Lecture capture with real‐time rearrangement of visual elements: impact on student performance

The primary goal of this study is to create and test a lecture‐capture system that can rearrange visual elements while recording is still taking place, in such a way that student performance can be positively influenced. The system we have devised is capable of integrating and rearranging multimedia sources, including learning content, the instructor and students' images, into lecture videos that are embedded in a website for students to review after school. The present study employed a two‐group experimental design, with 153 participants (145 females and 8 males) making up an experimental group in which lecture courses were recorded using the new lecture‐capture system, and 149 participants (140 females and 9 males) forming a control group whose lectures were recorded by traditional means. All participants were in the freshman college and studying Introduction to Computer and Information Science in one of six classes, and were randomly assigned to one of the two groups. The participants' midterm examination and final examination scores were collected as indicators of their academic performance, with their mathematics entrance scores used as a pre‐test. The findings obtained from analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) suggest that appropriate rearrangement of visual elements in lecture videos can significantly impact students' learning performance.     

Quantum chemical studies of Li cation binding to polyalkyloxides

A quantum chemical study of the binding of Li⁺ cation to polyalkyloxides has been carried out. The lithium cation interaction with three polyalkyloxides (polyethylene oxide (PEO), polytrimethylene oxide (PTMO), and polypropylene oxide (PPO)) has been investigated using ab initio molecular orbital theory at the HF/6-31G^* level with molecular models for the polymers. Coordination by one to six oxygens was considered. In addition, higher level calculations were carried out using G3(MP2) theory for coordination of Li⁺ by one oxygen. For coordination of lithium by one oxygen, the binding energy ordering is PTMO>PPO>PEO, with PTMO having the largest lithium cation affinity. The same ordering is found for larger coordination numbers with the exception of coordination by six oxygens, where the ordering changes due to the steric interactions.     

When danger lurks in the background: Attentional capture by animal fear-relevant distractors is specific and selectively enhanced by animal fear.

Across 2 experiments, a new experimental procedure was used to investigate attentional capture by animal fear-relevant stimuli. In Experiment 1 (N = 34), unselected participants were slower to detect a neutral target animal in the presence of a spider than a cockroach distractor and in the presence of a snake than a large lizard distractor. This result confirms that phylogenetically fear-relevant animals capture attention specifically and to a larger extent than do non-fear-relevant animals. In Experiment 2 (N = 86), detection of a neutral target animal was slowed more in the presence of a feared fear-relevant distractor (e.g., a snake for snake-fearful participants) than in presence of a not-feared fear-relevant distractor (e.g., a spider for snake-fearful participants). These results indicate preferential attentional capture that is specific to phylogenetically fear-relevant stimuli and is selectively enhanced in individuals who fear these animals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the off-design of a natural gas-fired combined cycle with CO2 capture

During the last 15 years cycles with CO₂ capture have been in focus, due to the growing concern over our climate. Often, a natural gas fired combined cycle with a chemical absorption plant for CO₂ capture from the flue gases have been used as a reference in comparisons between cycles. Neither the integration of the steam production for regeneration of amines in the combined cycle nor the off-design behaviour of such a plant has been extensively studied before.     

Formal methods: The next generation of system design tools

Because of the growing demand for increasingly complex computer-based systems there is now an urgent need to provide tools to assist during the design of such systems. Formal specifications and formal methods provide such assistance but their widespread adoption has been hindered by the so-called ‘math fear’ and the perception that the tools are too difficult, too time consuming and too costly to use in a commercial environment. The aim of this article is to dispel the mystery surrounding the topic and to explain what formal methods are, how and why they are used, the benefits that accrue and why the technology should be accepted on a broader front. The application of formal methods to the design of computer-based systems will be discussed without resorting to jargon or mathematics. The discussion will concentrate more on the software content of systems but the arguments apply equally well to hardware. Some of the available tools will also be introduced.     

新型无杆水力采油装置研制与应用

针对中原油田中后期开发存在的液面降低、泵挂加深使得抽油机载荷增加、冲程损失增大、杆管偏磨严重等问题,研制了新型无杆水力采油装置。该装置采用球阀换向,冲程长、冲次低。现场试验时SC38—74—4.8型无杆水力采油装置与常规管式抽油泵联用,下泵深度1650m,冲程4.8m,冲次2.7min-1,日注水量72m3,产出液60m3。结果表明,新型无杆水力采油装置延长了抽油泵的使用寿命,彻底根除了杆管偏磨,采用球阀换向,对动力液要求较低,日常维护简单。     

最大重迭对称性分子轨道和分子几何参数计算

建立了AMl级别的最大重迭对称性分子轨道计算方案(MOSMO)。采用通常的半经验分子轨道方法AMl级别中完全相同的参数，计算了各种分子的几何参数等。所得计算结果与实验值及HF／6-31G*从头算方法计算结果相符，说明提出的计算方案是可行的。同时，由于提出的计算方案过程简单，更易推广使用到从头算方法难以解决的大分子体系和超分子体系的结构和性质研究。     

人参皂苷Rg分子轨道微扰理论的研究

人参皂苷Rg是具有生理活性的物质，它包括三个异构体：Rg1；Rg2；Rg3其中R83具有很强的抗癌作用。本文通过休克尔分子图形理论对Rg异构体的各分子轨道进行约化，并且根据分子轨道微扰理论求出它们不同本征多项式和本征值。     

基于视频的现实人物运动创作

提出一种根据用户指定的人体运动和观察视角生成真实感视频的方法.首先采集演员进行少数基本运动时的多视角视频数据库,并使用无标记运动捕捉的方法获得任意时刻人体对应的骨骼和3D模型.其次,用户对人体骨架指定运动并设定视角,以此定义目标视频.实验结果验证了文中方法能够利用有限的数据库合成演员在用户指定运动和视角下的真实感视频.     

表演驱动的矢量化二维表情动画

为了方便快捷生成生动的卡通表情动画,提出将表情数据重定向到卡通形象上的算法.该算法由用户在卡通形象上标记出与表情数据相对应拓扑结构的控制点,以此控制点集合与表情数据首帧控制点集合做比对;使用得到的比例关系将后续表情数据重定向到卡通形象上,从而形成针对卡通形象的表情数据.实验结果表明,运用文中算法可以制作出较为生动形象的卡通表情动画.