Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality Preparation of Mathematics and Science Teachers to Integrate ICT: Lessons from Learner-Centered Teacher Professional Development Approach

This chapter clearly illustrates that emphasis on preparation of teachers to integrate ICT is gaining momentum in the education sector. Arguably, underpinning this emphasis is the convergence of assertions that ICT integration has the potential to enhance the quality of teaching and learning. Nonetheless, considering that the debate about effective teaching has overtime existed between two tensions, namely learner-centered and teacher-centered approaches, the additional concern now is how best to prepare teachers to integrate ICT. It is shown in this chapter that the best teaching approach is context specific since it facilitates the teachers’ capacity to enhance student learning through quality teaching. The chapter reviews Teacher Professional Development programs in Sub-Saharan Africa and discusses what constitutes learner-centered education, ICT integration, and provides findings of a case study on preparation of science teachers using ICT.
Belief Propagation and Revision in Networks with Loops

Local belief propagation rules of the sort proposed by P earl (1988) are guaranteed to converge to the optimal beliefs for singly connected networks. Recently, a n umber of researchers have empirically demonstrated good performance of these same algorithms on networks with loops, but a theoretical understanding of this performance has yet to be achieved. Here we l a y a foundation for an understanding of belief propagation in networks with loops. For networks with a single loop, we derive an analytical relationship between the steady state beliefs in the loopy network and the true posterior probability. Using this relationship we show a category of networks for which the MAP estimate obtained by belief update and by belief revision can be proven to be optimal (although the beliefs will be incorrect). We s h o w h o w nodes can use local information in the messages they receive in order to correct the steady state beliefs. Furthermore we p r o ve that for all networks with a single loop, the MAP estimate obtained by belief revision at convergence is guaranteed to give the globally optimal sequence of states. The result is independent of the length of the cycle and the size of the state space. For networks with multiple loops, we i n troduce the concept of a \balanced network" and show simulation results comparing belief revision and update in such networks. We show t h a t t h e T urbo code structure is balanced and present simulations on a toy T urbo code problem indicating the decoding obtained by belief revision at convergence is signiicantly more likely to be correct. A a b Figure 1: a. An example of the types of problems typically solved using belief propagation. Observed nodes are denoted by lled circles. A link between any t wo nodes implies a probabilistic compatability constraint. b. A simple network with a loop. Although belief propagation rules can be generalized to this network, a theoretical understanding of the algorithms behavior in such a n e t work has yet to be achieved.
Cost-minimizing preemptive scheduling of mapreduce workloads on hybrid clouds

MapReduce has become the dominant programming model for processing massive amounts of data on cloud platforms. More and more enterprises are now utilizing hybrid clouds, consisting of private infrastructure owned by themselves and public clouds such as Amazon EC2, to process their spiky MapReduce workloads, which fully utilize their own on-premise resources while outsourcing the tasks only when needed. With disparate workloads of different MapReduce tasks, an efficient scheduling mechanism is in need to enable efficient utilization of the on-premise resources and to minimize the task outsourcing cost, while meeting the task completion time requirements as well. In this paper, a fine-grained model is described to characterize the scheduling of heterogeneous MapReduce workloads, and an online algorithm is proposed for joint task admission control into the private cloud, task outsourcing to the public cloud, and VM allocation to execute the admitted tasks on the private cloud, such that the time-averaged task outsourcing cost is minimized over the long run. The online algorithm features preemptive scheduling of the tasks, where a task executed partially on the on-premise infrastructure can be paused and scheduled to run later. It also achieves desirable properties such as meeting a pre-set task admission ratio and bounding the worst-case task completion time, as proven by our rigorous theoretical analysis.
A Hybrid Oscillatory Interference/Continuous Attractor Network Model of Grid Cell Firing

Grid cells in the rodent medial entorhinal cortex exhibit remarkably regular spatial firing patterns that tessellate all environments visited by the animal. Two theoretical mechanisms that could generate this spatially periodic activity pattern have been proposed: oscillatory interference and continuous attractor dynamics. Although a variety of evidence has been cited in support of each, some aspects of the two mechanisms are complementary, suggesting that a combined model may best account for experimental data. The oscillatory interference model proposes that the grid pattern is formed from linear interference patterns or “periodic bands” in which velocity-controlled oscillators integrate self-motion to code displacement along preferred directions. However, it also allows the use of symmetric recurrent connectivity between grid cells to provide relative stability and continuous attractor dynamics. Here, we present simulations of this type of hybrid model, demonstrate that it generates intracellular membrane potential profiles that closely match those observed in vivo, addresses several criticisms aimed at pure oscillatory interference and continuous attractor models, and provides testable predictions for future empirical studies.
Actin filaments undergo limited subunit exchange in physiological salt conditions

The exchange of actin filament subunits for unpolymerized actin or for subunits in other filaments has been quantitated by three experimental techniques: fluorescence energy transfer, incorporation of 35S-labeled actin monomers into unlabeled actin filaments, and exchange of [14C]ATP with filament-bound ADP. In the fluorescence energy transfer experiments, actin labeled with 5-(iodoacetamidoethyl)aminonaphthalene- 1-sulfonic acid (IAENS) served as the fluorescent energy donor, and actin labeled with either fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC) or fluorescein-5-maleimide (FM) served as the energy acceptor. Fluorescent- labeled actins from Dictyostelium amoebae and rabbit skeletal muscle were very similar to their unlabeled counterparts with respect to critical actin concentration for filament assembly, assembly rate, ATP hydrolysis upon assembly, and steady-state ATPase. As evidenced by two different types of fluorescence energy transfer experiments, less than 5% of the actin filament subunits exchanged under a variety of buffer conditions at actin concentrations greater than 0.5 mg/ml. At all actin concentrations limited exchange to a plateau level occurred with a half- time of about 20 min. Nearly identical results were obtained when exchange was quantitated by incorporation of 35S-labeled Dictyostelium actin monomers into unlabeled muscle actin or Dictyostelium actin filaments. Furthermore, the proportion of filament-bound ADP which exchanged with [14C]-ATP was nearly the same as actin subunit exchange measured by fluorescence energy transfer and 35S-labeled actin incorporation. These experiments demonstrate that under approximately physiologic ionic conditions only a small percentage of subunits in highly purified skeletal muscle or Dictyostelium F-actin participate in exchange.
Risk-based decision method for access control systems

Traditional security and access control systems, such as MLS/Bell-LaPadula, RBAC are rigid and do not contain automatic mechanisms through which a system can increase or decrease users' access to classified information. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a risk-based decision method for an access control system. Firstly, we dynamically calculate the trust and risk values for each subject-object pair. Both values are adaptive, reflecting the past behavior of the users with particular objects. The past behavior is evaluated based on the history of reward and penalty points. These are assigned by the system after the completion of every transaction. Secondly, based on the trust and risk values, an access decision is made.
Dual Mechanism of the Effects of Leader-member Exchange on both Leaders and Subordinates' Work-related Outcomes

Firstly,the present article reviewed the conceptualization,empirical studies of leader-member exchange.Then,from dual,social exchange,cross-cultural,and exchange network's perspectives,discussed the empirical research of dual mechanism of the effects of leader-member exchange on both leaders and subordinates' work-related outcomes,which included:(1) studying of the effects of leader-member exchange on both leaders and subordinates' work-related outcomes from dual perspective;(2) exploring the mechanism of the effects of leader-member exchange on both leaders and subordinates based on social exchange theory;(3) testing the individual and organizational conditions which might moderate the relationship between leader-member exchange and both leaders and subordinates' work-related outcomes.Based on reviewing of the relevant literature,the authors put forth specific research hypotheses,and finally indicated the future research domains and trends of the dual mechanism of the effects of leader-member exchange on both leaders and subordinates' work-related outcomes.
Stereo Viewing and Virtual Reality Technologies in Mobile Robot Teleguide

The use of 3-D stereoscopic visualization may provide a user with higher comprehension of remote environments in teleoperation when compared with 2-D viewing, in particular, a higher perception of environment depth characteristics, spatial localization, remote ambient layout, faster system learning, and decision performance. Works in the paper have demonstrated how stereo vision contributes to the improvement of the perception of some depth cues, often for abstract tasks, while it is hard to find works addressing stereoscopic visualization in mobile robot teleguide applications. This paper intends to contribute to this aspect by investigating the stereoscopic robot teleguide under different conditions, including typical navigation scenarios and the use of synthetic and real images. This paper also investigates how user performance may vary when employing different display technologies. Results from a set of test trials run on seven virtual reality systems, from laptop to large panorama and from head-mounted display to Cave automatic virtual environment (CAVE), emphasized few aspects that represent a base for further investigations as well as a guide when designing specific systems for telepresence.
Sliding mode control of electro-hydraulic servo system for lower-limb exoskeleton based on RBF neural network

Exoskeleton has drawn a great deal of attention recently because it can augment human strength and track human's motion. The objective of this paper is to enhance the performance of the electro-hydraulic servo system of the lower-limb exoskeleton, including model uncertainties and load disturbance. To accomplish the objective, a hybrid control method, combining sliding mode controller with RBF neural network, and disturbance observer is presented. The sliding mode controller is the main controller to control the electro-hydraulic servo system to track the desired trajectory. The RBF neural network is used to compensate the model uncertainties, and the disturbance observer is designed to deduce the external unknown load force. The simulation results show that the electro-hydraulic Servo System of the exoskeleton can achieve a better tracking performance with the proposed controller.
Emergence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii as the major cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care unit patients at an infectious disease hospital in southern Vietnam

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious healthcare-associated infection that affects up to 30 % of intubated and mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. The bacterial aetiology and corresponding antimicrobial susceptibility of VAP is highly variable, and can differ between countries, national provinces and even between different wards in the same hospital. We aimed to understand and document changes in the causative agents of VAP and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles retrospectively over an 11 year period in a major infectious disease hospital in southern Vietnam. Our analysis outlined a significant shift from Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Acinetobacter spp. as the most prevalent bacteria isolated from quantitative tracheal aspirates in patients with VAP in this setting. Antimicrobial resistance was common across all bacterial species and we found a marked proportional annual increase in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. over a 3 year period from 2008 (annual trend; odds ratio 1.656, P = 0.010). We further investigated the possible emergence of a carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clone by multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis, finding a blaOXA-23-positive strain that was associated with an upsurge in the isolation of this pathogen. We additionally identified a single blaNDM-1-positive A. baumannii isolate. This work highlights the emergence of a carbapenem-resistant clone of A. baumannii and a worrying trend of antimicrobial resistance in the ICU of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Molecular mechanisms of long noncoding RNAs and their role in disease pathogenesis

LncRNAs are long non-coding regulatory RNAs that are longer than 200 nucleotides. One of the major functions of lncRNAs is the regulation of specific gene expression at multiple steps including, recruitment and expression of basal transcription machinery, post-transcriptional modifications and epigenetics [1]. Emerging evidence suggests that lncRNAs also play a critical role in maintaining tissue homeostasis during physiological and pathological conditions, lipid homeostasis, as well as epithelial and smooth muscle cell homeostasis, a topic that has been elegantly reviewed [2–5]. While aberrant expression of lncRNAs has been implicated in several disease conditions, there is paucity of information about their contribution to the etiology of diseases [6]. Several studies have compared the expression of lncRNAs under normal and cancerous conditions and found differential expression of several lncRNAs, suggesting thereby an involvement of lncRNAs in disease processes [7, 8]. Furthermore, the ability of lncRNAs to influence epigenetic changes also underlies their role in disease pathogenesis since epigenetic regulation is known to play a critical role in many human diseases [1]. LncRNAs thus are not only involved in homeostatic functioning but also play a vital role in the progression of many diseases, thereby underscoring their potential as novel therapeutic targets for the alleviation of a variety of human disease conditions.
The use of glucocorticoids in marmoset wasting syndrome

Marmoset wasting syndrome (MWS) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in captive marmosets, and thus far no reliable treatment has been found. Glucocorticoids are used widely to treat inflammatory conditions of the GI tract such as human and feline inflammatory bowel disease, which, such as MWS, are histologically characterized by chronic lymphoplasmacytic inflammation in the intestines. Budesonide is a glucocorticoid with few reported side effects due to the majority of it being metabolized into inactive compounds by the liver before entering the systemic circulation.
Mechanism Design and Risk Aversion

We develop efficient algorithms to construct utility maximizing mechanisms in the presence of risk averse players (buyers and sellers) in Bayesian settings. We model risk aversion by a concave utility function, and players play strategically to maximize their expected utility. Bayesian mechanism design has usually focused on maximizing expected revenue in a {\em risk neutral} environment, and no succinct characterization of expected utility maximizing mechanisms is known even for single-parameter multi-unit auctions. We first consider the problem of designing optimal DSIC mechanism for a risk averse seller in the case of multi-unit auctions, and we give a poly-time computable SPM that is $(1-1/e-\eps)$-approximation to the expected utility of the seller in an optimal DSIC mechanism. Our result is based on a novel application of a correlation gap bound, along with {\em splitting} and {\em merging} of random variables to redistribute probability mass across buyers. This allows us to reduce our problem to that of checking feasibility of a small number of distinct configurations, each of which corresponds to a covering LP. A feasible solution to the LP gives us the distribution on prices for each buyer to use in a randomized SPM. We next consider the setting when buyers as well as the seller are risk averse, and the objective is to maximize the seller's expected utility. We design a truthful-in-expectation mechanism whose utility is a $(1-1/e -\eps)^3$-approximation to the optimal BIC mechanism under two mild assumptions. Our mechanism consists of multiple rounds that processes each buyer in a round with small probability. Lastly, we consider the problem of revenue maximization for a risk neutral seller in presence of risk averse buyers, and give a poly-time algorithm to design an optimal mechanism for the seller.
Direct skin-to-skin versus indirect touch modulates neural responses to stroking versus tapping

It remains unclear whether direct interpersonal contact is processed differently from similar soft touch applied through inanimate objects. We performed a functional MRI experiment in healthy volunteers, whereby activity during gentle stroking or tapping was compared between stimuli delivered using the experimenter's hand or a velvet stick. Stroking with a hand elicited larger responses than the other three conditions in the contralateral primary and secondary somatosensory areas and in the posterior insula. The observed effects likely originate from a combination of perceptual differences and cognitive and emotional correlates of contact with another person. This empirical observation indicates that, to ensure ecological validity, studies of affective touch processing should be performed with stimuli delivered with direct interpersonal contact rather than inanimate objects.
Undercompressive Shocks in Thin Film

Equations of the type h t + (h 2 ? h 3) x = ? 3 (h 3 h xxx) x arise in the context of thin liquid lms driven by the competing eeects of a thermally induced surface tension gradient and gravity. In this paper, we focus on the interaction between the fourth order regularization and the nonconvex ux. Jump initial data, from a moderately thick lm to a thin precurser layer, is shown to give rise to a double wave structure that includes an undercompressive wave. This wave, which approaches an undercompressive shock as ! 0; is an accumulation point for a countable family of compressive waves having the same speed. The family appears through a series of bifurcations parameterized by the shock speed. At each bifurca-tion, a pair of traveling waves is produced, one being stable for the PDE, the other unstable. The conclusions are based primarily on numerical results for the PDE, and on numerical investigations of the ODE describing traveling waves. Fourth order linear regularization is observed to produce a similar bifurcation structure of traveling waves.
High-Throughput Ultrasensitive Molecular Techniques for Quantifying Low-Density Malaria Parasitemias

ABSTRACT The epidemiology of malaria in “low-transmission” areas has been underestimated. Molecular detection methods have revealed higher prevalences of malaria than conventional microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests, but these typically evaluate finger-prick capillary blood samples (∼5 μl) and therefore cannot detect parasite densities of <200/ml. Their use underestimates true parasite carriage rates. To characterize the epidemiology of malaria in low-transmission settings and plan elimination strategies, more sensitive quantitative PCR (qPCR) is needed to identify and quantify low-density malaria parasitemias. A highly sensitive “high-volume” quantitative PCR (qPCR) method based on Plasmodium sp. 18S RNA was adapted for blood sample volumes of ≥250 μl and scaled for high throughput. The methods were validated by assessment of the analytical sensitivity and specificity, diagnostic sensitivity, and specificity, efficiency, precision, analytical and diagnostic accuracies, limit of detection, root cause analysis of false positives, and robustness. The high-volume qPCR method based on Plasmodium sp. 18S RNA gave high PCR efficiency of 90 to 105%. Concentrations of parasite DNA from large volumes of blood gave a consistent analytical detection limit (LOD) of 22 parasites/ml (95% CI, 21.79 to 74.9), which is some 2,500 times more sensitive than conventional microscopy and 50 times more sensitive than currently used PCR methods from filter paper blood spots. The diagnostic specificity was 99.75%. Using automated procedures it was possible to process 700 blood samples per week. A very sensitive and specific high-throughput high-volume qPCR method for the detection of low-density parasitemias (>20 parasites/ml) was developed and validated.
How access gaps interact and shape digital divide: a cognitive investigation

Inequalities in the access to and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) have become an important area of concern for over a decade. Yet, theoretical attempts to understand the dynamics behind shaping these inequalities are scarce. This study draws upon the extent literature on digital divide and explains how the four different access gaps (motivational, material, skills, and usage) interact and contribute to digital divide. Revealed causal mapping (RCM) is utilised to analyse the data collected from eight same-gender focus groups in four primary schools located in Iran. The revealed causal map demonstrates the interaction and linkages between different access gaps. The findings provide a theoretical account of the dynamics behind shaping digital divide and generate insights into extending the concepts of access gaps. We establish a theoretical model that places an emphasis on the centrality of motivational-related factors such as ‘lack of interest in IT-related things’ and ‘lack of motivation to learn recent technology’ as well as skills-related factors such as ‘operating skills’, ‘anti-filtering skills’, and ‘lack of IT background’.