Linking geometry and algebra with GeoGebra

GeoGebra is a software package and is so named because it combines geometry and algebra as equal mathematical partners in its representations. At one level, GeoGebra can be as a dynamic geometry system like other, commercially available, software. But this is only part of the story. Another window (the algebra part of GeoGebra) provides an insight into the relationship between the geometric aspects of figures and their algebraic representations. Here each equation or set of coordinates can be edited in the algebra window and the figure instantly changes. What is more, an equation (or a function) can be typed into the space at the foot of the GeoGebra interface and the corresponding geometric representation will appear in the geometry window. Perhaps utilising GeoGebra could inspire a change from regular forms of enrichment/ extension activity to things that need high level thinking, and things that pupils may find themselves wanting to follow-up outside school lessons

A Developmental Perspective on College & Workplace Readiness

Reviews research on and identifies the physical, psychological, social, cognitive, and spiritual competencies high school graduates need to transition into college, the workplace, and adulthood. Includes strategies for meeting disadvantaged youths' needs

Resonance of awe

2004 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.My art is a visual expression of my intimate relationships to family and my surroundings. It is a search to unite the dichotomy of self and other, and a seeking out of the divine. Using landscape as subject matter I strive to create a visual vocabulary with line, shape, color, and movement to express a universal and spiritual way of seeing

Shear stress attenuates apoptosis due to TNFα, oxidative stress, and serum depletion via death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) expression

BACKGROUND: Misdirected apoptosis in endothelial cells participates in the development of pathological conditions such as atherosclerosis. Tight regulation of apoptosis is necessary to ensure normal cell function. The rate of cell turnover is increased at sites prone to lesion development. Laminar shear stress is protective against atherosclerosis, and helps suppress apoptosis induced by cytokines, oxidative stress, and serum depletion. Current Studies have shown that the pro-apoptotic DAPK expression and function to be regulated in part by shear stress, and that shearing cells already treated with cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α significantly reduced apoptosis. We investigate further the suppression of endothelial apoptosis by shear stress with other apoptotic triggers, and the involvement of DAPK and caspase 3/7. RESULTS: We have shown that exposure to shear stress (12 dynes/cm(2) for 6 hrs) suppressed endothelial apoptosis triggered by cytokine (TNFα), oxidative stress (H2O2), and serum depletion, either before or after a long term (18 hr) induction. This is correlated with a parallel decrease of DAPK expression and caspase activity compared to non-sheared cells. We found similar modulation of DAPK and apoptosis by shear stress with other pro-apoptotic signals. Changes in DAPK and caspase 3/7 are directly correlated to changes in apoptosis. Interestingly, shear stress applied to cells prior to induction with apoptosis agents resulted in a higher suppression of apoptosis and DAPK and caspase activity, compared to applying shear stress post induction. This is correlated with a higher expression and activation of DAPK in cells sheared at the end of 24-hr experiment. Also, shear stress alone also induced higher apoptosis and DAPK expression, and the effect is sustained even after 18 hrs incubation in static condition, compared to non-sheared cells. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, we show that laminar shear stress inhibits various apoptosis pathways by modulating DAPK activity, as well as caspase activation, in a time-dependent manner. Shear stress could target DAPK as a converging point to exert its effects of suppressing endothelial apoptosis. The temporal shear stress stimulation of DAPK and its role in different apoptosis pathways may help identify key mechanisms of the endothelial mechanotransduction pathway

Exploratory talk within collaborative small groups in mathematics

This report describes one aspect of a wider research study on exploratory talk within collaborative small groups in secondary mathematics lessons. It outlines students’ views of using collaborative activity to learn mathematics. The fuller research study explores the extent to which exploratory talk occurs in collaborative peer groups in secondary mathematics classrooms

Eastern NYS Field Crops Weekly Pest Report: Evaluation 2004

The purpose of the Eastern NYS Field Crops Weekly Pest Report is to provide timely pest information to field crop extension educators. The report was a compilation of pest data collected on a weekly basis by several people across Eastern NYS. The pest report was distributed in a Cornell University Field Crops Staff List Server. Extension Educator could then select the pest information that best fit their current situation and alert field crop producers in a wide array of methods. At the completion of the growing season a survey was sent electronically to the field crop extension educators to measure the impact of the weekly pest report

DNA double strand breaks but not interstrand crosslinks prevent progress through meiosis in fully grown mouse oocytes

There is some interest in how mammalian oocytes respond to different types of DNA damage because of the increasing expectation of fertility preservation in women undergoing chemotherapy. Double strand breaks (DSBs) induced by ionizing radiation and agents such as neocarzinostatin (NCS), and interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) induced by alkylating agents such as mitomycin C (MMC), are toxic DNA lesions that need to be repaired for cell survival. Here we examined the effects of NCS and MMC treatment on oocytes collected from antral follicles in mice, because potentially such oocytes are readily collected from ovaries and do not need to be in vitro grown to achieve meiotic competency. We found that oocytes were sensitive to NCS, such that this ionizing radiation mimetic blocked meiosis I and caused fragmented DNA. In contrast, MMC had no impact on the completion of either meiosis I or II, even at extremely high doses. However, oocytes treated with MMC did show ?-H2AX foci and following their in vitro maturation and parthenogenetic activation the development of the subsequent embryos was severely compromised. Addition of MMC to 1-cell embryos caused a similarly poor level of development, demonstrating oocytes have eventual sensitivity to this ICL-inducing agent but this does not occur during their meiotic division. In oocytes, the association of Fanconi Anemia protein, FANCD2, with sites of ICL lesions was not apparent until entry into the embryonic cell cycle. In conclusion, meiotic maturation of oocytes is sensitive to DSBs but not ICLs. The ability of oocytes to tolerate severe ICL damage and yet complete meiosis, means that this type of DNA lesion goes unrepaired in oocytes but impacts on subsequent embryo quality