CRUCIAL EVENTS IN PRE-SERVICE PRIMARY TEACHERS’ MATHEMATICAL EXPERIENCE

Relationship with mathematics is a crucial variable in the professional development of pre-service primary teachers: it can largely affect pre-service teachers’ reactions to educational prompts and also their future didactical choices in classroom. Many researches showed that pre-service primary teachers have often developed a negative relationship with mathematics during their mathematical experience as students. This paper adopts a narrative methodology to investigate about the origins and development of these relationships. Specifically, it investigates how pre-service primary teachers tell the events that they recognize as crucial for the development of their relationship with mathematics. Results indicate the relevance of success/failure experiences, and the key-role of the teacher therein

Geological constraints for a conceptual evolutionary model of the slope deformations affecting Mt. Nuovo at Ischia (Italy)

ischia island was the scenario of several Holocene slope in- stability events occurred at different scales, from shallow mass movements, triggered by meteo-climatic forcing, up to massive rock slope failures such as large debris avalanches these last ones related to the volcano-tectonic dynamics of a resurgent caldera. the present study focuses on the gravitational deformation that in- volves Mt. nuovo, located in the western portion of Mt. epomeo resurgent block. a high-resolution engineering-geological model was reconstructed according to a multi-modelling approach sup- ported by field geo-structural evidences and constrained by pas- sive seismic investigations. it revealed a complex morpho-struc- tural setting and led to the identification of a multiple compound mechanism, involving a rock mass volume of about 190 million of cubic meters. the obtained geological model shows a partial structural control of the pre-existing tectonic pattern on slope deformation mechanisms, highlighting geometric and volumetric similarities between the Mt. nuovo ongoing deformation and an already oc- curred rock avalanche. the defined conceptual evolutionary mod- el allows to hypothesize the role of inner pressures constraining the shear zone initiation and propagation and making reliable a future scenario of generalized collapse. Starting from these new field and laboratory data, numerical models will be reconstructed in order to depict the evolution of the gravitational slope deformation, evaluate its sensitivity and constrain future evolutionary instability scenarios

Mathematical induction at the tertiary level: looking behind appearences

The relevance of inductive proofs in Mathematics is beyond question and the research in Mathematics Education has widely documented the students’ difficulties in under- standing and applying mathematical induction, both at secondary school level and at university level. In this paper, we present a qualitative study involving third year Mathematics degree students aimed at investigating the solidity/fragility of mathe- matical induction comprehension. The results highlight that mathematical induction is a very hard topic also in this context, in which are involved mathematical competent students. We argue the need to design non-standard activities able to get the miscon- ceptions emerge, in order to support a deep understanding of the topic

Complications of Cushing's syndrome: state of the art

Cushing's syndrome is a serious endocrine disease caused by chronic, autonomous, and excessive secretion of cortisol. The syndrome is associated with increased mortality and impaired quality of life because of the occurrence of comorbidities. These clinical complications include metabolic syndrome, consisting of systemic arterial hypertension, visceral obesity, impairment of glucose metabolism, and dyslipidaemia; musculoskeletal disorders, such as myopathy, osteoporosis, and skeletal fractures; neuropsychiatric disorders, such as impairment of cognitive function, depression, or mania; impairment of reproductive and sexual function; and dermatological manifestations, mainly represented by acne, hirsutism, and alopecia. Hypertension in patients with Cushing's syndrome has a multifactorial pathogenesis and contributes to the increased risk for myocardial infarction, cardiac failure, or stroke, which are the most common causes of death; risks of these outcomes are exacerbated by a prothrombotic diathesis and hypokalaemia. Neuropsychiatric disorders can be responsible for suicide. Immune disorders are common; immunosuppression during active disease causes susceptibility to infections, possibly complicated by sepsis, an important cause of death, whereas immune rebound after disease remission can exacerbate underlying autoimmune diseases. Prompt treatment of cortisol excess and specific treatments of comorbidities are crucial to prevent serious clinical complications and reduce the mortality associated with Cushing's syndrome

The emerging role of the inwardly rectifying K+ channels in autism spectrum disorders and epilepsy

Autism is a complex behavioral disorder that develops prior to age three years and is distinguished by high heritability. Many genes predisposing to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been identified. These findings have demonstrated that ASDs are etiologically heterogeneous; although, the mutations underlying ASDs are identifiable only in a minority of patients. Indeed, the causes of ASDs are unknown in more than 70% of patients. Recently, we have described two unrelated families whose affected individuals display a characteristic triad of symptoms of autism; such as impairments in social interaction, impairments in communication, restricted interests and repetitive behavior. They also displayed other symptoms commonly observed in autistic individuals; such as gait imbalance, clumsiness, mental retardation and epilepsy. The genetic analysis of these families resulted in the identification of new heterozygous point mutations in the KCNJ10 gene that encodes the inwardly-rectifying K+ channel Kir4.1 expressed predominantly, but not exclusively, in astrocytes. Functionally, the mutated channels exhibited a phenotype consistent with gain-of-function defects. These new findings highlight the emerging role of inwardly-rectifying K+ channels and astrocyte dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders associated with epilepsy.peer-reviewe

Ethics and theories of communication: power, interactions, and participative culture

The aim of this paper is to make an epistemological approach of the ethical conceptions presented in the main Communication Theories, identifying in some of its epistemological proposals elements of an ethos. It is highlighted how these theories approach communicative mediated processes and at the same time propose procedures and practical actions. We develop our argument in a historical-critical perspective, mapping how notions of power, communicative capacities and constitution of the political citizen, among others are interlaced to the theoretical articulations of the research field. The analysis is developed around three perspectives: (a) antisymmetrical, evincing the way power is placed side by side with media; (b) symmetrical, making equivalent, in different spaces, media producers and receivers; (c) paritarian, with intersections between these two types of agents in a participative culture. The text analyzes these three perspectives focusing the ruptures and continuities between ethics and epistemology

Virtual Community of Practice: Connecting Online Adjunct Faculty

There is an increasing trend in higher education to hire adjunct faculty to teach online courses. While faculty at a traditional campus location can meet to collaborate with their peers, globally dispersed faculty, specifically adjuncts, who are teaching online may not be afforded this opportunity. To respond to this concern, the researchers conducted a grant-funded mixed-method study. The researchers created a Virtual Community of Practice (VCoP) to determine whether participation increased sense of belonging among online adjunct faculty. Findings revealed an increase in connection among peers. The results from this study are noteworthy, and research in this area should continue

Creating a Virtual Community of Practice for Online Adjunct Faculty

ERAU-Worldwide created a Virtual Community of Practice (VCoP) for online adjunct faculty. This 8-week VCoP was faculty-driven and provided participants multiple opportunities to reflect on and improve their online teaching practice. The purpose of this VCoP was to increase a sense of belonging and community with the university. While many universities offer face-to-face learning communities, this virtual faculty learning community will contribute to the body of knowledge regarding best practices for other universities seeking to facilitate such an offering