Aircraft clouds: from chemtrail pseudoscience to the science of contrails

The most frequent statements and arguments found in pseudoscience websites and forums supporting the existence of so-called aircraft chemtrails can be refuted with a scientific explanation of the processes resulting in the formation of condensation or deposition trails, known as contrails. Thus, the hypothesis that chemtrails exist is disproven by the scientific literature that shows that they are the exact same entity as contrails: They are hydrological phenomena which result from a physical process referenced in the many studies carried out since the beginning of the age of aviation, in the early twentieth century. Hence, in this paper we conclude that pseudoscience’s chemtrails are nothing more than the contrails described by science.Peer ReviewedVersió final publicad

Dialogue on Improvisation, Composition and Performance: On Singularity, Complexity and Context

This virtual dialogue that brings into play two seemingly opposing positions actually exposes complementary ideas about improvisation. Marcel Cobussen deals with the complexity of interactive and unique environments and seeks to expand the scope of the concept, pointing to the inevitable presence of a certain degree of improvisation in any musical performance. For him, improvisation is always present. Rogerio Costa, in turn states that, on the one hand this broader view can contribute to overcoming rigid and simplistic categorizations, however, can eventually reduce the power of environments specifically centered on improvisation. From this point of view he emphasizes the social significance of free improvisation in specific musical contexts in Brazil. The apparent differences between the two approaches are mainly due to different perspectives from which each of the researchers weaves their reflections. The various issues raised during the dialogue - some of them seemingly unanswered - can serve as starting points for new debates and discussions that contribute to further research on the subject.

¡Ha desaparecido un ratón! ¿Nos ayudáis a buscar al culpable? : Análisis del impacto didáctico y emocional de un encargo ficticio

Se analiza el impacto didáctico y emocional de la contextualización de los contenidos de un curso de verano de biología molecular. Se propuso a tres grupos de estudiantes de educación secundaria un encargo ficticio. Consistía en descubrir al culpable del robo de un ratón de laboratorio a partir del análisis de muestras biológicas encontradas en el lugar de la desaparición. Resolver el caso requería diseñar experimentos, aplicar técnicas básicas de biología molecular, analizar los resultados y preparar una comunicación científica. Se valoró el aprendizaje de 20 conceptos clave de biología molecular al inicio y al final del curso, lo que demostró la efectividad didáctica de este tipo de contextos. Además, se evidenció que el alumnado mejoró su percepción sobre la naturaleza de la ciencia y que se generaron emociones positivas.S'analitza l'impacte didàctic i emocional de la contextualització dels continguts d'un curs d'estiu de biologia molecular. Es va proposar a tres grups d'estudiants d'educació secundària un encàrrec fictici. Consistia a descobrir al culpable del robatori d'un ratolí de laboratori a partir de l'anàlisi de mostres biològiques oposades en el lloc de la desaparició. Resoldre el cas requeria dissenyar experiments, aplicar tècniques bàsiques de biologia molecular, analitzar els resultats i preparar una comunicació científica. Es va valorar l'aprenentatge de 20 conceptes clau de biologia molecular a l'inici i al final del curs, la qual cosa va demostrar l'efectivitat didàctica d'aquest tipus de contextos. A més, es va evidenciar que l'alumnat va millorar la seva percepció sobre la naturalesa de la ciència i que es van generar emocions positives.Educational and emotional impact of contents contextualization of a summer course in molecular biology is analyzed. A simulated mission of discovering the guilty of stealing a laboratory mouse from biological samples was proposed to three groups of high school students. Solving the case required to design experiments, apply basic molecular biology techniques, analyze data and prepare a scientific communication. The level of 20 key concepts of molecular biology learning was assessed at the beginning and at the end of the course, demonstrating the effectiveness of this teaching approach. Moreover, the students' improvement on their vision of the nature of science was evidenced and positive emotions were generated

The educational project of the classroom of meteorology in Badalona (Spain): from the restoration of an historical and European scientific heritage to the popularization and education in atmospheric science.

Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

La xarxa Edumet : meteorologia en directe sense moure's de l'aula

La Xarxa Meteorològica Educativa de Catalunya (Edumet) és un projecte de l'àmbit de les ciències que el Departament d'Educació de la Generalitat de Catalunya va iniciar a principis de 2004. El formen un conjunt d'estacions meteorològiques automàtiques instal·lades en centres educatius de diferents zones climàtiques de Catalunya que subministren dades a Internet, a través del servidor web http://www.xtec.cat/edumet. Aquest recurs TIC permet accedir de forma permanent a dades meteorològiques en temps real, així com a visualitzar l'evolució del temps atmosfèric en diferents períodes de temps, a 57 estacions meteorològiques

Neotropical Forests from their Emergence to the Future Scenario of Climatic Changes

Neotropical forests (NFs) play a main role in delivering environmental services such as biodiversity conservation and C sink. At the same time, these are some of the most disturbed vegetations in the world, since they are under accelerated rates of suppression and recovery. Conserving the remaining NF and recovering degraded areas is then urgent, although it is not an easy task. Ecological traits are widely varied across NF, as well as their responses to anthropic intervention. Generally, two large groups are observed according to climatic traits: (a) rain forests (RFs), in regions with 6 months or more of precipitation during the year and (b) seasonal dry forests (SDFs), in drier regions. Such forest types show very distinct species composition, α- and β-diversities, as well as functional and biomass dynamics. In this chapter, we both highlight the main differences between RF and DF, from their origin to present-day distribution, species composition, taxonomic and functional diversities, and discuss the predictions for shifts in all these traits during the next decades. Although few certainties, NF potential for mitigation of atmospheric C increases is a consensus among researchers. We also speculate about possible interventions, with the aim of avoiding a drastic future scenario

Els gèneres de comunicació científica i el laboratori com a espai didàctic per a l'ensenyament de les Ciències basat en Projectes

Els contextos de Creació del Coneixement Científic són espais clau perquè l'alumnat desenvolupi els procediments i visions epistèmiques de la Ciència, a més d'una apropiació profunda dels models científics. En aquest sentit, l'Aprenentatge Basat en Projectes és una oportunitat per desenvolupar activitats en les que els alumnes aprenguin ciències participant en aquests contextos. Es proposen quatre activitats ABP ubicades en diferents contextos de creació de coneixement científic (congressos científics, ciència ciutadana, indagacióal laboratori) i es discuteixen les aportacions que fan aquests diversos gèneres científics a l'ensenyament de les Ciències.Contexts of construction of scientific knowledge are key places to develop procedural and epistemic aspects of scientific competence, together with a deeper understanding of scientific models. Project-Based Learning is an opportunity to develop learning activities wherestudents learn sciences participating in these contexts. We propose four PBL activities situated in different contexts of construction of scientific knowledge (scientific congresses, citizen science, laboratory inquiry) and we discuss the application of these scientific genera toScience Education

Implantació d’un robot manipulador al procés de fabricació CNC i raspallat de tubs de forquilla de motocicleta

L’objectiu principal del projecte es implantar l’automatització de l’alimentació d’un torn de control numèric i el posterior raspallat intern de tubs de forquilla de motocicleta mitjançant un robot manipulador de la marca Fanuc. Procés que actualment es desenvolupa de manera semi automatitzada, mitjançant un torn de control numèric i un operari que l’alimenta. El projecte pretén posar en matèria com s’assoleix l’automatització del procés, posant esme sobre el disseny d’utillatge, eines i suport. Es descriu també l’estructuració de la programació del robot manipulador, mitjançant el llenguatge TPE quines instruccions i quin tipus de programació de moviments s’utilitzen. En el projecte s’estudia el procés de fabricació inicial i s’adapta el mateix a una producció completament automatitzada. Es desenvolupa un estudi de les referències de tubs de forquilles que es fabriquen a l’empresa i quins processos poden ser posposats o anteposar per tal de definir un nou procés de fabricació amb les mínimes variants possibles. Es descriu tant l’estudi d’enginyeria mitjançant softwares de simulació de la pròpia marca del robot així com softwares de disseny CAD i la posterior posta en marxa i l’anàlisi de dades dels resultats obtinguts. Les eines i utillatges són dissenyades per establir un procés de fabricació estable i flexible, adaptant-lo a les referències de tubs de forquilla nombrades en el projecte. Són desenvolupades simulacions d’elements finits per validar la resistència mecànica del elements que composen la cel·la robòtica. En el projecte s’estudia també la viabilitat, tant econòmica com productiva de la instal·lació amb les dades de producció generades fins al moment.The main objective of the project is to implement the automation of feeding a numerical control lathe and the subsequent internal brushing of motorcycle fork tubes using a Fanuc manipulator robot. Currently, the process is semi-automated, with a numerical control lathe and an operator feeding it. The project aims to demonstrate how process automation is achieved, with a focus on the design of tools, equipment, and supports. The structure of the programming of the manipulator robot is also described, using the TPE language and specifying the instructions and types of motion programming used. The project studies the initial manufacturing process and adapts it to a fully automated production. An analysis is conducted on the fork tube references manufactured in the company, determining which processes can be rearranged or prioritized to define a new manufacturing process with minimal variations. The engineering study is described, using simulation software specific to the robot brand, as well as CAD design software, followed by the implementation and analysis of data from the obtained results. The tools and equipment are designed to establish a stable and flexible manufacturing process, adapting them to the fork tube references mentioned in the project. Finite element simulations are developed to validate the mechanical strength of the elements composing the robotic cell. The project also examines the economic and productive viability of the installation, based on the production data generated up to the present moment

Avaliação da volemia em pacientes críticos: nova proposta

In order to turn a fluid challenge into a significant increase in stroke volume and cardiac output, 2 conditions must be met: 1) fluid infusion has to significantly increase cardiac preload and 2) the increase in cardiac preload has to induce a significant increase in stroke volume. In other words, a patient can be nonresponder to a fluid challenge because preload does not increase during fluid infusion or/and because the heart (more precisely, at least 1 of the ventricles) is operating on the flat portion of the Frank-Starling curve. Volumetric markers of cardiac preload are therefore useful for checking whether cardiac preload effectively increases during fluid infusion. If this is not the case, giving more fluid, using a venoconstricting agent (to avoid venous pooling), or reducing the intrathoracic pressure (to facilitate the increase in intrathoracic blood volume) may be useful for achieving increased cardiac preload. Arterial pulse pressure variation is useful for determining whether stroke volume can/will increase when preload does increase. If this is not the case, only an inotropic drug can improve cardiac output. Therefore, the best option for determining the usefulness of, and monitoring fluid therapy in critically ill patients is the combination of information provided by the static indicators of cardiac preload and arterial pulse pressure variation.Para ser efetivo em aumentar significativamente o volume sistólico um volume de fluido precisa preencher duas condições : 1- A infusão deste fluido tem que aumentar a pré-carga 2- O aumento da pré-carga tem que promover uma elevação proporcional do volume sistólico Em outras palavras o paciente pode ser não responsivo à infusão de volume em termos de volume sistólico, devido a quantidade de fluidos ainda não ser a necessária ou o coração já estar operando na faixa superior da curva de Frank-Starling. Os indicadores volumétricos da pré-carga cardíaca são úteis para verificar se esta pré-carga aumenta efetivamente durante a infusão de fluido. Em caso negativo, ou seja a pré-carga não aumenta, medidas adicionais como mais fluidos, venoconstrictores para aumentar o quantidade de sangue, ou aumento do retorno venoso por redução da pressão intratorácica podem ser efetivas para atingir a primeira condição: aumento da pré-carga. Delta PP pode ser útil para verificar se o volume sistólico aumenta com a infusão de fluidos. Isto não acontecendo somente drogas inotrópicas podem aumentar o débito cardíaco. Portanto, combinando os indicadores estáticos da pré-carga (PVC, pressão capilar pulmonar) com Delta PP, consegue-se a melhor opção para monitorar a resposta aos fluidos em pacientes críticos

Regulating regret via decreasing goal level:Comparing maximizers and satisficers

Regret is an important emotion in the context of decision making and has many implications for the behavior of consumers. Although regret may be an inevitable outcome, it is possible to cope with it through various regulation strategies. This research investigates one of those strategies, namely, decrease the goal level strategy (DGL), in which one regulates regret by reevaluating the negativity of an outcome. Two properly powered and preregistered experimental studies find that the DGL strategy effectively works in regulating individuals' post-decisional regret. Besides, the DGL effect is moderated by individuals' maximizing tendency. When maximizers engaged in the DGL strategy, by reappraising their decision and recognizing positive alternative goals, they regulated their regrets more successfully. For satisficers, in contrast, who are by default more prone to adopt the protective “good enough” choice, engaging in a DGL strategy did not affect their regrets. These results contribute to the literature on regret by empirically testing DGL as an effective regret regulation strategy, showing mechanisms that can help individuals to effectively cope with regret