Knowledge structure transition in library and information science: topic modeling and visualization

The purpose of this research is to identify topics in library and information science (LIS) using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) and to visualize the knowledge structure of the field as consisting of specific topics and its transition from 2000–2002 to 2015–2017. The full text of 1648 research articles from five peer-reviewed representative LIS journals in these two periods was analyzed by using LDA. A total of 30 topics in each period were labeled based on the frequency of terms and the contents of the articles. These topics were plotted on a two-dimensional map using LDAvis and categorized based on their location and characteristics in the plots. Although research areas in some forms were persistent with which discovered in previous studies, they were crucial to the transition of the knowledge structure in LIS and had the following three features: (1) The Internet became the premise of research in LIS in 2015–2017. (2) Theoretical approach or empirical work can be considered as a factor in the transition of the knowledge structure in some categories. (3) The topic diversity of the five core LIS journals decreased from the 2000–2002 to 2015–2017.

Specific Problems in Measurement of Coefficient of Friction Using Variable Incidence Tribometer

The subject of this paper is the solution to specific problems in the measurement of the coefficient of the sliding friction of material pairs using a variable incidence tribometer. The aim of this work was to solve the questions of the measurement of the static coefficient of friction using a variable incidence tribometer from the perspective of metrology. In particular, we intended to research the expression of the credibility of this measurement and the possibility of increasing the credibility of the measurement. Another problem that needs to be solved is the method of carrying out the measurement, which has an impact on its achieved uncertainty. Sliding friction is a phenomenon that depends on many material properties such as contact area roughness, moisture, lubricants, temperature, and relative motion velocity. If environmental conditions are defined, the main input parameter is the relative motion velocity. For this input quantity, friction force becomes a symmetrical problem, and it is only necessary to explore this phenomenon for positive values of velocities. Symmetry in this area simplifies the research of this science topic.

Edu-APCCM: Automatic Programming Code Constructs Mining from Learning Content

The current education ecosystem is moving towards centralized online blended learning. Online learning repositories have replaced traditional libraries. Learning repositories contain learning materials, which can be located with the help of associated metadata. Associating metadata to the content (definition, program, example, figure, and table) of individual learning concept (topic) from the learning material also leads to a better search. If a student knows the prerequisites of the topic s/he wants to learn then the study of current topic would be more fruitful. The prerequisites of a computer science topic can be obtained from its explanation and the programming code snippet used for its implementation. This paper proposes a metadata “code construct as a prerequisite of a code snippet”. For example “recursion and function call are prerequisite to understand recursive module of binary tree traversal”. It also proposes the framework to automatically identify, extract and present the code constructs used in code snippets included in a computer science learning material. Thus obtained list of code constructs act as prerequisites for understanding the corresponding code snippet. Rule-based pattern mining approach is used for the identification of code snippet in the learning material and identification of code constructs in the code snippet. A pattern set is designed for the same. Natural language tool kit of python is used to identify the code snippet. The algorithms are tested on the programs of C, C++ and Java. Accuracy and efficiency of the developed algorithms is checked against the manual results given by subject experts. An average F1 score of 92% is obtained.

Stabilization of negative capacitance in ferroelectric capacitors with and without a metal interlayer

The negative capacitance operation of a ferroelectric material is not only an intriguing materials science topic, but also a property with important technological applications in nanoscale electronic devices.

What is synthetic genomics anyway?

You may have heard of synthetic genomics. This headline-grabbing, high-profile, big science topic is starting to emerge catalysed by the pioneering work of famous names in synthetic biology and biotechnology like George Church and Craig Venter. But what is synthetic genomics and what is it being used for? As a prominent researcher at a recent UK meeting said: “Is it just synthetic biology with bigger bits of DNA?” Well no, not quite…

Workshop report: “Using Social Media and Smartphone Applications in Practical Lessons to Enhance Student Learning” in Búzios, Brazil (August 6–8, 2017)

Cost-effective student engagement poses a challenge for instructors, especially those who may not be familiar with new technologies and mobile devices. In this workshop, participants, experienced and discussed two ways of using smartphones in physiology classes: to engage in an online learning environment for discussions, and to make physiological measurements. Participants signed up for individual Twitter accounts and learned how to tweet, retweet, message, use a URL shortener, and use hashtags. They then went on to locate articles on an assigned topic from the Twitter accounts of credible science sources ( American Journal of Physiology, The Scientist, CDC.gov, WHO.int) and applied their Twitter skills to discuss the science topic of current interest. Additionally, participants shared their knowledge about the use of smartphones as a tool for teaching; they discussed the foundations of smartphone-assisted learning and the concept of mobile-learning laboratories, which we refer to as MobLeLabs. Participants also performed an experiment that used an Axé dance video and smartphone applications to measure changes in heart rate and reaction time. Our report describes this international hands-on teaching workshop and highlights its outcomes.

Sequence text structure intervention during interactive book reading of expository picture books with preschool children with language impairment

This study explores the outcomes of an interactive book reading intervention featuring expository picture books. This small-group intervention was delivered by four practitioners (two early childhood special education teachers and two speech-language pathologists) three times per week for 8 weeks to 6 preschool-age children (3 years 1 month to 4 years 9 months) identified with language impairment. The intervention included use of language facilitation strategies during interactive book reading and extension activities after reading for promoting children’s understanding of signal words related to the sequence text structure (e.g. first, next, then, finally), academic vocabulary, and science topic knowledge related to plants (how plants grow, plant parts, plant needs). Outcomes indicated that practitioners increased their use of language facilitation strategies over the course of the intervention in both contexts of interactive book reading and extension activities. Children with language impairment made significant improvements in their receptive understanding of sequence signal words, vocabulary, and science topic knowledge from pre-test to post-test. These findings suggest the promise of a sequence text structure intervention implemented in the contexts of interactive book reading of expository picture books and extension activities for supporting the syntax, vocabulary, and content knowledge of preschool children with language impairment.