An analysis of the general content, grade placement, and philosophy of state courses of study in arithmetic for grades one to six.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

An unpredictability approach to finite-state randomness

AbstractThis paper investigates the concept of randomness within a complexity theoretic framework. We consider an unpredictability approach for defining randomness in which the preditions are carried out by finite-state automata. Our model of a finite-state predicting machine (FPM) reads a binary sequence from left to right and depending on the machine's current state will generate, at each point, one of three possible values: 0, 1, or #. A response of 0 or 1 is to be taken as the FPMs prediction of the next input. A # means no prediction of the next input is made. We say that an infinite binary sequence appears random to an FPM if no more than half of the predictions made of the sequence's terms by the FPM are correct. The main result of this paper is to establish the equivalence of the sequences which appear random to all FPMs and the ∞-distributed sequences, where a binary sequence is called ∞-distributed if every string of length k occurs in the sequence with frequency 2−k, for all positive integers k. We also explicitly construct machines that exhibit success in predicting the sequences which are not ∞-distributed. Finally, we show that for any given ∞-distributed sequence, all infinite subsequences which are constructible from FPMs are also ∞-distributed

Mixtec Evangelicals

MIXTEC EVANGELICALS is a comparative ethnography of four Mixtec communities in Oaxaca, detailing the process by which economic migration and religious conversion combine to change the social and cultural makeup of predominantly folk-Catholic communities. The book describes the effects on the home communities of the Mixtecs who travel to northern Mexico and the United States in search of wage labor and return having converted from their rural Catholic roots to Evangelical Protestant religions. O’Connor demonstrates the ways that neoliberal policies have forced Mixtecs to migrate and how migration provides the contexts for conversion. Converts challenge the set of customs governing their Mixtec villages by refusing to participate in the Catholic ceremonies and social gatherings that are at the center of traditional village life. Home communities have responded in a number of ways—ranging from expulsion of converts to partial acceptance and adjustments within the village

Sociology for junior high school pupils

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Capturing the experiences of feminist educators

This thesis seeks to capture the lived experiences of contemporary feminist educators, with particular emphasis on their influences, activism, praxis and challenges. There is particular interest in their styles, approaches and pedagogical practices; alongside the formal and informal spaces in which they operate. This study is primarily based on in-depth interviews, conducted with four feminist educators and applies secondary research; the overall methodology is feminist. The primary objective was to uncover subjugate knowledge regarding feminist praxis; in order to contribute to the wider field of feminist education. The main finding implied that a combination of their individual passions and strong ethical ethos underpinned their praxis in everything, including feminist education. The thesis argues that it is through this combination, these women have come to negotiate the space between informal and formal learning spaces. Subsequently, the researcher offers a hypothesis, accepting firstly that praxis is central to feminist principles or an engaged pedagogy; the core providing strength and stability like a tree trunk. The individual passion and value system is aligned with the grounding roots or principles, nourishing their praxis. The branches and leaves become symbolic of the ingredients essential in bringing that trunk and roots into the learning space; those ingredients are identified as the ‘P’s of feminist praxis, which include: process, passion, participation, political, prioritising women’s voices, personal engagement, power and personal learning. It offers a comprehensive description of a holistic engaged praxis and powerful potential for practice

Design of new highly functional polymer grafted polyhipes for proteins immobilization

PolyHIPE have proven to be useful in a large variety of applications included column filtration/separation, supported organic chemistry, as media for tissue engineering and 3D cell culture.1 The ability to conveniently modify pHIPE surfaces with functional groups is essential to opening new applications areas. The most promising method to conveniently modify pHIPE surface with a high density of functional groups is the “grafting from” approach. Stable polymer brushes covalently attached to the surface posses excellent mechanical and chemical robustness and offer the flexibility to introduce a large variety of functional monomers.2 We developed a new and unique pHIPE platform by incorporation of a polymerizable monomer with amino group into the HIPE available for different post in situ polymerization. The pHIPE with amino groups on the surface (pHIPE-NH2) can be directly used for the ring opening polymerization of amino acids N-carboxyanhydrates (NCAs) monomers to make pHIPE-g-polypeptide (such as pHIPE-g-poly(L-Benzyl Glutamate)) or easily converted to an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator for activators generated electron transfer (AGET) ATRP of tert-Butyl acrylate monomers. The polymers grafted can be deprotected to form pHIPE-g-poly(glutamic acid) or pHIPE-g-poly(acrylic acid) with reactive groups, on the surface of the pHIPE, available for further bioconjugation

Women and Social Welfare

This chapter reviews the Irish social security system from a gender and feminist perspective. It first reflects on the historical path of Irish social security policy and shows how gender segregation is deeply rooted in Irish social policy. It then reflects on the consequences of such gender segregation and how women experience the risk of poverty and economic dependence. The following section reflects on reform possibilities and examines what needs to be done to achieve a woman’s model of social security reform.The final section puzzles about the lack of pace of regarding such urgent and necessary reform. It concludes that the lack of pace in gender related social security reform is clearly linked to women’s unequal political participation

Reflections on the Basic Income debate from an Irish feminist perspective; A feminist alternative to basic income

Basic Income (BI) is often argued as the ideal reform from a feminist perspective. The paper reflects on whether BI can deliver a feminist gender neutral carer-worker vision of reform. This paper first considers the pros and cons of BI from a general feminist perspective. It argues that a basic income approach, with the potential to reinforce present socially constructed gender differentiated care roles, is not the preferred option for social security reform for working aged payments. The paper therefore outlines an alternative feminist income support reform agenda for Irish working aged social security reform. The paper does not fully reject BI. It argues it is the appropriate reform option for child income support and for pension age

Reflections on the Basic Income debate from an Irish feminist perspective; A feminist alternative to basic income

Basic Income (BI) is often argued as the ideal reform from a feminist perspective. The paper reflects on whether BI can deliver a feminist gender neutral carer-worker vision of reform. This paper first considers the pros and cons of BI from a general feminist perspective. It argues that a basic income approach, with the potential to reinforce present socially constructed gender differentiated care roles, is not the preferred option for social security reform for working aged payments. The paper therefore outlines an alternative feminist income support reform agenda for Irish working aged social security reform. The paper does not fully reject BI. It argues it is the appropriate reform option for child income support and for pension age