Designing Multimedia Learning for Student Employees in a Higher Education Institution

This portfolio explores the multimedia learning design for student employees at a higher education institution to improve employment skills and knowledge. Based on the ADDIE Model, video-based learning, cognitive learning, and multimedia principles, this paper suggested eLearning designs that enhance learners′ comprehension and employee training development approaches. This paper seeks to create and provide employment skills and knowledge training via the learning management system: Desire2learn Brightspace using various eLearning tools, including video-based learning, interactive web-based tools, and web-page learning materials

Characterization of thiobarbituric acid derivatives as inhibitors of hepatitis C virus NS5B polymerase

In an effort to find chemicals inhibiting the enzymatic activity of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase, a series of thiobarbituric acid derivatives were selected from a library provided by Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology and characterized. The selected compounds exhibited IC50 values ranging from 1.7 to 3.8 μM, and EC50 values ranging from 12.3 to 20.7 μM against NS5B polymerase of type 1b strain. They showed little effect against type 2a polymerase. One of the compounds, G05, was selected and further characterized. It inhibited the synthesis of RNA by recombinant HCV NS5B polymerase in a dose dependent manner. The CC50 value was 77 μM. The inhibition was in a noncompetitive manner with the substrate UTP. The compound did not inhibit the elongation step of RNA synthesis in a single-cycle processive polymerization assay. It inhibited the binding of NS5B polymerase to the template RNA in a dose-dependent manner

Fine-Grained Socioeconomic Prediction from Satellite Images with Distributional Adjustment

While measuring socioeconomic indicators is critical for local governments to make informed policy decisions, such measurements are often unavailable at fine-grained levels like municipality. This study employs deep learning-based predictions from satellite images to close the gap. We propose a method that assigns a socioeconomic score to each satellite image by capturing the distributional behavior observed in larger areas based on the ground truth. We train an ordinal regression scoring model and adjust the scores to follow the common power law within and across regions. Evaluation based on official statistics in South Korea shows that our method outperforms previous models in predicting population and employment size at both the municipality and grid levels. Our method also demonstrates robust performance in districts with uneven development, suggesting its potential use in developing countries where reliable, fine-grained data is scarce

Excited-state non-radiative decay in stilbenoid compounds:an ab initio quantum-chemistry study on size and substituent effects

In the framework of optoelectronic luminescent materials, non-radiative decay mechanisms are relevant to interpret efficiency losses. These radiationless processes are herein studied theoretically for a series of stilbenoid derivatives, including distyrylbenzene (DSB) and cyano-substituted distyrylbenzene (DCS) molecules in vacuo. Given the difficulties of excited-state reaction path determinations, a simplified computational strategy is defined based on the exploration of the potential energy surfaces (PES) along the elongation, twisting, and pyramidalization of the vinyl bonds. For such exploration, density functional theory (DFT), time-dependent (TD)DFT, and complete-active-space self-consistent field/complete-active-space second-order perturbation theory (CASSCF/CASPT2) are combined. The strategy is firstly benchmarked for ethene, styrene, and stilbene; next it is applied to DSB and representative DCS molecules. Two energy descriptors are derived from the approximated PES, the Franck-Condon energy and the energy gap at the elongated, twisted, and pyramidalized structures. These energy descriptors correlate fairly well with the non-radiative decay rates, which validates our computational strategy. Ultimately, this strategy may be applied to predict the luminescence behavior in related compounds

Effects of multicomponent exercise on cognitive function in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: To examine the effects of a multicomponent exercise program on the cognitive function of older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). METHODS: Design: Twelve months, randomized controlled trial; Setting: Community center in Japan; Participants: Fifty older adults (27 men) with aMCI ranging in age from 65 to 93 years (mean age, 75 years); Intervention: Subjects were randomized into either a multicomponent exercise (n = 25) or an education control group (n = 25). Subjects in the multicomponent exercise group exercised under the supervision of physiotherapists for 90 min/d, 2 d/wk, for a total of 80 times over 12 months. The exercises included aerobic exercises, muscle strength training, and postural balance retraining, and were conducted using multiple conditions to stimulate cognitive functions. Subjects in the control group attended three education classes regarding health during the 12-month period. Measurements were administered before, after the 6-month, and after the 12-month intervention period; Measurements: The performance measures included the mini-mental state examination, logical memory subtest of the Wechsler memory scale-revised, digit symbol coding test, letter and categorical verbal fluency test, and the Stroop color word test. RESULTS: The mean adherence to the exercise program was 79.2%. Improvements of cognitive function following multicomponent exercise were superior at treatment end (group × time interactions for the mini-mental state examination (P = 0.04), logical memory of immediate recall (P = 0.03), and letter verbal fluency test (P = 0.02)). The logical memory of delayed recall, digit symbol coding, and Stroop color word test showed main effects of time, although there were no group × time interactions. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that exercise improves or supports, at least partly, cognitive performance in older adults with aMCI

A Large, Cross-Sectional Observational Study of Serum BDNF, Cognitive Function, and Mild Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly

Objective: The clinical relationship between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cognitive function or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between serum BDNF and cognitive function and MCI, and determine whether serum BDNF level might be a useful biomarker for assessing risk for MCI in older people.Materials and Methods: A total of 4463 individuals aged 65 years or older (mean age 72 years) participating in the study. We measured performance in a battery of neuropsychological and cognitive function tests; serum BDNF concentration.Results: Eight hundred twenty-seven participants (18.8%) had MCI. After adjustment for sex, age, education level, diabetes, and current smoking, serum BDNF was associated with poorer performance in the story memory, and digit symbol substitution task scores. Serum BDNF was marginally associated with the presence of MCI (OR, 95% CI: 1.41, 1.00–1.99) when BDNF was 1.5 SD lower than the mean value standardized for sex and age, education level, diabetes, and current smoking.Conclusion: Low serum BDNF was associated with lower cognitive test scores and MCI. Future prospective studies should establish the discriminative value of serum BDNF for the risk of MCI

Inverted energy gap law for the nonradiative decay in fluorescent floppy molecules:larger fluorescence quantum yields for smaller energy gaps

A data survey on experimental fluorescence quantum yields of (multi)substituted dicyano-distyrylbenzenes in fluid solution evidences that non-radiative decay increases with the Franck-Condon energy (E-FC), being opposite to the conventional energy gap law. Quantum-chemistry indicates that this is controlled by access to the conical intersection (CI) following the Bell-Evans-Polanyi principle as a first-step approximation for this family of molecules; the variations in E-FC among the different compounds are found to be decisive, while those of E-CI are estimated to be weaker or even enhancing the effect. The current findings may have significant consequences for the design of molecules for organic solid state emitters

Photo-patternable and transparent films using cellulose nanofibers for stretchable origami electronics

Substantial progress in flexible or stretchable electronics over the past decade has extensively impacted various technologies such as wearable devices, displays and automotive electronics for smart cars. An important challenge is the reliability of these deformable devices under thermal stress. Different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) between plastic substrates and the device components, which include multiple inorganic layers of metals or ceramics, induce thermal stress in the devices during fabrication processes or long-term operations with repetitions of thermal cyclic loading-unloading, leading to device failure and reliability degradation. Here, we report an unconventional approach to form photo-patternable, transparent cellulose nanofiber (CNF) hybrid films as flexible and stretchable substrates to improve device reliability using simultaneous electrospinning and spraying. The electrospun polymeric backbones and sprayed CNF fillers enable the resulting hybrid structure to be photolithographically patternable as a negative photoresist and thermally and mechanically stable, presenting outstanding optical transparency and low CTE. We also formed stretchable origami substrates using the CNF hybrid that are composed of rigid support fixtures and elastomeric joints, exploiting the photo-patternability. A demonstration of transparent organic light-emitting diodes and touchscreen panels on the hybrid film suggests its potential for use in next-generation electronics.ope

Association between nasal shedding and fever that influenza A (H3N2) induces in dogs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Avian origin canine influenza virus was reported in Korea. The dog to dog contact transmission of the avian origin canine influenza virus (CIV) H3N2 and CIV H3N8 was shown by experimental contact transmission. This study was focused on viral excretion and fever in order to elucidate the epidemiological associations which might be helpful to control the disease transmissions in CIV outbreak in dogs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An influenza seronegative 10-week-old Beagle dog was experimentally inoculated with the canine influenza virus A/canine/01/2007, subtype H3N2. Eight hours after inoculation, the infected dog was cohoused with seven uninfected Beagle dogs. Clinical signs including fever were recorded for 14 days post inoculation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The infected dog and four of seven contact dogs in the study showed clinical signs (sneezing, nasal discharge and coughing) during the study. Viral shedding occurred in all of the animals tested and began on 1 to 6 DPI in dogs with clinical signs. Elevated body temperatures above 39.5°C (geometric mean temperature of 39.86°C±0.49) were observed in all symptomatic dogs. The mean viral titer during fever was 2.99 log EID₅₀/ml, which was significantly higher than the viral titer detected in the non fever.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The data show that contact dogs with a canine influenza infected dog shed different levels of virus in their nasal excretions and demonstrate that clinical signs, including fever, significantly correlate with the viral shedding.</p

Smart sensor systems for wearable electronic devices

Wearable human interaction devices are technologies with various applications for improving human comfort, convenience and security and for monitoring health conditions. Healthcare monitoring includes caring for the welfare of every person, which includes early diagnosis of diseases, real-time monitoring of the effects of treatment, therapy, and the general monitoring of the conditions of people&apos;s health. As a result, wearable electronic devices are receiving greater attention because of their facile interaction with the human body, such as monitoring heart rate, wrist pulse, motion, blood pressure, intraocular pressure, and other health-related conditions. In this paper, various smart sensors and wireless systems are reviewed, the current state of research related to such systems is reported, and their detection mechanisms are compared. Our focus was limited to wearable and attachable sensors. Section 1 presents the various smart sensors. In Section 2, we describe multiplexed sensors that can monitor several physiological signals simultaneously. Section 3 provides a discussion about short-range wireless systems including bluetooth, near field communication (NFC), and resonance antenna systems for wearable electronic devices