Toward an Actor-Network approach for investigating education and learning within a corporate university: a world of heterogeneous assemblages

Education and learning in organizations are dynamic in nature and conventionally considered to depend on sociality. Nevertheless, the development of technologies has provoked impassable impacts. The theoretical proposal of knowledge as a collective activity (knowing) drives to the concept of situated learning. However, material artifacts tend to be ignored. Conversely, this research recognizes the importance of considering the organization as a heterogeneous assemblage of social, material and practices. This suggests a methodological shift to question the canonical analysis of the organization and learning theories. Actor-Network Theory (ANT) surfaces the materiality of practices, creating a foundational for regarding objects as legitimate actors. Assuming that it is no longer possible to separate sociality from materiality, this study pioneers adult learning settings

The Theory and Practice of Online Learning

Every chapter in the widely distributed first edition has been updated, and four new chapters on current issues such as connectivism and social software innovations have been added. Essays by practitioners and scholars active in the complex, diverse, and rapidly evolving field of distance education blend scholarship and research; practical attention to the details of teaching and learning; and mindful attention to the economics of the business of education

Material Properties of Anderson Localizing Optical Fiber

Over half a century ago, the paper entitled “Absence of Diffusion in Certain Random Lattices” was published by P. Anderson and described a metal-to-insulator transition phenomenon where electron diffusion does not occur in disordered semiconductors. This phenomenon is now commonly referred to as “Anderson localization” (AL). Since the AL detailed in Anderson’s paper arose from the wave nature of electrons, similar behavior should be observed in other wave systems, more specifically in optics. Given the utility of optical fibers, extensive theoretical treatment has been conducted on transverse Anderson localization (TAL, disorder in x- and y-directions, with the z-direction remaining invariant) in such systems. Only recently has it been experimentally observed, paving the way for studies into the influence of fiber material on linear and nonlinear TAL. This Dissertation represents the first materials study of doped silicate transverse Anderson localizing optical fibers (TALOFs) and their corresponding passive and active optical properties. More specifically, Chapter I reviews microstructured and multicore optical fiber, and methods of their fabrication, in order to develop an understanding of the impact of the core microstructure on waveguide properties. Then, an overview of TALOFs is developed to provide insights into the different materials and fabrication methods used to develop the few TALOFs reported to date. The former fiber systems are well studied; therefore, this research Dissertation will be focused on the novel effects and material influences on the latter (Anderson) systems. Chapter II begins the development of these novel fibers through in situ phase separation in optical fibers drawn using the molten core method (MCM). Limitations in the resulting fibers were studied, and adaptations to the fabrication method were made to elongate the already formed microphases through development and subsequent use of a two-tier MCM. Chapter III introduces an alternative fiber fabrication technique, namely the stack-and-draw method, specifically adapted to utilize MCM-derived precursor fibers in the stack. The resulting fibers are characterized to understand the effects of processing on the core microstructure, and ultimately to understand how the core microstructure leads to TAL. Chapters IV and V investigate the material properties and potential applications of the TALOFs that resulted from the fabrication technique developed in Chapter III. Specifically, Chapter IV investigates both Yb3+ and Er3+ doped TALOFs for solid-state lasing and amplification respectively. The resulting experimental observations and present limitations of these fibers for active applications are discussed. In Chapter V, the first nonlinear optical TALOFs are explored. Even though the higher refractive index phases possessed an estimated nonlinear refractive index (n2) similar to silica, small modal effective areas were demonstrated due to the strong localization in certain regions of these TALOFs. As a result, nonlinear optical frequency shifts were demonstrated for the first time in a TALOF, attributed to Raman and four-wave mixing (FWM), concomitantly. While not decisive into the underlying nature of TAL in the presence of optical nonlinearities, this suggests that the two are not mutually exclusive. Finally, Chapter VI summarizes the findings of this Dissertation, discusses the challenges with further fiber development in these TALOFs, and provides examples for future efforts in improving both the fibers themselves, and ultimately the understanding of these fibers

Study to investigate factors influencing adoption of mobile devices in the healthcare environment

In this research project, modified graphene was employed as filler to enhance the electrical conductivity and to reinforce mechanical properties of natural rubber (NR). The defect sites in the graphene sheets were investigated for further modification. The latex mixing and mechanical mixing methods to load functional graphene sheets into the NR matrix, improved the mechanical and electrical properties of the composite material. Graphene was prepared by a chemical oxidation-reduction approach to fill the NR matrix. The oxidation approaches were employed in progress, which will induce various defects in the final product. It is known that these defects decrease the properties of the graphene and graphene/natural rubber composites, which are prepared by traditional method as well. However, these defects could cause improvements in performance of the graphene composites with re-designed methods, the main focus of this thesis. Before loading into NR matrix, the defect information of graphene oxide (GO) prepared using Hummers method was examined through positron testing, which is known to be highly effective in the study of the defects in graphite and its derivatives. The different types of defects were detectable, which revealed that the vacancy clusters and vacancy-oxygen group complexes were present on the GO sheets. No large open-volume hole was detected in GO. The reduction of GO by potassium carbonate (K2CO3) as a green noble preparation approach was developed, and the oxygen groups dispersion status in the GO sheet was further investigated. K2CO3 was used as a reusable reduction agent to convert GO to reduced graphene oxide (RGO) in two steps, based on the conversion of the different types of oxygen groups detected. Carbon dioxide was the only by-product of this process, which was absorbed by K2CO3. In addition, the study further elucidates the structure of GO sheets. The oxygen groups on the GO sheets not only aligned but also randomly dispersed in different areas. Antistatic NR nanocomposites with partly interconnected graphene architectures offer significant enhancement in various properties. RGO/NR composites were prepared using latex mixing and in-situ reduction process. The oxygen groups on the GO played a key role in attaching GO sheets to the surface of NR particles. Segregated current transfer routes were partly constructed in an NR matrix with an electrical conductivity of 0.1 S/m and reinforcing the tensile strength and elongation-at-break as well. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were used to decorate GO, which further increased the electrical conductivity of NR nanocomposites. Electrically conductive AgNPs/RGO filled NR with well-organized three-dimensional (3D) microstructures were prepared through electrostatic self-assembly integrated latex mixing. The oxygen groups in GO acted as an anchor for AgNPs growth, resulting in the electrical conductivity of 31000 S/m for the AgNPs/RGO. A honeycomb-like AgNPs/RGO 3D network was constructed in the NR matrix after freeze-drying and hot compression moulding. The AgNPs/RGO/NR nanocomposites show a percolation threshold of 0.63 vol.% and electrical conductivity of 196 S/m at AgNPs/RGO content of 4.03 vol.%. The oxygen groups can not only be used to improve the electrical conductivity of NR but also used to reinforce mechanical properties. The effect of functionalized GO on the mechanical properties of NR was investigated through two strategies. In the first strategy, one layer of silica particles were attached to the GO surface through hydrogen bonds. The strength were reinforced because of well-dispersed SiO2/GO in the NR matrix. GO acted as a surfactant dispersed by silica into the NR matrix to reinforce the mechanical properties using latex mixing. Oxygen groups on the graphene sheets banded with silica to achieve the target. In the second strategy, the strength reinforcement of NR nanocomposites was achieved by construction of an interpenetrating network between the NR molecules and porous graphene. In this project, porous graphene loaded NR nanocomposites were prepared through an ultrasonically assisted latex mixing and in-situ reduction process. The oxygen groups showed chemo-selectivity etched by potassium permanganate (KMnO4), forming pores possessing suitable dimensions in graphene sheets. Porous graphene/NR nanocomposites show strong interactions between the NR molecules and porous graphene than RGO/NR, which contributed to an increase in tensile strength compared to the RGO/NR nanocomposites. Furthermore, the scorch time compared to RGO/NR was decreased, and density of cross-linking was increased, which demonstrate the pores on the graphene sheets formed a mass transfer route, indicating an interpenetrating network was constructed

Modelling disaster risk reduction: decoding social-ecological interactions to foster transformative adaptation

Questa ricerca intende contribuire alla discussione sulla riduzione del rischio disastri (DRR), esplorando come le comunità locali dovrebbero adattarsi ai pericoli che le circondano. La prima parte riporta la teoria della panarchia alle dinamiche del rischio. Il modello teorico che ne deriva, la Panarchia Sociale-Ecologica, descrive le condizioni di rischio e permette di riconoscere i nuclei del DRR: la resilienza ai disastri e la sostenibilità ambientale. Il modello fornisce le basi per lo sviluppo di una Valutazione Combinata di Resilienza e Sostenibilità, concentrata sul rischio inondazione alla scala comunale. La seconda parte svolge un’analisi quantitativa attraverso indicatori, che identificano e caratterizzano i livelli di resilienza e sostenibilità. La terza parte impiega strumenti qualitativi (questionari) per raccogliere le percezioni delle comunità locali sui rischi presenti nei loro Comuni. L’analisi è stata applicata a due casi studio, la Regione Marche (Italia) e l’Hokkaidō (Giappone). I risultati mostrano il ruolo delle inondazioni nel determinare la resilienza locale, e degli impatti antropici per la sostenibilità. Le criticità maggiori sono concentrate nelle aree montane/collinari. Allo stesso tempo, aspetti di welfare e sicurezza sociale risultano fondamentali per formare la resilienza, così come la presenza di vegetazione lo è per la sostenibilità. Inoltre, emerge una sostanziale differenza fra misurazione e percezione di resilienza e sostenibilità, generalmente in senso peggiorativo. In generale, ulteriori sforzi dovrebbero essere diretti alle aree interne, benché la regione intera gioverebbe del consolidamento della resilienza locale. Inoltre, le comunità sembrano molto sensibili ai temi ambientali, per cui potrebbero appoggiare sforzi per aumentare la sostenibilità. Infine, questi studi possono contribuire alle strategie DRR, per promuovere l’adattamento trasformativo delle comunità locali, reso urgente dall’esasperazione degli eventi estremi.This research intends to contribute to the discussion on disaster risk reduction (DRR), investigating the question of how local communities should adjust to the surrounding threats. The first part adapted the panarchy heuristics to risk dynamics. The drawn theoretical model, the Social-Ecological Panarchy, could describe the conditions of risk and allow to recognise the two cores of DRR: disaster resilience and environmental sustainability. The model supported the development of a Combined Assessment of Resilience and Sustainability, focused on flood risk at the Municipal scale. The second part of the research performed a quantitative analysis through numerical indicators, that identified and characterised the levels of resilience and sustainability. The third part of the research employed qualitative tools (questionnaires) to gather the thoughts of local communities on the risks affecting their Municipalities. The analysis was applied to two case studies, Marche Region (Italy) and Hokkaidō (Japan). Results evidenced the role of flood events in determining the resilience capacities of local communities, and of the anthropic impacts for defining their sustainability. Most critical issues lied in the mountainous/hill areas. At the same time, social welfare and protection appeared pivotal in building local resilience, while the presence of vegetation shaped sustainability. Besides, a substantial mismatch emerged between assessed and perceived conditions of resilience and sustainability, generally in negative terms. Overall, it appeared that further efforts should be tailored to the innermost areas, though the overall region might benefit from consolidated resilience. At the same time, local populations seemed highly responsive to environmental issues, possibly endorsing the enhancement of sustainability. Eventually, these insights might inform risk reduction strategies, to foster a transformative adaptation of local communities, urged by exacerbating disruptive threats