Natural clocks

1.Flower clock花“钟”在新疆的草原(grasslands)上,生长了一些奇特的花(flowers),淡黄色的小圆花早晨七八点开放,橙红色的蝶形花则在中午十二时开放,白色小花到晚上七八点钟又准时开放。在南美洲(South America)的阿根廷(Argentina),有一种野花,每到初复晚上八点左右纷纷开放。     

Natural language learning

适用对象大、中学英语教师如果语法和词汇是难以消化的英语大餐,而natural language则是易消化、又易于掌握的语言小甜饼。其实natural language也就是高频词重新组合而成的日常短语。它是语法和词汇之间的衔接部分,也是英语教学中应该引起关注的部分。     

冈田将生 A Natural World

冈田将生身上有种与生俱来的天然,他可以笑起来很纯粹,也可以安静地凝视周围。在电视剧中,他的角色也许不是最闪亮,但他的演技却给人留下了诸多特别印象,这就来了解一下属于他独有的天然世界吧。     

Natural Frequency of Full-Prestressed Concrete Beam

Dynamic tests of three bonded and two unbonded full-prestressed concrete beams were carried out.The purpose was to seek the relation between prestressing force and natural frequency.Test results indicate that the frequency of prestressed concrete(PSC)beam increases with the increase in prestressing force approximately.The results are different from the dynamic characteristics of isotropic material beam subjected to compressive axial force which were put forward by Clough et al.The reason is that the beams were considered as isotropic,homogeneous,linear elastic material in the traditional analysis method.However,more accurate results are required in the analysis of frequency of PSC beam.The constitutive mode of PSC member is analyzed based on microstructure of concrete in this paper.The orthotropic linear elastic mode is used to analyze the relation between dynamic frequency and prestressing force of concrete beam,at the same time the equivalent stiffness of prestressed tendon relating to the prestressing force is added to the bending deformation stiffness of the beam.The analytical value agrees well with the test result,indicating that the current analysis method in this paper is feasible to full-prestressed concrete beam.     

Real-Time Arm Animation with Natural Collision Avoidance

A novel approach to realistic collision-free animation of the upper limb was proposed.According to the obstacle-avoidance strategy of human hand,the movement trajectory was computed by manipulability model and minimum-jerk based interpolation.In each key frame,an improved in～verse kinematics method was adopted to obtain a believable posture of the upper limb.By comparing with the real movement data obtained from the motion capture device,the resultant animation was testified to be natural.This method can be performed in interactive time,and therefore is applicable in animation edit and control of virtual humans.     

On the Western Conception of Natural Law

Natural law is an important concept of the Western political culture. The author makes a simple investigation into the various definitions of natural law, based on which he comes to the conclusion that natural law is a key concept of Western political culture; that it is a moral norm of politics as well as a product of rational thinking; and that its meaning has varied over time.     

How Can Technology Enhance Children's Natural Curiosity?

Summary

We want children to WANT to learn. Since they have a natural curiosity about so many things in their world, it is only right to base our teaching strategies around this curiosity. If we disguise our teaching objectives as child-centered activities, our students will soon realize that learning is fun and not something to dread. People often have a natural bond with animals, especially with cats and dogs. We have used technology to support our students' inquiry as they observed a puppy and kitten throughout several months. By linking technology with our county objectives, the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program science outcomes (MSPAP) and the National Science Education Standards we have provided the students with an exciting, real-world experience.     

Exploring Natural and Social Scientists’ Views of Nature of Science

Science education researchers recently turned their attention to exploring views about nature of science (NOS). A large body of research indicates that both students and teachers have many naïve views about the NOS. Unfortunately, less attention has been directed at the issue of exploring the views of the scientists. Also, the little research in the literature generally took into consideration NOS views of only natural scientists. This study primarily proposes to explore the views of scientists in both the natural and social sciences regarding the seven target aspects of NOS. The second aim of the study is to find out the similarities and dissimilarities between the views of scientists who majored in social sciences and those who majored in natural sciences in terms of the target aspects of NOS. The sample was 69 scientists representing 5 scientific disciplines from natural and social sciences. Interviews were employed for obtaining data. The data were analyzed by means of cognitive maps. This study revealed that the scientists in the sample have neither completely informed views nor completely naïve views according to contemporary scientific understanding. Their views were a blend of the two in terms of almost all the target aspects of NOS. The views of the scientists in natural science and in social science were not substantially different. The scientists from both groups generally had similar viewpoints. This situation suggested that the scientists' views about NOS are not related to their scientific disciplines.     

Grappling with ‘Natural Selection’ — Experiences of a Teacher

Since evolution forms the core of modern biology, teaching about natural selection is extremely important as this equips the student to frame the ‘why’ questions properly and, at the same time, sharpens their understanding about a host of issues pertaining to behaviour, diversity and genetics.     

Gender Is Cultural Rather Than Natural—Jane Campion's The Piano

Sex and gender have been confusingly categorised by many scholars.Sex refers to biological characteristics;gender,can also be influenced by biology but does not determined by it.Unlike sex,which is determined by nature at birth,gender is a social construct specifying the culturally prescribed roles that men and women are to follow and represent.In order to argue that gender attaches to culture and that gender identity is shaped socially and culturally,this essay analyses Jane Campion’s The Piano from three perspectives.Firstly,the essay will examine the way people in the film represent their gender characters through three repeatedly demonstrated narrative motifs,clothing,the axe and the piano,to illustrate that gender is performative and that cultural gender identities advocate specific performances in terms of behaviour,speech,views,etc.(Butler,2011).Then,through an analysis of the different gazes of the characters in the film,the essay indicates that social and cultural interaction between the genders can go beyond and blur the boundaries of the stereotypical categories of male and female.In the third section,the essay will argue that social rules and discourse also play a prominent role in shaping people’s gender,by discussing how the characters represent and re-define their gender identity under the pressure of the patriarchal society they inhabit.     

Beyond the Walls: Conceptualizing Natural Environments as “Third Educators”

This research examined preservice early childhood educators' perceptions of outdoor settings and their intentions to use outdoor settings in their teaching practice. Students enrolled in an early childhood education program (n?=?110) at a university in the Great Lakes region completed surveys that assessed perceptions of natural settings, intentions to use natural settings in future teaching, knowledge of the benefits of nature for children, and personal nature relatedness. Participants reported relatively high intentions to use natural settings in future teaching, as well as knowledge of the benefits of nature for children, but moderate levels of personal nature relatedness. Participants were more likely to select “maintained” settings such as parks for educational purposes, and more “natural” settings, especially those with water, for personal purposes. Knowledge of the benefits of nature experiences, the perceived difficulty in using natural settings, and personal levels of nature relatedness each significantly predicted intention to use natural settings in future teaching. We recommend that teacher preparation programs provide: opportunities for students to observe and/or interact with children as they engage in unstructured play in natural environments; opportunities to engage in both structured and unstructured learning experiences in natural environments; and preparing students to provide appropriate supervision in natural environments.     

Natural and Treated FeS2 in Li/FeS2 Coin Cell

TREATED FES, SAMPLES WERE PREPARED BY NATURAL FES, SAMPLES WHICH WERE GROUND FIRST, HEATED IN NITROGEN AND THEN WASHED IN ACID. THE LEVELS OF IMPURITY ELEMENTS, PRIMARILY PRESENT AS METALLIC OXIDES AND SULFIDES, ARE HIGHER IN THE NATURAL FES, THAN THOSE IN THE TREATED SAMPLE. SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY SHOWS THAT THE GRAIN SIZES OF TREATED FES, PARTICLES ARE SMALLER THAN THOSE OF NATURAL FES, PARTICLES. THE ELECTROCHEMICAL PERFORMANCE OF LI/TREATED FES, CELLS IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE SMALLER GRAIN SIZES AND HIGHER PURITY OF TREATED FES, PARTICLES IN COMPARISON TO THE NATURAL FES, SAMPLE.     

Implementation of Natural Scene Modeling Method Based onPhysical Properties and a Particle System

In virtual environment construction of natural scenes, high realism of the scenes and real time control to the objects in the scene are needed. With a modeling method based on physical properties and a particle system, together with a mipmapping texture technique,good integration between realism and real time control of the natural scenes such as clouds and smoke can be obtained. This paper briefly introduces the basic theory of particle system first, and then describes the construction method of a cloud and smoke particle system. By changing the values of physical properties in the particle system, different shapes and motion status of cloud and smoke result. With a mipmapping technique, real time control and variety of the scenes are improved. Finally an example showing implementation of this method is presented.     

Darwin’s Arguments in Favour of Natural Selection and Against Special Creationism

In many places in The Origin of Species, Darwin compares his own theory of Natural Selection favourably with Special Creationism which comes off as a bad second best. He does this using some version of the argument form known as ‘Inference to the Best Explanation’. The first part of this paper is methodological. It considers Whewell’s notion of consilience, that is, the way in which theories can get additional confirmation through unifying otherwise disparate and independent facts. Then it considers various forms of inference to the best explanation. The second part of the paper applies these methodological considerations to an analysis of some of the many passages in Origin where Darwin presents his case in favour of Natural Selection. This gives a far superior explanation of biological facts compared with Special Creationism which provides either an inferior explanation or no explanation at all. Contrary to the view that Creationism should not be taught, the passages from Darwin show at least that it should be understood if only to show that it offers no explanation of a wide range of obvious biological facts. As such the passages in Origin in which Darwin presents his case against Creationism can serve as a series of excellent exercises in getting students to think about Natural Selection as opposed to Creationism. For this reason alone they ought to be better known. In addition, Darwin’s point in these passages can only be understood using principles of scientific method, such as inference to the best explanation, which are essential in showing that Natural Selection is to be preferred to Creationism.     

Making a Theist out of Darwin: Asa Gray’s Post-Darwinian Natural Theology

In March of 1860 the eminent Harvard Botanist and orthodox Christian Asa Gray began promoting the Origin of Species in hopes of securing a fair examination of Darwin??s evolutionary theory among theistic naturalists. To this end, Gray sought to demonstrate that Darwin had not written atheistically and that his theory of evolution by natural selection had not presented any new scientific or theological difficulties for traditional Christian belief. From his personal correspondence with the author of the Origin, Gray well knew that Darwin did not affirm God??s ??particular?? design of nature but conceded to the possibility that evolution proceeded according to ??designed laws.?? From this concession, Gray attempted to develop a post-Darwinian natural theology which encouraged theistic naturalists to view God??s design of nature through the evolutionary process in a manner similar to the way in which they viewed God??s Providential interaction with human history. Indeed, securing a fair reading of the Origin was not Gray??s sole aim as a promoter of Darwinian ideas. In Darwin??s theory of natural selection, Gray believed he had discovered the means by which a more robust natural theological conception of the living and evolving natural world could be developed. In this paper I outline Gray??s efforts to produce and popularize a theistic interpretation of Darwinian theory in order to correct various misconceptions concerning Gray??s natural theological views and their role in the Darwinian Revolution.     

Multiple Outcomes of Class Visits to Natural History Museums: The Students’ View

The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the range of outcomes of class visits to natural history museums. The theoretical framework is based on the multifaceted process of learning in free choice learning environments, and emphasizes the unique and individual learning experience in museum settings. The study’s significance is in highlighting several possible cognitive as well as non-cognitive learning effects in museums class visits, by providing the student’s point of view. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews with 50 students in grades 6–8 on the day following the visit. We present evidence that students expressed several learning outcomes, connected directly and indirectly to the scientific content of the visit. Content oriented outcomes included acquiring scientific knowledge and making connections to prior knowledge; social oriented outcomes were identified in students’ statements regarding communicating knowledge and social aspects of learning; and interest oriented outcomes were evidenced by students’ expressions about emotions, interest and curiosity. The aggregate data addressed the common outcomes and the impact of class visits to natural history museums in the short term. Comparisons between two types of museums show significant differences in several aspects, regarding the exhibit and/or the activity type. Practical ideas for structuring the ultimate experience are included.     

Students’ Perceptions of Code-Switching in Natural Sciences Classrooms: A South African Perspective

Although South Africa is a multilingual country with 11 official languages, English dominates as the language of teaching and instruction in almost all schools. In addition to this, the Natural Sciences teachers at the school of study were cautioned not to use code-switching because the school policy states that the medium of instruction should be exclusively English. Recently, students at this school complained about teachers who had been code-switching between one or more indigenous languages and English. The objectives of this investigation, therefore, were to explore the perceptions of Grade 8 students regarding code-switching in Natural Sciences classrooms, their perceptions of the effect of code-switching on their academic achievement and also how the use of this teaching strategy influenced their respect for their teacher. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and the findings revealed that students believed that the use of code-switching confused many students, resulting in underachievement in Natural Sciences and that they respected teachers more when they taught in English only.     

Use of Nem Sed Kernelasa Source of Natural Nematicides and Carbofuran 3G Against Pratylenchusthornei

植物根部寄生性线虫Ｐｒａｔｙｌｅｎｃｈｕｓｔｈｏｒｎｅｉ是鹰咀豆高产栽培中的重要不利因子之一．按１，３和５ｇ楝子粉／２０ｇ鹰咀豆种子的配用量进行种子处理，并在田间条件下采用２５ｇ有效成分／ｋｇ种子的施用量施用杀虫剂呋喃丹３Ｇ．播前一天将磨得很细的楝子粉借助于胶合剂布施于种子表面；播种前１ｈ施用呋喃丹３Ｇ杀虫剂．观察测定了植物生长、根瘤量、线虫Ｐｔｈｏｒｎｅｉ的数量及作物产量等指标．与对照相比，所有处理均显著减少线虫量并提高鹰咀豆产量，不过呋喃丹３Ｇ处理线虫最少；楝子粉５ｇ处理时可找到根瘤．呋喃丹处理产量最高．关键词楝籽，呋喃丹３Ｇ，Ｐｒａｔｙｌｅｎｃｈｕｓｔｈｏｒｎｅｉ，鹰咀豆，线虫控制     

Village Elders’ and Secondary School Students’ Explanations of Natural Phenomena in Papua New Guinea

This research investigated the sources of explanations and understanding of natural phenomena in terms of the students’ cultural and school science experiences. The first phase involved interviews with eight village elders that probed their explanations and understanding of natural phenomena. The second phase involved the design, development and administration of two questionnaires on natural phenomena to 179 students in a rural boarding high school in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Most village elders gave explanations of many of the phenomena in terms of spirits, spells, magic, religion, and personal experiences. Most school-aged students choose scientific explanations of natural phenomena in terms of what they had learned in school or from personal experiences. However, many choose explanations of the same phenomena about spirits, spells and magic that came from the village, family or home. The study revealed that students’ ideas about natural phenomena are strongly governed and controlled by their school science knowledge in the school setting. It is likely that their own traditional knowledge cannot be identified in a school setting but that questionnaires in the students’ local language be given to students in their villages (as opposed to school). In addition, so as not to diminish the value of this traditional knowledge, science education programs are needed that are able to consider and harmonise traditional knowledge with school science.