Applications of RFN (Reconceptualized Family resemblance approach to Nature of science) to high school physics teaching

This thesis project fits into the research’s area of science education called Nature of Science (NOS). The aims of the thesis are: to understand what “image of physics” emerges in high school teaching; to provide suggestions to recognise implicit or explicit limits and potentialities of the official curriculum to guide, in class, students to get acquainted with the authenticity of science and its societal relevance. The thesis contains two studies. Both of them have been carried out by using a well-known framework in science education: Reconceptualized Family research approach to Nature of science (RFN) by Erduran and Dagher (2014). The framework has been used in the first analysis to investigate the presence of NOS elements in physics guidelines adopted by the “Liceo Scientifico” high school in Italy. The study highlighted a significant presence of epistemic and cognitive aspects of science in the guidelines, in contrast to a scarce presence of social and institutional aspects of science. Through an Epistemic Network Analysis (ENA) on the connections between the NOS categories in the curriculum, a structural difference emerged between the general part of the guidelines, where the goals and values are mainly stressed, and the specific part, where the contents are described. In the latter, the main node of connections is “knowledge”, making the other NOS categories little valued. The second analysis uses RFN to investigate how a sample of five physics teachers implement, in their teaching, NOS elements related to epistemic and cognitive practices. The results highlight not only the room that teachers can find to teach NOS, independently of the official guidelines, but also the great relevance that these elements can have to boost understanding in the discipline, to authentically engage students with physics, and to develop cultural and emotional skills crucial for becoming a responsible and aware citizens

Nova espécie de Hyla Laurenti, 1768 de grande porte do sul da Bahia, Brasil (Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae)

A new large treefrog species of the genus Hyla is described from São José da Vitória and Wenceslau Guimarães, in southern State of Bahia, Brazil. Hyla exastis sp.nov., morphologically belonging to the H. boans (Linnaeus, 1758) species group and related to H. pardalis Spix, 1827 and H. lundii Burmeister, 1856, is characterized by: large size (snout-vent length, 81.1-99.0mm in males, 86.5mm in female); dorsum granulose; a developed crenulate fringe along external border of forearm, finger IV, foot, and toe V; calcar appendix conspicuous; anal plate distinct, inferiorly delimited by a transversal row of white tubercles; dorsum grayish yellow (in life) or brown (in preservative), with dark brown to black marks without forming a definite pattern, resembling tree bark with lichens; in life, palm of hand bluish yellow, fingers and disks deep blue, and webbing yellowish gray; sole of foot gray, toes and disks deep blue, and webbing black; palmar formula, I2-2+ II1-2- III11⁄2-1IV;plantarformula,I1-1II1-11⁄2III1-11⁄2IV11⁄2-1V.Uma nova espécie de Hyla de grande porte é descrita de São José da Vitória e Wenceslau Guimarães, no sul do Estado da Bahia, Brasil. Hyla exastis sp.nov., morfologicamente pertencente ao grupo de H. boans (Linnaeus, 1758) e relacionada a H. pardalis Spix, 1827 e H. lundii Burmeister, 1856, é caracterizada por: tamanho grande (comprimento rostro-cloacal, 81,1-99,0mm em machos, 86,5mm na fêmea); dorso granuloso; uma fímbria crenulada desenvolvida ao longo da borda externa do antebraço, dedo IV, pé e artelho V; apêndice calcâneo desenvolvido; placa anal desenvolvida, delimitada inferiormente por uma fileira transversal de tubérculos brancos; dorso amarelo acinzentado (em vida) ou castanho (em preservativo), com manchas castanho escuro a preto sem formar desenho definido e lembrando a casca de árvore com líquens; em vida, palma da mão amarelo azulado, dedos e discos azul escuro e membranas interdigitais cinza amarelado; sola do pé cinza, artelhos e discos azul escuro e membranas interdigitais pretas; fórmula palmar, I 2 - 2+ II 1 - 2- III 11⁄2 - 1 IV; fórmula plantar, I 1 - 1 II 1 - 11⁄2 III 1 - 11⁄2 IV 11⁄2 - 1 V

Atributos Da História De Vida De Um Cascudo De Corredeiras De Riachos De Mata Atlântica, Brasil

Spatial distribution, suitable spawning sites, and sexual dimorphism were investigated in armored catfish Neoplecostomus microps in the Macaé River from March 2004 to March 2005. Individuals of N. microps (n=290) were limited to fast-flowing stretches, and the distribution was related to ontogenetic development. Larvae in post-flexion occurred in the marginal vegetation, and adults only in gaps between boulders and stones in the river channel. Juveniles occurred in both environments. Spawns were found in the natural habitat in rapid stretches, with the eggs attached to the lower surface of stones in openings formed in the riverbed. The number of eggs per stone ranged from 62 to 375, with significant differences among the mean sizes of the eggs. Sexual dimorphism was noticed to N. microps. The anal and urogenital papillae are separated in males and merged in females and there is an epidermal growth along the pectoral-fin spine of males. © 2016, Universidade Estadual de Campinas UNICAMP. All rights reserved.1621

Taxonomic status of Atelopus pachyrhynus Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920, redescription of melanophryniscus tumifrons (Boulenger, 1905), and descriptions of two new species of Melanophryniscus from the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae)

Atelopus pachyrhynus Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920, currently a synonym of Melanophryniscus tumifrons (Boulenger, 1905), is revalidated through direct comparison of the types. The lectotype for Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus is designated, and the type-locality is restricted to São Lourenço do Sul, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Melanophryniscus tumifrons is redescribed and its type-locality is discussed and restricted. Two new species belonging to the M. tumifrons group are described from the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil: Melanophryniscus spectabilis sp.nov. from the Municipality of Nova Teutônia, and Melanophryniscus simplex sp.nov. from Boca da Serra, Municipality of São Joaquim

Uma nova espécie de Elachistocleis (Anura: Microhylidae) do Pantanal Brasileiro.

Uma nova espécie de Elachistocleis do Pantanal Brasileiro é descrita. A nova espécie difere de todos os outros Elachistocleis por ter a seguinte combinação de caracteres: espécie de médio a grande porte (26.9–40.3 mm); comprimento da cabeça com cerca de 89% da largura da cabeça; glândula pós-comissural pobremente desenvolvida; dorso em preservativo (EtOH 70%) ligeiramente áspero, acinzentado, com pontos brancos pequenos e dispersos e uma mancha cinza escura alongada, grande no meio do dorso e na parte posterior da cabeça; ventre cinza ou marrom com manchas brancas separando as regiões dorsal e ventral; um único saco vocal cinza escuro; uma mancha creme claro grande e irregular no úmero; manchas creme claro grandes, irregulares na virilha; faixa creme claro irregular nas superfícies posteriores das coxas; e manchas creme claras irregulares na superfície interna proximal de cada membro posterior. Esta nova espécie aumenta o número de rãs ovais para o Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul para quatro e demonstra o valor da única área protegida em Corumbá para a conservação da biodiversidade e a importância de continuar as pesquisas de campo no Maciço de Urucum para determinar a diversidade da Herpetofauna.A new species of Elachistocleis from the Brazilian Pantanal is described. The new species differs from all other Elachistocleis in having the following combination of characters: medium to large-sized species (26.9–40.3 mm); head length about 89% of head width; post-commissural gland poorly developed; dorsum in preservative (EtOH 70%) slightly rough, grayish, with minute, scattered white dots and a large, elongated dark gray spot on the mid-dorsum and posterior part of head; venter gray or brown with white spots separating dorsal and ventral regions; a single vocal sac dark gray; large, irregular, light cream spot on humerus; large, irregular light cream spots on groin; light cream, irregular stripe on posterior surfaces of thighs; and irregular, light cream spots on the proximal internal surface of each shank. This new species increases the number of Oval frogs for the state of Mato Grosso do Sul to four and demonstrates the value of the single protected area in Corumbá for biodiversity conservation. Continuing field investigations in the Maciço do Urucum are necessary to determine the diversity of the herpetofauna in that region

Modellizzazione matematica e analisi statistica dei tassi di interesse

Dopo aver introdotto le definizioni relative ai tassi di interesse e ai piu' semplici derivati, si affronta il problema della modellizzazione matematica dei tassi di interesse, sia di quello a breve (short rate) sia di quello futuro (forward rate). Nell'ultimo capitolo, dedicato all'analisi statistica, viene spiegato come utilizzare la tecnica dell'analisi in componenti principali (PCA) per ridurre la dimensione dei modelli per il tasso di interesse

Dynamic Force Spectroscopy on Supported Lipid Bilayers: Effect ofTemperature and Sample Preparation

Biological membranes are constantly exposed to forces. The stress-strain relation in membranes determines thebehavior of many integral membrane proteins or other membrane related-proteins that show a mechanosensitive behavior. Here, we studied by force spectroscopy the behavior of supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) subjected to forces perpendicular to their plane. We measured the lipid bilayer mechanical properties and the force required for the punch-through event characteristic of atomic force spectroscopy on SLBs as a function of the interleaflet coupling. We found that for an uncoupled bilayer, the overall tip penetration occurs sequentially through the two leaflets, giving rise to two penetration events. In the case of a bilayer with coupled leaflets, penetration of the atomic force microscope tip always occurred in a single step. Considering the dependence of the jump-through force value on the tip speed, we also studied the process in the context of dynamic force spectroscopy (DFS). We performed DFS experiments by changing the temperature and cantilever spring constant, and analyzed the resultsin the context of the developed theories for DFS. We found that experiments performed at different temperatures and withdifferent cantilever spring constants enabled a more effective comparison of experimental data with theory in comparisonwith previously published data

Common Names for the Frog Genus \u3cem\u3eLeptodactylus\u3c/em\u3e (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae)

Most species of the frog genus Leptodactylus lack common names. Common names are those names used by different human cultures and societies for the species of animals and plants where humans and biota reside together. Often times common names are lacking for Neotropical frogs or are broad in scope. For example, indigenous people may have a single name for frogs that occur on the ground and another name for frogs that occur in shrubs and trees, even though there are many species of ground frogs called by the same name as well as for the tree frogs. Sometimes colonists have used the same names as indigenous peoples, but often colonists use different names (usually imported from their own geographic origin), as they did not understand the indigenous word or words involved. Therefore, there may be different names used by humans for the same frogs at the same places -- this is particularly true when more than one language or dialect is spoken in a given geographic area