Learner conceptions of biological processes in a content and language integrated learning context

In science education, learner conceptions concern how students interpret and understand scientific issues. Recent research into learner conceptions acknowledges students’ knowledge, experiences, language, and resources that demonstrate scientific reasoning rather than their misunderstanding. In this study, we follow a functional approach to learner conceptions and explore the functions of language in constructing and representing students’ interpretations of scientific knowledge. The major theoretical framework guiding this research is the thematic pattern analysis theory (Lemke, 1990), which views scientific phenomena as the patterning of semantic relations (i.e., the relation between scientific concepts and its function). We aim to examine the emergence of learner conceptions and potential factors informing student thematic patterning of scientific issues. This study (research ethics reference number: 20200122) is situated in an undergraduate biology course that employed Content Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in which equal emphasis was given on learning biological concepts and learning the languaging (i.e., appropriately using the thematic patterns) of the concepts. We focus on one written assignment in which students were asked to reason about the mechanism of Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) in water transport in the scenario of water intoxification from extensive exercise and water consumption. The primary data included students’ written responses, question prompts, and marking schemes. Other textual data including textbooks, PowerPoint slides, and teacher notes were consulted to have a contextualized understanding of students’ responses. Preliminary analysis revealed a basic thematic pattern embedded in most students’ responses: EXERCISE (condition) --\u3e SWEATING (result/condition) --\u3e WATER LOSS (result/condition) --\u3e WATER CONSUMPTION (result/condition). We also identified different thematic patterns of student conceptions along each aspect of the basic pattern. To explore factors informing learner conceptions, we then compared the thematic patterns of students’ responses and the model answer, which helped demonstrate how implicit and conflicting thematic patterns incorporated in instructional materials may hamper students’ understanding of scientific concepts. For example, the notion of water may contain an implicit semantic relation of hyponym, i.e., water (subordinate term) as a specific type of molecule (superordinate category) composed of atoms; however, students may draw from their everyday experience and view water as a free-flowing substance. This study thus calls for biology teachers’ attention to the patterning of scientific representations. It also provides implications for science education in general and stimulates science teachers’ thinking in their language use in teaching scientific concepts. Works cited Lemke, J. (1990). Talking science: Language, learning, and values. Ablex Publishing Corporation. Tang, K. S. (2020). Discourse strategies for science teaching and learning: Research and practice. Routledge

The correction of the littlest Higgs model to the Higgs production process e−γ→νeW−He^{-}\gamma\to \nu_{e}W^{-}H in e−γe^{-}\gamma collisions

The littlest Higgs model is the most economical one among various little Higgs models. In the context of the littlest Higgs(LH) model, we study the process $e^{-}\gamma\to \nu_{e}W^{-}H$ and calculate the contributions of the LH model to the cross section of this process. The results show that, in most of parameter spaces preferred by the electroweak precision data, the value of the relative correction is larger than 10%. Such correction to the process $e^{-}\gamma\to \nu_{e}W^{-}H$ is large enough to be detected via $e^{-}\gamma$ collisions in the future high energy linear $e^{+}e^{-}$ collider($LC$) experiment with the c.m energy $\sqrt{s}$=500 GeV and a yearly integrated luminosity $\pounds=100fb^{-1}$, which will give an ideal way to test the model.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

Onsager Relations and Hydrodynamic Balance Equations in 2D Quantum Wells

In this letter we clarify the role of heat flux in the hydrodynamic balance equations in 2D quantum wells, facilitating the formulation of an Onsager relation within the framework of this theory. We find that the Onsager relation is satisfied within the framework of the 2D hydrodynamic balance equation transport theory at sufficiently high density. The condition of high density is consonant with the requirement of strong electron-electron interactions for the validity of our balance equation formulation.Comment: 11 pages, RevTex, 4 postscript figures are avaliable upon reques

Worst case and probabilistic analysis of the 2-Opt algorithm for the TSP

2-Opt is probably the most basic local search heuristic for the TSP. This heuristic achieves amazingly good results on “real world” Euclidean instances both with respect to running time and approximation ratio. There are numerous experimental studies on the performance of 2-Opt. However, the theoretical knowledge about this heuristic is still very limited. Not even its worst case running time on 2-dimensional Euclidean instances was known so far. We clarify this issue by presenting, for every p∈N , a family of L p instances on which 2-Opt can take an exponential number of steps. Previous probabilistic analyses were restricted to instances in which n points are placed uniformly at random in the unit square [0,1]2, where it was shown that the expected number of steps is bounded by O~(n10) for Euclidean instances. We consider a more advanced model of probabilistic instances in which the points can be placed independently according to general distributions on [0,1] d , for an arbitrary d≥2. In particular, we allow different distributions for different points. We study the expected number of local improvements in terms of the number n of points and the maximal density ϕ of the probability distributions. We show an upper bound on the expected length of any 2-Opt improvement path of O~(n4+1/3⋅ϕ8/3) . When starting with an initial tour computed by an insertion heuristic, the upper bound on the expected number of steps improves even to O~(n4+1/3−1/d⋅ϕ8/3) . If the distances are measured according to the Manhattan metric, then the expected number of steps is bounded by O~(n4−1/d⋅ϕ) . In addition, we prove an upper bound of O(ϕ√d) on the expected approximation factor with respect to all L p metrics. Let us remark that our probabilistic analysis covers as special cases the uniform input model with ϕ=1 and a smoothed analysis with Gaussian perturbations of standard deviation σ with ϕ∼1/σ d

Crack paths under mixed mode loading

Long fatigue cracks that initially experience mixed mode displacements usually change direction in response to cyclic elastic stresses. Eventually the cracks tend to orient themselves into a pure mode I condition, but the path that they take can be complex and chaotic. In this paper, we report on recent developments in techniques for tracking the crack path as it grows and evaluating the strength of the mixed mode crack tip stress field

A glassy contribution to the heat capacity of hcp 4^4He solids

We model the low-temperature specific heat of solid $^4$He in the hexagonal closed packed structure by invoking two-level tunneling states in addition to the usual phonon contribution of a Debye crystal for temperatures far below the Debye temperature, $T < \Theta_D/50$. By introducing a cutoff energy in the two-level tunneling density of states, we can describe the excess specific heat observed in solid hcp $^4$He, as well as the low-temperature linear term in the specific heat. Agreement is found with recent measurements of the temperature behavior of both specific heat and pressure. These results suggest the presence of a very small fraction, at the parts-per-million (ppm) level, of two-level tunneling systems in solid $^4$He, irrespective of the existence of supersolidity.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Dissipative Dynamics of a Josephson Junction In the Bose-Gases

The dissipative dynamics of a Josephson junction in the Bose-gases is considered within the framework of the model of a tunneling Hamiltonian. The effective action which describes the dynamics of the phase difference across the junction is derived using functional integration method. The dynamic equation obtained for the phase difference across the junction is analyzed for the finite temperatures in the low frequency limit involving the radiation terms. The asymmetric case of the Bose-gases with the different order parameters is calculated as well

Defects and glassy dynamics in solid He-4: Perspectives and current status

We review the anomalous behavior of solid He-4 at low temperatures with particular attention to the role of structural defects present in solid. The discussion centers around the possible role of two level systems and structural glassy components for inducing the observed anomalies. We propose that the origin of glassy behavior is due to the dynamics of defects like dislocations formed in He-4. Within the developed framework of glassy components in a solid, we give a summary of the results and predictions for the effects that cover the mechanical, thermodynamic, viscoelastic, and electro-elastic contributions of the glassy response of solid He-4. Our proposed glass model for solid He-4 has several implications: (1) The anomalous properties of He-4 can be accounted for by allowing defects to freeze out at lowest temperatures. The dynamics of solid He-4 is governed by glasslike (glassy) relaxation processes and the distribution of relaxation times varies significantly between different torsional oscillator, shear modulus, and dielectric function experiments. (2) Any defect freeze-out will be accompanied by thermodynamic signatures consistent with entropy contributions from defects. It follows that such entropy contribution is much smaller than the required superfluid fraction, yet it is sufficient to account for excess entropy at lowest temperatures. (3) We predict a Cole-Cole type relation between the real and imaginary part of the response functions for rotational and planar shear that is occurring due to the dynamics of defects. Similar results apply for other response functions. (4) Using the framework of glassy dynamics, we predict low-frequency yet to be measured electro-elastic features in defect rich He-4 crystals. These predictions allow one to directly test the ideas and very presence of glassy contributions in He-4.Comment: 33 pages, 13 figure

Expression of mercuric reductase from Bacillus megaterium MB1 in eukaryotic microalga Chlorella sp DT: an approach for mercury phytoremediation

A eukaryotic microalga, Chlorella sp. DT, was transformed with the Bacillus megaterium strain MB1 merA gene, encoding mercuric reductase (MerA), which mediates the reduction of Hg2+ to volatile elemental Hg-0. The transformed Chlorella cells were selected first by hygromycin B and then by HgCl2. The existence of merA gene in the genomic DNA of transgenic strains was shown by polymerase chain reaction amplification, while the stable integration of merA into genomic DNA of transgenic strains was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. The ability to remove Hg2+ in merA transgenic strains was higher than that in the wild type. The merA transgenic strains showed higher growth rate and photosynthetic activity than the wild type did in the presence of a toxic concentration of Hg2+. Cultured with Hg2+, the expression level of superoxide dismutase in transgenic strains was lower than that in the wild type, suggesting that the transgenic strains faced a lower level of oxidative stress. All the results indicated that merA gene was successfully integrated into the genome of transgenic strains and functionally expressed to promote the removal of Hg2+

W Boson Inclusive Decays to Quarkonium at the LHC

In this paper, the production rates of quarkonia eta_c, J/psi, eta_b, Upsilon, B_c and B_c^* through W boson decay at the LHC are calculated, at the leading order in both the QCD coupling constant and in v, the typical velocity of the heavy quark inside of mesons. It shows that a sizable number of quarkonia from W boson decay will be produced at the LHC. Comparison with the predictions by using quark fragmentation mechanism is also discussed. Results show that, for the charmonium production through W decay, the difference between predictions by the fragmentation mechanism and complete leading order calculation is around 3%, and it is insensitive to the uncertainties of theoretical parameters; however, for the bottomonium and B_c^(*) productions, the difference cannot be ignored as the fragmentation mechanism is less applicable here due to the relatively large ratio mb/mw.Comment: Updated to match the published version in EPJ