49 research outputs found
An Instructional Design Process for Creating a U-Learning Ecology
No full textThe ubiquitous computing (UbiComp) is considered as an extension of the computational capabilities of the physical environment, allowing the computational structure to be present everywhere in the form of small, robust, networked processing devices distributed at all scales through everyday life and generally turned to distinctly common place ends. There are various research challenges regarding the design and use of instructional design tools in complex learning contexts such as Ubiquitous Computing, Mobile learning (m-learning) and Internet of Things (IoT), the technologies defined as UMI technologies. This paper presents the rationale, important issues and methodology constructed in the context of UbiComp so as to initially define an instructional design process for building a U – Learning Ecology for multidisciplinary education. We provide a consistent framework and structural view of integrating instructional design principles in UbiComp learning: we discuss our ideas on the design of a U-learning ecology by the gradual building of a robust design process and we provide an overview of our ongoing work on design/analysis tools supporting early stage prototyping for using UMI technologies
The genetic basis of craniofacial and dental abnormalities
No full textThe embryonic head development, including the formation of dental structures, is a complex and delicate process guided by specific genetic programs. Genetic changes and environmental factors can disturb the execution of these programs and result in abnormalities in orofacial and dental structures. Orofacial clefts and hypodontia/ oligodontia are examples of such abnormalities frequently seen in dental clinics. An insight into the mechanisms and genes involved in the formation of orofacial and dental structures has been gradually gained by genetic analysis of families and by the use of experimental vertebrate models such as the mouse and chick models. The development of novel clinical therapies for orofacial and dental pathological conditions depends very much on a detailed knowledge of the molecular and cellular processes that are involved in head formation
Developing a Design Framework for UMI Educational Scenarios
No full textUbiquitous learning (u-learning) is a new paradigm which is based on ubiquitous computing technology. The most significant role of ubiquitous computing technology in u-learning is to construct a ubiquitous learning environment which enables anyone to learn at anytime anyplace. Nonetheless the characteristics of u-learning are still unclear and being debated by the research community. Designing instructional tools that actually promote u-learning experiences is a cumbersome task in the sense of taking into consideration and combining a variety of complex, technological tools and characteristics of u-learning. This study describes the characteristics and design methodology of a UMI-Sci-Ed* Educational Scenario Template as a medium to organize and construct u-learning experiences based in a u-learning environment. It also presents a case study scenario, based on UMI Subject Matter Experts’ interaction with the predefined and designed Educational Scenario Components
Epigenetic Fingerprint
No full textEpigenetics can offer a forensic investigator intelligence to help identify a perpetrator when a DNA profile is available, but this does not match with any database held by law enforcement. Using a hypothetical crime, we illustrate its future potential. The methodologies of linking a biological stain to the cellular source of the DNA profile are discussed, as are other approaches that might assist in discovering more about the stain donor, including chronological age, medical history, and interactions with the environment. Police are occasionally left with the problem of being able to link a person through DNA to a crime scene, only to find out that this person has an identical twin. Epigenetics provides a tool to assist with this situation. Employing epigenetics within criminal justice is only beginning; the significant ethical, legislative, and scientific challenges that must be met before its use are also discussed.</p
Knowledge-based Estimation of Manufacturing Lead Time for Complex Engineered-to-order Products
No full textAbstractProduct complexity leads to increased unpredictability of indices related to manufacturing performance estimation. This phenomenon is intensified in companies that produce engineered-to-order products, such as the knowledge and labour intensive mould-making industry. During the initial capturing of product specifications formalisation difficulties arise. Moreover, the estimation of delivery times for new moulding project is solely based on the engineers’ experience. A methodology, which has been developed into a software tool is proposed that exposes graphical interfaces for customers to submit new orders and establish a formalised communication with the engineering team. The collected data are stored in a knowledge repository and are processed by a case-based reasoning mechanism for the lead time estimation. A real-life pilot installation has been initiated to a mould making SME. Preliminary results depict a significant reduction in the number of iterations between customers and engineering department compared to the traditional approach followed by the company, and improved accuracy of lead time estimation
Knowledge Enriched Short-term Scheduling for Engineer-to-order Products
No full textAbstractContemporary shop-floors are highly affected by the ever-increasing complexity that is caused by the fluctuating customer demands. Therefore, a high degree of flexibility is needed and the scheduling of manufacturing tasks must be agile to changes. For addressing this challenge, this research work proposes a knowledge enriched short-term job-shop scheduling engine. More precisely, it focuses on the short-term scheduling of the resources of the machine shop, through an artificial intelligence algorithm that generates and evaluates alternative assignments of resources to tasks. Based on the requirements of a new order, a similarity mechanism retrieves successfully executed past orders together with a dataset that includes the processing times, the job and task sequence and the suitable resources. Afterwards it adapts these parameters to the requirements of the new order so as to evaluate the alternative schedules and identify a good alternative in a timely manner. The deriving schedule can be presented on mobile devices and it can be manipulated by the planner on-the-fly respecting tasks precedence constraints and machine availability. A case study from the mold making industry is used for validating the proposed framework
An approach to advance STEM education practices based on IoT technologies and the CoPs paradigm
No full textInternet of Things and other state-of-the-art technologies like mobile and ubiquitous computing present ample opportunities for developing novel so- lutions almost in every domain of modern life. The research work presented here aims to leverage on the potential of such technologies in the direction of enhancing learning practices in secondary level education and promoting posi- tive attitudes towards the corresponding scientific and engineering disciplines. The originality of the proposed approach lies on the provision of an educational platform, framed by contemporary pedagogical principles, and with an aim to stimulate collaboration between the relevant stakeholders in the form of opera- tional communities of practice. Such communities are brought together on the basis of participating in on line activities, problem solving, exchanging reflec- tions and experiences in the context of educational scenarios that incorporate modern technologies. The platform development is discussed in terms of the underlined conceptual models, the defined stakeholders’ requirements, the on- line services developed, the software tools integrated and the data management supported. An example educational scenario, the corresponding IoT application developed and preliminary evaluation results of this approach are also reported.The final authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21151-6_
Antioxidant Hydrogen-Atom-Transfer to DPPH Radicals by Hybrids of {Hyaluronic-Acid Components}@SiO<sub>2</sub>
No full textHydrogen-atom-transfer (HAT) is among the key mechanisms
of antioxidant
and antiradical activity in natural systems. Hyaluronic acid (HyA)
is currently used extensively in health and cosmetics applications.
Herein it is shown that {HyA@SiO2} hybrids based on hyaluronic
acid (HyA) components grafted on SiO2 nanoparticles enable
significant HAT activity versus DPPH radicals, while the homogeneous
HyA counterparts are practically inactive. The {HyA@SiO2} hybrids consist of the two building blocks of HyA [d-glucuronic
acid (GLA) and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GLAM)] covalently
grafted on SiO2 nanoparticles. Based on the kinetic-thermodynamic
Arrhenius study, we show that the {SiO2@GLA} hybrids operate
spontaneously via hydrogen-atom-transfer (HAT) with a low activation
energy barrier, i.e., by ΔΕα ∼ 20 kJ/mol vs the nongrafted counterparts.
Moreover, a doubly grafted {GLA@SiO2@GLAM} nanohybrid,
i.e. that contains both components of HyA, shows the most significant
antioxidant activity. FTIR and Raman analysis reveal that local H-bonding
between the SiO2 matrix, GLA, and GLAM in {GLA@SiO2@GLAM} decreases the activation barrier of the HAT mechanism.
Thus, {GLA@SiO2@GLAM} nanohybrids exemplify a novel family
of materials that are not the mere sum of their components. The present
case is the first example of non-phenolic molecules being able to
perform antiradical HAT, opening new perspectives not foreseen until
today
