Could vocational education benefit from augmented reality and hypervideo technologies? An exploratory interview study

Context: This study investigates the perspective of vocational educators on the possibility of adopting augmented reality (AR) and hypervideo (HV) technologies to support their teaching practice. Vocational education and training (VET) is particularly concerned with the learning of resources (knowledge, skills and attitudes) that are immediately transposable into conduct and procedures in the workplace. AR and HV can provide means to answer this requirement, but both technological solutions are still not so diffused in VET. The purpose of this study is to inquire into the perception of educators on the main advantages and disadvantages of using AR and HV to support teaching-and-learning. Methods: A semi-structured interview protocol has been proposed to 73 teachers, intercompany trainers and in-company trainers in 10 professions (at least two per category within each profession). The interview was organized in two main steps: A need analysis, in which the most important and difficult operative skills are identified for the interviewee\u27s profession; and a discussion of advantages and disadvantages of AR and HV. Content analysis was applied to the interview transcriptions. Results: The results show that the main advantages reported in the literature for the two technologies – such as the ability to switch between 2D and 3D and carry out simulations – are also found in the VET context by educators. For HV the main technical advantages (such as the use of active points, and non-linear navigation of video content) were autonomously recognised, while the potential of the instrument to support reflection has not been clearly identified. Conclusions: AR and HV are considered as tools able to support apprentices\u27 procedural learning especially with regard to the operational skills which were judged by the educators to be most relevant for VET. (DIPF/Orig.

Evaluation of Resistance to TSWV and Agronomic Behaviour of Some TSWV-Resistant Tomato Genotypes in Southern Italy

A two-year research was carried out in Ofanto valley (Basilicata region, southern Italy) in 2006-2007, for evaluating agronomic behaviour of new processing tomato genotypes resistant to tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and ascertaining their effective resistance to the virus. Five TSWV-resistant genotypes (cultivars and lines) were compared in each year the TSWV susceptible cultivar ‘Perfectpeel’ was used as a control. Two transplant dates were adopted in both years: 1) mean-early and 2) mean-late. A split-plot design with 3 reps was followed in the two years. Yield and fruit quality were considered as agronomic traits. About virological aspects, field observations and laboratory analysis (ELISA, IME) were carried out during crop cycles. Phytoplasma infection frequency was also assessed for the same plants. The control cultivar ‘Perfectpeel’ resulted highly productive in both years that were however characterized by low incidence of virus infections; beside, among new genotypes ‘Vespro’ and ‘Suerte’ gave a good yield, while ‘Candia’ and ‘Isi 23259’ exhibited high fruit quality. Virological studies showed that the new processing tomato genotypes were indeed TSWV-resistant. Finally, phytoplasma infections had a dissimilar incidence among plants of the tested genotypes

Could Vocational Education Benefit From Augmented Reality and Hypervideo Technologies? An Exploratory Interview Study

Context: This study investigates the perspective of vocational educators on the possibility of adopting augmented reality (AR) and hypervideo (HV) technologies to support their teaching practice. Vocational education and training (VET) is particularly concerned with the learning of resources (knowledge, skills and attitudes) that are immediately transposable into conduct and procedures in the workplace. AR and HV can provide means to answer this requirement, but both technological solutions are still not so diffused in VET. The purpose of this study is to inquire into the perception of educators on the main advantages and disadvantages of using AR and HV to support teaching-and-learning.  Methods: A semi-structured interview protocol has been proposed to 73 teachers, intercompany trainers and in-company trainers in 10 professions (at least two per category within each profession). The interview was organized in two main steps: A need analysis, in which the most important and difficult operative skills are identified for the interviewee's profession; and a discussion of advantages and disadvantages of AR and HV. Content analysis was applied to the interview transcriptions.  Results: The results show that the main advantages reported in the literature for the two technologies – such as the ability to switch between 2D and 3D and carry out simulations – are also found in the VET context by educators. For HV the main technical advantages (such as the use of active points, and non-linear navigation of video content) were autonomously recognised, while the potential of the instrument to support reflection has not been clearly identified.  Conclusions: AR and HV are considered as tools able to support apprentices' procedural learning especially with regard to the operational skills which were judged by the educators to be most relevant for VET.

Evaluation of Native Grasses for Sustainable Turfgrass in the Bioclimatic Mediterranean Region

This study reports the results of a research project (Mi.T.E.A.Med) funded by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture. The research was organised in two phases: the first one involved the screening of the study area (Southern Italy) to find suitable turfgrass species and the second one focused on ex situ cultivation to test the ecotypes with salinity resistance. During the first step of the research, 11 sites from 6 regions of Southern and Central Italy were identified. In these sites, 24 ecotypes of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. were collected and their habitus, phenology, and some biometric parameters have been determined. During the 2 years of research, both botanic and agronomic characterisation of the collected C. dactylon ecotypes was carried out. Some native accessions showed a behaviour similar to commercial cultivars, while an ecotype from the Abruzzo Region showed better results compared to the commercial cultivars for several quality indices. The results of this project showed that Mediterranean-adapted native grass species (e.g. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) are worth investigating for turfgrass, making for their performance and low resource requirement (especially water). This species can be used as promising alternatives to conventional non-native turfgrasses

Layered Double Hydroxide-Based Gas Sensors for VOC Detection at Room Temperature

Miniaturized low-cost sensors for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have the potentiality to become a fundamental tool for indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring, to significantly improve everyday life. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) belong to the class of anionic clays and are largely employed for NOx detection, while few results are reported on VOCs. In this work, a novel LDH coprecipitation method is proposed. For the first time, a study comparing four LDHs (ZnAl−Cl, ZnFe−Cl, ZnAl−NO3, and MgAl−NO3) is carried out to investigate the sensing performances. As explored through several microscopy and spectroscopy analyses, LDHs show a morphology characterized by a large surface area and a three-dimensional hierarchical flowerlike architecture with micro- and nanopores that induce a fast diffusion and highly effective surface interaction of the target gases. The fabricated sensors, operating at room temperature, are able to reversibly and selectively detect acetone, ethanol, ammonia, and chlorine vapors, reaching significant sensing response values up to 6% at 21 °C. The results demonstrate that by changing the LDHs’ composition, it is possible to modulate the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor, helping the discrimination of different analytes, and the consequent integration on a sensor array paves the way for electronic nose development

GRUPO OPERATIVO PARA CESSAÇÃO DO TABAGISMO NA ESTRATÉGIA SAÚDE DA FAMÍLIA

A educação em saúde transmite conhecimento à população, e a forma de grupo operativo é uma importante alternativa para assistir um número significativo de usuários ao mesmo tempo. O conhecimento da dependência e suas consequências está relacionado à melhora da qualidade de vida, à redução do número de reincididas e ao menor número de comorbidades. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo uma intervenção à população de pacientes tabagistas por meio da implantação de um grupo operativo para cessação do tabagismo em uma Estratégia e Saúde da Família (ESF) de um município do sul de Santa Catarina. Os participantes foram todos os tabagistas cadastrados que residiam na respectiva comunidade, o que totalizou 234 tabagistas, no entanto, apenas 17 aceitaram participar do grupo. Os ministrantes dos encontros eram profissionais da área da enfermagem, farmácia, medicina, nutrição, odontologia e psicologia, também fizeram parte da amostra à análise da importância da atuação de uma equipe multidisciplinar. Foram 9 encontros, cada encontro ministrado por uma profissional especifica. O grupo teve uma média de participação de 41,2% (n=7), 35,3% (n=6) não compareceram, 23,5% (n=4) desistiu no decorrer dos encontros, dos que compareceram 5,9% (n=1) cessou o tabaco. Concluímos que a adesão foi baixa, mas a educação em saúde pode ter servido para o aprendizado dos mesmos, pois Grupos operativos são eficazes para promoção, educação e recuperação da saúde. Os profissionais ministrantes atuaram com embasamento do material do Ministério da Saúde, trazendo conteúdos de qualidade aos usuários

evaluation of native grasses for sustainable turfgrass in the bioclimatic mediterranean region

This study reports the results of a research project (Mi.T.E.A.Med) funded by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture. The research was organised in two phases: the first one involved the screening of the study area (Southern Italy) to find suitable turfgrass species and the second one focused on ex situ cultivation to test the ecotypes with salinity resistance. During the first step of the research, 11 sites from 6 regions of Southern and Central Italy were identified. In these sites, 24 ecotypes of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. were collected and their habitus, phenology, and some biometric parameters have been determined. During the 2 years of research, both botanic and agronomic characterisation of the collected C. dactylon ecotypes was carried out. Some native accessions showed a behaviour similar to commercial cultivars, while an ecotype from the Abruzzo Region showed better results compared to the commercial cultivars for several quality indices. The results of this project showed that Mediterranean-adapted native grass species (e.g. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) are worth investigating for turfgrass, making for their performance and low resource requirement (especially water). This species can be used as promising alternatives to conventional non-native turfgrasses

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction > 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR < 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic