Systemic intervention for computer-supported collaborative learning

This paper presents a systemic intervention approach as a means to overcome the methodological challenges involved in research into computer-supported collaborative learning applied to the promotion of mathematical problem-solving (CSCL-MPS) skills in schools. These challenges include how to develop an integrated analysis of several aspects of the learning process; and how to reflect on learning purposes, the context of application and participants' identities. The focus of systemic intervention is on processes for thinking through whose views and what issues and values should be considered pertinent in an analysis. Systemic intervention also advocates mixing methods from different traditions to address the purposes of multiple stakeholders. Consequently, a design for CSCL-MPS research is presented that includes several methods. This methodological design is used to analyse and reflect upon both a CSCL-MPS project with Colombian schools, and the identities of the participants in that project

Chemical characterization and bioactive properties of two aromatic plants: Calendula officinalis L. (flowers) and Mentha cervina L. (leaves)

The chemical composition and bioactive properties of two plants (Calendula officinalis L. and Mentha cervina L.) were studied. Their nutritional value revealed a high content of carbohydrates and low fat levels, and very similar energy values. However, they presented different profiles in phenolic compounds and fatty acids; C. officinalis presented mainly glycosylated flavonols and saturated fatty acids, while M. cervina presented mainly caffeoyl derivatives and polyunsaturated fatty acids. M. cervina showed the highest concentration of phenolic compounds while C. officinalis presented higher amounts of sugars, organic acids and tocopherols. The highest antioxidant and cytotoxic activities were obtained for the hydromethanolic extract of M. cervina, which presented the lowest values of EC50 and exhibited cytotoxicity against the four tumor cell lines tested. Infusions showed no cytotoxicity for the tumor cell lines, and none of the extracts showed toxicity against non-tumor cells. This study contributes to expand the knowledge on both natural sources and therefore their use.The authors are grateful to Foundation for Science and Technology (FTC, Portugal) for financial support to CIMO (Pest-OE/AGR/UI0690/2014), R.C. Calhelha (SFRH/BPD/68344/2010) and L. Barros (SFRH/BPD/107855/2015) grants

Previsão em curto prazo de índice de claridade utilizando redes neurais e variáveis sazonais

Este trabajo busca contribuir a la predicción de la radiación solar horaria en horizontes de hasta 12 horas adelante. Para ello, han sido empleadas Redes Neuronales (ANNs) del tipo Perceptron Multicapa. A su vez, dichas redes han empleado, como variables regresoras, datos horarios de Índice de Claridad (Kt) y variables determinísticas estacionales con el propósito de mejorar la comprensión en cuanto a las características de estacionalidad diaria y anual de la serie de Kt para un emplazamiento en Petrolina-PE-Brasil. El objetivo es comparar los resultados logrados con el empleo de dichas variables estacionales (que, entre otros aspectos, tienen características de variables difusas - fuzzy variables) con aquellos logrados por otros modelos reportados por diferentes autores como las mismas ANNs sin las variables estacionales, los Modelos Autoregresivos y la Persistencia. El error (nRMSD) del modelo final ha variado entre 17,8% y 25,7% para horizontes de predicción desde 1 hasta 12 horas adelante. Las ANNs han superado el desempeño de la Persistencia y del Modelo Autoregresivo. Se ha demostrado que el empleo de las variables estacionales ha mejorado las predicciones de Kt realizadas por las ANNs.This work aims to improve solar radiation forecast for horizons up to 12 hours ahead. In this sense, Neural Networks (ANN) of Multilayer Perceptron type were proposed, using as regressive variables, hourly clearness index (Kt) and seasonal deterministic variables, with the purpose of enhancing the understanding on the characteristics of daily and annual seasonal of Kt series for the city of Petrolina-PE-Brazil. The objective is to compare the results obtained with the use of such seasonal variables (which, among other aspects, have characteristics of fuzzy variables) with results of other models reported in the literature, such as ANNs without the use of seasonal variables, the Auto-Regressive Model and Persistence. The error (nRMSD) associated with the final model differs from 17.8% to 25.7% for horizons from 1 to 12 hours ahead. Neural networks surpassed the Persistence and the Autoregressive Model. It was proved that the use of the seasonal variables improved the results of Kt predictions using ANNs.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Procedimento objetivo para a garantia de qualidade de dados de radiação solar

Se propone un procedimiento objetivo para la garantía de calidad de los datos de irradiancia solar disponibles. El trabajo establece la unión de procedimientos ya difundidos en la literatura (filtros físicos y estadísticos) - juntamente con algunos ajustes propuestos - y la utilización de procedimientos inéditos (e.g. box whiskers o diagramas de caja) en lo que se refiere a la garantía de calidad de datos solarimétricos. Para la obtención de los resultados, fue aplicado el procedimiento a datos de la red SONDA, en las estaciones Petrolina - PE y Brasilia-DF. Las dos series temporales tuvieron menos de 10% de datos rechazados de irradiancia solar en sus componentes global, directa y difusa.In order to enable the use of reliable data, it is proposed an objective procedure for the quality assurance of solar radiation data. This work establishes the union of already diffused procedures in the literature (physical and statistical tests) – along with some adjustments – and the use of unpublished procedures in the quality assurance of solar radiation data (e.g. box whiskers). To obtain the results, the procedure was applied on data from the SONDA network, in stations located at Petrolina – PE and Brasília – DF, both at Brazil. All the time series had less than 10% of rejected solar radiation data.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Applications of Essential Oils as Antibacterial Agents in Minimally Processed Fruits and Vegetables - A Review

Microbial foodborne diseases are a major health concern. In this regard, one of the major risk factors is related to consumer preferences for “ready-to-eat” or minimally processed (MP) fruits and vegetables. Essential oil (EO) is a viable alternative used to reduce pathogenic bacteria and increase the shelf-life of MP foods, due to the health risks associated with food chlorine. Indeed, there has been increased interest in using EO in fresh produce. However, more information about EO applications in MP foods is necessary. For instance, although in vitro tests have defined EO as a valuable antimicrobial agent, its practical use in MP foods can be hampered by unrealistic concentrations, as most studies focus on growth reductions instead of bactericidal activity, which, in the case of MP foods, is of utmost importance. The present review focuses on the effects of EO in MP food pathogens, including the more realistic applications. Overall, due to this type of information, EO could be better regarded as an added value to the food industryinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL : A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in P ortugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with 26% of all species being includedin the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associatedwith habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mam-mals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion formarine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems func-tionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is cru-cial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS INPORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublishedgeoreferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mam-mals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira thatincludes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occur-ring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live obser-vations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%),bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent lessthan 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrowsjsoil moundsjtunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animaljhairjskullsjjaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8),observation in shelters, (9) photo trappingjvideo, (10) predators dietjpelletsjpine cones/nuts, (11) scatjtrackjditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalizationjecholocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followedby Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496),Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data setincludes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened(e.g.,Oryctolagus cuniculus[n=12,159],Monachus monachus[n=1,512],andLynx pardinus[n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate thepublication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contrib-ute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting onthe development of more accurate and tailored conservation managementstrategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite thisdata paper when the data are used in publications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)