Self-Efficacy and Its Effect on Student Achievement in Reading and Math

This action research study investigated the degree of relationship between elementary teachers’ self-efficacy in math and reading and student achievement in math and reading in an elementary school in southeast South Dakota. The participants were 279 students in grades three through five along with 13 third through fifth grade teachers. Using NWEA Growth Map Test data, a comparison in student achievement in math and reading was made between students with highly self-efficacious teachers and students whose teachers reported low self-efficacy. The findings of this research did not show a significant difference between math or reading scores of students with teachers with high or low self-efficacy. Based on the low statistical significance, this study found no correlation between teacher self-efficacy and student math or reading scores

Symbolic-numeric stability investigations of Jameson's schemes for the thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations

The Navier-Stokes equations governing the three-dimensional flows of viscous, compressible, heat-conducting gas and augmented by turbulence modeling present the most realistic model for gas flows around the elements of aircraft configurations. We study the stability of one of the Jameson's schemes of 1981, which approximates the set of five Navier-Stokes equations completed by the turbulence model of Baldwin and Lomax. The analysis procedure implements the check-up of the necessary von Neumann stability criterion. It is shown with the aid of the proposed symbolic-numeric strategy that the physical viscosity terms in the Navier-Stokes equations have a dominant effect on the sizes of the stability region in comparison with the heat conduction terms. It turns out that the consideration of turbulence with the aid of eddy viscosity model of Baldwin and Lomax has an insignificant effect on the size of the necessary stability region

Роль інтелектуальної культури в процесі професійної підготовки майбутнього фахівця

Зниження рівня професійної підготовки фахівців у вищих навчальних закладах сьогодні є актуальною проблемою вищої освіти на всьому пострадянському просторі. І не в останню чергу ця проблема пов’язується з рівнем інтелекту студентської молоді

Improving multivariate Horner schemes with Monte Carlo tree search

Optimizing the cost of evaluating a polynomial is a classic problem in computer science. For polynomials in one variable, Horner's method provides a scheme for producing a computationally efficient form. For multivariate polynomials it is possible to generalize Horner's method, but this leaves freedom in the order of the variables. Traditionally, greedy schemes like most-occurring variable first are used. This simple textbook algorithm has given remarkably efficient results. Finding better algorithms has proved difficult. In trying to improve upon the greedy scheme we have implemented Monte Carlo tree search, a recent search method from the field of artificial intelligence. This results in better Horner schemes and reduces the cost of evaluating polynomials, sometimes by factors up to two.Comment: 5 page

Украина — член международной комиссии по блоьшим плотинам

Within Herd Test Prevalence Affects Genetic Variation in Antibody Response to Mycobacterium avium Subspecies paratuberculosis in Milk of Dutch Holstein-Friesians - K.J.E. van Hulzen, M. Nielen, A.P. Koets, G. de Jong, J.A.M. van Arendonk and H.C.M. Heuven. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Worldwide, classical control strategies based on hygiene and culling of infected animals have not been able to eradicate Johne’s disease. Therefore, breeding for disease resistance may be a useful tool to contribute to control the disease. In this study, genetic parameters were estimated for the presence of a Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis specific antibody response in milk of Dutch Holstein-Friesians using subsets of data based on within herd test prevalence levels. The estimated heritability ranged from 3.1% for the complete dataset to 9.7% for herds with a minimum test prevalence of 10%. Cross-validation analysis showed that breeding values were predicted most accurately using data obtained from herds with at least 2 positive tested animals, hence a heritability of 4.1% (± 0.4)

Cost-effectiveness and Cost-utility of the Adherence Improving Self-management Strategy in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Care : A Trial-based Economic Evaluation

This study was funded by ZonMw (the Netherlands), program Doelmatigheidsonderzoek (grant number 171002208). This funding source had no role in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or writing of the report. All authors declare that they have no competing interests. We thank the HIV-nurses and physicians from the seven HIV-clinics who were involved in the AIMSstudy (Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam; Slotervaart Hospital, Amsterdam; St. Lucas-Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam; the Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden; Haga Teaching Hospital, Den Haag; Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam; Isala Clinics, Zwolle) for their input and collaboration. We also would like to express our gratitude to the study participants. Written informed consent was obtained from each patient. The study has been approved by the ethics committee of each participating center.Peer reviewedPostprin

Preservation of the optic radiations based on comparative analysis of diffusion tensor imaging tractographyand anatomical dissection

Background Visualization of the precise course of the visual pathways is relevant to prevent damage that may inflict visual field deficits during neurosurgical resections. In particular the optic radiations (OR) are susceptible to such damage during neurosurgery. Cortical pathways can be mapped in vivo, by using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). Visualization of these pathways would be potentially helpful to prevent neurosurgical visual morbidity. In this study an anatomical dissection of the visual pathways was compared to DTI fiber tractography (DTI-FT) data of four human brains. The feasibility of a definition of a Safety Zone is investigated.Methods Four adult brains were dissected using Klingler’s fiber dissection method, which allowed preparation of the OR. Measurements before and after dissection were used to establish distances from the cortex to the OR. DTI-scans were also obtained from these brains to determine the same distances.Results Measurements from specific landmark points on the cortex to the lateral border of the OR were performed in four brains. Analysis through DTI tractography corresponded with the dissection results. Based on the combined results of both dissection and DTI-FT, we defined a quantitative surgical Safety Zone with respect to various anatomical landmarks (in particular the ventricle system)Conclusion We conclude that there is a good correlation between the visualizations of the optic pathways based on dissection and DTI. Furthermore, we conclude that defining a neurosurgical Safety Zone which could preserve the integrity of the OR during surgery, based on the combination of DTI-FT images and dissection is feasible