Multiplex and Ultrasensitive Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and Influenza A/B Nucleocapsid Proteins Based on Nanometer-Sized Core-Shell Superparamagnetic Antifouling Probes

Infections caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza A (Flu A), and influenza B (Flu B) show similar clinical symptoms, such as cough, fever, and dyspnea, but patients infected by these viruses should be treated differently. The rapid and accurate diagnosis of infections caused by SARS-CoV-2, Flu A or Flu B is critical during the influenza season. Herein, we synthesized core-shell magnetic particles (MNPs) with excellent antifouling properties and applied them in the MNP-based immunochromatographic test (MICT) for simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2, Flu A, and Flu B nucleocapsid(N) proteins in 20 min. Two kinds of carboxyl -modified MNPs, MNP@pMBAA and MNP@Si-SA, were prepared and evaluated as probes in the MICT. Among them, the MNP@ pMBAA showed lower nonspecific adsorption of proteins and low background noise in the application in MICTs. Particularly, the MNP@pMBAA50 bead-based MICT strip exhibited the highest signal-to-noise ratio for SARS-CoV-2 N protein detection with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.072 ng/mL. Moreover, the proposed MICT strip demonstrated a minimal cross-reactivity and a broad linear dynamic detection range under a magnetic assay reader in the simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2, Flu A, and Flu B N proteins with relative LOD values of 0.0086, 0.012, and 0.018 ng/mL, respectively. The results demonstrated that the synthesized MNPs showed great potential for use as MICT probes for sensitive and multiplex detection of biomarkers in the development of point-of-care testing systems.

Analytics of Open-Book Exams with Interaction Traces in a Humanities Course

Open book exams (OBE) have been a mandated part of each course structure at some universities. Also during the COVID19 emergency remote teaching situation, OBE would be an option for many instructors over a proctored examination. In this study we investigate a Critical Analysis of Literature and Cinema course which had offered open book exam components for more than 11 years in a face-to-face classroom mode. However, this time the OBE was conducted online using BookRoll, a learning analytics enhanced eBook platform. 89 Students accessed Hayavadana, an Indian play uploaded on BookRoll during the exam. They attempted a critical reading task to identify performative elements and cultural references in the text by highlighting them with yellow and red markers respectively and writing a reflective memo about the identified items in BookRoll. We analyzed learner’s interaction logs gathered in the learning record store linked to BookRoll during the OBE and investigated the relations between their critical reading behaviors to the OBE achievement. Further, selecting two distinct achievement groups we conducted process mining to identify distinct reading behaviors of the high and low performers and give examples of their generated reflective memos. This study aims to initiate further discussion related to the application of learning analytics in humanities courses and probed into the behaviors of the students during the OBE. © 2021 29th International Conference on Computers in Education Conference, ICCE 2021 - Proceedings. All rights reserved

E-book based learning in times of pandemic

As a necessary preventive measure against the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), many educational institutions across the globe are changing the style of traditional teaching-learning interactions from classrooms to online modes in a very short period. Data gathered from an online survey conducted with participants (educators and researchers, n=57) from 19 different countries, found that digital divide, uncertainty regarding student's participation in the online activities, and the increase in effort of the teachers to make the rapid transition to a new online mode of teaching and learning are some of the common challenges during this period. We propose how BookRoll, an eBook-based and learning analytics enhanced system has a low floor and high ceiling to continue interactive learning activities during this period. This proposal has the following advantages: It takes lower bandwidth to distribute learning materials than video-based learning activities;teachers can directly use their previously created content with the students and provide easily trackable in-content formative evaluations (specific reflective questions or annotation-based activities). © ICCE 2020 - 28th International Conference on Computers in Education, Proceedings. All rights reserved.

Learning analytics of critical reading activity: Reading Hayavadana during lockdown

Investigating learning behaviors in a humanities course using learning analytics techniques is underrepresented in literature. A Critical Analysis of Literature and Cinema course was selected as a context. The course was offered for more than 10 years by the instructor in a face-to-face classroom mode. However, this time the context was unique as the classroom-based interactive activities were rapidly migrated to online sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic related lockdown. Under such a circumstance, BookRoll, a learning analytics enhanced eBook platform supported the critical reading activity online. Students (n=22 out of the 50 registered) accessed Hayavadana, an Indian play titled Hayavadana uploaded on BookRoll and attempted to identify performative elements and cultural references in the text and highlight them. In this study, we analyze learner's reading logs gathered in the learning record store linked to BookRoll during that activity. Based on learner's online reading engagement from their clickstream interactions and time spent for them, four readers' profiles were defined;Effortful, Strategic, Wanderers and Check-out. We illustrate the content navigation and annotation behavior of each of those profiles. This study aims to initiate further discussion related to the application of learning analytics in humanities courses both to enhance the teaching and learning experiences by the use of interactive learning dashboards that was used to probe into the learning behaviors of the students. © ICCE 2020 - 28th International Conference on Computers in Education, Proceedings. All rights reserved.