Context-Aware and Adaptable eLearning Systems

The full text file attached to this record contains a copy of the thesis without the authors publications attached. The list of publications that are attached to the complete thesis can be found on pages 6-7 in the thesis.This thesis proposed solutions to some shortcomings to current eLearning architectures. The proposed DeLC architecture supports context-aware and adaptable provision of eLearning services and electronic content. The architecture is fully distributed and integrates service-oriented development with agent technology. Central to this architecture is that a node is our unit of computation (known as eLearning node) which can have purely service-oriented architecture, agent-oriented architecture or mixed architecture. Three eLeaerning Nodes have been implemented in order to demonstrate the vitality of the DeLC concept. The Mobile eLearning Node uses a three-level communication network, called InfoStations network, supporting mobile service provision. The services, displayed on this node, are to be aware of its context, gather required learning material and adapted to the learner request. This is supported trough a multi-layered hybrid (service- and agent-oriented) architecture whose kernel is implemented as middleware. For testing of the middleware a simulation environment has been developed. In addition, the DeLC development approach is proposed. The second eLearning node has been implemented as Education Portal. The architecture of this node is poorly service-oriented and it adopts a client-server architecture. In the education portal, there are incorporated education services and system services, called engines. The electronic content is kept in Digital Libraries. Furthermore, in order to facilitate content creators in DeLC, the environment Selbo2 was developed. The environment allows for creating new content, editing available content, as well as generating educational units out of preexisting standardized elements. In the last two years, the portal is used in actual education at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, University of Plovdiv. The third eLearning node, known as Agent Village, exhibits a purely agent-oriented architecture. The purpose of this node is to provide intelligent assistance to the services deployed on the Education Pportal. Currently, two kinds of assistants are implemented in the node - eTesting Assistants and Refactoring eLearning Environment (ReLE). A more complex architecture, known as Education Cluster, is presented in this thesis as well. The Education Cluster incorporates two eLearning nodes, namely the Education Portal and the Agent Village. eLearning services and intelligent agents interact in the cluster

Context-Aware and Adaptable Architecture CA

In the paper some important notions and features of context-aware and adaptable service provision have been discussed. An approach has been described which can be used to develop architectures with the mentioned features. The abstract architecture AC3 and its application for implementing an eLearning environment have been described as well

New Functionalities of a Virtual Computer Model Design and Construction

The purpose of this paper is to construct a virtual model of a computer system for student training, based on analysis of different platforms, creating virtual reality and its related 3D graphics. A classification of three-dimensional models was made. Software platforms for three-dimensional modelling and creation of virtual scenes have been analysed and selected. A virtual model has been developed

Optimal Resource Deployment in an Infostation-Based Network

This paper considers the problem of finding an optimal deployment of information resources on an InfoStation network in order to minimize the overhead and reduce the time needed to satisfy user requests for resources. The RG-Optimization problem and an approach for its solving are presented as well

Виртуално-физическо пространство "Българско културно-историческо наследство"

В статията е представено виртуално-физическо пространство за съхраняване и представяне на дигитализирани български културно-исторически обекти. Пространството е реализирано с помощта на интегрирана технология, включваща средства от изкуствения интелект, усилени със съвременни технологии като IoT (Internet of Things) и CPSS (Cyber-Physical-Social System). Дискутират се предимствата на пространството в сравнение с обичайните подходи за разработването на такъв вид системи. Дигитализираните в съответствие със стандарта CCO (Cataloging Cultural Objects) обекти се съхраняват в разпределени бази знания, имплементирани основно като онтологии. Пространството предоставя на потребителите персонален туристически гид, който е в състояние да разбира и изпълнява техните желания и предпочитания.The article presents a virtual physical space for storage and presentation of digitized Bulgarian cultural, historical and similar sites. The space is realized with the help of integrated technology, including means of artificial intelligence, enhanced with modern technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things) and CPSS (Cyber-Physical-Social System). The advantages of space compared to the usual approaches for developing this type of systems are discussed. The objects digitized in accordance with the CCO standard (Cataloging Cultural Objects) are stored in a distributed knowledge base, implemented mainly as ontologies. The space provides users with a personal travel guide who is able to understand and fulfill their wishes and preferences

Дигитализация на българската жилищна архитектура в и около периода на Възраждането – типологични групи и къщи

Статията представя българската възрожденска архитектура в контекста на информатиката, и по-специално на изкуствения интелект. Онтологичното инженерство се занимава със семантично моделиране на реални концепции и връзките между тях под въздействието на семантични аксиоми и машинно четими съждения. Онтологиите, описани в статията, са разработени, за да бъдат включени в хранилище с множество онтологии за българско културно-историческо наследство.The article presents the Bulgarian Revival architecture in the context of Informatics, and in particular of the Artificial Intelligence. Ontological engineering is dealing with the semantic modeling of real-world concepts and the relations between them under the influence of semantic axioms and machine-readable judgments. Ontologies that are described in the article were developed to be included in the repository with multiple ontologies for Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage

Neurotoxicity of cancer agents

Невротоксичните ефекти на химиотерапията се появяват относително често и са причина за модификация на дозата на медикаментите - дозолимитираща токсичност. Рискът от развитие на невротоксичност се увеличава с повишаване на приложената доза и за разлика от миелотоксичността (основния ограничаващ фактор при повечето химиотерапевтични режими), която може да бъде преодоляна с растежни фактори или трансплантация на костен мозък, няма стандартно поведение, което да я ограничи.Противотуморните препарати водят до два типа токсичност - периферна невротоксичност, състояща се основно от периферна невропатия и централна невротоксичност, която включва от незначителни когнитивни увреждания и дефицити до енцефалопатия с деменция или дори кома.Не съществуват утвърдени алгоритми за поведения и профилактика на невротоксичността, причинена от противотуморните препарати. Поведението основно се свежда до редукция на дозата или отлагане във времето на приложението, особено при пациенти, които са с по-висок риск от развитие на невротоксични странични ефекти. На този етап не съществуват невропротективни агенти, които се препоръчват за стандартна употреба при развитие на невротоксичност.Neurotoxic side effects of chemotherapy occur frequently and are often a reason to limit the dose of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy dosing is often limited due to a frequently occurring side effect of the treatment - neurotoxic. The risk of neurotoxicity is increased by the possibility of higher dose usage, since bone marrow toxicity (the major limiting factor in most chemotherapeutic regimens) can be overcome with growth factors or bone marrow transplantation.Chemotherapy may cause both peripheral neurotoxicity, consisting mainly of a peripheral neuropathy, and central neurotoxicity, ranging from minor cognitive deficits to encephalopathy with dementia or even coma. Neurotoxicity caused by the chemotherapy can be of two types - peripheral, mainly consisting of peripheral neuropathy and central, from minor cognitive deficits through encephalopathy with dementia to even coma.Data management and neuroprotective agents are still in discussion and there are no current accepted guidelines yet. Management mainly consists of cumulative dose-reduction or lower dose-intensities, especially in patients who are at higher risk to develop neurotoxic side effects. None of the specific neuroprotective agents can be recommended in daily practice for standard use at the moment, and further studies are needed to confirm their beneficial effects

Synthesis of New Blue Fluorescent Polymerizable 1,8-Naphthalimides and Their Copolymers with Styrene as Sensors for Fe(III) Cations

The synthesis, characterization, and functional properties of two new polymerizable 1,8-naphthalimides (MDs) have been described. Their copolymers with styrene designed to act as a fluorescence PET chemosensor have been investigated. The study also reports the influence of different metal cations (Ag + , Mg 2+ , Cu 2+ , Sr 2+ , Co 2+ , Pb 2+ , and Fe 3+ ) on the fluorescence intensity of both low and high molecular weight fluorophores

Synthesis of New Blue Fluorescent Polymerizable 1,8-Naphthalimides and Their Copolymers with Styrene as Sensors for Fe(III) Cations

The synthesis, characterization, and functional properties of two new polymerizable 1,8-naphthalimides (MDs) have been described. Their copolymers with styrene designed to act as a fluorescence PET chemosensor have been investigated. The study also reports the influence of different metal cations (Ag+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Sr2+, Co2+, Pb2+, and Fe3+) on the fluorescence intensity of both low and high molecular weight fluorophores

Photophysical and antibacterial activity of light-activated quaternary eosin Y

The functional characteristics of a new eosin dye with biocidal quaternary ammonium group (E) were studied in aqueous solution and in organic solvents of different polarity. The spectral properties depend on the nature and polarity of the respective solvents. The antimicrobial activity of compound E has been tested in vitro against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter johnsoni and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), Gram-positive bacteria (Sarcina lutea and Bacillus cereus) and the antifungal activity was tested against the yeasts Candida lipolytica in solution and after treated on cotton fabric. Broth dilution test has been used for quantitative evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of compound E against the model strains. The ability of compound E to inhibit the growth of model Gram-negative P. aeruginosa strain was assessed after 16 h of incubation in presence and absence of light. These experiments were conducted in planktonic format in solution and on cotton fabric. The results suggest that the new compound is effective in treating the relevant pathogens with better results being obtained by irradiation with light. In this case the quaternary ammonium group promotes the binding of eosin Y moiety to the bacterial cell wall thus accelerating bacterial photo inactivation