Search results for "RIO"

Limnology and Aquatic Microbial Ecology of Byers Peninsula: A Main Freshwater Biodiversity Hotspot in Maritime Antarctica

2019

Here we present a comprehensive review of the diversity revealed by research in limnology and microbial ecology conducted in Byers Peninsula (Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica) during the last two decades. The site constitutes one of the largest ice-free areas within the Antarctic Peninsula region. Since it has a high level of environmental protection, it is less human-impacted compared to other sites within the South Shetland archipelago. The main investigations in Byers Peninsula focused on the physical and chemical limnology of the lakes, ponds, rivers, and wetlands, as well as on the structure of their planktonic and benthic microbial communities, and on the function…

Editorial: Changing Plankton Communities: Causes, Effects and Consequences

2019

Teachers’ intention to use educational video games: The moderating role of gender and age

2018

Educational video games represent an educational change that challenges teachers and managers of Higher Education institutions in several ways including their attitude formation and behavioural intention. Using a Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) approach a research model is developed to predict teachers’ behavioural intention to use educational video games in their courses. The research model is tested via structural equation modelling (SEM) on a sample of 312 Higher Education teachers. Main results suggest that perceived usefulness influences in a direct and positive way teachers’ behavioural intention while perceived ease of use indirectly influences intention through perceived usefulnes…

Process-and context-sensitive research on academic knowledge practices

2007

The Contextual Activity Sampling System (CASS) methodology and CASS-Query tools have been developed for the investigation of learning and working practices. The CASS-methods and tools provide contextualized data that allow the analyzing and modeling of within-person changes across time. This paper describes a pilot study with 3G mobiles used by eight engineering students. Students answered questionnaires concerning their ongoing study projects, academic emotions, and collaboration, with a mobile phone five times a day for a period of two weeks (70 queries per person). Variation in their emotions were examined by time-series analysis. Students were also interviewed before and after the CASS-…

Consistent Clustering of Elements in Large Pairwise Comparison Matrices

2018

[EN] In multi-attribute decision making the number of decision elements under consideration may be huge, especially for complex, real-world problems. Typically these elements are clustered and then the clusters organized hierarchically to reduce the number of elements to be simultaneously handled. These decomposition methodologies are intended to bring the problem within the cognitive ability of decision makers. However, such methodologies have disadvantages, and it may happen that such a priori clustering is not clear, and/or the problem has previously been addressed without any grouping action. This is the situation for the case study we address, in which a panel of experts gives opinions…

Fractional-Order System Identification of Viscoelastic Behavior: A Frequency Domain Based Experimental Study

2020

In this work, the fractional-order modeling of viscoelastic behavior is investigated based on measurement data in the frequency domain. For the results of two different test setups we apply existing parameter estimation algorithms designed for fractional-order transfer functions. These algorithms require a priori knowledge of the system structure including the commensurate order of differentiation. An iterative procedure is used to evaluate the influence of the unknown structure. The measured polymer samples show a viscoelastic stress response. We can show that integer-order models are not capable of capturing this behavior. For a set of predefined structures, the best obtained fractional-o…

Enhancing Disaster Response for Hazardous Materials Using Emerging Technologies: The Role of AI and a Research Agenda

2019

Despite all efforts like the introduction of new training methods and personal protective equipment, the need to reduce the number of First Responders (FRs) fatalities and injuries remains. Reports show that advances in technology have not yet resulted in protecting FRs from injuries, health impacts, and odorless toxic gases effectively. Currently, there are emerging technologies that can be exploited and applied in emergency management settings to improve FRs protection. The aim of this paper is threefold: First, to conduct scenario analysis and situations that currently threat the first responders. Second, to conduct gap analysis concerning the new technology needs in relations to the pro…

A Methodology for Modeling and Optimizing Social Systems

2020

[EN] A system methodology for modeling and optimizing social systems is presented. It allows constructing dynamical models formulated stochastically, i.e., their results are given by confidence intervals. The models provide optimal intervention ways to reach the stated objectives. Two optimization methods are used: (1) to test strategies and scenarios and (2) to optimize with a genetic algorithm. The application case presented is a small nonformal education Spanish business. First, the model is validated in the 2008-2012 period, and subsequently, the optimal way to obtain a maximum profit in the 2013-2025 period is obtained using the two methods.

Evaluation Framework for Analyzing the Applicability of Criteria Lists for the Selection of Requirements Management Tools Supporting Distributed Coll…

2016

Effective requirements management and enabling tools are critical for successfully developing and maintaining services and products. The identification and selection of an appropriate requirements management tool can be a costly, time-consuming, and error-prone undertaking especially in the context of software product line requirements management, requiring the tools to support both product and platform development activities that often involve geographically distributed, collaborating, and competing stakeholders. Criteria lists have been developed to facilitate the selection. This research (1) creates an evaluation framework to review the applicability of the lists for the selection of req…

State Observer with Round-Robin Aperiodic Sampled Measurements with Jitter

2021

International audience; A sampled-data observer is proposed for linear continuous-time systems whose outputs are sequentially sampled via non-uniform sampling intervals repeating a prescribed Round-Robin sequence. With constant sampling intervals (jitter-free case) we provide constructive necessary and sufficient conditions for the design of an asymptotic continuous-discrete observer whose estimation error is input-to-state stable (ISS) from process disturbances and measurement noise. We use a time-varying gain depending on the elapsed time since the last measurement. With non-constant sampling intervals (jitter-tolerant case), our design conditions are only sufficient. A suspension system …