Creating a Democratic Mathematics Classroom: The Interplay of the Rights and Responsibilities of the Learner

One way in which democratic classrooms can reflect a democracy is by guaranteeing students some inalienable rights; Kalinec-Craig (2017) outlined Olga Torres’s Rights of the Learner (Torres’s RotL) in mathematics classrooms. However, democracies rely not only on citizens’ rights, but on their willingness to take up certain responsibilities as well. We extend this idea to mathematics classrooms to explore the consequences of the interplay of learners’ rights and responsibilities, in the context of the preparation of elementary mathematics teachers. In addition, we explore ways in which learners may overexercise their rights of the learner or opt out of exercising them entirely and the effects of each of those choices on mathematical learning in the classroom

Development of dolomite bricks with positive plc

Dolomite brick is the most important stable refractory under the working conditions of Argon Oxygen De-carbonization (AOD). For AOD applications, the Dolomite bricks should have positive Permanent Linear Change (PLC) on re-heating. A positive PLC dolomite brick has higher life and most suitable for joint less refractory lining with no cobble stoning defect. So the development of dolomite bricks having positive PLC during applications is a challenge for refractory manufacturing industry. In the present investigation, dolomite refractory bricks were prepared by varying different additive with an intention to get the positive PLC of the brick. It is well known that Iron Oxide is a good additive for dolomite brick sintering.It has also been reported that monoclinic zirconia (m-ZrO2) additive improves the BD, CCS and PLC of dolomite brick. In this background, first trial composition was containing a fixed amount of 1% m-ZrO2 and different concentration and types of iron oxide. Mill scale containing Fe2O3 was added in two different concentrations 0.5%, 1% and in another trial 0.25% of nano Fe2O3 was added. Fe2O3 containing bricks showed a good improvement in BD and CCS due to the better sintering of dolomite grains in presence of liquid formation during sintering by the presence of Fe2O3.The CCS value was in the range 750-800 kg/cm2. However, the PLCvalue was negative in the range of -0.2 to -0.35%. Depending on this result, new additive, Chrome Green oxide was then used. It has been found that the PLC tends to be positive with increase in Cr2O3 content. However, in presence of Cr2O3 the m ZrO2 it was not performing well. Finally m-ZrO2 was removed and a higher percentage of Cr2O3 additive showed the positive PLC (+ 0.12%) of the dolomite brick. The brick showed a CCS value of 650 kg/cm2. This is in the acceptable limit

Understanding the impact of microplastic contamination on soil quality and eco-toxicological risks in horticulture: A comprehensive review

The horticulture sector, essential for global food production, confronts significant challenges with prevalent pollutants, mainly microplastics. The presence of microplastics in the food chain has induced physiological stress and a multifactorial food safety concern. The complexity of the problem, arising from intricate interactions among microplastics, organisms, and ecosystems, poses a substantial challenge to food safety, necessitating an immediate strategic perspective due to the associated risks to human health and eco-toxicology. Significant knowledge gaps persist regarding their impact on terrestrial ecosystems, especially in horticulture. This study addresses the urgent need to comprehend the implications of microplastics on soil health, eco-toxicological risks, and nutrient dynamics in horticultural environments. The review covers potential sources of microplastics, their impact on horticultural crops including eco-toxicity, various identification techniques, and proposed mitigation measures, offering insights for environmentalists, biotechnologists, and policymakers to proactively mitigate risks

Association of ADAM33 gene polymorphisms with adult-onset asthma and its severity in an Indian adult population

ADAM33, a member of the ADAM(a disintegrin and metalloprotease) gene family, is an asthma susceptibility gene originally identified by positional cloning. In the present study, we investigated the possible association of five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ADAM33 (rs511898, rs528557, rs44707, rs597980 and rs2787094) with adult-onset asthma in an Indian population. The study included 175 patients with mild intermittent (n=44), mild persistent (n=108) or moderate persistent (n=23) subgroups of asthma, and 253 nonasthmatic control individuals. SNPs were genotyped with the help of restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) method, and data were analysed using chi-square test and logistic regression model. Bonferroni’s correction for multiple comparisons was applied for each hypothesis. Genotypes and allele frequencies of SNPs rs511898 and rs528557 were significantly associated with adult-onset asthma(P=0.010-<0.001). A significant association of the homozygous mutant genotype and mutant alleles of SNPs rs2787094, rs44707 and rs597980 with the asthma was also observed (P=0.020-<0.001). A positive association between asthma and haplotypes AGCCT, GGCCT, AGACT, GCAGT, GGACT, ACCCC and AGACC were also found (P=0.036-<0.001,OR=2.07–8.49). Haplotypes AGCGT, GCAGC, ACAGC, ACAGT, GGAGC and GGCGT appear to protect against asthma (P=0.013-<0.0001, OR=0.34–0.10). Our data suggest that ADAM33 gene polymorphisms serve as genetic risk factors for asthma in Indian adult population

Improving our practice as mathematics teacher educators through teaching research

Four mathematics teacher educators from a large, minority-serving university formed a teaching research group in Fall 2016. The goal for this project is to establish a repeated cycle of improving our mathematics content course for pre-service teachers and to contribute a shared knowledge base which rests on foundation of well-defined learning goals in mathematics courses for elementary pre-service teachers. Guide by the continuous improvement framework (Berk & Hiebert, 2009), we utilized a data-driven approach to improving teaching, as well as embedding a discussion of classroom implementation into an investigation of an innovation (or, in our case, a mathematical task). In this paper, we present an example of iterative task design for the topic of Geometric of Similarity, we hope to share this as a model of professional development for mathematics teacher educators that highlights the benefits to our students and to ourselves

Preliminary Investigation of Beagle Dog as Substitute for Humans in Bioequivalence Studies

Purpose: To assess the suitability of beagle dog as an animal model for the evaluation of formulations in bioavailability and bioequivalence studies.Methods: A generic cetirizine 10 mg tablet formulation was compared with another reference formulation using beagle dog as animal model. A crossover oral comparative bioavailability study was conducted on cetirizine tablet 10 mg in healthy, male dogs under fasting conditions. The  formulations were administered orally with the aid of water. Serial blood samples were collected from pre-dose to 48.0 h post-dose and plasma concentrations of cetirizine were determined using validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analytical method. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using  non-compartmental analysis while bioavailability was assessed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) model for humans and dogs.Results: Cetirizine plasma concentrations in dog were comparatively  higher, in relation to human plasma concentrations, due to the smaller blood volume in former. There was a delay in time to reach maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) in dog. Cetirizine formulations were found to be bioequivalent in either of the species (dog and human). The ratio (test\reference) of least-squares mean for area under plasma concentration curve from time zero to last detectable concentration (AUC0-t), area under plasma concentration curve extrapolated to infinity (AUC0-‡ ) and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), calculated for the dogs were comparable to those for humans. AUC0-t, AUC0-‡ and Cmax ratios ranged within 92.81 - 106.80 % for dogs and 95.43 . 104.84 % for humansConclusion: The results suggest that beagle dogs can be used in place of humans in bioequivalence tests on generic products of cetirizine.Keywords: Cetirizine, Beagle dog, Bioavailability, Bioequivalence, Pharmacokinetics, Noncompartmenta

A REVIEW ON HERBO MINERAL FORMULATIONS CONTAINING LAUHA (IRON) W.S.R TO RASENDRA SARA SANGHRAHA

Rasendra Sara Sangraha is the oldest and most exhaustive treatise of Rasa Shastra, an important branch of Ayurveda, which revolutionised Ayurveda Pharmacopeia in the medieval period. It is one of classical works of 14th century period written by Sri Gopala Krishna Bhatt consists of 5 chapters with 2531 verses. Rasendra Sara Sangraha comprising the compilation of various times tested and therapeutically proved Rasayoga formulations. Lauha (iron) is a very essential element of the body system for treating many disease conditions as well as for physiological existence. Iron used as medicine from the Vedic period. Lauha preparations are extensively used from Acharya Charakas period in the form of Ayasruti and Navayasa loha. Rasendra Sara Sangraha has mentioned a total of 222 herbo mineral formulations having Lauha (iron). The present study deals with the chapter wise review of formulations of Rasendra Sara Sangraha containing Lauha as an ingredient mentioned in various disease conditions like Jwara, Arsas, krimi, Pandu, Soola, Pradara, Sodha and Gulma etc. These Lauha containing Herbo mineral Formulations has been elaborately compiled in 222 formulations

VOLTAMMETRIC DETERMINATION OF DESLORATADINE IN PHARMACEUTICAL AND HUMAN URINE SAMPLES USING GLASSY CARBON ELECTRODE

Objective: The electrochemical behaviour of Desloratadine (DLTD) in pharmaceutical and human urine samples at glassy carbon electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV). Methods: A well defined reduction peak was observed at potential -1.55V in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) in basic medium. The reduction process was observed to be irreversible over the pH range from pH 2.0 to pH 10.0. The influence of different parameters such as the effect of pH, scan rate and concentration of the drug was studied. The probable reaction mechanism involved in the reduction of DLTD was also proposed. A SWV method with good recovery and accuracy was obtained for the determination of DLTD in pharmaceutical formulations and urine samples. Results: The peak currents were found to be linearly dependent on the concentration range of 2.55x10-5to 1.5x10-3M of DLTD. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were found to be 2.75x 10-9M, 3.20x 10-7 M respectively. Conclusion: The proposed method was successfully applied for determination of DLTD in pharmaceutical and human urine samples

Performance of point-of-care severity scores to predict prognosis in patients admitted through the emergency department with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Identifying COVID-19 patients at the highest risk of poor outcomes is critical in emergency department (ED) presentation. Sepsis risk stratification scores can be calculated quickly for COVID-19 patients but have not been evaluated in a large cohort. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether well-known risk scores can predict poor outcomes among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. DESIGNS, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective cohort study of adults presenting with COVID-19 to 156 Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Healthcare EDs, March 2, 2020, to February 11, 2021. INTERVENTION: Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA), Shock Index, National Early Warning System-2 (NEWS2), and quick COVID-19 Severity Index (qCSI) at presentation. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressors receipt. Patients scored positive with qSOFA ≥ 2, Shock Index > 0.7, NEWS2 ≥ 5, and qCSI ≥ 4. Test characteristics and area under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUROCs) were calculated. RESULTS: We identified 90,376 patients with community-acquired COVID-19 (mean age 64.3 years, 46.8% female). 17.2% of patients died in-hospital, 28.6% went to the ICU, 13.7% received mechanical ventilation, and 13.6% received vasopressors. There were 3.8% qSOFA-positive, 45.1% Shock Index-positive, 49.8% NEWS2-positive, and 37.6% qCSI-positive at ED-triage. NEWS2 exhibited the highest AUROC for in-hospital mortality (0.593, confidence interval [CI]: 0.588-0.597), ICU admission (0.602, CI: 0.599-0.606), mechanical ventilation (0.614, CI: 0.610-0.619), and vasopressor receipt (0.600, CI: 0.595-0.604). CONCLUSIONS: Sepsis severity scores at presentation have low discriminative power to predict outcomes in COVID-19 patients and are not reliable for clinical use. Severity scores should be developed using features that accurately predict poor outcomes among COVID-19 patients to develop more effective risk-based triage