The Influence of Individual Differences in Math Anxiety on Learning Novel Mathematics Content

Women are vastly underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers, and one contributing factor is math anxiety. Previous research finds that math anxiety is negatively associated with math performance and achievement, and positively associated with avoidance of math intensive fields. However, our current understanding of the influence of math anxiety on learning of new math knowledge is lacking. To develop interventions that mitigate the negative effects of math anxiety, we need to have a better understanding of the influence of math anxiety on learning of new math content and its interaction with common study strategies. If math anxiety only influences performance of math knowledge, future interventions would need to focus on mitigating the depressing effect of math anxiety on performance, but if math anxiety also interferes with learning of new math information, future interventions would also need to address strategies to improve mastery of math information for individuals with high math anxiety. The current dissertation aims to 1) determine the extent to which math anxiety interferes with learning of new math content, 2) determine if some study strategies lead to different learning outcomes based on individual differences in math anxiety and general math skill, and 3) determine if individuals with high math anxiety use different study strategies than individuals with low math anxiety. To address aims 1 and 2, we ran three experimental studies. Participants were randomly assigned to study a novel math procedure either with examples or by completing practice problems and completed measures of math anxiety and math skill. We found consistent evidence across the first three studies that individuals with math anxiety tend to have lower learning outcomes than their less anxious counterparts, above and beyond their math skill (aim 1). In contrast, the effects of studying with either examples or practice problems for individuals with low math skill and high math anxiety were less robust (aim 2). In study 1, we found that individuals with low math skill had lower learning outcomes when studying examples compared to completing practice problems. In study 3, we found that individuals with high math anxiety had lower learning outcomes when completing practice problems compared to studying examples. To address aim 3, participants who had recently taken a quantitative course completed a survey assessing their math anxiety and use of effective and less effective study habits (based on the existing literature; e.g. self-testing versus rereading). We found that individuals with high math anxiety reported increased use of study strategies seen as ineffective and decreased use of study strategies thought to be more effective for learning based on previous literature. Our findings suggest that one reason that math anxious women might be opting out of higher STEM education is because they are having difficulty mastering the required math coursework. Future interventions for math anxiety should focus on increasing mastery of math material and encouraging the use of evidence-based study strategies. However, much more research is needed to further understand the way in which math anxiety interferes with learning of new math content.PHDEducation & PsychologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145947/1/ibrahiam_1.pd

Introduction to Multilevel Modeling Techniques

In this paper, I outline several conceptual and methodological issues related to modeling individual and group processes embedded in clustered/hierarchical data structures. We position multilevel modeling techniques within a broader set of univariate and multivariate methods commonly used to study different types of data structures. We then illustrate how the choice of analysis method affects how best to examine the data. This overview gives us an idea of our further development of these themes and models in this study

Transplantation Tolerance through the Modulation of Dendritic Cells

Allogeneic T cell stimulation requires antigen recognition through the T cell receptor and costimulatory signals provided by antigen presenting cells (APCs). For naïve T cells stimulation, interaction between CD28 on T cells and CD80/86 on dendritic cells (DCs) provides an essential costimulatory signal. While, activated effector T cells or memory T cells stimulation is more dependent on costimulation via ICOS on T cells and ICOSL on APCs. Engagement of the T cell receptor without costimulation can lead to anergy and the subsequent induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs). With the aim of generating tolerogenic DCs for the induction of transplantation tolerance specifically to the indirect allorecognition pathway, a negative-vaccine approach composed of two strategies was developed. First: an intra-cellular approach that prevents T cells costimulation composed of a fusion protein – ICOS-KDEL was constructed. ICOS-KDEL is a fusion gene between the human extracellular domain of ICOS and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal, KDEL. Mammalian cells transfected with the construct showed knocking down of surface ICOSL expression due to ER retention. Second: an approach to provide the antigen to be recognized by responding T cells in an indirect allorecognition pathway. This was achieved by constructing a fusion protein - invariant chain fusion gene (Ii-A2) - between the immunodominant MHC derived peptide HLA-A2103-120 and the invariant chain of MHC class II. Mammalian cells transfected with the Ii-A2 fusion gene expressed A2 peptide on their surface. The two fusion genes were cloned into one bicistronic vector so that transfection of a single plasmid resulted in the expression of both genes. Functional analysis of the developed bicistronic vector was not possible due to the unavailability of the antigen-specific T cell clones. The last part of this project studied the kinetics of ICOSL expression by human DCs and the role of activated T cells to regulate ICOSL surface expression. The study showed that ICOSL down regulation is a negative feedback loop that regulates the immune response. Activated T cells up-regulate ICOS receptor that binds to ICOSL on APC. This was followed by down-regulation of ICOSL expression causing modulation of the immune response. The kinetic changes of ICOSL expression by DC were related to the maturation state of the DCs. It was shown that ICOS induced ICOSL down regulation could be a novel regulatory mechanism in human DC. The work presented in chapter 7 of this thesis will be presented as an oral presentation and a poster format in the Euroscicon meeting: Understanding dendritic cells and their ability to regulate immune responses, November 201

The Elements of Environment incubator for Competitive Research projects in Egyptian Universities: A prospective study

The study aimed to reach elements of the environment incubator for university research projects, and identify the nature of the research projects at universities. To achieve this, a Delphi research method was used to identify the views of experts in the elements of the environment incubator for research projects at Egyptian universities, in three successive rounds. The study ended to provide future vision for the elements of the environment incubator for research projects in Egyptian universities in the light of the views of experts

Comparison between the use of uniform and non-uniform light absorption profiles in modelling organic photovoltaics

To avoid complexity, a uniform light absorption profile is usually used when modelling organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs). However, the actual light absorption profile is not uniform. It is found that a uniform light absorption profile can be used as a replacement for the actual non-uniform light absorption profile in modelling an OPV provided that the actual light absorption profile inside the OPV has a peak absorption value that is roughly less than twice its average absorption value. Nevertheless, the use of a uniform light absorption profile in investigating the effect of a certain parameter (e.g. the active layer thickness) on the performance of OPVs should still be used with care if variations in the value of the said parameter lead to different light absorption profiles

Morphology And Morphometry Of The Eyeball And Its Appendages Of The Dromedary Camel

The camel is an important animal species uniquely adapted to hot and arid environment. The dromedary camel is mainly found in the arid areas of Eastern Africa, mainly Somalia and Sudan. The majority of camels in this region are kept by migratory pastoralist (nomads). The extraordinary attributes of the camelas a riding and pack animal have already been appreciated (Schwartz and Dioli, 1992). In Sudan, the one humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) is a useful animal as a source of milk, meat, hides, wool, hair as well as a draft animal and serves for riding and pack animal. Furthermore, it plays an important role in the national and foreign income. The socioeconomic importance ofthe dromedary camel in the Sudan should encourage researchers to investigate its anatomy, physiology, habitat, reproduction and various other parameters. The population of the livestock in Sudan is 128.523.000 animals (3.200.000 camels, 39.952.000 goats, 47.043.000 sheep and 38.325.000 cattle) (MARF, 2001). The available literature on the morphology of the eyeball and its appendages of domestic mammals, including goat, sheep, ox, buffalo, pig , dog and cat was given by Symthe (1958), Prince, Diesem, Eglitis and Ruskell (1960), Diesem (1968, 1975), Dellmann (1971), Magrane (1971), Hoffmann (1972), Das (1979), Prasad and Sinha (1979), Dellmann and Brown (1981), Peiffer, DeVanzo and Cohen (1981), Kuwabara (1983), Lavach (1990), Gellatt (1991), Slatter (2001) and Ollivier, Samuelson, Brooks, Lewis, Kallerg and Kamaroy (2004). Several studies were undertaken to study the gross anatomy of the eyeball and its appendages in the camel (Leese, 1927; Dowling and Nay, 1962; Lee and Schmidt. Nielsen, 1962;Tayeb, 1962; Fahmy, Arnautovic and Abdalla, 1971; Kanan, 1972; Rahi, Sheikh and Morgan, 1980; Bareedy, Soliman, Balah and Omer, 1986; Sayed, 1988; Ibrahim, 1990; Abou-Elmaged, Selim, Ali, Mustafa,Kelany and Sayed, 1990; Fateh el Bab, Kamel, Selim and Sayed, 1991; Nagpal, Singh, Dhingra and Singh, 1991; Abou-Elmaged, 1992; Hifny and Aly, 2006; Hifny, Aly and Abdalla, 2006; Kotb, 2006; Zayed, 2006). The eye of the camel is a highly specialized sense organ in the body. The eyeball is composed of three tunics: the outer fibrous tunic which is subdivided into the sclera and cornea; the middle vascular tunic which consists of the choroid, ciliary body and iris; and inner nervous tunic which consists only of the retina. The appendages of the eyeball of the camel include the two eyelids upper and lower, conjunctiva, lacrimal apparatus, third eyelid and superficial and deep glands of the third eyelid. The presence of the superficial gland of the third eyelid of the camel has been reported for the first time by Fahmy et al.(1971). The morphology, histochemistry and morphometry of the lacrimal apparatus of the camel is extensively investigated by Ibrahim (2003). The ultrastructure of the deep gland of the third eyelid in the camel is briefly studied by Abou-Elmagedet al.(1990) and Abou-Elmaged (1992). Investigations dealing with the ultrastructure of the third eyelid and superficial gland of the third eyelidof the camel appear to be lacking. A few morphometerical investigations have been done on the deep gland of the third eyelid of the camel ( Fateh el Babet al., 1991). The current study was therefore undertaken to provide a better knowledge and understanding of the gross anatomy, histology, ultrastructure and morphometry of the eyeball and its appendages of the dromedary camel

Developing and Validating Standards for Clinical learning Environment at Nursing Faculty

There is an increasing interest and concern regarding the role of the learning environment in undergraduate nursing education. Nursing continuously associates with the technical-manual component, while being liable for the care with health of persons and with retaining their quality of life. So, obtaining clinical abilities is an element involved in the learning program of nursing courses

Characteristics of Iconic High-rise Buildings

Iconography is a degree given to a building and an objective of its architectural design. The iconic high-rise buildings are important in various fields. Distinctiveness in skyscrapers is not achieved by chance or by exciting stories told about the building. Exaggeration in one of design elements does not achieve the uniqueness and architectural creativity. Iconicity is a product of gathering specific main cores. The iconic tall buildings have distinct characteristics that set them different from other buildings. This paper proposes to combine the distinctive characteristics of the iconic high-rise buildings from different references to form a unified and clear methodology used when designing to achieve the iconicity. The developed methodology can be relied upon in the critical analysis of those skyscrapers to determine the degree of iconicity, and to know the reasons for the failure of some tall buildings in achieving the iconicity with a simple and systematic methodology

Characteristics of Iconic High-rise Buildings

Iconography is a degree given to a building and an objective of its architectural design. The iconic high-rise buildings are important in various fields. Distinctiveness in skyscrapers is not achieved by chance or by exciting stories told about the building. Exaggeration in one of design elements does not achieve the uniqueness and architectural creativity. Iconicity is a product of gathering specific main cores. The iconic tall buildings have distinct characteristics that set them different from other buildings. This paper proposes to combine the distinctive characteristics of the iconic high-rise buildings from different references to form a unified and clear methodology used when designing to achieve the iconicity. The developed methodology can be relied upon in the critical analysis of those skyscrapers to determine the degree of iconicity, and to know the reasons for the failure of some tall buildings in achieving the iconicity with a simple and systematic methodology

Prediction of Noise from a Construction Site

Construction activities significantly contribute to environmental noise pollution, affecting workers\u27 health and the surrounding community, posing significant challenges to human well-being and productivity. This paper presents a prediction method and a modelling technique used to assess construction site noise. Various factors influencing noise generation and propagation, such as equipment types, operational conditions, site characteristics, and environmental factors, are discussed. This paper explores the application of Monte Carlo technique as an effective method for predicting construction site noise and planning noise mitigation strategies