Mathematics and Science Teachers' Preparation for National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Certification

This paper reports on the results of a survey of mathematics and science candidates for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification. The goal of the survey was to investigate the efficacy of collaboration and group support in preparation for NBPTS. The results of the survey describe the nature of supported preparation, and the data of the survey are combined with final NBPTS scores to investigate relationships between preparation practices and outcomes. The results show that the subsamples in the areas of Early Adolescent Mathematics, Adolescent and Young Adult Mathematics, Early Adolescent Science, and Adolescent and Young Adult Science were similar in composition, and the respondents in each subsample produced very similar responses concerning their collaborative preparation experiences. Although this study shows that collaborative preparation resulted in higher scores and higher passing rates for most respondents, the nature of the effects across subsamples varied. The data clearly indicate that collaborative preparation is highly valued for motivational and instrumental support; however, less value is placed on practices that are reflective and content focused. The homogeneous nature of preparation revealed in the data and the likelihood that candidates are at different levels of readiness for the rigorous NBPTS assessment process are discussed, as is the need for more attention to candidates who prepare without the support of an organized group.     

Additive-Free Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols to Ketones with a Cobalt PNP Pincer Catalyst

Catalytic isomerization of allylic alcohols in ethanol as a green solvent was achieved by using air and moisture stable cobalt (II) complexes in the absence of any additives. Under mild conditions, the cobalt PNP pincer complex substituted with phenyl groups on the phosphorus atoms appeared to be the most active. High rates were obtained at 120 °C, even though the addition of one equivalent of base increases the speed of the reaction drastically. Although some evidence was obtained supporting a dehydrogenation–hydrogenation mechanism, it was proven that this is not the major mechanism. Instead, the cobalt hydride complex formed by dehydrogenation of ethanol is capable of double-bond isomerization through alkene insertion–elimination.     

Existential definability of modal frame classes

We prove an existential analogue of the Goldblatt-Thomason Theorem which characterizes modal definability of elementary classes of Kripke frames using closure under model theoretic constructions. The less known version of the Goldblatt-Thomason Theorem gives general conditions, without the assumption of first-order definability, but uses non-standard constructions and algebraic semantics. We present a non-algebraic proof of this result and we prove an analogous characterization for an alternative notion of modal definability, in which a class is defined by formulas which are satisfiable under any valuation (the so-called existential validity). Continuing previous work in which model theoretic characterization for this type of definability of elementary classes was proved, we give an analogous general result without the assumption of the first-order definability. Furthermore, we outline relationships between sets of existentially valid formulas corresponding to several well-known modal logics.     

Synthetic and mechanistic studies of indium-mediated allylation of imines in ionic liquids

Aldimines derived from aryl and non-enolizable aliphatic aldehydes were allylated with allyl bromide mediated by indium powder in [bpy][BF4] (bpy = N-butylpyridine) to give good yields of the corresponding homoallylic amines. Selective formation of monoallylated amines can be achieved by varying the amount of bromide ion additive in the form of [bpy][Br]. The transient organoindium intermediates, allylindium(I) and allylindium(III) dibromide formed in the reaction, were studied by NMR spectroscopy to explain the selectivity.     

Filtrations of generalized Veltman models

The filtration method is often used to prove the finite model property of modal logics. We adapt this technique to the generalized Veltman semantics for interpretability logics. In order to preserve the defining properties of generalized Veltman models, we use bisimulations to define adequate filtrations. We give an alternative proof of the finite model property of interpretability logic with respect to Veltman models, and we prove the finite model property of the systems and with respect to generalized Veltman models.     

Synthesis, characterization, DNA-binding study and anticancer properties of ternary metal(II) complexes of edda and an intercalating ligand

A series of ternary metal(ii) complexes {M(phen)(edda); 1a (Cu), 1b (Co), 1c (Zn), 1d (Ni); H(2)edda = N,N(')-ethylenediaminediacetic acid} of N,N'-ethylene-bridged diglycine and 1,10-phenanthroline were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, UV-visible spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurement. The interaction of these complexes with DNA was investigated using CD and EPR spectroscopy. MTT assay results of 1a-1c , screened on MCF-7 cancer cell lines, show that synergy between the metal and ligands results in significant enhancement of their antiproliferative properties. Preliminary results from apoptosis and cell cycle analyses with flow cytometry are reported. seems to be able to induce cell cycle arrest at G(0)/G(1). The crystal structure of 1a is also included.