Foresight w kontekście kultury technicznej

The author seeks links between foresight efforts and their social background, particularly culture-related factors which determine how foresight is carried out. Moreover, the article attempts to identify a few risk factors which accompany this type of efforts in connection with the National Foresight Programme Poland 2020.Autor poszukuje związków między próbami wglądu w przyszłość i społecznymi uwarunkowaniami tego rodzaju przedsięwzięć, zwłaszcza czynnikami kulturowymi determinującymi sposób podejmowania takich prób. Ponadto zmierza do wskazania kilku czynników ryzyka towarzyszącego tego rodzaju działalności, wiążących się z Narodowym Programem Foresight „Polska 2020”

E-learning in sociology

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest przedstawienie zastosowań zdalnego nauczania w dydaktyce socjologii, oparta na doświadczeniach autora, związanych z przygotowaniem kursu wykorzystującego tę metodę. Prezentacja Przedstawienie tej problematyki wymaga omówienia podobieństw i różnic w przekazie wiedzy metodami tradycyjnymi i za pomocą edukacji na odległość oraz wyjaśnienia specyfiki zdalnego nauczania. Przedstawione zostają także środki techniczne wykorzystywane do skonstruowania kursu. Tekst wskazuje na problemy, jakie wiążą się z ujęciem problematyki socjologicznej w formie zdalnego nauczania. Omówione zostaną przykłady rozwiązań, służących skutecznemu przyswajaniu przedstawianych treści. W tekście przedstawione zostają zalety zdalnego nauczania, a także ograniczenia, wiążące się z wyborem tej metody. Omówione zostają również związane ze zdalnym nauczaniem zagadnienia cyfrowego obiegu treści, a także perspektywy rozwoju nowych form kształcenia.The purpose of this paper is to present distance learning applications in teaching sociology, based on the experiences of the author, related to the preparation of the course using this method. The presentation of these problems entails a discussion of similarities and differences in the transfer of knowledge by traditional methods and using distance education and distance learning to clarify the specific feature of the new approach. The technical measures used to construct the course are also presented. The text shows the problems that are associated with presentation of the sociological problems in the form of distance learning. Some examples of solutions for the successful assimilation of the content presented are discussed. The text shows the advantages of distance learning, as well as its limitations. Some issues concerning the circulation of the digital teaching content and developing new forms of education are also presented

N-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide/Gold Nanoparticles Composite as an Improved Sensing Platform for Simultaneous Detection of Dopamine, Ascorbic Acid, and Uric Acid

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were homogeneously electrodeposited on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO) to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE/N-rGO-Au) in order to improve the simultaneous detection of dopamine (DA), ascorbic acid (AA), and uric acid (UA). N-rGO was prepared by the hydrothermal treatment of graphene oxide (GO) and urea at 180 °C for 12 h. AuNPs were subsequently electrodeposited onto the surface of GCE/N-rGO using 1 mM HAuCl4 solution. The morphology and chemical composition of the synthesized materials were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical performance of the modified electrodes was investigated through cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry measurements. Compared to GCE/rGO-Au, GCE/N-rGO-Au exhibited better electrochemical performance towards the simultaneous detection of the three analytes due to the more homogeneous distribution of the metallic nanoparticles as a result of more efficient anchoring on the N-doped areas of the graphene structure. The GCE/N-rGO-Au-based sensor operated in a wide linear range of DA (3–100 µM), AA (550–1500 µM), and UA (20–1000 µM) concentrations with a detection limit of 2.4, 58, and 8.7 µM, respectively, and exhibited satisfactory peak potential separation values of 0.34 V (AA-DA), 0.20 V, (DA-UA) and 0.54 V (AA-UA). Remarkably, GCE/N-rGO-Au showed a very low detection limit of 385 nM towards DA, not being susceptible to interference, and maintained 90% of its initial electrochemical signal after one month, indicating an excellent long-term stability.This research was financially supported by a statutory activity subsidy from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education for the Faculty of Chemistry of Wrocław University of Science and Technology.Peer reviewe

A Measurement-Aided Control System for Stabilization of the Real-Life Stewart Platform

In the paper, an innovative control system devoted to the stabilization of the parallel manipulator-type Hexapod is presented. The device consists of three main parts, allowing us to reach the desired location during various external disturbances. Indeed, the telescopic boom located on the car along with the system providing the correction of the boom column deflection as well as the gyroscopic self-leveling head constitute a complex tool covering a plethora of modern techniques and solutions. Through the application of advanced issues strictly derived from nonlinear identification and multivariable control theory branches, the dynamical behavior of the discussed device has been handled in order to achieve a proper reference operation. Naturally, it has been supported by a set of accompanying approaches related to the processes of the real-time measurement and robust data transmission. It should be emphasized that the proposed computer-aided system is intended for the film industry, where image stabilization plays a crucial role. Such a statement has additionally been confirmed by other innovative products introduced by a company placed in Opole, Poland, called MovieBird International

Influence of Incubation Time on Ortho-Toluidine Blue Mediated Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy Directed against Selected Candida Strains—An In Vitro Study

(1) Background and the aim: The appropriate incubation time in the antimicrobial photodynamic therapy protocol seems to have a huge impact on the efficacy of this process. This is particularly important in relation to Candida strains, due to the size of these cells and the presence of the cell wall. The aims of this study were to determine the optimal incubation time needed for the absorption of toluidine blue by cells of C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei and C. parapsilosis using direct observation by optical microscopy, and to evaluate the efficacy of TBO-mediated aPDT on planktonic cells of these strains. (2) Methods: The microscopic evaluation consisted of taking a series of images at a magnification of 600× and counting the % of stained cells. The in vitro effect of TBO-mediated aPDT combined with a diode laser (635 nm, 400mW, 12 J/cm2, CW) on the viability of yeast cells with different incubation times was evaluated. (3) Results: The presence of TBO within the cytoplasm was observed in all tested Candida strains and at all microscopic evaluation times. However, the highest percentages of cells were stained at 7 and 10 min. The highest % reduction of CFU/mL after TBO-mediated aPDT against Candida was obtained for the strain C. albicans ATCC 10,231 and it was 78.55%. (4) Conclusions: TBO-mediated aPDT against Candida was effective in reducing the number of CFU/mL at all assessed incubation times. However, the most efficient period for almost all strains was 7–10 min

Cyber-bullying and online grooming: Helping to protect against the risks

Children are the most valuable part of every society, regardless of culture, religion and national origin. Given the rapidly increasing digitalisation of their lives, it seemed important to assess risks related to internet usage and, in particular, the risk of become a victim of online grooming and cyber bullying activities. Today’s kids are living in an environment that is radically different from that of their parents; virtual environments are increasingly prevalent in private and education environments. This development is detrimental to their physical activities, social skills and the behavioural model that prevailed in previous generations. ENISA has formed a Working Group consisting of international experts in various disciplines related to the area of children’s online protection. Interdisciplinary knowledge and relevant experience in the area were the criteria of their engagement. During the selection phase of the scenario to be assessed, the expert group has identified cyber bullying and online grooming as an area that requires further elaboration. With this assessment we aim to demonstrate how attacks based on misuse of data (i.e. data mining and profiling) can affect minors. Although the issue of children’s exposure to internet risks has been addressed in great depth by many organisations (also during the generation of this report), we have performed this risk assessment in order to point out emerging risks and issue non-technical recommendations for their mitigation. Thus, we believe that the findings of this assessment will help in triggering further activities at various levels of society, while contributing to the necessary awareness of the online protection of minors