Towards a Generic Trace for Rule Based Constraint Reasoning

CHR is a very versatile programming language that allows programmers to declaratively specify constraint solvers. An important part of the development of such solvers is in their testing and debugging phases. Current CHR implementations support those phases by offering tracing facilities with limited information. In this report, we propose a new trace for CHR which contains enough information to analyze any aspects of \CHRv\ execution at some useful abstract level, common to several implementations. %a large family of rule based solvers. This approach is based on the idea of generic trace. Such a trace is formally defined as an extension of the $\omega_r^\lor$ semantics of CHR. We show that it can be derived form the SWI Prolog CHR trace

Water quality and water-use conflicts in Lake Taabo (Ivory Coast)

The Lake Taabo (Ivory Coast, Africa) results of the construction of the Taabo dam on the Ban- dama River. The changes in the water level of the 69-km² lake depend on 1) the rainfall linked to alternating dry/wet seasons; 2) the extraction of water for human uses; 3) the discharge of water from the upstream dam and the volumes tur- bined by the Kossou dam; 4) the various an- thropic effects (discharge of untreated waste water from towns and industries, and leaching from agricultural land). The average concentra- tions of nutrients (NH4-N: 1.1 mg/L, NO3-N: 1.62 mg/L, PO4-P: 10 mg/L, SiO2: 15 mg/L) and chlo- rophyll a (from 4.8 to 16.5 μg/L, average 11.4 μg/L) indicates some degree of eutrophication. The cumulated effects that threaten the ecosys- tem (degradation of water quality and eutrophi- cation) are such that they are likely to interfere with various water uses. In a context of growing health and environmental concerns in Africa, this study demonstrates conflicts between dif- ferent uses of this water resource and the urgent need for an appropriate policy including specific monitoring of lake water quality, wastewater control, and a programme to reduce agricultural fertilizers

Culture of Silence, Professional Identity and the Educator: A State of the Question

This paper aims to establish an analytical framework about the culture of silence in the educator’s identity, showing problems and theoretical and methodological bases. It is a cross-section of the research entitled Culture of Silence in the professional identity of Educational Topics Technicians and Educators in the light of the Freirean thought currently being carried out at the Postgraduate Program in Education (Academic Doctorate Degree in Education) of the State University of Ceará (PPGE/UECE). The methodology adopted at this stage was the qualitative research, resorting to the State of the Question, with a survey, review and deep bibliographical data analysis of the data, based on Freire’s studies. Among other sources, the most important are the directories named Thesis and Dissertations Bank of the Coordinating Agency for Advanced Training of Graduate Personnel (CAPES), the Brazilian Digital Library of Thesis and Dissertations (BDTD), and the CAPES Journals Portal. The results include 36 mapped papers, 10 of which deal with the culture of silence, and 26 of which deal with the educator’s professional identity. We verified a predominance of the qualitative approach of investigation, with a quantitative highlight for bibliographical, documentary, and field/exploratory research. Among the data collection procedures, the application of a questionnaire and the conduction of a semi-structured interview stand out. As for the theoretical bases, the studies by Paulo Freire and Venício Artur Lima (‘Culture of silence’ category); Stuart Hall and Claude Dubar (‘Identity’ category); and Selma Garrido Pimenta, José Carlos Libâneo and Dermeval Saviani (‘Educator’ category). Thus, considering the theoretical and methodological contributions (investigative purpose, goals, problems, analysis categories and references), we emphasize the pertinence of more and deeper reflections about the State of the Question as an original, creative, critical and contributory manner in comparison with scientific research. Keywords: State of the Question. Academic papers. Theoretical and methodological bases DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-16-01 Publication date:August 31st 202

Reliable structural interpretation of small-angle scattering data from bio-molecules in solution - The importance of quality control and a standard reporting framework

Small-angle scattering is becoming an increasingly popular tool for the study of bio-molecular structures in solution. The large number of publications with 3D-structural models generated from small-angle solution scattering data has led to a growing consensus for the need to establish a standard reporting framework for their publication. The International Union of Crystallography recently established a set of guidelines for the necessary information required for the publication of such structural models. Here we describe the rationale for these guidelines and the importance of standardising the way in which small-angle scattering data from bio-molecules and associated structural interpretations are reported. © 2012 Jacques et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

The structure of haemoglobin bound to the haemoglobin receptor IsdH from Staphylococcus aureus shows disruption of the native α-globin haem pocket

© 2015 International Union of Crystallography. Staphylococcus aureus is a common and serious cause of infection in humans. The bacterium expresses a cell-surface receptor that binds to, and strips haem from, human haemoglobin (Hb). The binding interface has previously been identified; however, the structural changes that promote haem release from haemoglobin were unknown. Here, the structure of the receptor-Hb complex is reported at 2.6 Å resolution, which reveals a conformational change in the α-globin F helix that disrupts the haem-pocket structure and alters the Hb quaternary interactions. These features suggest potential mechanisms by which the S. aureus Hb receptor induces haem release from Hb

A theoretical model for organizing and understanding teacher learning opportunities to teach mathematics

Understanding how teacher learning is constituted is an important research area in teacher education with many open questions to be investigated yet. Thereby, in this paper, we present a theoretical model whose main purpose is to enable the design of teacher education programs as well as to guide the understanding of professional learning opportunities for teachers. Based on our research outcomes on teaching and learning algebra and on a literature review, we describe how the model was elaborated and bring some illustrative situations to indicate the model “in action” throughout the teacher education process. The architecture of the program enabled teachers to experience professional learning opportunities linked to mathematical and didactical knowledge regarding patterns and regularities, as well as the opportunity to learn from and with each other, overcoming the isolation caused by daily work in their schools and leading them to explore practices close to their own school reality.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Professional learning opportunities in a practice-based teacher education programme about the concept of function

This article aims to identify professional learning opportunities (PLO) experienced by mathematics teachers during an in-service course regarding their mathematical and didactical knowledge on the concept of function. The conceptual framework distinguishes between mathematical and didactical knowledge and characterises teacher learning and professional learning tasks. The research methodology is qualitative, using participant observation with audio and video recording and document collection. The results show that the professional learning tasks proposed enabled to identify PLO regarding mathematical knowledge of function, involving different ways of representing this concept by means of numeric tables and algebraic notation. Regarding didactical knowledge, there were also PLO supporting reflection about difficulties that the students find with the concept of function and about teaching resources and strategies to overcome those difficulties

Pensée géosystémique orientale (voix et réverbération)

Teorias genuínas que, em tom holístico, votam-se à dinâmica e ao arranjo paisagísticos, apareceram no pensamento de autores alemães. Mas antes que (poucos anos à frente) recebessem o tratamento que viria a instituir epicentros franceses, são apropriadas pela ótica soviética. Há, portanto, uma versão teórica precedente ao insight antropocêntrico francês. E é essa versão oriental que consolidará o conceito de geossistema, firmando-o como instrumento prioritariamente operacional. Viktor Sochava, atuando desde o Instituto de Geografia de Irkutsk (leste siberiano), produz textos notáveis a respeito – publicações que o ocidente teve acesso graças ao periódico Soviet Geography (no qual fomos buscar registros). Contudo, por contingência de privação bibliográfica, a maioria dos pesquisadores brasileiros conhece apenas um texto de Sochava (aliás, feliz tradução de Carlos A. de F. Monteiro, editada em 1977). Destacaremos o pensamento deste que é um dos autores mais referidos em se tratando da teoria geossistêmica; mencionando, em seguida, o pensamento seu sucessor. Exemplificado pelo nome Beroutchachvili, o pensamento herdeiro de Sochava autoriza-nos a falar em escola soviética dos geossistemas – escola que, atrelada às circunstâncias geopolíticas, foi compelida à teorização fundamentalmente naturalista e com fins pragmáticos. Este artigo talvez reduza a rarefação de documentos que, em língua portuguesa, historiografem a Geografia russa. __________________________________________________________________________________ RÉSUMÉThéories génuines qui, dans un accent holistique, se dédient à la dynamique et à l’arrangement paysager, sont apparues chez la pensée d’auteurs allemands. Mais ces théories avant recevoir (peu d’années après) le traitement, lequel instaurerait des épicentres français, sont saisies par l’optique soviétique. Il y a donc une version précédente de l’intuition anthropocentrique française. Cette version orientale c’est juste celle qui consolidera le concept de géosystème, en lui établissant en tant qu’outil spécialement opérationnel. Viktor Sochava, en effectuant ses études auprès de l’Institut de Géographie de Irkutsk (dans l’est sibérien), a produit des textes remarquables à propos – des publications que l’occident a eu accès grâce à la revue Soviet Geography (dans laquelle nous les avons trouvé). Cependant, à cause de la contingence d’un défaut bibliographique, la plupart des géographes brésiliens ne connaissent qu’un seul article de Sochava (d’ailleurs, une traduction très bienvenue de Carlos A. de F. Monteiro, parue en 1977). Nous détacherons la pensée de ce qui est un auteur de référence en ce qui concerne la théorie géosystémique; en mentionnant, ensuite, la pensée qui lui succède. Exemplifiée par le nom Beroutchachvili, la pensée héritière de Sochava nous autorise à parler d’une “école soviétique” des géosystèmes – celle qui, attelée aux circonstances géopolitiques, a été entraînée vers une théorisation dont la pierre angulaire et le but étaient, respectivement, naturaliste et pragmatique. Peut-être cet article-là pourra amenuiser la raréfaction des documents qui, en langue portugaise, historiographent la Géographie russe

Publication guidelines for structural modelling of small-angle scattering data from biomolecules in solution

Small-angle scattering is becoming a mainstream technique for structural molecular biology. As such, it is important to establish guidelines for publication that will ensure that there is adequate reporting of the data and its treatment so that reviewers and readers can independently assess the quality of the data and the basis for any interpretations presented. This article presents a set of preliminary guidelines that emerged after consultation with the IUCr Commission on Small-Angle Scattering and other experts in the field and discusses the rationale for their application. At the 2011 Congress of the IUCr in Madrid, the Commission on Journals agreed to adopt these preliminary guidelines for the presentation of biomolecular structures from small-angle scattering data in IUCr publications. Here, these guidelines are outlined and the reasons for standardizing the way in which small-angle scattering data are presented. © 2012 International Union of Crystallography Printed in Singapore - all rights reserved

Will naturally ventilated dwellings remain safe during heatwaves?

International audienceHeatwaves are responsible for many deaths due to hot weather. Natural ventilation is promoted as a cooling solution to reduce the impacts of climate change because of its energy-saving potential. This paper addresses the prediction of heat-related health risk situations in naturally ventilated dwellings, where indoor thermal conditions depend on external climate and occupant behaviour. Thus, the operating limits of a dwelling vary according to its dynamic thermal response to indoor and outdoor stresses. To secure a building design, a method to improve the prediction of heat-related health risks is proposed that links predicted percentage dissatisfied (PPD) and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) indicators to distinguish a moderately warm situation from a heat stress situation (WBGT>29°C). Simulations are performed for a dwelling during the 2015 heatwave in Paris (France) to test the method. In the example, natural ventilation was found to reduce the indoor temperature, but there remains ambiguity regarding the ability of natural ventilation to provide moderate conditions. According to the scope of the ergonomic standards, "moderate thermal environment" and "heat stress" temperature ranges are not contiguous. Bridging of this gap requires establishing thermal comfort ranges and heat stress thresholds adapted to people according to their acclimatisation level and their sensitivity to heat