Scaffolding Novice Instructional Designers' Problem-Solving Processes Using Question Prompts in a Web-Based Learning Environment

The present study investigated the effects of question prompts in scaffolding novice instructional designers solving ill-structured, instructional design problems in a Web-based learning environment. The effects of question prompts were studied under different prompting conditions (Question-Elaboration vs. Question-Guidance), taking into consideration various levels of learners' prior knowledge and experience. The study employed a comparative, multiple-case study design using the technique of think-aloud protocols, which were followed by interviews. Eight graduate students from the program of Instructional Design and Technology participated in the study. While the qualitative findings supported the previous research on the advantages of question prompts in scaffolding ill-structured problem solving, they also shed light on the specific cognitive and metacognitive functions, as well as limitations, of question prompts in different conditions. The study has implications for designing instructional scaffolds for supporting ill-structured problem solving of various domains in a Web-based learning environment.Yeshttps://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/manuscript-submission-guideline

A Note about proving non-Γ\Gamma under a finite non-microstates free Fisher information Assumption

We prove that if $X_{1},...,X_{n} (n >1)$ are selfadjoints in a $W^{*}$-probability space with finite non-microstates free Fisher information, then the von Neumann algebra $W^{*}(X_{1},...,X_{n})$ they generate doesn't have property $\Gamma$ (especially is not amenable). This is an analog of a well-known result of Voiculescu for microstates free entropy. We also prove factoriality under finite non-microstates entropy.Comment: 12 pages; New results with similar techniques; cf. abstracts for detail

Ligation of protease-activated receptor 1 enhances alpha(v)beta(6) integrin-dependent TGF-beta activation and promotes acute lung injury

Activation of latent TGF-beta by the alpha(v)beta(6) integrin is a critical step in the development of acute lung injury. However, the mechanism by which a alpha(v)beta(6)-mediated TGF-beta activation is regulated has not been identified. We show that thrombin, and other agonists of protease-activated receptor 1(PAR1), activate TGF-beta in an alpha(v)beta(6) integrin-specific manner. This effect is PART specific and is mediated by RhoA and Rho kinase. Intratracheal instillation of the PART-specific peptide TFLLRN increases lung edema during high-tidal-volume ventilation, and this effect is completely inhibited by a blocking antibody against the alpha(v)beta(6) integrin. Instillation of TFLLRN during high-tidal-volume ventilation is associated with increased pulmonary TGF-beta activation; however, this is not observed in Itgb6(-/-) mice. Furthermore, Itgb6(-/-) mice are also protected from ventilator-induced lung edema. We also demonstrate that pulmonary edema and TGF-beta activity are similarly reduced in Par1(-/-) mice following bleomycin-induced lung injury. These results suggest that PART-mediated enhancement of a alpha(v)beta(6)-dependent TGF-beta activation could be one mechanism by which activation of the coagulation cascade contributes to the development of acute lung injury, and they identify PART and the alpha(v)beta(6) integrin as potential therapeutic targets in this condition

An Input Normal Form Homotopy for the L2 Optimal Model Order Reduction Problem

In control system analysis and design, finding a reduced order model, optimal in the L-squared sense, to a given system model is a fundamental problem. The problem is very difficult without the global convergence of homotopy methods, and a homotopy based approach has been proposed. The issues are the number of degrees of freedom, the well posedness of the finite dimensional optimization problem, and the numerical robustness of the resulting homotopy algorithm. A homotopy algorithm based on the input normal form characterization of the reduced order model is developed here and is compared with the homotopy algorithms based on Hyland and Bernstein's optimal projection equations. The main conclusions are that the input normal form algorithm can be very efficient, but can also be very ill conditioned or even fail

A Diabetes Psychosocial Profile

An educational needs assessment instrument for individuals with diabetes has been developed at the Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center. Responses to the 110-item questionnaire provide subscores on con structs labeled "Control Problems, " "Psychosocial Impact," "Barriers to Compliance, " "Benefits of Regimen, " "Regimen Complexity," and "Risk of Complications." Com bined with demographic and clinical information, these scores form a com prehensive summary of the patient's attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and knowledge in relation to diabetes. This summary is in the form of an individ ualized graphic profile that highlights possible prob lem areas to be consid ered when developing patient education and management plans.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68817/2/10.1177_014572178601200210.pd

Convergence rate of dimension reduction in Bose-Einstein condensates

In this paper, we study dimension reduction of the three-dimensional (3D) Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE) modelling Bose-Einstein condensation under different limiting interaction and trapping frequencies parameter regimes. Convergence rates for the dimension reduction of 3D ground state and dynamics of the GPE in the case of disk-shaped condensation and cigar-shaped condensation are reported based on our asymptotic and numerical results. In addition, the parameter regimes in which the 3D GPE cannot be reduced to lower dimensions are identified.Comment: 27pages; 9 figure

DeepBrain: Functional Representation of Neural In-Situ Hybridization Images for Gene Ontology Classification Using Deep Convolutional Autoencoders

This paper presents a novel deep learning-based method for learning a functional representation of mammalian neural images. The method uses a deep convolutional denoising autoencoder (CDAE) for generating an invariant, compact representation of in situ hybridization (ISH) images. While most existing methods for bio-imaging analysis were not developed to handle images with highly complex anatomical structures, the results presented in this paper show that functional representation extracted by CDAE can help learn features of functional gene ontology categories for their classification in a highly accurate manner. Using this CDAE representation, our method outperforms the previous state-of-the-art classification rate, by improving the average AUC from 0.92 to 0.98, i.e., achieving 75% reduction in error. The method operates on input images that were downsampled significantly with respect to the original ones to make it computationally feasible

Magnetic connection and current distribution in black hole accretion discs

We discuss one of the possible origins of large-scale magnetic fields based on a continuous distribution of toroidal electric current flowing in the inner region of the disc around a Kerr black hole (BH) in the framework of general relativity. It turns out that four types of configuration of the magnetic connection (MC) are generated, i.e., MC of the BH with the remote astrophysical load (MCHL), MC of the BH with the disc (MCHD), MC of the plunging region with the disc (MCPD) and MC of the inner and outer disc regions (MCDD). It turns out that the Blandford-Znajek (BZ) process can be regarded as one type of MC, i.e., MCHL. In addition, we propose a scenario for fitting the quasi-periodic oscillations in BH binaries based on MCDD associated with the magnetic reconnection.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables. Accepted by MNRAS, 05/05/200

Collagen processing and cuticle formation is catalysed by the astacin metalloprotease DPY-31 in free-living and parasitic nematodes

The exoskeleton or cuticle performs many key roles in the development and survival of all nematodes. This structure is predominantly collagenous in nature and requires numerous enzymes to properly fold, modify, process and cross-link these essential structural proteins. The cuticle structure and its collagen components are conserved throughout the nematode phylum but differ from the collagenous matrices found in vertebrates. This structure, its formation and the enzymology of nematode cuticle collagen biogenesis have been elucidated in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The dpy-31 gene in C. elegans encodes a procollagen C-terminal processing enzyme of the astacin metalloprotease or bone morphogenetic protein class that, when mutated, results in a temperature-sensitive lethal phenotype associated with cuticle defects. In this study, orthologues of this essential gene have been identified in the phylogenetically diverse parasitic nematodes Haemonchus contortus and Brugia malayi. The DPY-31 protein is expressed in the gut and secretory system of C. elegans, a location also confirmed when a B. malayi transcriptional dpy-31 promoter-reporter gene fusion was expressed in C. elegans. Functional conservation between the nematode enzymes was supported by the fact that heterologous expression of the H. contortus dpy-31 orthologue in a C. elegans dpy-31 mutant resulted in the full rescue of the mutant body form. This interspecies conservation was further established when the recombinant nematode enzymes were found to have a similar range of inhibitable protease activities. In addition, the recombinant DPY-31 enzymes from both H. contortus and B. malayi were shown to efficiently process the C. elegans cuticle collagen SQT-3 at the correct C-terminal procollagen processing site

Quantum dynamical theory for squeezing the output of a Bose-Einstein condensate

A linear quantum dynamical theory for squeezing the output of the trapped Bose-Einstein condensate is presented with the Bogoliubov approximation. We observe that the non-classical properties, such as sub-Poisson distribution and quadrature squeezing effect, mutually oscillate between the quantum states of the applied optical field and the resulting atom laser beam with time. In particular, it is shown that an initially squeezed optical field will lead to squeezing in the outcoupled atomic beam at later times.Comment: 6 pages, Latex file, Phys.Rev.A 63(2001)1560