A gentle transition from Java programming to Web Services using XML-RPC

Exposing students to leading edge vocational areas of relevance such as Web Services can be difficult. We show a lightweight approach by embedding a key component of Web Services within a Level 3 BSc module in Distributed Computing. We present a ready to use collection of lecture slides and student activities based on XML-RPC. In addition we show that this material addresses the central topics in the context of web services as identified by Draganova (2003)

Learning-by-Teaching in CS Education: A Systematic Review

To investigate the strategies and approaches in teaching Computer Science (CS), we searched the literature review in CS education in the past ten years. The reviews show that learning-by-teaching with the use of technologies is helpful for improving student learning. To further investigate the strategies that are applied to learning-by-teaching, three categories are identified: peer tutoring, game-based flipped classroom, and teachable agents. In each category, we further searched and investigated prior studies. The results reveal the effectiveness and challenges of each strategy and provide insights for future studies

Designing for Autonomy, Competence and Relatedness in Robot-Assisted Language Learning

The current number of immigrants has risen quickly in recent years due to globalization. People move to another country for economic, educational, emotional, and other reasons. As a result, immigrants need to learn the host language to integrate into their new living environment. However, the process of learning the host language for adult immigrants faces many challenges. Among those challenges, maintaining intrinsic motivation is critical for a long-term language study process and the well-being of adult immigrants. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is a popular theoretical framework that explains human motivation, especially intrinsic motivation, through a psychological approach to understand its nature. According to SDT, humans are intrinsically motivated through the satisfaction of the three basic needs of Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness. Many researchers have applied the theory to different topics and directions, including language learning. On the other hand, social robots have been used extensively in the language learning context due to their physical embodiments and the application of artificial intelligence in robotics. Furthermore, research has proven that social robots can create a relaxed and engaging learning environment, thus motivating language learners. The thesis designs and implements a RALL application called SAMQ using QTrobot, a humanoid social robot capable of producing body gestures, displaying different facial expressions, and multilingual communication. The study aims to investigate SAMQ’s ability to evoke intrinsic motivations of adult immigrants in learning the Finnish language. While previous research focuses on English as the second language (L2) and targets children, this thesis’s L2 is Finnish, and the learners are adult immigrants. The thesis conducts semi-structured interviews during the Pre-study phase (N=6) to gather real insights from adult immigrants living in Finland, to understand demotivating factors in their language learning experience and the unsatisfied aspects of the three basic needs. The qualitative findings from the Pre-study contribute to the design and implementation of two versions of SAMQ, aiming at evoking intrinsic motivations through satisfying unmet needs. The first version is a Quiz-only program that tests several assumptions regarding human-robot interaction (HRI). The final version of SAMQ is a more comprehensive language learning application that supports two modes of study: Learning and Quizzes. It consists of multiple modifications that address all adult immigrants’ basic needs while additionally promoting intrinsic motivation through media. The final Evaluation of SAMQ (N=6) includes a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. The quantitative results of the questionnaire validated the ability of using social robots to evoke adult learners’ intrinsic motivation in the RALL context. The qualitative findings from the research high-light the importance of social robots’ physical embodiments in eliciting intrinsic motivation for adult learners through satisfying Relatedness. In addition, the use of voice modality creates a genuine HRI for adult learners, fulfilling both Autonomy and Competence, resulting in an engaging and smooth learning experience. Besides that, the use of adult learners’ L1 plays a crucial role in facilitating a relaxed and familiar learning environment, supplying both Competence and Relatedness. Moreover, multimedia learning materials make the learning experience more vivid and attractive. Ultimately, the result shows that accessibility and flexibility are essential attributes for adult learners to maintain their motivation for long-term language study through the satisfaction of Autonomy. Finally, the thesis proposes a design guideline for the RALL context. It consists of five design implications for evoking intrinsic motivation in adult learners through satisfying the three basic psychological needs of Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness. The design guideline acts as a proposal for future design and implementation of RALL programs for adults and contributes to developing the human-robot interaction field

Microbial fermentation in an in vitro model of colonic fermentation with different foods

[EN] The interaction between diet and gut microbiota, and ultimately their link to health, has become the focus of huge research showing that diet and lifestyle have a strong influence on the gut microbiota. That is why there is a growing interest in resolving questions about the relation between the gut microbiome and host metabolism. The human intestine is densely populated by trillions of microbial symbionts. The symbiotic gut microbiota helps nutrient absorption through the fermentation of dietary fibre, provides protection from invading pathogens and helps to develop and regulate the immune system. However, the mechanisms underlying interactions between diet, gut microbiome and host metabolism are still poorly understood. Here, we discuss how meta-omics datasets can be obtained through an in vitro model model of colonic fermentation in order to study how the food that is consumed can shape the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota. In order to analyze microbial community structure, tools and approaches such as next generation sequencing (NGS) of 16S rRNA amplicons and bioinformatic analysis are used. The study will be performed with bread that will be digested and then submitted to an in vitro fermentation process with fecal inocula from healthy Spanish adults from Granada. In the end, the influence of bread on the structure of the gut microbiota from different types of fecal samples will be evaluated, as well as the variability of the microbioal taxonomy, composition and alpha and beta diversity when fecal samples are analyzed before and after fermentation and before and after a freezing treatment at -80 Cº. Our results suggest that despite a loss of bacterial groups that alters the microbial composition, freezing the samples before fermentation is not a serious problem because the effect of fermentation on the samples remains significant in terms of richness, diversity and abundance of the main bacterial groups. This will be studied in line with the main objectives of a larger project (Stance4Health) of developing a personalised nutrition system that optimizes gut microbiota metabolism.[ES] La interacción entre la dieta y la microbiota intestinal, y finalmente su vínculo con la salud, se ha convertido en el foco de una gran investigación que demuestra que la dieta y el estilo de vida tienen una gran influencia en la microbiota intestinal. Es por eso que hay un interés creciente en resolver las preguntas sobre la relación entre el microbioma intestinal y el metabolismo del huésped. El intestino humano está densamente poblado por billones de simbiontes microbianos. La microbiota intestinal simbiótica ayuda a la absorción de nutrientes a través de la fermentación de la fibra dietética, proporciona protección contra patógenos invasores y ayuda a desarrollar y regular el sistema inmunológico. Sin embargo, los mecanismos subyacentes a las interacciones entre la dieta, el microbioma intestinal y el metabolismo del huésped aún no se conocen bien. Aquí, discutimos cómo los conjuntos de datos meta-ómicos se pueden obtener a través de un modelo in vitro de fermentación colónica para estudiar cómo los alimentos que se consumen pueden dar forma a la diversidad y composición de la microbiota intestinal. Con el fin de analizar la estructura de la comunidad microbiana, se utilizan herramientas y enfoques como la secuenciación de la próxima generación (NGS) de los amplicones del ARNr 16S y el análisis bioinformático. El estudio se realizará con pan que se digerirá y luego se someterá a un proceso de fermentación in vitro con inóculos fecales de adultos sanos españoles (Granada). Al final, se evalua influencia del pan sobre la estructura de la microbiota intestinal de diferentes tipos de muestras fecales, así como en la variabilidad de la taxonomía microbiana, la composición, y la diversidad alfa y beta cuando las muestras fecales se analicen antes y después de la fermentación y antes y después del tratamiento de congelación a -80ºC. Nuestros resultados sugieren que a pesar de la pérdida de grupos bacterianos que altera la composición microbiana, congelar las muestras antes de la fermentación no es un problema grave debido a que seguimos vienod el efecto de la fermentación en las muestras en términos de riqueza, diversidad y abundancia de los principales grupos bacterianos. Esto se estudiará de acuerdo con los objetivos principales de un proyecto más grande (Stance4Health) de desarrollar un sistema de nutrición personalizado que optimice el metabolismo de la microbiota intestinal.Nacher Albiach, P. (2019). Microbial fermentation in an in vitro model of colonic fermentation with different foods. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/125065TFG

E-Learning

Technology development, mainly for telecommunications and computer systems, was a key factor for the interactivity and, thus, for the expansion of e-learning. This book is divided into two parts, presenting some proposals to deal with e-learning challenges, opening up a way of learning about and discussing new methodologies to increase the interaction level of classes and implementing technical tools for helping students to make better use of e-learning resources. In the first part, the reader may find chapters mentioning the required infrastructure for e-learning models and processes, organizational practices, suggestions, implementation of methods for assessing results, and case studies focused on pedagogical aspects that can be applied generically in different environments. The second part is related to tools that can be adopted by users such as graphical tools for engineering, mobile phone networks, and techniques to build robots, among others. Moreover, part two includes some chapters dedicated specifically to e-learning areas like engineering and architecture

The use of Analog and Digital Games for Autism Interventions

Many interventions that target improvements in social communication and other cognitive, learning, and physical issues have been developed to help autistic people. The gamification of interventions offers an alternative approach to fostering and assessing desired behaviors and cognitions in a more naturalistic and emergent setting. In this scoping review aimed at educators, practitioners, and parents of those with autism, we detail studies that have tested game-based approaches to improving the lives of autistic children, adolescents, and adults, focusing on how research into gamification and autism can both progress and can be progressed and implemented. We offer parents, professionals and academics resources to incorporate game-based psycho-educational programs into their current practice