Psychometric properties and validity of an instrument measuring lower secondary students’ perceived competence in educational decision-making process

Making decisions about school or career is a very important task for young people since these choices can have long-term consequences. The main purpose of this study is to examine psychometric properties and construct validity of Perceived Competence in Educational Decision-making Process Questionnaire (PCEDPQ). A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA) is performed to test the scale theoretical structure and the metric invariance across gender. Results of MCFA are consistent with the hypothesized scale structure and show measurement invariance across gender. The reliability of the scales in terms of internal consistency ranged from .74 to .7

Dibutyltin(IV) and Tributyltin(IV) Derivatives of meso-Tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine Inhibit the Growth and the Migration of Human Melanoma Cells

Melanoma is the most aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer, which is largely due to its propensity to metastasize. Therefore, with the aim to inhibit the growth and the metastatic dissemination of melanoma cells and to provide a novel treatment option, we studied the eects of the melanoma treatment with two organotin(IV) complexes of the meso-tetra(4-sulfonato-phenyl)porphine, namely (Bu2Sn)2TPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS. In particular, we showed that nanomolar concentrations of (Bu2Sn)2TPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS are sucient to inhibit melanoma cell growth, to increase the expression of the full-length poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1), to induce the cell cycle arrest respectively at G2/M and G0/G1 through the inhibition of the Cyclin D1 expression and to inhibit cell colony formation. Nanomolar concentrations of (Bu2Sn)2TPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS are also sucient to inhibit the melanoma cell migration and the expression of some adhesion receptors. Moreover, we report that (Bu2Sn)2TPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS act downstream of BRAF, mainly bypassing its functions, but targeting the STAT3 signalling protein. Finally, these results suggest that (Bu2Sn)2TPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS may be eective therapeutic strategies for their role in the inhibition of melanoma growth and migration

Evaluación de desempeños en Educación Física : Presentación de caso en el Colegio Nacional Rafael Hernández de la UNLP

El objetivo de esta comunicación es presentar, mediante la metodología de estudiode caso, la implementación de una situación concreta de evaluación de desempeños de alumnos de segundo año, en clases de Educación Física del Colegio Nacional Rafael Hernández de La Universidad Nacional de la Plata. A lo largo de una unidad didáctica denominada secuencias motrices propias de los juegos de oposición, se presentarán dos grupos de evaluaciones. El primero, orientado al seguimiento de los desempeños preliminares y de investigación guiada, denominado evaluación diagnóstica continua. El segundo, orientado a la evaluación de los desempeños de síntesis, denominada evaluación final. En relación a la evaluación de los desempeños preliminares y de investigación guiada, en el presente trabajo se explicitarán los criterios establecidos y los datos proporcionados por la realimentación. En relación a los desempeños de síntesis, se explicitan los instrumentos de evaluación, y de seguimiento y registro. El aporte innovador de la presente ponencia se centra en el instrumento de seguimiento y registro de los desempeños de síntesis. Se presenta una rúbrica o matriz analítica instruccional donde, con situaciones prácticas concretas, se relacionarán los niveles de desempeño (categorías denominadas establecidas por el marco teórico bajo el nombre: contenidos, método, propósitos y comunicación) con las dimensiones de la comprensión (intuitivo, novato, aprendiz y maestría) en relación a la meta de comprensión de la unidad didácticaFil: Di Croce, Leo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación; Argentina

Dibutyltin(IV) and Tributyltin(IV) Derivatives of meso-Tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine Inhibit the Growth and the Migration of Human Melanoma Cells

Melanoma is the most aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer, which is largely due to its propensity to metastasize. Therefore, with the aim to inhibit the growth and the metastatic dissemination of melanoma cells and to provide a novel treatment option, we studied the eects of the melanoma treatment with two organotin(IV) complexes of the meso-tetra(4-sulfonato-phenyl)porphine, namely (Bu2Sn)2TPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS. In particular, we showed that nanomolar concentrations of (Bu2Sn)2TPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS are sucient to inhibit melanoma cell growth, to increase the expression of the full-length poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1), to induce the cell cycle arrest respectively at G2/M and G0/G1 through the inhibition of the Cyclin D1 expression and to inhibit cell colony formation. Nanomolar concentrations of (Bu2Sn)2TPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS are also sucient to inhibit the melanoma cell migration and the expression of some adhesion receptors. Moreover, we report that (Bu2Sn)2TPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS act downstream of BRAF, mainly bypassing its functions, but targeting the STAT3 signalling protein. Finally, these results suggest that (Bu2Sn)2TPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS may be eective therapeutic strategies for their role in the inhibition of melanoma growth and migration

Methodologies for Air-Fuel ratio and trapped mass estimation in Diesel engines using the in-cylinder pressure measurement

Abstract Nowadays the increasing automotive market competition together with the worsening of the environmental pollution leaded to the development of complex engine systems. Innovative control strategies are needed to simplify and improve the Engine Management System (EMS), moving towards energy saving engines and complying with the restrictions on emissions standards. In this scenario the application of methodologies based on the in-cylinder pressure measurement finds widespread applications. Indeed, the in-cylinder pressure signal provides direct in-cylinder information with an high dynamical potentiality, that is fundamental for the control and diagnosis of the combustion process. Furthermore, the in-cylinder pressure measurement may also allow reducing the number of existing sensors on-board, thus lowering the equipment costs and the engine wiring complexity. This paper focuses on the detection of the Air-Fuel ratio and the in-cylinder trapped mass after the intake valve closing from the in-cylinder pressure signal. The Air-fuel ratio estimation might allow replacing the lambda sensor, the estimation method is based on a statistical approach. The in-cylinder trapped mass estimation gives the opportunity to by-pass the CO2 measurement for the evaluation of the EGR rate, in this case the Δp method is proposed. The developed techniques were validated vs. experimental data measured at the engine test bench on a Common-Rail turbocharged Diesel engine. The results show a good accuracy in predicting Air-Fuel ratio and in-cylinder trapped mass in a wide engine operating range. Because of both the low computational burden and the good results, these methodologies are suitable to be implemented on-board

Blackletter: Fiction and a Wall of Precedent

The eight stories that make up Blackletter explore situations in which people are forced to challenge the legitimacy of authority, rethink and rebuild their own identities, or confront their own involvement in human and environmental degradation. A central theme running throughout the collection is law, broadly, and the ways in which people adhere to or sometimes break from a particular rule, be it social or legislative. In each case, the role of law and its correlation to place and identity—either overt or veiled—serves as a major component of each story. In this way I locate these stories within a sociolegal discourse that emphasizes the interpersonal impact of estrangement, abrogated civic and moral duty, and even candid hostility toward contemporary issues of responsibility and governance. Taken together with the closing nonfiction essay, this collection attempts to show that the laws we live by, as well as those we disobey or amend, comprise an evolving tradition, or wall of precedent. Like the traditions of prose and poetry, which have rules to be followed and sometimes challenged, this ongoing creation of precedent affects its direct participants while revealing that no person is entirely isolated from it, and therefore from the ability to engage it

Effects of past and current crop management on leaching losses, soil microbial community composition and activity

A lysimeter experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of past and current management practices on soil microbial biomass, activity and community composition. Intact monolith lysimeters were taken from sites of the same soil type that had been under long-term organic and conventional crop management. They were subjected to the same crop rotation and managed according to best organic and conventional practices. Mineral N loss was determined in leachates and soil samples taken before the experiment and after 30 months were analysed for biological soil properties, including microbial diversity. Results indicated that leaching losses were similar for all treatments and that crop was the main influence on microbial biomass composition and size, while microbial activity was determined by management history