Creativity and Digital Research Methodologies

Digital research methods are relevant to both institutional and anthropological research, and there is a need to address discipline orientated creativity principles in this field. In institutional research, quantitative data has a stronghold – this results in a “Leaky Box’ theory, stating that quantitative only data collection does not address all cohorts present in the tested student population, and that a quantitative and qualitative combined creative method would be more inclusive. Likewise, anthropology research on video games shares similar adherence to accepted models; using video games to understand human interactions is presently accepted only in multiplayer online games with intrahuman interactions. However, research on single-player games with human and more-than human interactions are a valid, albeit novel, creative method in digital research. Creative research methodologies are not intended to be a silver bullet solution to paradigmatic flaws but rather it should guide us towards different disciplinary perspectives

Strength and vertical jumping performance characteristics

The constructed 3D model of the lower part of human body for the simulation of high jump enables to investigate not only parameters of the jump but to analyses the forces acting in muscles and joints as well. The model enables determining the most important muscles for the jump performance and sequentially to make recommendations for the sportsmen seeking the jump height. The developed methodology can be applied for the analysis of other type movements in sports

Effect of Different Muscle Temperature of Human Kinematic Characteristic

The aim of the study is to analyze the effect of different muscle temperature on human kinematic characteristics. Kinematic analysis attempts to explain how the experimental equipment “Biodex Medical System PRO 3” computes kinematic parameters. Subjects were tested using “Biodex Medical System PRO 3”, human muscle testing and rehabilitation equipment. Calf extensor and flexor muscle performance testing. Muscle heating methods, the water temperature of 44 ± 1°C. Muscle cooling methods, the water temperature was 15 ± 1°C. Ten adult males were involved in this experiment. The kinematic analysis is performed by solving a set of equations that result from the kinematic and driver constraints. Gravity correction is admittedly less of a problem in extremity testing since for deriving the percentage deficiency, the contralateral (uninvolved) segment serves as the basis for comparison. Unless indicated otherwise, the weight of symmetrical segments is considered equal. On the other hand, where no collateral segment exists, such as the case with the trunk, the poor accuracy of the commonly employed procedures for correcting this effect or abstaining from using it, has significant ramifications in terms of the correct clinical interpretation

Vertical jump performance: testing leg muscle strength, muscular performance and body balance

The constructed 3D model of the lower part of human body for the simulation of high jump enables to investigate not only parameters of the jump but to analyses the forces acting in muscles and joints as well. The model enables determining the most important muscles for the jump performance and sequentially to make recommendations for the sportsmen seeking the jump height. The developed methodology can be applied for the analysis of other type movements in sports

Effect of different muscle temperature on human kinematic characteristics

The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of different muscle temperature on human kinematic characteristics. Kinematic analysis was used to explain how the experimental equipment “Biodex Medical System PRO 3” computes kinematic parameters. Subjects were tested using “Biodex Medical System PRO 3”, human muscle testing and rehabilitation equipment. Calf extensor and flexor muscle performance was tested. Muscle heating was performed by water temperature of 44±1 °C; muscle cooling – water temperature of 15±1 °C. Ten adult males were involved in the experiment.The kinematic analysis was performed by solving a set of equations that result from the kinematic and driver constraints. Gravity correction is admittedly less of a problem in extremity testing since the contra lateral (uninvolved) segment serves as the basis for comparison deriving the percentage deficiency. Unless indicated otherwise, the weight of symmetrical segments is considered equal. On the other hand, where no collateral segment exists, such as the case with the trunk, the poor accuracy of the commonly employed procedures for correcting this effect or abstaining from using it has significant ramifications in terms of the correct clinical interpretation

Conversas de aprendizagem em museus de ciências: como os deficientes visuais interpretam os materiais educativos do museu de microbiologia?

The processes of science communication and science education became especially important in the last quarter of the last century. Science museums, as non-formal spaces have an important role in amplifying and refining these processes. Being spaces open to the general public will be expected to develop programs that include all of its citizens. The Museum of Microbiology of the Butantan Institute has developed a series of activities and educational materials focusing on microorganisms that were designed to facilitate a closer integration of the visually impaired public with the scientific culture. In the present study, we sought to understand how visually deficient visitors interpreted the materials presented, determine the level of understanding that the use of these materials provided and study the significance attributed to them. Visually impaired visitors were interviewed during their interactions with the materials with the aid of an audio guide, and the talks generated were analyzed within interpretative categories. The most frequent category was “Strategic talk (Use)” (11.8%), in which the visually deficient visitors gave their opinions concerning the uses of the Micro-Touch Program. Two other categories, “Affective talk (Pleasure)” (10.2%) and “Perceptual talk (Identification)” (8.6%) were also established. A combination of tactile and auditory tools was fundamental to solve problems and to the creation of visual representations that are important to constructing and understanding scientific concepts and to facilitate the organization of theoretical thought. We suggest here the necessity of elaborating activities contents that favors the establishment of conceptual talks and considering the previously acquired knowledge of visually impaired visitors during the design of displays, providing higher frequency of other learning talkshttp://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1984686X4341Os processos de divulgação e educação em Ciências vêm tomando grande importância, principalmente a partir do último quarto do século passado. Os museus de ciências, enquanto espaços de educação não formal, têm papel importante na ampliação e refinamento desses processos e, sendo locais abertos à população, são demandados a desenvolver propostas inclusivas. O Museu de Microbiologia do Instituto Butantan desenvolveu uma série de atividades e materiais educativos sobre microrganismos para facilitar a aproximação entre o público deficiente visual e a cultura científica. No presente estudo procurou-se compreender como os visitantes deficientes visuais interpretam os materiais desenvolvidos, verificar qual o entendimento que o uso desses materiais propicia e estudar os tipos de significados que lhes são dados. Pessoas com deficiência visual foram entrevistadas durante a exploração do material com o auxílio de um áudio-guia e as conversas geradas foram analisadas, estabelecendo-se categorias interpretativas. A categoria mais frequente foi a “Estratégica de Uso” (11,8%), quando os deficientes visuais manifestavam suas impressões sobre como utilizar o Programa MicroToque. Outras duas categorias, “Afetiva de Prazer” (10,2%) e “Perceptiva de Identificação” (8,6%) foram também encontradas. A junção das ferramentas tátil e auditiva foi fundamental para a resolução de problemas e criação de representações visuais, importantes para construção e compreensão de conceitos e facilitando a organização do pensamento teórico. Sugere-se aqui a necessidade de uma organização dos conteúdos que favoreça o estabelecimento de conversas interpretativas conceituais e também a consideração dos conhecimentos prévios de visitantes com deficiência visual na elaboração dos aparatos a eles destinados, o que poderia propiciar maior frequência de outras elaborações conversacionais.Palavras-chave: Deficientes visuais. Museu de Ciências. Materiais para toque. Conversas de aprendizado.

Parasite vulnerability to climate change:an evidence-based functional trait approach

Despite the number of virulent pathogens that are projected to benefit from global change and to spread in the next century, we suggest that a combination of coextinction risk and climate sensitivity could make parasites at least as extinction prone as any other trophic group. However, the existing interdisciplinary toolbox for identifying species threatened by climate change is inadequate or inappropriate when considering parasites as conservation targets. A functional trait approach can be used to connect parasites' ecological role to their risk of disappearance, but this is complicated by the taxonomic and functional diversity of many parasite clades. Here, we propose biological traits that may render parasite species particularly vulnerable to extinction (including high host specificity, complex life cycles and narrow climatic tolerance), and identify critical gaps in our knowledge of parasite biology and ecology. By doing so, we provide criteria to identify vulnerable parasite species and triage parasite conservation efforts