Reform Teaching Strategies Used by Student Teachers

The purposes of this study were to observe the teaching practices occurring in student teachers' science and mathematics K‐12 classrooms, compare the student teachers' perceptions of their teaching with what was actually occurring in their classrooms, and determine which college faculty members and courses these student teachers felt contributed to the teaching methods they used. Data on each student teacher were gathered via field notes of three classes, an observation protocol completed after each lesson, and an interview. Composites were written for each of the students. The total data set of all composites was examined to see if any patterns generalizable to the whole were evident. Differences between and among grade levels and content areas surfaced and are discussed.     

Comparisons of pharynx, source, formant, and pressure characteristics in operatic and musical theatre singing

Belting, a vocal technique typically cultivated in musical theatre singing, differs timbrally from operatic singing in many interesting respects. The underlying phonatory differences have not been previously investigated in detail. Yet, belting is frequently associated with disturbances of voice function. Articulatory and phonatory characteristics are investigated in a female subject who is a professional singer (co-author JL) trained in both the operatic and belting styles and in an intermediate vocal technique (“mixed”). This article presents data obtained from this subject by video-fiberoptic observation of the pharynx, inverse filtering of airflow, and measurement of subglottal pressure. The results reveal that belting was characterized by very high subglottal pressures and sound levels, and apparently also by a comparatively high degree of glottal adduction. Comparisons with other investigations of related aspects of belting and operatic singing support the assumption that the data obtained from our subject are representative for these vocal techniques.     

Fixed-sign solutions for a system of singular focal boundary value problems

We consider a system of focal boundary value problems where the nonlinearities may be singular in the independent variable and may also be singular in the dependent arguments. Using Schauder fixed point theorem, we establish criteria such that the system of boundary value problems has at least one fixed-sign solution.     

Preconcentration of trace antimony in tap and sea water on activated alumina. Determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Summary A method is described for antimony preconcentration based on retention on a column of activated alumina. Recovery is 80% when no pH-control and 4 mol/l HCl as eluent are used. The preconcentration factor is 400. The method was applied to the determination of antimony in spiked tap and sea water. The analytical performance of the method is discussed.     

Smectic liquid-crystalline phases of F(CF2)7(CHOH)(CH2)8H and F(CF2)9(CHOH)(CH2)10H Comparison with other partially fluorinated molecules

Partially fluorinated alcohols F(CF₂)_m(CHOH)(CH₂)_nH (where m = 7, n = 8 and m = 9, n = 10) exhibit highly ordered smectic liquid-crystalline phases, as confirmed by optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Miscibility studies show that the smectic phases of the two alcohols are not of the same type. The related partially fluorinated ketones F(CF₂)_mCO(CH₂)_nH do not form a detectable mesophase. This is rather surprising since the (more polar) corresponding alcohols and the (less polar) analogous iodides and n-alkanes do. A brief discussion of the results and a comparison among partially fluorinated alkanes with various functional groups are presented.     

Electrochemical determination of minoxidil in different pharmaceutical formulations by flow injection analysis.

The electrochemical behavior and amperometric-FIA quantification of minoxidil at a glassy carbon electrode is described. The procedure is based on electrochemical oxidation at 0.800 V (vs. Ag/AgCl/NaCl(3 M) in a phosphate buffer solution. Minoxidil was determined over the range 1 x 10(-7) - 1 x 10(-4) M. Different analytical parameters and electrode stability were analyzed to obtain the best electrode performance. The optimal conditions were: working potentials, 0.800 V; flow rate, 0.74 mL min(-1); and solution pH 7.0. This system allowed a sampling rate of 120 samples per hour without any pretreatment. The proposed method was used for minoxidil quantification in pharmaceutical preparations with satisfactory results. The accuracy of FIA-amperometric method was established by a comparison with the conventional UV determination technique using a paired t-test indicating the absence of systematic errors.     

Purification and partial characterization of two lectin isoforms fromCratylia mollis mart. (camaratu bean)

Two additional electrophoretically distinct molecular forms, isoforms (iso) 2 and 3, with lectin properties were isolated fromCratylia mollis Mart, seeds (FABACEAE), by extraction with 0.15M NaCl and ammonium sulfate fractionation, followed by chromatography on Sephadex G-75 and Bio-Gel P-200 (iso 2), as well as CM-Cellulose and Sephadex G-75 (iso 3). Both isoforms were human group nonspecific and showed distinct specificity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis resolved iso 2 and 3 in polypeptides of apparent mol wts 60 and 31 kDa, respectively; a distinct isoelectric focusing pattern was obtained for iso 2 and 3, under denaturing and reducing conditions.