Technological Instruments Research Articles

Select Teaching: authoring tool for building Learning Objects for language teachers´ training and teaching support

The use of technological instruments in educational environments and contexts was facilitated by the popularization of technology in general, which significantly supported the teaching-learning process. This fact highlights the importance of teachers´ training to use these tools, as well as the presence of softwares and other appropriate tools for specific educational approaches. Thus, the present paper presents the creation of a didactic tool, the "Select Teaching", to be applied in the production of didactic material in the format of electronic handouts with foreign language content. The research is mainly characterized by the feasibility of considering these handouts as Learning Objects to be used by the language teachers of the Federal Institute of Paraná (IFPR) - Campus Assis Chateaubriand. Palavras-chave: Modern foreign language teaching. Digital didactic material. Learning Objects.

Attitude of men and women towards use of mobile phone

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a tool which benefits all spectrums of people in the world and reach millions of people every day. Recent developments in the fields of information and communication technology are undeniably revolutionary in nature. Information has become the principal determinant of the progress of nations, communities and individual. There is a potential for ICTs to purge gender discrimination and to empower women in society. But with science, technological innovations and socio-economic changes, women, even rural women, are progressively starting to utilize various kinds of technological instruments. ICTs perform as an agent to empower women, allowing them into the main torrent of society. Amongst the various kinds of ICTs the cell/ mobile phone has reached a significant place. This technology provides knowledge, social security, social networks and self confidence to rural people, An attempt has been made in this paper to explore the attitude of farmers and farm women towards the use of ICTs. This study was conducted in Sulla village of Dharwad district with a sample of 100 farmers and 100 farm women. Pre tested interview schedule was used for data collection and suitable statistical tools like frequency, percentage, means, standard deviation and t-test were used for analysis of the data. The study revealed that, more number of respondents belonged to young age, educated up to middle school, they were married, from joint families and farming was the main occupation of the respondents. The Z test revealed that there was a highly significant difference between the attitude of men and women towards use of ICTs. The analysis further revealed that, almost equal per cent of men (45.00%) and women (46.00%) belonged to low category of attitude followed by high category in men (29.00%) and medium category in women (32%).

AB Göç Politikalarının ve Sınır Yönetiminin Güvenlikleştirilmesinde Gözetim Teknolojilerinin Rolü

This study offers critical analysis on the role of surveillance technologies in the securitization of migration policies and the impact of such practices on the EU’s international identity. The EU member states have adopted various technological instruments that have serious consequences both for the course of the EU’s migration policies and its normative international identity. The findings of this research suggest that by securitizing its migration policies through new surveillance technologies, the EU may risk violating its founding norms and principles. These violations are, in turn, likely to have serious political repercussions for the global image and credibility of the EU in the years to come.

Shkola proektnykh tekhnologij: internet veshhej v mezhpredmetnom obuchenii [School of project technologies: The internet of things in the interdisciplinary learning

Project-based methods of teaching schoolchildren are well suited to the challenges facing the education system. However, their format and content do not meet modern requirements. They are often disconnected from the needs and opportunities of the business and academic environment, and do not involve students in creative team processes to solve specific practical projects using modern effective project management tools. The technological and technical base does not allow these methods to be used at a high level. Therefore, from the point of view of the education system and individual general education organizations, solutions for complex changes in schools are of interest, allowing for a new build of key school processes using project technologies, based on world standards and recommendations both at the methodological (project management standards) and technological (advanced technological tools) levels. This problem is the subject of a study aimed at developing a model of the “School of project technologies” system, which synthesizes the best practices of project training, taking into account project management methodologies and methods, and based on the internet of things (IoT) technology. The study uses a set of methods: case analysis and analysis of scientific and practical literature, documents and professional standards for project management. These methods allowed us to implement the following research stages: to assess the current practice of using the project method and other methods aimed at the formation of relevant competencies; to identify the advantages and “growth zones” of these practices; to determine the opportunities and conditions for the introduction of internet of things technology in project training, to offer the author’s original model of the “School of project technologies”. The main method of research was the method of analyzing cases obtained from the materials of 33 educational institutions that demonstrate international and domestic experience in organizing project activities of schoolchildren. The representativeness of the material is provided by a large number of cases and methods of their analysis. A conceptual model of the “School of project technologies” is proposed, where the basic process is the project activity of students. In this context, the article describes the functional place and ways of applying the internet of things (IoT) technology in the school educational process. The model “School of project technologies” proposed in the three-element system structure: a methodological apparatus of project activity in school; technological instruments for the implementation of this activity, including IoT technologies, augmented reality, 3D-lab and other necessary functional units; infrastructure support, including the system of requirements for the school’s technosphere, information system, etc. In this case, the concept of using IoT technologies is included as one of the functional units of the school project activity system. A system solution that methodologically links practice-oriented project activities and the IoT platform’s technological tools for student projects and research has been substantiated. It is shown that IoT technology is able to provide high performance of project training and in combination with it allows you to create high-quality hard, soft and digital skills of students. The great advantages of the technology lie in the ability to use it in cross-subject training, which corresponds to the modern requirement to overcome the narrow-disciplinary framework of training.

Examining construction waste management policies in mainland China for potential performance improvements

Construction waste typically accounts for roughly 30% of municipal solid waste and thus poses a great challenge to government authorities in almost all cities around the world, especially those in developing counties. To promote the adoption of circular economy and improve construction waste management performance in China’s construction and demolition waste industry, a policy analysis is conducted at three governance levels: the national, provincial, and municipal levels. These policies are examined in relation to the waste management chain, the waste management hierarchy, and governance levels. In particular, four cities, including Beijing, Shenzhen, Xi’an and Changsha, are examined as cases in the analysis. It is found that (1) more attention should be given to construction waste management in all cities, as approximately 44% of all cities do not have their own regulations; (2) the focuses of these policies shift from the end of the construction waste chain to the start of the construction waste management chain, and then to the whole chain; (3) financial and technological instruments could greatly improve performance; and (4) new technologies and instruments could facilitate communications between stakeholders to improve construction waste performance.

INFLUÊNCIA NA ARRECADAÇÃO DE TRIBUTOS MUNICIPAIS COM A ATUALIZAÇÃO DO CADASTRO IMOBILIÁRIO

A necessidade de tributação municipal mais justa e precisa no que concerne uma correta arrecadação de tributos, foi o que trouxe à tona o estudo em questão. Destarte objetivou-se analisar a atualização cadastral imobiliária, como um instrumento tecnológico para a modernização da administração municipal. Na tentativa de promover o aumento da arrecadação tributária para o município de União do Oeste/SC. Para atender a esse propósito, a metodologia utilizada foi com método quantitativo e descritivo, através de uma pesquisa documental. Consequentemente a coleta de dados, utilizou-se do sistema tributário municipal Betha Sistemas e do Google Maps.

Remote Sensing and complex urban systems: Contributions to the state of the art on the Heat Island and the monitoring of water quality

The article starts from the premise that cities are constituted in complex systems, so that its study, through the systemic approach, encounters three difficulties. Among these, the availability of technological instrumentation applied to research and which favors the obtaining and analysis of reality data stands out. In this context, remote sensing techniques are inserted, which have been increasingly applied in urban studies. Thus, the present article aims to present the state of the art of the use of remote sensing in urban studies, having the phenomenon of the Heat Island and the monitoring of water quality as thematic focus. In methodological terms, this article is a narrative, non-systematic and qualitative review, carried out based on the analysis of the literature, from books and articles in international journals. It is expected that the present material will contribute to the updating of knowledge, as well as to highlight the importance of the topic addressed in the academic environment.

Applications of NMR in Drug:Cyclodextrin Complexes.

NMR spectroscopy is an effective technique, applicable for studying bioactive materials or drug delivery systems in order to obtain comprehensive details related to structural and dynamic characteristics at atomic resolution. The applications of NMR spectroscopy have been increased considerably as a result of the combination of advancement in technological NMR instrumentation and scientific knowledge. This chapter is dedicated to highlight the applications of NMR spectroscopy in drug:cyclodextrin complexes using both liquid- and solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

Evaluating the Climate Change Mitigation Potential of Sustainable Urban Transport Measures in India

Urban transportation is viewed as the second leading source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The growing number of vehicles and road infrastructure-based supply in Indian cities is viewed as the essential driver of climate change and relevant consequences affecting the sustainability of cities. Under the 2015 Paris agreement, India had declared its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to curtail the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 33-35 % by 2030 from the 2005 level. In this context, sustainable transport measures were analyzed in this study to understand the emission mitigation potential of the transport sector of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region (BMR) situated in Karnataka, India. Suitable policies were identified under the planning, regulatory, economic and technological instruments that are grouped under four policy bundles. The mitigation potential of the policy bundles is quantitatively evaluated in terms of Vehicle Kilometers Travelled (VKT), exhaust emissions and greenhouse gas emissions. The study also estimated the carbon emission intensity and consumer surplus for different mode users associated with the policy bundles. The findings from sustainable transport scenarios for the design years 2030 and 2050 are compared with business as usual (BAU) scenarios of the respective design years. The policy bundle 4 - a mixture of policies from all the instruments including technological improvements such as electrification of all buses and cars in the city - demonstrated a critical decrease in VKT and emissions when compared with the other policy bundles and thus, provides good scientific decision support for transport policymakers.

Impact of bad outputs and environmental regulation on efficiency of Indian leather firms: a directional distance function approach

This paper measures the environmental efficiency of the grossly polluting Indian leather industry which faces stringent environmental regulations. The environmental efficiency measure accounts for associated bad outputs (total suspended solids and chromium) with the good output (leather products) of firms and hence, provides an important benchmark for improving environmental performance. Drawing data from fieldwork in the Kanpur industry of India, the study estimates efficiency using the directional distance function approach under three directional vectors. The results reveal that the efficiency of firms is underestimated when bad outputs are omitted in the production technology. There is significant potential to increase leather production and reduce pollutants across firms. The study confirms that regulation improves the environmental efficiency of leather firms. However, regulation imposes an opportunity cost on firms of an average 3% loss in expanding leather output and reducing inputs. The study recommends mandating the use of cleaner technology and market-based instruments to improve environmental efficiency.

Minimal Invasive Treatments for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common malignancy of the kidney that accounts 85% of all renal tumors and 2-3% of all adult malignancies . The etiology of RCC associated with smoking , obesity, anti-hypertensive therapy, coffee and tea, Western diet (high fat and protein and low fruits and vegetables). However, the detection of small renal masses has been increased because of widespread use of sonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging techniques in recent years, but one-third of the patients with RCC still present with large, locally advanced or metastatic disease. Surgery is the main treatment for renal cell carcinoma and minimal invasive treatments such as laproscopy and robotic approaches is very popular in the world after the widespread use of technological instruments and technology.

New genetic technologies and the problem of anthropological boundaries: from ethics of an individual towards ethics of species

The subject of this research is the peculiarities of transformation of anthropological boundaries in the context of development of technologies of modification of human genome. Analysis is conducted on the development of genetic technologies and the questions of ethics. The author examines modern technologies of modification of human genome and demonstrates that appearance of the method CRISPR/Cas 9 accelerated the already existing and widespread in transhumanistic circles request for biotechnological enhancement of a human. In future, in the context of loosening normative regulations it would only intensify. Amplified by the emergence of new technological instrument, this request instigated the occurrence of perfectionist horizon of expectations and broadening of representations on the limits of physical and mental abilities of a human. The article employs general theoretical philosophical approach, as well as methodology of fantastic modeling and case study. The conclusion is made that within the framework of development of biology of the objects of human genesis, which are acquired unnaturally and may become the material for unlimited manipulative intervention, is always associated with vagueness of ethical standards. The edges of life and death, wholeness and inferiority of existence in this case seem indefinite, formed exclusively upon request of certain medical and research tasks. The initial stage of human existence indicated ontological uncertainty and ethical ambivalence that does not guarantee the protection of human being. Therefore, the advancement of technologies of human genome modification puts human in a problem of limiting the manipulative procedures, creation of an essential normative framework that ensures anthropological security.

Montology manifesto: echoes towards a transdisciplinary science of mountains

Mountains as archetype frame some meta-geographies of the vertical dimension. Mountain metaphors, thus, have remained as key guidance in developing not only animistic belief systems and religious cults, but also military strategies, economic potential, and scientific innovation. This paper seeks to explain the need to integrate western knowledge, where mountains became known via natural history’s mechanistic explanations, with other epistemologies. Mountain scientists therein developed linear approaches that required exploration, experimentation, and pragmatic interpretation of generalizable mountain phenomena. Little is known, however, about other civilizations’ more encompassing cognition due to heuristic explanations of mountain myths. Local knowledge holders therein developed approaches that required familiarization, observation, and romantic meditation about situated mountain phenomena. Using a multimethod approach of human geography that includes onomastics, geocritical discourse analysis, political ecology, and critical biogeography, the author posits that there is a paradigmatic shift of geographic fad, when even “nature” is thought of as a “social construct” in the socioecological mountainscapes. Between these tendencies of either Cartesian or Spinozan dogmas about scientific objectives, methods and implications, mountains continue to elicit geographical research. The author thus concludes that integrating narratives of mountain studies with geocritical analyses of political ecology that allow for transgressivity and referentialilty of mountain cognition can be done with transdisciplinary science. Montology, henceforth, couples dialectic thinking with the trifecta of spatiality, complexity and historicity in highlighting mountain microrefugia for biocultural conservation. Use of montological approaches will bring mountain scientists to a new level, where the application of local ecological knowledge and cutting-edge technological instrumentation could render sustainable mountain communities, in dynamic biocultural heritage scenarios of convergent mountain science.

Public administration’s challenges in order to guarantee the fundamental right of personal data protection in the post-COVID-19 era

The irruption of COVID-19 has led to a multitude of deep-seated transformations, which go beyond the purely sanitary sphere, leading to major socio-economic changes, among which the evolution of traditional forms of administrative intervention or the empowerment and/or acceleration of the advances derived from the digital (re)volution stand out for their extraordinary importance. Thereby, in recent months we have witnessed the implementation of numerous initiatives aimed to alleviate the harmful effects of the pandemic by developing technological tools based on processing categories of specially protected personal data, such as health data, which raises important questions from the perspective of privacy and digital rights. The aim of this study is to carry out a detailed analysis of some essential elements, necessary to achieve the difficult balance between the promotion of technological instruments that contribute to control the effects of COVID-19 increasing the resources available to health authorities, and safeguarding the fundamental right of personal data protection.

THE GOLEM LEGEND AND THE ENIGMA OF FACEBOOK

AbstractWe are easily misguided as to the true nature of Facebook, and tend to treat it simply as a powerful technological instrument in the service of human intentions. We can, however, gain a better picture of it through recourse to the Jewish tradition of the golem, an image of human beings, created by them in a re‐enactment of their own creation by God. It turns into a magic servant in modernity with an inherent dynamic running between its human and its subhuman characteristics. This dynamic is the main cause behind its becoming uncontrollable. In like manner, what is subhuman in Facebook serves its masters and functions under their total control, but also empowers Facebook's increasingly human operation, an algorithm‐based capability which raises growing doubts about what counts as human. Facebook implies the crisis of humanity which coincides with the “death of God,” that is, the obsolescence of the idea of a divine creator.

Enabling discoveries: a review of 30 years of advanced technologies and instrumentation at the National Science Foundation

Over its more than 30-year history, the Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation (ATI) program has provided grants to support technology development and instrumentation for ground-based astronomy. Through a combination of automated literature assessment and in-depth literature review, we present a survey of ATI-funded research and its impact on astronomy and society. Award acknowledgment and literature citation statistics for ATI are comparable to a comparison astronomy grant program that does not support technology development. Citation statistics for both NSF-funded programs exceed those of the general astronomical literature. Numerous examples demonstrate the significant, long-term impact of ATI-supported research in astronomy. As part of this impact, ATI grants have provided many early career researchers the opportunity to gain critical professional experience. However, technology development unfolds over a time period that is longer than an individual grant. A longitudinal perspective shows that investments in technology and instrumentation have led to extraordinary scientific progress.

Study of the process of forming a hole for a thread at manufacturing a high nut

During manufacturing nuts of increased height, a problem of obtaining correct cylindrical form of the hole for thread and overall geometrical parameters arises. To solve the problem it is necessary to know regularity of the blank forming process. Results of the study of a technological process of high hexahedral nuts forming presented. The nuts were M18 of 22 mm height, M16 of 19 mm height and M12 of normal height 10 mm according to GOST 5915–70, accuracy class B, steel grade 10 according to GOST 10702–78. The volumetric stamping was accomplished at the five-position automatic presses of АА1822 type. It was determined, that unevenness of the metal flow in the process of plastic deformation of blanks of increased height nuts was caused by different stress conditions by their sections. To simulate the mode of deformation, the program complex QForm-3D was chosen. The complex ensured to forecast with necessary accuracy the metal flow in a blank, as well as to define the deformation force and arising stress in the working instrument. The simulation showed the presence of regularity between preliminary formed buffle and deviation of dimensions and form of a blank wall after its finishing piercing, which can be expressed by a nonlinear dependence. The limit values of the relative height of the buffle С/D = 0.56–0.588 defined, exceeding which will result in rejection of the finished product. Accounting the limit values of the relative height of the buffle will enable to correct a mode of technological operations and technological instruments at stamping of high hexahedral nuts.

“It is not rocket science..” – Older peoples’ understanding of nutrition – A qualitative study

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to: 1) explore older patients' knowledge, skills and behavior in relation to nutrition and 2) achieve an understanding of older patients’ experiences, understanding and attitudes towards management of nutritional needs. DesignSemi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using content analysis. The Readiness and Enablement Index for Health Technology (READHY) instrument was used as a framework. SettingTwo hospital units specialized in internal medicine located at two university hospitals in Copenhagen. ParticipantsPatients (N = 25) age 65 ≥ years and admitted to hospital for medical treatment. FindingsThe informants’ knowledge, behavior and attitude towards nutrition was influenced by their experience of food as an everyday phenomenon but less so by the experience of nutrition as important for their well-being and health. Three themes were identified: 1) Food – an everyday phenomenon; 2) Habits and preferences and 3) When food becomes nutrition. ConclusionOlder, ill patients have limited knowledge about specific needs for energy and protein and the importance of nutrition for their physical functioning. They have potential resources and competencies which can positively impact and be utilized in nutritional interventions. Social interaction, the pleasurable experience of eating well-prepared food, and daily routines facilitate their nutritional intake.

Portfolio optimization in the era of digital financialization using cryptocurrencies

The Fourth industrial revolution has seen many innovative technologies that are now challenging traditional economies. The innovative and technological financial instruments are inspiring individuals and expert investors to investigate the broader investment spectrum, and consequently diversify their portfolios. Going beyond the conventional portfolios and developing state-of-the-art strategies that comply with the ever-changing financial and technological advancements are the keys to long term sustainability. Therefore, to cater to the needs of all segments of the society, the investment strategies during the fourth industrial revolution demand exposure to technological and digital financial innovations. This study investigates the impact of diversification with the addition of five cryptocurrencies from November 2015 to November 2019 on four traditional asset portfolios. The results show that the diversification increased the returns in most of the cases, and reduced the portfolio volatility in all portfolios, and also provided higher returns as compared to the traditional portfolios for the same level of risk. This study also revealed that the results might improve when short sales are allowed. Moreover, we can conclude that the addition of multiple cryptocurrencies in a portfolio provides enhanced results for diversification, and Ethereum provides a better diversification opportunity as compared to Bitcoin.

Las tecleras o clickers como un instrumento complementario que favorece la construcción de Aprendizaje Significativo en la resolución de problemas en electromagnetismo

One of the difficulties that the theory of significant learning has is to be able to immediately determine conceptual assimilation, that is, to know how the learner is interacting between the previous concepts and the new concepts to be learned. The tecleras or clickers as a technological instrument of the new information and communication technologies allow us to have instantaneous answers from each one of the students when they are subjected to questions that explain their assimilation process. This research proposes a teaching method in problem solving, based on guided inquiry, so that the teacher detects the assimilation of the students when they solve problems. It is underpinned by Ausubel's theory of meaningful learning and Vygotsky's sociocultural theory. The investigation is solved by means of a mixed, quantitative and qualitative methodology, with a quasi-experimental design, where two groups are compared in problem solving; a control group and an experimental group. Problem solving is carried out in an Electromagnetism course, at university undergraduate level. The results show significant progress in the acquisition of significant learning between the experimental group and the control group.