Impacts of Inquiry Pedagogy on Undergraduate Students Conceptions of the Function of Proof

Mathematicians and mathematics educators agree that proof is an important tool in mathematics, yet too often undergraduate students see proof as a superficial part of the discipline. While proof is often used by mathematicians to justify that a theorem is true, many times proof is used for another purpose entirely such as to explain why a particular statement is true or to show mathematics students a particular proof technique. This paper reports on a study that used a form of inquiry-based learning (IBL) in an introduction to proof course and measured the beliefs of students in this course about the different functions of proof in mathematics as compared to students in a non-IBL course. It was found that undergraduate students in an introduction to proof course had a more robust understanding of the functions of proof than previous studies would suggest. Additionally, students in the course taught using inquiry pedagogy were more likely to appreciate the communication, intellectual challenge, and providing autonomy functions of proof. It is hypothesized that these results are a response to the pedagogy of the course and the types of student activity that were emphasized

Comparison of Eurofit Test Results of 11-17-Year- Old Male and Female Students in Kosovo

This study aims to compare EuroFit test results of 11-17-year-old males and females in Kosovo. 742 students were included in the study. 347 females and 395 males were determined by random selection from the schools in urban and rural areas of all regions. Kosovo's general population rate (52% male 48% female) was considered when determining the proportion of male and female students. Anthropometric characteristics including height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) of students and the motoric characteristics including the values obtained from the tests such as flamingo balance, plate tapping, sit and reach, standing broad jump, handgrip strength, sit-ups (30 sec), bent arm hang, 10x5m shuttle run and 20 m endurance were compared. As a result, there was no statistically significant difference between the anthropometric characteristics of male and female students in adolescence; however, it was observed that as the age increased, males became heavier and taller than females (p<0.05). In general, while there was no statistically significant difference between males and females in flamingo balance, plate tapping and sit and reach tests (p> 0.05), males were determined to be more successful than females in standing broad jump test, handgrip strength test, sit-ups (30 sec) and 20 m endurance tests (p<0.05). It is observed that students in Kosovo are more successful than the other countries regarding motoric tests such as the anthropometric characteristics, which are thought to be more related to genetics, and speed/agility of arms and legs. On the other hand, they are unsuccessful in comparison with other countries with regard to flexibility and endurance in tests which are thought to be influenced by factors such as lifestyle, nutrition, and training

Linking electrical and thermal conductivity through cross-property inclusion modelling

We derive a new cross-property differential effective medium scheme for a composite material’s thermal conductivity as a function of its electrical conductivity and vice versa. Our scheme assumes that one phase is embedded in the other as inclusions. The relations are independent of inclusion volume fraction, but depend on the aspect ratio of the inclusions. We show that the method successfully models published laboratory measurements on a copper-graphite composite, with the inferred aspect ratio matching the physical shape of the inclusions. This work complements earlier results on elastic-electrical cross-property differential effective medium modelling, and has the potential to be extended for different cross-property relationships

Inferring Signatures of Positive Selection in Whole-Genome Sequencing Data: An Overview of Haplotype-Based Methods

Signatures of positive selection in the genome are a characteristic mark of adaptation that can reveal an ongoing, recent, or ancient response to environmental change throughout the evolution of a population. New sources of food, climate conditions, and exposure to pathogens are only some of the possible sources of selective pressure, and the rise of advantageous genetic variants is a crucial determinant of survival and reproduction. In this context, the ability to detect these signatures of selection may pinpoint genetic variants that are responsible for a significant change in gene regulation, gene expression, or protein synthesis, structure, and function. This review focuses on statistical methods that take advantage of linkage disequilibrium and haplotype determination to reveal signatures of positive selection in whole-genome sequencing data, showing that they emerge from different descriptions of the same underlying event. Moreover, considerations are provided around the application of these statistics to different species, their suitability for ancient DNA, and the usefulness of discovering variants under selection for biomedicine and public health in an evolutionary medicine framework

Amino acid, Antioxidant and Ion Profiles of Carpolobia lutea Leaf (Polygalaceae)

Purpose: To evaluate the amino acid, antioxidant and ionic profiles of Carpolobia lutea leaf (Polygalaceae) extract (CLL).Methods: The powdered leaf was macerated and subjected to gradient solvent extraction with nhexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol for 72 h to obtain their respective fractions. Amino acid analysis was by cation-exchange chromatography using automated amino acid analyser. Antioxidant potential was obtained by spectrophotometric assay using 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl DPPH while elemental and ionic analyses were carried out by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and potentiometric titration, respectively.Results: Proline, alanine, serine, valine, glycine, glutamate and lysine were found in the ethanol fraction while lysine, phenyl alanine, glycine and serine were present in the ethyl acetate fraction but not in the non-polar fractions, n-hexane and chloroform. The ethyl acetate fraction contained more lysine, phenyl alanine, glycine and serine the other leaf fractions. Minimal radical scavenging activity of all the fractions was recorded. The most abundant cations in the extract were potassium and phosphorus (2.16 ± 0.05 and 1.90 ± 0.06 mg/g, respectively) while the most abundant anion was phosphate with a concentration of 23.23 ± 4.61 mg/g for the aqueous leaf fractionConclusion: The study shows that CLL fractions contain variety of amino acids which could promote wound healing, as well as major and minor elemental ions which, as essential body electrolytes, are required for various metabolic processes in the body.Keywords: Carpolobia leaf, Polygalaceae, Amino acid, Antioxidant, Ionic profile

Human pangenomics: promises and challenges of a distributed genomic reference

A pangenome is a collection of the common and unique genomes that are present in a given species. It combines the genetic information of all the genomes sampled, resulting in a large and diverse range of genetic material. Pangenomic analysis offers several advantages compared to traditional genomic research. For example, a pangenome is not bound by the physical constraints of a single genome, so it can capture more genetic variability. Thanks to the introduction of the concept of pangenome, it is possible to use exceedingly detailed sequence data to study the evolutionary history of two different species, or how populations within a species differ genetically. In the wake of the Human Pangenome Project, this review aims at discussing the advantages of the pangenome around human genetic variation, which are then framed around how pangenomic data can inform population genetics, phylogenetics, and public health policy by providing insights into the genetic basis of diseases or determining personalized treatments, targeting the specific genetic profile of an individual. Moreover, technical limitations, ethical concerns, and legal considerations are discussed

Spatial Training and Calculus Ability: Investigating Impacts on Student Performance and Cognitive Style

Undergraduate calculus is a foundational mathematics sequence that previews the sophistication students will need to succeed in higher-level courses. However, students often struggle with concepts in calculus because they are more abstract and visual than those in other foundational mathematics courses. Additionally, women continue to be underrepresented in the STEM fields. This study builds on previous work indicating a malleability in spatial ability by testing whether improvement occurs in students’ spatial and mathematics ability after implementing spatial training in calculus courses. The researchers also measured associations between spatial training and self-reported cognitive style. While spatial training did not significantly improve calculus and spatial skills, the researchers measured impacts on the psychological correlate of cognitive learning style. This is important as non-spatial cognitive preferences can result in students not recognizing the dynamic information encapsulated in graphical images, which is a large component of calculus. These results may have practical implications for teaching calculus at the undergraduate level and may, with further research, help to narrow the gender gap in the STEM fields

Reprocessing of legacy seismic reflection profile data and its implications for plate flexure in the vicinity of the Hawaiian islands

During 1975–1988, an academic research ship, R/V Robert D. Conrad, acquired more than 150,000-line-km of multichannel seismic reflection profile data from each of the world's main ocean basins and their margins. This extensive legacy seismic data set, which involved both single ship and two-ship data acquisition, has been widely used by the marine geoscience community. We report on our experience in reprocessing seismic reflection profile data acquired during Conrad cruise RC2308 to the Hawaiian Islands region in August/September 1982. We show that the application of modern, industry standard processing techniques, including filtering, de-bubble, deconvolution, and migration, can significantly enhance 40+ year old legacy seismic reflection profile data. The reprocessed data reveals more precisely, and with much less scatter, the flexure of Cretaceous Pacific oceanic crust caused by the Pliocene-Recent volcanic loads that comprise the Hawaiian Islands. A comparison of observed picks of top oceanic crust which has been corrected for the Hawaiian swell and the Molokai Fracture Zone with the calculations of a simple 3-dimensional elastic plate (flexure) model reveals a best fit elastic plate thickness of the lithosphere, Te, of 26.7 km, an average infill density of 2,701 kg m−3, and a Root Mean Square difference between observations and calculations of 305 m. Tests show these results depend weakly on the load density assumed and that the average infill density is close to what would be predicted from an arithmetic average of the flanking moat infill density and the infill density that immediately underlies the volcanic edifice

Eine verbesserte Präventionskultur in der EU - Forderung einer integrativen und prozessualen Betrachtung des Risikos von Naturgefahren

Anfang 2009 wurde von der EU-Kommission ein strategisches Gemeinschaftskonzept zur Verhütung von Naturkatastrophen und vom Menschen verursachten Katastrophen vorgeschlagen. Ziel ist es, auf der Basis bereits existierender EU-Rechtsinstrumente eine Gemeinschaftsstrategie zu entwickeln. Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick zu den wichtigsten EU-Ansätzen mit Bezug zur Katastrophenprävention sowie eine Einordnung dieser Ansätze in das Konzept eines umfassenden Risikomanagements. Die von der EU erarbeiteten Handlungsbereiche, mit denen Katastrophenverhütung angestoßen werden soll, werden hinsichtlich des zu erreichenden Ziels einer verbesserten Präventionskultur und eines integrativen Risikoverständnisses bewertet.At the beginning of 2009, the EU Commission put forward a strategic concept for the Community for the prevention of both natural and man-made disasters. The aim is to develop a Community strategy based on existing legal instruments. This paper provides a survey of the most important approaches on the part of the EU in respect of the prevention of disasters, and it locates these approaches within the concept of comprehensive disaster management. In the context of the goal to be achieved, the areas for action identified by the EU as the targets for action to prevent disasters are evaluated in terms of their contribution to improving the culture of prevention and to achieving a more integration-oriented understanding of risk