Beyond Surveys: Analyzing Software Development Artifacts to Assess Teaching Efforts

This Innovative Practice Full Paper presents an approach of using software development artifacts to gauge student behavior and the effectiveness of changes to curriculum design. There is an ongoing need to adapt university courses to changing requirements and shifts in industry. As an educator it is therefore vital to have access to methods, with which to ascertain the effects of curriculum design changes. In this paper, we present our approach of analyzing software repositories in order to gauge student behavior during project work. We evaluate this approach in a case study of a university undergraduate software development course teaching agile development methodologies. Surveys revealed positive attitudes towards the course and the change of employed development methodology from Scrum to Kanban. However, surveys were not usable to ascertain the degree to which students had adapted their workflows and whether they had done so in accordance with course goals. Therefore, we analyzed students' software repository data, which represents information that can be collected by educators to reveal insights into learning successes and detailed student behavior. We analyze the software repositories created during the last five courses, and evaluate differences in workflows between Kanban and Scrum usage

Visualisation of semantic enrichment

Automatically creating semantic enrichments for text may lead to annotations that allow for excellent recall but poor precision. Manual enrichment is potentially more targeted, leading to greater precision. We aim to support nonexperts in manually enriching texts with semantic annotations. Neither the visualisation of semantic enrichment nor the process of manually enriching texts has been evaluated before. This paper presents the results of our user study on visualisation of text enrichment during the annotation process. We performed extensive analysis of work related to the visualisation of semantic annotations. In a prototype implementation, we then explored two layout alternatives for visualising semantic annotations and their linkage to the text atoms. Here we summarise and discuss our results and their design implications for tools creating semantic annotations

Airborne laser scanning raster data visualization

This guide provides an insight into a range of visualization techniques for high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs). It is provided in the context of investigation and interpretation of various types of historical and modern, cultural and natural small-scale relief features and landscape structures. It also provides concise guidance for selecting the best techniques when looking at a specific type of landscape and/or looking for particular kinds of forms.The three main sections – descriptions of visualization techniques, guidance for selection of the techniques, and visualization tools – accompany examples of visualizations, exemplar archaeological and geomorphological case studies, a glossary of terms, and a list of references and recommendations for further reading. The structure facilitates people of different academic background and level of expertise to understand different visualizations, how to read them, how to manipulate the settings in a calculation, and choose the best suited for the purpose of the intended investigation.A smaller amount of books is also available in hardcover (ISBN 978-961-05-0011-7, 24 EUR).Monografija nudi vpogled v nabor tehnik prikaza visokoločljivih modelov višin. Napisana je v kontekstu preučevanja in interpretacije različnih tipov zgodovinskih in modernih, kulturnih in naravnih majhnih reliefnih oblik. Daje jedrnate napotke za izbiro najboljših tehnik prikaza določenih tipov pokrajine in izrazitih oblik.Tri glavna poglavja – opis tehnik prikazovanja digitalnih modelov višin, napotki za njihovo izbiro in orodja za izračun prikazov –, spremljajo izbrani primeri tipičnih arheoloških in geomorfoloških študij, slovarček pojmov ter seznam literature in priporočenega branja. Posameznikom z različnih znanstvenih področij in z različnim predznanjem o tematiki je struktura v pomoč pri razumevanju različnih tehnik prikazov, kako jih brati, kako izbrati prave nastavitve pri njihovem izračunu in kako prepoznati najbolj primerne za namen zasnovane raziskave

Visualisierung hochauflösender Digitaler Geländemodelle mit LiVT

Seit einigen Jahren ist eine zunehmende Verfügbarkeit und Bedeutung von Lidar-basierten hochauflösenden Digitalen Geländemodellen (DGM) in der archäologischen Forschung sowie in der Bodendenkmalpflege zu beobachten. Allerdings ist die 'konventionelle' Visualisierung derartiger Geländemodelle als schattiertes Reliefbild (basierend auf simulierter gerichteter Beleuchtung des DGM) für viele Anwendungen in der Archäologie nicht optimal. Aus diesem Grund wird am Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Baden-Württemberg in Esslingen im Rahmen des von der Europäischen Kommission geförderten multinationalen Projektes 'Archaeolandscapes Europe' (www.archaeolandscapes.org) eine Lidar Visualisation Toolbox (LiVT) entwickelt. Im Folgenden sollen sowohl die Grundlagen verschiedener Visualisierungsmethoden als auch die Benutzung der Software im Überblick dargestellt werden.For several years, the increasing availability and importance of Lidar-based high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) can be observed in archaeological research and heritage management. However, the 'conventional' visualization of such terrain models as a shaded relief (based on simulated directed illumination of the DTM) is not suitable for many applications in archeology. For this reason, as part of the multinational project Archaeolandscapes Europe (www.archaeolandscapes.org), the State Office for Cultural Heritage Baden- Württemberg in Esslingen developed a Lidar Visualization Toolbox (LiVT). This paper will give an overview of the basics of different visualization methods as well as the use of the software LiVT

Discrepancies Between Database- and Pragmatically Driven NLG: Insights from QUD-Based Annotations

We present annotation findings when using an annotated corpus of driving reports as informational texts with an elaborated pragmatics for the automatic generation of corresponding texts. The generation process requires access to a database providing the technical details of the vehicles, as well as an annotated corpus for sophisticated, pragmatically motivated text planning. We focus on the annotation results since they are the basic framework for linking text planning with database queries and microplanning. We show that the annotations point to a variety of linguistic phenomena that have received little or no attention in the literature so far, and they raise corresponding questions regarding the access to information from databases for the generation process

Vizuelizacija rasterskih podataka laserskog skeniranja iz zraka

The monograph is a translated and complemented edition of the book Airborne laser scanning raster data visualization: A Guide to Good Practice. It provides an insight into a range of visualization techniques for high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs). It is provided in the context of investigation and interpretation of various types of historical and modern, cultural and natural small-scale relief features and landscape structures. It also provides concise guidance for selecting the best techniques when looking at a specific type of landscape and/or looking for particular kinds of forms.The three main sections – descriptions of visualization techniques, guidance for selection of the techniques, and visualization tools – accompany examples of visualizations, exemplar archaeological and geomorphological case studies, a glossary of terms, and a list of references and recommendations for further reading. The structure facilitates people of different academic background and level of expertise to understand different visualizations, how to read them, how to manipulate the settings in a calculation, and choose the best suited for the purpose of the intended investigation.Monografija nudi vpogled v nabor tehnik prikaza visokoločljivih modelov višin. Napisana je v kontekstu preučevanja in interpretacije različnih tipov zgodovinskih in modernih, kulturnih in naravnih majhnih reliefnih oblik. Daje jedrnate napotke za izbiro najboljših tehnik prikaza določenih tipov pokrajine in izrazitih oblik.Tri glavna poglavja – opis tehnik prikazovanja digitalnih modelov višin, napotki za njihovo izbiro in orodja za izračun prikazov –, spremljajo izbrani primeri tipičnih arheoloških in geomorfoloških študij, slovarček pojmov ter seznam literature in priporočenega branja. Posameznikom z različnih znanstvenih področij in z različnim predznanjem o tematiki je struktura v pomoč pri razumevanju različnih tehnik prikazov, kako jih brati, kako izbrati prave nastavitve pri njihovem izračunu in kako prepoznati najbolj primerne za namen zasnovane raziskave

Systematic interaction network filtering identifies CRMP1 as a novel suppressor of huntingtin misfolding and neurotoxicity

Assemblies of huntingtin (HTT) fragments with expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts are a pathological hallmark of Huntington's disease (HD). The molecular mechanisms by which these structures are formed and cause neuronal dysfunction and toxicity are poorly understood. Here, we utilized available gene expression data sets of selected brain regions of HD patients and controls for systematic interaction network filtering in order to predict disease-relevant, brain region-specific HTT interaction partners. Starting from a large protein-protein interaction (PPI) data set, a step-by-step computational filtering strategy facilitated the generation of a focused PPI network that directly or indirectly connects 13 proteins potentially dysregulated in HD with the disease protein HTT. This network enabled the discovery of the neuron-specific protein CRMP1 that targets aggregation-prone, N-terminal HTT fragments and suppresses their spontaneous self-assembly into proteotoxic structures in various models of HD. Experimental validation indicates that our network filtering procedure provides a simple but powerful strategy to identify disease-relevant proteins that influence misfolding and aggregation of polyQ disease proteins.DFG [SFB740, 740/2-11, SFB618, 618/3-09, SFB/TRR43 A7]; BMBF(NGFN-Plus) [01GS08169-73, 01GS08150, 01GS08108]; HDSA Coalition for the Cure; EU (EuroSpin) [Health-F2-2009-241498, HEALTH-F2-2009-242167]; Helmholtz Association (MSBN, HelMA) [HA-215]; FCT [IF/00881/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A deletion containing a CTCF-element in intron 8 of the Bbs7 gene is partially responsible for juvenile obesity in the Berlin Fat Mouse

The Berlin Fat Mouse Inbred (BFMI) line is a model for juvenile obesity. Previous studies on crosses between BFMI and C57Bl/6N (B6N) have identified a recessive defect causing juvenile obesity on chromosome 3 (jObes1). Bbs7 was identified as the most likely candidate gene for the observed effect. Comparative sequence analysis showed a 1578 bp deletion in intron 8 of Bbs7 in BFMI mice. A CTCF-element is located inside this deletion. To investigate the functional effect of this deletion, it was introduced into B6N mice using CRISPR/Cas9. Two mice containing the target deletion were obtained (B6N Bbs7emI8∆1 and Bbs7emI8∆2) and were subsequently mated to BFMI and B6N to generate two families suitable for complementation. Inherited alleles were determined and body composition was measured by quantitative magnetic resonance. Evidence for a partial complementation (13.1–15.1%) of the jObes1 allele by the CRISPR/Cas9 modified B6N Bbs7emI8∆1 and Bbs7emI8∆2 alleles was found. Mice carrying the complementation alleles had a 23–27% higher fat-to-lean ratio compared to animals which have a B6N allele (P(Bbs7emI8∆1) = 4.25 × 10–7; P(Bbs7emI8∆2) = 3.17 × 10–5). Consistent with previous findings, the recessive effect of the BFMI allele was also seen for the B6N Bbs7emI8∆1 and Bbs7emI8∆2 alleles. However, the effect size of the B6N Bbs7emI8∆1 and Bbs7emI8∆2 alleles was smaller than the BFMI allele, and thus showed only a partial complementation. Findings suggest additional variants near Bbs7 in addition to or interacting with the deletion in intron 8

Analytical and toxicological aspects of nanomaterials in different product groups: Challenges and opportunities

The widespread integration of engineered nanomaterials into consumer and industrial products creates new challenges and requires innovative approaches in terms of design, testing, reliability, and safety of nanotechnology. The aim of this review article is to give an overview of different product groups in which nanomaterials are present and outline their safety aspects for consumers. Here, release of nanomaterials and related analytical challenges and solutions as well as toxicological considerations, such as dose-metrics, are discussed. Additionally, the utilization of engineered nanomaterials as pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals to deliver and release cargo molecules is covered. Furthermore, critical pathways for human exposure to nanomaterials, namely inhalation and ingestion, are discussed in the context of risk assessment. Analysis of NMs in food, innovative medicine or food contact materials is discussed. Specific focus is on the presence and release of nanomaterials, including whether nanomaterials can migrate from polymer nanocomposites used in food contact materials. With regard to the toxicology and toxicokinetics of nanomaterials, aspects of dose metrics of inhalation toxicity as well as ingestion toxicology and comparison between in vitro and in vivo conclusions are considered. The definition of dose descriptors to be applied in toxicological testing is emphasized. In relation to potential exposure from different products, opportunities arising from the use of advanced analytical techniques in more unique scenarios such as release of nanomaterials from medical devices such as orthopedic implants are addressed. Alongside higher product performance and complexity, further challenges regarding material characterization and safety, as well as acceptance by the general public are expected