Towards a Framework for Perceived Effectiveness of Mobile Learning

Recent years have witnessed rapid advancement in mobile learning technology. A major issue is the identification of thefactors that would relate to the diverse needs of users. If mobile learning is intended to enhance distance, interactive, andcollaborative learning, then it is mission critical to understand the impact of individual, social, and technological factors thatwould play a role in the effectiveness of this learning model as perceived by its users. This paper addresses this need byproposing an integrated and a holistic model that depicts the factors that may have the potential to impact the perceivedmobile learning effectiveness. To operationalize the model constructs, a survey-based instrument will be developed based ona review of frameworks pertinent to technology acceptance, diffusion of innovation, and media richness, and of literaturerelated to e-learning. The conceptual model will be discussed, and the study conclusion, implications, and limitations will bepresented

Investigation of marmoset hybrids (Cebuella pygmaea x Callithrix jacchus) and related Callitrichinae (Platyrrhini) by cross-species chromosome painting and comparative genomic hybridization

We report on the cytogenetics of twin offspring from an interspecies cross in marmosets (Callitrichinae, Platyrrhini), resulting from a pairing between a female Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus, 2n = 46) and a male Pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea, 2n = 44). We analyzed their karyotypes by multi-directional chromosome painting employing human, Saguinus oedipus and Lagothrix lagothricha chromosome-specific probes. Both hybrid individuals had a karyotype with a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 45. As a complementary tool, interspecies comparative genomic hybridization (iCGH) was performed in order to screen for genomic imbalances between the hybrids and their parental species, and between Callithrix argentata and S. oedipus, respectively. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Women Filmmakers in the United Arab Emirates

This entry provides an introduction to the work of and the challenges faced by women filmmakers in the United Arab Emirates while at the same time providing an overview of the emerging film industry in the country. The fact that these women claim the power of representation and start telling their stories against the backdrop of a conservative, patriarchal society, obviously opens up space for gender redefinition. Overall, it seems that their films reveal a preference for strong, interesting women that fight for a meaningful life against the backdrop of a globalized society that has left women weaker and more fragile, with less obvious choices and possibilities for fulfillment. As their female characters claim center stage, both traditional and contemporary constructions of gender are called into question and popular stereotypes about Emirati women are challenged

Diversity of HLA Class I and Class II blocks and conserved extended haplotypes in Lacandon Mayans.

Here we studied HLA blocks and haplotypes in a group of 218 Lacandon Maya Native American using a high-resolution next generation sequencing (NGS) method. We assessed the genetic diversity of HLA class I and class II in this population, and determined the most probable ancestry of Lacandon Maya HLA class I and class II haplotypes. Importantly, this Native American group showed a high degree of both HLA homozygosity and linkage disequilibrium across the HLA region and also lower class II HLA allelic diversity than most previously reported populations (including other Native American groups). Distinctive alleles present in the Lacandon population include HLA-A*24:14 and HLA-B*40:08. Furthermore, in Lacandons we observed a high frequency of haplotypes containing the allele HLA-DRB1*04:11, a relatively frequent allele in comparison with other neighboring indigenous groups. The specific demographic history of the Lacandon population including inbreeding, as well as pathogen selection, may have elevated the frequencies of a small number of HLA class II alleles and DNA blocks. To assess the possible role of different selective pressures in determining Native American HLA diversity, we evaluated the relationship between genetic diversity at HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DRB1 and pathogen richness for a global dataset and for Native American populations alone. In keeping with previous studies of such relationships we included distance from Africa as a covariate. After correction for multiple comparisons we did not find any significant relationship between pathogen diversity and HLA genetic diversity (as measured by polymorphism information content) in either our global dataset or the Native American subset of the dataset. We found the expected negative relationship between genetic diversity and distance from Africa in the global dataset, but no relationship between HLA genetic diversity and distance from Africa when Native American populations were considered alone

Comparative chromosome band mapping in primates byin situ suppression hybridization of band specific DNA microlibraries

A DNA-library established from microdissected bands 8q23 to 8q24.1 of normal human chromosomes 8 (Lüdecke et al., 1989) was used as a probe for chromosomal in situ suppression (CISS-) hybridization to metaphase chromosomes of man and primates including Hylobates lar and Macaca fuscata. Comparative band mapping as first applied in this study shows the specific visualization of a single subchromosomal region in all three species and thus demonstrates that synteny of the bulk sequences of a specific human chromosome subregion has been conserved for more than 20 million years

The origin of human chromosome 2 analyzed by comparative chromosome mapping with a DNA microlibrary

Fluorescencein situ hybridization (FISH) of microlibraries established from distinct chromosome subregions can test the evolutionary conservation of chromosome bands as well as chromosomal rearrangements that occurred during primate evolution and will help to clarify phylogenetic relationships. We used a DNA library established by microdissection and microcloning from the entire long arm of human chromosome 2 for fluorescencein situ hybridization and comparative mapping of the chromosomes of human, great apes (Pan troglodytes, Pan paniscus, Gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus) and Old World monkeys (Macaca fuscata andCercopithecus aethiops). Inversions were found in the pericentric region of the primate chromosome 2p homologs in great apes, and the hybridization pattern demonstrates the known phylogenetically derived telomere fusion in the line that leads to human chromosome 2. The hybridization of the 2q microlibrary to chromosomes of Old World monkeys gave a different pattern from that in the gorilla and the orang-utan, but a pattern similar to that of chimpanzees. This suggests convergence of chromosomal rearrangements in different phylogenetic lines

Stabilisation of the superoxide anion in bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI) ionic liquid by small chain length phosphonium cations: Voltammetric, DFT modelling and spectroscopic perspectives

Ionic liquids (ILs) containing the bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide anion, FSI, have been investigated as electrolytes for metal-air batteries. Full chemical reversibility is found for the reduction of oxygen to superoxide at 60 degrees C under short time scale conditions of cyclic voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode when the IL contains the small chain length triisobutyl(methyl)phosphonium rather than a pyrrolidinium cation. DFT calculations suggest that this is a consequence of the higher ion pair association energy and shorter intermolecular distance associated with the interaction of the superoxide anion with the phosphonium cation. Stabilization on longer timescales was also established by spectroscopic techniques when the phosphonium based ILs were exposed to KO2. Studies on superoxide stability in related ionic liquids containing the triisobutyl(methyl)phosphonium cation with the fluorosulfonyl(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, FTFSI, or bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, TFSI, anions are also reported.