I Became a Teacher for the Money and Fame: An Examination of the Effects of Humor on Student Perceptions and Attitudes towards Mathematics

Students may not find their mathematics classes interesting and could attribute this lack of interest to the subject matter. Along with this disinterest, students may display a lack of motivation and may struggle to understand the material (Ames, 1992). These students may not connect with their teacher or identify as a learner of mathematics, which could be stressful for students. However, humor can be implemented in the classroom to provide a relaxed atmosphere in which students can learn and reduce the level of stress (Girdlefanny, 2004)). Humor also allows students to better connect with their teachers, gain understanding and connection to material, and increase student interest (Huss, 2008). This thesis explores how students’ perceptions and attitudes towards mathematics class changed over time when humor was implemented in the classroom. Students completed pre and post surveys regarding mathematics and the use of humor in the classroom, with the implementation of humor occurring between the two surveys. A paired t-test was then used to compare surveys and determine that humor had a significant impact on students’ perceptions and attitudes towards mathematics. Students indicated that they felt more relaxed and comfortable participating in class, as well as better able to remember and understand the material, when humor was present in the classroom

Occurrence of the Old World bug Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius) (Heteroptera: Plataspidae) in Georgia: a serious home invader and potential legume pest

Specimens of Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius) were collected in northern Georgia in late October 2009, where they were invading homes in large numbers. This is the first known occurrence of this species and the family Plataspidae in the New World. Megacopta cribraria was previously known from Asia and Australia. A key is provided to separate Plataspidae from other families of Pentatomoidea in America North of Mexico. A diagnosis and figures are provided to facilitate recognition of M. cribraria. Reported host plants and other aspects of the biology of this species are reviewed. Megacopta cribraria is considered a pest of numerous legumes in Asia, has the potential to provide biological control of kudzu, Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, (Fabaceae) and likely will continue to be a household pest in the vicinity of kudzu fields as well as become a pest of North American legume crops

Evaluación del uso racional de antibiòticos betalactàmicos en Farmacias Comunitarias del cantòn Atacames, Esmeraldas

Se evaluó el uso racional de antibióticos betalactámicos en cinco farmacias comunitarias del Cantón Atacames, Esmeraldas, que buscaba determinar los factores del uso inadecuado de betalactámicos en la población. La muestra estuvo conformada por 15 dependientes de farmacias y usuarios que adquirían betalactámicos con y sin receta durante el periodo junio-septiembre 2020. Los datos fueron obtenidos mediante aplicación de encuestas a los usuarios, lista de chequeo, entrevistas a los dependientes y hoja de recolección de datos. Para la tabulación y el análisis de datos se utilizó Excel y SPSS 21. Se recolectó información de 527 usuarios, en donde se encontró que factores como: falta de compresión de la receta 57%, incumplimiento del horario de tratamiento 100%, uso de antibióticos en gripe y resfriado 41% y bajos recursos económicos; conllevan a un uso inadecuado. Los resultados también mostraron que existe un elevado incumplimiento de los protocolos de dispensación en las farmacias comunitarias, pues, el 100% no solicitan la receta y tampoco brindaba información suficiente respecto a los antibióticos solicitados por los usuarios. Se dispensaron 4178 antibióticos betalactámicos, el 59,20 % sin receta médica y el 40,79 % con receta, en las cuales las penicilinas y cefalosporinas tuvieron mayor número de solicitudes con el 71,33% y 28, 67 % respectivamente. Considerando los resultados obtenidos se elaboró folletos informativos con la finalidad de concientizar a la población sobre el mejor uso de antibióticos. Se concluyó que existe el uso irracional de antibióticos en usuarios y dependientes de farmacias, teniendo como un factor a considerar los bajos niveles de conocimientos. Se recomienda mayores medidas que permitan complementar la información en los usuarios respecto a los medicamentos que se administran, con la finalidad de prevenir eventos de reacciones adversas y fomentar el uso racional de antibióticos.The rational use of beta-lactam antibiotics was evaluated in five community pharmacies of the Atacames Canton, Esmeraldas, to determine the factors of the inappropriate use of beta-lactams in the population. The sample consisted of 15 pharmacy clerks and users who acquired betalactams with and without a prescription during the June-September 2020 period. The data were obtained by applying user surveys, a checklist, interviews with dependents and a data collection sheet. For the tabulation and data analysis. Excel and SPSS 21 were used for tabulation and data analysis. Information was collected from 527 users, where it was found that factors such as: lack of understanding of the prescription 57%, non-compliance with the treatment schedule 100%, use of antibiotics in flu and colds 41% and low economic resources; with lead to improper use. The results also showed that there is a high non-compliance with the dispensing protocols in community pharmacies, since 100% did not request a prescription and did not provide sufficient information regarding the antibiotics requested by users. 4178 beta-lactam antibiotics were dispensed, 59.20% without prescription and 40.79% with prescription, in which penicillin and cephalosporins had the highest number of requests with 71.33% and 28.67% respectively. Based on the results obtained, information brochures were prepared in order to raise awareness among the population about the best use of antibiotics. It was concluded that there is the irrational use of antibiotics in pharmacy users and dependents, having as a factor to consider the low levels of knowledge. Further measures are recommended to complement the information on users regarding the drugs administered, in order to prevent events of adverse reactions and promote the rational use of antibiotics

Mathematical modeling of neuronal connexin-36 channels

Neurotransmission through electrical synapses play an important role in the spike synchrony among neurons and oscillation of neuron networks. Connexin36 (Cx36) is the principal gap junction protein of electrical synapses between inhibitory interneurons in vertebrates. Coupling strength between coupled neurons is modulated, among other factor, by the voltage difference between cell interiors, termed transjunctional voltage (Vj), in a complex manner; with the Vj gradient junctional conductance of Cx36 channels first increases instantaneously (+ 20% for + 100 mV) and then it decreases slowly to half for a similar range of Vj. The significance of this regulation by voltage, a stimulus always presents and changing, in the firing properties of coupled neurons is unknown

Lower Cretaceous Rodby and Palaeocene Lista Shales: Characterisation and Comparison of Top-Seal Mudstones at Two Planned CCS Sites, Offshore UK

Funding: The work reported here was part of the Accelerating Carbon Technologies (ACT) Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Project, under the ERA–NET Horizon 2020 programme, project 271500, and was jointly funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, United Kingdom; the Research Council of Norway; the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. Juan Alcalde is funded by the Spanish MICINN (Juan de la Cierva fellowship-IJC2018-036074-I). Alan James, CEO of Pale Blue Dot Ltd. (Banchory, UK), is warmly thanked for skilfully leading the Acorn Project and offering advice throughout the project, including during the preparation of this manuscript. We express our warm appreciation to guest editor Jim Buckman (Heriot Watt University, UK) for encouraging us to write and submit this paper. We would like to thank four diligent anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful and constructive comments on the initial version of the manuscript, and academic lead for this thematic issue.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Emotional/Psychiatric Symptom Change and Amygdala Volume After Anterior Temporal Lobectomy

Introduction Patients who undergo anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) to treat temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) often experience worsened or de novo psychiatric symptoms. There is evidence to suggest that the pathophysiology of epilepsy and mood disorders are linked both functionally or structurally in the brain.1,2 While several studies have examined the role that changes in hippocampal volume may play in predicting post-surgical depression, the role of the amygdala in such prediction has been overlooked, despite extensive literature demonstrating its contribution to emotion processing and expression.3,4 The goal of this project was to determine if change in amygdala volume is a predictor of depression and/or anxiety in TLE patients who undergo ATL, with specific attention given to side of surgery. Methods Data was collected from 32 patients who underwent ATLs (19 right, 13 left, matched samples). Pre- and post-surgery Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) data were collected on 14 ATL patients. The following PAI subscales were utilized in this analysis: Anxiety: PAIANX; Anxiety Related Disorder: PAIARD; Depression: PAIDEP). Volumetric analysis was performed on pre- and post-surgical T1 MRIs using Freesurfer’s longitudinal processing function. Left and right amygdala volumes, change scores, and amygdala asymmetry ratios were calculated taking into account whole brain volume. 55% of the patients were seizurefree after 1 year (RTLE= 8, LTLE= 9); 29% received an Engel Class score of 2 or 3 (RTLE= 7, LTLE= 2

El nivel de felicidad de los trabajadores agrícolas en el Perú: un estudio descriptivo

La presente investigación es de carácter cuantitativo, el objetivo principal fue encontrar el nivel de felicidad de la fuerza laboral del sector agrícola de la región Ica, Perú, en el año 2018. Se investigó también, si existen diferencias en el nivel de felicidad por: provincia, género, estado civil, edad, hijos, satisfacción económica, estar rodeado de personas que tú quieres y que te quieren, vivir acompañado, y años en el sector agrícola. A partir de ello se propuso un plan de acción para incrementar el nivel de felicidad. Para alcanzar los objetivos planteados se utilizó el instrumento Pemberton Happiness Index que mide la felicidad basada en el bienestar integrativo, la misma que incluye el bienestar general, eudaimónico, hedónico, y social. Se halló que el nivel de felicidad fue 8.278, la cuál fue considerada alta, también se encontró que sólo los factores provincia, satisfacción económica, y el estar rodeado de personas que tú quieres y que te quieren influyeron significativamente en dicho nivel de felicidad. De igual forma, el plan de acción estuvo basada en la satisfacción media con el entorno social, y cultural de las personas; definida por un nivel medio de bienestar social, y la igualdad entre los afectos positivos y negativos presente en las personas; definida también por un nivel medio de bienestar hedónico, el plan también contempló acciones para mejorarlos, mientras que la alta satisfacción con la vida, y la vitalidad de las personas; definida por un alto nivel de bienestar general, y una alta percepción del desarrollo del potencial de las personas; definida por el bienestar eudaimónico, el plan contempló acciones para potenciarlos. Esta investigación auténtica ha aumentado el conocimiento sobre la felicidad en un sector relevante para Perú, así también, propuso un nuevo enfoque de carácter global al integrar varios tipos de bienestar lo que enriquece el conocimiento sobre la ciencia de la felicidad.The following quantitative investigation, had as main objective to determine the workforce happiness level of the agricultural sector in the region of Ica, Peru in the year 2018. Likewise it was determined if there exists differences in the happiness level by: province, gender, marital status, age, children, economic satisfaction, being surrounded by people you want and who love you, living accompanied, and numbers of years in the agriculture sector. This allowed to propose a plan of action in order to increase the happiness level. In order to obtain the objectives, an instrument called Pemberton Happiness Index was used, this instrument is based in the following well-beings: general, eudaimonia, hedonic and social. The results point out that the happiness level in the agriculture workforce is 8.278, which is considered as high. At the same time it was also found that only the factors province, economic satisfaction, and being surrounded by people that you want and who love you significantly influence the level of happiness. Therefore, the plan of action was based on improving the medium satisfaction, which includes social and cultural environment of the people and the medium level of hedonic wellbeing. Finally, the high level of general wellbeing and high eudemonia well-being have been strengthened in the plan of action. This authentic investigation has increased the knowledge about happiness, in a relevant sector of Peru, it has also allowed to propose a new approach of measuring happiness by integrating several types of well-being which at the end enrichens the science of happiness.Tesi

Assessment of Cardiac Energy Metabolism, Function, and Physiology in Patients With Heart Failure Taking Empagliflozin : The Randomized, Controlled EMPA-VISION Trial

Acknowledgments The authors express their gratitude toward the Oxford cardiovascular magnetic resonance nursing team, specifically Judith DeLos Santos, Catherine Krasopoulos, Marion Galley, and Claudia Nunes; and the diabetes trials unit team, particularly Irene Kennedy, for her organization skills. The authors also thank the team of the computed tomography suite at the Manor Hospital Oxford as well as all patients who participated in this trial. Drs Holman and Neubauer are Emeritus National Institute for Health Research senior investigators. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the National Health Service, National Institute for Health and Care Research, or Department of Health. Sources of Funding Boehringer Ingelheim is the sponsor of the EMPA-VISION study and was involved in early stages of its study design. Boehringer Ingelheim employees (Drs Lee and Massey) also supported preparation of this manuscript. Dr Neubauer acknowledges support from the Oxford British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence. Drs Holman and Neubauer were supported by the Oxford National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre. Drs Rodgers and Valkovič are funded by Sir Henry Dale Fellowships from the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society [098436/Z/12/B and 221805/Z/20/Z, respectively]. Dr Valkovič also gratefully acknowledges support of the Slovak Grant Agencies VEGA (Vedecká grantová agentúra) [2/0003/20] and APVV (Slovak Research and Development Agency) [No. 19–0032]. Dr Miller acknowledges support from the Novo Foundation (NNF21OC0068683).Peer reviewedPublisher PD