This dissertation is comprised of three articles that build on and support each other. The first article is an extensive literature review, and the other two are empirical studies. In this literature review, the author discussed major theories about human learning processes to guide instructional designers about effective integration of multiple modes in interactive learning environments and explored the knowledge base on representations and manipulatives in mathematics education. The first empirical study?s purpose was to investigate effects of affordances provided with virtual learning environments at different treatment durations. Students from multiple sixth-grade classes were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups differed by allocated session time (10-, 20-, and 30-minute). The online manipulative tool (OMT), which was designed to scaffold learning in operations with rational numbers, allowed students to use the following three components in any order: (a) audio, (b) audio-visual, and (c) manipulatives. Analyses showed that students who used manipulatives most achieved highest; whereas, students who used audio-visual most achieved the second highest. Additionally, the 30-minute group used each component of OMT the least. A meaningful increase in standard algorithm use over manipulatives suggested a transition from concrete to abstract thinking. The second empirical study's purpose was to compare OMT's different representational aspects and to estimate OMT's effects on achievement and technology acceptance when compared to those of traditional classroom activities. Elementary- and middle-grade students were randomly assigned to the control group or one of three treatment groups: (a) audio-visual, (b) virtual-kinesthetic, and (c) dual-mode (virtual-kinesthetic and audio-visual combined). When the control group was compared with experimental groups, pre- and post-test results suggested that OMT was more effective than traditional classroom activities in improving students' understanding of operations with rational numbers. When the students' achievement on pre- and post-tests among experimental groups was compared, no substantial difference was found. However, students in the dual-mode group scored the highest on the technology acceptance survey. Students' technology acceptances also differed among different SES levels but not genders. The results suggested that virtual manipulatives provided additional affordances for conceptual understanding. However, students' acceptances of technology should be considered when implementing new technologies.

Under de senaste åren har intresset för användningen av laborativt material ökat markant. Syftet med denna studie är att ta fram och göra en jämförelse mellan lärare och elevers uppfattningar och åsikter angående användningen av laborativt material i matematikundervisningen. Studien har genomförts på fyra lärare i Örebro samt deras klasser i årskurs 5. Resultatet visar att laborativt material underlättar lärandet, gör matematiken roligare och mer intressant, för många enligt både lärare och elever. Lärarnas och elevernas uppfattning om hur ofta laborativt material plockas fram och då finns tillgängligt skiljer sig åt. Lärarna anser att materialet används mer än vad eleverna uppfattar. Lärarnas svar visar också på att de anser att laborativt material ger en möjlighet att koppla undervisningen till vardagsmatematiken och att det blir mer dubbelriktad kommunikation med eleverna när material användes. / The interest of using laboratory manipulative has increased during the last couple of years. The aim with this study is to find out and make a comparison between teacher and student perceptions and opinions regarding the use of learning materials in mathematics education. The study was conducted on four teachers in Örebro and their classes in grade 5. The results indicate that the use of learning materials facilitates the understanding and makes the mathematics more interesting for many students according both to students and teachers. Teachers’ and students’ opinion differs regarding the frequency of use of laboratory manipulative. The teachers’ opinion is that the material is used more. The answer from teachers shows that they think that learning materials gives an opportunity to connect the education with every day’s mathematics. It also creates a dual communication between students and teachers.

Esta dissertação apresenta uma experiência de abordagem do conceito de ângulo a partir de sua mobilização em diversos contextos, com a utilização de diferentes materiais manipulativos. O estudo foi desenvolvido com alunos do sétimo ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola pública municipal de Canoas, no Rio Grande do Sul. Inspirada pelo desenvolvimento do conceito de ângulo por abstração progressiva proposta por Michael Mitchelmore e Paul White e embasada na teoria da abstração reflexionante de Jean Piaget, foram desenvolvidas e analisadas atividades exploratórias em diferentes contextos e utilizando materiais manipulativos diversos para a construção do conceito de ângulo, com base nesses referenciais teóricos. Os dados foram coletados através de gravação em áudio e vídeo, fotografias das produções dos alunos e anotações em um diário de bordo. A análise dos dados permitiu concluir que a mobilização da noção de ângulo em diferentes contextos e a utilização de materiais manipulativos contribuíram para a construção do pensamento geométrico e conceito de ângulo. / This work presents an experience in approaching the angle concept from its mobilization in different contexts and by the use of different manipulative materials. The study was developed with seventh grade students from a public school in the city of Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul. Inspired by the development of angle concepts by progressive abstraction proposed by Michael Mitchelmore and Paul White and based on the Jean Piaget's reflective abstraction theory, exploratory activities were developed and analyzed in different contexts and using several manipulative materials for the construction of the angle concept, based on these references. The data were collected through video and audio recording, students' productions photographs and logbook notes. The analysis allowed us to conclude that the mobilization of the angle concept in different contexts and the use of manipulative materials contributed to the construction of the geometrical thinking and concept of angle.

abstract: Climate change will result not only in changes in the mean state of climate but also on changes in variability. However, most studies of the impact of climate change on ecosystems have focused on the effect of changes in the central tendency. The broadest objective of this thesis was to assess the effects of increased interannual precipitation variation on ecosystem functioning in grasslands. In order to address this objective, I used a combination of field experimentation and data synthesis. Precipitation manipulations on the field experiments were carried out using an automated rainfall manipulation system developed as part of this dissertation. Aboveground net primary production responses were monitored during five years. Increased precipitation coefficient of variation decreased primary production regardless of the effect of precipitation amount. Perennial-grass productivity significantly decreased while shrub productivity increased as a result of enhanced precipitation variance. Most interesting is that the effect of precipitation variability increased through time highlighting the existence of temporal lags in ecosystem response. Further, I investigated the effect of precipitation variation on functional diversity on the same experiment and found a positive response of diversity to increased interannual precipitation variance. Functional evenness showed a similar response resulting from large changes in plant-functional type relative abundance including decreased grass and increased shrub cover while functional richness showed non-significant response. Increased functional diversity ameliorated the direct negative effects of precipitation variation on ecosystem ANPP but did not control ecosystem stability where indirect effects through the dominant plant-functional type determined ecosystem stability. Analyses of 80 long-term data sets, where I aggregated annual productivity and precipitation data into five-year temporal windows, showed that precipitation variance had a significant effect on aboveground net primary production that is modulated by mean precipitation. Productivity increased with precipitation variation at sites where mean annual precipitation is less than 339 mm but decreased at sites where precipitation is higher than 339 mm. Mechanisms proposed to explain patterns include: differential ANPP response to precipitation among sites, contrasting legacy effects and soil water distribution. Finally, increased precipitation variance may impact global grasslands affecting plant-functional types in different ways that may lead to state changes, increased erosion and decreased stability that can in turn limit the services provided by these valuable ecosystems. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Biology 2014

abstract: Objective: Examine cardiovascular response to OMT via central and peripheral measurements. Methods: Central and peripheral cardiovascular signals of asymptomatic human subjects were monitored during a procedure with alternating rest and active phases. Active phases included systemic perturbations and application of controlled vertebral pressure (OMT) by an experienced osteopathic physician. Pulse plethysmograph and laser Doppler flow sensors measured peripheral flow from index and middle fingers bilaterally. A three-lead EKG monitored cardiac activity. The biosignals were recorded continuously, in real time, and analyzed in time and frequency domains. Results from the control group (n=11), without OMT, and active group (n=16), with OMT, were compared. Peripheral (n=5) and central responders (n=6), subsets of the active group showing stronger peripheral or central response, were examined. In an additional effort, a modified clinical device recorded spectral Doppler ultrasound signals of the radial and dorsalis pedis arteries of clinically asymptomatic human subjects. Controlled physiologic provocations (limb occlusion and elevation), were performed. Time domain and spectral analyses were completed. Results: In the human subject study, the time wave characteristics and spectral analysis resulted in similar trends. Peripheral blood flow attenuated in the control group over time, while it was maintained in the active group, and increased specifically during OMT in the responder groups. Heart rate remained around 65 BPM in the control group, fluctuated between 64-68 BPM in the active group, and dropped 4 and 3 BPM in the peripheral and central responder groups, respectively. The effect in the OMT group was statistically significant compared to no-OMT, however, was not statistically significant within-groups. For the preliminary spectral ultrasound Doppler study, segmental flow was successfully monitored. A prototype "Quick Assessment" tool was developed, providing instant post-processing results for clinical use. Conclusions: OMT along the vertebral column may influence autonomic processes that regulate heart rate and peripheral vascular flow. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Bioengineering 2014

Submitted by Tiago Fernando Dos Reis null (tfr_mir@hotmail.com) on 2017-10-26T23:02:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertação Tiago Reis.pdf: 2347537 bytes, checksum: 75e66340d88eee36ea336dc708fc57b0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Monique Sasaki (sayumi_sasaki@hotmail.com) on 2017-10-31T19:13:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 reis_tf_me_sjrp.pdf: 2347537 bytes, checksum: 75e66340d88eee36ea336dc708fc57b0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-31T19:13:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 reis_tf_me_sjrp.pdf: 2347537 bytes, checksum: 75e66340d88eee36ea336dc708fc57b0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-01 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Os materiais manipuláveis são indicados para auxiliar as crianças na passagem do concreto para o abstrato. Isso, aliado ao fato da dificuldade dos alunos na geometria ao utilizar o ensino tradicional em anos anteriores, motivou a utilização de materiais manipulativos no ensino de Geometria Euclidiana Plana. O trabalho foi desenvolvido com o 9° Ano da Escola Municipal Marciano Maciel da Silva, Tanabi/SP, com 24 alunos que estavam com dificuldade na compreensão e fixação dos conteúdos de geometria. O mesmo envolveu as atividades práticas do capítulo 3. Utilizamos materiais manipulativos a fim de que o alunado se tornasse capaz de compreender conceitos de Geometria Euclidiana Plana. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar a teoria de Geometria Euclidiana Plana, em particular, áreas de regiões poligonais elementares, comprimento de circunferência e áreas de regiões circulares, a qual corresponde às atividades práticas desenvolvidas no 9º ano, e os resultados obtidos com relação à aprendizagem dos alunos com o uso dos materiais manipulativos. Observou-se que o trabalho com materiais manipulativos cumpriu o seu papel de capacitar e engajar os alunos para a compreensão e estudo dos conteúdos ministrados. / Manipulative materials are essential to help children in the transition from concrete to abstract. That, besides students’ difficulty in geometry using the traditional teaching in previous years, motivated the use of manipulative materials when teaching Euclidean Plane Geometry. This work was developed with the 9th grade of Marciano Maciel da Silva Municipal School in Tanabi, SP, with 24 students who presented a great difficulty understanding and fixing contents of geometry. The same involved practical activities of Chapter 3. Manipulative materials were used so that the students would be able to understand Euclidean Plane Geometry concepts. The goal of this paper is to present the Euclidean Plane Geometry theory, particularly, areas of elementary polygonal regions, circumference length and areas of circular regions, which concerns practical activities developed in the 9th grade, and results obtained in relation to students learning through the use of manipulative materials. It was observed that the work with manipulative materials fulfilled its role of enabling and engaging students to understand and study the content presented. / CAPES: 5566899

Esta dissertação apresenta uma experiência de abordagem do conceito de ângulo a partir de sua mobilização em diversos contextos, com a utilização de diferentes materiais manipulativos. O estudo foi desenvolvido com alunos do sétimo ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola pública municipal de Canoas, no Rio Grande do Sul. Inspirada pelo desenvolvimento do conceito de ângulo por abstração progressiva proposta por Michael Mitchelmore e Paul White e embasada na teoria da abstração reflexionante de Jean Piaget, foram desenvolvidas e analisadas atividades exploratórias em diferentes contextos e utilizando materiais manipulativos diversos para a construção do conceito de ângulo, com base nesses referenciais teóricos. Os dados foram coletados através de gravação em áudio e vídeo, fotografias das produções dos alunos e anotações em um diário de bordo. A análise dos dados permitiu concluir que a mobilização da noção de ângulo em diferentes contextos e a utilização de materiais manipulativos contribuíram para a construção do pensamento geométrico e conceito de ângulo. / This work presents an experience in approaching the angle concept from its mobilization in different contexts and by the use of different manipulative materials. The study was developed with seventh grade students from a public school in the city of Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul. Inspired by the development of angle concepts by progressive abstraction proposed by Michael Mitchelmore and Paul White and based on the Jean Piaget's reflective abstraction theory, exploratory activities were developed and analyzed in different contexts and using several manipulative materials for the construction of the angle concept, based on these references. The data were collected through video and audio recording, students' productions photographs and logbook notes. The analysis allowed us to conclude that the mobilization of the angle concept in different contexts and the use of manipulative materials contributed to the construction of the geometrical thinking and concept of angle.

Submitted by MARCIA ROVADOSCHI (marciar@unifra.br) on 2018-08-14T13:00:21Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_AnaPaulaNoro.pdf: 1815913 bytes, checksum: 140ce8a40fb7aa9590310ac557d3e7cb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T13:00:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_AnaPaulaNoro.pdf: 1815913 bytes, checksum: 140ce8a40fb7aa9590310ac557d3e7cb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-27 / The present work aims to analyze the possibilities that the proposition of a sequence based on the methodology of Curriculum Teaching Engineering brings to the learning and teaching Poliedros. O theoretical research involves the teaching of mathematics, in particular the teaching of geometry, the Teaching fundamentals of engineering and the use of manipulatives. The research was qualitative. The main instruments used were participatory observations during the whole process of developing the teaching sequence in which the researcher and participants interacted. Survey participants were students from the Third Year of High School, a public school in the State of São Martinho da Serra, RS. Through these instruments were recorded and analyzed the possibilities that the methodology of Didactic Engineering can offer to the study of polyhedra. It was found that the proposal of a didactic sequence, which had the support of manipulatives and media, collaborated effectively for teaching and learning of polyhedra. The didactic sequence designed and implemented is a product that can help both high school teachers and students of degree courses in Mathematics to overcome the difficulties in passing plane geometry for the space. / O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar as possibilidades que a proposição de uma Sequência Didática fundamentada na metodologia da Engenharia Didática traz para o ensino e aprendizagem dos Poliedros.O referencial teórico da investigação envolve o ensino de Matemática, em particular o ensino de Geometria, os fundamentos da Engenharia Didática e o uso de materiais manipuláveis. A pesquisa teve cunho qualitativo. Os principais instrumentos utilizados foram observações participativas durante todo o processo de desenvolvimento da sequência didática em que a pesquisadora e participantes interagiram. Os participantes da pesquisa foram alunos do Terceiro Ano do Ensino Médio, de uma escola da rede pública Estadual de São Martinho da Serra- RS. Através destes instrumentos foram registrados e analisados quais as possibilidades que a metodologia da Engenharia Didática pode oferecer ao estudo de poliedros. Foi verificado que a proposta de uma sequência didática, que teve apoio de materiais manipuláveis e de mídias, colaborou, de forma efetiva, para o ensino e aprendizagem de poliedros. A sequência didática elaborada e aplicada é um produto que pode auxiliar tanto professores do ensino médio quanto os estudantes dos cursos de licenciatura em Matemática a superarem as dificuldades na passagem da geometria plana para a espacial.

M.A. (Afrikaans) / It has already become a generally accepted platitude to assert that the political novel under the influence of French philosophers Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus has as its aim to explicitly manipulate the concrete reader towards a "desired" attitude. "Desired" then in the sense that the reader will be persuaded by means of literary strategies to accept that particular ideological viewpoint which is communicated by the text. Research done into the aspects of historicity of Houd-den-Bek by Andre P. Brink and as it is utilized by him in the manuscript and other investigations have revealed drastic deviations from the historical facts concerning the slave rebellion during 1825 in the Koue Bokkeveld. The novel employs this chain of events as the narrative. Deviations from the factual can be related to the abstract author's will to evoke from the reader a sympathetic or antipathetic response towards figures or groups. The investigation undertaken by H.P. van Coller (1988) also mainly covered the story aspects of the text. The discursive structure of the whole work (which has not yet been fully researched), especially in relation to the manipulating role of the abstract author as the supreme text internal force, is investigated as a segment of this research project. The nature of the literary communication, namely manipulation as text strategy, which is typical of the engaged text, has been criptically traced. In this investigation the emphasis has fallen on certain manipulation strategies which is typical of the engaged text and then particularly on the compositional level, the word level and the conceptual level. Both intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics have been noted in order to establish in what way the organizing force has manifested itself in this text. It has been established that a pragmatic maneuvering is present in the manipulative proceeds of this particular novel which is directed in a clearly persuasive way. i, Finally it has been established from the reaction of literary scholars, critics and readers that a communication process did take place, that the reader was confronted with a "new" ideology. The reception investigations of critics have been employed in order to establish if the persuasive proceeds, which have been built into the structure of the text, do fulfil their referential function with the intended reader/critic as reproductive reader. Was this then so effective that the reality in Houd-den-Bek could become an emotional guilt ridden stimulus not only to the intended reader, but also to the critic. In other words: has the abstract author managed to manipulate the critic and in so doing, has he managed to influence his objective jUdgement as well. The conclusion that has been arrived at amongst other things, is that the too obvious manipulation present in the novel adversely affects it. Manipulative techniques that have been used excessively become "automatic" as a result of being over-emphasized and they therefore lose their effect. The reality model in the text has only been able to persuade the reader/critic in a limited way to become critically aware

The subject of this diploma thesis is to design a new construction of the machinery, which is used for manipulation with tire carts in rubber industry. The reason for the new design is to eliminate the main shortcomings of the existing provision. The aim of this project was to elaborate an overview of the current designs of the handling equipment in question and to subsequently construct a new suitable design solution. In addition, several conceptual calculations were needed to be used in the selection of the appropriate electric motor, transmission, pneumatic cylinders and wiring. The relevant parts were designed using structural FEM analyses. The several variants of the solutions were considered for a suitable construction design. Based on these FEM simulations, the relevant parts have been modified in terms of geometry so that the resulting manipulating machinery meets all the criteria, especially regarding safety.