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Cognitive Processes Developed By Students When Solving Mathematical Problems Within Technological Environments, Fernando Barrera-Mora, Aarón Reyes-Rodríguez

The Mathematics Enthusiast

In this paper we document and discuss how the use of digital technologies in problem solving activities can help students to develop mathematical competences; particularly, we analyze the characteristics of reasoning that students develop as a result of using Cabri Geometry software in problem solving. We argue that the dynamical nature of representations constructed with Cabri, and the availability of measure tools integrated to it are important elements that enhance students’ ability to think mathematically and foster the implementation of several heuristic strategies in problem solving processes.

Developing Problem Solving Experiences In Practical Action Projects, François Pluvinage

The Mathematics Enthusiast

Problem solving doubtless is an essential element of mathematical learning, so that mathematics educators often are satisfied when finding situations that lead their students to such activity. But in many cases, the chosen situations and the ways to guide students' works are not sufficiently analyzed from a didactic point of view. Our goal in the present analysis is to underline the possible ways for managing the situations, and to exhibit the parameters that educators have at their disposition within their role as mediator between students and mathematical knowledge and know-how.

The Lantern Walk, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

• Fall 2013 Ceremonies
• History of the Lantern Walk
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• Through the Years

Temporal Trends Of Molecular Markers Associated With Artemether- Lumefantrine Tolerance/Resistance In Bagamoyo District, Tanzania, M. Malmberg, B. Ngasala, P.E. Ferreira, E. Larsson, I. Jovel, A. Hjalmarsson, M. Petzold, Zul Premji, J.P. Gil, A. Bjorkman, A. Martensson

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Development and spread of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) constitutes a major threat to recent global malaria control achievements. Surveillance of molecular markers could act as an early warning system of ACT-resistance before clinical treatment failures are apparent. The aim of this study was to analyse temporal trends of established genotypes associated with artemether-lumefantrine tolerance/resistance before and after its deployment as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria in Tanzania 2006.

Methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the P. falciparum multidrug resistance gene 1 (pfmdr1) N86Y, Y184F, D1246Y and P. falciparum chloroquine transporter gene (pfcrt) K76T were analysed from …

Alpha-Synuclein Aggregates Activate The Nlrp3 Inflammasome Following Vesicle Rupture, Rudy Orlando Cedillos

Master's Theses

Parkinson's disease (PD) and related synucleinopathies are progressive neurodegenerative disorders that feature the accumulation of intracellular inclusions known as Lewy bodies (LBs) in the brain. The presynaptic protein α-synuclein is the primary constituent of LBs and has been documented to play a major role in the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies. Recently, aggregated α-synuclein has been implicated in prompting microglia-mediated inflammation, a process associated with the progression of neuronal death in neurodegenerative disorders. Although the mechanisms surrounding the induction of neuroinflammation are not well understood, the recently discovered inflammasome-forming NLR proteins have emerged as regulators of inflammation. In this study, we sought …

Snail Induces Mesenchymal Transition And Promotes Egfr Tki Resistance In Nsclc Cells Harboring Efgr Kinase Domain Mutations, Rutu Gandhi

Master's Theses

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death, accounting for one third of all deaths from cancer worldwide. About 85-90% of lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Molecular targeted therapies such as epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs) provide an effective treatment option for oncogene addicted NSCLC. However, the development of resistance to EGFR TKIs continues to be the major limitation in the treatment of NSCLC. Resistance to EGFR TKIs has been associated with the loss of canonical epithelial protein E-cadherin, suggesting involvement of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in conferring EGFR TKI …

Development Of Cell Based Reporter Assay To Measure Pkc-Delta Promoter Activity, Kushal Prajapati

Master's Theses

Protein kinase C- δ (PKC-δ) acts as a tumor suppressor in skin cancer and is lost in 30% of human Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). This loss is at the transcriptional level and involves the pathway leading to PKC-δ promoter repression after activation of Ras,PI3K,Fyn, and NF-κB. We proposed development of a high throughput, cell-based luciferase reporter assay on Ras transformed keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT-Ras to screen compounds having potential to inhibit this pathway and re-induce PKC-δ expression. First we developed a stable, PKC-δ promoter-reporter transfected HaCaT-Ras cell line. Next, we tested 13 compounds for their abilities to induce PKC-δ …

Social-Environmental Predictors Of Health-Related Quality Of Life In Youth With Spina Bifida, Caitlin Beth Murray

Master's Theses

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a multidimensional construct including an individual's physical and mental health and psychosocial well-being (De Civita et al., 2005), and the measurement of HRQOL has been recognized as a key marker of health outcomes in pediatric populations (Eiser & Jenney, 2007). Due to medical and technological advances, an increasing number of individuals with chronic illnesses are living longer. As such, research that investigates improvements in HRQOL in youth with chronic illnesses has become essential. Indeed, the number of studies examining HRQOL in pediatric populations has increased markedly; spina bifida (SB) is one among several chronic …

Evidence For Renewal And Reconstitution Of Marginal Zone Macrophages In Young And Aged Mice, Erika Bahamon

Master's Theses

Aging in humans and mice correlates with decline in immune health, affecting both innate and adaptive immunity. Response against blood-borne bacterial pathogens is compromised because of the deterioration of the marginal zones of the spleen and decrease in frequency of marginal zone macrophages (MZM). This thesis asked if low cell turnover is the cause for the decrease of MZM, using cell proliferation to indicate cell turnover in spleens of mice. First, evidence showed MZM proliferation occurred in spleens of young mice and was decreased in the MZM from aged mice. Second, transfer of young bone marrow into old mice replenished …

Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Response To Invasion And Subsequent Removal Of Typha × Glauca From Great Lakes Coastal Marshes, Kimberly Anne Greene

Master's Theses

Aquatic macroinvertebrates are important in wetland ecosystems; many fish and wildlife species depend upon them for food resources and they aid in nutrient cycling. Wetland macroinvertebrate communities are influenced by plant community composition; as such, this study examined two implications of invasive hybrid cattail, Typha × glauca (Typha), on aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in northern Great Lakes coastal wetlands: 1) how the presence of nearly monotypic stands of Typha alters wetland aquatic macroinvertebrate communities and 2) how manual removal of Typha, via mowing and manual tilling, impacts these invertebrate communities along with wetland plant communities. I found that …

Legislating The Risk Of Light Teachers In 1950s And 1970s America, Kevin Vincent Heffernan

Master's Theses

The existence of gay and lesbian teachers remains for many a dangerous notion. Indeed, education and schooling are terrains in which homosexuality has historically been highly charged. Underlying this are problematic assumptions about the suitability of gays and lesbians as school workers, assumptions that feed into larger questions about gays and lesbians in general. This thesis will explore these assumptions - and their consequences for gay and lesbian teachers - against the backdrop of both the 1950s, when the burgeoning Cold War created an "age of anxiety," and the 1970s, when the rise of the religious right began to transform …

I Am Relieved To Discover My Symptoms Are Normal For My Condition: An Analysis Of Two Irritable Bowel Syndrome Support Communities, Erin Hvizdak

Master's Theses

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a "medically unexplained illness," are present in up to 20% of the United States population. Individuals experiencing symptoms of IBS often report that physicians dismiss their experiential and embodied knowledge, leading to a sense of isolation and frustration. Many of these individuals attempt to diminish isolation and also exchange their knowledge in a community setting. In order to enable a more complete understanding of IBS, a survey about community participation was sent to members of a large online support group for IBS located on Facebook, with 81 completed surveys received. Further, an open-ended questionnaire …

Characterization Of Inducible Regulatory T Cells: An Umbilical Cord Blood Model, Rebecca Anne Krier

Master's Theses

The immune system is a group of structures and processes that protect us from disease. To function properly it must recognize a wide variety of pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. T cells play a crucial role in an immune response; however, an overactive immune response can lead to autoimmune diseases, therefore it is important that the immune system has the ability to negatively regulate an immune response. In the periphery, regulatory T cells (CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺) are involved in the maintenance of self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. Mechanisms involved in the induction of iTregs from naïve …

Activity Patterns And Spatial Resource Selection Of The Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis Sirtalis Sirtalis), Matthew Gregory Most

Master's Theses

Snake species usually exhibit seasonal variations in activity patterns, home-range size and the use of respective habitat. Using mark-recapture protocols I marked 96 individual Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis specimens in Lake Forest, IL to determine the independent variables that best explained habitat selection in a population of Eastern Garter Snakes (T. s. sirtalis). Specifically, I focused on the relationship between seasonal movement and home range size of male and female garter snakes. I analyzed the habitat preferences and spatial ecology of Eastern Garter Snakes during the 2011 sampling season and modeled the relationship between preferred or avoided habitat, in conjunction with …

Exosomes: Antiviral Agents In The Human Lung, Jennifer Alexandra Novak

Master's Theses

Hundreds of interferon effectors comprise the immediate host response to virus infection. One family of interferon stimulated genes is the IFITM (Interferon-Induced Transmembrane) proteins. IFITM3, in particular, has been shown to block virus cell entry of Influenza A Virus, SARS Coronavirus, and West Nile Virus, among others. IFITM3 has also been identified as an essential factor for host protection against Influenza A Virus in mice and humans. However, the mechanism by which IFITM3 functions remains unclear.

IFITM3 may function both intracellularly and extracellularly to block virus infection in the human lung. The extracellular milieu contains microscopic vesicles termed exosomes which …

The Interactive Effects Of Coping Strategies, Gender, And Stress In The Prediction Of Internalizing Symptoms In African American Youth: An Application Of The Specificity Model, Cynthia Pierre

Master's Theses

The current study utilized a specificity framework in the examination of interactions among coping strategies, stressor domains, and participant gender in the prediction of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Participants were 273 African American adolescents (6th - 8th; mean age = 12.9; 58% female). Participants completed measures of universal and culturally-relevant coping strategies in response to a stressor. Stressors were coded by raters across dichotomous domains: interpersonality (interpersonal vs. non-interpersonal), duration (acute vs. chronic), controllability (controllable vs. non-controllable), and sexuality (sexual vs. non-sexual). T-tests were conducted to examine differences in reported coping across stress domains. Inconsistent with predictions, mean differences of …

Testimony, Remhi And Senselessness In Guatemalan Memory, Melissa Jean Boroughs

Master's Theses

This thesis argues that the fragmented form of the Guatemalan collective memory concerning the genocide can be more clearly understood by analyzing and comparing testimonial literature, documentaries, the Truth Commission report, a novel, and works of performance art. All of these works are considered to be artifacts of memory of the Guatemalan genocide, each one offering a different perspective on the past and present of Guatemala.

Spanish Women Remembered In Elena Quiroga's Tristura, Escribo Tu Nombre And A Enferma, Ellen Patricia Brugliera

Master's Theses

The Silenced Women in Spain

Through three novels written by Spanish author, Elena Quiroga (1921-1995), this thesis intends to develop a better comprehension of women's role and identity during the Second Republic in Spain (December, 1931-1936), and under Franco's almost 40 year reign between 1936 and 1975.

Although the Republic sought to initiate change for women via constitutional and legislative reforms, the forms of mobilization occurred under male tutelage, and the Republic's lack of strategy combined with organizational fragmentation led, in some ways, to the immobilization of women. Because the society was in flux, these attempts at reform were also …

Assessing The Effects Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles On Microbial Communities In Stream Sediment Using Artificial Streams And High Throughput Screening, Alexandra Ozaki

Master's Theses

Nano-titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) is an engineered nanomaterial used in a wide array of commercial products. The production and use of large amounts of nano-TiO2 is resulting in the unintended release to the environment. Nano-TiO2 is known to be cytotoxic due primarily to its ability to generate reactive oxygen species, and negative impacts on a variety of organisms have been demonstrated, but the effects of nano-TiO2 on complex microbial communities under ecologically relevant conditions have rarely been tested. We conducted a controlled manipulative experiment using recirculating model streams dosed with a one-time amendment of 1mg L-1 nano-TiO2 (specifically P25). Within one …

Antibodies To Inhibit Clostridium Difficile Adhesion To Human Gut Epithelial Cell Line, Wonbeom Paik

Master's Theses

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a major hospital-acquired diarrhea that can cause life-threatening complications such as pseudomembranous colitis. CDI is caused by colonization of host with C. difficile, a Gram positive, anaerobic bacterium known to produce toxins that cause disease. Normally, the gut microbiota protects the host from CDI, but disruption of the microbial composition through antibiotic treatment can leave one vulnerable for CDI. To date, no vaccines for preventing CDI are available.

In this study, the potential of antibodies directed against specific surface molecules of C. difficile to block bacterial adherence to host gut epithelial cells was studied, in …

Physicians As Gatekeepers: Uncovering Barriers And Facilitators To Participation In A Prostate Cancer Prevention Intervention Clinical Trial, Theresa T. Crocker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Clinical trials play an important role in advancing therapeutic and preventive care with many current modalities resulting from prior research. While prior research has described barriers to participation in therapeutic clinical trials, much less in known about barriers related to participation in trials aimed at prevention, prostate cancer prevention in particular. Physicians have been shown to play a critical role in access to trials; however, less is known about the individual and structural factors that influence their participation in prostate cancer prevention trials. This research provides rich ethnographic detail within the context of an ongoing trial. Research participants included physician/investigators …

Characterizing Interactions Between Chromophores In Synthetic And Natural Macromolecular Films Via Maldi-Tof, Ibf And Dielectric Analyzer, Parul Jain

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the emergence of Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time-of-flight as a tool for diagnosis of diseases via proteomics, there is an increasing need for greater sensitivity. Analysis of peptides by MALDI-TOF-MS is affected by sample formulation and spotting onto a MALDI target. This dissertation investigates a novel MALDI sample preparation technique, Induction Based Fluidics (IBF), for depositing precise volumes (pL to nL) of samples onto the target. We have seen that while using IBF, the induced electric field accompanying deposition enhances matrix crystallization yielding smaller crystals with more homogeneity, as compared to conventional manual micropipette (MP) depositions. An investigation of the …

Exploring The Relevance Of Feminist Leadership In Theological Education Of Nigeria, Adesanya İbiyinka Olusola

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Feminist leadership is very important in theological education as it would seek to deconstruct stereotypical assumptions about women and gender in Christian theological traditions. Unfortunately, most of the theological schools in Nigeria do not have feminist as leaders. Five reasons why feminist leadership are needed in theological schools have been identified as, the bible teaching that women brought sin and death to the world, servant hood notion of women, scandal of particularity, male domination of ministries and theological methods and process that are full of stereotypes. All this does not provide women a unique opportunity to discover and develop their …

Interactive Concept Acquisition For Embodied Artificial Agents, Joachim De Greeff

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

An important capacity that is still lacking in intelligent systems such as robots, is the ability to use concepts in a human-like manner. Indeed, the use of concepts has been recognised as being fundamental to a wide range of cognitive skills, including classification, reasoning and memory. Intricately intertwined with language, concepts are at the core of human cognition; but despite a large body or research, their functioning is as of yet not well understood. Nevertheless it remains clear that if intelligent systems are to achieve a level of cognition comparable to humans, they will have to posses the ability to …

Seabed Classification For Trawlability Determined With A Multibeam Echo Sounder On Snakehead Bank In The Gulf Of Alaska, Thomas C. Weber, Chris Rooper, John L. Butler, Darin Jones, Chris Wilson

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

—Rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) tend to aggregate near rocky, cobble, or generally rugged areas that are difficult to survey with bottom trawls, and evidence indicates that assemblages of rockfish species may differ between areas accessible to trawling and those areas that are not. Consequently, it is important to determine grounds that are trawlable or untrawlable so that the areas where trawl survey results should be applied are accurately identified. To this end, we used multibeam echosounder data to generate metrics that describe the seafloor: backscatter strength at normal and oblique incidence angles, the variation of the angle-dependent backscatter strength within 10° …

The Effects Of Trait-Anxiety On Young Children's Facial And Vocal Emotion Recognition And Attention, Sarah Marie Huttie

Senior Independent Study Theses

No abstract provided.

The Call Of The Wild (And The Caged): The Impact Of A Zoo's Exhibition Styles On The Attitudes Of Its Human Visitors, Erin S. Behn

Senior Independent Study Theses

No abstract provided.

Responses Of Marine Benthic Microalgae To Elevated Co2, V. R. Johnson, C. Brownlee, R. E.M. Rickaby, M. Graziano, M. Milazzo, J. M. Hall-Spencer

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Seasonal And Depth-Driven Changes In Rhodolith Bed Structure And Associated Macroalgae Off Arvoredo Island (Southeastern Brazil), Cecília Pascelli, Pablo Riul, R Riosmena-Rodriguez, Fernando Scherner, Marcos Nunes, Jason M. Hall-Spencer, Oliveira Ec De, Paulo Horta

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Tidally Induced Lateral Dispersion Of The Storfjorden Overflow Plume, F. Wobus, G. I. Shapiro, J. M. Huthnance, M. A.M. Maqueda, Y. Aksenov

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.