Digital technologies and the development of the dynamic view of functional thinking

Functional thinking can be characterised by three properties, namely the assignment aspect, the covariation aspect, and the object aspect. Furthermore, static and dynamic views can be distinguished. In this article, an empirical study is presented that investigates the development of the dynamic view when working with linear functions through the use of digital technologies in the context of suitably selected tasks. The results show prerequisites and necessities for the integration of digital technologies into a constructive teaching concept for the development of functional thinking

Zur Paläopedologie pliozäner Schwemmfächersedimente im Becken von Granada (Hochandalusien)

Eine Boden-Sediment-Abfolge pliozäner Schwemmfächersedimente mit 24 fossilen Böden im nordöstlichen Flügel des Beckens von Granada wurde laboranalytisch untersucht. Die rötlich braunen bis roten Böden und die (Boden-)Sedimente belegen ein mehrfaches Alternieren von Aufschüttung und (unterschiedlich intensiver) Bodenbildung. Akkumulation fand während trockener und morphodynamisch aktiver Phasen ohne schützende Vegetationsdecke, Bodenbildung während feuchter und morphodynamisch stabiler Phasen mit Vegetationsbedeckung statt. Für diesen, zeitlich noch nicht eingrenzbaren Abschnitt des Pliozäns muß daher eine entsprechend hohe Anzahl von Klimawechseln postuliert werden.researc

Prevalence and Infant Mortality of Major Congenital Malformations Stratified by Birthweight

Background: Low birthweight and major congenital malformations (MCMs) are key causes of infant mortality. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of MCMs in infants with low and very low birthweight and analyze the impact of MCMs and birthweight on infant mortality. Methods: We determined prevalence and infant mortality of 28 life-threatening MCMs in very-low-birthweight (75% (10,316) had severe congenital heart disease. The prevalence (per 10,000) of any/cardiac MCM was increased in VLBW (286/176) and LBW (244/143), as compared to NBW infants (38/32). Infant mortality rates were significantly higher in infants with an MCM, as opposed to infants without an MCM, in each birthweight group (VLBW 28.5% vs. 11.5%, LBW 16.7% vs. 0.9%, and NBW 8.6% vs. 0.1%). For most MCMs, observed survival rates in VLBW and LBW infants were lower than expected, as calculated from survival rates of VLBW or LBW infants without an MCM, and NBW infants with an MCM. Conclusions: Infants with an MCM are more often born with LBW or VLBW, as opposed to infants without an MCM. Many MCMs carry significant excess mortality when occurring in VLBW or LBW infants

MOSAiC goes O2A - Arctic Expedition Data Flow from Observations to Archives

During the largest polar expedition in history starting in September 2019, the German research icebreaker Polarstern spends a whole year drifting with the ice through the Arctic Ocean. The MOSAiC expedition takes the closest look ever at the Arctic even throughout the polar winter to gain fundamental insights and most unique on-site data for a better understanding of global climate change. Hundreds of researchers from 20 countries are involved. Scientists will use the in situ gathered data instantaneously in near-real time modus as well as long afterwards all around the globe taking climate research to a completely new level. Hence, proper data management, sampling strategies beforehand, and monitoring actual data flow as well as processing, analysis and sharing of data during and long after the MOSAiC expedition are the most essential tools for scientific gain and progress. To prepare for that challenge we adapted and integrated the research data management framework O2A “Data flow from Observations to Archives” to the needs of the MOSAiC expedition on board Polarstern as well as on land for data storage and access at the Alfred Wegener Institute Computing and Data Center in Bremerhaven, Germany. Our O2A-framework assembles a modular research infrastructure comprising a collection of tools and services. These components allow researchers to register all necessary sensor metadata beforehand linked to automatized data ingestion and to ensure and monitor data flow as well as to process, analyze, and publish data to turn the most valuable and uniquely gained arctic data into scientific outcomes. The framework further allows for the integration of data obtained with discrete sampling devices into the data flow. These requirements have led us to adapt the generic and cost-effective framework O2A to enable, control, and access the flow of sensor observations to archives in a cloud-like infrastructure on board Polarstern and later on to land based repositories for international availability. Major roadblocks of the MOSAiC-O2A data flow framework are (i) the increasing number and complexity of research platforms, devices, and sensors, (ii) the heterogeneous interdisciplinary driven requirements towards, e. g., satellite data, sensor monitoring, in situ sample collection, quality assessment and control, processing, analysis and visualization, and (iii) the demand for near real time analyses on board as well as on land with limited satellite bandwidth. The key modules of O2A's digital research infrastructure established by AWI are implementing the FAIR principles: SENSORWeb, to register sensor applications and sampling devices and capture controlled meta data before and alongside any measurements in the field Data ingest, allowing researchers to feed data into storage systems and processing pipelines in a prepared and documented way, at best in controlled near real-time data streams Dashboards allowing researchers to find and access data and share and collaborate among partners Workspace enabling researchers to access and use data with research software utilizing a cloud-based virtualized infrastructure that allows researchers to analyze massive amounts of data on the spot Archiving and publishing data via repositories and Digital Object Identifiers (DOI

Designing digital technology tasks for the development of functional thinking

In this paper we introduce a theoretical framework concerned with fostering functional thinking in Grade 8 students by utilizing digital technologies. This framework is meant to be used to guide the systematic variation of tasks for implementation in the classroom while using digital technologies. Examples of problems and tasks illustrate this process. Additionally, results of an empirical investigation with Grade 8 students, which focusses on the students’ skills with digital technologies, how they utilize these tools when engaging with the developed tasks, and how they influence their functional thinking, are presented. The research aim is to investigate in which way tasks designed according to the theoretical framework could promote functional thinking while using digital technologies in the sense of the operative principle. The results show that the developed framework — Function-Operation-Matrix — is a sound basis for initiating students’ actions in the sense of the operative principle, to foster the development of functional thinking in its three aspects, namely, assignment, co-variation and object, and that digital technologies can support this process in a meaningful way