Handbook of International Research in Mathematics Education [3rd Ed.]

"This third edition ofthe Handbook of International Research in Mathematics Education provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent theoretical and practical developments in the field of mathematics education. Authored by an array of internationally recognized scholars and edited by Lyn English and David Kirshner, this collection brings together overviews and advances in mathematics education research spanning established and emerging topics, diverse workplace and school environments, and globally representative research priorities. New perspectives are presented on a range of critical topics including embodied learning, the theory-practice divide, new developments in the early years, educating future mathematics education professors, problem solving in a 21st century curriculum, culture and mathematics learning, complex systems, critical analysis of design-based research, multimodal technologies, and e-textbooks. Comprised of 12 revised and 17 new chapters, this edition extends the Handbook’s original themes for international research in mathematics education and remains in the process a definitive resource for the field."--Publisher website

Association of sporadic chondrocalcinosis with a -4-basepair G-to-A transition in the 5′-untranslated region of ANKH that promotes enhanced expression of ANKH protein and excess generation of extracellular inorganic pyrophosphate

Objective Certain mutations in ANKH, which encodes a multiple-pass transmembrane protein that regulates inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) transport, are linked to autosomal-dominant familial chondrocalcinosis. This study investigated the potential for ANKH sequence variants to promote sporadic chondrocalcinosis. Methods ANKH variants identified by genomic sequencing were screened for association with chondrocalcinosis in 128 patients with severe sporadic chondrocalcinosis or pseudogout and in ethnically matched healthy controls. The effects of specific variants on expression of common markers were evaluated by in vitro transcription/translation. The function of these variants was studied in transfected human immortalized CH-8 articular chondrocytes. Results Sporadic chondrocalcinosis was associated with a G-to-A transition in the ANKH 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR) at 4 bp upstream of the start codon (in homozygotes of the minor allele, genotype relative risk 6.0, P = 0.0006; overall genotype association P = 0.02). This -4-bp transition, as well as 2 mutations previously linked with familial and sporadic chondrocalcinosis (+14 bp C-to-T and C-terminal GAG deletion, respectively), but not the French familial chondrocalcinosis kindred 143-bp T-to-C mutation, increased reticulocyte ANKH transcription/ANKH translation in vitro. Transfection of complementary DNA for both the wild-type ANKH and the -4-bp ANKH protein variant promoted increased extracellular PPi in CH-8 cells, but unexpectedly, these ANKH mutants had divergent effects on the expression of extracellular PPi and the chondrocyte hypertrophy marker, type X collagen. Conclusion A subset of sporadic chondrocalcinosis appears to be heritable via a -4-bp G-to-A ANKH 5′-UTR transition that up-regulates expression of ANKH and extracellular PPi in chondrocyte cells. Distinct ANKH mutations associated with heritable chondrocalcinosis may promote disease by divergent effects on extracellular PPi and chondrocyte hypertrophy, which is likely to mediate differences in the clinical phenotypes and severity of the disease.

Microscopic cooperative traffic flow: Calibration and simulation based on a next generation simulation dataset

The deployment of new emerging technologies, such as cooperative systems, allows the traffic community to foresee relevant improvements in terms of traffic safety and efficiency. Autonomous vehicles are able to share information about the local traffic state in real time, which could result in a better reaction to the mechanism of traffic jam formation. An upstream single-hop radio broadcast network can improve the perception of each cooperative driver within a specific radio range and hence the traffic stability. The impact of vehicle to vehicle cooperation on the onset of traffic congestion is investigated analytically and through simulation. A next generation simulation field dataset is used to calibrate the full velocity difference car-following model, and the MOBIL lane-changing model is implemented. The robustness of the calibration as well as the heterogeneity of the drivers is discussed. Assuming that congestion can be triggered either by the heterogeneity of drivers' behaviours or abnormal lane-changing behaviours, the calibrated car-following model is used to assess the impact of a microscopic cooperative law on egoistic lane-changing behaviours. The cooperative law can help reduce and delay traffic congestion and can have a positive effect on safety indicators.

Electrochemical detection of benzo(a)pyrene and related DNA damage using DNA/hemin/nafion-graphene biosensor

A novel electrochemical biosensor, DNA/hemin/nafion–graphene/GCE, was constructed for the analysis of the benzo(a)pyrene PAH, which can produce DNA damage induced by a benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) enzyme-catalytic product. This biosensor was assembled layer-by-layer, and was characterized with the use of cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and atomic force microscopy. Ultimately, it was demonstrated that the hemin/nafion–graphene/GCE was a viable platform for the immobilization of DNA. This DNA biosensor was treated separately in benzo(a)pyrene, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and in their mixture, respectively, and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) analysis showed that an oxidation peak was apparent after the electrode was immersed in H2O2. Such experiments indicated that in the presence of H2O2, hemin could mimic cytochrome P450 to metabolize benzo(a)pyrene, and a voltammogram of its metabolite was recorded. The DNA damage induced by this metabolite was also detected by electrochemical impedance and ultraviolet spectroscopy. Finally, a novel, indirect DPV analytical method for BaP in aqueous solution was developed based on the linear metabolite versus BaP concentration plot; this method provided a new, indirect, quantitative estimate of DNA damage.

Spontaneous generation of optical activity in urea inclusion compounds vis-a-vis current theories

A novel test of recent theories of the origin of optical activity has been designed based on the inclusion of certain alkyl 2-methylhexanoates into urea channels.

A New Method For The Generation Of 5,6-Quinolinedione 5-Methide .5. Synthesis Of Polycyclic Heteroaromatics

Reaction of 6-acetoxy-5-bromomethylquinoline (1c) and 2-bromomethyl-4-(2'-pyridyl)phenyl acetate (2b) with tetrachlorocatechol in acetone in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate resulted in the formation of diastereomeric products 3c, 3d, 4e and 4f.

Liquefaction And Pore Water Pressure Generation In Sand - A Cyclic Strain Approach

This paper presents the results of laboratory investigation carried out on Ahmedabad sand on the liquefaction and pore water pressure generation during strain controled cyclic loading. Laboratory experiments were carried out on representative natural sand samples (base sand) collected from earthquake-affected area of Ahmedabad City of Gujarat State in India. A series of strain controled cyclic triaxial tests were carried out on isotropically compressed samples to study the influence of different parameters such as shear strain amplitude, initial effective confining pressure, relative density and percentage of non-plastic fines on the behavior of liquefaction and pore water pressure generation. It has been observed from the laboratory investigation that the potential for liquefaction of the sandy soils depends on the shear strain amplitude, initial relative density, initial effective confining pressure and non-plastic fines. In addition, an empirical relationship between pore pressure ratio and cycle ratio independent of the number of cycles of loading, relative density, confining pressure, amplitude of shear strain and non-plastic fines has been proposed.

Expression of the extracellular domain of the human heat-stable enterotoxin receptor in Escherichia coli and generation of neutralizing antibodies

The entire extracellular domain of the human heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) receptor as well as a truncated N-terminal domain were cloned as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant fusion proteins were purified from both the cytosol and the inclusion body fractions by selective detergent extraction followed by glutathione-agarose affinity chromatography. The purified protein, corresponding to the entire extracellular domain, bound the stable toxin peptide with an affinity comparable to that of the native receptor characterized from the human colonic T84 cell line. No binding was observed with the N-terminal truncated fragment of the receptor under similar conditions, Polyclonal antibodies were raised to the entire extracellular domain fusion protein as well as the truncated extracellular domain fusion protein, and the antibodies were purified by affinity chromatography. Addition of the purified antibodies to T84 cells inhibited ST binding and abolished ST-mediated cGMP production, indicating that critical epitopes involved in ligand interaction are present in the N-terminal fragment of the receptor, Purified antibodies recognized a single protein of M(r) 160,000 Da on Western blotting with T84 membranes, corresponding to a size of the native glycosylated receptor in T84 cells. These studies are the first report of the expression, purification, and characterization of any member of the guanylyl cyclase family of receptors in E. coli and show that binding of the toxin to the extracellular domain of the receptor is possible in the absence of any posttranslational modifications such as glycosylation. The recombinant fusion proteins as well as the antibodies that we have generated could serve as useful tools in the identification of critical residues of the extracellular domain involved in ligand interaction.

In search of inorganic nonlinear optical materials for second harmonic generation

In a search for inorganic oxide materials showing second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) susceptibility, we investigated several berates, silicates, and a phosphate containing trans-connected MO6, octahedral chains or MO5 square pyramids, where, M = d(0): Ti(IV), Nb(V), or Ta(V), Our investigations identified two new NLO structures: batisite, Na2Ba(TiO)(2)Si4O12, containing trans-connected TiO5 octahedral chains, and fresnoite, Ba2TiOSi2O7, containing square-pyramidal TiO5. Investigation of two other materials containing square-pyramidal TiO5 viz,, Cs2TiOP2O7 and Na4Ti2Si8O22. 4H(2)O, revealed that isolated TiO5, square pyramids alone do not cause a second harmonic generation (SHG) response; rather, the orientation of TiO5 units to produce -Ti-O-Ti-O- chains with alternating long and short Ti-O distances in the fresnoite structure is most likely the origin of a strong SHG response in fresnoite,

Automated topometric graph generation from floor plan analysis

The world is rich with information such as signage and maps to assist humans to navigate. We present a method to extract topological spatial information from a generic bitmap floor plan and build a topometric graph that can be used by a mobile robot for tasks such as path planning and guided exploration. The algorithm first detects and extracts text in an image of the floor plan. Using the locations of the extracted text, flood fill is used to find the rooms and hallways. Doors are found by matching SURF features and these form the connections between rooms, which are the edges of the topological graph. Our system is able to automatically detect doors and differentiate between hallways and rooms, which is important for effective navigation. We show that our method can extract a topometric graph from a floor plan and is robust against ambiguous cases most commonly seen in floor plans including elevators and stairwells.

"Small-particle limit" the second harmonic generation from noble metal nanoparticles

In this paper, we have probed the origin of SHG in copper nanoparticles by polarization-resolved hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS). Results obtained with various sizes of copper nanoparticles at four different wavelengths covering the wavelength range 738-1907 nm reveal that the origin of second harmonic generation (SHG) in these particles is purely dipolar in nature as long as the size (d) of the particles remains smaller compared to the wavelength (;.) of light ("small-particle limit"). However, contribution of the higher order multipoles coupled with retardation effect becomes apparent with an increase in the d/lambda ratio. We have identified the "small-particle limit" in the second harmonic generation from noble metal nanoparticles by evaluating the critical d/lambda ratio at which the retardation effect sets in the noble metal nanoparticles. We have found that the second-order nonlinear optical property of copper nanoparticles closely resembles that of gold, but not that of silver. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Modernity, postmodernity and identity of jazz in Chile : The cases of the generation of 1990 and Ángel Parra

This research is about jazz in Chile in relation to modernity and identity. Final chapters focus and detach latest jazz musician s generation in 1990 decade and composer guitarist Angel Parra. An historic and sociological approach is developed, which will be useful for modernity and identity analysis, and so on post modernity and globalization. Modernity has been studied in texts of Adorno, Baudrillard, Brünner, García Canclini, Habermas and Jameson. Identity has been studied in texts of Aharonián, Cordúa, Garretón, Gissi, Larraín and others. Chapter 3 is about Latin-American musicology and jazz investigations, in relation to approach developed in chapter 2. Chapters 4 and 5 are about history of jazz in Chile until beginning of XXI century. Chapter 6 focuses in Ángel Parra Orrego. Conclusions of this investigation detach the modernist mechanical that has conducted jazz development in Chile, which in Ángel Parra´s case has been overcame by a post modernist behaviour. This behaviour has solved in a creative way, subjects like modernity and identity in jazz practice in a Latin-American country.

Generation of optimum random pinhole arrays for multiple imaging

Through an analysis using the transfer function of a pinhole camera, the multiple imaging characteristics of photographic diffusers described by Grover and Tremblay [Appl. Opt.21,4500(1982)] is studied. It is found that only one pinhole diameter satisfies the optimum imaging condition for best contrast transfer at any desired spatial frequency. A simple method of generating random pinhole arrays with a controlled pinhole diameter is described. These pinhole arrays are later used to generate high frequency sinusoidal gratings from a coarse grid. The contrast in the final gratings is found to be reasonably high.

New Generation Rollingstock Depot: Case Study Report

This report summarises the findings of a case study on Queensland’s New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) Project carried out as part of SBEnrc Project 2.34 Driving Whole-of-life Efficiencies through BIM and Procurement. This case study is one of three exemplar projects studied in order to leverage academic research in defining indicators for measuring tangible and intangible benefits of Building Information Modelling (BIM) across a project’s life-cycle in infrastructure and buildings. The NGR is an AUD 4.4 billion project carried out under an Availability Payment Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Queensland Government and the Bomabardier-led QTECTIC consortium comprising Bombardier Transportation, John Laing, ITOCHU Corporation and Aberdeen Infrastructure Investments. BIM has been deployed on the project from conceptual stages to drive both design and the currently ongoing construction at the Wulkuraka Project Site. This case study sourced information from a series of semi-structured interviews covering a cross-section of key stakeholders on the project. The present research identified 25 benefits gained from implementing BIM processes and tools. Some of the most prominent benefits were those leading to improved outcomes and higher customer satisfaction such as improved communications, data and information management, and coordination. There were also a number of expected benefits for future phases such as: • Improved decision making through the use of BIM for managing assets • Improved models through BIM maturity • Better utilisation of BIM for procurement on similar future projects • New capacity to specify the content of BIM models within contracts There were also three benefits that were expected to have been achieved but were not realised on the NGR project. These were higher construction information quality levels, better alignment in design teams as well as project teams, and capability improvements in measuring the impact of BIM on construction safety. This report includes individual profiles describing each benefit as well as the tools and processes that enabled them. Four key BIM metrics were found to be currently in use and six more were identified as potential metrics for the future. This case study also provides insights into challenges associated with implementing BIM on a project of the size and complexity of the NGR. Procurement aspects and lessons learned for managers are also highlighted, including a list of recommendations for developing a framework to assess the benefits of BIM across the project life-cycle.

Generation of H2O2 in biomembranes

Knowledge of the generation of H202 in cellular oxidations has existed for many years. It has been assumed that H202 is tOxiC tO cells and the presence of catalase is indicative of a detoxication mechanism. Other radicals of oxygen were recently recognized to be more potent destructive agents of biological material than H202. Also catalase and other peroxidases utilize H202 in some cellular oxidation processes leading to several important metabolites. Thus, the generation of H202 in cellular processes seems to be purposeful and H202 can not be dismissed as a mere undesirable byproduct. Biological formation of H202 is not limited to the previously known flavoproteins and some copper enzymes, but other redox systems, particularly heme and non-heme iron proteins, are now found to undergo auto-oxidation yielding H202. The capacity for generation of H202 is now found to be widespread in a variety of organisms and in the organdies of the cells. The reduction of oxygen to H20 by mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase being the predominant oxygen-utilizing reaction had over-shadowed the importance of the quantitatively minor pathways. Under aerobic conditions generation of H202 by a Variety of biomembranes has now been found to be a physiological event interlinked with phenomena such as phagocytosis, transport processes and thermogenesis in some as yet unidentified way. The underlying mechanisms of these processes seem to involve generation and utilization of H202 in mitochondria, microsomes, peroxisomes or plasma membranes. This review gives an account of the potential of biomembranes to generate H202 and its implication in the cellular processes.