Teachers’ perspectives on optimizing manipulatives in teaching 21st century skills in kindergarten

Kindergarten teachers optimize manipulatives in teaching young children. These manipulatives can be tools in developing essential skills needed to meet the demands of 21st century society. A descriptive mixed method design was employed in this study. Qualitative data were gathered using interviews and classroom observations, while quantitative data were extracted from questionnaire and classroom inventory checklist. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, whereas qualitative data were transcribed, coded, and categorized by themes. Research respondents were the 25 kindergarten teachers from public schools (n=8) and private schools (n=3) in Pulilan, Bulacan. Results showed that teachers use manipulatives in the teaching and learning process as these provide many opportunities for children to learn and acquire different skills. Several manipulatives develop more than one skill, depending on their characteristics and nature. Moreover, skill development varies depending on the activity and type of manipulatives used.  The research finds that manipulatives continue to be relevant and can be used to develop 21st century skills in kindergarten. However, teachers need to undergo training on the optimization of manipulatives that are readily available in the kindergarten classroom. Furthermore, there is a need for schools to invest in different manipulatives for use in kindergarten

Yellowtail flounder, redfish (Sebastes spp.) and witch flounder indices from the Spanish Survey conducted in Divisions 3NO of the NAFO Regulatory Area

Since 1995, Spain carries out a spring stratified random bottom trawl survey in Div. 3NO of the NAFO Regulatory Area. Total mean catches, biomass and mean numbers for yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea) are presented for the period 1995-2017, for redfish (Sebastes spp.) for the period 1997-2017 and for witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) for the period 2002-2017. Detailed indices are presented from 2013. Yellowtail flounder indices do not show a clear trend. Biomass increased from 1997 to 1999 and then remained almost constant throughout all the period, decreasing slightly in 2014-2017. The 2017 value is the lowest since 1998. Redfish indices oscillate greatly over time, probably because the gear does not sample adequately aggregating pelagic species. There was a sharp increase in 2009 and since then until 2015, biomass fluctuated maintaining higher values than before 2009. In 2016 biomass dropped and increase again in 2017 to the 2012 level. The 3N division comprises around the 90% of the total biomass in the last years. Good year classes have not been registered recently. Witch flounder is very scarce and its indices fluctuated throughout the series reaching the minimum value in 2014 and increasing since 2015. 2017 value is among the highest in the series. Recruitment was quite good at the beginning of the series but poor in recent year

Results from Bottom Trawl Survey on Flemish Cap of June-July 2020

A stratified random bottom trawl survey on Flemish Cap was carried out from 30 June to 29 July 2020. The area surveyed was extended up to depths of 800 fathoms (1460 meters) following the same procedures as in previous years and 181 fishing stations planned. The survey was carried out by the R/V Vizconde de Eza with the usual survey gear (Lofoten). A total of 181 valid hauls were made by the vessel R/V Vizconde de Eza, 120 up to 730 meters depth and 61 up to 1460 meters. Survey results including abundance indices of the main commercial species and age distributions for cod, redfish, American plaice, Greenland halibut, roughhead grenadier, squid and shrimp are presented. The general indexes for this year are estimated taken into account the traditional swept area (strata 1-19, up to depths of 730 m.) and the total area surveyed (strata 1-34, up to depths of 1460 m.).Versión del editor

Results of the Spanish survey in NAFO Division 3NO

Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea), redfish (Sebastes spp.), witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus), roughhead grenadier (Macrourus berglax), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), white hake (Urophycis tenuis), squid (Illex illecebrosus) and capelin (Mallotus villosus) indices from the bottom trawl survey that Spain carries out in Spring since 1995 in Divisions 3NO of the NAFO Regulatory Area are presented. In 2020, the survey was not carried out due to the COVID pandemic situation. The presented indices are biomass by stratum, total length distribution and a and b parameters for the length-weight relationship; age distribution is also presented for Greenland halibut, Atlantic cod and American plaice.Versión del editor

Results for Greenland halibut, American plaice and Atlantic cod of the Spanish survey in NAFO Div. 3NO for the period 1997-2019

Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) indices from the bottom trawl survey that Spain carries out in Spring since 1995 in Div. 3NO of the NAFO Regulatory Area are presented. Biomass, stratified mean catches and mean number per tow for the three species are presented since 1997, year in which the survey extended the depth strata. Mean catch per tow, length distribution and age distribution (this last except for American plaice) are presented for the last five years (2015-2019). Greenland halibut biomass and abundance estimates presented a decreasing trend since 1999, cut in 2007- 2009 with a high increase. In 2011 the biomass drops under the 2008 value, being stable since then until 2014 with a slight increase in 2015-2019 comprising a big increase in 2017, reaching the maximum of the series. In last years it can be seen a presence of juveniles, mainly in 2004, but the greatest lengths have failed, although in 2009 there is a quite good presence of individuals of ages 6-7 and in 2010 between 5-7. In 2011-2019 the presence of all ages is poor. In 2018 the mode was at 1-2 years, and 2-3 years in 2019, suggesting a fairly strong 2017 cohort. For American plaice we can see a slightly increasing trend from 1999 to 2015, reaching a maximum of mean catch and number in 2006, and a severe decline since 2016, being the 2019 the lowest value of the entire series. The greatest recruitment in the presented series occurred in 2004 and we can follow their mode along the years. No good recruitments were seen since then. In last years the level of all the ages is low. No 2019 age indices are available at this moment. For Atlantic cod, it can be seen a low biomass until 2008, being higher and variable since then, reaching a historical maximum in 2014. From 2015, biomass decreased reaching in 2019 poor values at the level of the 2005 biomass. In 2007-2008 the youngest length classes were much over the rest of the length classes. With the 2006 cohort the series reaches the maximum number of its historical values at five years in 2011. There have been no good recruitments since 2009, although in 2015 and 2016 a discrete presence of individuals of age 1 can be seen

Anisotropy in the dielectric spectrum of hydration water and its relation to water dynamics

Proteins, molecules, and macromolecular assemblies in water are surrounded by a nanometer-sized hydration layer with properties very different from bulk water. Here, we use classical molecular dynamics simulations to study the dielectric response of hydration water next to hydrophobic and hydrophilic planar surfaces. We find the interfacial dielectricabsorption of water to be strongly anisotropic: compared to bulk water, which shows a broad dielectricabsorption maximum around 15 GHz in the imaginary part of the dielectric function, the absorption for electric fields parallel to the surface is of similar strength and shows a slight redshift, while for perpendicular electric fields it is strongly attenuated and blueshifted. This anisotropy is generic for hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. From our spatially resolved dielectric functions and a modified Maxwell-Garnett theory that accounts for anisotropic hydration layers around spherical particles, the dielectricabsorption of solutions of organic molecules and micelles is derived to exhibit the experimentally known attenuation in combination with a redshift. These two features are traced back to the subtle interplay of interfacial depolarization effects and the dielectricanisotropy in the hydration layer. By a detailed analysis of the individual water molecule dynamics the perpendicular blueshift is shown not to be linked to accelerated water reorientation, but rather to dielectric boundary effects. Carefully conducted angularly resolved experiments at planar aqueous interfaces will be able to resolve this dielectricanisotropy and thus to confirm the subtle connection between spectralabsorption features and the molecular water dynamics in hydration layers

Spanish Research Report for 2017

Spanish catch and effort information used in this Report is based on the logbook data contributed by the Spanish Administration. The logbooks information for 2017 was available haul by haul. Table 1 presents the Spanish catches by species and Division in 2017 in NAFO Regulatory Area. Total effort of the Spanish fleet in 2017 was 1,037 fishing days. In 2017, IEO scientific observers were on board 329 fishing days that it means 32 % of the Spanish total effort. All length, age and biological information presented in this paper is based on sampling carried out by IEO scientific observers. In 2017, 483 samples were taken with 57,988 individuals of different species examined (Table 2)

Spillover events of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (recombinant GI.4P-GI.2) from Lagomorpha to Eurasian badger

Áreas de pesquisa: Infectious Diseases ; Veterinary SciencesRabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a major threat to domestic and wild European rabbits. Presently, in Europe, the disease is caused mainly by Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2/b or Lagovirus europaeus GI.2), the origin of which is still unclear, as no RHDV2 reservoir hosts were identified. After the RHDV2 emergence in 2010, viral RNA was detected in a few rodent species. Furthermore, RHDV2 was found to cause disease in some hare species resembling the disease in rabbits, evidencing the ability of the virus to cross the species barrier. In this study, through molecular, histopathologic, antigenic and morphological evidences, we demonstrate the presence and replication of RHDV2 in Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) found dead in the district of Santarém, Portugal, between March 2017 and January 2020. In these animals, we further classify the RHDV2 as a Lagovirus europaeus recombinant GI.4P-GI.2. Our results indicate that Meles meles is susceptible to RHDV2, developing systemic infection, and excreting the virus in the faeces. Given the high viral loads seen in several organs and matrices, we believe that transmission to the wild rabbit is likely. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy data show the presence of calicivirus compatible virions in the nucleus of hepatocytes, which constitutes a paradigm shift for caliciviruses’ replication cycleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Spanish Research Report for 2018.

Spanish catch and effort information used in this Report is based on the preliminary logbook data contributed by the Spanish Administration. The logbooks information for 2018 was available haul by haul. Table 1 presents the preliminary Spanish catches by species and Division in 2018 in NAFO Regulatory Area. Total effort of the Spanish fleet in 2018 was 1,082 fishing days. In 2018, IEO scientific observers were on board 279 fishing days that it means 26 % of the Spanish total effort. All length, age and biological information presented in this paper is based on sampling carried out by IEO scientific observers. In 2018, 425 samples were taken with 44,499 individuals of different species examined (Table 2)