1,436 research outputs found

    Rethinking Ephemeral Architecture. Advanced Geometry for Citizen-Managed Spaces

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    In recent years there have been a high amount of citizen initiatives that address the complex problems of the contemporary city. There are empty or disused spaces that have been reused for urban gardens, for social use, to encourage integration and civic activities activation, etc. Traditional architectural processes do not provide realistic solutions to these initiatives that, along with limited financial resources, have led to the emergence of architectures and self-constructed facilities, almost as an emergency mode, without necessary planning, media and constructive knowledge. The democratization of technology, thanks to laboratories of digital production, combined with knowledge of the properties of different surfaces through the CAD-CAM tools, offers new opportunities for the development of a lightweight, flexible and low impact architecture, very according to the needs of citizens' initiatives that naturally arise in our cities. The new existing scenario contemplates the figure of the architect, or engineer, not only as an agent of the market, but as a professional able to propose efficient solutions to problems from within, bringing their specific knowledge and serving as bridges between the new technological solutions and the challenges of society

    Differences in Chemical Sexual Signals May Promote Reproductive Isolation and Cryptic Speciation between Iberian Wall Lizard Populations

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    Interpopulational variation in sexual signals may lead to premating reproductive isolation and speciation. Genetic and morphological studies suggest that the Iberian wall lizard, Podarcis hispanica, forms part of a “species complex” with several cryptic species. We explored the role of chemical sexual signals in interpopulational recognition between five distinct populations of Iberian wall lizards in Central Spain. Results showed that these populations differed in morphology and in composition and proportion of chemical compounds in femoral gland secretions of males. Tongue-flick experiments indicated that male and female lizards discriminated and were more interested in scents of lizards from their own area (i.e., Northern versus Southern populations), but did not discriminate between all populations. Moreover, only males from the populations that are geographically located more far away preferred scent of females from their own population. These data suggest that, at least between some populations, there may be reproductive isolation mediated by chemical signals and cryptic speciation

    Un proyecto que aboga por el entorno como eje central de la enseñanza de las ciencias sociales

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    El presente trabajo pretende poner en valor el entorno del alumnado como eje central del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de las ciencias sociales, ya que tiene un alto valor pedagógico que está siendo desaprovechado por la escuela. Esta apuesta, por el entorno como contenido educativo junto con las metodologías inductivas, pretende generar en el alumnado un aprendizaje significativo y una predisposición positiva ante esta materia. Para ello, presento un proyecto destinado para 4º de primaria sustentado en una consistente fundamentación teórica que pretende suplir el aprendizaje memorístico muy habitual en la enseñanza de las ciencias sociales, por un aprendizaje significativo.Departamento de Didáctica de las Ciencias Sociales y ExperimentalesGrado en Educación Primari

    Experience may allow increasing accuracy of the innate chemosensory recognition of snake predators by Iberian wall lizards

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    Many animals can recognize chemical cues of predators and show defensive responses, but antipredatory behavior can be costly and should be modulated depending on the level of risk posed by each predatory species. Recognition ability may be innate, but it is not clear whether there might also be local adaptation to predation pressure levels or some learning component. We examined the chemosensory ability of naïve and adult Iberian wall lizards, Podarcis hispanicus, to detect chemical cues of two closely related Coronella snake species in two localities within the same continuous population. Lizards in each locality are sympatric with only one of the two snake species. Our results showed an innate chemosensory discrimination of predatory snake cues, as both adult lizards and captive reared naïve hatchlings, which had not had any previous experience with the snake cues, had short latencies to the first tongue-flick, increased tongue-flick responses, and active escape behavior from the scent of either of the two snake species. Moreover, adult lizards, but not naïve hatchlings, showed differential responses to the two different snake species, with higher responses to the snake species that is sympatric in each locality. This strongly suggests that there is a learning component acquired through previous lifetime experiences that may increase accuracy of the discrimination of the sympatric snake. Therefore, through learning of local conditions, lizards may modulate their innate antipredatory responses to the risk level posed by each snake species.Financial support was provided by the project MICIIN-CGL2011-24150/BOS.Peer reviewe

    Microgeographical variations in coloration of male Iberian wall lizards may be related to habitat and climatic conditions

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    Intraspecific variations in coloration may represent a compromise between selection for intraspecific communication and selection for thermoregulation and predator avoidance. Iberian wall lizards, Podarcis hispanica, exhibit substantial levels of intraspecific variation that cannot be necessarily attributed to genetic differences. We compared variations in coloration and habitat use of three phenotypically distinct populations of P. hispanica in Central Spain. Results suggested that differences in coloration may be related to habitat characteristics and climatic conditions. Thus, lizards from populations with colder temperatures were darker and larger, which may favor thermoregulation. Lizards that lived in habitats with more vegetation and darker granite rocks showed a dark brown to black dorsal coloration. In contrast, lizards from habitats with gypsum and light sandy soil without vegetation or large rocks had a brighter yellow to green dorsal coloration. These differences may increase crypsis to predators in each habitat. There were also differences in the characteristics and relative importance of sexual visual signals (i.e., ventrolateral coloration and number of lateral blue spots) and chemical signals (i.e., number of femoral pores) that might increase efficiency of communication in each environment. Natural selection for traits that allow a better thermoregulation, predator avoidance, and communication might lead to population divergence.Financial support was provided by the project MICIIN-CGL2011-24150/BOS and by an “El Ventorrillo” CSIC grant to Marianne Gabirot.Peer reviewe

    La magia del aprendizaje fuera del aula en Educación Infantil: las brujas de San Millán

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    El presente trabajo pretende promover el entorno natural y cultural como eje vertebrador del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje con el fin de paliar el analfabetismo ecológico y la falta de identidad cultural que caracterizan a los niños y niñas del siglo XXI. Asimismo, intenta forjar un aprendizaje significativo a través de una cultura de pensamiento y un aprendizaje fuera del aula. Estas ideas se materializan en un proyecto de 15 sesiones que gira en torno al arrabal de San Millán, dado que ha sido diseñado para el alumnado de 1º de Educación Infantil del colegio Maristas de Segovia. Sin embargo, los elemento vertebradores que conforman el proyecto son fácilmente extrapolables a otro contexto educativo e incluso a otro curso o etapa educativa.Grado en Educación Infanti

    Evaluación de la calidad de una asignatura impartida en modalidad b-learning

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    Abstract La modalidad b-learning se ha convertido en la más utilizada en todos los ámbitos formativos. En el caso de las enseñanzas universitarias, con la llegada del EEES, se impulsó esta modalidad y tras varios años de impartición, se puede analizar el comportamiento hacia el que han ido evolucionando los alumnos que la cursan. En este documento será objeto de estudio la calidad percibida por el alumno de las diferentes actividades y recursos que componen la metodología de impartición de una asignatura de grado de la Escuela Universitaria de Informática de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

    Coloración atípica en una hembra de Iberolacerta cyreni en la Sierra de Guadarrama (Madrid)

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    El trabajo se financió por el proyecto MICIIN-CGL2011-24150/BOSPeer reviewe

    Evolution of the port cities during the Late Antiquity: the example of the Flegreos Fields

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    Las transformaciones que las ciudades vivieron durante el periodo de la Antigüedad Tardía determinaron la continuidad y supervivencia de las mismas. En este proceso, las ciudades portuarias tuvieron un desarrollo particular ligado, en muchos casos, a su función comercial o militar. Los Campos Flegreos reúnen en poco espacio puertos de distinta naturaleza, por ese motivo hemos tomado los ejemplos de Pozzuoli, Baia y Miseno para comprobar, si fuese posible, qué factores serán determinantes en esta evolución que encaminará a las ciudades hacia la Edad Media.The transformations that the cities lived during the period of the Late Antiquity determined their continuity and survival. Port cities were one of the most remarkable examples in this process because of their particular development, in many cases, due to his commercial or military function. The Phlegrean Fields assemble in little space ports of different nature, for this reason we have taken the cases of Pozzuoli, Baia and Miseno to verify, if it is possible, what kind of factors could be determinant in this evolution that will direct them to the Middle Ages
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