Usability of a cloud-based collaborative learning framework to improve learners’ experience

Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) is concerned with how Information and Communication Technology (ICT) might facilitate learning in groups which can be co-located or distributed over a network of computers such as Internet. CSCL supports effective learning by means of communication of ideas and information among learners, collaborative access of essential documents, and feedback from instructors and peers on learning activities. As the cloud technologies are increasingly becoming popular and collaborative learning is evolving, new directions for development of collaborative learning tools deployed on cloud are proposed. Development of such learning tools requires access to substantial data stored in the cloud. Ensuring efficient access to such data is hindered by the high latencies of wide-area networks underlying the cloud infrastructures. To improve learners’ experience by accelerating data access, important files can be replicated so a group of learners can access data from nearby locations. Since a cloud environment is highly dynamic, resource availability, network latency, and learner requests may change. In this paper, we present the advantages of collaborative learning and focus on the importance of data replication in the design of such a dynamic cloud-based system that a collaborative learning portal uses. To this end, we introduce a highly distributed replication technique that determines optimal data locations to improve access performance by minimizing replication overhead (access and update). The problem is formulated using dynamic programming. Experimental results demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed collaborative learning system used by institutions in geographically distributed locations.     

A Potent Mimetic of the Siglec-8 Ligand 6’-Sulfo-Sialyl Lewisx

Siglecs are members of the immunoglobulin gene family containing sialic acid binding N-terminal domains. Among them, Siglec-8 is expressed on various cell types of the immune system such as eosinophils, mast cells and weakly on basophils. Cross-linking of Siglec-8 with monoclonal antibodies triggers apoptosis in eosinophils and inhibits degranulation of mast cells, making Siglec-8 a promising target for the treatment of eosinophil- and mast cell-associated diseases such as asthma. The tetrasaccharide 6’-sulfo-sialyl Lewis^x has been identified as a specific Siglec-8 ligand in glycan array screening. Here, we describe an extended study enlightening the pharmacophores of 6’-sulfo-sialyl Lewis^x and the successful development of a high-affinity mimetic. Retaining the neuraminic acid core, the introduction of a carbocyclic mimetic of the Gal moiety and a sulfonamide substituent in the 9-position gave a 20-fold improved binding affinity. Finally, the residence time, which usually is the Achilles tendon of carbohydrate/lectin interactions, could be improved.     

航空发动机复杂扭曲叶片分步电解加工研究

为实现复杂扭曲叶片在较小间隙下的稳定加工,提出了一种分步式电解加工的工艺方法,建立了复杂扭曲叶片小间隙(0.2 mm)和大间隙下(0.5 mm)扭曲流道的流道模型,采用有限元法进行了流场仿真研究,结果表明增加流道间隙可以解决流道中涡流和流场紊乱的问题。开展了复杂扭曲叶片小间隙连续式加工和分步式加工的试验研究。结果表明,采用小间隙连续式加工,当阴极进给至3.8 mm位置时,在叶片排气边靠近叶根流道扭曲处出现短路打火情况;而采用分步式加工方式能够实现加工的顺利进行。     

富平银沟遗址青瓷标本的类型学分析

富平银沟遗址位于陕西省渭南市富平县华朱乡东北部银沟村。经过为期两年的考古调查与勘探,在该地区发现和搜集了大量的精美陶瓷产品。其中青瓷产品占比最大,具有很高的研究价值。本文主要通过选取银沟地区青瓷器形较为完整,并具有典型代表性的青瓷标本进行类型学的整理分析。根据器形,青瓷标本可分为碗、盘、盒、钵、香炉、瓶、罐、壶等。通过与耀州窑典型青瓷器的器形与纹饰对比,从器物的类型学解析银沟遗址青瓷器的烧造年代时期。     

An iterative method for suboptimal control of linear time-delayed systems

This article presents a new approach for solving the Optimal Control Problem (OCP) of linear time-delay systems with a quadratic cost functional. The proposed method can also be used for designing optimal control time-delay systems with disturbance. In this study, the Variational Iteration Method (VIM) is employed to convert the original Time-Delay Optimal Control Problem (TDOCP) into a sequence of nonhomogeneous linear two-point boundary value problems (TPBVPs). The optimal control law obtained consists of an accurate linear feedback term and a nonlinear compensation term which is the limit of an adjoint vector sequence. The feedback term is determined by solving Riccati matrix differential equation. By using the finite-step iteration of a nonlinear compensation sequence, we can obtain a suboptimal control law. Finally, Illustrative examples are included to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the technique.     

龙口水利枢纽工程规模论证

从目前电力系统的发展来看,不论是华北电网还是晋、蒙电网都存在着调峰能力不足的问题。为更好地利用黄河托龙段的水能资源,改善下游河道的水流条件,为地方经济建设提供清洁可靠的能源,建设龙口水利枢纽工程已经提到日程上来。龙口水利枢纽工程开发任务为发电、对万家寨电站进行反调节、兼有滞洪削峰等综合利用。根据电力系统的需求、泥沙淤积情况、动能经济指标和反调节等要求,综合考虑,选定正常蓄水位898m,装机容量420MW。龙口水利枢纽工程的建设符合国家关于调整能源结构,优先开发水电和加强基础设施建设,拉动经济增长的部署。     

凉水河污染对土壤和地下水的影响

在凉水河下游取河床底泥及河床下部土样,分析其NH3-N、磷和有机物的变化,发现底泥对NH3-N和磷的去除发挥了很大作用,分别是下部土壤吸附量的10倍和1倍多;土中5种氯代烃均有检出,是河水长期渗漏积累的结果。凉水河流域内的野外试验结果表明,凉水河对地下水存在污染,污染组分主要是CODCr,NH3-N也有一定污染,其他无机污染组分如NO3-N,Cr6+,TP和Pb2+对地下水的影响较小,氯代烃对地下水也有一定影响。据推测,凉水河污染对地下水的影响范围大概在河两侧80 m范围内。     

Expanding the analytical potential of channel locational probability maps using cellular statistics

The planimetric shifts in channel location of large alluvial rivers are a critical component in the creation of diverse structures and functions in riverine habitats. Engineered management schemes must also compensate for this type of channel change to protect resources and maintain navigation channels. The stability of the Lower Mississippi River channel was assessed through an analysis of historical records of channel position produced and archived by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Channel location was recorded for the years 1765, 1820, 1881, 1915, 1930, 1937, 1960 and 1970. Channel stability was measured by two introduced metrics on a cell‐by‐cell basis: (1) the standard deviation of Euclidean distance to a channel cell for the entire period of record, and (2) the rate of Euclidean distance change between years in the period of record. At a coarse spatial scale, channel instability increased in the downstream direction. The variability of channel stability also increased in the downstream direction. Analysis of this variability identified alternating areas of high and low stability occurring with greater frequency as distance downstream increased. These findings are validated by past studies of channel stability along the Lower Mississippi River. As a result, the proposed metrics provide a consistent, quantitative, efficient and cost‐effective means of identifying areas of channel instability at several spatial scales. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

珠江三角洲网河近20年河床演变特征分析

总结了20世纪80年代前珠江三角洲网河河床演变特征,并采用80年代和90年代末的河道地形图,通过对比珠江三角洲各主要河道的深泓线、平均河底高程以及河道容积、河床断面宽深比的变化,分析珠江三角洲80年代后的河床演变特征。对比分析结果表明珠江三角洲在不同时期呈现出不同的河床演变规律——20世纪80年代前以淤积为主,80年代至90年代末转变为以冲刷为主。     

黄河口河道演变规律探讨

通过分析黄河口河道在纵剖面、横断面、河型等方面的演变过程,总结归纳出黄河口河道的演变规律。指出:黄河口泥沙在潮汐涨落等因素影响下,河口河道纵剖面逐渐形成台阶状,与此同时,河口滩地横比降逐渐发展为倒比降;河口河道中段由顺直型河道逐渐转为弯曲型河道,而下段仍为相对顺直、游荡型河道。当河口河道中段比降减小到一定程度后,此河段开始漫滩、卡冰、出汊。河口台阶的形成揭示了黄河口流路由单股河道逐渐转为出汊的过程,即黄河口流路由“青壮期”逐渐转为“衰亡期”的过程。延长黄河口流路使用年限的途径是:①尽量减少黄河下游输向黄河口的泥沙量;②采取河口挖沙或人工改汊措施,地点宜选在河口河道的中下段。