Teachers’ views on creativity in mathematics education: an international survey

The survey described in this paper was developed in order to gain an understanding of culturally-based aspects of creativity associated with secondary school mathematics across six participating countries. All participating countries acknowledge the importance of creativity in mathematics, yet the data show that they take very different approaches to teaching creatively and enhancing students’ creativity. Approximately 1,100 teachers from six countries (Cyprus, India, Israel, Latvia, Mexico, and Romania) participated in a 100-item questionnaire addressing teachers’ conceptions about: (1) Who is a creative student in mathematics, (2) Who is a creative mathematics teacher, (3) In what way is creativity in mathematics related to culture, and (4) Who is a creative person. We present responses to each conception focusing on differences between teachers from different countries. We also analyze relationships among teachers’ conceptions of creativity and their experience, and educational level. Based on factor analysis of the collected data we discuss relevant relationships among different components of teachers’ conceptions of creativity as they emerge in countries with different cultures.     

Total Synthesis of a Mycolic Acid from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

In Mycobacterium tuberculosis, mycolic acids and their glycerol, glucose, and trehalose esters (“cord factor”) form the main part of the mycomembrane. Despite their first isolation almost a century ago, full stereochemical evaluation is lacking, as is a scalable synthesis required for accurate immunological, including vaccination, studies. Herein, we report an efficient, convergent, gram‐scale synthesis of four stereo‐isomers of a mycolic acid and its glucose ester. Binding to the antigen presenting protein CD1b and T cell activation studies are used to confirm the antigenicity of the synthetic material. The absolute stereochemistry of the syn‐methoxy methyl moiety in natural material is evaluated by comparing its optical rotation with that of synthetic material.     

Investigation of complexes formed by interaction of cationic gemini surfactants with deoxyribonucleic acid

Cationic gemini surfactants, N,N-bis(dimethylalkyl)-alpha,omega-alkanediammonium dibromide [C(m)H(2m+1)(CH(3))(2)N(+)(CH(2))(s)N(+)(CH(3))(2)C(m)H(2m+1) x 2 Br(-), or m-s-m], have proven to be effective synthetic vectors for gene delivery (transfection). Complexes (lipoplexes) of gemini compounds, where m = 12, s = 3, 12 and m = 18 : 1(oleyl), s = 2, 3, 6, with DNA have been investigated using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and circular dichroism (CD) techniques. The results show that lipoplex properties depend on the structural properties of the gemini surfactants, the presence of the helper lipid dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), and the titration sequence. ITC data show that the interaction between DNA and gemini surfactants is endothermic and the observed enthalpy vs. charge ratio profile depends upon the titration sequence. Isoelectric points (IP) of lipoplex formation were estimated from the zeta potential measurements and show good agreement with the reaction endpoints (RP) obtained from ITC. DLS data indicate that DNA is condensed in the lipoplex. AFM images suggest that the lipoplex morphology changes from isolated globular-like aggregated particles to larger-size aggregates with great diversity in morphology. This change is further accentuated by the presence of DOPE in the lipoplexes. The results are interpreted in terms of some current models of lipoplex formation.     

Efficient Extraction of Total Polyphenols from Apple and Investigation of Its SPF Properties

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sun protection factor (SPF) of cosmetic emulsions with the addition of hydroalcoholic apple extract. First, the total polyphenolic content, the antioxidant activity and SPF properties of the extracts obtained by sonication and refluxing were evaluated. The two extraction methods were improved using the central composite design. For cosmetic emulsion that contained a different concentration of apple extract (10–40%), a SPF value between 0.51 and 0.90 was obtained. The most efficient apple extract was obtained by reflux using 50% ethanol and a 60 min extraction time. The concentrated extract was incorporated in a cosmetic emulsion whose SPF maximum was 0.90. Accordingly, due to photoprotective properties, the apple extract can be a candidate for use in cosmetic formulations.     

Comparative Study of Nucleophilic am) Enzymic Reactions of 2-Propyl Methylphosphonate Derivatives

Abstract

Solvent isotope effects have been measured for the reactions of 4-nitrophenyl 2-propyl methylphosphonate (IMN) with acetylcholinesterase (AChE), chymotrypsin, imidazole base, hydroxide ion, phosphate dianion, and water, and for the reactions of 2-propyl methyl phosphonofluoridate (sarin) with AChE. Kinetics and structural features of the dealkylation of AChE and chymotrypsin adducts were also studied.     

Synthesis and structure of mono- and dinuclear cyclopentadienyl–indenyl complexes of iron(II) and further reactions to mixed tri- and tetranuclear iron–cobalt complexes

The reaction of a mixture of sodium cyclopentadienide and the monolithium salt or dilithium salt of 2,2-bis(indenyl)propane with FeCl₂ leads to the mononuclear complex [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-ind-C(CH₃)₂-ind)] (ind = 1-indenyl) (1) and the dinuclear complex [{(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-ind)}₂C(CH₃)₂] (2), respectively. [(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Fe(tmeda)Cl] reacts with dilithium 1,1′-biindenyl under formation of [{(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Fe}₂(μ-η⁵:η⁵-1,1′-biind)] (4). Due to the annelated arene rings of the η⁵-indenyl ligands, 2 and 4 may act as 4-electron donor ligands, as exemplified by the reaction with the triple-decker complex [{(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Co}₂(μ-η⁶:η⁶-toluene)], which afforded the tetranuclear dimer of triple-decker complexes [{(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Co(μ-η⁵:η⁴-1-ind)}₂C(CH₃)₂] (3) and the trinuclear complex [{(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Fe}₂(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Co(μ₃-η⁵:η⁴:η⁵-1,1′-biind)] · Et₂O (5 · Et₂O) by replacement of the central toluene deck, respectively. The [(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Co] fragments of 3 and 5 are bonded via the six-membered rings of the indenyl ligands in a η⁴-fashion. Caused by the coordination to the Co atoms the six-membered rings lose their planarity and adopt a butterfly structure. The coordination geometry of the Fe atoms is similar in all five complexes. Each Fe atom is coordinated by the C atoms of one of the five-membered rings of the indenyl ligands in a slightly distorted η⁵ manner (η³ + η²-coordination) and by a cyclopentadienyl ligand in a regular η⁵-fashion. The structures of 3 and 5 represent the first examples of slipped triple-decker complexes which comprise indenyl ligands in a μ-η⁵:η⁴ coordination mode.     

Study of the effect of ion channel modulators on photosynthetic oxygen evolution

Various ion channel activities can be recorded by electrophysiological methods in the outer and inner envelope membranes of chloroplasts as well as in the thylakoid membrane. However, most of these channels are poorly characterized from a pharmacological point of view. Furthermore, the molecular identity has been determined only for a few of them, preventing an understanding of their role in plant physiology. By allowing specific ion fluxes across plastidial membranes, these ion channels may either directly or indirectly regulate photosynthesis, as has been hypothesized earlier. We have determined the effect of various ion channel modulators [indole-3-acetic acid, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, Konig's polyanion, Cs+, Gd3+, 4-aminopyridine, tetraethylammonium chloride, charybdotoxin, nimodipine, and cyclosporin A] on the efficiency of photosynthetic oxygen evolution in intact chloroplasts, broken chloroplasts, and isolated thylakoids. The data may improve our understanding of chloroplast ion channels and identifies inhibitors which may be exploited for electrophysiological studies.     

Full and partial deuterium solvent isotope effect studies of alpha-thrombin-catalyzed reactions of natural substrates

Proton inventory studies of the thrombin-catalyzed fibrinogen activation to fibrinopeptide A are most consistent with a two-proton bridge forming at the transition state probably between Ser195 OgammaH and His57 Nepsilon2 and His57 Ndelta1 and Asp102 COObeta- at the active site, with fractionation factors 0.66 +/- 0.03 under enzyme saturation with substrate and 0.64 +/- 0.03 at fibrinogen concentration at 0.2 Km, at pH 8.0, pD 8.6, and 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C. Strongly inverse solvent isotope effects (SIEs) result from inverse lag times and maximal slopes of blood clotting plots, which are also anion and cation dependent. The blood clot is much coarser in D2O, as indicated in clotting curves with 3-9 times shorter lag time and steeper slopes with respect to H2O. The finer the particles, the weaker the H-bonds interlocking the fibrin mesh and/or in water structure around fibrin. Proton inventories of inverse lag times and maximal slopes of blood clotting curves in buffers containing Na+ and Cl- ions give the best fit to an exponential dependence on deuterium content in the buffer and give fractionation factors 5.6 +/- 0.5 and 7.8 +/- 0.6 at pH 8.0 and 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C. The thrombin-catalyzed activation of protein C (PC) to APC is associated with inverse kinetic SIEs (KSIEs) of 0.75 +/- 0.09 and 1.02 +/- 0.06 in 0.3 M NaCl and 0.3 M choline chloride, respectively, at substrate concentrations = 0.2 Km. In comparison, thrombin-catalyzed hydrolysis of chromogenic substrates gives greater KSIEs (Enyedy, E. I.; Kovach. I. M J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 6017-6024) and more complex proton inventories than the ones reported here for the first time for natural substrates. The present study illuminates differences in the character of the rate-determining transition state for the initial phase of the two physiological reactions catalyzed by thrombin.