Students\u27 Understanding Of Quadratic Functions: Learning From Students\u27 Voices

The objective of this multiple case study was to examine how three pairs of high school students from a northern Vermont high school approached quadratic functions through traditional and multiple representation tasks. Four research questions were examined: 1) How do students think about the quadratic function as they work on a series of tasks? 2) What mathematical strategies do students employ when they work on a series of tasks related to the quadratic function? 3) How does the type of task, traditional versus multiple representation, impact students\u27 understanding of the quadratic function? 4) What kinds of knowledge (procedural or conceptual) do students utilize when completing a series of tasks about the quadratic function? Qualitative research methods that utilized think-aloud protocols while students were engaged in four tasks pertaining to the quadratic function were employed in this study. Results suggested that students tend to think about isolated parts of the problem when solving quadratic problems. Early on in their learning about quadratics, students primarily relied on procedural strategies such as think-alouds, gestures, algebraic formulas, converting equation forms, process of elimination, dissecting problems, backtracking, and drawing pictures. In addition, students preferred the standard form to the vertex form when solving quadratics and often confused the y-intercept of the standard form with the y-coordinate of the vertex when the function was in vertex form. Results also indicated that students preferred to algebraically solve a problem versus tabular or graphical strategies. By exploring how students approach the quadratic function through their own voices, this study offers some insight into the conceptions and strategies that students use for solving problems that involve the quadratic function as well as possibilities for how quadratics may be taught in high school

A Major QTL Controls Susceptibility to Spinal Curvature in the Curveback Guppy

Background: Understanding the genetic basis of heritable spinal curvature would benefit medicine andaquaculture. Heritable spinal curvature among otherwise healthy children (i.e. Idiopathic Scoliosis and Scheuermannkyphosis) accounts for more than 80% of all spinal curvatures and imposes a substantial healthcare cost throughbracing, hospitalizations, surgery, and chronic back pain. In aquaculture, the prevalence of heritable spinal curvaturecan reach as high as 80% of a stock, and thus imposes a substantial cost through production losses. The geneticbasis of heritable spinal curvature is unknown and so the objective of this work is to identify quantitative trait loci(QTL) affecting heritable spinal curvature in the curveback guppy. Prior work with curveback has demonstratedphenotypic parallels to human idiopathic-type scoliosis, suggesting shared biological pathways for the deformity.Results: A major effect QTL that acts in a recessive manner and accounts for curve susceptibility was detected inan initial mapping cross on LG 14. In a second cross, we confirmed this susceptibility locus and fine mapped it toa 5 cM region that explains 82.6% of the total phenotypic variance.Conclusions: We identify a major QTL that controls susceptibility to curvature. This locus contains over 100 genes,including MTNR1B, a candidate gene for human idiopathic scoliosis. The identification of genes associated withheritable spinal curvature in the curveback guppy has the potential to elucidate the biological basis of spinalcurvature among humans and economically important teleosts

Concussion Competencies: A Framework for School-Based Concussion Management (flyer)

This volume grew out of many years of clinical practice, research, and program projects. It is the culmination of more than 50 years of work with kids, brains, and schools. While there is research behind the Competencies and the underlying content, the intent was to create a user-friendly manual that cut across levels of responsibility and care. Concussion Competencies was not intended to be a textbook in the traditional manner; however, the Competencies have been shown to be a useful approach to teaching this material. This volume is organized around a set of Competencies that have been shown to be useful to practitioners in the field. The 10 Compentencies fall into three main areas of information we have found to be important for effective work with students (and parents): SECTIONS 1. Biological aspects of concussion 2. Behavioral aspects of concussion 3. Programmatic considerations An important consideration is that not everyone who works with kids and concussions needs the same depth of training. With this in mind, chapters are broken by type of reader. AUDIENCE / CONSTITUENTS • Superintendents, Boards, and Administrators • Athletic Directors and Coaches • Licensed and Ancillary Health Care Providers • Teachers • Parents and Students The 10 Competencies address: • Biological Aspects of concussion management • Behavioral aspects of concussion • Programmatic considerations. This volume intends to: • Bridge the gaps between schools, community health care and families; • Focus on behavior and not medicine; • Assume that schools are a proper focus of activity, but does not assume all schools have equal resources; • Elevate the role of the student-patient and the family in the recovery process. The material is aimed at a broad range of interested parties: • School Superintendents, Boards, and Administrators • Athletic Directors and Coaches • Teachers • Licensed and Ancillary Health Care Providers • Parents and Students

Concussion competencies: a training model for school-based concussion management

This study reports on the use of ten knowledge competencies related to the behavioral management of concussion in schools. Trainings using these competencies as learning objectives were delivered to school personnel. This aims of the use of competencies in this way are to streamline the education of key stakeholders, to establish clear roles and responsibilities for constituents and equip individuals working with students following a concussion with the relevant knowledge to optimize outcomes. The majority of participants, primarily speech language pathologists working as related service providers in the schoolswhere the trainings occurred, judged the use of the competencies to be informative and useful to their practice both immediately following the training and at a 5-month follow-up. The greatest gains in knowledge were noted by those participants self-reporting the least amount of knowledge pre-training. Participants also ranked the perceived value and relative importance of each of the ten competencies

A major QTL controls susceptibility to spinal curvature in the curveback guppy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Understanding the genetic basis of heritable spinal curvature would benefit medicine and aquaculture. Heritable spinal curvature among otherwise healthy children (<it>i.e. </it>Idiopathic Scoliosis and Scheuermann kyphosis) accounts for more than 80% of all spinal curvatures and imposes a substantial healthcare cost through bracing, hospitalizations, surgery, and chronic back pain. In aquaculture, the prevalence of heritable spinal curvature can reach as high as 80% of a stock, and thus imposes a substantial cost through production losses. The genetic basis of heritable spinal curvature is unknown and so the objective of this work is to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting heritable spinal curvature in the <it>curveback </it>guppy. Prior work with <it>curveback </it>has demonstrated phenotypic parallels to human idiopathic-type scoliosis, suggesting shared biological pathways for the deformity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A major effect QTL that acts in a recessive manner and accounts for curve susceptibility was detected in an initial mapping cross on LG 14. In a second cross, we confirmed this susceptibility locus and fine mapped it to a 5 cM region that explains 82.6% of the total phenotypic variance.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We identify a major QTL that controls susceptibility to curvature. This locus contains over 100 genes, including MTNR1B, a candidate gene for human idiopathic scoliosis. The identification of genes associated with heritable spinal curvature in the <it>curveback </it>guppy has the potential to elucidate the biological basis of spinal curvature among humans and economically important teleosts.</p

An explorative qualitative study to determine the footwear needs of workers in standing environments

Background: Many work places require standing for prolonged periods of time and are potentially damaging to health, with links to musculoskeletal disorders and acute trauma from workplace accidents. Footwear provides the only interaction between the body and the ground and therefore a potential means to impact musculoskeletal disorders. However, there is very limited research into the necessary design and development of footwear based on both the physical environmental constraints and the personal preference of the workers. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore workers needs for footwear in the ‘standing’ workplace in relation to MSD, symptoms, comfort and design. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from demanding work environments that require standing for high proportions of the working day. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the results and gain an exploratory understanding into the footwear needs of these workers. Results: Interviews revealed the environmental demands and a very high percentage of musculoskeletal disorders, including day to day discomfort and chronic problems. It was identified that when designing work footwear for standing environments, the functionality of the shoe for the environment must be addressed, the sensations and symptoms of the workers taken into account to encourage adherence and the decision influencers should be met to encourage initial footwear choice. Meeting all these criteria could encourage the use of footwear with the correct safety features and comfort. Development of the correct footwear and increased education regarding foot health and footwear choice could help to reduce or improve the effect of the high number of musculoskeletal disorders repeatedly recorded in jobs that require prolonged periods of standing. Conclusion: This study provides a unique insight into the footwear needs of some workers in environments that require prolonged standing. This user based enquiry has provided information which is important to workplace footwear design

Trans-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of prostate cancer identifies new susceptibility loci and informs genetic risk prediction.

Prostate cancer is a highly heritable disease with large disparities in incidence rates across ancestry populations. We conducted a multiancestry meta-analysis of prostate cancer genome-wide association studies (107,247 cases and 127,006 controls) and identified 86 new genetic risk variants independently associated with prostate cancer risk, bringing the total to 269 known risk variants. The top genetic risk score (GRS) decile was associated with odds ratios that ranged from 5.06 (95% confidence interval (CI), 4.84-5.29) for men of European ancestry to 3.74 (95% CI, 3.36-4.17) for men of African ancestry. Men of African ancestry were estimated to have a mean GRS that was 2.18-times higher (95% CI, 2.14-2.22), and men of East Asian ancestry 0.73-times lower (95% CI, 0.71-0.76), than men of European ancestry. These findings support the role of germline variation contributing to population differences in prostate cancer risk, with the GRS offering an approach for personalized risk prediction