Should mathematics remain invisible?

Mathematical literacy, broadly understood as the ability to reason in terms of abstract models and the effective use of logical arguments and mathematical calculation, be- came a condition for democratic citizenship. This paper discusses argumentation and proof as two main ingredients in strategies for achieving a higher degree of mathemat- ical fluency in both social and professional life

Integrating formal and informal learning through a FLOSS-based innovative approach

It is said that due to the peculiar dynamics of FLOSS communities and their projects, effective participation in them is a privileged way to acquire the relevant skills and expertise in FLOSS development. Such is probably the reason for a number of higher education institutions to include in their curricula in Software Engineering some form of contact with the FLOSS reality. This paper explores such a perspective through an on-going case study on university students collaboration in FLOSS projects. The aim of this research is to 1) identify what should be learnt about software development through regular participation in a FLOSS project/community, and 2) assess the didactic potential of this kind of non-standard learning experiences. To this aim we resorted to a participatory research action approach and qualitative methods, namely case studies combining direct observation and interviews.This work is supported by Macao Science and Technology Development Fund (MSTDF), File No. 019 / 2011 / A1, as well as the ERDF - European Regional Development Fund through the COMPETE Programme (operational programme for competitiveness), by National Funds through FCT - the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, within project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-010047

Characterisation of lithium-based solid polymer electrolytes

Sol-gel derived poly(oxyethylene)/siloxane hybrids doped with lithium hexafluoroantimonate, LiSbF6, have been prepared. Compositions of these novel xerogel electrolytes were identified using the conventional d-U(2000)nLiSbF6 notation, (where n is the molar ratio of oxyethylene moieties per Li+ ion) and samples with n between ∞ and 2.5 were characterized by conductivity measurements, cyclic voltammetry at a gold microelectrode and thermal analysis. The electrolyte films produced were obtained as transparent and amorphous monoliths with encouraging electrochemical and thermal properties.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologi

Characterization of pTMCnLiPF6 solid polymer electrolytes

In this study the results our characterization of a solid polymer electrolyte based on poly(trimethylene carbonate), henceforth designated as p(TMC), and lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) are described. Samples of solvent-free electrolytes were prepared with a range of concentration of guest salt using solvent casting from tetrahydrofuran and characterized by conductivity measurements, thermal analysis and electrochemical stability. Electrolytes based on this host polymer, with LiPF6, were obtained as mechanically robust, flexible, transparent and completely amorphous films.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Characterization of lithium-based solid polymer electrolytes

Sol-gel derived poly(oxyethylene)/siloxane hybrids doped with lithium hexafluoroantimonate, LiSbF6, have been prepared. Compositions of these novel xerogel electrolytes were identified using the conventional d-U(2000)nLiSbF6 notation, (where n is the molar ratio of oxyethylene moieties per Li+ ion) and samples with n between ∞ and 2.5 were characterized by conductivity measurements, cyclic voltammetry at a gold microelectrode and thermal analysis. The electrolyte films produced were obtained as transparent and amorphous monoliths with encouraging electrochemical and thermal properties.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) - contracto POCI/QUI/59856/2004, POCTI/SFA/3/686, bolsa SFRH/BD/22707/2005, SFRH/BD/38616/200

From the drama of unoccupied time and isolation due to Covid-19’s pandemic to the need for person-centered care at residential care facilities in Portugal

During the pandemic, restrictive measures were implemented at Portuguese residential care facilities (PRCF), such as isolating residents and ceasing collective activities. It is important to understand how PRCF are implementing activities that allow residents to occupy their time and fight isolation. As such, we aim to analyze whether: 1. new activities were implemented for residents (identifying which were carried out); 2. occupation activities were provided to isolated residents in their rooms (identifying which were carried out); 3. the implementation of activities is associated with variables like the amount of staff. This is an exploratory, quantitative, and cross-sectional study. An online questionnaire was sent by email to 2325 PRCF and entities were asked to share it with their workers. The study was also divulged on social networks. Data collection occurred between July 8th and October 18th, 2020. The study had 784 staff members participating and 90.8% reported that new activities were implemented at their facilities, predominantly videocalls. Concerning isolated residents most respondents (64.4%) stated that providing activities was impossible. Results showed that those PRCF that expanded teams had a higher percentage of new activities and activities with residents isolated in bedrooms. These results are alarming because while residents should have had more resources to cope with the pandemic, higher risks of unoccupied time and isolation existed, a dramatic situation for its potentially harmful consequences. Focusing on sanitary issues (and less on older adults) may reinforce traditional care models that had shown negative impacts before the pandemic. This highlights the need to evolve the care paradigm during and beyond the pandemic at PRCF: with Person-Centered Care as an option.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Staff Assessment Person-Directed Care Questionnaire: Adaptation and Validation for the Portuguese Population

Person-centered care aims to increase and guarantee the quality of care at residential care facilities for older adults. The implementation and development of this approach requires validated assessment tools, which are still lacking in Portugal. This study aims to adapt and validate for the Portuguese population the internationally and widely used essential instrument that is the Staff Assessment Person-Directed Care (SAPDC). The adaptation of the SAPDC included its translation, back translation, and a pilot-study. For validation, staff members were recruited by distributing the study via email and on social media. Respondents included 546 native Portuguese-speaking staff members working at residential care facilities for over 6 months. The mean score of SAPDC was 165.74 (SD = 36.78). The exploratory factor analysis showed eight conceptually distinct dimensions, considered adequate by the expert team. The total scale showed a very good internal consistency (α = .96) and excellent temporal stability assessed by Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (> .90). Providing a Portuguese version of the SAPDC is useful to substantiate technical and scientific advancements and define policies with implications on evolving care approaches. This tool helps optimize the quality and dignification of gerontological practices, which is urgent at Portuguese residential care facilities.Maria Miguel Barbosa holds a PhD grant to PDGG ICBAS-UP, from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia [FCT, SFRH/BD/138897/2018], financed by national funds from Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MTCES) and Fundo Social Europeu (FSE-EU) through the Programa Operacional Regional Centro (PORC-UE).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Astrophysics datamining in the classroom: Exploring real data with new software tools and robotic telescopes

Within the efforts to bring frontline interactive astrophysics and astronomy to the classroom, the Hands on Universe (HOU) developed a set of exercises and platform using real data obtained by some of the most advanced ground and space observatories. The backbone of this endeavour is a new free software Web tool - Such a Lovely Software for Astronomy based on Image J (Salsa J). It is student-friendly and developed specifically for the HOU project and targets middle and high schools. It allows students to display, analyze, and explore professionally obtained astronomical images, while learning concepts on gravitational dynamics, kinematics, nuclear fusion, electromagnetism. The continuous evolving set of exercises and tutorials is being completed with real (professionally obtained) data to download and detailed tutorials. The flexibility of the Salsa J platform tool enables students and teachers to extend the exercises with their own observations. The software developed for the HOU program has been designed to be a multi-platform, multi-lingual experience for image manipulation and analysis in the classroom. Its design enables easy implementation of new facilities (extensions and plugins), minimal in-situ maintenance and flexibility for exercise plugin. Here, we describe some of the most advanced exercises about astrophysics in the classroom, addressing particular examples on gravitational dynamics, concepts currently introduced in most sciences curricula in middle and high schools.Comment: 10 pages, 12 images, submitted to the special theme issue Using Astronomy and Space Science Research in Physics Courses of the American Journal of Physic

Adaptation and validation of the Person‐centered Care Assessment Tool (P‐CAT) to the Portuguese population

Background: The relevance of person-centred care as an optimising approach to the quality of care provided to older adults has sparked the development of important instruments that measure this approach at residential care facilities and requires vali-dation for the Portuguese population.Objectives: This study aims to adapt and validate the Person-centered Care Assessment Tool (P-CAT) to the Portuguese population.Methods: The P- CAT assesses the level of person-centred care provided by resi -dential care facilities, according to staff. The process of adapting the P- CAT to the Portuguese population includes its translation, backtranslation and a pilot study. To recruit participants for the validation study, we contacted the Portuguese residential care facilities with emails provided in the official registries, and the study was also divulged on social media.Results: The study had the participation of 573 staff members. The mean score of P- CAT was 50.76 (SD = 7.65). The exploratory factor analysis showed three dimen -sions: the extent of care personalisation, the amount of organisational support and the degree of environmental accessibility. The results show good internal consistency for the total scale (α= 0.809) and good temporal stability in the test– retest assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (0.893).Conclusions: This version of the P-CAT for the Portuguese population has shown ad-equate psychometric properties and contributes to the study of care provided at resi-dential care facilities in Portugal through self- reporting from staff.Implications for practice: The availability of this instrument is useful for professional practice and research purposes and supports technical and scientific advancements that are necessary for the evolution of care frameworks.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio