A Mobile Learning Support System for Ubiquitous Learning Environments

AbstractThis paper proposes a Mobile Learning Support System (MLSS) which enables students to access learning materials by utilizing 2D barcodes and GPS technology. As the pilot system of ubiquitous learning, we used camera-equipped mobile phones and 2D barcode tags to obtain learning information from online websites. By installing the MLSS on to their mobile phones, students can scan the tag attached to the corresponding object to display related multimedia materials on the screen of mobile phones. Furthermore, MLSS also applies GPS technology to develop a location-aware environment for students. GPS technology is used to detect the students’ location and identify which 2D barcode tags are in their proximity. Therefore, this paper provides the opportunity to develop for developers create ubiquitous learning environments that combine real-world and digital world resources

Wavelet-based density estimation for noise reduction in plasma simulations using particles

For given computational resources, the accuracy of plasma simulations using particles is mainly held back by the noise due to limited statistical sampling in the reconstruction of the particle distribution function. A method based on wavelet analysis is proposed and tested to reduce this noise. The method, known as wavelet based density estimation (WBDE), was previously introduced in the statistical literature to estimate probability densities given a finite number of independent measurements. Its novel application to plasma simulations can be viewed as a natural extension of the finite size particles (FSP) approach, with the advantage of estimating more accurately distribution functions that have localized sharp features. The proposed method preserves the moments of the particle distribution function to a good level of accuracy, has no constraints on the dimensionality of the system, does not require an a priori selection of a global smoothing scale, and its able to adapt locally to the smoothness of the density based on the given discrete particle data. Most importantly, the computational cost of the denoising stage is of the same order as one time step of a FSP simulation. The method is compared with a recently proposed proper orthogonal decomposition based method, and it is tested with three particle data sets that involve different levels of collisionality and interaction with external and self-consistent fields

Associations of parental bonding and adolescent internet addiction symptoms with depression and anxiety in parents of adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the associations of parental bonding and adolescents’ Internet addiction symptoms with depression and anxiety in parents of adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: Parental depression and anxiety symptoms, parental bonding, and adolescents’ Internet addiction symptoms were assessed in 46 parent-child dyads using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), and Chen Internet Addiction Scale, respectively. Forward stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to examine the associations of parental bonding and adolescents’ Internet addiction symptoms with parental depression and anxiety. Results: Low care/affection on the PBI was significantly associated with parental depression, and overprotection on the PBI and adolescents’ Internet addiction were significantly associated with parental anxiety. Discussion: Parental bonding and adolescents’ Internet addiction are related to depression and anxiety in parents of adolescents with ADHD

Polysaccharides obtained from mycelia of Cordyceps militaris attenuated doxorubicin-induced cytotoxic effects in chemotherapy

Objectives: Fungus Cordyceps militaris has been used as a herbal tonic in traditional Chinese medicine, which could be surface liquid-cultured for mycelia production. To evaluate the potential of polysaccharides obtained from mycelia of Cordyceps militaris (PS-MCM) for attenuation of side-effects of chemotherapy.Methods: Doxorubicin was used to induce cytotoxicity in THP-1 monocytes and EL-4 T cells, and the effects of PS-MCM on cell viability and cytokine production were detected on doxorubicin-treated THP-1 and EL-4 cells.Results: PS-MCM reduced doxorubicin-induced cell death and promoted cell proliferation in THP-1 and EL-4 cells. Moreover, PS-MCM elevated the level of cytokines associated with immune-modulation of THP-1 and EL-4 cells.Conclusion: These findings indicate that PS-MCM has potential for development as a functional food to counteract side effects of chemotherapy.Keywords: Cordyceps militaris, traditional Chinese medicine, doxorubicin, chemotherapy, immunotherapy

iGEMDOCK: a graphical environment of enhancing GEMDOCK using pharmacological interactions and post-screening analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pharmacological interactions are useful for understanding ligand binding mechanisms of a therapeutic target. These interactions are often inferred from a set of active compounds that were acquired experimentally. Moreover, most docking programs loosely coupled the stages (binding-site and ligand preparations, virtual screening, and post-screening analysis) of structure-based virtual screening (VS). An integrated VS environment, which provides the friendly interface to seamlessly combine these VS stages and to identify the pharmacological interactions directly from screening compounds, is valuable for drug discovery.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We developed an easy-to-use graphic environment, <it>i</it>GEMDOCK, integrating VS stages (from preparations to post-screening analysis). For post-screening analysis, <it>i</it>GEMDOCK provides biological insights by deriving the pharmacological interactions from screening compounds without relying on the experimental data of active compounds. The pharmacological interactions represent conserved interacting residues, which often form binding pockets with specific physico-chemical properties, to play the essential functions of a target protein. Our experimental results show that the pharmacological interactions derived by <it>i</it>GEMDOCK are often hot spots involving in the biological functions. In addition, <it>i</it>GEMDOCK provides the visualizations of the protein-compound interaction profiles and the hierarchical clustering dendrogram of the compounds for post-screening analysis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We have developed <it>i</it>GEMDOCK to facilitate steps from preparations of target proteins and ligand libraries toward post-screening analysis. <it>i</it>GEMDOCK is especially useful for post-screening analysis and inferring pharmacological interactions from screening compounds. We believe that <it>i</it>GEMDOCK is useful for understanding the ligand binding mechanisms and discovering lead compounds. <it>i</it>GEMDOCK is available at <url>http://gemdock.life.nctu.edu.tw/dock/igemdock.php</url>.</p

Security of Deputy Signature

E-system, a new commerce model, is a new era for business direction. When a principal is absent (goes on an errand or on leave), a well-designed deputy system keeps the business operations working. In the network world, identity verification and any substitute for traditional signature can be done by digital signature [1]. Deputy signature guarantees the existence of deputy system in e-system. Current deputy mechanism addresses the verification of deputy signature. No research has been done on the prevention of the illegal use of deputy system when the principal returns and the deputy system is not in use. We propose a mechanism to solve the problem of illegal use of deputy system when the power of deputy system is not legally “ON.