Detailed Descriptors Research Articles

Exploring the perceptions of literacy in assessment for learning among high school English teachers

In the field of English language education, the crucial role of assessment for learning (AfL) requires teachers to possess robust assessment literacy. This study explores AfL literacy among high school English teachers in Yogyakarta, Indonesia by utilizing Alonzo's validated AfL survey that establishes a comprehensive six-factor model, delineating teachers as assessors, pedagogists, student partners, motivators, learners, and stakeholder partners. Exploiting confirmatory factor analysis and examining demographic variations, this quantitative research invited 202 English teachers in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia selected purposively based on the geographical service area. Data were collected through an online questionnaire adopting Alonzo's 42-questions AfL and were analyzed quantitatively via Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with four indices, namely comparative fit index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis index (TLI), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), and standard root mean square residual (SRMR).The findings substantiate the efficacy of the six-factor AfL model, underscoring educators' roles extending beyond traditional frameworks. The investigation also introduces a tool featuring detailed performance descriptors, addressing deficiencies, and harmonizing with AfL principles. It deduces that heightened foundational comprehension among English educators cultivates enhancements in AfL literacy and propels the refinement of professional evaluative competencies, thereby enriching the nuanced discourse surrounding AfL within language pedagogy. While the study's scope is confined to a specific geographical area and a limited cohort of participating instructors, it significantly enriches our comprehension of AfL literacy among English pedagogies. This research, therefore, provides a foundation for professional growth initiatives and facilitates enhancements in pedagogical approaches and academic achievement.

Learning and Balancing Unknown Loads in Large-Scale Systems

Consider a system of identical server pools where tasks with exponentially distributed service times arrive as a time-inhomogeneous Poisson process. An admission threshold is used in an inner control loop to assign incoming tasks to server pools, while in an outer control loop, a learning scheme adjusts this threshold over time to keep it aligned with the unknown offered load of the system. In a many-server regime, we prove that the learning scheme reaches an equilibrium along intervals of time when the normalized offered load per server pool is suitably bounded and that this results in a balanced distribution of the load. Furthermore, we establish a similar result when tasks with Coxian distributed service times arrive at a constant rate and the threshold is adjusted using only the total number of tasks in the system. The novel proof technique developed in this paper, which differs from a traditional fluid limit analysis, allows us to handle rapid variations of the first learning scheme, triggered by excursions of the occupancy process that have vanishing size. Moreover, our approach allows us to characterize the asymptotic behavior of the system with Coxian distributed service times without relying on a fluid limit of a detailed state descriptor. Funding: The work in this paper was supported by the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek [Gravitation Grant NETWORKS-024.002.003 and Vici Grant 202.068].

Abstract C074: Clinico-genomic characterization of N=2,460 pancreatic adenocarcinoma identifies KRASMUT dosage as prognostic of overall survival across disease stages

Abstract Background: The majority (~80%) of patients (pts) with pancreatic adenocarcinomas (PDAC) present with advanced disease. Most sequencing efforts to date have focused on early stage disease. Herein, we leverage a large clinical sequencing cohort of N= 2460 pts with PDAC to characterize the clinico-genomic landscape across different disease stages. Methods: Tumors from 2460 pts were sequenced using MSK-IMPACT clinical sequencing assay and mutations called via CLIA-approved pipelines. Detailed clinical descriptors including lines of treatment and response were abstracted for N=1451 (59%) pts. Intratumor heterogeneity estimates including allele-specific copy number were inferred using FACETS. Results: Of N=2460, at diagnosis 34% of pts had resectable tumors, and 24% and 42% had locally advanced and metastatic disease, respectively. 94% of pts had KRASMUT tumors. Expectedly, MAPK pathway alterations were significantly enriched in KRASWT tumors (60% vs. 7% in KRASMUT, p < 0.001) with gain-of-function kinase oncogene fusions exclusively observed in these tumors (p<0.001). In addition, GNAS, PTEN, FOXP1, SMARCB1 and CREBBP were enriched in the KRASWT tumors (q < 0.05). Collectively, pts with KRASWT/MAPK MUT and KRASWT/MAPK WT tumors comprise 4% and 2% of all pts PDAC, respectively. Germline pathogenic variants in high/moderate penetrance genes were more common in pts with KRASWT tumors compared to pts with KRASMUT tumors (20% vs. 10%, p < 0.001). Pathogenic germline alterations in BRCA1/2 and PALB2 were observed in 6% (N=144) of cohort. Biallelic inactivation of BRCA2 specifically was associated with prolonged response of metastatic pts to PARP-inhibitor maintenance therapy with 10.3 months on treatment prior to progression compared to 3.4 months for those with biallelic inactivation of other HRD genes and 2.2 months for those with non-biallelic inactivation. Among KRASMUT tumors assessed for KRAS copy-number allelic imbalance (AI) (N=1097), 41% (N=452) had AI at the KRAS locus with mutant-allele selected for in 94% of tumors with imbalance. Among KRASMUT tumors with normal genome ploidy, overall, 20% had a mutant allele gain ranging from 10% in resectable to 29% of metastatic tumors. We observe significantly lower OS among pts with KRASMUT dosage gain compared to heterozygous KRASMUT across pts with resectable (HR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.18-1.15, p<0.01) and metastatic (HR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.16-0.63, p=0.001) diseases with statistical significance not reached among the locally advanced disease (HR: 0.4, 95% CI: -0.01-0.81, p=0.056). Notably, the OS of pts with loss of the wild-type allele and no mutant copy gain was indistinguishable from that of heterozygous KRASMUT tumors (HR: -0.11, 95% CI: -0.37-0.15, p=0.4). Conclusion: In this large cohort of 2460 pts with PDAC, we observed that KRASMUT dosage gain is a significant negative predictor of OS. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating allelic-dosage into comprehensive molecular testing in PDAC given prognostic importance and the emerging era of direct RAS targeting. Citation Format: Anna M. Varghese, Maria A. Perry, Daniel Muldoon, Subhiksha Nandakumar, Amanda Erakky, Bastien Nguyen, Amanda Zucker, Hulya Sahin Ozkan, Olca Basturk, Debyani Chakravarty, David P. Kelsen, Wungki Park, Kenneth H. Yu, Alice C. Wei, Nikolaus Schultz, Michael F. Berger, Christine Iacobuzio-Donahue, Chaitanya Bandlamudi, Eileen M. O'Reilly. Clinico-genomic characterization of N=2,460 pancreatic adenocarcinoma identifies KRASMUT dosage as prognostic of overall survival across disease stages [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Pancreatic Cancer; 2023 Sep 27-30; Boston, Massachusetts. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(2 Suppl):Abstract nr C074.

Toward an integrated framework of ocean literacy: A Delphi-AHP approach

A growing emphasis on ocean literacy has been mirrored in the global marine policy development. Many considerable investments have been made over the past decades by governments and non-governmental organizations to promote ocean literacy. While it is critical for policymakers to have timely feedback about the current status of the public’s ocean literacy, existing literature shows a lack of assessment tools that can provide comprehensive evaluations. This study aims to construct an integrated framework of ocean literacy which can embrace both the scientific and socio-cultural components of ocean-related issues. Experts in ocean sciences and social sciences were invited to participate in two rounds of the Delphi expert consultation to establish assessment criteria. Using the Delphi-AHP methods, a two-tier framework was constructed, entailing seven Tier 1 criteria and twenty-nine Tier 2 criteria with detailed descriptors. Questionnaires were then distributed for experts to rate the importance of the criteria through pairwise comparisons. Importance weights were ranked for each of the criteria using the AHP method based on the experts’ responses. The final framework can serve as a foundational reference to guide future endeavors in further incorporating ocean literacy into marine policies and regulations. It can inform policymakers, stakeholders, and marine educators to identify the relative importance when targeting the wide range of elements that ocean literacy comprises. By adopting the Delphi-AHP methods, this work makes an innovative contribution to research on ocean literacy assessment and marine policy making.

Molecular and Structural Characterization of Isomeric Compounds in Atmospheric Organic Aerosol Using Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry.

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed through multiphase atmospheric chemistry makes up a large fraction of airborne particles. The chemical composition and molecular structures of SOA constituents vary between different emission sources and aging processes in the atmosphere, which complicates their identification. In this work, we employ drift tube ion mobility spectrometry with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (IM-MS) detection for rapid gas-phase separation and multidimensional characterization of isomers in two biogenic SOAs produced from ozonolysis of isomeric monoterpenes, d-limonene (LSOA) and α-pinene (PSOA). SOA samples were ionized using electrospray ionization (ESI) and characterized using IM-MS in both positive and negative ionization modes. The IM-derived collision cross sections in nitrogen gas (DTCCSN2 ) for individual SOA components were obtained using multifield and single-field measurements. A novel application of IM multiplexing/high-resolution demultiplexing methodology was employed to increase sensitivity, improve peak shapes, and augment mobility baseline resolution, which revealed several isomeric structures for the measured ions. For LSOA and PSOA samples, we report significant structural differences of the isomer structures. Molecular structural calculations using density functional theory combined with the theoretical modeling of CCS values provide insights into the structural differences between LSOA and PSOA constituents. The average DTCCSN2 values for monomeric SOA components observed as [M + Na]+ ions are 3-6% higher than those of their [M - H]- counterparts. Meanwhile, dimeric and trimeric isomer components in both samples showed an inverse trend with the relevant values of [M - H]- ions being 3-7% higher than their [M + Na]+ counterparts, respectively. The results indicate that the structures of Na+-coordinated oligomeric ions are more compact than those of the corresponding deprotonated species. The coordination with Na+ occurs on the oxygen atoms of the carbonyl groups leading to a compact configuration. Meanwhile, deprotonated molecules have higher DTCCSN2 values due to their elongated structures in the gas phase. Therefore, DTCCSN2 values of isomers in SOA mixtures depend strongly on the mode of ionization in ESI. Additionally, PSOA monomers and dimers exhibit larger DTCCSN2 values (1-4%) than their LSOA counterparts owing to more rigid structures. A cyclobutane ring is present with functional groups pointing in opposite directions in PSOA compounds, as compared to noncyclic flexible LSOA structures, forming more compact ions in the gas phase. Lastly, we investigated the effects of direct photolysis on the chemical transformations of selected individual PSOA components. We use IM-MS to reveal structural changes associated with aerosol aging by photolysis. This study illustrates the detailed molecular and structural descriptors for the detection and annotation of structural isomers in complex SOA mixtures.

GlucoKinaseDB: A comprehensive, curated resource of glucokinase modulators for clinical and molecular research

Glucokinase (GK), an isoform of hexokinase expressed predominantly in liver, pancreas and hypothalamus is crucial to blood glucose management. It is a critical component of the glucose-sensing mechanism of the pancreatic islet cells and glycogen regulation in hepatocytes. GK modulators such as allosteric GKAs (glucokinase activators) and GK-GKRP (glucokinase regulatory protein) disruptors have found potential applications as safer antihyperglycemics. Recent studies have also demonstrated the potential of GK modulators as antiparasitic agents. Researchers targeting GK often undertake the time-consuming task of independently collecting and compiling modulator information due to the lack of any dedicated single-platform resource. Towards this, in the present study we demonstrate the design and development of GlucoKinaseDB (GKDB), a comprehensive, curated, online resource of GK modulators. GKDB contains experimentally derived structural and bioactivity information of 1723 modulators along with their detailed molecular descriptors. The web-interface is user-friendly with features such as in-browser visualization, advanced search queries, cross-links to other databases and original reference etc. The bioactivity and descriptor data can be downloaded in bulk (for entire database) or for individual modulators. The 3D structures are also downloadable in multiple formats. GKDB employs a PHP-based web design with Bootstrap styling and a MySQL database backend. GKDB can be utilized for clinical and molecular research via development of pharmacophore hypotheses, QSAR/QSPR models, predictive machine learning models etc. GKDB is freely accessible online at https://glucokinasedb.in.

Conceptualizing the complexity of reflective practice in education.

In higher education, reflective practice has become a dynamic, participatory, and cyclical process that contributes to educators' professional development and personal growth. While it is now a prominent part of educators, many still find it challenging to apply the concept for it carries diverse meaning for different people in different contexts. This article attempts to (re)conceptualize the complexity of reflective practice in an educational context. Scholars in this field have taken different approaches to reflective practice, but all these approaches consist of four main components in common: (i) reflecting; (ii) planning for future action; (iii) acting; and (iv) evaluating the outcomes. We extend the existing literature by proposing a model which integrates these four components with three key aspects of reflection: problem-solving, action orientation, and criticality. The novelty of this model lies within its alignment of the three key aspects with different levels of criticality in a comprehensive framework with detailed descriptors provided. The model and its descriptors are useful in guiding individuals who directly or indirectly involve in critical reflection, especially educators, in appraising their levels of criticality and consequently engage in a meaningful reflection.

Accurate identification of cohort study designs in perinatal research: a practical guide

Study designs are often mischaracterized in the obstetrics literature; in particular, the designation of studies as retrospective (historical) cohorts is frequently in error to describe studies that are prospective cohorts. This is especially true for studies based on electronic health records, which often should be properly considered as prospective cohorts. Epidemiologic study designs were developed in earlier eras of research and healthcare when researchers directly contacted study participants or relied on data from paper medical records. Accordingly, standard epidemiologic study design definitions are difficult to apply to digitized data, which have become common in the modern era of healthcare and computing. In this article, we briefly review the characteristics of the 3 main types of cohort studies. Afterward, we build on existing definitions by proposing several subdesignations of prospective cohort studies that we believe will reduce the confusion in terminology. We provide illustrative examples from obstetrics to concretely demonstrate connections and distinctions among study designs. First, a prospective cohort study can be "active" (participants are deliberately and explicitly enrolled in a prospective research study) or "passive" (participants are followed up in real time for some nonresearch activity, such as clinical care or quality improvement). An active prospective cohort study never stops being a prospective cohort study; however, when reused to answer a new, secondary question, we propose that this should be called a "reused (active) prospective cohort." The de novo cohort study that answered the original question should be considered an "intended (active) prospective cohort." Lastly, when a randomized controlled trial is reused to study some new questions where the randomization variable is not under study, this is also a subtype of a prospective cohort study, a "repurposed randomized controlled trial." The use of more detailed descriptors to describe prospective cohort studies will enable more accurate identification of this study design going forward. It is likely that further refinements will be needed in the future, given the ongoing evolution of how we engage with patients or participants and how data are collected, stored, and linked.

Description of buckwheat cultivars from Belarus and Ukraine in the environments of Leningrad Province

Background. Buckwheat is an extremely valuable groat crop in demand both in Russia and abroad. The buckwheat collection held by VIR is the largest in the world. Studying and systematizing knowledge about the conserved diversity of the genus Fagopyrum Mill. representatives cannot be efficient without switching to the use of the most detailed descriptors containing plant characters least dependent on differences in growing conditions.Materials and methods. Seventeen buckwheat cultivars from Ukraine and Belarus and two references from Russia were studied in Leningrad Province. The methodological basis of the study included the IPGRI buckwheat descriptors and personal recommendations of N. V. Fesenko. Statistical data processing was performed according to P. F. Rokitsky.Results. The cultivars formed their typical plant habitus and demonstrated good fruit setting − an average score was 3.3–4.9 out of five. The determinant stem growth was observed in 10 cultivars. The stem developed 2.7−6.7 generative nodes and 4–6 vegetative ones, while 1.9–4.7 generative and 0.8−2.3 vegetative nodes were formed on the two upper branches.Conclusion. The study confirmed that medium-ripening buckwheat can be grown in Leningrad Province. The modal value of the number of vegetative nodes for the studied cultivars was 4−5, which is an indicator of intermediate ripening. The results of studying the metamerism of the stem and the two upper branches, expressed by modal values, were recorded in the “agricultural fitness” passport for the tested cultivars as follows: determinant stem; branching zone 4+1+2; fruit-forming zone 3+3+3; average score of fruit formation 4.8. The presented data format most fully characterizes a cultivar in terms of the potential of its earliness and productivity. Depending on the task, indicators for the main stem or for the two upper branches can be used. Recording values in the form of a formula is convenient and does not imply any other meanings.

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation guideline methodology for off-label treatments for multiple sclerosis.

BackgroundA total of 2.8 million people are living with multiple sclerosis and due to disparities in access to medicines, the ability to treat this condition varies widely. Off-label disease-modifying therapies are sometimes more available or affordable in different health systems. Appropriate methodology is integral in creating high-quality and trustworthy guidelines. In this article, we outline Multiple Sclerosis International Federation’s (MSIF) approach to creating guidelines for off-label treatments for multiple sclerosis.MethodsWe use the Guidelines International Network (GIN)-McMaster Guideline Development Checklist and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) Evidence-to-Decision (EtD) framework. We developed detailed health descriptors for health outcomes and the panel drafted PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) questions and prioritised outcomes. We collaborate with independent organisations, which systematically review and collate the information. We are actively engaging stakeholders and consulting with relevant organisations, boards, working groups and individuals.ResultsThe draft guideline recommendations will be published for open comment and stakeholders will be encouraged to endorse and disseminate the guidelines. Our methodology ensures integrity and transparency in the criteria, evidence and judgement used to make recommendations.ConclusionsThis approach will facilitate transparent creation of high-quality and trustworthy guidelines, and allow the global guidelines to be adopted or adapted into national settings.

Abstracts from The International Society for Aerosols in Medicine 23rd ISAM Congress Boise, Idaho May 22–26, 2021

Abstracts from The International Society for Aerosols in Medicine 23rd ISAM Congress Boise, Idaho May 22–26, 2021

Multi-method 2D and 3D reconstruction of gold grain morphology in alluvial deposits: a review and application to the Rivière du Moulin (Québec, Canada)

Abstract The aim of this paper is to document and compare the 2D qualitative and semi-quantitative methods currently used to describe the shape of gold grains in fluvial environments with the 3D quantitative methods using X-ray microtomography and SEM photogrammetry. These 3D methods are used to compute flatness, roundness, convexity, sphericity and ellipticity shape descriptors of 13 gold grains from the Rivière du Moulin (Québec, Canada) in order to quantify the morphological change along 9 km of fluvial transport. Gold grains have moderate to high values of flatness, compactness, sphericity and ellipticity indices that do not change significantly with distance of transport, whereas the roundness increases during transport. Gold grains are used to compare 2D and 3D methods, and the results show small differences (<8%) when shape descriptors are computed using image analysis software, whereas the difference (up to 70%) is more important for 2D measurements performed by a human operator. For application and characterization on a large set of gold grains, the 2D methods offer the advantage of speed, whereas, for a more detailed study on a limited number of gold grains, 3D methods enable estimation of the volume and yield more detailed shape descriptor changes during fluvial transport.

Niche occupancy of two (congeneric) skinks in an islands environment

Abstract Among the scincid lizards inhabiting the Mediterranean region, the Ocellated skink (Chalcides ocellatus) and the little-known and endangered Chafarinas’ skink (Chalcides parallelus) co-occur in sympatry at the Chafarinas Islands (NW Africa). Although both species are present in the archipelago, C. ocellatus is spread in the three islands, but C. parallelus is present only in one island. What factors influence this distribution, and whether these two species show evidence for syntopy is unknown. In this study, we investigated spatial niche occupancy at the level of microhabitat of both skinks at the Chafarinas Islands. We tested for microhabitat differences between islands and then, we tested the null hypothesis of no differences between microhabitat used by each of these skink species and a set of locations chosen at random from the general habitat. Results showed that the distribution and abundance of available microhabitats were different among islands, thus each island has different spatial niches that may be important in distinguishing the areas occupied by these skinks. Results also revealed that C. ocellatus did not use available microhabitats at random, but preferentially selected particular microhabitats. However, C. parallelus used microhabitats according to their availability, although it showed some aspects of habitat selection similar to C. ocellatus. Our results showed that the inclusion of detailed microhabitat descriptors could be useful for understanding patterns of niche occupancy by these skinks species. Furthermore, to our knowledge this is the first study documenting the spatial niche selection of C. parallelus and provides novel ecological information that may be of major importance to develop management strategies that will help to conserve this endangered species.

Setting benchmarks for modelling gas\u2013surface interactions using coherent control of rotational orientation states

The coherent evolution of a molecular quantum state during a molecule-surface collision is a detailed descriptor of the interaction potential which was so far inaccessible to measurements. Here we use a magnetically controlled molecular beam technique to study the collision of rotationally oriented ground state hydrogen molecules with a lithium fluoride surface. The coherent control nature of the technique allows us to measure the changes in the complex amplitudes of the rotational projection quantum states, and express them using a scattering matrix formalism. The quantum state-to-state transition probabilities we extract reveal a strong dependency of the molecule-surface interaction on the rotational orientation of the molecules, and a remarkably high probability of the collision flipping the rotational orientation. The scattering matrix we obtain from the experimental data delivers an ultra-sensitive benchmark for theory to reproduce, guiding the development of accurate theoretical models for the interaction of H2 with a solid surface.

Using the Importance for Survival Scale to Identify Preferred Nature Scenes With Restorative Potential: A Qualitative Study.

Evidence supports the use of images of nature scenes in healthcare settings to reduce stress and improve emotional well-being. However, the literature is diverse and provides no integrated system to identify nature scenes that provide most therapeutic benefit. The current study aimed to validate and extend results of a correlational study that found the Importance for Survival Scale (IFSS) useful for selecting generally preferred nature scenes with therapeutic potential. The correlational study that tested the usefulness of the IFSS and the current qualitative study were components of a larger mixed-methods study. For the current study, general community participants (N = 20 males, 20 females; mean age = 48 years) provided verbal responses to questions about thoughts and feelings associated with a selection of photographs of nature scenes. Data were analyzed using a content analysis approach. Themes and detailed descriptors associated with preference for, and emotional response to, most- and least-liked nature scenes were produced. A proportion of those themes is directly related to the construct of Importance for Survival (IFS), whereas other themes are better explained by alternative theoretical perspectives. Results uphold the IFSS as an effective tool for identifying generally preferred nature scenes with restorative potential, and provide information about the relative importance of IFSS subscales that may be used to further develop and refine the IFSS, as well as guide selection of restorative nature scenes. Results also provide fine-scaled descriptive information about preference for and emotional response to nature scenes.

1658P - Selection of a set of quality indicators (QI) for oncological clinical pathway

BackgroundClinical pathways in oncology have become increasingly complex, involving several different healthcare professionals inside and outside the hospital setting who need particular coordination to provide appropriate care for patients. Very few QI exist to evaluate the oncological clinical pathway in its entirety, particularly regarding the various stages between patient admissions and discharges and the liaisons with non-hospital healthcare professionals (e.g. GPs, pharmacists). Our objective is to select a number of QI describing the oncological clinical pathway with an expert panel. MethodsA systematic review of available QI describing the oncological clinical pathways in the literature was conducted. The list of selected QI was presented to an expert panel (oncologists, pharmacists and SRNs) of various hospitals in France. The selection involved a two-step process: a preliminary selection was conducted based on the title and rationale of the QI by consensus (nominal group), assigning a value to each QI reviewed on the basis of its appropriateness and its feasibility (1st working group). The pre-selected QI were then described in detail and presented to the expert panel (2nd working group) in order to validate the selection. Results5731 QI were identified in the literature review and 131 included. 17 indicators were pre-selected by the experts (1st working group). After presentation of the 17 detailed descriptors, the QIs were clustered or eliminated. Ultimately, 10 QI were selected (Table): outcome (2), process (3) and structure (5).Table: 1658PTable: 1658PQIDescriptionType1Symptoms and disease progressionStructure2Assessment of tolerance to treatmentProcess3Management of patients receiving oral therapyStructure4Quality of the liaison documentProcess5Composite score for supportive careStructure6Patient therapeutic educationStructure7Medication reconciliationProcess8Unscheduled admissionsOutcome9Declaration and follow-up upon serious adverse events in clinical pathwayStructure10Patient’s experience (PREMS)Outcome ConclusionsThis approach will be developed further by presenting the IQs to patient associations and primary care physicians in order to gather their feedback, refine, adapt and ultimately create a representative set of indicators. Legal entity responsible for the studyThe authors. FundingNovartis Oncology France. DisclosureAll authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Ocean Eddy Recognition in SAR Images With Adaptive Weighted Feature Fusion

Automatic recognition of ocean eddies has become one of the hotspots in the field of physical oceanography. Traditional methods based on either physical parameters or geometry features require manual parameter adjustment, and cannot adapt to the dynamic changes of ocean eddies caused by complicated ocean environments. To address these issues, we propose a new eddy recognition method in SAR images with adaptive weighted multi-feature fusion. Specially, to better characterize eddies, we first extract texture, shape and corner features using global Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), detailed Fourier Descriptor (FD) and local salient Harris features respectively. Secondly, considering the different importance of features for eddy recognition, we propose an adaptive weighted feature fusion method with multiple kernel learning (MKL). Here, a combined kernel is derived to fuse three selected kernels for the three types of features with the weights trained by MKL. Finally, we design a SVM classifier with the combined kernel to realize the eddy recognition. The experimental results show that: 1) our proposed method can reach 93.42% of eddy recognition accuracy, which is much higher than the methods with only one single feature; 2) adaptive weighted fusion plays an important role in improving the accuracy. Our proposed method with MKL gains a 8.36% accuracy increase than the method without MKL. Through adaptive weighted fusion, our method avoids the manual parameter adjustment and is more robust and general. Experimental results have proven that our method is effective and applicable to recognize eddies.

From Process to Properties: Correlating Synthesis Conditions and Structural Disorder of Platinum Nanocatalysts

Understanding the complicated relationship between various synthetic processing parameters and the functional properties or performance of nanoparticles is one of the goals of computational materials design, and is an ideal problem for materials informatics. In this study, we use machine learning to build predictions of how bulk and surface disorder is controlled by the growth time, atom deposition rate, and temperature, and how they can impact some indicators of the functional properties of platinum nanoparticles used in catalysis, including a range of structural features. We have used an ensemble of 690 unique nanoparticles generated from molecular dynamics trajectories that sample a large variety of different temperature/growth rate combinations, and genetic algorithms providing a prediction accuracy over 85% for all models. We have developed reliable and insightful predictions of structure/property and process/structure relationships (even when the polydispersed structures are almost entirely disordered), but our results suggest that the transcendent process/property relationship requires more detailed descriptors than those traditionally available from conventional computational studies.

Applying a Thurstonian, Two-Stage Method in the Standardized Assessment of Writing

ABSTRACT National standardized assessment programs have increasingly included extended written performances, amplifying the need for reliable, valid, and efficient methods of assessment. This article examines a two-stage method using comparative judgments and calibrated exemplars as a complement and alternative to existing methods of assessing writing. Written performances were taken from Australia’s National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy, which included both narrative and persuasive performances from students aged 8 to 15. In Stage 1, assessors performed comparative judgments on 160 performances to form a scale of 36 calibrated exemplars. These comparative judgments showed a very high level of reliability and concurrent validity. In Stage 2, assessors scored 2,380 new performances by matching them to the most similar calibrated exemplar. These matching judgments showed a generally high level of reliability and concurrent validity and were reasonably efficient after a familiarization period. Further research is suggested to enhance Stage 2 by simplifying the exemplar scale and scaffolding it with detailed descriptors. Overall, the findings support the use of the method in standardized writing assessment and its application to various learning areas.

Inferring Causalities in Landscape Genetics: An Extension of Wright’s Causal Modeling to Distance Matrices

Identifying landscape features that affect functional connectivity among populations is a major challenge in fundamental and applied sciences. Landscape genetics combines landscape and genetic data to address this issue, with the main objective of disentangling direct and indirect relationships among an intricate set of variables. Causal modeling has strong potential to address the complex nature of landscape genetic data sets. However, this statistical approach was not initially developed to address the pairwise distance matrices commonly used in landscape genetics. Here, we aimed to extend the applicability of two causal modeling methods-that is, maximum-likelihood path analysis and the directional separation test-by developing statistical approaches aimed at handling distance matrices and improving functional connectivity inference. Using simulations, we showed that these approaches greatly improved the robustness of the absolute (using a frequentist approach) and relative (using an information-theoretic approach) fits of the tested models. We used an empirical data set combining genetic information on a freshwater fish species (Gobio occitaniae) and detailed landscape descriptors to demonstrate the usefulness of causal modeling to identify functional connectivity in wild populations. Specifically, we demonstrated how direct and indirect relationships involving altitude, temperature, and oxygen concentration influenced within- and between-population genetic diversity of G. occitaniae.