Sequence assignment validation in cryo-EM models with checkMySequence

The availability of new AI-based protein structure prediction tools radically changed the way cryo-EM maps are interpreted, but it has not eliminated the challenges of map interpretation faced by a microscopist. Models will continue to be locally rebuilt and refined using interactive tools. This inevitably results in occasional errors, among which register-shifts remain one of the most difficult to identify and correct. Here we introduce checkMySequence; a fast, fully automated and parameter-free method for detecting register-shifts in protein models built into cryo-EM maps. We show that the method can assist model building in cases where poorer map resolution hinders visual interpretation. We also show that checkMySequence could have helped avoid a widely discussed sequence register error in a model of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that was originally detected thanks to a visual residue-by-residue inspection by members of the structural biology community.

Relational Database for Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratios

Frequency-dependent horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (HVSRs) of Fourier amplitudes from three-component recordings can provide useful information for site response modeling. However, such information is not incorporated into most ground-motion models, including those from Next-Generation Attenuation projects, which instead use the time-averaged shear-wave velocity (VS) in the upper 30 m of the site and sediment depth terms. To facilitate utilization of HVSR, we developed a publicly accessible relational database. This database is adapted from a similar repository for VS data and provides microtremor-based HVSR data (mHVSR) and supporting metadata, but not parameters derived from the data. Users can interact with the data directly within a web portal that contains a graphical user interface (GUI) or through external tools that perform cloud-based computations. Within the database GUI, the median horizontal-component mHVSR can be plotted against frequency, with the mean and mean ± one standard deviation (representing variability across time windows) provided. Using external interactive tools (provided as a Jupyter Notebook and an R script), users can replot mHVSR (as in the database) or create polar plots. These tools can also derive parameters of potential interest for modeling purposes, including a binary variable indicating whether an mHVSR plot contains peaks, as well as the fitted properties of those peaks (frequencies, amplitudes, and widths). Metadata are also accessible, which includes site location, details about the instruments used to make the measurements, and data processing information related to windowing, antitrigger routines, and filtering.

Modelling Key Performance Indicators in a Gamified Waste Management Tool

Broader understanding of waste management has the potential to bring about broad societal change impacting the climate crisis and public health. We present existing waste management tools and commercially-available games involving waste management, highlighting the strengths and opportunities left unaddressed by these tools in educational contexts and planning use cases. A survey motivates the need for enhanced interactive tools providing clear feedback through quick-visibility performance indicators. After identifying an opportunity to build upon highly-detailed multi-criteria simulation tools, we explore the need for easy-to-read performance metrics that will bring to the field of waste management easily identifiable and measurable key performance indicators (KPIs) that vary alongside factors affecting waste management policies. Such metrics are introduced and detailed as part of a unified waste management model. We then develop a representative gamified educational tool based upon this model to be used by students, decision makers planning real-world policies, and the public. This simulator is built upon the Unity Game Engine and emulates waste management techniques and resulting KPIs within the context of a virtual city.

Dynamic and Interactive Tools to Support Teaching and Learning

The use of technological learning tools has been increasingly recognized as a useful tool to promote students’ motivation to deal with, and understand, mathematics concepts. Current digital technology allows students to work interactively with a large number and variety of graphics, complementing the theoretical results and often used paper and pencil calculations. The computer algebra system Mathematica is a very powerful software that allows the implementation of many interactive visual applications. The main goal of this work is to show how some new dynamic and interactive tools, created with Mathematica and available in the Computable Document Format (CDF), can be used as active learning tools to promote better student activity and engagement in the learning process. The CDF format allows anyone with a computer to use them, at no cost, even without an active Wolfram Mathematica license. Besides that, the presented tools are very intuitive to use which makes it suitable for less experienced users. Some tools applicable to several mathematics concepts taught in higher education will be presented. This kind of tools can be used either in a remote or classroom learning environment. The corresponding CDF files are made available as supplement of the online edition of this article.

New Perspective in Regional and Residual Separation of Gravity and Magnetic Data Processing

Separation between Regional and Residual anomaly in Gravity and Magnetic data processing is very important to get the best result in geological interpretation. Several method were used to solve this problem like upward continuation and polynomial fitting. With the same principle, 2D FFT is applied by make an interactive tools based on Matlab Language Programming, named “Oasis Ala-Ala”. It adopt the algorithm from software Oasis. It started with make visualization map or the original data, then the map divide into some grids. Each of grid contain gravity or magnetic data. Then it transformed from special to wavenumber domain. After that, it convolve with our own filter matrix. And the last step is inverse it to get the regional and residual anomaly map. However, Matlab is powerful in facilitate this process in the GUI Toolbox. One important thing is the size of gravity and magnetic data. It will improve to Filter matrix size before do inverse process.

A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Online Instructional Strategies Optimized With Smart Interactive Tools Versus Traditional Teaching for Postgraduate Students

To solve the problem that lack of interaction in online courses affects motivation and effectiveness of students’ learning, smart interactive tools were introduced into the online Neurobiology course. This study aimed to evaluate the students’ satisfaction with online teaching mode and assess the academically higher and lower performing students’ learning effectiveness in the online course optimized with smart interactive tools compared to face-to-face learning. Descriptive statistics and independent t-tests were used to describe student samples and determine the differences in students’ satisfaction and performance. Reflections of students’ satisfaction revealed that about 65.8% were satisfied with the learning involvement and about 60.5% were satisfied with the class interaction. Almost two-thirds of the class agreed that the smart interactive tools applied in the online course could help them attain their learning goals better. Among all the smart interactive functions, the class quiz was the most effective one in helping students grasp the main points of the course. No significant differences were found between the two teaching modes in the overall and academically higher or lower performing students’ final exam average scores. Compared to each band score of such two teaching modes, no one failed to pass the final exam in the online course, however, three lower-performing students who were taught in the traditional course failed. This study suggested that optimized online teaching with smart interactive tools could produce the same learning effectiveness for the academically lower-performing students as for the higher-performing students. Meanwhile, the instructors could know the learning status in which each student was and perform personalized guidance and improve exam passing rate accordingly.

USE OF COMPUTER TOOLS TO DEVELOP MOTIVATION OF STUDENTS TO STUDY MATHEMATICS: CRITERIA OF EFFICIENCY

The article considers the problem of development of cognitive activity of students in mathematics lessons. The peculiarities of the use of the formative system of assessment in the process of teaching mathematics with the use of computer tools in the context of the tasks of personality-oriented learning. The main risk factors for increasing the mathematical anxiety of students are identified. The pedagogical factors of motivation development and increase of interest in learning, development of mathematical thinking and reduction of mathematical anxiety due to the development of methods to increase the clarity of learning and cognitive activity of students related to the use of computer tools are substantiated. The criteria are substantiated and the indicators of assessment of the development of cognitive activity of students of 7‒9 grades of gymnasiums in the process of teaching mathematics with the use of computer tools are distinguished: motives of students learning at school; interest in studying the study of mathematics (algebra and geometry); success in the study of mathematics (algebra and geometry); motivation to study mathematical disciplines; mathematical anxiety. A method of assessing the impact of the use of computer tools to study certain topics and sections of mathematics in grades 7‒9 in general secondary education, which will increase the motivation of students to study the subject and reduce the level of mathematical anxiety of students. The results are presented and the dynamics of the indicators of the experimental influence of the use of computer interactive tools on the motivation of students to study mathematics is analyzed. Keywords: personality-oriented learning; mathematical disciplines; mathematical anxiety; pedagogical conditions; mathematics teaching aids; motivation to study mathematics; interactive computer learning tools; success in the study of mathematics.

Online Module for Acid and Base Topic Based on 5E Model

Alternative conception or misconception is one of the problems that often be experienced by the students in science subjects including chemistry due to its abstractness and wide scope to be learned. Previous studies found that students often have misconceptions on strength of acid and base topic such as misconception in determining factor that affect the strength of acid and base, differences between strong and weak acid and base as well as the effect of strength of acid and base on conductivity. To overcome these misconceptions, an online teaching and learning module using 5E instructional model was developed. Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation (ADDIE) model is used for research and development. The module used interactive tools and medias to make students being active and understand chemistry well. This module was validated by five experts in term of module objectives, module content, usability, flexibility, learning activities and language aspects with average is ninety percent. The results prove that the module is very good and has high validity. Therefore, the application of online module for acid and base topic based on 5E (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) model is suitable to be implemented in online teaching and learning process.

A Comprehensive Overview of AI-Enabled Music Classification and Its Influence in Games

With the development and advancement of information technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are applied in every sector of life. Among these applications, music is one of them which has gained attention in the last couple of years. The music industry is revolutionized with AIbased innovative and intelligent techniques. It is very convenient for composers to compose music of high quality using these technologies. Artificial intelligence and Music (AIM) is one of the emerging fields used to generate and manage sounds for different media like the Internet, games, etc. Sounds in the games are very effective and can be made more attractive by implementing AI approaches. The quality of sounds in the game directly impacts the productivity and experience of the player. With computer-assisted technologies, the game designers can create sounds for different scenarios or situations like horror and suspense and provide gamer information. The practical and productive audio of a game can guide visually impaired people during other events in the game. For the better creation and composition of music, good quality of knowledge about musicology is essential. Due to AIM, there are a lot of intelligent and interactive tools available for the efficiency and effective learning of music. The learners can be provided with a very reliable and interactive environment based on artificial intelligence. The current study has considered presenting a detailed overview of the literature available in the area of research. The study has demonstrated literature analysis from various perspectives, which will become evidence for researchers to devise novel solutions in the field.