Microfluidic DNA amplification - a review

The application of microfluidic devices for DNA amplification has recently been extensively studied. Here, we review the important development of microfluidic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) devices and discuss the underlying physical principles for the optimal design and operation of the device. In particular, we focus on continuous-flow microfluidic PCR on-chip, which can be readily implemented as an integrated function of a micro-total-analysis system. To overcome sample carryover contamination and surface adsorption associated with microfluidic PCR, microdroplet technology has recently been utilized to perform PCR in droplets, which can eliminate the synthesis of short chimeric products, shorten thermal-cycling time, and offers great potential for single DNA molecule and single-cell amplification. The work on chip-based PCR in droplets is highlighted

Early adductive reasoning for blind signal separation

We demonstrate that explicit and systematic incorporation of abductive reasoning capabilities into algorithms for blind signal separation can yield significant performance improvements. Our formulated mechanisms apply to the output data of signal processing modules in order to conjecture the structure of time-frequency interactions between the signal components that are to be separated. The conjectured interactions are used to drive subsequent signal separation processes that are as a result less blind to the interacting signal components and, therefore, more effective. We refer to this type of process as early abductive reasoning (EAR); the “early” refers to the fact that in contrast to classical Artificial Intelligence paradigms, the reasoning process here is utilized before the signal processing transformations are completed. We have used our EAR approach to formulate a practical algorithm that is more effective in realistically noisy conditions than reference algorithms that are representative of the current state of the art in two-speaker pitch tracking. Our algorithm uses the Blackboard architecture from Artificial Intelligence to control EAR and advanced signal processing modules. The algorithm has been implemented in MATLAB and successfully tested on a database of 570 mixture signals representing simultaneous speakers in a variety of real-world, noisy environments. With 0 dB Target-to-Masking Ratio (TMR) and no noise, the Gross Error Rate (GER) for our algorithm is 5% in comparison to the best GER performance of 11% among the reference algorithms. In diffuse noisy environments (such as street or restaurant environments), we find that our algorithm on the average outperforms the best reference algorithm by 9.4%. With directional noise, our algorithm also outperforms the best reference algorithm by 29%. The extracted pitch tracks from our algorithm were also used to carry out comb filtering for separating the harmonics of the two speakers from each other and from the other sound sources in the environment. The separated signals were evaluated subjectively by a set of 20 listeners to be of reasonable quality

Penafsiran Ayat–Ayat Amar Ma’ruf Nahi Munkar menurut Muhammad Fethullah Gülen

Amar ma'rūf nahi munkar is the command of Allah swt. to invite to the good things and prevent the bad for society. Many interpreters have explained the meaning of the verses amar ma'rūf nahi munkar. Fethullah Gülen is a character who tries to give an interpretation of the verse by relating it to the reality of people's lives. This paper discusses the verses of amar ma'ruf nahi munkar interpreted by Muhammad Fethullah Gülen and issues surrounding the position of enforcing amar ma'rūf nahi munkar. This research is a descriptive literature study, wanting to describe the figure of Gulen who wants to be researched based on facts from existing news, books, and magazines. The results showed that Gülen classified the interpretation of the verses of amar ma'ruf nahi munkar in 3 parts. First, amar ma'rūf nahi munkar as the goal of life. Second, amar ma'ruf nahi munkar as a sign of a believer. Third, enforce the commandments of ma'rf nahi munkar in accordance with nature. According to Gülen, people who carry out this sacred task well, then they will be protected by Allah from all disasters that come from heaven or earth, even though the number of people who carry out this task is not much. Meanwhile, those who forget this task are feared to die in a state of hypocrisy, for neglecting the task that Allah has assigned to every Muslim. Amar ma’rūf nahi munkar merupakan perintah Allah swt. untuk mengajak kepada hal-hal yang baik dan mencegah yang buruk bagi masyarakat. Banyak penafsir yang telah menjelaskan makna ayat-ayat amar ma’rūf nahi munkar. Fethullah Gülen merupakan seorang tokoh yang mencoba memberi penafsiran ayat tersebut dengan mengaitkannya pada realitas kehidupan masyarakat. Tulisan ini membahas ayat-ayat amar ma’ruf nahi munkar yang ditafsirkan oleh Muhammad Fethullah Gülen dan persoalan seputar kedudukan menegakkan amar ma’rūf nahi munkar. Penelitian ini bersifat kajian kepustakaan yang bersifat deskriptif, ingin menggambarkan sosok Gulen yang ingin diteliti berdasarkan fakta dari berita, buku, dan majalah yang ada. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Gülen mengklasifikasikan penafsiran ayat-ayat  amar ma’ruf nahi munkar dalam 3 bagian. Pertama, amar ma’rūf nahi munkar  sebagai tujuan hidup. Kedua, amar ma’ruf nahi munkar sebagai tanda orang mukmin. Ketiga, menegakkan amar ma’rūf nahi munkar sesuai dengan fitrah. Menurut Gülen, masyarakat yang melakukan tugas suci ini dengan baik, maka mereka itu akan dilindungi Allah dari segala bencana yang datangnya dari langit atau bumi, meskipun jumlah orang yang menjalankan tugas ini tidak banyak. Sedangkan yang melupakan tugas ini, dikhawatirkan akan meninggal dalam keadaan munafik, karena melalaikan tugas yang dibebankan Allah kepada setiap orang Muslim

Perceptions of Primary School Teachers Regarding New Science and Technology Curriculum of Turkey in terms of Teaching and Assessment Methods

The purpose of this study was to explore and investigate perceptions of the primary school teachers’ in 4th and 5th grade public schools on new science and technology curriculum in science and technology classes in Turkey. Whether primary school teachers familiar with the improvements in science and technology curriculum and whether they feel themselves adequate in terms of theoretical knowledge and application of the new approaches in science and technology lessons were also investigated. The research type of this study includes survey and qualitative research in nature which are non-experimental research methods. The quantitative part of this study includes questionnaire administration and qualitative part includes interviews. A perception questionnaire was administered on 155 primary school teachers. Then, the researcher carried out in depth interviews with 13 primary school teachers. Quantitative part of the study was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics by using SPSS (e.g., frequences, percentage analysis). Qualitative part of the study was analyzed by using qualitative methods (Generating categories, themes, patterns and coding the data). The findings from quantitative and qualitative data indicated that similar to the results of the studies carried out in other countries, primary school teachers have various perceptions to apply teaching and assessment methods related to knowledge, experience, students, parents, administrators, resources, opportunities, time, and science books. The interview results with the teachers yielded different categories like basic features of the New Science and Technology Curriculum, positive and negative perspectives on new curriculum, factors affecting the application of the new curriculum, and comparison of old and new curriculum. Although most of the teachers stated that the new curriculum is applicable and better than the old one, they have many problems especially regarding the application of the new curriculum

Effectiveness of Using Digital Feedback on EFL Student Writing Skills

This research study investigated the effects of digital feedback on EFL students’ writings in ubiquitous learning. Feedback on students’ writings, especially at university level, must be constructive to enhance their overall academic writing skills and requires purposeful planning. . In this study, teachers created digital screen-recorded feedback to deliver individualized oral feedback to the students. Findings of this study explore the impact of digital feedback on improving the quality of academic writing for EFL undergraduate female learners. Data collected showed that using digital feedback created a positive and active learning environment and promoted learner autonomy. This digital platform also allowed learning to be continuous and ubiquitous. The results present several practical pedagogical implications and suggestions for future research

COVID-19 Outbreak and Mental health

It is not prepared because it is a letter to the editor

Penafsiran Ayat–Ayat Al–Qur'an tentang Amar Ma'ruf Nahi Munkar menurut Muhammad Fethullah Gülen

Amar ma’rūf nahi munkar merupakan frasa dari bahasa Arab yang berarti perintah Allah swt untuk mengajak atau menganjurkan hal-hal yang baik dan mencegah hal-hal yang buruk bagi masyarakat. Ada beberapa penafsir al-Qur’an yang menjelaskan secara lebih rinci mengenai maksud dari frasa amar ma’ruf nahi munkar tersebut. Dalam tulisan ini penulis membahas mengenai ayat-ayat amar ma’ruf nahi munkar yang ditafsirkan oleh Muhammad Fethullah Gülen dan persoalan seputar kedudukan menegakkan amar ma’rūf nahi munkar. Sumber penelitian ini adalah dari kitab dan buku yang berkaitan dengan pokok pembahasan. Data yang digunakan adalah data primer dan data sekunder. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif, yaitu menggambarkan sosok yang ingin diteliti berdasarkan fakta dari berita, buku, dan majalah yang ada. Hasil penelitian ini antara lain: beberapa ayat dalam al-Qur’an yang menjelaskan tentang amar ma’rūf nahi munkar. Gülen mengklasifikasikan penafsiran ayat-ayat amar ma’ruf nahi munkar dalam 3 bagian. Pertama, amar ma’rūf nahi munkar sebagai tujuan hidup. Dimana ayat-ayat yang menjelaskannya diantaranya adalah QS. Ali Imran ayat 110, QS. Ali Imran Ayat 104, QS. Ali Imran Ayat 114, dan QS. Hûd ayat 117. Kedua, amar ma’ruf nahi munkar sebagai tanda orang mukmin. Dimana ayat-ayat yang menjelaskannya diantaranya adalah QS. At-Taubah Ayat 67, QS. At-Taubah ayat 71, dan QS. Al-A’raf: 179. Ketiga, menegakkan amar ma’rūf nahi munkar sesuai dengan fitrah. Dimana ayat-ayat yang menjelaskannya antara lain adalah QS. Lukman: 17. Menurut Gülen, masyarakat yang melakukan tugas suci ini dengan baik, maka mereka itu akan dilindungi Allah dari segala bencana yang datangnya dari langit atau bumi, meskipun jumlah orang yang menjalankan tugas ini tidak banyak. Sedangkan, siapapun yang melupakan tugas suci ini, dikhawatirkan dia mati dalam keadaan munafik, karena telah melalaikan tugas yang dibebankan Allah kepada setiap orang Muslim

Analysis between Adrenal MRI Mass Size and 1 mg Dexamethasone Suppression Test in Patients with Adrenal Incidentaloma

This study aimed to investigate the correlation of adrenal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) mass size and 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test results in patients with adrenal incidentaloma diagnosis. Eighty-six patients (82.6% female) with incidentally discovered adrenal masses, diagnosed and treated in the Department of Endocrinology Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Education and Research Hospital between June and August 2017, were included in the analysis. All the patients evaluated for their hormonal functionality. 24-h urinary excretion of cortisol did not correlate with tumor size. But there was a positive correlation between longer adrenal nodule diameter and metanephrine, and there was a negative correlation between shorter adrenal nodule diameter and renin levels. We found that smaller and clinically “silent” tumors often do not demonstrate subclinical hormonal activity

Rational Choice Theory in Psychiatry

The rational choice approach has become more prevalent in many disciplines in recent years. The rational choice theory of neurosis maintains that patients consciously and deliberately adopt neurotic disorders when confronted with intolerable levels of stress. Despite the striking differences, rational choice theory of neurosis continues Freud's framework of thinking as it employs a new concept of repression. According to this new theory, all therapies exert their effect either by disrupting patients’ ability to preserve unawareness, increasing the cost of the symptom, decreasing the patient’s emotional distress, or eliminating the stressor. Repression is defined as a conscious coping mechanism by which the individual deliberately employs distractive measures to eliminate stress-related thoughts from attention in this theory. This article aims to review the definition of rational choice theory and its integrative therapeutic approach in psychiatry