The embedded Nash problem of birational models of rational triple singularities

We consider the question whether one can construct an embedded resolution of singularities of a singular variety $X\subset \textbf{A}^n$ from the data of the irreducible components of the spaces of jets (of $X$) centered at the singular locus of $X.$ We show that the answer is no in general and that it is yes for some birational models of rational triple surface singularities

Change in Critical Thinking Levels of the Nursing Students During Learning Experiences

Giriş: Eleştirel düşünme; kendine güven, atılganlık, sorumluluk alma, problem çözme becerilerini gerektiren karmaşık bir süreçtir. Eleştireldüşünme gücünü kazanmada öğrencilerin etkin rol aldığı eğitim yöntemlerini kullanmak önemlidir. Amaç: Çalışma, entegre müfredat veinteraktif eğitim yöntemleri uygulanan hemşirelik bölümü öğrencilerinin eleştirel düşünme düzeylerini belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır.Yöntem: Çalışma, derslerin modüler sistemle, entegre müfredat ve interaktif eğitim yöntemiyle işlendiği bir sağlık yüksekokulundayapılmıştır. Okulda, 2005-2006 Eğitim-Öğretim yılında entegre müfredata geçilmiş ve hemşirelik bölümüne kayıt yaptıran bütün öğrenciler(N = 47) çalışmaya alınmıştır. Öğrencilere birinci sınıfta sosyodemografik özelliklere ilişkin anket formu; birinci, üçüncü ve dördüncü sınıftaWatson-Glaser Eleştirel Akıl Yürütme Gücü Ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Veriler, homojenlik ve tekrarlı ölçümlerde varyans analizi testleri iledeğerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan öğrencilerin, %31.9'unun 18 yaşında olduğu, %51.1'inin kendisini atak-girişken olaraktanımladığı, %93.6'sının çekirdek ailede yaşadığı, %55.3'ünün annesinin, %34.3'ünün babasının ilkokul mezunu olduğu belirlenmiştir.Öğrencilerin üçüncü sınıftaki eleştirel düşünmeye ilişkin tüm ölçek puan ortalamalarının birinci ve dördüncü sınıfa göre fazla olduğusaptanmıştır (p < .001). Yapılan tekrarlı ölçümlerde özellikle çıkarsama, yorumlama ve tartışmaların değerlendirilmesi alt ölçek ve geneltoplam puan ortalamaları arasındaki farkın istatistiksel olarak önemli olduğu belirlenmiştir (p < .05). Sonuç: Entegre müfredat ve interaktiföğretim yöntemiyle yapılan eğitimin öğrencilerin eleştirel düşünme düzeyleri üzerinde olumlu etkisi olduğu görülmektedir. Background: Critical thinking is a complex process that requires self-confidence, assertiveness, taking responsibility and problem solvingskills. In developing critical thinking ability, it is important to use educational methods that students play active role. Objectives: The aim ofthis study was to determine the critical thinking levels of nursing students' that applied integrated curriculum and interactive educationalmethods. Methods: The study was conducted in a health school that taught lessons with integrated curriculum, interactive educationalmethods and modular system. The school was adopted an integrated curriculum in the academic year 2005-2006. The research groupconsisted of all nursing students (N = 47) attending to nursing department. The data was collected by a questionnaire form (in the first-grade)and Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Scale (in the first, third and fourth-grades). The data were evaluated by tests of homogeneityand analysis of variance for repeated measurements. Results: Of the students, 31.9% were 18 years old, 51.1% described as confidentassertivethemselves, 93.6% lived in nuclear family were determined. Also, 55.3% their mother and, 34.3% their father were graduated fromprimary school. All the critical thinking mean scores of students measured in the third-grade were higher than the first and fourth-grade (p <.001). In repeated measurements, it was determined were statistically significant differences between the mean scores of interpretation,evaluation of the discussions subscales and total (p < .05). Conclusion: It is seen that education used integrated curriculum and interactiveeducational methods are a positive impact on critical thinking levels of nursing students

Malaria incidence and efficacy of intermittent preventive treatment in infants (IPTi).

BACKGROUND: Intermittent preventive antimalarial treatment in infants (IPTi) is currently evaluated as a malaria control strategy. Among the factors influencing the extent of protection that is provided by IPTi are the transmission intensity, seasonality, drug resistance patterns, and the schedule of IPTi administrations. The aim of this study was to determine how far the protective efficacy of IPTi depends on spatio-temporal variations of the prevailing incidence of malaria. METHODS: One thousand seventy infants were enrolled in a registered controlled trial on the efficacy of IPTi with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) in the Ashanti Region, Ghana, West Africa (ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT00206739). Stratification for the village of residence and the month of birth of study participants demonstrated that the malaria incidence was dependent on spatial (range of incidence rates in different villages 0.6-2.0 episodes/year) and temporal (range of incidence rates in children of different birth months 0.8-1.2 episodes/year) factors. The range of spatio-temporal variation allowed ecological analyses of the correlation between malaria incidence rates, anti-Plasmodium falciparum lysate IgG antibody levels and protective efficacies provided by IPTi. RESULTS: Protective efficacy of the first SP administration was positively correlated with malaria incidences in children living in a distinct village or born in a distinct month (R2 0.48, p < 0.04 and R2 0.63, p < 0.003, respectively). Corresponding trends were seen after the second and third study drug administration. Accordingly, IgG levels against parasite lysate increased with malaria incidence. This correlation was stronger in children who received IPTi, indicating an effect modification of the intervention. CONCLUSION: The spatial and temporal variations of malaria incidences in a geographically and meteorologically homogeneous study area exemplify the need for close monitoring of local incidence rates in all types of intervention studies. The increase of the protective efficacy of IPTi with malaria incidences may be relevant for IPTi implementation strategies and, possibly, for other malaria control measures