The Development of the WISE (Writing to Inspire Successful Education) Writing Mentoring Program: A University-School Collaboration

Abstract This paper describes the development of a service learning writing mentoring program designed to close the achievement gap in writing proficiency for economically disadvantaged seventh grade students. Compared to writing mentoring studies found in the published literature, this program has three distinguishing components. First, it focused on economically disadvantaged middle school students. Second, it provided writing mentoring through a university-school partnership in which college students provided the intervention in collaboration with a seventh-grade teacher. Third, the program used technology to facilitate the mentoring process. Over the course of an academic year, mentors created videos with feedback on 19 writing assignments. The writing mentoring program was associated with a four-fold increase in the percentage of students who were graded as ‘proficient’ on a state standardized writing exam. These results suggest that semi-virtual, intensive writing mentoring and individualized feedback from college students can close the achievement gap and improve the quality of middle level education provided to economically disadvantaged students

Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of antiinflammatory properties of novel α, β-unsaturated ketones

Purpose: To prepare and characterize alicyclic aromatic chalcone derivatives, and study their antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties.Methods: Claisen-Schmidt (aldol condensation) base-catalyzed condensation was used for preparation of chalcone derivatives (compounds I - IV), and the products were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), FT-IR spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), carbone 13CNMR and mass spectroscopy (MS). The antibacterial effect of the compounds was determined against Baci. cereus, Staph. Aureus, E. coli, and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. In addition, their anti-inflammatory effects were assayed using cotton granule-induced granuloma in mice. The results were compared with those for diclofenac, a standard drug. The synthesized derivatives were subjected to theoretical studies on their stabilities, and some chemical parameters were calculated using density function theory [DFT].Results: Using Claisen-Schmidt reaction, it was possible to prepare stable chalcone derivatives, such as derivatives of 2-(3-phenyl  acryloyl)cyclopentan-1-one, with good results. Depending on the substituted group, it was also shown that the derivatives had effective biological effects. Compound IV displayed a noticeable antibacterial effect against Staph. aureus and E. coli. The prepared chalcone derivatives exerted markedly variable anti-inflammatory effects.Conclusion: These results indicate that Claisen-Schmidt reaction is not limited to the preparation of chalcone derivatives from diphenyl structures  only. Stable alicyclic aromatic structures can also be used. This results in derivatives with good biological effects. Keywords: Chalcones, Claisen-Schmidt, Anti-inflammatory effects, Granuloma, Aldol Condensatio

Role of TGF-?1 in Urinary Bladder Carcinoma

The present study aimed to evaluate sera TGF- ?1 concentration in patients with urinary bladder carcinoma (UBC). All malignant of them was transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) type , patients with urinary bladder disorders (UBD ) and healthy control , and to study the correlation between sera TGF-?1 levels and tumor stages and grades in UBC patients . A direct ELISA test was used to quantify the seraTGF-?1 concentrations in sera of 58 patients with urinary bladder carcinoma UBC of different grades (G) and stages (T) all malignant of them was transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) type , 15 from patients with UBD and 15 healthy subjects . Sera levels of TGF-?1 were elevated in patients with UBC and UBD compared to healthy (P ? 0.01) .There was no association between tumor stages and serum level of TGF-?1 (P?0.05) . Whereas there was an association between serum levels of TFG-?1 and tumor grades (p ?0.05) . Increased serum level was found in high grades G?2 of patient with UBC

Jerusalemite Passions in the Poetry of the Crusades (Victory)

The research studies Jerusalem and poets at the full sense of the word (passions): the meaning of love complaints, sadness, anger, and triumph, these are the religious, real, psychological, and emotional meanings that most poems tackled the situations/conditions that Jerusalem survived. However, the research focused only on the dimension of victory which is clearly shown in two topics: the setting on conquest plans, the process of victory and the image of the Victorians. The researcher approaches his topic in a critical analytical way based on historical events to reveal the inner feelings of poets and their emotions towards blessed Jerusalem, and to provoke and encourage rulers and governors to conquest it. They approached this gradually as every stage requires. Some looked like strategic experts who can figure out the central point of danger and its geographical dimensions to invest the appropriate opportunity to conquest new areas. But with the advent of great leaders provocation for conquest, turned to be a mechanism to defend Muslims and Islam across all countries. This, as a result, would enable Salah din Al Ayoubi to conquest Jerusalem. The poets then started singing and praising the conquerors and drawing a clear image in the heart of the crowd as well as in their minds, rich with love, and full appreciation and thanks to the Almighty for the great victory. This clearly appeared in the consciousness of poets who were fully aware of its religious and urban importance. This was clearly reflected in their poems in a monologue with oneself and the historical reality. But due to being a literary genre, it represents vision that was able to explain the self as well as the world around, which in turn created an interactive environment among poets, the feeling of the group, an its legal dreams in creating a better future

Text Hiding in Coded Image Based on Quantization Level Modification and Chaotic Function

A text hiding method in codded image is presented in this paper that based on quantization level modification. The used image is transformed into wavelet domain by DWT and coefficient of transform is partitioned into predefined block size. Specific threshold has been used to classify these blocks into two types named smooth and complex. Each type has its own method of text hiding (binary data), for smooth blocks, secret bits which represent the text data are switched by the bitmap. In order to reduce distortion, the quantization levels are modified. To reach extra embedding payload the quantization level could carry extra two bits depending on other threshold. The complex block carry one data bit on each block and quantization levels are swapped to reduce distortion with bitmap flipping. The proposed method result shows a high signal to noise ratio, with studying capacity as important in this work

AI in Education: Improving Quality for Both Centralized and Decentralized Frameworks

Education is essential for achieving many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, the education system focuses on empowering more educated people and improving the quality of the education system. One of the latest technologies to enhance the quality of education is Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Machine Learning (ML). As a result, ML has a significant influence on the education system. ML is currently widely applied in the education system for various tasks, such as creating models by monitoring student performance and activities that accurately predict student outcomes, their engagement in learning activities, decision-making, problem-solving capabilities, etc. In this research, we provide a survey of machine learning frameworks for both distributed (clusters of schools and universities) and centralized (university or school) educational institutions to predict the quality of students\u27 learning outcomes and find solutions to improve the quality of their education system. Additionally, this work explores the application of ML in teaching and learning for further improvements in the learning environment for centralized and distributed education systems

Regularization by nonlocal conditions of the incorrect problems for differential‐operator equations of the first order

„Regularization by nonlocal conditions of the incorrect problems for differential‐operator equations of the first order" Mathematical Modelling Analysis, 2(1), p. 160-166 First Published Online: 14 Oct 201

Investigation of the bioequivalence of montelukast chewable tablets after a single oral administration using a validated LC-MS/MS method

Background: Montelukast (MT) is a leukotriene D4 antagonist. It is an effective and safe medicine for the prophylaxis and treatment of chronic asthma. It is also used to prevent acute exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and as a symptomatic relief of seasonal allergic rhinitis and perennial allergic rhinitis. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioequivalence (BE) of two drug products: generic MT 5 mg chewable tablets versus the branded drug Singulair® pediatric 5 mg chewable tablets among Mediterranean volunteers. Methods: An open-label, randomized two-period crossover BE design was conducted in 32 healthy male volunteers with a 9-day washout period between doses and under fasting conditions. The drug concentrations in plasma were quantified by using a newly developed and fully validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a non-compartmental model. The ratio for generic/branded tablets using geometric least squares means was calculated for both the MT products. Results: The relationship between concentration and peak area ratio was found to be linear within the range 6.098–365.855 ng/mL. The correlation coefficient (R2) was always greater than 0.99 during the course of the validation. Statistical comparison of the main pharmacokinetic parameters showed no significant difference between the generic and branded products. The point estimates (ratios of geometric means) were 101.2%, 101.6%, and 98.11% for area under the curve (AUC)0→last, AUC0→inf, and Cmax, respectively. The 90% confidence intervals were within the predefined limits of 80.00%–125.00% as specified by the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency for BE studies. Conclusion: Broncast® pediatric chewable tablets (5 mg/tablet) are bioequivalent to Singulair® pediatric chewable tablets (5 mg/tablet), with a similar safety profile. This suggests that these two formulations can be considered interchangeable in clinical practice

Hormonal, follicular and endometrial dynamics in letrozole-treated versus natural cycles in patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation

The objective of this study was to compare letrozole-stimulated cycles to natural cycles in 208 patients undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) between July of 2004 and January of 2007. Group I (n = 47) received cycle monitoring only (natural group), Group II (n = 125) received letrozole 2.5 mg/day on cycle days three to seven, and Group III (n = 36) received letrozole 5 mg/day on cycle days three to seven. There were no differences between the groups in endometrial thickness or P4 on the day of hCG. Estradiol levels had higher variation in the second half of the follicular phase in both letrozole-treated groups compared to the control group. Estradiol per preovulatory follicle was similar in both letrozole cycles to that observed in the natural cycles. LH was lower on the day of hCG administration in the letrozole 2.5 mg/day group vs. the natural group. In summary, letrozole results in some minor changes in follicular, hormonal and endometrial dynamics compared to natural cycles. Increased folliculogenesis and pregnancy rates were observed in the letrozole-treated groups compared to the natural group. These findings need to be confirmed in larger, prospective studies

Radiobiology & Radiation Benefits in Alzheimer’s from CT: a physics assessment

This work is a review and assessment of research literature on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) today which is an irreversible neurological disorder, that continuously decreases the individual’s memory and thinking skills and, suddenly, the ability to carry out the simplest functions of daily living. Although treatment can only help manage the symptoms of AD, there is no cure for the disease. CT imaging is proven to be somewhat helpful in the detection of AD disease similar to MRI, multiple repeat CT seems to show promise in part-reversing the loss (radiation Hormesis). Invivo exposure, spatial distribution, and quantitative characterization could be essential markers in diagnosing and assessing AD progression. Phase-Contrast X-ray microcomputed tomography (micro CT) is an emerging highly sensitive imaging technique capable of high resolution and impressive soft tissue discrimination. FDG and Pittsburgh compound B PET are functional tools to map affected brain with AD. There is a potential to extend it to imaging precise 3D information about the inner structures of the entire brain in future using clinical CT machines but with phase contrast software without requiring thin sections. However, we feel clinical scanners with phase contrast modes will not provide the plaque imaging exactly for 50 μm for individual plaques but plaque tangles and high tissue contrast resolution for hippocampus structures as in highfield MRI may be possible by phase contrast CT