Nurturing talent through curriculum integration

In this paper I discuss the benefits of curriculum integration for gifted and talented students in the regular classroom setting. Although this approach to curriculum delivery enhances learning for all learners, the focus of this article is the gifted and talented student. In this paper I begin by describing the approach and the teacher's role in the process. I then explore how curriculum integration differentiates learning, enhances cultural inclusiveness and crosses traditional subject boundaries. Examples of integrated units are woven throughout this paper to illustrate how this approach can be implemented in practice

Making mathematics meaningful: Using student-initiated problems to situate mathematics

Mathematics is everywhere-from the minute we open our eyes to check the alarm clock and calculate how many minutes extra we can afford to lie in bed, to measuring out our cereal for breakfast and estimating if we have enough petrol to make the 18 kilometre journey to work. As teachers of mathematics. we must ask ourselves if the way we teach reflects the real-life problem-solving situations our students will experience within their everyday world

Novel uses of pharmaceutical polymers as enabled by KinetiSol® dispersing

Poor water-solubility is a common characteristic of drug candidates in pharmaceutical development pipelines today. Various processes have been developed to increase the solubility, dissolution rate and bioavailability of these active ingredients belonging to BCSII and IV classifications. Over the last decade, nano-crystal delivery forms and amorphous solid dispersions have become well established in commercially available products and industry literature. Chapter 1 is a comparative analysis of these two methodologies primarily for orally delivered medicaments. The thermodynamic and kinetic theories relative to these technologies are presented along with a survey of commercial relevant scientific literature. Marketed products from both technologies are presented, but there appears to be more amorphous dispersion products on the U.S. market today and current development trends are showing an industry preference for amorphous solid dispersions. Many pharmaceutical polymers have been investigated as the primary component in amorphous solid dispersions for their ability to increase the apparent water solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVAL) has not been investigated as a concentration enhancing polymer owing to its high melting point/high viscosity and poor organic solubility. Due to the unique attributes of the KinetiSol® Dispersing (KSD) technology, PVAL has been enabled for this application and Chapter 2 contains an initial investigation into various grades for improvement of the solubility and bioavailability of the poorly water-soluble model drug, itraconazole (ITZ). Polymer grades were chosen with variation in molecular weight and degree of hydroxylation to determine the effects on performance. Differential scanning calorimetry, powder x-ray diffraction, polarized light microscopy, size exclusion chromatography and dissolution testing were used to characterize the amorphous dispersions. An in vivo pharmacokinetic study in rats was also conducted to compare the selected formulation to current market formulations of ITZ. Chapter 3 continues the investigation into the use of PVAL as a concentration enhancing polymer for amorphous solid dispersion. The previous chapter revealed that the 88% hydrolyzed grade was optimal for ITZ compositions with regard to solid-state properties, non-sink dissolution performance and bioavailability enhancement. This chapter explores the influence of molecular weight for the 88% hydrolyzed grade in the range of 4 to 8 mPa·s with the top performing grade from both chapters emerging as PVAL 4-88. Amorphous dispersions at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% ITZ drug loads in PVAL 4-88 were compared by dissolution performance. Analytical tools of diffusion-ordered spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were employed to understand the interaction between drug and polymer. Finally, results from a 30 month stability test of a 30% drug loaded ITZ:PVAL 4-88 composition shows that stable amorphous dispersions can be achieved. The KinetiSol® Dispersing (KSD) technology has been shown to create solid dispersion systems from challenging drugs and highly viscous polymers. The focus has been primarily using this technology for solubility enhancement, but it can be advantageous for other obstacles facing the pharmaceutical development industry. Chapter 4 contains an investigation into the use of the technology for producing abuse deterrent formulations for the drug, theophylline, which is used as a model for oxycodone. Various high molecular weight polymers are combined with plasticizers to produce mechanical and chemical properties sufficient to resist alcohol dose dumping, size reduction for immediate release and syringeability for injection. Thus, the KinetiSol® Dispersing (KSD) technology can be used as a formulation platform for creating abuse deterrent delivery forms in addition to solid amorphous dispersions for solubility enhancement.Pharmaceutical Science

Student-centred curriculum integration in primary schools: Implementing democratic principles and practices

Establishing more inclusive, democratic learning environments for students is receiving renewed attention in today’s educational climate. In New Zealand, the Ministry of Education (2007) advocated that students should be “active, visible members of the learning community” (p. 34). Student-centred curriculum integration is a curriculum design theory founded on democratic teaching pedagogy and practices. This approach places students at the centre of learning, involving them in classroom decisions and curriculum planning. Research reveals that while challenging to implement, student-centred integration has significant benefits for learners academically, socially and attitudinally. To date, research has predominantly been conducted internationally and has largely been confined to middle school or intermediate level. The aim of this study is to help redress the research gap by contributing to knowledge relating to the primary school sector. This project looks at what happens when teachers explore the democratic principles and practices inherent in student-centred curriculum integration. Past research indicated teachers found the power-sharing pedagogy challenging to implement, hence the project’s initial exploration of small democratic practices. Participatory action research (PAR) was considered the most appropriate methodology for this qualitative study as it concurred with the democratic pedagogy which underpinned the research issue. PAR allowed three novice teachers the opportunity to pose their own research questions and reflect on their practice. Mixed methods were used to collect data with interviews, informal discussions, focus group meetings, photographs, observations, and student work samples included. Case studies were utilised to provide an explanation of events. Findings from this study indicate that the implementation of student-centred curriculum integration provides a relevant, engaging and equitable learning environment for primary school students. The research revealed useful implementation strategies for teachers interested in adopting a more democratic teaching pedagogy. Strategies included taking time to establish democratic learning environments, involving students in classroom decisions, acting on students’ suggestions and asking empowering questions. This initial foundation provided the skill base and confidence which led teachers to plan collaboratively with students. This thesis therefore argues that student-centred curriculum integration is feasible in the primary-school setting and that the educational and social benefits indicate the approach justifies further research

The Properties of Brightest Cluster Galaxies in X-Ray Selected Clusters

We present the K-band Hubble diagram for 162 brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) in X-ray selected clusters, 0.01<z<0.83. The sample incorporates that of Burke, Collins, & Mann (2000) and includes additional infrared data from the 2MASS extended source catalogue. We show that below z=0.1 the BCGs show no correlation with their environment, however, above z=0.1 BCGs in more X-ray luminous clusters are more uniform in their photometric properties. This suggests that there may be two populations of BCGs which have different evolutionary histories.Comment: 2 pages, to appear in the proceedings of the Sesto 2001 conference on tracing cosmic evolution with galaxy cluster

Thermo-kinetic mixing for pharmaceutical applications

Compositions and methods for making a pharmaceutical dosage form include making a pharmaceutical composition that includes one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients by thermokinetic compounding into a composite. Compositions and methods of preprocessing a composite comprising one or more APIs with one or more excipients include thermokinetic compounding, comprising thermokinetic processing the APIs with the excipients into a composite, wherein the composite can be further processed by conventional methods known in the art, such as hot melt extrusion, melt granulation, compression molding, tablet compression, capsule filling, film-coating, or injection molding.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

The WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey: high-resolution kinematics of luminous star-forming galaxies

We report evidence of ordered orbital motion in luminous star-forming galaxies at z~ 1.3. We present integral field spectroscopy (IFS) observations, performed with the OH Suppressing InfraRed Imaging Spectrograph (OSIRIS) system, assisted by laser guide star adaptive optics on the Keck telescope, of 13 star-forming galaxies selected from the WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey. Selected via ultraviolet and [Oii] emission, the large volume of the WiggleZ survey allows the selection of sources which have comparable intrinsic luminosity and stellar mass to IFS samples at z > 2. Multiple 1-2kpc size subcomponents of emission, or 'clumps', are detected within the Hα spatial emission which extends over 6-10kpc in four galaxies, resolved compact emission (r 100kms-1) in the most compact sources. This unique data set reveals that the most luminous star-forming galaxies at z > 1 are gaseous unstable discs indicating that a different mode of star formation could be feeding gas to galaxies at z > 1, and lending support to theories of cold dense gas flows from the intergalactic medium

The Grizzly, March 23, 2017

Immigration Panel Will Allow Students to Express Their Experience with Political Issues • International Perspective: Reflections on Adjusting to Campus Culture in the Fall • Important Housing Lottery Dates and Advice from Residence Life • Tech Support Updates Outdated Login Service • From Taxes to Spaghetti, Nerd Camp Helps Students Navigate the Real World • First-Person Perspective: Student Reflects on Class Trip to Chicago • Opinions: Does U.S. Happiness Affect UC Happiness?; Trappe Beer and Soda or Austin\u27s Beverages? • From Amateur Wrestler to College Professor: Nick Scoville Does it All • Fun in the Sun: Five Ursinus Teams Traveled Cross Country to Compete During Spring Breakhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1663/thumbnail.jp