Scientific Argumentation as a Foundation for the Design of Inquiry-Based Science Instruction

Despite the attention that inquiry has received in science education research and policy, a coherent means for implementing inquiry in the classroom has been missing [1]. In recent research, scientific argumentation has received increasing attention for its role in science and in science education [2]. In this article, we propose that organizing a unit of instruction around building a scientific argument can bring inquiry practices together in the classroom in a coherent way. We outline a framework for argumentation, focusing on arguments that are central to science—arguments for the best explanation. We then use this framework as the basis for a set of design principles for developing a sequence of inquiry-based learning activities that support students in the construction of a scientific argument. We show that careful analysis of the argument that students are expected to build provides designers with a foundation for selecting resources and designing supports for scientific inquiry. Furthermore, we show that creating multiple opportunities for students to critique and refine their explanations through evidence-based argumentation fosters opportunities for critical thinking, while building science knowledge and knowledge of the nature of science

More on Electric Dipole Moment Constraints on Phases in the Constrained MSSM

We reconsider constraints on \cp-violating phases in the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. We include the recent calculations of Ibrahim and Nath on the chromoelectric and purely gluonic contributions to the quark electric dipole moment and combine cosmological limits on gaugino masses with experimental bounds on the neutron (and electron) electric dipole moments. The constraint on the phase of the Higgs mixing mass $\mu$, |\thm|, is dependent on the value of the trilinear mass parameter, $A$, in the model and on $\tan \beta$. For values of |A| < 300 \gev at the GUT scale, we find |\thm|/\pi \la 0.05, while for |A| < 1500 \gev, |\thm|/\pi \la 0.3. Thus, we find that in principle, large CP violating phases are compatible with the bounds on the electric dipole moments of the neutron and electron, as well as remaining compatible with the cosmological upper bound on the relic density of neutralinos. The other \cp-violating phase \tha is essentially unconstrained.Comment: 11 pages in LaTeX + 4 postscript figures, uses epsf.sty. Added two references, clarified figures. Accepted to Physics Letter

Instanton constituents in the O(3) model at finite temperature

It is shown that instantons in the O(3) model at finite temperature consist of fractional charge constituents and the (topological) properties of the latter are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 12 plots in 3 figure

Some Results on Joint Record Events

Let $X_1,X_2,\dots$ be independent and identically distributed random variables on the real line with a joint continuous distribution function $F$. The stochastic behavior of the sequence of subsequent records is well known. Alternatively to that, we investigate the stochastic behavior of arbitrary $X_j,X_k,j<k$, under the condition that they are records, without knowing their orders in the sequence of records. The results are completely different. In particular it turns out that the distribution of $X_k$, being a record, is not affected by the additional knowledge that $X_j$ is a record as well. On the contrary, the distribution of $X_j$, being a record, is affected by the additional knowledge that $X_k$ is a record as well. If $F$ has a density, then the gain of this additional information, measured by the corresponding Kullback-Leibler distance, is $j/k$, independent of $F$. We derive the limiting joint distribution of two records, which is not a bivariate extreme value distribution. We extend this result to the case of three records. In a special case we also derive the limiting joint distribution of increments among records

Injector design guidelines for gas/liquid propellant systems

Injector design guidelines are provided for gas/liquid propellant systems. Information was obtained from a 30-month applied research program encompassing an analytical, design, and experimental effort to relate injector design parameters to simultaneous attainment of high performance and component (injector/thrust chamber) compatibility for gas/liquid space storable propellants. The gas/liquid propellant combination studied was FLOX (82.6% F2)/ ambient temperature gaseous methane. Design criteria that provide for simultaneous attainment of high performance and chamber compatibility are presented for both injector types. Parametric data are presented that are applicable for the design of circular coaxial and like-doublet injectors that operate with design parameters similar to those employed. However, caution should be exercised when applying these data to propellant combinations whose elements operate in ranges considerably different from those employed in this study

From fracture to fragmentation: discrete element modeling -- Complexity of crackling noise and fragmentation phenomena revealed by discrete element simulations

Discrete element modelling (DEM) is one of the most efficient computational approaches to the fracture processes of heterogeneous materials on mesoscopic scales. From the dynamics of single crack propagation through the statistics of crack ensembles to the rapid fragmentation of materials DEM had a substantial contribution to our understanding over the past decades. Recently, the combination of DEM with other simulation techniques like Finite Element Modelling further extended the field of applicability. In this paper we briefly review the motivations and basic idea behind the DEM approach to cohesive particulate matter and then we give an overview of on-going developments and applications of the method focusing on two fields where recent success has been achieved. We discuss current challenges of this rapidly evolving field and outline possible future perspectives and debates

D^0-D^0bar mixing in \Upsilon(1S) \to D^0 D^0bar decay at Super-B

\Dz-\Dzb mixing and significant CP violation in the charm system may indicate the signature of new physics. In this study, we suggest that the coherent \DzDzb events from the decay of \Upsilon(1S) \to \Dz \Dzb can be used to measure both mixing parameters and CP violation in charm decays. The neutral $D$ mesons from $\Upsilon(1S)$ decay are strongly boosted, so that it will offer the possibility to measure the proper-time interval, $\Delta t$, between the fully-reconstructed \Dz and \Dzb. Both coherent and time-dependent information can be used to extract \Dz-\Dzb mixing parameters. The sensitivity of the measurement should be improved at B factories or super-B.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, this is the last version to appear in Phys. Rev.