Deux etapes pour la création dynamique d'activités Pédagogiques

Research on distance learning platforms aims to define models for the structure, deployment, management and use of these intelligent environments. Within this context, this paper presents a model of dynamic generation of pedagogical activities. The basic idea is that pedagogical activities are neither static nor predefined, but they can be dynamically created starting from basic documents, and presented in different ways according to the student model. The basic documents are not associated to only one activity. They are conceived to be re-used in different activities. The paper presents in particular an implementation of a problem solving activity, generated from a two-step process, which shows how adaptability and reusability can be really effective thanks to the integration of tecnologies such as XML, DOM, XSL and the potential of the Java language by using servlets and Js

A distance learning environment architecture

This paper presents the core architecture of NURAXI, a multimedia research platform aimed at the design, generation, deployment, management and use of intelligent distance learning environments. It describes the actors and services that are involved in the production and use of intelligent distance learning environments, the structures that are at the heart of the environment, and the processes that use these structures. The competence notion is the central component around which both author's and student's interactions gravitate. An author generates the training material on the basis of competencies to be acquired by a student, and the means to get them, i.e. the related activities and contents. A student accesses the pedagogical material by first selecting his/her learning objectives. The training path is made of dynamically created pedagogical activities. Examples of implemented activities are also shown in the paper. The platform presents a number of interesting features including re-usability of didactic components; adaptability of the training material to the student model; dynamic definition of the training path; modularity, and interoperability thanks to the adoption of standard and open solutions in terms of document structures, ontologies, design and implementation techniques. All these advantages derive from the integration of technologies such as the XML paradigm, Servlets, Software Agents, and Distributed Databases

A multi modal interface for a visually impaired pupils educational environment

The aim of this paper is to describe a multi modal user interface integrated within an architecture allowing visually impaired pupils and sighted people to work on the same station. This architecture is developed to face the problem of the inclusion of visually impaired pupils in mainstream education. The system is able to display the same original multi-media content converted in different ways on screen, Braille terminal and vocal synthesizers. It accepts various interactions from keyboard, Braille bar and mouse. Both blind and sighted users can manage the same tools, cooperate together on the same content, and thus perform the same activities. Blind pupils may be assisted by sighted teachers or tutors that don’t know how to read Braille characters

The NURAXI web-based learning environment architecture

The fast evolution of today world impels corporations to provide their employees just-in-time training, adapted training and more generally continuous education. To be able to satisfy this demand, authors need means to specify once didactic material and then to reuse, select, adapt and distribute it to different users in different contexts. Since September 1998, Mediatech is developing the NURAXI multimedia research platform aimed at the design, generation, deployment, management and use of intelligent distance learning environments. NURAXI interacts with the user on the basis of the competency assessment (initial, on-going progress and final), the individual learning style and collaborative learning. Our solution is departing from a document type based organization of courses and training material towards a functionality and competency based model. We consider models and structures for information, knowledge and competencies more appropriate to the new on-line delivery environment than the document-based old one (html-based or not). From a technological point of view, this was made possible by the recent arrival of XML technology, coupled with Java and Web application technology

Stochastic Geometry-based Modelling of Mobile UAV Relay Networks under Realistic Fading

We consider a relay network based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Terrestrial Base Stations (TBS) and UAV Relay Nodes (RN) are modelled using two Homogeneous Poisson Point Processes (HPPP). UAVs can hover at a fixed position or move following specific displacement schemes. The Coverage Probability (CP) of a typical user equipment (UE) is derived, either when it communicates via a direct link (from the TBS to the UE) or via a relay link (from the TBS to the UE through a UAV RN). Every link can be in Line-of-Sight (LoS) or Non Line-of-Sight (NLoS), and suffers from Rician fading with distance-dependent parameters. This coverage is calculated by means of both stochastic geometry (SG) and Monte-Carlo (MC) simulations. The benefits of the use of UAV as RNs are analysed depending on their altitude, density, and mobility scheme.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures. Complete technical paper, associated with a submission at the 2021 IEEE 93rd Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC2021-Spring) (https://events.vtsociety.org/vtc2021-spring/) with DOI https://doi.org/10.1109/VTC2021-Spring51267.2021.9448745 First version published on Arxiv on 13/10/2020, added to IEEE Xplore on 15/06/202

Safety of supplementing infant formula with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and Bifidobacterium lactis in term infants: a randomised controlled trial

Probiotics and long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) may be beneficial supplements for infants who are not breast-fed. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the safety of an infant formula containing the LC-PUFA DHA and arachidonic acid (AA) and the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis by comparing the growth rate of infants fed the supplemented and unsupplemented formulas. One hundred and forty-two healthy, term infants were enrolled in a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, controlled, parallel-group trial, and allocated to receive either standard or probiotic and LC-PUFA-containing experimental formulas. The infants were fed with their assigned formulas for 7months. The primary outcome (weight gain) and the secondary outcomes (length, head circumference and formula tolerance) were measured throughout the study. LC-PUFA status was assessed at 4 months of age and immune response to childhood vaccines was measured at 7months of age. There was no significant difference in growth between the two groups. The 90% CI for the difference in mean weight gain was −0·08, 3·1g in the intention-to-treat population and 0·1-3·8g in the per protocol population, which lay within the predefined boundaries of equivalence, −3·9-3·9. There were no significant differences in mean length and head circumference. DHA and AA concentrations were higher in infants in the experimental formula group compared with the control formula group. No influence of the supplements on the response to vaccines was observed. Growth characteristics of term infants fed the starter formula containing a probiotic and LC-PUFA were similar to standard formula-fed infant

Parcours scolaires et modes de transition dans l'enseignement postsecondaire canadien note 4 : Projet Transitions

Note complète ; Résumé ; Capsule ; Full text

Towards a multidimensional assessment grid of smallholders' oil palm plantations: a preliminary proposal from SPOP Project

International audienceThis contribution is an intermediate product of the ANR 1 research project, SPOP (Sustainable Palm Oil Production). SPOP project aims at providing scientific knowledge on the diverse oil palm cropping systems in Indonesia and Cameroon, and on their social, economic and environmental impacts. This knowledge should help identify best practices, adaptation strategies, and improvement needs towards sustainability. At this stage of the research programme, we first aimed to present the applied methodology and analyse its relevancy in light of the first field data collection

Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chylomicron retention disease based on a review of the literature and the experience of two centers

Familial hypocholesterolemia, namely abetalipoproteinemia, hypobetalipoproteinemia and chylomicron retention disease (CRD), are rare genetic diseases that cause malnutrition, failure to thrive, growth failure and vitamin E deficiency, as well as other complications. Recently, the gene implicated in CRD was identified. The diagnosis is often delayed because symptoms are nonspecific. Treatment and follow-up remain poorly defined