Linking factual and procedural knowledge in solving science problems: A case study in a thermodynamics course

Well-specified problems of the type presented boxed in the introduction to this article are extremely common in science courses. Unfortunately, this does not mean that students find them easy to solve, even when a teacher provides model answers to problems which differ only marginally (in the teacher's eyes) from those put before the students. The central difficulty with such courses is that they do not embody instructional principles that reflect students' need for “direction” in problem solving. In this article, we describe how the necessary heuristics and strategic knowledge were built into the remake of a conventional thermodynamics course. In contrast to mainstream American work on learning problem solving we chose to direct our curriculum reconstruction using the Gal'perin theory of stage-by-stage formation of mental actions and Landa's description of the “through” systematization of knowledge. As indicated by both, we first developed an integrated system of instructional objectives: a programme of actions and methods (PAM) to solve problems in thermodynamics. Then the plan of instruction was designed. This plan indicates which instructional procedures and materials should be used to realize the instructional functions, derived from the learning theory. The evaluation design contained two control and three experimental courses. In discussing our main findings, we consider the generalizability of the procedures we followed in constructing the PAM and the instructional plan

Подземная река Ужла – примечательный феномен Русской равнины

Сообщение представляет историю исследования феномена реки и источника-воклюза Ужла в Вологодской области, а также итоги спелеоподводной экспедиции, проведенной в марте 2012 г. и посвященной изучению этого источника. Результатом экспедиции явилось обнаружение на глубине 64-66 метров (от зеркала воды в источнике) подземного русла реки Ужла – протяженной подводной пещеры.Повідомлення представляє історію дослідження феномену річки та джерела-воклюзу Ужла у Вологодській області, а також підсумки спелеопідводної експедиції, проведеної у березні 2012 р. і присвяченої вивченню цього джерела. Результатом експедиції стало виявлення на глибині 64-66 метрів (від дзеркала води в джерелі) підземного русла річки Ужла - протяжної підводної печери.This communication presents history of investigations of the phenomenon of the river and Vaucluse-type resurgence Uzhla in the Vologda region results of the speleo-diving expedition conducted in March 2012, aimed in studying of the resurgence. The result of expedition was a discovery of an underground river-bed of the river Uzhla – an extensive submarine cave at depth of 64-66 meters (from the water table at the source)

Деякі особливості правовідносин у сфері реалізації прав і свобод громадян в публічному управлінні

У статті проведено аналіз теоретичних засад поняття фінансово-правової відповідальності та її складового елементу - фінансово-правової санкції. Автор досліджує наукові думки щодо понять «фінансово-правові санкції», «економічні санкції», «штрафні санкції», «штраф», «пеня» тощо; розглядає функції фінансово-правових санкцій з урахування засад загальної теорії права та фінансового права, зокрема, та виокремлює найхарактерніші ознаки фінансово-правової санкції. Ключові слова: фінансово-правова відповідальність, фінансово-правова санкція, ознаки фінансово-правової санкції.В статье проведен анализ теоретических основ понятия финансово-правовой ответственности и ее составляющего элемента - финансово-правовой санкции. Автор исследует существующие научные взгляды на понятия «финансово-правовая санкция», «экономическая санкция», «штрафная санкция», «штраф» и т.д.; рассматривает функции финансово-правовых санкций с позиций общей теории права и финансового права, в частности, и выделяет наиболее характерные признаки финансово-правовой санкции. Ключевые слова: финансово-правовая ответственность, финансово-правовая санкция, признаки финансово-правовой санкции.This article deals with the analysis of theoretical background of the notion in the sphere of both financial and law responsibility and its structural element - the financial and law sanction. The author researches the real scientific ideas as to the notions «financial and law sanction», «fine». The author also analyses the functions of financial and law sanctions including as the basement of common law theory so as financial law in particular. His special task is to analyses the most characteristic determinants of financial and law sanction. Key words: financial and law responsibility; financial and law sanction; signs of financial and law sanction

Neocolonialism in education: Cooperative learning, Western pedagogy in an Asian Context

This article is concerned with the influence of western educational approaches in non-western countries and societies. This influence is frequently referred to as educational neocolonialism in the sense that western paradigms tend to shape and influence educational systems and thinking elsewhere through the process of globalisation. Given the perceived pressure to modernise and reform in order to attain high international standards, educational policy makers in non-western countries tend to look to the west. Thus they may 'borrow' policies and practices that were originally developed and operated, and which appeared to be effective, in a very different cultural context to that of their own societies. In effecting such transfer, detailed consideration of particular aspects of the culture and heritage of the originating country is often neglected. To illustrate some of the problems that result from this, the article presents a case study of the application of Cooperative Learning, an educational method developed in the west, within an Asian context. Drawing upon Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner's typology of seven cultural dimensions, our examination of western method and eastern context reveals a complex web of cultural conflicts and mismatches. The paper concludes by suggesting that non-western cultures should seek to reconstruct imported pedagogic practices in accordance with their own world views and in line with their own norms and values

Teaching and learning problem solving in science. Part II: Learning problem solving in a thermodynamics course

This paper examines important new aspects and results related to an experimental new course

Genome-wide signatures of population bottlenecks and diversifying selection in European wolves

Genomic resources developed for domesticated species provide powerful tools for studying the evolutionary history of their wild relatives. Here we use 61K single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) evenly spaced throughout the canine nuclear genome to analyse evolutionary relationships among the three largest European populations of grey wolves in comparison with other populations worldwide, and investigate genome-wide effects of demographic bottlenecks and signatures of selection. European wolves have a discontinuous range, with large and connected populations in Eastern Europe and relatively smaller, isolated populations in Italy and the Iberian Peninsula. Our results suggest a continuous decline in wolf numbers in Europe since the Late Pleistocene, and long-term isolation and bottlenecks in the Italian and Iberian populations following their divergence from the Eastern European population. The Italian and Iberian populations have low genetic variability and high linkage disequilibrium, but relatively few autozygous segments across the genome. This last characteristic clearly distinguishes them from populations that underwent recent drastic demographic declines or founder events, and implies long-term bottlenecks in these two populations. Although genetic drift due to spatial isolation and bottlenecks seems to be a major evolutionary force diversifying the European populations, we detected 35 loci that are putatively under diversifying selection. Two of these loci flank the canine platelet-derived growth factor gene, which affects bone growth and may influence differences in body size between wolf populations. This study demonstrates the power of population genomics for identifying genetic signals of demographic bottlenecks and detecting signatures of directional selection in bottlenecked populations, despite their low background variability.Heredity advance online publication, 18 December 2013; doi:10.1038/hdy.2013.122

Raccolta dati su alcuni nuovi materiali di impiego nel settore elettrico e elettronico

Questa tesi ha come scopo quello di fare una rassegna dei materiali di recente sviluppo nel settore elettrico ed elettronico, descrivendone le proprietà, lo sviluppo storico, le applicazioni attuali e anche quelle possibili in futuro che attualmente sono solo in fase di sperimentazione. Limitandosi all’illustrazione delle caratteristiche e dei campi di applicazione dei vari materiali, senza entrare nel dettaglio dei metodi costruttivi né sulle tecniche di ricerca attuali, questa tesi vuole descrivere la situazione dello stato attuale dei materiali elettromagnetici e dei loro differenti utilizzi

Weekly nab-Paclitaxel in Combination With Carboplatin as First-Line Therapy in Patients With Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Analysis of Safety and Efficacy in Patients With Diabetes

AbstractPurposeTo examine outcomes in a phase 3 trial of nab-paclitaxel plus carboplatin (nab-P/C) versus solvent-based paclitaxel plus carboplatin (sb-P/C) in a subset of patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and diabetes.Patients and MethodsPatients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC received nab-P 100 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 or sb-P 200 mg/m2 on day 1, both with C at an area under the curve of 6 mg·min/mL on day 1 every 3 weeks. Overall response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) were determined by blinded, independent, centralized review. P values were based on chi-square test for ORR and log-rank test for overall survival (OS) and PFS.ResultsOf the 1052 randomized patients in the phase 3 trial, 61 had diabetes according to prespecified terms (nab-P/C, 31; sb-P/C, 30). ORR for nab-P/C versus sb-P/C in this subset was 52% versus 27% (relative risk ratio, 1.935; P = .046), median PFS was 10.9 versus 4.9 months (hazard ratio, 0.420; P = .016), and median OS was 17.5 versus 11.1 months (hazard ratio, 0.550; P = .057). Treatment differences in PFS remained significant (P ≤ .036) after adjusting for histology, region, stage, race, and age and also remained significant in OS for histology (P = .039). Patients with diabetes experienced lower rates of grade 3 or higher neutropenia and peripheral neuropathy and higher rates of thrombocytopenia and anemia with nab-P/C versus sb-P/C.Conclusionnab-P/C demonstrated improved efficacy and manageable tolerability in patients with advanced NSCLC and diabetes

Test results for the V0 detector in ALICE

In this report, we describe the V0 detector, a device made of two arrays of scintillating counters (V0L and V0R) installe d on both sides of the ALICE in teraction vertex. The light yield and the time resolution were measured for several prototype counter s which were tested on the PS T10 beam line and with cosmic rays. Results from the test and from simulations are reported