Technological Aspects of Distance Learning in Geogebra Classroom-Math Environment

The article discusses the technological aspects of distance learning in the GeoGebra Classroom virtual math platform environment, based on a practical model of using the GeoGebra Classroom. In particular, the main activities of Geogebra Classroom are presented in the following order: Activities - find / create an activity; GeoGebra class - create a GeoGebra class; Admission of students to the GoeGebra class; Appointment of a co-teacher; Monitoring student progress; GeoGebra classrooms in a distance learning environment; GeoGebra Applets (Graphing; CASE; Geometry; 3D Graphics; Spreadsheet; Probability; Notes) for GeoGebra Classroom; Creating a GeoGebra class from a GeoGebra book.Every activity in the work is explained and performed in practice, which is confirmed by the corresponding illustrations actually carried out in the GeoGebra classroom environment. The algorithm for carrying out each activity is explained in detail and analyzed from a technological point of view and the methodological value of a separate step is shown. The discussion of the individual activities is accompanied by the proper definitions and purposes of the GeoGebra Classroom environment interface.The article provides the recommendations for the necessary measures before starting the practical work in the GeoGebra Classroom,such as: Registration on the official GeoGebra website https://www.geogebra.org/; Download the GeoGebra Classic installation package and install it on the local computer; Have knowledge of using online and installed applications of GeoGebra Classic to create a resource.The main activities of the GeoGebra classroom in the work are carried out on the example of discussing a practical model, parallel lines, with virtual groups of students. The following steps are shown sequentially: Creating resources in local and online GeoGebra applications; Creation of activities and their enrichment with additional elements of educational goals (Text; GeoGebra Applet; Notes; Question: Open question, Multiple choice; Video; Picture; PDF file Web); Creating a GeoGebra class and engaging participants online in real time; interactive communication in the GeoGebra classroom with the joint participation of the teacher and sstudents, which does not require sharing of screens by students; Tracking students' progress in the educational process, conducting anonymous discussions and providing feedback.The article analyzes and confirms the success of using GeoGebra Classroom in teaching mathematics both in schools and in higher educational institutions.

Direct Seamless Parametrization

We present a method for seamless surface parametrization. Recent popular methods first generate a cross-field, where curvature is concentrated at singular vertices. Next, in a separate step, the surface is laid out in the domain subject to derived seamlessness constraints. This decoupling of the process into two independent problems, each with its own objective, leads to suboptimal results. In contrast, our method solves both problems together using domain variables. The key ingredient to the robustness of our method is a rounding strategy based on local estimation. The insight is that testing a small patch to decide between two likely possibilities is a good estimator. Most distortion measures can be used with our method, which get minimized consistently throughout the pipeline. Our method also enables feature alignment, as well as alignment to principle curvatures, and isotropic and anisotropic scaling.

Detection of Mitochondrial Mutations Through Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Coupled With Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat-Associated Endonuclease Cas13a

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated endonuclease Cas13a can specifically bind and cleave RNA. After nucleic acid pre-amplification, bacterial Cas13a has been used to detect genetic mutations. In our study, using a transcription-mediated amplification together with Cas13a, we can isothermally amplify and detect mitochondrial point mutations under non-denaturing conditions from human genomic DNA. Unlike previous reports, we prepared CRISPR DNA with T7 promoter sequences and generated CRISPR RNA via transcription-mediated amplification instead of synthesizing and adding CRISPR RNA in a separate step. As a proof-of-concept, we showed that both m.1494C > T and m.1555A > G mutations were detected within 90 min. In addition, we explored various designs of CRISPR DNA to improve assay specificity, including the location and number of nucleotide mismatches, length of protospacer sequence, and different buffering conditions. We also confirmed the possibility of a “one-step single-tube” reaction for mutation detection. This assay can robustly distinguish circular DNA templates that differ by a single nucleotide. It has the potential to be adapted for automated applications, such as the screening of mitochondrial diseases.

A ray tracing engine integrated with Blender and with uncertainty estimation: Description and initial results

This paper presents a ray tracing algorithm developed as a research and teaching tool. The motivations to pursue this task and some novel features of the algorithm are presented. Amongst them, it is possible to cite: (i) the receivers may grow in size, which saves some computational cost; (ii) sound intensity calculations are performed in a separate step than geometrical ray tracing; and (iii) those features allow Monte Carlo simulations for uncertainty prediction related to absorption data. The results obtained with the proposed algorithm are compared with the measured data (and other software packages) of Round Robins II (Elmia Hall) and III (PTB recording studio) and proved to be in good agreement with measured data. The ratio of the mean error by the JND of each parameter are compatible with the results presented by the other round robin participants. The product of this research is also scalable to an hybrid algorithm and alternatives to do so are provided through the discussion in the paper.

Risk factors for lymphatic filariasis and mass drug administration non-participation in Mandalay Region, Myanmar

Background: Myanmar commenced a lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination program in 2000. Whilst the country has made considerable progress since then, a number of districts have demonstrated persistent transmission after many rounds of mass drug administration (MDA). The causes of unsuccessful MDA have been examined elsewhere, however, there remains little information on the factors that contribute in Myanmar. Methods: We conducted an analysis of factors associated with persistent infection, LF-related hydrocoele and MDA participation in an area with ongoing transmission in 2015. A cross-sectional household survey was undertaken in 24 villages across four townships of Mandalay Region. Participants were screened for circulating filarial antigen (CFA) using immunochromatographic tests and if positive, for microfilaria by night-time thick blood slide. Individuals 15 year and older were assessed for filariasis morbidity (lymphoedema and if male, hydrocoele) by ultrasound-assisted clinical examination. A pre-coded questionnaire was used to assess risk factors for LF and for never-taking MDA. Significant variables identified in univariate analyses were included in separate step-wise multivariate logistic regressions for each outcome. Results: After adjustment for covariates and survey design, being CFA positive was significantly associated with age (odds ratio (OR) 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 – 1.06), per year), male gender (OR 3.11, 1.23 – 7.87), elevation (OR 0.97, 0.94 – 1.00, per metre) and the density of people per household room (OR 1.56, 1.26 – 1.93). LF-related hydrocoele was associated with age (OR 1.06, 1.02 – 1.09, per year) and residing in Amarapura Township (OR 8.56, 1.33 – 55.22). Never-taking MDA was associated with age (less than 15 years: OR 2.89, 1.11 – 7.51; greater than 60 years: OR 4.00, 1.53 – 10.48), male gender (OR 1.85, 1.05 – 3.25), residing in Amarapura township (OR 2.99, 1.39 – 6.43), moving to one’s current village from another (OR 2.84, 1.15 – 7.02) and ever having declined medication (OR 13.76, 4.79 – 39.58). Decreased likelihood of never taking MDA was associated with a higher proportion of household members being present during the last MDA round (OR 0.18, 0.04 – 0.96)).Conclusions: These results contribute to the understanding of LF and MDA participation related risk factors, and will assist Myanmar improve its elimination and morbidity management programs.

Risk factors for Lymphatic Filariasis and Mass Drug Administration non-Participation in Mandalay Region, Myanmar

Background: Myanmar commenced a lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination program in 2000. Whilst the country has made considerable progress since then, a number of districts have demonstrated persistent transmission after many rounds of mass drug administration (MDA). The causes of unsuccessful MDA have been examined elsewhere, however, there remains little information on the factors that contribute in Myanmar. Methods: We conducted an analysis of factors associated with persistent infection, LF-related hydrocoele and MDA participation in an area with ongoing transmission in 2015. A cross-sectional household survey was undertaken in 24 villages across four townships of Mandalay Region. Participants were screened for circulating filarial antigen (CFA) using immunochromatographic tests and if positive, for microfilaria by night-time thick blood slide. Individuals 15 year and older were assessed for filariasis morbidity (lymphoedema and if male, hydrocoele) by ultrasound-assisted clinical examination. A pre-coded questionnaire was used to assess risk factors for LF and for never-taking MDA. Significant variables identified in univariate analyses were included in separate step-wise multivariate logistic regressions for each outcome. Results: After adjustment for covariates and survey design, being CFA positive was significantly associated with age (odds ratio (OR) 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 – 1.06), per year), male gender (OR 3.11, 1.23 – 7.87), elevation (OR 0.97, 0.94 – 1.00, per metre) and the density of people per household room (OR 1.56, 1.26 – 1.93). LF-related hydrocoele was associated with age (OR 1.06, 1.02 – 1.09, per year) and residing in Amarapura Township (OR 8.56, 1.33 – 55.22). Never-taking MDA was associated with age (less than 15 years: OR 2.89, 1.11 – 7.51; greater than 60 years: OR 4.00, 1.53 – 10.48), male gender (OR 1.85, 1.05 – 3.25), residing in Amarapura township (OR 2.99, 1.39 – 6.43), moving to one’s current village from another (OR 2.84, 1.15 – 7.02) and ever having declined medication (OR 13.76, 4.79 – 39.58). Decreased likelihood of never taking MDA was associated with a higher proportion of household members being present during the last MDA round (OR 0.18, 0.04 – 0.96)). Conclusions: These results contribute to the understanding of LF and MDA participation related risk factors, and will assist Myanmar improve its elimination and morbidity management programs.

Acne and acneiform rashes

This chapter covers all aspects of acne, including clinical features (sites of involvement and lesion and scar subtypes), causes/pathogenesis and modifying factors (hormonal, stress, drugs, topical products, diet, and sun). Associated hormonal conditions are listed and autoinflammatory syndromes highlighted (SAPHO, PAPA, PASH, and PAPASH). The management section covers investigations and general recommendations, then subdivides specific treatments into separate step-wise treatment for comedonal acne, mild to moderate papular/pustular acne, moderate to severe acne unresponsive to standard treatments, and management of severe acne—and also touches on acne in pigmented skins and management of acne scarring. A separate section covers the differential diagnosis of acneiform rashes and rarer presentations of acne (neonatal, infantile, excoriée, naevus comedonicus, pomade, cosmetic, conglobata and fulminans, pyoderma facial and nuchal acne).

An efficient wavefield inversion: Using a modified source function in the wave equation

The wavefield is often reconstructed through solving a wave equation corresponding to an active source and using our best knowledge of the medium to reproduce the data that we seek to fit the observed data as part of a process we call full-waveform inversion (FWI). Alternatively, the wavefield can be inverted and used to invert for the velocity model, in an extended optimization problem, in which we can relax the requirement that the wavefield satisfies the wave equation. In this case, the wavefield calculation, as in FWI, requires a matrix inversion (which depends on the velocity) at practically every iteration. Thus, we formulate a bilinear optimization problem with respect to the wavefield and a modified source function, as independent variables. We specifically recast the wave equation so that velocity perturbations are included in this modified source function (which includes secondary or contrast sources); thus, it represents the velocity perturbations implicitly. The optimization includes a measure of the wavefield’s fit to the data at the sensor locations and the wavefield, as well as the modified source function, compliance with a wave equation corresponding to the background model. This problem is, however, complex with an extended model space that is ill-posed, so we use an alternating-direction method to reduce the inversion to two subproblems for inverting each of the wavefields and extended source. On the other hand, the velocity perturbations can be extracted in a separate step via direct division (deconvolution). Because we avoid using gradient methods in extracting the velocity perturbations, we are less prone to crosstalk artifacts when we use simultaneous sources. We evaluate these features on a simple two-anomalies model and the modified Marmousi model.

ABCB4/MDR3 in health and disease – at the crossroads of biochemistry and medicine

Several ABC transporters of the human liver are responsible for the secretion of bile salts, lipids and cholesterol. Their interplay protects the biliary tree from the harsh detergent activity of bile salts. Among these transporters, ABCB4 is essential for the translocation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipids from the inner to the outer leaflet of the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes. ABCB4 deficiency can result in altered PC to bile salt ratios, which led to intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, low phospholipid associated cholelithiasis, drug induced liver injury or even progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3. Although PC lipids only account for 30–40% of the lipids in the canalicular membrane, 95% of all phospholipids in bile are PC lipids. We discuss this discrepancy in the light of PC synthesis and bile salts favoring certain lipids. Nevertheless, the in vivo extraction of PC lipids from the outer leaflet of the canalicular membrane by bile salts should be considered as a separate step in bile formation. Therefore, methods to characterize disease causing ABCB4 mutations should be considered carefully, but such an analysis represents a crucial point in understanding the currently unknown transport mechanism of this ABC transporter.

MEGAN: Mixture of Experts of Generative Adversarial Networks for Multimodal Image Generation

Recently, generative adversarial networks (GANs) have shown promising performance in generating realistic images. However, they often struggle in learning complex underlying modalities in a given dataset, resulting in poor-quality generated images. To mitigate this problem, we present a novel approach called mixture of experts GAN (MEGAN), an ensemble approach of multiple generator networks. Each generator network in MEGAN specializes in generating images with a particular subset of modalities, e.g., an image class. Instead of incorporating a separate step of handcrafted clustering of multiple modalities, our proposed model is trained through an end-to-end learning of multiple generators via gating networks, which is responsible for choosing the appropriate generator network for a given condition. We adopt the categorical reparameterization trick for a categorical decision to be made in selecting a generator while maintaining the flow of the gradients. We demonstrate that individual generators learn different and salient subparts of the data and achieve a multiscale structural similarity (MS-SSIM) score of 0.2470 for CelebA and a competitive unsupervised inception score of 8.33 in CIFAR-10.