An E-Learning Investigation into Learning Style Adaptivity

Abstrac

Improved movie recommendations based on a hybrid feature combination method

Recommender systems help users find relevant items efficiently based on their interests and historical interactions with other users. They are beneficial to businesses by promoting the sale of products and to user by reducing the search burden. Recommender systems can be developed by employing different approaches, including collaborative filtering (CF), demographic filtering (DF), content-based filtering (CBF) and knowledge-based filtering (KBF). However, large amounts of data can produce recommendations that are limited in accuracy because of diversity and sparsity issues. In this paper, we propose a novel hybrid method that combines user–user CF with the attributes of DF to indicate the nearest users, and compare four classifiers against each other. This method has been developed through an investigation of ways to reduce the errors in rating predictions based on users’ past interactions, which leads to improved prediction accuracy in all four classification algorithms. We applied a feature combination method that improves the prediction accuracy and to test our approach, we ran an offline evaluation using the 1M MovieLens dataset, well-known evaluation metrics and comparisons between methods with the results validating our proposed method

DNA Markers Identify Genetic Heritage between Chickadees near a Contact Zone in Illinois

I studied the genetic interactions of Black-capped (Poecile atricapilus) (BCCH) and Carolina (P. carolinensis) (CACH) Chickadees in and near the largest hybrid contact zone in Illinois. Biologists have assumed Carolina and Black-capped Chickadees hybridize in their large contact zone in Bond and Fayette Counties, based on intermediate morphological measurements, plumage characteristics and the production of aberrant vocalizations. In determining hybridization, however, diagnostic genetics may be more useful than any other criterion. The genetic and environmental factors that have contributed to the survival of this chickadees hybrid zone have underscored the genetic integrity of both species. We collected tissues from chickadees during the breeding season from different areas within and near the contact zone. We isolated and compared mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) which allowed us to assess maternal genotypes for our samples and compare them with both of the species. After we analyzed the DNA sequences of each species of our samples, we identified that genetic mixing occurs within this contact zone. In addition, our results confirmed the mtDNA from all our samples had high expression of BCCH sequences but was distinct enough to suggest closer to CACH

Trust and Suspicion as a Function of Cyber Security in Human Machine Team (HMT) of Unmanned Systems

The research focuses on cyber-attacks on cyber-physical systems of the unmanned vehicles that are characteristically used in the military, particularly the Air Force. Unmanned systems are exposed to various risks as the capacity of cyber attackers continue to expand, raising the need for speedy and immediate responses. The advances in military technologies form the basis of the research that explores the challenges faced in the timely detection and response to cyber-attacks. The purpose of the research is to study the connections between operator suspicion and the detection and response to cyber-attacks alongside the identification of theory of suspicion as the theoretical framework. The paper further presents the experiment used and the interview questions that offer the basis for the recommendations and importance of the research while answering the research questions. The conclusion from the literature review, interview, and experiment indicates the need for training among operators in the Air Force to reinforce their capacity in the detection and response to cyber-attacks and other adverse events that could compromise the execution of the mission established for unmanned systems. The research offers recommendations that can be implemented by the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) in enhancing the security measures of unmanned systems

Check-in/Check-out to Increase Academic Engagement and Classroom Behavior Among Adolescent Students in Juvenile Detention Centers

The use of multi-tiered techniques can address many students’ needs (e.g., problem behaviors, academic disengagement) in schools and juvenile detention centers. Some students have serious problems that may lead to poor academic performance and prevent them from being successful in school and in life. Check-in, check-out (CICO) is an effective second-tier intervention to address problem behaviors evidenced by these students. The purpose of this experimental study was to examine the effectiveness of using the CICO intervention on the four dependent variables (i.e., problem behaviors, appropriate behaviors, academic engagement, academic disengagement) among four incarcerated students. An A-B-A-B reversal design was used to assess the effectiveness of the CICO interventions on the four dependent variables. The results of the study indicated that the intervention functionally decreased problem behaviors and academic disengagement and increased appropriate behaviors and academic engagement. Finally, limitations and implications for future research and practice are discussed

The Use Of The Mother Tongue In Saudi EFL Classrooms

The issue of including or excluding the learner’s mother tongue in the EFL classroom has been the subject of ongoing discussion and controversy for a long time. This paper attempts to investigate the use of native Arabic in English classes at two Saudi technical colleges. The main objectives were to examine the purpose o L1 use and the attitudes of Saudi teachers and students towards the role of Arabic in the EFL classroom. Data were collected through two different types of questionnaires. Results indicated that the use of Arabic (L1) was for clarification purposes and that a balanced and judicious use of L1 in the EFL classroom by both teachers and students can be useful in the language learning process and may even be essential to increase learners’ comprehension

COVID-19 knowledge and perception among healthcare professionals in two Arabian Gulf countries

Introduction: The WHO announced on 30 January 2020 the respiratory tract infection outbreak caused by Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) that was first recognized in China to be a global public health emergency. Objective: To investigate healthcare professional's knowledge and awareness about COVID-19. Methods: The study was conducted across four hospitals in Saudi Arabia and two hospitals in Kuwait. The questionnaire was completed between 18th May and the end of June 2020. Results: A total of 460 healthcare professionals completed the questionnaire, 37.8%(n=174) were males. The age of the participants ranged from 18 to 64 and 80.4% (n=370) of the participants were aged 34 or below. Official government websites 54.8% (n=252) and social media 43.3% (n=199) were the major reliable information sources related to COVID-19. only 37% (n=170) mentioned that the coronavirus disease could transmit through contact. In addition, only 42% (n=191) of the study participants had the correct knowledge about the incubation period of the disease. Moreover, 43.5% (n=200) of the participants were able to identify the symptoms of COVID-19. Conclusion: The study recommended the need to focus more on educational and awareness programs targeting all healthcare professionals to ensure the best practice and provide the optimal care

Development of an R script for simple lipidomic and metabolomic data analysis

Background: Metabolomic and lipidomic studies generate vast quantities of data that are often analysed in a closed software environment with little to no access to the underlying algorithms. As a result, data processed via different software pipelines yield different results thus leading to a widespread problem of low reproducibility within these fields. To address this problem, we are developing LipidAnalyst; an R based lipidomics software pipeline. As a part of this project, we are creating a simple statistical analysis and graphing module in R to generate accurate, reproducible, high-resolution figures. Methods: R scripts were developed under version 3.5.3 with the capability to undertake statistical analyses (e.g. ANOVA) and post-hoc tests (e.g. Tukey). Additional code plotted resultant information as high resolution violin and box plots that depicted statistical significance. Thereafter, lipidomic and metabolomic data were analysed by this code and compared against commercial software and Metaboanalyst, a primary software used in metabolomic and lipidomic research. Results: Code generated in house demonstrated the same results as those generated using commercial software (e.g. JMP 14.0 Pro) but were different from results obtained by using the MetaboAnalyst pipeline. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the prevalent danger of using closed-source software pipelines for the analysis of lipidomic and metabolomic data without validating the analysis outcomes via open-source software. Open source software such as LipidAnalyst, that has also been independently validated using multiple data sets, can then be published with the results to enable transparency of data analysis and improve the replicability of results across different labs.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1092/thumbnail.jp