Instruction without lectures? Issues of freedom and safety in the context of mape model

Etimologicamente, o conceito de aula – άυλή – associa-se à ideia de equilíbrio entre liberdade e segurança, proporcionado por um contexto de pastorícia. Nas aulas atuais – marcadas por uma enorme circunscrição e segmentação do espaço e do tempo –, a liberdade e a segurança estão sujeitas a maiores tensões. Porém, o desenvolvimento do ensino online, especialmente na variante assíncrona, ao diluir a ação pedagógica no tempo e no espaço e ao apelar naturalmente a um elevado protagonismo dos estudantes no processo educativo, estimula a reflexão sobre a possibilidade de recuperação do sentido original da aula, ou até de rutura com o conceito de aula. Assim, após algumas reflexões sobre este mesmo conceito, na sua relação com os conceitos de liberdade e segurança, relatamos um estudo empírico, com o qual procurámos compreender as perceções de professoras em formação sobre as implicações do ensino a distância em modo assíncrono. Tendo em conta a sua experiência de terem sido expostas ao modelo MAPE, essas professoras comentaram, em entrevista, aspetos importantes da formação a distância em geral e desse modelo em particular, relacionando-os com questões de liberdade e segurança. Os resultados do estudo revelam o reconhecimento de que o modelo MAPE propicia, em termos gerais, bastante liberdade e segurança, embora ainda não evite sentimentos de alguma insegurança relativamente a alguns aspetos específicos.ABSTRACT: In Portuguese language, the word aula (lecture) is etymologically rooted in the Greek word άυλή, which, in Ancient Greece, meant “courtyard” and suggested a balance between freedom and safety for nomadic shepherds and animals. Nowadays lectures are subject to huge restrictions in terms of time and space, which has strong implications for freedom and safety. However, the development of online instruction, especially in its asynchronous version, stimulates reflection on a possible recovery of the original meaning of άυλή, or even on the possibility of providing instruction without lectures, for asynchronous online instruction dilutes the work of instructors and students in time and space and naturally calls for students’ active participation in the educational process. Accordingly, after some reflections on the concept of άυλή, and on its relation with the concepts of freedom and safety, we report an empirical study, which was aimed at understanding how some teachers, who were attending teacher education courses, viewed asynchronous online learning. Considering that the participants had been exposed to MAPE model, they commented, in the context of interviews, some aspects of online learning in general and specific aspects of that same model, especially aspects that could be related to issues of freedom and safety. The findings of the study suggest that the participants acknowledge that MAPE model, overall, allows for much freedom and safety, despite the fact that some of them stated that they did not feel so safe with regard to some specific aspects.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

La adopción de la tecnología cloud computing (SaaS): Efectos de la complejidad tecnológica vs formación y soporte

El propósito de este trabajo es analizar empíricamente, la influencia de las variables Complejidad Tecnológica, Formación y Soporte y Apoyo Técnico en el seno de una organización y como pueden afectar a la intención de uso final de la tecnología cloud. Se evaluaron, a través de una encuesta, 150 empresas de Andalucía. Los aspectos claves que se han identificado con dicha intención han sido la disponibilidad en el soporte técnico, dudas o problemas de uso relacionados con la complejidad y la adecuación de la formación recibida por parte de la organización. Los resultados indican que la complejidad ejerce un efecto negativo, mientras que la formación y el soporte son claves, con un peso muy similar, en la intención de uso, descubriéndose que el conocimiento compartido o cooperativo es clave en la adopción de la tecnología cloud computing.The purpose of this paper is to analyze empirically the influence of the variables Technological Complexity, Training and Support and Technical Support within an organization and how they can affect the end use intention of cloud technology. 150 companies from Andalusia were evaluated through a survey. The key aspects that have been identified with this intention have been the availability in the technical support, doubts or problems of use related to the complexity and the adequacy of the training received by the organization. The results indicate that complexity has a negative effect, while training and support are key, with a very similar weight, in the intention to use, finding that shared or cooperative knowledge is key in the adoption of cloud computing technology

Determinants of adoption of clud computing services by small, medium and large companies

Manufacturing sector organizations have seen an improvement in their competitiveness due to the digital economy. However, there must be a steady migration from an organization with a restricted use of Information Technology, to one in which Information Technology is commonly used for all of the different activities of the company. Based on this migration, organizations of all types can generate increases in productivity and competitiveness. This in turn contributes to advances in progress and welfare by creating more opportunities. This study proposes to advance knowledge about the implementation of cloud technology so that an organization can become more competitive. The current technology available for improving competitiveness in all areas of a company by exploiting data, providing services and for the use of resources, is cloud computing. This novel technology will be investigated and the findings will be used to describe the state of this technology in our country at the moment. It will also show how the complexity of these systems and the attitudes of the organizations and people involved, depending on the size of the organization and its management style, influence the adoption of cloud computing systems

Cloud Computing (SaaS) Adoption as a Strategic Technology: Results of an Empirical Study

The present study empirically analyzes the factors that determine the adoption of cloud computing (SaaS model) in firms where this strategy is considered strategic for executing their activity. A research model has been developed to evaluate the factors that influence the intention of using cloud computing that combines the variables found in the technology acceptance model (TAM) with other external variables such as top management support, training, communication, organization size, and technological complexity. Data compiled from 150 companies in Andalusia (Spain) are used to test the formulated hypotheses. The results of this study reflect what critical factors should be considered and how they are interrelated. They also show the organizational demands that must be considered by those companies wishing to implement a real management model adopted to the digital economy, especially those related to cloud computing

Cloud computing (SaaS) adoption as a strategic technology: results of an empirical study

El presente estudio analiza empíricamente los factores que determinan la adopción de cloud computing (modelo SaaS) en empresas donde esta estrategia se considera estratégica para ejecutar su actividad. Se ha desarrollado un modelo de investigación para evaluar los factores que influyen en la intención de usar la computación en la nube que combina las variables encontradas en el modelo de aceptación de tecnología (TAM) con otras variables externas, como el apoyo de la alta gerencia, la capacitación, la comunicación, el tamaño de la organización y la complejidad tecnológica. Los datos compilados de 150 empresas en Andalucía (España) se utilizan para probar las hipótesis formuladas. Los resultados de este estudio reflejan qué factores críticos deben considerarse y cómo están interrelacionados. También muestran las demandas organizacionales que deben ser consideradas por aquellas compañías que desean implementar un modelo de gestión real adoptado para la economía digital, especialmente aquellos relacionados con la computación en la nube.The present study empirically analyzes the factors that determine the adoption of cloud computing (SaaS model) in firms where this strategy is considered strategic for executing their activity. A research model has been developed to evaluate the factors that influence the intention of using cloud computing that combines the variables found in the technology acceptance model (TAM) with other external variables such as top management support, training, communication, organization size, and technological complexity. Data compiled from 150 companies in Andalusia (Spain) are used to test the formulated hypotheses. The results of this study reflect what critical factors should be considered and how they are interrelated. They also show the organizational demands that must be considered by those companies wishing to implement a real management model adopted to the digital economy, especially those related to cloud computing.peerReviewe

Hydrogen Pressure as a Key Parameter to Control the Quality of the Naphtha Produced in the Hydrocracking of an HDPE/VGO Blend

The hydrocracking of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blended with vacuum gas oil (VGO) has been studied to assess the effect of H2 pressure on the yield and composition of the products and with the aim of obtaining commercial fuels, mainly naphtha. The experiments have been performed using a PtPd/HY catalyst in a semibatch reactor under the following conditions: H2 pressure, 20–110 bar; 440 °C; catalyst to feed ratio, 0.1 gcat (gfeed)−1; HDPE to total feed ratio, 0.2 gHDPE (gfeed)−1; and reaction time, 2 h. The composition of the main fractions produced (gas, naphtha, and light cycle oil) reveals the interest in carrying out the process at 110 bar. Thus, conversions of 96 and 79% for the removal of heavy hydrocarbons and the removal of HDPE molecules have been obtained, respectively, together with a yield of naphtha of 53.4 wt%. This naphtha is mainly paraffinic, and it has a RON of 91.5 (within the commercial standards). Furthermore, three fractions have been observed in the analysis (temperature-programmed oxidation) of the coke. This analysis reveals that at 110 bar, the coke retained in the HY zeolite cages is less developed and burns at a moderate temperature.This work has been carried out with financial support of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU) of the Spanish Government (grant RTI2018-096981-B-I00), the European Union’s ERDF funds and Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (grant No 823745) and the Basque Government (grant IT1645-22)

La tecnología cloud: un nuevo modelo de negocio en la última frontera de internet.

Paper aceptado en el XXX AEDEM Anual Meeting 2016sector productivo de las organizaciones, pero este hecho implica migrar de una economía con un escaso grado de adopción de las Tecnologías de la Información, a otra donde es común y normal aprovecharlas en todas las actividades económicas, culturales y sociales. Esta adopción tecnológica genera incrementos en la productividad y en la competitividad de las empresas, organizaciones y administraciones, contribuyendo así a la generación de bienestar y de mayores oportunidades de progreso. Contribuir y profundizar en estudios relacionados con la adopción de la tecnología cloud en la contribución a la mejora de competitividad de una organización es el objetivo de este trabajo de investigación. Actualmente, los sistemas cloud computing o la computación en la nube son una de las alternativas más reales para conseguir mejorar esa competitividad, pero no sólo como tecnología de la información, sino como un nuevo modelo económico de aprovechamiento de los recursos, de explotación de las aplicaciones y de los datos o de prestar servicios empresariales. Esta investigación trata de estudiar y ahondar en la evolución de esta todavía reciente tecnología, su aplicabilidad a medio y largo plazo, así como relacionar sus conclusiones con otros estudios sobre la situación de esta tecnología en nuestro País. Así mismo, ponen de manifiesto la influencia de la complejidad tecnológica y la actitud hacia el sistema en función del tamaño de la organización un modelo de gestión de adopción de la computación en la nube.The digital economy is contributing decisively to boost the competitiveness of the productive sector organizations, but this involves migrating from an economy with a low degree of adoption of Information Technology, to another where it is common and normal seize in all economic, cultural and social activities. This technology adoption generates increases in productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, organizations and administrations, thus contributing to the generation of welfare and greater opportunities for progress. Contribute and deepen related to the adoption of cloud technology in contributing to the improvement of competitiveness of an organization studies is the aim of this research. Today, cloud computing systems or cloud computing are one of the most real in order to improve the competitiveness alternatives, but not only as information technology, but as a new economic model of resource utilization, exploitation of applications and data or providing business services. This research tries to study and delve into the evolution of this still young technology, its applicability to medium and long term, and relate their findings with other studies on the situation of this technology in our country. Also, they show the influence of technological complexity and attitude towards the system depending on the size of the organization a management model of adoption of cloud computing.peerReviewe

Study on the role of the reaction time in the upcycling of HDPE by co-hydrocracking it with VGO

Pursuing the aim of improving the current waste plastics management strategy, we have investigated the co-hydrocracking of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with vacuum gasoil (VGO) over a PtPd/HY catalyst for converting this blend into high-quality fuels. In particular, the work was focused on assessing the effects of the reaction time on the product yields and on the composition of the gas, naphtha and light cycle oil (LCO) fractions, which was determined by chromatographic means. The experimental runs were carried out in a 100 mL semi continuous stirred tank reactor varying the reaction time between 15 and 120 min and maintaining constant the rest of the variables at 420 °C (temperature reached using an electrical heating jacket and following a 5 °C min−1 heating ramp), 80 bar and a catalyst to oil mass ratio of 0.075 gcat goil−1. The results shown that at 120 min a naphtha fraction rich in 1-ring aromatics and with a RON value of 92.5 was obtained, while the LCO fraction was mainly iso-paraffinic with a cetane index of 43.8. Hence, these fractions could be used in the corresponding blending stages of commercial gasoline and diesel. Furthermore, the coke deposited on the catalyst was analyzed by means of TPO, obtaining that it was mainly formed at short contact times (< 15 min) and that its nature evolved with contact time being less condensed at long contact times.This work has been carried out with the following financial support: (i) grant PID2021–125255OB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”; (ii) the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (grant No 823745); and, (iii) the Basque Government (grant IT1645-22)

Enhancing the performance of a PtPd/HY catalyst for HDPE/VGO hydrocracking through zeolite desilication

The valorization of post-consumer waste plastic in a refinery is an attractive initiative to avoid environmental problems caused by the poor plastic waste management. The modification of a bifunctional PtPd/HY catalyst through desilication (using NaOH) of the ultrastable HY zeolite has been carried out to upgrade waste plastic (high-density polyethylene (HDPE)) dissolved in a secondary refinery stream (vacuum gas oil (VGO)) through hydrocracking. Three different catalysts have been studied: the parent (Cat-A), undergoing a desilication cycle (Cat-B), and subjected to two cycles of desilication (Cat-C). The characterization techniques employed have been: N2 adsorption-desorption, TEM, ICP-AES, tert-butylamine-TPD, pyridine FTIR, WDXRF, XRD and TPO. The hy-drocracking tests have been carried out in a semi-batch reactor at: 440 C; 80 bar; catalyst to feed ratio, 0.1 g(cat) (g(feed))(-1); HDPE to feed ratio, 0.2 gHDPE (g(feed))(-1); and reaction time, 2 h. The products have been fractioned ac-cording to their boiling point range in: gas, naphtha, light cycle oil, heavy cycle oil and coke. The composition of each fraction has been determined in terms of concentration of paraffins, olefins, naphthenes and (mono-, di-and poly-) aromatics. The results show that alkaline treated catalysts enhance the fuel production, with high HDPE and HCO conversions. The Cat-C (the one submitted to two desilication cycles) has displayed the greatest per-formance, reducing by half the gas yield and increasing the naphtha yield by 51 wt% respect to those obtained with the parent catalyst (Cat-A). Moreover, it has decreased the coke deposition and the coke formed has been less developed.This work has been carried out with financial support of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU) of the Spanish Government (grant RTI2018-096981-B-I00), the European Union's ERDF funds and Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (grant No 823745) and the Basque Government (grant IT645-22). Dr. Roberto Palos thanks the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU for his postdoctoral grant (UPV/EHU 2019). Dr. Juan Rafael García thanks the Carolina Foundation (Fundación Carolina, Spain) and the Ministry of Education, Presidency of the Nation (Ministerio de Educación, Presidencia de la Nación, Argentina) for his postdoctoral fellowship (Programa de Becas Internacionales de la Dirección Nacional de Cooperación Internacional (DNCI), Becas de estancias cortas FC-Ministerio de Educación, 2018-2019). The authors thank for the technical and human support provided by SGIker of UPV/EHU and European funding (ERDF and ESF). The authors also acknowledge Petronor Refinery for providing the feed used in this work

A six-lump kinetic model for HDPE/VGO blend hydrocracking

A six lump-based kinetic model has been developed for the hydrocracking of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blended with vacuum gas oil (VGO) over a PtPd/HY zeolite catalyst. The blend (20 wt% HDPE and 80 wt% VGO) has been hydrocracked in a semi-continuous stirred tank reactor under the following conditions: 400–440 °C; 80 H2 bar; catalyst to feed (C/F) weight ratio, 0.05–0.1 gcat gfeed−1; reaction time, 15–120 min; and stirring rate, 1300 rpm. The kinetic model, which is an approach to tackle the complex reaction mechanism behind the hydrocracking of a HDPE/VGO blend, predicts the evolution over time of product distribution (gas, naphtha, light cycle oil (LCO), heavy cycle oil (HCO), HDPE and coke). The kinetic model and its computed parameters have been used for the simulation of the HDPE/VGO hydrocracking establishing that a C/F ratio of 0.075 gcat gfeed−1 and temperature–time combinations of 430 °C–10 min and 440 °C–70 min are the optimal operating conditions. Under these conditions, a proper balance between the HCO conversion (>80 %), HDPE conversion (>60 %) and liquid fuel production index (>1.0) would be obtained. This kinetic model could serve as a basis for scaling-up in the valorization of waste plastics by co-feeding them to industrial hydrocracking units, within a Waste-Refinery strategy.This work has been carried out with the financial support of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU) of the Spanish Government (grant RTI2018-096981-B-I00), the European Union’s ERDF funds and Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (grant No 823745) and the Basque Government (grant IT1645-22). David Trueba thanks the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU for his PhD grant (PIF 2018)