scholarly journals Towards a standardization of non-symbolic numerical experiments: GeNEsIS, a flexible and user-friendly tool to generate controlled stimuli

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirko Zanon ◽  
Davide Potrich ◽  
Maria Bortot ◽  
Giorgio Vallortigara
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Research ◽  
Numerical Cognition ◽  
Visual Features ◽  
Contour Length ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Physical Information ◽  
Species Comparisons ◽  
Physical Elements ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Density Contour

AbstractSeveral studies have suggested that vertebrate and invertebrate species may possess a number sense, i.e. an ability to process in a non-symbolic and non-verbal way the numerousness of a set of items. However, this hypothesis has been challenged by the presence of other non-numerical continuous physical variables, which vary along with numerosity (i.e., any change in the number of visual physical elements in a set naturally involves a related change in visual features such as area, density, contour length and convex hull of the stimulus). It is therefore necessary to control and manipulate the continuous physical information when investigating the ability of humans and other animals to perceive numerousness. During decades of research, different methods have been implemented in order to address this issue, which has implications for experiment replicability and inter-species comparisons, since no general standardized procedure is currently being used. Here we present the ‘Generation of Numerical Elements Images Software’ (GeNEsIS) for the creation of non-symbolic numerical arrays in a standardized and user-friendly environment. The main aim of this tool is to provide researchers in the field of numerical cognition a manageable and precise instrument to produce visual numerical arrays controlled for all the continuous variables. Additionally, we implemented the ability to actively guide stimuli presentation during habituation/dishabituation and dual-choice comparison tasks used in human and comparative research.

scholarly journals Towards a standardization of non-symbolic numerical experiments: GeNEsIS, a flexible and user-friendly tool to generate controlled stimuli

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirko Zanon ◽  
Davide Potrich ◽  
Maria Bortot ◽  
Giorgio Vallortigara
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Research ◽  
Numerical Cognition ◽  
Visual Features ◽  
Contour Length ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Physical Information ◽  
Species Comparisons ◽  
Physical Elements ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Density Contour

AbstractSeveral studies have suggested that vertebrate and invertebrate species may possess a number sense, i.e. an ability to process in a non-symbolic and non-verbal way the numerousness of a set of items. However, this hypothesis has been challenged by the presence of other non-numerical continuous physical variables, that vary along with numerosity (e.g. any change in the number of visual physical elements in a set naturally involves a related change in visual features such as area, density, contour length and convex hull of the stimulus). It is therefore necessary to control and manipulate the continuous physical information when investigating the ability of humans and other animals to perceive numerousness. During decades of research, different methods have been implemented in order to address this issue, which has implications for experiments replicability and inter-species comparisons, since no general standardized procedure is currently being used. Here we present the “Generation of Numerical Elements Images Software” (GeNEsIS) for the creation of non-symbolic numerical arrays in a standardized and user-friendly environment. The main aim of this tool would be to provide researchers in the field of numerical cognition with a manageable and precise instrument to produce visual numerical arrays controlled for all the continuous variables; additionally, we implemented the possibility to actively guide stimuli presentation during habituation/dishabituation and dual-choice comparison tasks used in human and comparative research.

scholarly journals Diurnal.plant.tools: comparative transcriptomic and co-expression analyses of diurnal gene expression of the Archaeplastida kingdom

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Wei Xiong Ng ◽  
Qiao Wen Tan ◽  
Camilla Ferrari ◽  
Marek Mutwil
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Gene Expression Profiles ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Species Comparisons ◽  
Gene Modules ◽  
Time Specific ◽  
Almost All ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Diurnal Regulation

ABSTRACTAlmost all organisms coordinate some aspects of their biology through the diurnal cycle. Photosynthetic organisms, and plants especially, have established complex programs that coordinate physiological, metabolic and developmental processes with the changing light. The diurnal regulation of the underlying transcriptional processes is observed when groups of functionally related genes (gene modules) are expressed at a specific time of the day. However, studying the diurnal regulation of these gene modules in the plant kingdom was hampered by the large amount of data required for the analyses. To meet this need, we used gene expression data from 17 diurnal studies spanning the whole Archaeplastida kingdom (Plantae kingdom in the broad sense) to make an online diurnal database. We have equipped the database with tools that allow user-friendly cross-species comparisons of gene expression profiles, entire co-expression networks, co-expressed clusters (involved in specific biological processes), time-specific gene expression, and others. We exemplify how these tools can be used by studying three important biological questions: (i) the evolution of cell division, (ii) the diurnal control of gene modules in algae and (iii) the conservation of diurnally-controlled modules across species. The database is freely available at http://diurnal.plant.tools/.

scholarly journals THE USE OF POWERPOINT IN GROUP PRESENTATIONS: INSIGHTS FROM ELT MAJORS

2020 ◽  
Vol 129 (6B) ◽  
pp. 135-149
Author(s):  
Lê Phạm Hoài Hương ◽  
Kha Tu Linh Le
Keyword(s):  
Visual Features ◽  
Group Presentation ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Group Presentations ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Group Members ◽  
User Friendly

The current study was set out to find out the attitudes of ELT majors toward the use of PowerPoint in group presentations and how they used the software when presenting. Data was collected through the use of questionnaire, interview and class observation. The results indicate that the majority of ELT majors had positive attitudes toward the use of PowerPoint in group presentation for their user-friendly quality and multimedia functions combining audio-visual features. It was also found that group members usually prepared slides individually before one member combined all and created a slideshow. During presentations, ELT majors relied on the key points in the slides to talk but a significant number of them just read from the slides. They also claimed to make use of the archiving and display functions of PowerPoint to create activities that help reinforce and review the contents presented. From the findings, suggestions to teachers and group members to review the contents and rules to design and use well the software for group presentations were made.

scholarly journals Diurnal.plant.tools: Comparative Transcriptomic and Co-expression Analyses of Diurnal Gene Expression of the Archaeplastida Kingdom

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 212-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Wei Xiong Ng ◽  
Qiao Wen Tan ◽  
Camilla Ferrari ◽  
Marek Mutwil
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Gene Expression Profiles ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Species Comparisons ◽  
Gene Modules ◽  
Time Specific ◽  
Almost All ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Diurnal Regulation

Abstract Almost all organisms coordinate some aspects of their biology through the diurnal cycle. Photosynthetic organisms, and plants especially, have established complex programs that coordinate physiological, metabolic and developmental processes with the changing light. The diurnal regulation of the underlying transcriptional processes is observed when groups of functionally related genes (gene modules) are expressed at a specific time of the day. However, studying the diurnal regulation of these gene modules in the plant kingdom was hampered by the large amount of data required for the analyses. To meet this need, we used gene expression data from 17 diurnal studies spanning the whole Archaeplastida kingdom (Plantae kingdom in the broad sense) to make an online diurnal database. We have equipped the database with tools that allow user-friendly cross-species comparisons of gene expression profiles, entire co-expression networks, co-expressed clusters (involved in specific biological processes), time-specific gene expression and others. We exemplify how these tools can be used by studying three important biological questions: (i) the evolution of cell division, (ii) the diurnal control of gene modules in algae and (iii) the conservation of diurnally controlled modules across species. The database is freely available at http://diurnal.plant.tools.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Processes and Procedure of Digitalization Workflow

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Collence Takaingenhamo Chisita ◽  
Oluwole O. Durodolu ◽  
Joseph Ngoaketsi
Keyword(s):  
Digital Computer ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Digital Revolution ◽  
Organisational Process ◽  
Physical Information ◽  
Manual Methods ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Existing Structure ◽  
Readable Format

Digitisation is the practice of converting physical information into a digital (computer-readable format), by using digital technologies to modify the existing structure by enhancing the efficiency of an organisational process, foster reliability, and quality. This is a method of incorporating conventional records into a digitised form by eliminating redundancies and limiting the communications chain. This will help to improve accessibility and simplify better information exchange for users. The beginning of a digital revolution in any establishment is to appraise the manual methods with the view to improve and graduate to a user-friendly modern system. Digital workflow is a progressive, reliable arrangement of data, procedures, and responsibilities that make information is more permanent and management easy to access and enable the preservation of crucial data. This research set out to support workflow audit by revealing specific indicators to assist in processes that will enhance digital migration.

Studies of Circular DNA Using a New Electron Microscopic Technique

1973 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 596-597
Author(s):  
C. N. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Aqueous Salt Solution ◽  
Contour Length ◽  
Cleavage Surface ◽  
Mica Substrate ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Replica Technique ◽  
Circular Dna ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Electron Microscopic Technique

Gordon and Kleinschmidt have described a new preparative technique for visualizing DNA by electron microscopy. This procedure, which is a modification of Hall's “mica substrate technique”, consists of the following steps: (a) K+ ions on the cleavage surface of native mica are exchanged for Al3+ ions by ion exchange. (b) The mica, with Al3+ in the exchange sites on the surface, is placed in a dilute aqueous salt solution of DNA for several minutes; during this period DNA becomes adsorbed on the surface. (c) The mica with adsorbed DNA is removed from the DNA solution, rinsed, dried and visualized for transmission electron microscopy by Hall's platinum pre-shadow replica technique.In previous studies of circular DNA by this technique, most of the molecules seen were either broken to linears or extensively tangled; in general, it was not possible to obtain suitably large samples of open extended molecules for contour length measurements.

Existence of DNA in yeast microbodies

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-233
Author(s):  
Masako Osumi ◽  
Misuzu Nagano ◽  
Hiroko Kazama
Keyword(s):  
Catalase Activity ◽  
Buoyant Density ◽  
Model System ◽  
Contour Length ◽  
Native State ◽  
Normal Alkane ◽  
Remarkable Increase ◽  
Dna Molecule ◽  
Mitochondrial Dnas

We have found that microbodies appeared profusely together with a remarkable increase in catalase activity in normal alkane-grown cells of hydrocarbon-utilizing Candida yeasts, and that the microbodies multiplied by division in these cells. These features of Candida yeasts seem to provide a useful model system for studies on the biogenesis of the microbody. Subsequently, we have succeeded in isolation of Candida microbodies in an apparently native state, as judged biochemically and morphologically. The presence of DNA in the purified microbody fraction thus obtained was proved by the diphenylamine method. DNA molecule of about 15 urn in contour length was released from an isolated microbody. The physicochemical analyses of the microbody DNA revealed that its buoyant density differed from nuclear and mitochondrial DNAs. All these results lead us to the possibility that there is a novel type of DNA in microbodies.

Nucleic Acid Molecules Prepared by Monolayer Techniques

1972 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 178-179
Author(s):  
Dimitrij Lang
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Nucleic Acids ◽  
Contour Length ◽  
Sample Standard Deviation ◽  
Molecular Weights ◽  
Length Measurements ◽  
Protein Monolayer

The success of the protein monolayer technique for electron microscopy of individual DNA molecules is based on the prevention of aggregation and orientation of the molecules during drying on specimen grids. DNA adsorbs first to a surface-denatured, insoluble cytochrome c monolayer which is then transferred to grids, without major distortion, by touching. Fig. 1 shows three basic procedures which, modified or not, permit the study of various important properties of nucleic acids, either in concert with other methods or exclusively:1) Molecular weights relative to DNA standards as well as number distributions of molecular weights can be obtained from contour length measurements with a sample standard deviation between 1 and 4%.

Quantification of cell-surface expressed antigenic sites with 5-nm gold markers: Getting close to biologically relevant data

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 1050-1051
Author(s):  
Etienne de Harven ◽  
Hilary Christensen ◽  
Richard Leung ◽  
Cameron Ackerley
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Human Peripheral Blood ◽  
Contour Length ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Gold Particles ◽  
Biologically Relevant ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Entire Cell ◽  
Electron Imaging ◽  
Cell Contour

The T-derived subset of human peripheral blood normal lymphocytes has been selected as a model system to study the usefulness of 5 nm gold markers for quantification of single epitopes expressed on cell surfaces. The chosen epitopes are parts of the CD3 and CD5 molecules and can be specifically identified by hybridoma produced monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs; LEU-4 and LEU-1; Becton-Dick- inson, Mountain view, CA) . An indirect immunolabeling procedure, with goat anti-murine IgG adsorbed on the surface of 5 nm colloidal gold particles (GAM-G5, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Beerse, Belgium) has been used. Backscattered Electron Imaging (BEI) in a field emission scanning electronmicroscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy of thin sections of lymphocytes labeled before plastic embedding, were both used to identify and quantitate gold labeled cell surface sites, Estimating that the thickness of “silver” sections is approximately 60 nm and counting the number of gold particles on the entire cell perimeter, we calculated that, for LEU-4, the number of markers per um2 of cell surface is in the 140-160 range (Fig.l). Cell contour length measurements indicated that the surface of one lymphocyte is approximately 130-160 um2 that of a smooth sphere of identical diameter, reflecting the role of microvilli in expanding the surface area. The total number of gold labeled sites on the surface of one lymphocyte averages, therefore between 20,000 and 24,000 per cell.

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