Exemplifying a model-eliciting task for primary school pupils

Mathematical modelling is a field that is gaining prominence recently in mathematics educaiton research and has generated interests in schools as well.  In Singapore, modelling and applications are included as process componens in revised 2007 curriculum document (MOE, 2007) as keeping to reform efforst. In Indonesia, efforts to place stronger emphasis on connecting school mathematics with real-world contexts and applications have started in Indonesian primary schools with the Pendidikan Matematika Realistik Indonesia (PMRI) movement a decade ago (Sembiring, Hoogland, Dolk, 2010). Amidst others, modeling activities are gradually introduced in Singapore and Indonesian schools to demonstrte the relevance of school mathematics with real-world problems. However, on order for it to find a place in the mathematics classroom, ther eis a need for teacher-practitioners to know what mathematical modelling and what a modelling task is. This paper sets out to exemplify a model-eliciting task that has been designed and used in both a Singapore and Indonesian mathematics classroom. Mathematical modelling, the features of a model-eliciting task, and its potential and advice on implementation are discussed. 

Xploring txtuality & txtually transmitd dis-Ez : exploring textuality & textually transmitted dis-ease

In studyn th sociolog of transl8n, ther is logic n atemptin 2 stay az tru 2 form az possbl n reportin on studies, 4 wat is known is n de performanc of reportin, furthr transl8ns ocur. + additionl & praps unesary distortns ocur wen d resrch is bEing disemN8d. Taking a performativ turn, research disein8n attnds 2 > than th aesthetic. N nvestig8ng how young ppl bcom positind n thR preferences 4 textn ther iz positnin dat trivializs, pathologizs & marginalizs. N only attendin 2 a sanitizd voice, 1 made 2 fit th acadimc audiens, transl8d in2 d discours of th0s situa8d n d mainstrem, proceses of colonz8n & opresn r perpetu8d. N givng academic credens 2 particla voices & not othrs, conventns of academia suport a domiNt discours: "to b takn serious dont stay az u r". This papr ther4 focuss on a partclr part of reserch, the collatral damge of reserch dissemn8n that restrcts & altrs voice. 2 redres violenc gainst such voices, a performativ turn is takn. 

Auranofin: repurposing an old drug for a golden new age

Drug discovery, development and registration is an expensive and time-consuming process associated with a high failure rate [Pessetto et al. (Mol Cancer Ther 12:1299-1309, 2013), Woodcock and Woosley (Annu Rev Med 59:1-12, 2008)]. Drug 'repurposing' is the identification of new therapeutic purposes for already approved drugs and is more affordable and achievable than novel drug discovery [Pessetto et al. (Mol Cancer Ther 12:1299-1309, 2013)]. Auranofin is a drug that is approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis but is being investigated for potential therapeutic application in a number of other diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, HIV/AIDS, parasitic infections and bacterial infections [Tejman-Yarden et al. (Antimicrob Agents Chemother 57:2029-2035, 2013)]. The main mechanism of action of auranofin is through the inhibition of reduction/oxidation (redox) enzymes that are essential for maintaining intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species. Inhibition of these enzymes leads to cellular oxidative stress and intrinsic apoptosis [Pessetto et al. (Mol Cancer Ther 12:1299-1309, 2013), Fan et al. (Cell Death Dis 5:e1191, 2014), Fiskus et al. (Cancer Res 74:2520-2532, 2014), Marzano et al. (Free Radic Biol Med 42:872-881, 2007)]. Drugs such as auranofin that have already been approved for human use [Tejman-Yarden et al. (Antimicrob Agents Chemother 57:2029-2035, 2013)] can be brought into clinical use for other diseases relatively quickly and for a fraction of the cost of new drugs.