Model for Profiler Agent during unexpected educational circumstances

[EN] Nowadays distance education helps when no other traditional possibility is allowed. But is it a good alternative to replace entirely the traditional education? Could it provide at least the same level of quality or it brings problems that we are not prepared for? The paper presents an observation of a problem with keeping students focused on their education – constant dropping of engagement and unintentional loss of attention during situation of distance learning. Appling measures to keep students’ attraction led to the need of some aspects’ automation – a model for a new intelligent assistant, software agent, was developed, along with the current ones in the existing system. This assistant will create profiles of students, helping with personalized tracking of each student’s progress in specific subject, recommending topics to improve knowledge and fill knowledge gaps. It will “live” in the extension of an existing system and cooperate with other agents to accomplish its goals, proactively assisting in students’ learning aspects, as well as teachers’ efforts to prepare better and more suitable educational materials.The research is partly supported by the project FP21-FMI-002 “Intelligent innovative ICT in research in mathematics, informatics and pedagogy in education" of the Scientific Fund of the University of Plovdiv “Paisii Hilendarski”.Cholakov, G.; Stoyanova-Doycheva, A. (2021). Model for Profiler Agent during unexpected educational circumstances. En 7th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'21). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 975-982. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd21.2021.12841OCS97598

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

Интелигентен туристически екскурзовод – генериране на амбиент-ориентирани маршрути и дигитално класифициране на елементи от културното и историческо наследство на България

Едни от сферите на приложение на дигиталните мобилни асистенти са интелигентният транспорт и туристическите екскурзоводи. Такива персонализирани системи имат за цел да улеснят все по-трудния избор за най-подходяща транспортна опция, с оглед на личните предпочитания и навици, текуща локация и наличните опции в реално време. За реализиране на интелигентен туристически екскурзовод е необходимо разработване на персонализирани модели, които включват не само статична информация за маршрути и дестинации, но и да се взeмат предвид личните предпочитания на потребителя, както и динамично да се реагира на непланирани промени и обстоятелства в реалния свят. В сферата на интелигентните системи такива променливи физически характеристики във времето и пространството (така наречените амбиентни характеристики) имат все по-съществена роля и все по-голяма тежест в степента на полезност за крайния потребител. Този туристически екскурзовод е неизменен спътник, който помага на потребителя да се потопи в богатата история и културното наследство на България. Съвременните технологии в областта на изкуствения интелект дават възможност на туриста задълбочено да се запознае с традициите и народните обичаи, получавайки детайлна информация за обкръжаващите го обекти като народни носии, архитектурни паметници и други.One of the areas of application of digital mobile assistants is intelligent transport and tourist guides. Such personalised systems aim to facilitate the increasingly difficult choice of the most appropriate transport option regarding personal preferences and habits, current location and available options in real time. To implement a smart travel guide, it is necessary to develop personalised models that include not only static information about routes and destinations, but also to take into account the personal preferences of the user and dynamically respond to unplanned real world circumstances. In the field of intelligent systems, such variable physical characteristics in time and space (so-called ambient characteristics) have a significant role in the degree of usefulness for the end user. The personal assistant is an integral part of the user experience that helps tourists immerse themselves in the rich history and cultural heritage of Bulgaria. Modern technologies in the field of artificial intelligence allow the tourist to get acquainted with the traditions and folk customs, receiving detailed information about the surrounding objects such as folk costumes, architectural monuments and others.Авторите изказват благодарност към научен проект ФП21-ФМИ-002 „Интелигентни иновационни ИКТ в научните изследвания в областта на математиката, информатиката и педагогиката на обучението“ към Фонд Научни изследвания на ПУ „Паисий Хилендарски“, за частичното финансиране на настоящата работа

An Approach to Data Representation and Processing of Knowledge from the Bulgarian Folklore

In the context of global and high-tech development, cultural fields are often overlooked during these transitions. Therefore, it is essential to pay close attention to their inclusion. Cultural-historical heritage, which has undergone centuries of changes, deserves to be introduced into the technological world and made as accessible as possible to society, without territorial or border restrictions. Digitizing a part of this heritage, including folklore, can make it high-tech while preserving its character, peculiarity, and identity. This article examines the digitalization of Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage. It explores existing international standards for presenting cultural heritage and proposes a formalism for an adequate presentation of knowledge in the field of Bulgarian folklore. This article presents the first version of a model for the formal description of objects from Bulgarian folklore. We provide examples of the formal presentation of objects from Bulgarian folklore and their corresponding computer implementation

A Review on Antitumor and Antiviral Potential of Cranberries (Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea) Origin from Bulgaria

A major goal in antitumor and antiviral therapy is to find active ingredients that selectively suppress the proliferation of tumor cells or inhibit viral replication and proliferation. In this connection, the antitumor and antiviral activity of natural products with proven phytochemical properties and pharmacological significance are actively investigated. A promising candidate are Bulgarian cranberries from high mountain plant populations, which are a valuable natural source of food and have proven healing properties in urinary tract infections, eye diseases and cardiovascular disorders, as well as prevention of hypertension and diabetes. The active components of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. are polyphenols and anthocyanins which belong to classes of plant components with high antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity. Cranberries contain a high percentage and variety of vitamins (A,  E, C,  etc.) and a number of minerals (K, Ca, Mg, P, Na). In the world regions where endemic measles outbreaks occur, for secondary prevention and avoidance of complications including blindness, WHO recommends the use of high doses of vitamin A in children under 5 years of age. Bulgarian cranberries are a valuable source of vitamins A and C.The assessement of biological activity of the individual components and fractions in the composition of the Bulgarian cranberries may help to identify substances with antitumor and/or antiviral activity that could potentially be useful in future development of new therapeutic agents

Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea L., Origin from Bulgaria Indicate in Vitro Antitumor Еffect on Human Cervical and Breast Cancer Cells

Cancer is a socially significant disease. Along with efforts to understand the complex genetic/epigenetic factors that trigger a carcinogenesis, it is also necessary to analyze the potential natural active substances that may delay or even stop neoplastic transformation. Promising candidates are Bulgarian cranberries from high mountain plant populations, which are rich in phenolics and anthocyanins and have proven beneficial effects on human body.The present study aims to evaluate in vitro, antitumor activities of total extracts and purified nonanthocyanin and anthocyanins fractions of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L., picked in Bulgaria on human cervical (HeLa) and breast (MCF7) cancer cell lines, as well as to examine some of the apoptotic mechanisms underlying them.Materials and methods: Four methanol extracts and respective number of purified B- nonanthocyanin / C- anthocyanins fractions of Bulgarian lingonberry were used. Antitumor effect was established by Trypan Blue method, monitoring of morphological changes and МТТ cell viability assay. Assessment of apoptotic activity was performed using DNA fragmentation method.Results: The results from МТТ analyses showed that B- nonanthocyanin fractions of Bulgarian lingonberry have well expressed inhibitory effect on survival of tested tumor cells. The observed effect dependent of the dose administered and were stronger in relation with the high-mountain populations and HeLa cell line. The integrity of the extracted DNA from treated survival cells indicates possible apoptosis mechanisms under the action of biologically active ingredients from lingonberries.Conclusion: Survey of antitumor activities of Bulgarian lingonberries based on molecular methods, could contribute to establish the natural substances useful for human health in general and practical oncology

Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Trajectory of Emerging Echovirus 30, Europe

In 2018, an upsurge in echovirus 30 (E30) infections was reported in Europe. We conducted a large-scale epidemiologic and evolutionary study of 1,329 E30 strains collected in 22 countries in Europe during 2016-2018. Most E30 cases affected persons 0-4 years of age (29%) and 25-34 years of age (27%). Sequences were divided into 6 genetic clades (G1-G6). Most (53%) sequences belonged to G1, followed by G6 (23%), G2 (17%), G4 (4%), G3 (0.3%), and G5 (0.2%). Each clade encompassed unique individual recombinant forms; G1 and G4 displayed >= 2 unique recombinant forms. Rapid turnover of new clades and recombinant forms occurred over time. Clades G1 and G6 dominated in 2018, suggesting the E30 upsurge was caused by emergence of 2 distinct clades circulating in Europe. Investigation into the mechanisms behind the rapid turnover of E30 is crucial for clarifying the epidemiology and evolution of these enterovirus infections.Peer reviewe

Using IT to Enhance the Educational Achievement of Students

This article presents the use of information technology (IT) in the education of students in Software Engineering and in English at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at Plovdiv University. The teaching process incorporates traditional methods with applications based on the E-learning standards QTI and SCORM. The use of IT has been applied to the education of full-time and part-time Bachelor degree students from the 1st to the 4th year of studies. Based on the statistics from the teaching some conclusions have been drawn regarding the students’ performance and possible ways of enhancing their educational achievement

Using data analysis to predict the students’ trend of choosing preferred data storage

[EN] Predicting trends is crucial for any business. No exception for education as well. Usually, this is a complex task that needs good planning and hard working to get to results. But sometimes luckily, a result from a study could be recognized as something that could reveal a potential trend, though it was not its primary goal, but spending some time digging deeper into data would pay off. This paper presents results from a study of the students’ trend for choosing favorite database type to learn and use, which was found during analyzing data from the software agents that work for our e-learning portal DeLC, serving as helpers for students and lecturers. These agents are there for very different purpose, but from the data they collect many interesting facts and behavioral patterns of our students could be revealed.The research is supported by the project КП-06Н36/2 “Competition for financial support of basic research projects – 2019” of the National Scientific Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science in Bulgaria.Cholakov, G.; Stoyanova-Doycheva, A. (2022). Using data analysis to predict the students’ trend of choosing preferred data storage. En 8th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'22). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 177-182. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd22.2022.1419517718