Using tasks to explore teacher knowledge in situation-specific contexts

This article was published in the journal, Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education [© Springer] and the original publication is available at www.springerlink.comResearch often reports an overt discrepancy between theoretically/out-of context expressed teacher beliefs about mathematics and pedagogy and actual practice. In order to explore teacher knowledge in situation-specific contexts we have engaged mathematics teachers with classroom scenarios (Tasks) which: are hypothetical but grounded on learning and teaching issues that previous research and experience have highlighted as seminal; are likely to occur in actual practice; have purpose and utility; and, can be used both in (pre- and in-service) teacher education and research through generating access to teachers’ views and intended practices. The Tasks have the following structure: reflecting upon the learning objectives within a mathematical problem (and solving it); examining a flawed (fictional) student solution; and, describing, in writing, feedback to the student. Here we draw on the written responses to one Task (which involved reflecting on solutions of x+x−1=0 of 53 Greek in-service mathematics teachers in order to demonstrate the range of teacher knowledge (mathematical, didactical and pedagogical) that engagement with these tasks allows us to explore

Memorial Drive Revitalization (Chicopee, MA)

The goal of the Master of Regional Planning Studio is to develop a student’s techniques for collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing spatial and non-spatial data and then presenting that collective data in a manner (i.e., report, video, presentation, and charettes) that is understandable to academics, professionals, and the public. Planning Studio allows students to integrate knowledge from coursework and research, and apply such knowledge to resolving representative planning problems. At UMASS Amherst, these problems are found in neighborhood, rural, urban, and/or regional settings. In the fall of 2014, three local governments contracted with the MRP Studio to create separate vision plans that focused on key aspects of community revitalization. The City of Chicopee tasked the graduate student team (Hills House Planners) with developing a conceptual vision plan for Memorial Drive.” Currently, the Chicopee Planning Department lacked critical planning data for the corridor, and also has no adopted citywide master plan guiding development. The new vision seeks to include not only the existing car oriented infrastructure, but also to better integrate other uses for Memorial Drive, as well as a residential and commercial rebranding

‘Warrant’ revisited: Integrating mathematics teachers’ pedagogical and epistemological considerations into Toulmin’s model for argumentation

In this paper, we propose an approach to analysing teacher arguments that takes into account field dependence—namely, in Toulmin’s sense, the dependence of warrants deployed in an argument on the field of activity to which the argument relates. Freeman, to circumvent issues that emerge when we attempt to determine the field(s) that an argument relates to, proposed a classification of warrants (a priori, empirical, institutional and evaluative). Our approach to analysing teacher arguments proposes an adaptation of Freeman’s classification that distinguishes between: epistemological and pedagogical a priori warrants, professional and personal empirical warrants, epistemological and curricular institutional warrants, and evaluative warrants. Our proposition emerged from analyses conducted in the course of a written response and interview study that engages secondary mathematics teachers with classroom scenarios from the mathematical areas of analysis and algebra. The scenarios are hypothetical, grounded on seminal learning and teaching issues, and likely to occur in actual practice. To illustrate our proposed approach to analysing teacher arguments here, we draw on the data we collected through the use of one such scenario, the Tangent Task. We demonstrate how teacher arguments, not analysed for their mathematical accuracy only, can be reconsidered, arguably more productively, in the light of other teacher considerations and priorities: pedagogical, curricular, professional and personal

A Comprehensive Assessment of Qualitative and Quantitative Prodromal Parkinsonian Features in Carriers of Gaucher Disease-Identifying Those at the Greatest Risk

Carriers of GBA1 gene variants have a significant risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD). A cohort study of GBA carriers between 40-75 years of age was initiated to study the presence of prodromal PD features. Participants underwent non-invasive tests to assess different domains of PD. Ninety-eight unrelated GBA carriers were enrolled (43 males) at a median age (range) of 51 (40-74) years; 71 carried the N370S variant (c.1226A > G) and 25 had a positive family history of PD. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was the most frequently abnormal (23.7%, 95% CI 15.7-33.4%), followed by the ultrasound hyperechogenicity (22%, 95% CI 14-32%), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRS-III) (17.2%, 95% CI 10.2-26.4%), smell assessment (12.4%, 95% CI 6.6-20.6%) and abnormalities in sleep questionnaires (11%, 95% CI 5.7-19.4%). Significant correlations were found between tests from different domains. To define the risk for PD, we assessed the bottom 10th percentile of each prodromal test, defining this level as "abnormal". Then we calculated the percentage of "abnormal" tests for each subject; the median (range) was 4.55 (0-43.5%). Twenty-two subjects had more than 15% "abnormal" tests. The limitations of the study included ascertainment bias of individuals with GBA-related PD in relatives, some incomplete data due to technical issues, and a lack of well-characterized normal value ranges in some tests. We plan to enroll additional participants and conduct longitudinal follow-up assessments to build a model for identifying individuals at risk for PD and investigate interventions aiming to delay the onset or perhaps to prevent full-blown PD

Assessment of Association of rs2200733 SNP on Chromosome 4q25 with the Risk of the Development of Atrial Fibrillation in the Russian Population

The aim of our case-control study was to investigate the possible genetic association of the rs2200733 SNP on chromosome 4q25 with AF in the Russian population as this association has not been examined before in this ethnicity. Methods and Results: A total of 76 unrelated individuals diagnosed with AF and 73 control subjects without any cardiovascular pathology were included in this study. The diagnosis of AF was based on ECG and/or Holter ECG data following standard diagnostic criteria. We found that the TT genotype of the rs2200733 SNP was associated with a higher risk of AF (OR=1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-12.4). The homozygote minor rare allele genotype TT of the rs2200733 SNP tended to elevate the risk of lone AF development (OR=2.5, 95% CI: 1.2-19.5). A risk of secondary AF development did not depend on rs2200733 SNP on chromosome 4q25 (OR=0.5, 95% CI: 0.2-1.3). Conclusion: Our results provide additional evidence for the association between the rs2200733 (4q25) SNP on chromosome 4q25 and AF, emphasizing the need for further studies examining the role of this polymorphism in AF

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Contusion: A Comparative Study on Small and Large Animal Models

Here, we provide a first comparative study of the therapeutic potential of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow (BM-MSCs), adipose tissue (AD-MSCs), and dental pulp (DP-MSCs) embedded in fibrin matrix, in small (rat) and large (pig) spinal cord injury (SCI) models during subacute period of spinal contusion. Results of behavioral, electrophysiological, and histological assessment as well as immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis suggest that application of AD-MSCs combined with a fibrin matrix within the subacute period in rats (2 weeks after injury), provides significantly higher post-traumatic regeneration compared to a similar application of BM-MSCs or DP-MSCs. Within the rat model, use of AD-MSCs resulted in a marked change in: (1) restoration of locomotor activity and conduction along spinal axons; (2) reduction of post-traumatic cavitation and enhancing tissue retention; and (3) modulation of microglial and astroglial activation. The effect of an autologous application of AD-MSCs during the subacute period after spinal contusion was also confirmed in pigs (6 weeks after injury). Effects included: (1) partial restoration of the somatosensory spinal pathways; (2) reduction of post-traumatic cavitation and enhancing tissue retention; and (3) modulation of astroglial activation in dorsal root entry zone. However, pigs only partially replicated the findings observed in rats. Together, these results indicate application of AD-MSCs embedded in fibrin matrix at the site of SCI during the subacute period can facilitate regeneration of nervous tissue in rats and pigs. These results, for the first time, provide robust support for the use of AD-MSC to treat subacute SCI

Pressure-induced high-spin/low-spin disproportionated state in the Mott insulator FeBO3

The pressure-induced Mott insulator-to-metal transitions are often accompanied by a collapse of magnetic interactions associated with delocalization of 3d electrons and high-spin to low-spin (HS-LS) state transition. Here, we address a long-standing controversy regarding the high-pressure behavior of an archetypal Mott insulator FeBO3 and show the insufficiency of a standard theoretical approach assuming a conventional HS-LS transition for the description of the electronic properties of the Mott insulators at high pressures. Using high-resolution x-ray diffraction measurements supplemented by Mössbauer spectroscopy up to pressures ~ 150 GPa, we document an unusual electronic state characterized by a “mixed” HS/LS state with a stable abundance ratio realized in the R3 ¯ c crystal structure with a single Fe site within a wide pressure range of ~ 50–106 GPa. Our results imply an unconventional cooperative (and probably dynamical) nature of the ordering of the HS/LS Fe sites randomly distributed over the lattice, resulting in frustration of magnetic moments. © 2022, The Author(s).EAR-1634415; U.S. Department of Energy, USDOE: DE-FG02-94ER14466; Office of Science, SC: DE-AC02-06CH11357; Argonne National Laboratory, ANL; University of Chicago; Israel Science Foundation, ISF: 1189/14, 1552/18, 1748/20; Helmholtz Association; 122021000039-4The authors would like to thank Dr. A. Chumakov (ESRF, Grenoble, France, Kurchatov Institute, Moscow, Russia) and Dr. G. Smirnov (Kurchatov Institute, Moscow, Russia) who provided us by high-quality single crystals of FeBO, Prof. L. Dubrovinsky and Prof. D. I. Khomskii for valuable discussions, Dr. V. Prakapenka and Dr. I Kantor for experimental assistance with the facilities of the 13ID-D GSECARS beamline of APS and Dr. S. Clark for experimental assistance with the facilities of the beam line 12.2.2 at ALS, Berkeley. We are grateful also to the team of the ID-27 beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, for assisting with the powder XRD measurements. A few Mössbauer spectrum at 115 and 140 GPa were collected at the ID-18 beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. We are grateful to Dr. D. G. Merkel, Dr. R. Rüffer and Dr. A. Chumakov for their assistance in using beamline ID-18 and Dr. G. Hearne and Dr. E. Carleschi for assisting with the SMS measurements. This research was supported by Israeli Science Foundation (Grants No. 1189/14, No. 1552/18 and No. 1748/20). I.L. acknowledges support by the state assignment of Minobrnauki of Russia (theme “Electron” No. 122021000039-4). Portions of this work were performed at GeoSoilEnviroCARS (The University of Chicago, Sector 13), Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory. GeoSoilEnviroCARS is supported by the National Science Foundation–Earth Sciences (EAR-1634415) and Department of Energy– GeoSciences (DE-FG02-94ER14466). This research also used resources of the Advanced Photon Source, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility operated for the DOE Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. We acknowledge DESY (Hamburg, Germany), a member of the Helmholtz Association HGF, for the provision of experimental facilities. Parts of this research were carried out at P02.2 station of PETRA-III, DESY. 3The authors would like to thank Dr. A. Chumakov (ESRF, Grenoble, France, Kurchatov Institute, Moscow, Russia) and Dr. G. Smirnov (Kurchatov Institute, Moscow, Russia) who provided us by high-quality single crystals of FeBO3 , Prof. L. Dubrovinsky and Prof. D. I. Khomskii for valuable discussions, Dr. V. Prakapenka and Dr. I Kantor for experimental assistance with the facilities of the 13ID-D GSECARS beamline of APS and Dr. S. Clark for experimental assistance with the facilities of the beam line 12.2.2 at ALS, Berkeley. We are grateful also to the team of the ID-27 beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, for assisting with the powder XRD measurements. A few Mössbauer spectrum at 115 and 140 GPa were collected at the ID-18 beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. We are grateful to Dr. D. G. Merkel, Dr. R. Rüffer and Dr. A. Chumakov for their assistance in using beamline ID-18 and Dr. G. Hearne and Dr. E. Carleschi for assisting with the SMS measurements. This research was supported by Israeli Science Foundation (Grants No. 1189/14, No. 1552/18 and No. 1748/20). I.L. acknowledges support by the state assignment of Minobrnauki of Russia (theme “Electron” No. 122021000039-4). Portions of this work were performed at GeoSoilEnviroCARS (The University of Chicago, Sector 13), Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory. GeoSoilEnviroCARS is supported by the National Science Foundation–Earth Sciences (EAR-1634415) and Department of Energy– GeoSciences (DE-FG02-94ER14466). This research also used resources of the Advanced Photon Source, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility operated for the DOE Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. We acknowledge DESY (Hamburg, Germany), a member of the Helmholtz Association HGF, for the provision of experimental facilities. Parts of this research were carried out at P02.2 station of PETRA-III, DESY

Increasing Availability of the International Normalized Ratio Control in Russia

Background: Warfarin is still, in some cases, the only medication to prevent thromboembolic complications. Warfarin intake imposes regular INR monitoring, which can be performed domiciliary. Currently, in the Russian market, there are two models of automatic portable blood coagulometers: CoaguChek XS (Germany) and qLabs ElectroMeter (China). The main problem of portable coagulometers is their high cost and high cost of operation, which the majority of patients cannot afford. To explore the demand for development of a Russian coagulometer with a more affordable price, a questionnaire survey was carried out among the patients who needed this device. Methods and Results: We surveyed 70 patients taking Warfarin, with 5 years duration paroxysmal, persistent/or stable AF of nonvalvular etiology, having >2 CHADS-VASc score for thrombembolia risk assessment and <3 HAS-BLED score for hemorrhage risk assessment. According to the survey results, 7 (10%) patients had portable coagulometers, including 3 persons with CoaguChek XS and 4 persons with Micropoint qLabs ElectroMeter. Among these patients, there were 4 persons who continued regular INR monitoring domiciliary, while 3 patients had financial difficulties in getting testing strips. At the same time, 14 (20%) patients were not aware of the possibility of domiciliary INR monitoring. As it turned out, those patients who received regular INR monitoring domiciliary with a portable coagulometer, or at their local polyclinics, had neither ischemic strokes nor hemorrhages within a period of five years. Conclusion: It is critical to develop and manufacture a domestic equivalent of a portable coagulometer and testing strips for household use at a more affordable price