Opportunities to decrease elementary prospective teachers’ mathematics anxiety

There is a large body of research that documents mathematics anxiety among elementary prospective teachers (PTs) (e.g., Dutton, 1951; Gresham, 2007; Sloan, 2010). Anxiety about mathematics leaves many PTs with the belief that they are not good at doing mathematics, a fear of doing mathematics, and the response that they do not want to talk about or display this fear to others. This disposition is dangerous for PTs because it perpetuates a cycle of mathematics anxiety with their future students. The goal of this article is to encourage the use of research findings when mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) are working with PTs as a way to decrease PTs’ mathematics anxiety levels prior to their entry into the teaching profession. Starting with a summary of research findings about the causes of PTs’ mathematics anxiety, this article then presents eight research–based recommendations that MTEs can use to help reduce PTs’ mathematics anxiety levels while teaching a mathematics content course designed for elementary PTs. It is important for MTEs to be aware of the prevalence of mathematics anxiety among their PTs, to know where that mathematics anxiety originates so they can avoid intensifying the anxiety, and to utilize research–based strategies for reducing the anxiety. This article presents research on PTs’ mathematics anxiety in a way that is easily accessible for MTEs

Women in Exile: A Study of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Bharati Mukherjee, and Anita Rau Badami

During the post-colonial period, literature has crossed the boundaries of nation, language, and culture. An important feature of the period is the emergence of woman writers. Significant space has been created for women to discuss their peculiar problems and issues. The social, cultural, and literary definitions accumulated over the past by the patriarchal tradition were redefined from alternate and, especially, from feminist or womanist points of view. With more and more women taking part in the public life and the steady increase in the number of independent women, there is a significant rise in women’s writings across the globe.The paper entitled “Transnationalism and Women: A Study of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Bharati Mukherjee, and Anita Rau Badami” discusses how three prominent woman writers of the Diaspora deal with problems of the transnational women

Activation of p38 MAPK in the substantia nigra leads to nuclear translocation of NF-κB in MPTP-treated mice: implication in Parkinson's disease

Activation and translocation of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) from cytoplasm to the nucleus has been reported in models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Our focus was to discern the upstream events which ultimately lead to NF-κB nuclear translocation using animal model of PD. We demonstrate that p38 activation results in downstream phosphorylation of NF-κB and accumulation of p65 subunit of NF-κB selectively in ventral midbrain but not in striatum. Treatment with p38 inhibitor, SB239063, prevented downstream phosphorylation of IκBα and p65 translocation to the nucleus in the ventral midbrain. Phosphorylation of anti-apoptotic Bcl2, an NF-κB target gene by p38 to inactive pBcl2ser87 was also attenuated by SB239063. Increased staining of p65 in the nuclei of cells in the substantia nigra but not in the ventral tegmental area of MPTP-treated mice further suggests a role for NF-κB in PD. In agreement with the above, sustained caspase activation is seen in the ventral midbrain but not in striatum. We demonstrate the region specific p38-mediated activation of NF-κB following MPTP treatment demonstrating the role of p38/NF-κB signaling in the pathogenesis and progression of the disease. Selective inhibitors of p38 may therefore, help preserve the surviving neurons in PD and slow down the disease progression

AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF STARGARDTS MACULAR DEGENERATION- A CASE REPORT

Stargardts disease is a juvenile macular dystrophy which tends to appear between the ages of 10 to 20, although visual impairment may not be apparent until as late as ages 30 to 40.  Visual acuity including colour vision testing, visual field analysis, ERG, Fundus Fluorescein Angiography and Amsler grid charting are the useful diagnostic techniques for this disease. Even though significant research is taking place in this area, no treatment is available till date for this disease and general approach of macular degeneration is following now. In Ayurveda by considering the visual disturbance and field defect, this disease can be included under one the 12 types of Drishtigata rogas. Pitthavidagdhadrishti is one of the disease explained by Acharya Susrutha in Drishtirogas is more appropriate to define this clinical condition. As there is no common line of management following in these types of diseases in Ayurveda, an attempt has been made to explain a case treated as per the Ayurvedic principles. This article describes a30 year old male patient diagnosed as Stargardts macular degeneration and underwent Ayurvedic treatment protocol starting from the Snehapana and ending with Yogavasthi. By executing the Ayurvedic treatment, the quality of the vision mainly color perception including distant and near acuity is improved at least for a period of four years. The distant vision improved up to 6/24 and near vision N6 (P) in better eye.  The treatment methodology adopted in this case can be taken as a guideline to manage the macular degenerative diseases which need extensive management to tackle the pathology

Detection of antibacterial activity of karuncheerakam (nigella sativa) oil against gram positive cocci isolated from veterinary clinical specimens

Gram positive cocci are ubiquitous microorganisms important in human and animal infections. The use of antibiotics to treat these infections is limited because of emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can be transferred to man and should adapt to withdrawal period in order to minimize antibiotic residue. Therefore, many research studies are being carried out to find non-antibiotic approaches in order to reduce the use of antibiotics. In the traditional veterinary medicine, medicinal herbs are used to treat animal diseases. This is believed to be natural and safe therapeutic methods. In this in-vioo study, the Karuncheerakam (Nigella sativa) oil was examined for its antibacterial activity against the most common Gram positive bacteria, in order to develop an herbal remedy as a substitute for antibiotics. In this study, 84 Staphylococci organisms and 52 Streptococci organisms isolated from 100 veterinary clinical specimens were investigated. The disc-diffusion assay was used to detect the antibacterial activity. The antibacterial effect of this oil was very impressive as evidenced by the inhibition zone sizes obtained and all the isolated organisms tested were susceptible. In conclusion, the antibacterial activity of this oil on Gram positive bacteria was highly significant and this study suggests that Karuncheerakam oil can be used as an antibacterial agent targeting on Gram positive bacterial infection. However, this oil should be further examined through proper pharmacological and clinical investigations in order to be considered as a new alternative therapy for these infections

Simplified Production of Large Prototypes using Visible Slicing

Rapid Prototyping (RP) is a totally automatic generative manufacturing technique based on a “divide-and-conquer” strategy called ‘slicing’. Simple slicing used on 2.5-axis kinematics of the existing RP machines is responsible for the staircase error. Although thinner slices will have less error, the slice thickness has practical limits. Visible Slicing overcomes these limitations. A few visible slices exactly represent the object. Each visible slice can be realized using a 3- axis kinematics machine from two opposite directions. Visible slicing is implemented on Segmented Object Manufacturing (SOM) machine under development. SOM can produce soft large prototypes faster and cheaper with accuracy comparable to that of CNC machining.Mechanical Engineerin

Effect of Urbanization on Flooding: Adyar River a Case Study

Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchiv

4-(4-Meth­oxy­phen­yl)naphtho­[2,3-b]thio­phene

In the title compound, C19H14OS, the naphtho­thio­phene moiety is almost planar except for the S atom of the five-membered ring, which is situated 0.047 (6) Å out of the C4 plane (with an r.m.s. deviation of fitted atoms = 0.0009 Å). The dihedral angle between the naphtho­thio­phene plane and the attached meth­oxy­phenyl ring is 67.6 (2)°. In the crystal, a C—H⋯π inter­action is observed between a meth­oxy­phenyl C—H group and the outer benzene ring of the naphtho­thio­phene moiety. The five-membered ring of the naphtho­thio­phene moiety is disordered, with the S and opposite non-fused C atom approximately exchanging positions, with a site-occupancy factors of 0.808 (3) and 0.187 (3)

Роль цифровизации в сельском банковском секторе в Мадурае, Индия

The Indian banking sector has reached greater heights in recent days because of adopting and involving in the Digitalisation of banking. Though India is moving forward with digitalisation process, our nation faces several setbacks and opposition, which has to be crossed specifically in the rural banking system. The current research work has attempted to examine these challenges and setbacks which are found commonly in rural banking digitalisation. This paper aims in analysing the impacts and influences of Digitalisation in rural banks of Madurai city, Tamil Nadu. Moreover, the study is surveying multiple influencing factors like literacy rate, education qualification, income quality, gender equality and socio-economic position. Finally, some suggestions and conceptions to increase the maximum reach of knowledge and importance regarding the Digitalisation of banks in rural regions are suggested to the government and banking sectors. Regional based loan schemes and mechanisms and procedures must be encouraged by banks. Income assessment, repayable capacity in the rural areas of Madurai has to be initiated. The study focuses on research-based on quantitative tools. The Study aims in explaining the various positive outcomes of bank digitalisation via digital banking and financial inclusion here in India. The present study provides the awareness of the digital world and the advantages of adopting them in rural India for various banking services. The paper concludes that there is a need for digital establishments and digital banking in most rural areas all over India.В последнее время индийский банковский сектор достиг больших высот, благодаря внедрению и участию в цифровизации банковского дела. Хотя Индия движется вперед в процессе цифровизации, она сталкивается с рядом трудностей и противодействий, которые необходимо преодолеть, в частности, в сельской банковской системе. В рамках проводимых в настоящее время исследований была предпринята попытка проанализировать эти проблемы и проблемы, которые обычно возникают в процессе оцифровывания банковских счетов в сельских районах. Целью исследования является определение проблем, возникающих при внедрении цифровизации в банках сельских регионов - на примере города Мадурай штата Тамилнад. В рамках исследования рассмотрены такие факторы влияния, как уровень грамотности населения, уровень образования, качество доходов, гендерное равенство и социально-экономическое положение. Авторы статьи выдвигают свои предложения и концепции для правительства и банковского сектора, направленные на повышение максимального уровня знаний и важности цифровизации банков в сельских районах. Банки должны поощрять региональные кредитные схемы, механизмы и процедуры. В сельских районах Мадураи должна быть начата оценка доходов и платежеспособности. Исследование проведено с использованием научно-исследовательских и количественных инструментов. Цель исследования заключается в разъяснении положительных результатов цифровизации банковского сектора через цифровой банкинг и финансовые услуги в Индии. Настоящее исследование позволяет узнать о цифровом мире и преимуществах внедрения различных банковских услуг в сельских районах Индии. В статье делается вывод о том, что в большинстве сельских районов Индии существует потребность в цифровых учреждениях и цифровых банках