Mathematics Student Teachers’ Views and Choices about Teaching and Textbooks in Middle and High School Classrooms

A survey of 80 United States middle and high school mathematics student teachers gathered data on availability and use of textbooks and traditional and technology-supported instructional strategies. Findings about textbooks include (1) most classrooms had one or more textbook formats (print, digital or e-textbook) available but did not necessarily expect students to use the textbook; (2) some differences were noted when comparisons were made based on school location, size, and grade level; and (3) student teachers preferred the digital textbook format but there was also support for the print format. Analysis of student teachers’ self-reported use of instructional strategies, including a principal component analysis, revealed use of traditional teaching strategies and student-centered teaching. Student teachers’ views about how best to teach mathematics centered on themes of active learning and ways to meet students’ needs

Measurement of σ(Λb)/σ(B0)×BR(Λb→Λcπ−)/BR(B0→D+π−)\sigma(\Lambda_b)/\sigma(B^0) \times BR(\Lambda_b\to\Lambda_c\pi^-) / BR(B^0\to D^+\pi^-) in ppˉp\bar{p} Collisions at s=1.96\sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV

We present the first observation of the baryon decay $\Lambda_b\to\Lambda_c\pi^-$ followed by $\Lambda_c\to p K^-\pi^+$ in 106 pb-1 of $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 1.96$ TeV in the CDF experiment. In order to reduce systematic error, the measured rate for $\Lambda_b$ decay is normalized to the kinematically similar meson decay $B^0\to D^+\pi^-$ followed by $D^+\to\pi^+K^-\pi^+$. We report the ratio of production cross sections ($\sigma$) times the ratio of branching fractions (BR) for the momentum region integrated above $p_T > 6$ GeV/c and pseudorapidity range $|\eta| < 1.3$: $\sigma(p\bar{p}\to \Lambda_b X) / \sigma (p\bar{p}\to B^0 X) \times BR(\Lambda_b\to\Lambda_c\pi^-) / BR(B^0\to D^+\pi^-) = 0.82 \pm 0.08(stat) \pm 0.11(syst) \pm 0.22 (BR(\Lambda_c\to p K^-\pi^+))$.Comment: Submitted to Phys.Rev.Let

Reconstructing retirement as an enterprising endeavour

This article explores issues of age and enterprise in later life as manifested in tensions between retiree and entrepreneurial identities. We utilise the concept of a discursive event to examine time-bound online data, specifically media texts and reader comments associated with the online news coverage on of an insurance company report. This report introduced the label Weary to describe ‘working entrepreneurial and active retirees’. Our analysis shows how keeping healthy and active are constructed as insufficient markers of a productive and successful older age. These markers are supplanted by a neoliberal discourse which prioritises enterprise and economic productivity in retirement. However, the Weary subject position has implications within this discourse which constrain the valued contribution of older adults to productive work yet deny access to this group to entrepreneurial endeavours. This highlights the de-stabilization of retirement and critical tensions in its discursive reconceptualization as a period of entrepreneurial endeavour

Measurement of the ttbar Production Cross Section in ppbar collisions at sqrt s = 1.96 TeV in the All Hadronic Decay Mode

We report a measurement of the ttbar production cross section using the CDF-II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. The analysis is performed using 311 pb-1 of ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV. The data consist of events selected with six or more hadronic jets with additional kinematic requirements. At least one of these jets must be identified as a b-quark jet by the reconstruction of a secondary vertex. The cross section is measured to be sigma(tbart)=7.5+-2.1(stat.)+3.3-2.2(syst.)+0.5-0.4(lumi.) pb, which is consistent with the standard model prediction.Comment: By CDF collaboratio

Search for chargino-neutralino production in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV

We present the results of a search for associated production of the chargino and neutralino supersymmetric particles using up to 1.1 fb-1 of integrated luminosity collected by the CDF II experiment at the Tevatron ppbar collider at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. The search is conducted by analyzing events with a large transverse momentum imbalance and either three charged leptons or two charged leptons of the same electric charge. The numbers of observed events are found to be consistent with standard model expectations. Upper limits on the production cross section are derived in different theoretical models. In one of these models a lower limit on the mass of the chargino is set at 129 GeV/c^2 at the 95% confidence level.Comment: To be submitted to Phys.Rev.Let

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Work cut short: Changes in the work life and status of displaced workers

This study has focused on the changes that occurred in the work life and status of displaced workers of a leading airline company following an organizational retrenchment. It used a descriptive design. It also made use of face-to-face interviews in collecting data. Twenty in-depth, interviews were conducted to 10 male and 10 female respondents. Financial problems appear to be a major difficulty. The most common coping strategy being used are proper budgeting and change in their lifestyle. In terms of work attitudes, no significant changes occurred and they are even more motivated to engage in new jobs in order once again to have the security of having a regular income. Moreover, both males and females are into job hunting and not just the males who are believed to be more pressured to work. Another is that most of the respondents had satisfactory working stint at PAL, that is why they intend to go back to work in order to experience once again the meaningfulness of their previous job. With regards to the marital relations, the male respondents were found out to be more participative in doing the household chores. On the other hand, the females considered it as an opportunity to make up for the times lost when they were not able to take care of the children and to maintain the house. The husband-wife relationship further improved according to the respondents, since they were able to witness the support and concern of their spouse. The same goes with their relationship to the children since they are able to spend more time with them. Recommendations for future studies were generated