Mobile Learning with Micro-content: A Framework and Evaluation

Micro-learning (ML) combines micro-content delivery with a sequence of micro interactions which enable users to learn without information overload. This has the potential to enable better learning results in terms of retention of propositional content. Learners familiar with Web2.0 technologies, like Tweets and SMS, expect a personalized learning solution and the KnowledgePulse (KP) system researched and developed by the RSA FG delivers this in a work context. ML has potential for enhancing mobile learning which has lacked success despite the explosive popularity of mobile devices. This paper presents the micro-learning approach and the KP sytem that delivers micro-content on mobile devices and allows learning anytime, anyplace and any pace. Three case studies of different product stages of KP are reported with 100+ users in three settings. Results show high usage levels and good satisfaction of learners. These preliminary results provide encouraging signs for the further development of micro-learning systems. Future research needs to expand to a much large scale and also develop an evaluation framework which can serve as standard to investigate how micro and mobile learning can be integrated to create more effective learning

Microlearning mApp to Improve Long Term Health Behaviours: Design and Test of Multi-Channel Service Mix

Work place health support interventions are relevant: to support our aging work force and to help reduce the private and social burdens of preventable disease. Moreover, healthy living has become a priority in Dutch society. Previous research showed that health apps should offer enough newness and relevance each time they are used. Otherwise the ‘eHealth law of attrition’ applies: 90% of users are lost prematurely. We developed a hybrid health support solution that uses a mix of electronic and physical support services for improving health behaviours, including a mobile microlearning health quiz. This solution was tested in a multiple-case study at three work sites. The research question was whether a mobile health quiz can provide added value for users within a hybrid service mix and whether it promotes long term health readiness (awareness, motivation, plans and behaviours)? We found that both the mobile health quiz and the overall hybrid solution contributed to health readiness and health behaviour improvements. Users indicated that the microlearning health quiz courses provided new and relevant information. We also observed relatively high utilization rates of the health quiz. Participants indicated that health behaviour insights were given that were directly applicable and that fitted well within the overall service mix. Moreover, even after 10 months they indicated to still have increased health awareness, -motivation and -behaviours (food, physical activity, mental recuperation). A design analysis is conducted regarding service mix efficacy; the mobile microlearning health quiz helped fulfil key requirements for designing ICT-enabled lifestyle interventions, largely in the way it was anticipated

Type I interferon receptor signalling is induced during demyelination while its function for myelin damage and repair is redundant

The type I interferons, interferon-beta and alpha (IFN-beta, IFN-alpha), are widely used for the treatment of autoimmune demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). Their effects on de- and remyelination through the broadly expressed type I IFN receptor (IFNAR), however, are highly speculative. In order to elucidate the role of endogenous type I interferons for myelin damage and recovery we induced toxic demyelination in the absence of IFNAR1. We demonstrate that IFNAR signalling was induced during acute demyelination since the cytokine IFN-beta as well as the IFN-dependent genes IRF7, ISG15 and UBP43 were strongly upregulated. Myelin damage, astrocytic and microglia response, however, were not significantly reduced in the absence of IFNAR1. Furthermore, motor skills of IFNAR1-deficient animals during non-immune demyelination were unaltered. Finally, myelin recovery was found to be independent from endogenous IFNAR signalling, indicating a redundant role of this receptor for non-inflammatory myelin damage and repair

Control of the frequency chirp rate of high harmonic pulses

We measured the frequency chirp rate of harmonics 13 to 23 in argon by cross-correlation with a short femtosecond probe pulse. We directly measured the negative chirp due to the atomic dipole phase and demonstrated that an additional chirp on the pump pulse was transferred to the qth harmonic as q times the fundamental chirp