Aspects to Be Considered when Implementing Technology Enhanced Learning Approaches. A Literature Review

The significance of approaches to technology-enhanced learning (TEL) has increased rapidly during the last few years. Nowadays in education different approaches such as game-based learning, web-based learning, video-based online courses, and many others are used on a daily basis. However, what defines the success of technology-enhanced learning approaches and how can such approaches be developed in a structured way? Furthermore, what different aspects have to be considered while doing so? To answer these questions, 4567 publications were analyzed in this present literature review in order to recognize the different aspects of implementing technology-enhanced learning approaches. Finally, 20 categories are defined in four main areas that summarize all the aspects in the field of technology-enhanced learning. Moreover, the study also reveals research areas that are important but hardly investigated in the observed journals of this study

Modeling the growth of stylolites in sedimentary rocks

[1] Stylolites are ubiquitous pressure solution seams found in sedimentary rocks. Their morphology is shown to follow two self-affine regimes. Analyzing the scaling properties of their height over their average direction shows that (1) at small scale, they are self-affine surfaces with a Hurst exponent around 1, and (2) at large scale, they follow another self-affine scaling with Hurst exponent around 0.5. In the present paper, we show theoretically the influence of the main principal stress and the local geometry of the stylolitic interface on the dissolution reaction rate. We compute how it is affected by the deviation between the principal stress axis and the local interface between the rock and the soft material in the stylolite. The free energy entering in the dissolution reaction kinetics is expressed from the surface energy term and via integration from the stress perturbations due to these local misalignments. The resulting model shows the interface evolution at different stress conditions. In the stylolitic case, i.e., when the main principal stress is normal to the interface, two different stabilizing terms dominate at small and large scales which are linked respectively to the surface energy and to the elastic interactions. Integrating the presence of small-scale heterogeneities related to the rock properties of the grains in the model leads to the formulation of a Langevin equation predicting the dynamic evolution of the surface. This equation leads to saturated surfaces obeying the two observed scaling laws. Analytical and numerical analysis of this surface evolution model shows that the crossover length separating both scaling regimes depends directly on the applied far-field stress magnitude. This method gives the basis for the development of a paleostress magnitude marker. We apply the computation of this marker, i.e., the morphological analysis, on a stylolite found in the Dogger limestone layer located in the neighborhood of the ANDRA Underground Research Laboratory at Bure (eastern France). The results are consistent with the two scaling regimes expected, and the practical determination of the major principal paleostress, from the estimation of a crossover length, is illustrated on this example

Are You Responsible for Traffic Congestion? A Systematic Review of the Socio-technical Perspective of Smart Mobility Services

A large amount of the pollution of modern cities is caused by individual transportation. Hence, many road users suffer from stress, emissions and noise. Smart mobility services can help improving the situa-tion by distributing traffic more consistently across different routes, times, and transportation modes. These services comprise two dimensions, a technical and a socio-technical. The latter addresses the road user’s role as data and knowledge provider and stresses the road user’s role in actively contributing to relieved traffic. As such, road users display one of the strongest levers to sustainably relieve traffic both in terms of knowledge providers and traffic actors. Using a systematic analysis of 28 publications, we show that existing SMob services show several chal-lenges related to the involvement of road users. We call for more research on SMob services that account for long-term user involvement e.g. by positively in-fluences road users’ practices and routines

Microscopic View on Short-Range Wetting at the Free Surface of the Binary Metallic Liquid Gallium-Bismuth: An X-ray Reflectivity and Square Gradient Theory Study

We present an x-ray reflectivity study of wetting at the free surface of the binary liquid metal gallium-bismuth (Ga-Bi) in the region where the bulk phase separates into Bi-rich and Ga-rich liquid phases. The measurements reveal the evolution of the microscopic structure of wetting films of the Bi-rich, low-surface-tension phase along different paths in the bulk phase diagram. A balance between the surface potential preferring the Bi-rich phase and the gravitational potential which favors the Ga-rich phase at the surface pins the interface of the two demixed liquid metallic phases close to the free surface. This enables us to resolve it on an Angstrom level and to apply a mean-field, square gradient model extended by thermally activated capillary waves as dominant thermal fluctuations. The sole free parameter of the gradient model, i.e. the so-called influence parameter, $\kappa$, is determined from our measurements. Relying on a calculation of the liquid/liquid interfacial tension that makes it possible to distinguish between intrinsic and capillary wave contributions to the interfacial structure we estimate that fluctuations affect the observed short-range, complete wetting phenomena only marginally. A critical wetting transition that should be sensitive to thermal fluctuations seems to be absent in this binary metallic alloy.Comment: RevTex4, twocolumn, 15 pages, 10 figure

Success factors for business models of young companies

Der Begriff „Geschäftsmodell“ gewann vor allem durch den Dotcom-Boom an Popularität. In der noch jungen Literatur zu diesem Themenbereich sind sowohl aus der Wirtschaftsinformatik als auch aus der BWL erste Ansätze gegeben. Diese sind jedoch noch als nicht befriedigend einzustufen. Grundsätzlich wird in der Literatur zwischen dem Partialansatz (Fokussierung auf einzelne Branchen) und dem Universalansatz (Abstraktion auf höherem und branchenunabhängigem Niveau) unterschieden. Auf Grund der besseren Vergleichbarkeit der empirischen Befunde soll letzterer Ansatz im Mittelpunkt der Forschung stehen. Als erste Annäherung kann demnach ein Geschäftsmodell als eine ganzheitliche Beschreibung unternehmerischer Tätigkeit in aggregierter Form verstanden werden, die es ermöglichen soll, Schlüsselfaktoren des unternehmerischen Erfolgs leichter erkennen und analysieren zu können. Zur Beschreibung eines Geschäftsmodells wird meist auf die Produkt- / Marktkombination, die Wertschöpfungskonfiguration sowie die Ertragsmechanik als gängige, aber nicht abschließende Analyseelemente zurückgegriffen. Im Mittelpunkt unserer Forschung steht das Geschäftsmodell von Start-up-Unternehmen. Viele Projekte stellen auf den Unterschied bspw. von Großunternehmen und Mittelstand ab. Nur unzureichend wird bisher jedoch die Thematik der Gründungsart des Unternehmens erfasst. Wir gehen in Kongruenz mit der wenigen existierenden Literatur davon aus, dass ein von einem Entrepreneur geführtes Unternehmen der gleichen Branche sich deutlich von mittelständischen oder gar Großunternehmen mit langer Historie unterscheidet. Ein aus unserer Sicht wichtiger Aspekt ist das Thema "Führung", repräsentiert durch die Größe Eigentum, das in stark modelltheoretischen und somit zu konstruktivistischen Ansätzen nicht erfasst werden kann. Unter einem Start-up verstehen wir für unser Projekt in einer groben Annäherung ein Unternehmen, das sich in der Gründungsphase, im Aufbau oder seit Kurzem im Geschäft befindet und seine Produkte noch nicht oder nicht in größerem Umfang vermarktet. Insbesondere vor dem Hintergrund der modernen Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien und damit verbundenen Möglichkeiten der Virtualisierung bestehender Wertschöpfungskonfigurationen und existierender Märkte entstand die Notwendigkeit, sich über die Zusammensetzung der eigenen Wertschöpfung und Produktabgrenzung Gedanken zu machen. Für große Unternehmen bedeutete die Entwicklung neuer Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien die Möglichkeit, zahlreiche Wertschöpfungsaktivitäten zu geringen Transaktionskosten auszulagern und sich auf rentable Kernkompetenzen zu fokussieren. Gleichzeitig konnten durch eine funktionale Aufspaltung bestehender Produkte sowie Märkte bislang unbekannte Kundengruppen erschlossen und branchenübergreifend neue Produktlösungen angeboten werden. Mit dem vorliegenden Projekt setzen wir an der Forschungslücke zu Erfolgsfaktoren der Geschäftsmodelle von Start-up-Unternehmen an. Ziel des vorliegenden Forschungsvorhabens ist es, einen ersten theoretischen und empirischen Überblick über die Ausgestaltung sowie Elemente und Erfolgswirkung von Geschäftsmodellen von Start-up-Unternehmen zu gewinnen. Hierzu werden neben einer Aufarbeitung theoretischer und konzeptioneller Aspekte persönliche Interviews mit Unternehmern / Gesellschaftern und Geschäftsführern von Start-up-Unternehmen in ganz Deutschland durchgeführt. Dieser qualitative Ansatz erscheint vor dem Hintergrund konzeptioneller Unklarheit in der Literatur einem quantitativen Vorgehen deutlich überlegen. Die Interviews orientieren sich an Leitfäden. Folgende Aspekte stehen im Mittelpunkt der Untersuchung: • Definition und Verständnis von Geschäftsmodellen, • Mittelstandsspezifika von Geschäftsmodellen, • Beschreibung und Ausprägung individueller Geschäftsmodelle sowie • Erfolgswirkung von Geschäftsmodellen

Dual Targeting of Cell Wall Precursors by Teixobactin Leads to Cell Lysis

ABSTRACT Teixobactin represents the first member of a newly discovered class of antibiotics that act through inhibition of cell wall synthesis. Teixobactin binds multiple bactoprenol-coupled cell wall precursors, inhibiting both peptidoglycan and teichoic acid synthesis. Here, we show that the impressive bactericidal activity of teixobactin is due to the synergistic inhibition of both targets, resulting in cell wall damage, delocalization of autolysins, and subsequent cell lysis. We also find that teixobactin does not bind mature peptidoglycan, further increasing its activity at high cell densities and against vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) isolates with thickened peptidoglycan layers. These findings add to the attractiveness of teixobactin as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of infection caused by antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive pathogens

Propensity score-matched evaluation of palliative transurethral resection and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for bladder outlet obstruction in patients with prostate cancer

Background While transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the standard-of-care, Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is widely accepted as a size-independent method for surgical treatment of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). However, in an ageing society an increasing number of patients presents with BOO due to locally advanced prostate cancer. There is currently no guidelines recommendation as to the enucleation or resection technique. Therefore, we compared intraoperative performance, postoperative outcomes, and safety for palliative (p)TURP and (p)HoLEP. Methods We conducted a retrospective, propensity score-matched analysis of 1373 and 2705 men who underwent TURP or HoLEP for LUTS/BOO between 2014 and 2021, respectively. Patients were matched for age, prostate size and preoperative international prostate symptom score (IPSS). Patients were stratified by technique and groups were compared for perioperative parameters, safety, and functional outcomes. Results While postoperative symptoms and urodynamic parameters improved irrespective of technique, we report significantly increased resection and enucleation times for palliative indication. For corresponding efficiency parameters, we observed a two-fold higher surgical performance (g/min) for both techniques in patients without prostate cancer. While adverse events were comparable between groups, we found a two-fold higher hemoglobin drop in palliative patients. Conclusions Currently, there is no standard-of-care for patients with BOO and locally advanced prostate cancer. Our data show that both TURP and HoLEP offer adequate symptom improvement and comparable safety profiles. While HoLEP is feasible even in larger prostates, both procedures become more difficult in patients with prostate cancer. Taken together, this study covers an important gap in current literature, helping urological surgeons to make evidence-based decisions for the benefit of their patients

Trace amines produced by skin bacteria accelerate wound healing in mice

Certain skin bacteria are able to convert aromatic amino acids (AAA) into trace amines (TA) that act as neuromodulators. Since the human skin and sweat contain a comparatively high content of AAA one can expect that such bacteria are able to produce TA on our skin. Here we show that TA-producing Staphylococcus epidermidis strains expressing SadA are predominant on human skin and that TA accelerate wound healing. In wounded skin, keratinocytes produce epinephrine (EPI) that leads to cell motility inhibition by β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) activation thus delay wound healing. As β2-AR antagonists, TA and dopamine (DOP) abrogate the effect of EPI thus accelerating wound healing both in vitro and in a mouse model. In the mouse model, the S. epidermidis wild type strain accelerates wound healing compared to its ΔsadA mutant. Our study demonstrates that TA-producing S. epidermidis strains present on our skin might be beneficial for wound healing.Fil: Luqman, Arif. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen.; Alemania. Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember; IndonesiaFil: Muttaqin, Muhammad Zainul. Universitas Muhammadiyah Gresik; IndonesiaFil: Yulaipi, Sumah. Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember; IndonesiaFil: Ebner, Patrick. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen.; AlemaniaFil: Matsuo, Miki. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen.; AlemaniaFil: Zabel, Susanne. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen.; AlemaniaFil: Tribelli, Paula Maria. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen.; Alemania. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica; ArgentinaFil: Nieselt, Kay. Universitas Muhammadiyah Gresik; IndonesiaFil: Hidayati, Dewi. Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember; IndonesiaFil: Götz, Friedrich. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen.; Alemani

A genome-wide IR-induced RAD51 foci RNAi screen identifies CDC73 involved in chromatin remodeling for DNA repair

To identify new regulators of homologous recombination repair, we carried out a genome-wide short-interfering RNA screen combined with ionizing irradiation using RAD51 foci formation as readout. All candidates were confirmed by independent short-interfering RNAs and validated in secondary assays like recombination repair activity and RPA foci formation. Network analysis of the top modifiers identified gene clusters involved in recombination repair as well as components of the ribosome, the proteasome and the spliceosome, which are known to be required for effective DNA repair. We identified and characterized the RNA polymerase II-associated protein CDC73/Parafibromin as a new player in recombination repair and show that it is critical for genomic stability. CDC73 interacts with components of the SCF/Cullin and INO80/NuA4 chromatin-remodeling complexes to promote Histone ubiquitination. Our findings indicate that CDC73 is involved in local chromatin decondensation at sites of DNA damage to promote DNA repair. This function of CDC73 is related to but independent of its role in transcriptional elongation