Teaching mathematics in Indonesian primary schools : using ralistic mathematics education (RME)-approach

This paper presents a case study about employing Realistic Mathematics Education (RME)-approach to teach mathematics in Indonesian primary schools. Many obstacles, such as the very dependent attitude of the pupils, the pupils who were not used to working in groups, lack of reasoning capability and lack of understanding of basic concepts, were found when the pupils, who were used to the traditional way of teaching, dealt with the new approach (RME). The discussion in this paper is focused on these obstacles and the efforts undertaken to overcome them

Traditional mathematics education vs. realistic mathematics education: hoping for changes

There is a number of problems in geometry instruction at primary school in Indonesia. For example, the approach that is used to teach geometry topics is very theoretical, and many abstract concepts and formulas are introduce

Review on the validity of self-report to assess work-related diseases

Self-report is an efficient and accepted means of assessing population characteristics, risk factors, and diseases. Little is known on the validity of self-reported work-related illness as an indicator of the presence of a work-related disease. This study reviews the evidence on (1) the validity of workers' self-reported illness and (2) on the validity of workers' self-assessed work relatedness of an illness. A systematic literature search was conducted in four databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and OSH-Update). Two reviewers independently performed the article selection and data extraction. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated, levels of agreement and predictive values were rated against predefined criteria, and sources of heterogeneity were explored. In 32 studies, workers' self-reports of health conditions were compared with the "reference standard" of expert opinion. We found that agreement was mainly low to moderate. Self-assessed work relatedness of a health condition was examined in only four studies, showing low-to-moderate agreement with expert assessment. The health condition, type of questionnaire, and the case definitions for both self-report and reference standards influence the results of validation studies. Workers' self-reported illness may provide valuable information on the presence of disease, although the generalizability of the findings is limited primarily to musculoskeletal and skin disorders. For case finding in a population at risk, e.g., an active workers' health surveillance program, a sensitive symptom questionnaire with a follow-up by a medical examination may be the best choice. Evidence on the validity of self-assessed work relatedness of a health condition is scarce. Adding well-developed questions to a specific medical diagnosis exploring the relationship between symptoms and work may be a good strateg

LC-MS characterization of antibody-based therapeutics: recent highlights and future prospects

Abstract Antibody-based therapeutics constitute a major growth area in medicine today. However, antibodies as drugs present significant analytical challenges as they are large, complex and heterogenous molecules produced in living cells. The key attributes that affect safety, stability and efficacy must be identified and controlled to ensure regulatory compliance. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) is a powerful analytical technology that is well suited to the task of analyzing antibody-based therapeutics. LC-MS is used to characterize antibody features ranging from the relatively simple (e.g. intact molecular weight determination and post-translational modification analysis) to the complex (e.g., higher order structure analysis and epitope identification). Few other analytical technologies are as versatile as LC-MS for monitoring a wide range of attributes or as capable of keeping pace with the innovation happening today in biotherapeutic design. In this chapter we will provide an overview of the LC-MS methods currently used for the characterization of antibody-based therapeutics, with an emphasis on the analysis of post-translational modifications. We will also highlight some recent innovations, new technologies and trends that are likely to significantly impact the manner in which antibody-based therapeutics are analyzed in the future