Characterising Features of Secondary Mathematics Teachers’ Classroom Practices with Dynamic Digital Technology: The Case of Geometric Similarity

Much research has shown that mathematics teachers have struggled to integrate dynamic mathematical technologies (DMTs) in everyday classroom practice and their use of technology has thus been limited. Developing a comprehensive understanding of teachers’ practices is important to promote successful integration of DMT into the classroom. Currently, little is known about the complex process of integration of DMT and the associated professional knowledge of practice (PKP) required for teachers, particularly for teaching geometric similarity (GS). This study examines lower secondary mathematics teachers’ integration of DMT into their classroom practices with a particular focus on the topic of GS. The study adopted a multiple case study approach and was situated in an English lower secondary school setting. Participants of the study were three teachers who had different levels of experience and expertise both in teaching and in using DMT. The participants were selected among the Cornerstone Maths (CM) project teachers as they had begun to integrate the DMT, the CM software, in their practices to teach GS. Data collection involved video-recorded classroom observations (including the teacher’s eye view), audio-recorded post-lesson teacher interviews, and teachers’ resources and students’ work. The theoretical lenses of the Structuring Features of Classroom Practice (SFCP) framework along with the Instrumental Orchestration (IO) model guided data collection and analysis. The findings revealed salient differences and some commonalities between the teachers, pointing to key characteristics of classroom practices involving DMT for teaching GS. The findings of this thesis contribute to further appreciation of the complex phenomenon of technology integration into the classroom. This study also makes an original contribution to the literature by adopting the SFCP framework for teaching the topic of GS with DMT. Implications discussed in the thesis could inform practitioners, educators and policy makers about how to facilitate teacher interaction with DMT for productive mathematical learning

Teacher Knowledge for Teaching Geometric Similarity with Technology: A Review of Literature

Teacher knowledge for the teaching of key topics in secondary mathematics (in particular geometric similarity) is of prime interest to the mathematics education community. This theoretical paper, which forms part of a literature review conducted for a doctoral study, aims to discuss the few existing research studies addressing teacher knowledge of this topic and to highlight how the integration of digital tools requires the nature of this knowledge to be reconsidered. The implications of these findings for the future research agenda are outlined

Essays on Information and Political Economy:

Thesis advisor: Mehmet EkmekciThis dissertation consists of three essays on media, political and learning. More specifically, I investigate the effects of biased media and learning from that biased media on political institutions. In the first essay, titled “Optimal Dynamic Information Supply and Competition”, I provide a model of an information market where the viewers acquire signals each period at an attention cost, solving an optimal stopping problem à la Wald (1947), and the objective of the potentially biased information providers is to maximize the number of viewers who acquire signals from them across periods. I find that, in a monopoly market, the information provider sends unbiased signals that perfectly reveal the state of the world when there is a single period but provides biased signals when there are multiple periods. This is because biased signals elongate the learning process of some viewers, potentially increasing the information provider payoff. I also find that incentives due to competition, modeled as another information provider that is potentially biased in the opposite direction, overtake the intertemporal incentives and the full information equilibrium is recovered, even though it is wasteful in terms of social welfare. Hence, the paper provides a model with rational information providers and viewers that leads to biased signals in equilibrium. In the second essay, titled “Voter Behavior and Information Aggregation in Elections with Supermajority”, I provide a model of elections where there are three possible outcomes, but the voters can directly vote for one of the two options. Theoutcome of the election corresponds to the options if the vote share for one of them is higher than a supermajority threshold. If neither of the options achieves that, then the result is the third outcome that the voters cannot explicitly vote for, which I interpret as compromise. I investigate various properties of elections in this setting. I find that, in line with the popular argument, supermajority rules foster compromise outcomes. But, on the other hand, elections with supermajority rules fail to aggregate information. In the third essay, titled “Protests, Strategic Information Provision and Political Communication”, I consider a model of protests where the protesters learn about the state of the world via a biased information provider whose objective is to either instigate or dissuade the protest. A successful protest removes the incumbent from office, where the success threshold is determined by the incumbent who is biased. My main aim is to uncover whether the incumbent can learn the true state of the world from the protest turnout, even though the information of the citizens is provided by biased media. I pin down the optimal success threshold and signal noise choices by the incumbent and the information provider, respectively. I find that if the information provider is trying to instigate the protest, then political communication is always possible, regardless of the level of the bias of the incumbent. If the information provider is trying to dissuade the protest, then political communication is possible if and only if the incumbent bias is relatively small.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2023.Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.Discipline: Economics

Reduced reward-related probability learning in schizophrenia patients

Although it is known that individuals with schizophrenia demonstrate marked impairment in reinforcement learning, the details of this impairment are not known. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that reward-related probability learning is altered in schizophrenia patients. Twenty-five clinically stable schizophrenia patients and 25 age- and gender-matched controls participated in the study. A simple gambling paradigm was used in which five different cues were associated with different reward probabilities (50%, 67%, and 100%). Participants were asked to make their best guess about the reward probability of each cue. Compared with controls, patients had significant impairment in learning contingencies on the basis of reward-related feedback. The correlation analyses revealed that the impairment of patients partially correlated with the severity of negative symptoms as measured on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale but that it was not related to antipsychotic dose. In conclusion, the present study showed that the schizophrenia patients had impaired reward-based learning and that this was independent from their medication status

EFFECTS OF 8-WEEKS WHOLE BODY VIBRATION TRAINING ON SOME MARKERS 06 TENNIS PERFORMANCE

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) training on some tennis performance parameters like International Tennis Numbr (ITN) scores, serve speed, reactive agility (with and without racket), 5171, 10m, 20m sprint and isokinetic strength values. 19 tennis players (training group: 9, control group: 10) participated in the research as volunteers. All the selectd parameters were measured before and after the training protocol. While control group was following regular tennis training, intervention group practiced WBV training for eight weeks (3 times a week, 1 level up for every fortnight, 15-20 mins per section). Consequently, it has been revealed that WBV training made an increase in selected performance parameters of athletes

Efficacy of vitamin E and selenium for the prevention of intra-abdominal adhesions in rats: uterine horn models

OBJECTIVE: This study compares the efficacies of vitamin E and selenium, both individually and in combination, for the prevention of postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions in rats. METHODS: Forty-seven female rats were divided into five groups. The sham animals (S group, n = 7) were given only laparotomies and intraperitoneally received 0.9% NaCl (2 ml). In the 40 other rats, abrasions of the left uterine horn were performed, followed by intraperitoneal administration of either 2 ml 0.9% NaCl (C group), 10 mg vitamin E (vitamin E group), 0.2 mg/kg selenium (Se group) or 10 mg vitamin E with 0.2 mg/kg selenium (vitamin E + Se group), with 10 animals in each treatment group. RESULTS: Adhesion formation was significantly reduced in animals in the Se and vitamin E + Se groups (p<0.05). Tissue catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities did not significantly differ between the groups. However, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and reduced glutathione levels were slightly increased in the vitamin E, Se and vitamin E + Se groups. In the vitamin E group, malondialdehyde concentrations were significantly lower than in the C group (p<0.05), but no significant differences were present among the S, C, Se and vitamin E + Se groups. Levels of nitric oxide were significantly higher in the C group than in the other groups (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Intraperitoneal administration of selenium or combined vitamin E and selenium appears to be effective in preventing intra-abdominal adhesion formation in rat models through the reduction of lipid peroxidation products

Surgery-Induced Changes in Erythrocyte and Plasma Lipid Peroxidation, Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Antioxidants of Female Rats: Protective Role of Heparin and Pentoxifylline

Background: Intra abdominal adhesions are a complication that occurs after many abdominal surgical procedures, especially gynecological operations. These complications occur by irritating the peritoneum due to such circumstances as infection or surgical trauma, and are considered a pathological part of the healing process of peritoneal injury. It manifests itself with symptoms such as pain, intestinal or urethral obstruction and abdominal abscesses. Oxidative stress due to adhesions plays an important role on adhesion formation. In addition to many researches done at the point of prevention of adhesion and decreasing stress parameters, in this study, it was planned to determine the effect of Heparin (H) and Pentoxifylline (PTX) on malondialdehyde (MDA) and some antioxidant values.Materials, Methods & Results: This study was performed on rats and thirty-seven female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four groups. The first group was sham (Sh) group (n = 7) and laparotomy was performed and 2 mL of 0.9 % NaCl was applied. For all other rats (n = 30) the small intestine was withdrawn and the uterus was uncovered and the anti mesenteric surfaces of the left uterine horn and left abdominal wall were superficially tilted until slight bleeding was seen. Lesion areas have been covered. Two mL 0.9 % NaCl to control (C) group (n = 10), 500 IU heparin to group H, and 25 mg / kg Pentoxifylline to group PTX (n = 10) have been given and then the abdominal incision was closed. The adhesion score of group Sh was found to be more important than C and PTX groups (P < 0.05). The adhesion score of group C was determined to be more significant than group H (P < 0.05). In group Sh, erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were found to be more significant (P < 0.01) than C, H and PTX groups whereas it was found that group C was more significant than group H (P < 0.01). In group Sh, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was found to be more significant (P < 0.05) than H and PTX groups, while MDA level was found to be lower and more significant (P < 0.01) than group C. In addition, group C was found to be higher and more significant (P < 0.01) than group H. Plasma vitamin E levels in Sh, H and PTX groups were found to be higher and more significant (P < 0.01) than group C. It is also observed that MDA levels in group C are higher and more significant (P < 0.01) than all groups. Nitric oxide (NO) level in Sh group was found to be lower and more significant (P < 0.05) than the other groups whereas it is determined that NO level in H group is higher and more significant (P < 0.05) than group C. Activites of erythrocyte catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), the levels of plasma vitamin A and β-carotene were not important in all groups.Discussion: Intra abdominal adhesions that occur due to operations performed in the abdominal region still remain as a major problem. This adhesion brings certain problems with itself. Various applications have been made to reduce these problems. In this study, it was observed that inhibition of heparin and pentoxifylline adhesions contributed to the reduction of MDA levels and the reduction of oxidative damage due to the increase in levels of Vitamin E, GSH, GSH-Px and NO levels. In conclusion, it is suggested that heparin and pentoxifylline should be used to prevent adhesions due to abdominal operations and to reduce oxidative damage

KINETIC AND KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF RECURVE ARCHERY SHOOTING TECHNIQUE

The study investigated shooting techniques of the archers with kinetic and kinematic methods. Twenty-seven archers of different skill levels have been involved into the current study to investigate both muscular activation strategies of nine muscles and some kinematic data on drawing hand side. A statistical significant difference (p0.05) in the time-dependent exchange values of the angle of the joints, a difference was detected in the graphical sense. Elite archers use distal muscles less but proximal and axial muscles more, and mid-level and novice archers use distal muscles more to pull the bowstring. This was interpreted to be the most important factor affecting the horizontal oscillation (lateral diflection) of bowstring

Comparação da eficácia de tenoxicam administrado por via oral e intra‐articular a pacientes com osteoartrite de joelhos

ResumoJustificativa e objetivosTenoxicam é amplamente usado no tratamento da osteoartrite (OA) e o nosso objetivo foi comparar a eficácia de tenoxicam administrado por via oral (VO) e intra‐articular (IA) no tratamento da OA.MétodosEste estudo foi conduzido entre 2011 e 2012 por meio de análise retrospectiva e comparação dos resultados de 60 pacientes que foram clínica e radiologicamente diagnosticados com OA degenerativa de joelhos na Policlínica de Tratamento da Dor do Hospital Estadual de Bünyan. Os 60 pacientes incluídos no estudo foram alocados em dois grupos. O primeiro grupo (tenoxicam IA, n=30) incluiu resultados de pacientes submetidos à injeção nos joelhos por via IA de 20mg de tenoxicam uma vez por semana durante três semanas e o segundo grupo (tenoxicam VO, n=30) incluiu pacientes que receberam 20mg de tenoxicam por VO uma vez por dia durante três semanas. Todos os pacientes foram avaliados clinicamente na fase basal pré‐tratamento e em uma semana, um mês e três meses pós‐tratamento, de acordo com os critérios especificados.Resultados e conclusõesDos 60 pacientes, 22 eram do sexo masculino e 38 do sexo feminino. Em ambos os grupos, melhorias significativas foram detectadas em todos os parâmetros da escala visual analógica, do índice Western Ontario and MacMaster (Womac – dor, atividade física e rigidez dos joelhos) e do índice de Lequesne nas avaliações feitas em uma semana, um mês e três meses e comparadas aos valores basais. Além disso, uma melhor adesão ao tratamento e tolerabilidade ao sistema gastrointestinal no grupo tenoxicam IA também foram observadas. A administração de tenoxicam IA pode ser considerada como um método opcional de tratamento em pacientes com OA de joelhos que não podem usar tenoxicam por VO, especialmente por causa dos efeitos colaterais sobre o sistema gastrintestinal, e naqueles com dificuldades de adaptação ao tratamento.AbstractBackground and objectivesTenoxicam is widely used in osteoarthritis treatment and we aimed to compare the effectivity of oral and intra‐articular administration of tenoxicam in osteoarthritis treatment.MethodsThis study was performed between 2011 and 2012 by retrospectively analyzing and comparing the findings of 60 patients who were clinically and radiologically diagnosed with knee degenerative osteoarthritis in Bünyan state hospital pain policlinic. 60 patients included in the study were divided into two groups. The first group (tenoxicam IA, n=30) included patient findings of those subjected to intra‐articular injection of 20mg tenoxicam to the knee once a week for three weeks and the second group (oral tenoxicam, n=30) included patients who were administered 20mg oral tenoxicam once a day for three weeks. All patients were clinically evaluated pre‐treatment and in the 1st week, 1st month and 3rd month post‐treatment according to specified criteria.Results and conclusions22 of 60 patients included in the study were male and 38 were female. In both groups significant improvements were detected in all of the observed parameters: visual analog scale, Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (pain, physical activity, knee stiffness) and Lequesne index scores and in the evaluations performed in 1st week, 1st month and 3rd month with respect to pre‐treatment values. Besides, a better compliance to treatment and gastrointestinal system tolerability in tenoxicam IA group was also observed. Intra‐articular tenoxicam administration could be thought as an alternative treatment method in patients with knee osteoarthritis who cannot use oral tenoxicam especially due to systemic gastrointestinal system side effects and those who have difficulties in adapting to treatment