COVID-19 Dilemma: The Effect of Polarized Information on Cooperative Behavior

Inspired by the phenomenon of panic buying in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper studies the effect of information cherry-picked to signal cooperation or noncooperation on outcomes of Prisoner\u27s Dilemma games. The study explores the question of how presenting polarized pieces of information before decision making affects subjects\u27 behavior using anonymous, randomly-matched, one-shot Prisoner\u27s Dilemma games conducted virtually on Amazon Mechanical Turk. With a sample size of 243 observations, the study finds that positive information aimed to increase confidence in cooperation does not have any significant relationship with Prisoner\u27s Dilemma games\u27 outcomes. On the other hand, the data suggests that when subjects were presented with a negative piece of information lowering their confidence in cooperative behavior, they were 14.6 percentage points less likely to cooperate, compared to people in the control group who did not receive any information other than the Dilemma\u27s rules. The study also finds that certain income brackets, panic buying experience during COVID-19, and taking care of a dependent have positive relationships with cooperative behavior

Incorporating the Dragging Feature of Dynamic Geometry Environments in Teaching and Learning College Geometry

In a study about pre-service secondary mathematics teachers’ (PSMTs) understanding about the nature of theorems in geometry, the researcher noticed that it was challenging for the PSMTs to visualize and draw counterexamples to disprove the given mathematical statements. Meanwhile, the use of the dragging feature of dynamic geometry environments (DGEs), such as the Geometer’s Sketchpad and GeoGebra, in teaching and learning proof and reasoning has been widely discussed and become an ongoing research trend. In this paper, the researcher and her colleague will present a research design aimed at investigating PSMTs’ conceptions of counterexamples in geometric reasoning when using the dragging feature of DGEs. Expected results of the study are potentially beneficial to pre-service/in-service secondary math teachers as well as teacher educators

Visualizing geometrical counterexamples using digital tools

In my study about pre-service secondary mathematics teachers’ (PSMTs) understanding about the nature of theorems in geometry, I noticed that it was challenging for the PSMTs to visualize and draw counterexamples to disprove the given mathematical statements. The use of the dragging feature of some digital tools, such as The Geometer’s Sketchpad (GSP), in teaching and learning proof and reasoning has been widely discussed and become an ongoing research trend. In this conference session presentation, I will introduce the background of the use of dragging feature in dynamic geometry environment and present two examples showing how this feature could be useful in helping the learners find counterexamples for the two geometrical statements, and thus enhance their understanding about the meaning and usage of counterexamples in geometrical reasoning. The session is potentially beneficial to pre-service/in-service secondary math teachers and teacher educators

Pre-Service K-8 Teachers’ Learning of Measurement Unit Conversion Problems

This presentation was given at the Twelfth Annual Georgia Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators Conference

Monetary Policy Transmission Through the Rate Channel in Some Countries in ASEAN

Using a quantitative regression of table data through FEM and REM models, the study has measured the extent and direction of exchange rate impacts on the economic growth of five ASEAN countries namely, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, in the period of 1985-2015. The estimation results show that for every 1% rise in the real exchange rate, the multilateral force will have a positive impact, since the speed of economic growth of five countries increased by 2.09%. This result is consistent with some previous studies, especially in some developing countries. Further, the thesis has assessed the exchange rate policy in Vietnam and analyzed the situation. As a result, the authors have made some recommendations for exchange rate policy. The recommendations focus on the State’s intervention in adjusting the exchange rate and pay attention to the real exchange rate for policy evaluation. The recommendations of the thesis are consistent with the actual situation in the five ASEAN countries in order to stabilize economic growth

Using Google Forms to Inform Teaching Practices

Kay and LeSage (2009) conducted a literature review of research on use of student response systems in university courses (typically Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics courses) and categorized benefits into classroom environment, learning, and assessment. The objectives of the proposed session are to discuss how using Google Forms will benefit those three above categories. Examples of Google Forms used to gather data, receive in-the-moment feedback to students and instructors, engage students’ learning, and assess their learning will be shared throughout the paper. Limitations of Google Forms will also be discussed. This session can be beneficial to all K-College educators

Using Google Forms to Inform Teaching Practices

Kay and LeSage (2009) conducted a literature review of research on use of student response systems in university courses (typically Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics courses) and categorized benefits into classroom environment, learning, and assessment. The objectives of the proposed session are to discuss how using Google Forms will benefit those three above categories. Examples of Google Forms used to gather data, receive in-themoment feedback to students and instructors, engage students’ learning, and assess their learning will be shared throughout the paper. Limitations of Google Forms will also be discussed. This session can be beneficial to all KCollege educators

Stakeholder Delphi-perception analysis on impacts and responses of acid rain on agricultural ecosystems in the Vietnamese upland

Vietnam is one of most vulnerable countries to acid rain in Asia. In the Vietnamese Northern Mountains, acid rainwater affects negatively to local agricultural ecosystems. This paper analyzes how major agricultural stakeholders living in the mountains assess the impacts of acid rain and their responses on agricultural ecosystems. A two-round Stakeholder Delphi combined with the pressure-state-response (PSR) model allows ranking effects, mitigation and adaptation measures. Eight themes, 14 sub-themes, and 35 indicators for acid rain are structured in the PSR model. The results show that deforestation and rainfall variability relate to changes in the concentrations of acid ions in rainwater. Energy consumption in the industry and transportation, chemical fertilizer use in agriculture, and air pollution from neighboring areas contribute significantly to acid rain. Acid rain affects agriculture and decreases crop yields, causes arable land loss, reduces nutrients and organic matter, and accumulates heavy metals. Panel members perceive that applying local knowledge in agricultural practices, rational energy use, promotion of integrated agricultural policies, and changing farmer behaviors are measures to mitigate acid rain and its adverse effects. The results contribute to a vision on local adaptation actions and policy to foster the capacity and the resilience of major local group

Critical role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for synergistic enhancement of apoptosis by vemurafenib and the potassium channel inhibitor TRAM-34 in melanoma cells

Inhibition of MAP kinase pathways by selective BRAF inhibitors, such as vemurafenib and dabrafenib, have evolved as key therapies of BRAF-mutated melanoma. However, tumor relapse and therapy resistance have remained as major problems, which may be addressed by combination with other pathway inhibitors. Here we identified the potassium channel inhibitor TRAM-34 as highly effective in combination with vemurafenib. Thus apoptosis was significantly enhanced and cell viability was decreased. The combination vemurafenib/TRAM-34 was also effective in vemurafenib-resistant cells, suggesting that acquired resistance may be overcome. Vemurafenib decreased ERK phosphorylation, suppressed antiapoptotic Mcl-1 and enhanced proapoptotic Puma and Bim. The combination resulted in enhancement of proapoptotic pathways as caspase-3 and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Indicating a special mechanism of vemurafenib-induced apoptosis, we found strong enhancement of intracellular ROS levels already at 1 h of treatment. The critical role of ROS was demonstrated by the antioxidant vitamin E (α-tocopherol), which decreased intracellular ROS as well as apoptosis. Also caspase activation and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were suppressed, proving ROS as an upstream effect. Thus ROS represents an initial and independent apoptosis pathway in melanoma cells that is of particular importance for vemurafenib and its combination with TRAM-34