Intelligent learning objects: an agent aproach to create interoperable learning objects

Reusing learning material is very important to design learning environments for real-life learning. The reusability of learning objects results from the product of three main features: modularity, discoverability and interoperability. We proposed learning objects built based on agent architectures, called Intelligent Learning Objects (ILO). This paper discusses how the ILO approach can be used to improve the interoperability among learning objects, learning menagement systems (LMS) and pedagogical agents.Education for the 21 st century - impact of ICT and Digital Resources ConferenceRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Improving interoperability among learning objects using FIPA agent communication framework

The reusability of learning material is based on three main features: modularity, discoverability and interoperability. Several researchers on Intelligent Learning Environments have proposed the use of architectures based on agent societies. Learning systems based on Multi-Agent architectures support the development of more interactive and adaptable systems and the Learning Objects approach gives reusability. We proposed an approach where learning objects are built based on agent architectures. This paper discusses how the Intelligent Learning Objects approach can be used to improve the interoperability between learning objects and pedagogical agents.Applications in Artificial Intelligence - AgentsRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Ganadería en humedales: Respuestas de la vegetación a la exclusión del pastoreo en tres tipos de ambientes en un paisaje del Delta del Paraná

Los herbívoros pueden influir profundamente sobre la estructura y funcionamiento de los ecosistemas, impactando tanto sobre el ambiente físico como sobre las comunidades vegetales y animales. Se estudió la respuesta de la vegetación luego de la exclusión del pastoreo por ganado doméstico, antes y después de una inundación prolongada, analizando la composición florística, la diversidad y la dinámica de la biomasa aérea verde en tres tipos de ambientes localizadas en distintas porciones de un gradiente topográfico (albardón, media loma alta y media loma baja) de un paisaje de humedales en el Delta del río Paraná. El pastoreo produjo un efecto sobre los parámetros de las comunidades estudiadas mientras que con la exclusión se observó una tendencia a la recuperación de la fisonomía de los ambientes originales. Asimismo los datos del período post inundación muestran que el pastoreo junto a este evento tuvieron un efecto negativo sinérgico que afectó el incremento de la biomasa de la especie dominante (Hymenachne pernambucense) y de alto valor forrajero para la media loma baja y provocó la disminución de la diversidad para las otras coberturas. Las diferencias en la biomasa viva estuvieron influenciadas tanto por la dinámica de las propias comunidades como por la herbivoría de especies palatables. Los datos generados en este trabajo son de gran valor considerando que aún no existen registros para la región y son poco los antecedentes en humedales fluviales. Además, estos resultados conjuntamente con los que se continuaron realizando a partir del año 2011 generarán una importante base de información de utilidad para establecer pautas de manejo que contribuyan al establecimiento de un sistema ganadero sustentable para la región.Herbivores may profoundly influence on structure and functioning of ecosystems impacting on physical environment and plants and animals communities. The effect of livestock grazing, by exclusion, on floristic composition, diversity and aboveground biomass dynamic were studied on three environments located in different portions of topographical gradient (levee, high mid-slope and down mid-slope) in a wetland of the Paraná river Delta. In addition, these systems were analyzed for pre and post flood period. Cattle grazing had an effect on studied communities and biomass, while with exclusion was observed, despite the short period, a tendency to recover the features of the original environments. Also the post flood period data show that grazing next to this event had a negative synergistic effect that influenced on the growth of the dominant specie (Hymenachne pernambucense) with high forage value in down mid-slope and caused the decrease of diversity for the others coverages. The differences in green biomass were influenced by the dynamics of communities than the herbivory of palatable species. The data generated in this work are great value considering that yet there are no records for this region and the background in riverine wetlands are few. In addition along with the work we are performing. Furthermore, these results together with those who continued to perform from the year2011 will generate an important base of information useful for generating management guidelines that contribute to the establishment of a sustainable livestock system for the region.Fil: Magnano, Andrea Laura. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental. Laboratorio de Biodiversidad, Limnología y Conservación; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vicari, Ricardo Luis. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución. Laboratorio de Ecología Regional; ArgentinaFil: Astrada, Elizabeth Nora. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental. Laboratorio de Biodiversidad, Limnología y Conservación; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Quintana, Ruben Dario. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental. Laboratorio de Biodiversidad, Limnología y Conservación; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Overcoming inertia : drivers of the outsourcing process

Almost all managers have directly or indirectly been involved in the practice of outsourcing in recent years. But as they know, outsourcing is not straightforward. Outsourcing inertia, when companies are slow to adapt to changing circumstances that accommodate higher outsourcing levels, may undermine a firm’s performance. This article investigates the presence of outsourcing inertia and the factors that help managers overcome it. Using statistical evidence, we show that positive performance effects related to outsourcing can accumulate when circumstances change. This is then followed by rapid increases in outsourcing levels (i.e. outsourcing processes). We investigate what gives rise to these outsourcing processes through follow-up interviews with sourcing executives, which suggest five drivers behind outsourcing processes: managerial initiative (using outside experience); hierarchy (foreign headquarters); imitation (of competitors and of similar firms); outsider advice (from external institutions); knowledge sources (using external information). These five drivers all offer scope for managerial action. We tie them to academic literatures and suggest ways of investigating their presence and impact on the outsourcing process. Overall, we conclude that while economizing factors play a key role in explaining how much firms outsource, it is socializing factors that tend to drive outsourcing processes

Intelligent learning objects: an agent aproach to create interoperable learning objects

Reusing learning material is very important to design learning environments for real-life learning. The reusability of learning objects results from the product of three main features: modularity, discoverability and interoperability. We proposed learning objects built based on agent architectures, called Intelligent Learning Objects (ILO). This paper discusses how the ILO approach can be used to improve the interoperability among learning objects, learning menagement systems (LMS) and pedagogical agents.Education for the 21 st century - impact of ICT and Digital Resources ConferenceRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Improving interoperability among learning objects using FIPA agent communication framework

The reusability of learning material is based on three main features: modularity, discoverability and interoperability. Several researchers on Intelligent Learning Environments have proposed the use of architectures based on agent societies. Learning systems based on Multi-Agent architectures support the development of more interactive and adaptable systems and the Learning Objects approach gives reusability. We proposed an approach where learning objects are built based on agent architectures. This paper discusses how the Intelligent Learning Objects approach can be used to improve the interoperability between learning objects and pedagogical agents.Applications in Artificial Intelligence - AgentsRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Metabolic effects of an entero-omentectomy in mildly obese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients after three years

BACKGROUND: Various digestive tract procedures effectively improve metabolic syndrome, especially the control of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Very good metabolic results have been shown with vertical gastrectomy and entero-omentectomy; however, the metabolic effects of an isolated entero-omentectomy have not been previously studied. METHODS: Nine patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and a body mass index ranging from 29 to 34.8 kg/m² underwent an entero-omentectomy procedure that consisted of an enterectomy of the middle jejunum and exeresis of the major part of the omentum performed through a mini-laparotomy. Glucagon-like peptide-1 and peptide YY were measured preoperatively and three months following the operation. Fasting and postprandial variations in glycemia, insulinemia, triglyceridemia, hemoglobin A1c, and body mass index were determined in the preoperative period and 3, 18 and, 36 months after the operation. RESULTS: All patients significantly improved the control of their type 2 diabetes mellitus. Postprandial secretion of peptide YY and Glucagon-like peptide-1 were enhanced, whereas hemoglobin A1c, fasting and postprandial glucose, insulin, and triglyceride levels were significantly reduced. Mean body mass index was reduced from 31.1 to 27.3 kg/m². No major surgical or nutritional complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Entero-omentectomy is easy and safe to perform. A simple reduction in jejunal extension and visceral fat causes important improvements in the metabolic profile

The karyotypes and evolution of ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes in the genus Characidium (Characiformes, Crenuchidae)

Available data on cytotaxonomy of the genus Characidium Reinhardt, 1867, which contains the greatest number of species in the Characidiinae (Crenuchidae), with 64 species widely distributed throughout the Neotropical region, were summarized and reviewed. Most Characidium species have uniform diploid chromosome number (2n) = 50 and karyotype with 32 metacentric (m) and 18 submetacentric (sm) chromosomes. The maintenance of the 2n and karyotypic formula in Characidium implies that their genomes did not experience large chromosomal rearrangements during species diversification. In contrast, the internal chromosomal organization shows a dynamic differentiation among their genomes. Available data indicated the role of repeated DNA sequences in the chromosomal constitution of the Characidium species, particularly, in sex chromosome differentiation. Karyotypes of the most Characidium species exhibit a heteromorphic ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system. The W chromosome is characterized by high rates of repetitive DNA accumulation, including satellite, microsatellite, and transposable elements (TEs), with a varied degree of diversification among species. In the current review, the main Characidium cytogenetic data are presented, highlighting the major features of its karyotype and sex chromosome evolution. Despite the conserved karyotypic macrostructure with prevalent 2n = 50 chromosomes in Characidium, herein we grouped the main cytogenetic information which led to chromosomal diversification in this Neotropical fish group

Proposta de Sistema Tutor Inteligente para Engenharia Geotécnica

Este artigo descreve o planejamento e produção de um conjunto de atividades relacionadas à estruturação do conhecimento envolvido no domínio da Geotecnia, área da Engenharia Civil. O projeto propõe uma ontologia para desenvolvimento de um modelo conceitual e uma base de conhecimento que serão utilizados em um Sistema Tutor Inteligente, uma sub-área da Inteligência Artificial.Para a modelagem da base de conhecimento foi adotada a API Java Protégé-2000 desenvolvida pelo grupo de pesquisa em Informática Médica da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Stanford (Califórnia, Estados Unidos). Integrada à base de conhecimento tem-se um repositório de recursos educacionais descritos através de metadados do padrão Dublin Core. A arquitetura proposta para esta aplicação WEB é composta pela plataforma de comunicação de agentes FIPA-OS, pelo servidor de base de dados MySQL, pela plataforma J2SE e pelo container Jakarta Tomcat . Serãoapresentados neste artigo os resultados preliminares da arquitetura proposta