32,992 research outputs found
Supporting Children with Special Needs in Learning Basic Computation Skills: The Case of Mia
Rottmann T, Peter-Koop A. Supporting Children with Special Needs in Learning Basic Computation Skills: The Case of Mia. In: White B, Chinnappan M, Trenholm S, eds. Opening up mathematics education research. Proceedings of the 39th annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. Adelaide: MERGA; 2016: 568-575.This paper introduces a revised model for the development of basic computation skills. The model draws on four key phases, which have proven to be important for the development of calculation strategies and stresses the use of gestures and the verbalisation of concrete and mental images. This seems to be of crucial importance for children with special needs as the case of Mia illustrates. Context is a university based intervention program that seeks to support children who struggle with the learning of basic arithmetic concepts and skills
Digital games: Creating new opportunities for mathematics learning
Drawing on the work of James Gee in literacy, we apply his contemporary approach to not only the knowledge systems of mathematics but also the processes by which school mathematics can be learned through the digital games environment. Using a number of games, and young people working these games, we propose that there are novel ways to learn not only many of the concepts that are integral to school mathematics, but such concepts can be learned in ways that are deep. The games environment offers an engaging environment that is substantially different from that experienced in formal school settings. We suggest that many of the principles that underpin the games environment may create new opportunities for teaching and learning that will (re)engage learners and learning of school mathematics.Arts, Education & Law Group, School of Education and Professional StudiesFull Tex
Early growth response gene-2 (Egr-2) regulates the development of B and T cells
The study was supported by Arthritis Research UK.
Copyright @ 2011 Li et al.BACKGROUND: Understanding of how transcription factors are involved in lymphocyte development still remains a challenge. It has been shown that Egr-2 deficiency results in impaired NKT cell development and defective positive selection of T cells. Here we investigated the development of T, B and NKT cells in Egr-2 transgenic mice and the roles in the regulation of distinct stages of B and T cell development. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The expression of Egr1, 2 and 3 were analysed at different stages of T and B cell development by RT-PCT and results showed that the expression was strictly regulated at different stages. Forced expression of Egr-2 in CD2+ lymphocytes resulted in a severe reduction of CD4+CD8+ (DP) cells in thymus and pro-B cells in bone marrow, which was associated with reduced expression of Notch1 in ISP thymocytes and Pax5 in pro-B cells, suggesting that retraction of Egr-2 at the ISP and pro-B cell stages is important for the activation of lineage differentiation programs. In contrast to reduction of DP and pro-B cells, Egr-2 enhanced the maturation of DP cells into single positive (SP) T and NKT cells in thymus, and immature B cells into mature B cells in bone marrow. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that Egr-2 expressed in restricted stages of lymphocyte development plays a dynamic, but similar role for the development of T, NKT and B cells.This article is provided by the Brunel Open Access publishing fund
Beginning teachers’ mathematical knowledge: What is needed?
Over the past decade there has been growing interest in describing and measuring the kinds of mathematical knowledge needed by teachers. Such efforts are in parallel with the development of national standards for teachers, indicating levels of expectation across the years of teachers’ careers. This presentation provides an opportunity for teacher educators and teachers to consider the nature of mathematical knowledge needed by beginning teachers at all levels of schooling. Discussion will be informed by data from an ALTC funded national project that aims to improve the quality of pre-service teachers’ outcomes in mathematics and by the AAMT Standards framework
Leucania merga Adams and McCabe 2023, new species
<i>Leucania merga</i> Adams and McCabe new species <p>Figs. 4 (imago), 17 (valvae), 18 (endophallus), 37 (bursa copulatrix)</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> Dissections examined <b>(</b> 13♁♁, 5♀♀). Type material: Holotype male. <b>GUATEMALA</b>: Alta Verapaz: Biotopo del Quetzal, 15.191822, -90.212461, 1700m, 1♁, dissection TLM♁4385 (deposited in NYSM); Paratypes. (36♁♁, 11♀♀) <b>COSTA RICA</b> Guanacaste, 11.01602, -85.38053, 380m, 10-SRNP-114591, D. Janzen, 1♁ dissection TLM♁6020 (USNM), 1♀, dissection TLM ♀ 6021 (USNM); Puntarenas: Monteverde, Pension Quetzal, 10.316877, -84.822019, 13880m, 14–21 Apr 1990, T. McCabe, 10–21 Feb 2007, T. McCabe, 10♁♁, dissection TLM♁1818 (TLM). <b>GUATEMALA</b>:: Alta Verapaz: Biotopo del Quetzal, 15.191822, -90.212461, 1700m, 3♁ (TLM); Suchitepéquez: Patulul, Los Tarrales Natural Res., 14.522925, -91.136243, 758m, 22 Jul 2009, T. Mc-Cabe, 1♁, 23–24 May 2014, T. McCabe, 1♀ (TLM); Quetzaltenango: Fuentes Georgina, Volcan Zunil, 14.748972,- 91.48031, 2420m, 4–5 Oct 2012, T. McCabe, 1♁, dissection TLM♁4827, 13-21 Feb 2007, T. McCabe, 4♀♀, (TLM) 1 dissection TLM ♀ 6484; Bosqueren de Majades, 15.54411, -92.36025, 2933m, 6 Oct 2012, T. McCabe, 1♁ (TLM); Sacatapequez, Antigua, 25–29 Feb 1992, P.J. Landolt, 1♁, dissection MSA♁2900 (NYSM). <b>NICARAGUA</b>: Matagalpa: Selva Negra, 12.99698, -85.91395, 1300m, 10 Nov 2010, T. McCabe, 1♀ (TLM). <b>MEXICO</b>: Oaxaca: 7 mi S Miahuatian, 16.241039, -96.542979, 1672m, 19 Aug 1992, H. Romack, 1♁ (TLM); Loxicha, 20 km N Candelaria, 1585m, 22–23 Jul 1993, P.J. Landolt, 1♁, dissection MSA♁3149 (NYSM); Mitla, 19 Aug 1969, L.A. Kelton, 1♀, dissection MSA ♀ CNC22; (CNC); Querétaro: 15 mi W Xilitia, 1585m, 31 Jul 1992, P.J. Landolt, 1♁, dissection MSA♁3148; Vera Cruz: Las Minas, near Permet, 1200m, 18 Jul 1993, P.J. Landolt,1♁, dissection MSA♁3190, 18 Jul 1993, P.J. Landolt, 1♀, dissection, MSA ♀ 3191 (NYSM); Chiapas: El Bosque, 1♁, dissection MSA♁CNC19; Bochii, 24 Jul 1969, L.A. Kelton, 2♁♁; San Christóbal, Las Casas, 2295m, 12 May 1969, J.E.H. Martin,1♁, 6 May 1969, J.E.H. Martin, 1♁, dissection MSA♁CNC3; no specific locality, 18 Jul 1969, D. Kritsch, 1♁; Tapilulu, 21 May 1969, A. Mutuura, 3♁♁; 9 mi SE Tropisco, 16 May 1969, J.E.H. Martin, 1♁, 1♀; Durango, 10 mi W El Salto, 2743m, 3 Aug 1964, J.E.H. Martin, 1♀, dissection MSA ♀ CNC4 (CNC). <b>ECUADOR</b>: Zamora, Valladolid, 1♁, dissection MSA♁3593; Chinchipe, 3 km E Sabaanilla, Rio Zamora, 1610m, 1♀ dissection MSA ♀ 3896 (NYSM). <b>VENEZUELA</b>: no specific locality or date, 1♁ MSA♁2785; Aragua: Henri Pittier National Park, Rancho Grande, 22-31 Aug 1967, R. Poole, 1♁, dissection MSA♁ US197 (USNM).</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> <i>Leucania merga</i> is compared to the widespread <i>L. dorsalis</i> Walker, 1856 (Fig. 12). <i>Leucania merga</i> typically has a black spot similar to p.m. dots, but below the mid portion of the cell. This black spot is lacking in <i>L. dorsalis</i>. Diagnostic genitalia characters are as follows: In <i>L. merga</i> the combination of a “pitchfork-like” digitus and basal sclerite of the clasper contrasts with the “spade-like” structure of these two elements in <i>L. dorsalis</i> (Fig. 19). The everted endophalli of the two species is also strikingly different (compare Fig. 18 with Fig. 20). In <i>L. merga</i>, after the basal straight portion the endophallus, makes a right angle capped by a diverticulum with a cluster of long, stiff cornuti. In <i>L. dorsalis</i> this structure is reduced to two small diverticula, one of which has a single hair-like cornutus. The terminal segment of the endophallus in <i>L. merga</i> has a row of robust, retrorse cornuti, which diminishes to a sparse row as it continues to the gonopore. In <i>L. dorsalis</i> this segment of the endophallus is completely unadorned. The bursae copulatrix are also distinct. In <i>L. merga</i> (Fig. 37) the ductus bursae is short and thick whereas in <i>L. dorsalis</i> (Fig. 38) the ductus bursae is long, narrow, and twisted.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> (Fig. 4) Wingspan 34–36.5 mm. Head, palpi, frons, thorax, and tegulae light tan. Patagia with three bands, most anterior with brown scales, second less distinct, third with distinct, black-tipped scales; sex tufts present on male fore- and mid-tibia. Forewing light tan, veins with white interspaces with brown between veins, cubital vein white with faint brown shade along entire length, a black dot (not reniform) present at middle of cell below origin of vein Cu2; p.m. line not produced, apical shade faint, no terminal dots present. Hind wings of both sexes infuscated with some dark scaling on veins. Ventral forewing light tan, darker in subcostal area. Ventral hind wing with light infuscation. Abdomen light tan, shaggy. Sexes similar, except females somewhat darker. Males with basal abdominal eversible tubular structures.</p> <p> <i>Male genitalia.</i> (Figs. 17 & 18) Uncus slightly dilated before terminating in well-defined, claw-like tip; tegumen and vinculum unmodified; cucullus elongate and somewhat rectangular with row of marginal setae in sockets, pore plate present at valvulus; ampulla long and thin; digitus long and sharp-pointed; editum a conspicuous protuberance; basal sclerite of clasper produced into a sharp-pointed projection; claval area of sacculus unmodified. Phallus short and straight; proximal portion of everted endophallus unadorned followed by a right angle, then a diverticulum adorned by clump of long, sharp spines, then the endophallus balloons out, followed by a portion without cornuti; distal portion of endophallus with short single row of heavy retrorse spines leading to somewhat irregular row of shorter cornuti that extends to a narrower terminal portion.</p> <p> <i>Female genitalia.</i> (Fig. 37) Ductus bursae moderately long and sclerotized. Appendix bursae sclerotized and striate for proximal half, directed to left before overlapping ductus bursae and leading to membranous sac that terminates at the ductus seminalis. Corpus bursae sac-like and thin-walled, arising at juncture of ductus bursae and appendix bursae.</p> <p> <b>Global distribution.</b> Mexico, Guatemala (type locality), Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The specific epithet <i>merga,</i> a noun in apposition (Latin merga for hayfork) refers to the sharp, tinelike digitus and pointed basal sclerite of the clasper.</p> <p> <b>Food plant.</b> Unknown.</p> <p> <b>Larva.</b> Unknown.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> A Guatemala specimen of <i>L. merga</i> with Janzen code 10-SRNP-114591 was sequenced in BOLD under the name <i>Leucania</i> Poole 11.</p>Published as part of <i>Mccabe, Timothy L. & Adams, Morton S., 2023, Five new species of the genus Leucania Ochsenheimer in Central America (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), pp. 250-266 in Zootaxa 5256 (3)</i> on pages 253-255, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5256.3.2, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7751414">http://zenodo.org/record/7751414</a>
Measurement of the ratio of branching fractions B(B0→K∗0γ )/B(B0s→φγ ) and the directCP asymmetry inB 0→K∗0γ
The ratio of branching fractions of the radiative B decays B0→K⁎0γ and B0s→ϕγ has been measured using an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1 of pp collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of s√=7TeV. The value obtained is
B(B0→K⁎0γ)B(B0s→ϕγ)=1.23±0.06(stat.)±0.04(syst.)±0.10(fs/fd),
where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is the experimental systematic uncertainty and the third is associated with the ratio of fragmentation fractions fs/fd. Using the world average value for B(B0→K⁎0γ), the branching fraction B(B0s→ϕγ) is measured to be (3.5±0.4)×10−5.
The direct CP asymmetry in B0→K⁎0γ decays has also been measured with the same data and found to be
ACP(B0→K⁎0γ)=(0.8±1.7(stat.)±0.9(syst.))%.
Both measurements are the most precise to date and are in agreement with the previous experimental results and theoretical expectations
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
We conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
Measurement of the CKM angle gamma from a combination of B->Dh analyses
A combination of three LHCb measurements of the CKM angle gamma is presented. The decays B->DK and B->Dpi are used, where D denotes an admixture of D0 and D0-bar mesons, decaying into K+K-, pi+pi-, K+-pi-+, K+-pi-+pi+-pi-+, KSpi+pi-, or KSK+K- final states. All measurements use a dataset corresponding to 1.0 fb-1 of integrated luminosity. Combining results from B->DK decays alone a best-fit value of gamma = 72.0 deg is found, and confidence intervals are set gamma in [56.4,86.7] deg at 68% CL, gamma in [42.6,99.6] deg at 95% CL. The best-fit value of gamma found from a combination of results from B->Dpi decays alone, is gamma = 18.9 deg, and the confidence intervals gamma in [7.4,99.2] deg or [167.9,176.4] deg at 68% CL, are set, without constraint at 95% CL. The combination of results from B->DK and B->Dpi decays gives a best-fit value of gamma = 72.6 deg and the confidence intervals gamma in [55.4,82.3] deg at 68% CL, gamma in [40.2,92.7] deg at 95% CL are set. All values are expressed modulo 180 deg, and are obtained taking into account the effect of D0-D0bar mixing
Measurements of t(t)over-bar cross sections in association with b jets and inclusive jets and their ratio using dilepton final states in pp collisions at root s=13 TeV
The cross sections for the production of t (t) over bar b (b) over bar and t (t) over bar jj events and their ratio sigma(t (t) over bar b (b) over bar)/sigma(t (t) over bar jj) are measured using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.3 fb(-1) collected in pp collisions at root s = 13 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. Events with two leptons (e or mu) and at least four reconstructed jets, including at least two identified as b quark jets, in the final state are selected. In the full phase space, the measured ratio is 0.022 +/- 0.003 (stat) +/- 0.006 (syst), the cross section sigma(t (t) over bar b (b) over bar) bis 4.0 +/- 0.6 (stat)+/- 1.3 (syst) pb and sigma(t (t) over bar jj) is 184 +/- 6 (stat)+/- 33 (syst) pb. The measurements are compared with the standard model expectations obtained from a POWHEG simulation at next-to-leading-order interfaced with PYTHIA. (c) 2017 The Author. Published by Elsevier B.V
Evidence for the decay B0→J/ψω and measurement of the relative branching fractions of meson decays to J/ψη and J/ψη′
First evidence of the B 0 → J / ψ ω decay is found and the B s 0 → J / ψ η and B s 0 → J / ψ η ′ decays are studied using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb -1 collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV. The branching fractions of these decays are measured relative to that of the B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0 decay:frac(B (B 0 → J / ψ ω), B (B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0)) = 0.89 ± 0.19 (stat) - 0.13 + 0.07 (syst),frac(B (B s 0 → J / ψ η), B (B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0)) = 14.0 ± 1.2 (stat) - 1.5 + 1.1 (syst) - 1.0 + 1.1 (frac(f d, f s)),frac(B (B s 0 → J / ψ η ′), B (B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0)) = 12.7 ± 1.1 (stat) - 1.3 + 0.5 (syst) - 0.9 + 1.0 (frac(f d, f s)), where the last uncertainty is due to the knowledge of f d / f s, the ratio of b-quark hadronization factors that accounts for the different production rate of B 0 and B s 0 mesons. The ratio of the branching fractions of B s 0 → J / ψ η ′ and B s 0 → J / ψ η decays is measured to befrac(B (B s 0 → J / ψ η ′), B (B s 0 → J / ψ η)) = 0.90 ± 0.09 (stat) - 0.02 + 0.06 (syst)
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