High resolution electronic spectroscopy of a non-linear carbon chain radical C6H4+.

The electronic spectrum of a member of a so-far-unstudied class of carbon chain radicals was observed:a nonlinear and noncyclic species. The spectrum was observed more or less accidentally around 604 nm when scanning for coincidences with diffuse interstellar band features in a hydrocarbon plasma. The observed spectrum has a clear rotational and K-type structure. Simulation of the spectrum allowed an accurate determination of the molecular constants of the carrier

Bridging the gap between atmospheric concentrations and local ecosystem measurements

This paper demonstrates that atmospheric inversions of CO₂ are a reliable tool for estimating regional fluxes. We compare results of an inversion over 18 days and a 300 x 300 km 2 domain in southwest France against independent measurements of fluxes from aircraft and towers. The inversion used concentration measurements from 2 towers while the independent data included 27 aircraft transects and 5 flux towers. The inversion reduces the mismatch between prior and independent fluxes, improving both spatial and temporal structures. The present mesoscale atmospheric inversion improves by 30% the CO₂ fluxes over distances of few hundreds of km around the atmospheric measurement locations. Citation: Lauvaux, T., et al. (2009), Bridging the gap between atmospheric concentrations and local ecosystem measurements, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L19809, doi: 10.1029/2009GL039574

Incorporación del conocimiento indígena en la disciplina de Geometría Matemática en un centro de FP

Mathematical geometrical (MG) concept is often perceived as abstract and difficult to understand by students at the TVET College. Students are unable to perform well in Mathematic Assessments Tasks specifically on this concept. Drawing from this is the declining percentages of student enrolments in mathematics at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 2. The aim of this study was to enhance the teaching and learning of Mathematical Geometry through the integration of indigenous knowledge in the form of a pilot-practical assessment task (PAT). The research team made use of focus group discussions to gather empirical data. Students were given the practical assessment task that incorporated indigenous knowledge to close the gap of students being unable to relate the mathematical geometry taught in the classroom to their everyday lives that seemed to prevail amongst mathematics students at a TVET College. Ten co-researchers were homogeneously selected based on their level of experience in teaching mathematical geometry at a TVET college located in the Afromontane communities of Thabo Mofutsanyane municipality, South Africa. The result indicated that indigenous knowledge can be utilized as an effective way of learning and teaching mathematical geometry at the TVET college.El concepto de geometría matemática (MG) suele ser percibido como abstracto y difícil de entender por los estudiantes. De ello se desprende el descenso de los porcentajes de matriculación en matemáticas en el nivel 2 del Marco Nacional de Cualificación (MNC). El objetivo era mejorar la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de la Geometría Matemática mediante la integración de los conocimientos autóctonos en forma de una tarea de evaluación práctica (PAT). El equipo de investigación usó discusiones en grupos de discusión para recopilar datos empíricos. La tarea de evaluación práctica que incorporaba el conocimiento autóctono se realizó con el fin de cerrar la brecha de los estudiantes que no podían relacionar la geometría matemática enseñada en el aula con su vida cotidiana, que parecía prevalecer entre los estudiantes de matemáticas de un centro de formación profesional. Se seleccionaron diez coinvestigadores de forma homogénea en función de su nivel de experiencia en la enseñanza de la geometría matemática en un centro de EFTP situado en las comunidades afromontanas del municipio de Thabo Mofutsanyane (Sudáfrica). El resultado indicó que el conocimiento indígena puede utilizarse como una forma eficaz de aprender y enseñar geometría en la escuela de formación profesional

Electronic gas-phase spectrum of the pentaacetylene cation

The origin band of the A(2)Pi(u) - X(2)Pi(g) electronic transition of the linear pentaacetelyne cation, HC10H+, and isotopic derivatives, HC10D+ and DC10D+, has been recorded in the gas phase. The absorption spectrum was observed by cavity ring down spectroscopy through a supersonic planar plasma expansion. The spectrum comprises both spin-orbit components with resolved P- and R-branches. Contour fits allow the determination of ground and excited state spectroscopic constants