonist GW2433 is able to up-regulate the gene encoding L-FABP in the intestine of PPARα-null mice. These findings demonstrate that PPARδ can act as a fibrate/FA-activated receptor in tissues in which it is highly expressed and that L-FABP is a PPARδ target gene in the small intestine. We propose that PPARδ contributes to metabolic adaptation of the small intestine to changes in the lipid content of the diet.
Is it safe to pool the blank control data with the solvent control data ?

Ecotoxicological studies, where the test chemical is dosed with a solvent, are often performed using two controls, a blank control (BC) and a solvent control (SC). In many guidelines, it is recommended to combine the data from the BC and the SC if they do not differ significantly and otherwise only use the data from the SC for the significance test on the effects of the chemical treatment. In this paper the validity of the conditional testing scheme is investigated by simulating data sets with and without difference between BC and SC. These simulations show that this testing scheme does not lead to a valid statistical test. & 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Improvement on joint time-frequency representation with application of image processing technique

Time-frequency representation makes it possible to analyse non-stationary signal, which traditional Fourier transform is not adapted to. However, the trade-off between time and frequency accuracy is inevitable because of the constraint of Heisenberg-Gabor inequality. Current methods such as adaptive kernel design can give satisfactory result for some particular signals, but either the prior knowledge or parameter search is needed. This paper is intended to discuss the application of image processing technique to time-frequency distribution, which can effectively improve the resolution of representation and make the detection and estimation of signal an easy job.
Morphological studies in the tribe Colletieae (Rhamnaceae): analysis of architecture and inflorescences

A morphological study of vegetative and reproductive structures was carried out on the tribe Colletieae (Rhamnaceae) composed of six genera and 20 species. The plant habit variation, from trees (up to 8 m high) to prostrate shrubs and tangled bushes, suggests structural differences within the group. All the species have an architecture represented by a sequence of monopodial shoots with limited growth, linked sympodially and with acrotonic dichasial ramification. Foliage leaves are decussate and an axillary complex with two serial meristems is associated with each leaf axil. Ancillary shoots (thorn-tipped branches, short shoots, secondary branches and reproductive shoots) are present at the nodes. A single structural plan was observed throughout the tribe. Most of the variability may be ascribed to different strategies for adaptation to environmental conditions, specially xeromorphy. Reproductive structures, in terms of inflorescences, also show conspicuous variation throughout the tribe. Three different models are described; in the first two models individual flowers or 3–7 flowered cymes constitute the paracladia of either deciduous monotelic synflorescences, or of synflorescences proliferating into vegetative long shoots; in the third, uniflorous paracladia arise from perennial short-shoots. Nevertheless, a link within them can be established through steps of truncation, proliferation, reduction and acquisition of rhythmic growth.
Organ growth without cell division: somatic polyploidy in a moth, Ephestia kuehniella.

Organ growth depends on cell division and (or) cell growth. Here, we present a study on two organs whose growth depends entirely on cell growth, once they are formed in the embryo: Malpighian tubules and silk glands of the flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella . Between first and last larval instar, the volume of Malpighian tubule cells increases by a factor of ∼1800 and that of silk gland cells by a factor of ∼3100. We determined the number of endocyles required to reach these stages by Feulgen cytometry. Cells of Malpighian tubules were in the 2C stage in first instar larvae and reached 1024C after 9 endocycles in last instar larvae (1C = 0.45 pg DNA). Silk gland cells already reached a DNA content of 8C-16C in first instar larvae and attained up to 8192C in last instar larvae after a total of 12 endocycles. The nuclei were small and more or less spherical in first instar larvae, but they were huge, flat, and bizarrely branched in last instar larvae. We consider branching as a compensatory adaptation to improve molecular traffic between nucleus and cytoplasm in these excessively large and highly polyploid cells (i) by reducing the mean distance between nucleus and cytoplasm and (ii) by enlarging the surface-to-volume ratio of these nuclei.
Differential regulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase mRNA expression in response to intracranial injury

Injury to the CNS induces complex cellular and molecular interactions referred to as reactive gliosis. Alterations in the extracellular microenvironment associated with the gliotic response are believed to be the primary cause of regenerative failure of the mature CNS. For injured neurons to reestablish severed connections their processes must explore the extracellular milieu. Thus far, experiments have focused on extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins whose expression is upregulated after CNS injury and that exert inhibitory effects on neurite outgrowth. An intricate balance between ECM synthesis and degradation must be maintained during the tissue remodeling associated with injury. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are believed to be the main mediators of ECM degradation. MMP activity is tightly regulated by interaction with tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). To determine whether TIMPs are expressed during injury‐induced matrix remodeling, TIMP expression was examined during reactive gliosis. A stab injury to the mature rat brain leads to the differential regulation of TIMP mRNA expression. Timp‐1 and Timp‐2 mRNA are significantly upregulated after injury, while the expression of Timp‐3 and Timp‐4 is unaltered. The expression of Timp‐1 in reactive astrocytes and Timp‐2 in microglia and neurons suggests these TIMPs may serve distinct functions in response to injury. GLIA 30:199–208, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Advanced River Formation Dynamics for Location Area Management in GSM

-To handle call delivery for mobile station, itsprobable location should be known to the network. For that location management is required. Location Management has two basic operations: location update and paging.The goal of an efficient location management scheme is to maintain and provide locations of mobile stations at low cost. This paper presents location area based approach proposed by researchers and nature inspired approach proposed by us, to reduce location management cost.However, there is trade off between reduction of location update cost and paging. Simulation Results of a basic location area scheme and nature inspired technique(river formation dynamics) is presented.
Pikuroside: A Novel Iridoid from Picrorhiza kurroa

A new iridoid, pikuroside (1), was isolated from the roots of Picrorhiza kurroa, together with three known iridoids, picroside I (2), picroside II (3), and 6-feruloyl catalpol (4). The structure of 1 was established by interpretation and full assignments of NMR spectral data. Pikuroside (1) had no antiinflammatory activity, although the crude extract and picroside II (3) demonstrated moderate activity.
Comparison of Proactive vs. Reactive Localization Protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks

Comparison of Proactive vs. Reactive Localization Protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks Randomly deployed nodes in a wireless sensor network (WSN) gain benefit of being aware of their location for routing or delivering meaningful information to the base station. Many WSN localization methods have been investigated in terms of their convergence, position refinement or need of a reference coordinate system. In this paper, we present a study on two possible ways of using twoway ranging technique for range based sensor node localization. Two-way ranging technique has gained popularity in WSNs since it does not require clock synchronization in inexpensive and energy constrained sensor nodes. We present two distributed techniques for localization using two-way ranging. These techniques use two different approaches for localization, one is the proactive approach and the other is the reactive approach. In the proactive approach, localization process is initiated by the localized nodes, whereas, the later the process is initiated by the non-localized nodes. We compare the two techniques in terms of their convergence condition, convergence delay and communication cost.
Dynamic Distributed Power Adaption for Data Aggregation in Ubiquitous Sensor Networks

Data Aggregation Scheduling in Ubiquitous sensor networks is a major research interest for many researchers with the objective of minimizing the energy consumption. Very little research is carried to schedule the nodes in ubiquitous sensor networks to reduce energy consumption, maximize the throughput, for effective prolonged network lifetime, scalability, and load balancing. Each ubiquitous node in USN should forward data to the base station. In Data Aggregation methods each node need not directly forward data to the base station instead it may forward data to a special node called head node which in turn forwards data to the base station. In this paper we proposed a new network model for the USN which is power control and collision interference free model. We also proposed an energy-efficient distributed data aggregation scheduling protocol, called DDPA (Dynamic Distributed Power Adaptive), which is adaptive to rate and power. Using the proposed optimal node degree algorithm, we obtained a full reachability network with 99.9% of energy savings even at the denser network conditions.
Using Communication Technology to Facilitate Scientific Literacy: A Framework for Engaged Learning

ii ACKNOWLDEGEMENTS . iii TABLE OF CONTENTS . iv LIST OF TABLES. ix LIST OF FIGURES . x CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTION . 1 Research Questions . 2 Autobiographical Signature . 2 The Goal of Scientific Literacy . 5 Rationale . 9 A Current Gap in Scholarship . 10 Overview of this Study . 11 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW . 13 Part 1: Scientific Literacy . 13 Literacy: A Label with many Applications . 14 Scientific Literacy: A Label with Multiple Interpretations . 16 Background and Current State of Scientific Literacy Initiatives . 17 Theoretical Perspectives on Scientific Literacy . 23 Pedagogy for Scientific Literacy: A Strategy, not a Slogan . 25 A New Framework: the Scientific Literacy Framework . 27 The Need for a New Approach . 46 Summary of the Scientific Literacy Framework . 48 Part 2: Applications of ICT for Science Education . 53 A Focus on Scientific Literacy Framework Compatibility Other Technology Initiatives . 56 Wiki Projects . 57 Social Networking Sites . 62 Section Summary . 69 Effectively Linking Communication Technology with Scientific Literacy . 69 Other International Initiatives . 70
Distal‐less function during Drosophila appendage and sense organ development

The Drosophila Distal‐less (Dll) gene was identified in the early 1980s by means of dominant and recessive mutations that caused both striking antenna‐to‐leg transformations and leg truncations. The gene initially was named “Bristle on arista” or “Brista” because one aspect of the phenotype is the formation of leg bristles on the antenna (Sato [ 1984 ] Drosophila Information Service 60:180–182; Sunkel and Whittle [ 1987 ] Wilhelm Roux's. Arch. Dev. Biol. 196:124–132). Subsequent studies have revealed that Dll encodes a homeodomain transcription factor (Cohen et al. [ 1989 ] Nature 338:432–434) that is expressed throughout limb development from embryogenesis on (Cohen [ 1990 ] Nature 343:173–177; Weigmann and Cohen [ 1999 ] Development 126:3823–3830). Dll is required for the elaboration of distal pattern elements in the antenna, the legs, the limb‐derived gnathal structures (Cohen and Jurgens [ 1989 ] Nature 482–485), and the anal plate (Gorfinkiel et al. [ 1999 ] Mech. Dev. 868:113–123) and can initiate proximodistal axis formation when expressed ectopically (Gorfinkiel et al. [ 1997 ] Genes Dev. 11:2259–2271). Dll homologs are expressed in developing appendages in at least six coelomate phyla, including chordates (Akimenko et al. [1994] J. Neurosci. 14:3475–3486; Beauchemin and Savard [1992] Dev. Biol. 154:55–65; Bulfone et al. [1993] Mech. Dev. 40:129–140; Dolle et al. [1992] Differentiation 49:93–99; Ferrari et al. [1995] Mech. Dev. 52:257–264; Panganiban et al. [ 1997 ] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:5162–5166; Simeone et al. [1994] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:2250–2254), consistent with requirements for Dlx function in normal limb development across the animal kingdom. Distal‐less also has been implicated in various aspects of vertebrate neurogenesis (see reviews by Kraus and Lufkin [1999] J. Cell. Biochem. 32–33:133–140 and the accompanying review by Beanan and Sargent [2000] Dev. Dyn. 218:000–000). Here, I outline what is known about Dll function and regulation in Drosophila. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Secure Information Sharing protocol for Mobile Ad Hoc Peer-to Peer Networks

The information sharing systems for the widespread exchange of resources and voluminous information among thousands of users have resulted in lot of attention on Peer-to-peer system. Yet, existing peer-to-peer information sharing systems work mostly on wired networks. With the growing number of communication-equipped mobile devices that can self-organize into infrastructure-less communication platform, namely mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), peer topeer information sharing over MANETs is a promising research area. Herewith we propose a distributed index structure, Multi-level Peer Index (MPI) that enables efficient peer-to-peer information sharing over MANETs. Preliminary evaluation demonstrates that MPI is scalable, efficient, and adaptive to node mobility.
Example-Driven Landmarking of Human Body Scans

Introduction Every human body is different. Although variations in physical characteristics are observed across entire body, the clothing community has abstracted this diversity into a discrete, tractable set of prominent points termed body landmarks (BLs). BLs can be identified by visual examination or palpation. For example, the belly button is a prominent feature in the abdomen, and the cervical is the surface point at the seventh vertebra of the spine. As BLs compactly summarize body shape, identification of BLs is of fundamental significance in clothing production. This paper proposes a new technique for identifying BLs in a given human body scan.
Rapid induction of thermoreversible hydrogel formation based on poly(propylene glycol)-grafted dextran inclusion complexes

Poly(propylene glycol) (PPG)-grafted dextran was synthesized by conjugating amino-terminated PPG with hydroxyl groups of dextran, and its inclusion complexation property was investigated. The average number of grafted PPG per dextran was changeable in the range of 1.1 to 38.5. The formation of inclusion complexes between the PPG grafts and β-cyclodextrins (β-CDs) and their crystalline structures were characterized by 13 C CP/MAS NMR and X-ray spectroscopies. These hydrogel systems showed a thermall reversible sol-gel transition based on supramolecular assembly and dissociation between host and guest moieties. The results of theological measurements and solgel transition temperature of the hydrogels suggested that the aggregate channel-type crystalline domain was critical to control the transition temperature in terms of initial feed molar ratio of PPG and β-CD and the graft number of PPG constituents. These thermoreversible hydrogel systems showed rapid gelation properties, which may be useful for biomedical application, especially injectable drug deliver systems.
Epitope mapping of mouse monoclonal antibodies to the ppUL83 lower matrix phosphoprotein of human cytomegalovirus

Of nine mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against the lower matrix protein (pp65; ppUL83) of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), all immunoprecipitated the 65‐kDa protein. Only five were reactive by Western blotting, however, and four of these mapped to linear antigenic epitopes located between amino acids 184–195 (MAb C6), 343–357 (MAb C11), 448–462 (MAb C5), and 448–459 (MAb C13). The epitope specificity of the fifth antibody (MAb C3) and the four that recognised nonlinear sites could not be determined. Competition binding studies using HCMV antigen extracted from productively infected human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELF), in an enzyme immunoassay (EIA), showed that three of the antibodies reactive with linear epitopes and two of those reactive with conformational epitopes (MAbs C3, C6, C11, C14, and C18), were unique in their binding specificities. MAb C4 competed with MAb C8 and MAb C5 competed with MAb C13 for binding to ppUL83. One of the linear epitopes identified, corresponding to amino acids SAFVFPTKDVAL (MAb C6), was an epitope described previously for CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes. J. Med. Virol. 57:290–297, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
3DARModeler: a 3D Modeling System in Augmented Reality Environment

This paper describes a 3D modeling system in Augmented Reality environment, named 3DARModeler. It can be considered a simple version of 3D Studio Max with necessary functions for a modeling system such as creating objects, applying texture, adding animation, estimating real light sources and casting shadows. The 3DARModeler introduces convenient, and effective human-computer interaction to build 3D models. The 3DARModeler targets nontechnical users. As such, they do not need much knowledge of computer graphics and modeling techniques. All they have to do is select basic objects, customize their attributes, and put them together to build a 3D model in a simple and intuitive way as if they were doing in the real world.
Evidence of Pleistocene plant extinction and diversity from Regatta Point, western Tasmania, Australia

The Early Pleistocene Regatta Point sediments contain macrofossils that suggest that generic and specific rainforest diversity was higher in the region that it is today both locally and regionally, but the diversity was probably lower than it was for most of the Tertiary. The sediments contain extinct species of conifers and angiosperms which have closest living relatives in a wide range of environments, mainly wet forests of warmer areas than western Tasmania, but also relatively cool and dry areas. Simple models of climatically driven extinction explain these extinctions poorly. It is more likely that there was a wide range of causes of extinctions. New species,Acacia bulbosa, Rubus nebuloides, Quintinia tasmanensis, Oxylobium pungens, Laurophyllum australumandMyrtaceaephyllum pleistocenicum, are described.