Motivational Strategies to Increase Completion of Assignments in Mathematics Classes

The purpose of this paper is to share the results of an 8-week study that focused on the effects of incorporating real-life applications and rewards to measure their impact on student motivation. The goal was to reduce the number of students unmotivated to complete their mathematics assignments satisfactorily

Statistical correlation of structural mode shapes from test measurements and NASTRAN analytical values

The software and procedures of a system of programs used to generate a report of the statistical correlation between NASTRAN modal analysis results and physical tests results from modal surveys are described. Topics discussed include: a mathematical description of statistical correlation, a user's guide for generating a statistical correlation report, a programmer's guide describing the organization and functions of individual programs leading to a statistical correlation report, and a set of examples including complete listings of programs, and input and output data

Understanding European Union science diplomacy

In recent decades, a great deal of attention has focused on the EU's attempts to exert influence on the global stage, but one area which has received relatively little attention is the issue of so-called 'science diplomacy'. Alea López de San Román and Simon Schunz provide a detailed overview of what science diplomacy entails, and how the EU is increasingly ..

Amphiphilic Gemini Pyridinium-mediated incorporation of Zn(II)meso-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin into water-soluble gold nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy

Zn-containing porphyrins are intensely investigated for their ability to form reactive oxygen species and thereby being potent photosensitizers for use in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Some of the drawbacks of the PDT approach, such as unspecific distribution, could be addressed by means of photosensitizer drug delivery systems. In this work, we synthesize and characterize new water-soluble gold nanoparticles (GNP) stabilized by a mixture of a polyethyleneglycol-containing thiol (to improve water solubility) and a new amphiphilic gemini-type pyridinium salt, which also acts as promotor of the incorporation of the anionic photosensitizer Na-ZnTCPP into the GNP. The obtained GNP have sizes between 7 and 10 nm, as observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy. The incorporation of the photosensitizer caused an increase in the hydrodynamic size, detected by Dynamic Light Scattering, as well as a shift in the Surface Plasmon Resonance peak on the GNP UV–vis absorption spectra. The presence of the photosensitizer in the GNP was corroborated using Fluorescence Spectroscopy. The amount of Na-ZnTCPP was found to be 327 molecules per GNP. The porphyrin-containing Na-ZnTCPP-1·GNP showed good enhanced ability to produce singlet oxygen, compared to free Na-ZnTCPP. Their cytotoxicity and phototoxicity were investigated in vitro using two different human breast cell lines, one of tumoral origin (SKBR-3) and another of normal epithelium origin (MCF-10A). SKBR-3 cells showed higher sensitivity to Na-ZnTCCP and Na-ZnTCPP-1·GNP in dark conditions. After irradiation, no significant differences were observed between both cell lines except for 1 μM Na-ZnTCCP-1·GNP where SKBR-3 cells were also more sensitive

Cell death mechanisms in tumoral and non-tumoral human cell lines triggered by photodynamic treatments: apoptosis, necrosis and parthanatos

Cell death triggered by photodynamic therapy can occur through different mechanisms: apoptosis, necrosis or autophagy. However, recent studies have demonstrated the existence of other mechanisms with characteristics of both necrosis and apoptosis. These new cell death pathways, collectively termed regulated necrosis, include a variety of processes triggered by different stimuli. In this study, we evaluated the cell death mechanism induced by photodynamic treatments with two photosensitizers, meso-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin sodium salt (Na-H2TCPP) and its zinc derivative Na-ZnTCPP, in two human breast epithelial cell lines, a non-tumoral (MCF-10A) and a tumoral one (SKBR-3). Viability assays showed that photodynamic treatments with both photosensitizers induced a reduction in cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner and no dark toxicity was observed. The cell death mechanisms triggered were evaluated by several assays and cell line-dependent results were found. Most SKBR-3 cells died by either necrosis or apoptosis. By contrast, in MCF-10A cells, necrotic cells and another cell population with characteristics of both necrosis and apoptosis were predominant. In this latter population, cell death was PARP-dependent and translocation of AIF to the nucleus was observed in some cells. These characteristics are related with parthanatos, being the first evidence of this type of regulated necrosis in the field of photodynamic therapy

Inferència Estadística Aplicada

Aquest llibre conté els temes fonamentals dels models de probabilitat i d’inferència estadística. Per al seu seguiment no és necessari cap coneixement previ d’aquestes matèries però se suposa que el lector està familiaritzat amb l’estadística descriptiva. S’han dedicat els dos últims capítols a tècniques estadístiques aplicades a l’economia: model de regressió, nombre índex i sèries temporals. El llibre s’orienta cap a les aplicacions pràctiques, així cada nou concepte i mètode s’il·lustra amb exemples oferint al lector una comprensió intuïtiva del concepte. L’obra s’adreça a tota persona interessada en aplicar les tècniques d’inferència estadística especialment als àmbits econòmic, empresarial i social

284— Talkin\u27 Bout a Revolution: American Protest and Counter-Protest Movements in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Century

This poster represents my research for my senior seminar in Political Science. This project explores different protest and counter-protest movements throughout the United States in the last one hundred years. Through comparative study, this project tracks and collates these different protest and counter-protest movements. This research attempts to answer the following questions: Have the nature of protest and counter-protests movements changed over time? If so, how have these movements adapted to modernity? Protest and counter-protest movements are some of the most direct opportunities for American citizens to engage in our democracy. Therefore, this project also explores the important implications of different protest and counter-protest movements over time as they related to the larger concept of the health of American democracy as a whole