MOULDING POSITIVE CHARACTERS VIA INCULCATING VALUES IN MATHEMATICS TEACHING AND LEARNING

In this paper, I argue that it is pertinent to develop positive characters among all students as they are the future assets of a nation. A review of related literature shows that inculcating values and moulding character has been of great concern in the school mathematics curriculum of many countries. There are various categories of intrinsic values embedded in mathematics education. With careful and mindful integration into teaching and learning of mathematics, it is possible to inculcate positive values and thus produce positive characters of our future generation. Some suggestions on how to inculcate these values into mathematics teaching and learning at various school levels were discussed at the end of this paper. Keyword: mathematics teaching and learning; moulding character; values in mathematics educatio

Data-Driven Multi-step Demand Prediction for Ride-Hailing Services Using Convolutional Neural Network

Ride-hailing services are growing rapidly and becoming one of the most disruptive technologies in the transportation realm. Accurate prediction of ride-hailing trip demand not only enables cities to better understand people's activity patterns, but also helps ride-hailing companies and drivers make informed decisions to reduce deadheading vehicle miles traveled, traffic congestion, and energy consumption. In this study, a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based deep learning model is proposed for multi-step ride-hailing demand prediction using the trip request data in Chengdu, China, offered by DiDi Chuxing. The CNN model is capable of accurately predicting the ride-hailing pick-up demand at each 1-km by 1-km zone in the city of Chengdu for every 10 minutes. Compared with another deep learning model based on long short-term memory, the CNN model is 30% faster for the training and predicting process. The proposed model can also be easily extended to make multi-step predictions, which would benefit the on-demand shared autonomous vehicles applications and fleet operators in terms of supply-demand rebalancing. The prediction error attenuation analysis shows that the accuracy stays acceptable as the model predicts more steps

Elliptic CR-manifolds and shear invariant ODE with additional symmetries

We classify the ODEs that correspond to elliptic CR-manifolds with maximal isotropy. It follows that the dimension of the isotropy group of an elliptic CR-manifold can be only 10 (for the quadric), 4 (for the listed examples) or less. This is in contrast with the situation of hyperbolic CR-manifolds, where the dimension can be 10 (for the quadric), 6 or 5 (for semi-quadrics) or less than 4. We also prove that, for all elliptic CR-manifolds with non-linearizable istropy group, except for two special manifolds, the points with non-linearizable isotropy form exactly some complex curve on the manifold

Implementation of lesson study as an innovative professional development model among Malaysian school teachers

Purpose – This qualitative study explored the implementation of Lesson Study, a kind of teacher-directed and bottom-up approach of the Japanese model of teacher professional development in the Malaysian education context.It seeks to answer the question of how implementation of lesson study as an innovative professional development model among Malaysian school teachers influences teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge, and what school-based factors support or hinder the implementation of lesson study in the Malaysian context. Methodology – The case study method was employed involving two secondary schools in the state of Kedah.Each school set up a lesson study group as a case.Case A had 9 teachers while case B had 8. The participants of both cases engaged themselves in the lesson study process for a period of 12 months. Each lesson study cycle required the participants to collaboratively plan, discuss, teach, observe and reflect on a particular lesson. Due to various constraints, at the end of this study, case A conducted three lesson study cycles while case B conducted only two cycles. Multiple data sources were gathered through in-depth interviews, observations, group discussions and reflections as well as participants’ journal writing.Findings – The analysis of the qualitative data indicated that the lesson study group setting provided an encouraging opportunity and venue for the participants to collaborate, discuss and share their teaching knowledge and experiences. Consequently, the participants expressed that their content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge were enhanced.They became more reflective and keener in promoting active student participation in their lessons.Significance – This study revealed that the degree of knowledge enhancement was dependent upon each participant’s attitude and commitment towards the teaching profession.However, when provided with sufficient supporting factors such as positive support from the school administrators, committed and dedicated group leaders and strong collegiality among the lesson study team, lesson study could be successfully implemented as an effective and innovative mode of teachers’ professional learning

International survey of Cronobacter sakazakii and other Cronobacter spp. in follow up formulas and infant food

A coordinated survey for Cronobacter and related organisms in powdered infant formula, follow up formula and infant foods was undertaken by 8 laboratories in 7 countries in recognition of and in response to the data needs identified in an FAO/WHO call for data in order to develop global risk management guidance for these products. The products (domestic and imported) were purchased from the local market and were categorised according to their principle ingredients. A total of 290 products were analysed using a standardised procedure of pre-enrichment in 225 ml Buffered Peptone Water (BPW), followed by enrichment in Enterobacteriaceae Enrichment (EE) broth, plating on the chromogenic Cronobacter Druggan–Forsythe–Iversen (DFI) agar and presumptive identification with ID 32 E. Presumptive Cronobacter isolates were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Aerobic plate counts (APC) of the products were also determined on nutrient agar. Fourteen samples had APC > 105 cfu/g, 3 of which contained probiotic cultures. C. sakazakii was isolated from 27 products; 3/91 (3%) follow up formulas (as defined by Codex Alimentarius Commission), and 24/199 (12%) infant foods and drinks. Hence C. sakazakii was less prevalent in follow up formula than other foods given to infants over the same age range. A range of other bacteria were also isolated from follow up formulas, including Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii, and Serratia ficaria. There was significant variation in the reconstitution instructions for follow up formulas. These included using water at temperatures which would enable bacterial growth. Additionally, the definition of follow up formula varied between countries

Critical success factors for a competitive advantage in electronic commerce: empirical study in Paraguayan companies

El comercio electrónico ha sido unas de las áreas de investigación más activa dentro del campo de Sistema de Información en los últimos años. Sería interesante descubrir cuáles son los factores críticos que afecta al comercio electrónico para llegar al éxito, y cuales podrían considerarse como una ventaja competitiva sostenible para las empresas. En esta investigación hemos desarrollado un modelo para el éxito del comercio electrónico basado en la propuesta de los autores DeLone y McLean sobre el actual modelo del éxito de Sistema de Informacion, testado con AMOS (Analysis of Moment Structures), sobre una muestra de 55 empresas paraguayas. En cuanto a la bibliografía utilizada hemos realizado el estudio del meta-analisis con el fin de identificar las revistas científicas más relevantes, con sus respectivos autores del momento y los indicadores que representen importancia para el proyecto. Los resultados han arrojado conclusiones valiosas para la realidad paraguaya, puesto que de los 10 factores críticos de éxito identificados se han encontrado que dos de ellos: “Expertos en tecnología de información (TI) e infraestructura” e “Interoperabilidad del sistema” son considerados como factores que se han convertido en una ventaja competitiva temporal y no ventaja competitiva sostenible a través del tiempo, por razones tales como carencia de los expertos en tecnología de información (TI) especialmente en cuanto al conocimiento del comercio electrónico y la lentitud del avance de los comercios que realizan actividades vía online.Electronic commerce has been one of the most active fields of investigation in Information Technology in the last few years. It would be interesting to find out which critical factors keep electronic commerce from achieving success and which factors would be regarded as a sustainable competitive advantage for companies. In this investigation we have developed a model for the achievement of success in electronic commerce based on what is proposed by DeLone and McLean regarding the current model to achieve success in Information Systems, tested by the AMOS (Analysis of Moment Structures), through a sample of 55 Paraguayan companies. As for the bibliography used, we have performed a meta-analysis study with the purpose of identifying the most relevant journals, with their respective current authors and the indicators that represent the importance to the project. The results have yielded valuable conclusions to the Paraguayan reality as only two of the 10 indentified critical factors for success were detected: “Experts in information technology (IT) and infrastructure” and “Interoperability of the system”. These are regarded as factors which have been converted into a timely competitive advantage but not into a sustainable competitive advantage through time, due to reasons such as a lack of experts in information technology (IT), particularly regarding the knowledge of electronic commerce and the sluggishness of development of electronic commerce which carries out online activities

Progress Towards the Development of a Traveling Wave Direct Energy Converter for Aneutronic Fusion Propulsion Applications

A coordinated experimental and theory/simulation effort has been carried out to investigate the physics of the Traveling Wave Direct Energy Converter (TWDEC), a scheme that has been proposed in the past for the direct conversion into electricity of the kinetic energy of an ion beam generated from fusion reactions. This effort has been focused in particular on the TWDEC process in the high density beam regime, thus accounting for the ion beam expansion due to its space charge

A Particle-in-Cell Simulation for the Traveling Wave Direct Energy Converter (TWDEC) for Fusion Propulsion

A Particle-in-cell simulation model has been developed to study the physics of the Traveling Wave Direct Energy Converter (TWDEC) applied to the conversion of charged fusion products into electricity. In this model the availability of a beam of collimated fusion products is assumed; the simulation is focused on the conversion of the beam kinetic energy into alternating current (AC) electric power. The model is electrostatic, as the electro-dynamics of the relatively slow ions can be treated in the quasistatic approximation. A two-dimensional, axisymmetric (radial-axial coordinates) geometry is considered. Ion beam particles are injected on one end and travel along the axis through ring-shaped electrodes with externally applied time-varying voltages, thus modulating the beam by forming a sinusoidal pattern in the beam density. Further downstream, the modulated beam passes through another set of ring electrodes, now electrically oating. The modulated beam induces a time alternating potential di erence between adjacent electrodes. Power can be drawn from the electrodes by connecting a resistive load. As energy is dissipated in the load, a corresponding drop in beam energy is measured. The simulation encapsulates the TWDEC process by reproducing the time-dependent transfer of energy and the particle deceleration due to the electric eld phase time variations

Asserting rights, defining responsibilities: perspectives from small-scale fishing communities on coastal and fisheries management in Cambodia

In preparation for the Workshop and Symposium on “Asserting Rights, Defining Responsibilities: Perspectives from Small-scale Fishing Communities on Coastal and Fisheries Management in Asia”, held in Siem Reap Cambodia, from 3 to 8 May 2007, case studies were undertaken in six countries in Asia—Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. Among other things, the studies aimed to document and explore the understanding that fishing communities have about their rights to fisheries and coastal resources, as well as the obligations and responsibilities associated with these rights, and to document and discuss their initiatives to assert these rights and fulfill their responsibilities. The studies formed the basis for discussions at the Workshop and Symposium. This case study from Cambodia will be found useful by NGOs, regional and national organizations of artisanal fishworkers, and anyone interested in fisheries and fishing communities in Cambodia