Teachers’ Accounts of Developing Mathematical Resilience in the Classroom

This paper reports on a professional development programme in mathematical resilience, and the experiences of the teachers taking part. The programme introduced the teachers to the construct of mathematical resilience, and explained how it was relevant and valuable to the teaching and learning of mathematics. The participating teachers were encouraged to apply the principles of mathematical resilience, and to reflect on their actions through conducting a small-scale action research project in their own school environment. What follows in this paper are examples of how mathematical resilience was deployed in these schools, alongside some examples of the changes reported by the teachers in their own practice and that of their students

Risk assessment and relationship management: practical approach to supply chain risk management

The literature suggests the need for incorporating the risk construct into the measurement of organisational performance, although few examples are available as to how this might be undertaken in relation to supply chains. A conceptual framework for the development of performance and risk management within the supply chain is evolved from the literature and empirical evidence. The twin levels of dyadic performance/risk management and the management of a portfolio of performance/risks is addressed, employing Agency Theory to guide the analysis. The empirical evidence relates to the downstream management of dealerships by a large multinational organisation. Propositions are derived from the analysis relating to the issues and mechanisms that may be employed to effectively manage a portfolio of supply chain performance and risks

INCOME AND WEALTH OF HOUSEHOLDS WHO OPERATE U.S. FARMS

Consumer/Household Economics,

Variational bayes for estimating the parameters of a hidden Potts model

Hidden Markov random field models provide an appealing representation of images and other spatial problems. The drawback is that inference is not straightforward for these models as the normalisation constant for the likelihood is generally intractable except for very small observation sets. Variational methods are an emerging tool for Bayesian inference and they have already been successfully applied in other contexts. Focusing on the particular case of a hidden Potts model with Gaussian noise, we show how variational Bayesian methods can be applied to hidden Markov random field inference. To tackle the obstacle of the intractable normalising constant for the likelihood, we explore alternative estimation approaches for incorporation into the variational Bayes algorithm. We consider a pseudo-likelihood approach as well as the more recent reduced dependence approximation of the normalisation constant. To illustrate the effectiveness of these approaches we present empirical results from the analysis of simulated datasets. We also analyse a real dataset and compare results with those of previous analyses as well as those obtained from the recently developed auxiliary variable MCMC method and the recursive MCMC method. Our results show that the variational Bayesian analyses can be carried out much faster than the MCMC analyses and produce good estimates of model parameters. We also found that the reduced dependence approximation of the normalisation constant outperformed the pseudo-likelihood approximation in our analysis of real and synthetic datasets

Identifying multiple detachment horizons and an evolving thrust history through cross-section restoration and appraisal in the Moine Thrust Belt, NW Scotland

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Implications of heterogeneous fracture distribution on reservoir quality; an analogue from the Torridon Group sandstone, Moine Thrust Belt, NW Scotland

This research was funded by a NERC CASE studentship (NERC code NE/I018166/1) in partnership with Midland Valley. Midland Valley's Move software was used for cross section construction and strain modelling. 3D Field software is acknowledged for contour map creation. Mark Cooper is thanked for constructive comments. Steven Laubach and Bill Dunne are thanked overseeing the editorial process and Magdalena Ellis Curry, Bertrand Gauthier and Arthur Lavenu are thanked for constructive reviews.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Genetic control of immune responsiveness to the avian coccidium Eimeria tenella

Specific inbred lines of chickens expressing different major histocompatibility (B) complex haplotypes were studied for their immunogenetic response to the avian coccidium Eimeria tenella and genetically-engineered antigens cloned from this parasite species. The relative influence of the B-F vs. B-G chromosomal regions on innnate resistance and immunity to E. tenella was studied among six B-F/B-G recombinant hosts. F\sb1 chicks of similar genotypes, B\sp{\rm R3} and B\sp{\rm R4} (B\sp{\rm F2-G23}B\sp{17}), gained significantly more weight than those with B\sp{\rm R1}(B\sp{\rm F24-G23}B\sp{17}) and B\sp{\rm R5} (B\sp{\rm F21-G19}B\sp{17}) following exposure to a single high dose of 25,000 oocysts, although no differences in cecal lesion scores were detected. Following exposure to a single low dose of 2500 oocysts, F\sb1 chicks B\sp{\rm R3} and B\sp{\rm R4} again gained significantly more weight and had significantly lower lesion scores compared to B\sp{\rm R1} or B\sp{\rm R5} F\sb1 chicks. Acquired immunity in F\sb2 homozygous recombinant chicks was studied using five consecutive daily exposures of 500 oocysts followed 21 days later by challenge with 10,000 oocysts. B\sp{\rm R5}(B\sp{\rm F21-G19}) and B\sp{\rm R6}(B\sp{\rm F21-G23}) homozygous chicks, both carrying the B-F\sp{21} allele, showed significant protection in terms of reduced lesion scores. The immunogenicity of recombinant E. tenella coccidial antigens 5401 and 3264 was studied in 6\sb1\cdot B congenic chickens derived from B\sp2B\sp2 and B\sp5B\sp5 parents segregating for haplotypes B\sp2 and B\sp5. In separate experiments, antigens 5401 and 3264, both inoculated subcutaneously in Freund\u27s complete adjuvant, elicited a protective response only in B\sp5B\sp5 chickens. B\sp2B\sp2 and B\sp5B\sp5 chickens also responded differently in serum IgG titer and in the magnitude of lymphocyte proliferation. Western blot analysis showed differential labeling of low molecular weight proteins. Antibodies raised against antigen 3264 strongly labeled only the anterior portion of the sporozoite stage of E. tenella. In contrast, these same antibodies strongly labeled only the posterior portion of second generation merozoites, while first generation merozoites were only slightly labeled, if at all. In addition, a single heavily labeled nodule, possibly an immune complex, was observed on the posterior surface of second generation merozoites. Considered together, these findings demonstrate further that genetic responsiveness is linked to the major histocompatibility complex and has a profound influence on the host response to the parasite as well as the efficacy of recombinant protozoan vaccines

Law School Never Stops

In the past, law school graduates were molded into lawyers through along period of training. However, the modern legal community - law firms, law staffs of corporations and government agencies, bar associations, continuing legal education institutes and law schools - has begun to implement a whole new philosophy of legal training predicated upon the direct teaching of legal practice skills rather than the experience orientated process

Influence of structural position on fracture networks in the Torridon Group, Achnashellach fold and thrust belt, NW Scotland

Acknowledgements This research is funded by a NERC CASE studentship (NERC code NE/I018166/1) in partnership with Midland Valley. The authors thank Midland Valley for use of FieldMove Clino software for fracture data collection, and Move software for cross section construction, and strain modelling. 3D Field software is acknowledged for contour map creation. We also thank Toru Takeshita for overseeing the editorial process, and Catherine Hanks and Ole Petter Wennberg for constructive reviews.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The effect of prior upper body exercise on subsequent wingate performance

It has been reported previously that the upper body musculature is continually active during high intensity cycle ergometry. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of prior upper body exercise on subsequent Wingate (WAnT) performance. Eleven recreationally active males (20.8 ± 2.2 yrs; 77.7 ± 12.0 kg;  1.79 ± 0.04 m) completed two trials in a randomised order. In one trial participants completed 2 × 30 s WAnT tests (WAnT1 and WAnT2) with a 6 min recovery period; in the other trial, this protocol was preceded with 4 sets of biceps curls to induce localised arm fatigue. Prior upper body exercise was found to have a statistically significant detrimental effect on peak power output (PPO) during WAnT1 (P < 0.05) but no effect was observed for mean power output (MPO) (P > 0.05). Handgrip (HG) strength was also found to be significantly lower following the upper body exercise. These results demonstrate that the upper body  is meaningfully involved in the generation of leg power during intense cycling