bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clostridium difficile Infection and Fecal Microbiota Transplant
Authors: Liubakka Alyssa , Vaughn Byron P.
Published: August 2016

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a major source of morbidity and mortality for hospitalized patients. Although most patients have a clinical response to existing antimicrobial therapies, recurrent infection develops in up to 30% of patients. Fecal microbiota transplant is a novel approach to this complex problem, with an efficacy rate of nearly 90% in the setting of multiple recurrent CDI. This review covers the current epidemiology of CDI (including toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains, risk factors for infection, and recurrent infection), methods of diagnosis, existing first-line therapies in CDI, the role of fecal microbiota transplant for multiple recurrent CDIs, and the potential use of fecal microbial transplant for patients with severe or refractory infection.
In vitro effects of co-incubation of blood with artemether/lumefantrine & vitamin C on the viscosity & elasticity of blood
Authors: McKoy M.G. , Kong-Quee P. , Pepple D.J.
Published: August 2016

Background & objectives:

The antimalarial combination drug artemether/lumefantrine has been shown to be effective against malaria parasite through its haemolytic action. This drug is sometimes co-administered with vitamin C in patients with malaria. Vitamin C is associated with antioxidant properties which would be expected to protect against haemolytic effects of this antimalarial drug. This study was designed to investigate in vitro effects of co-incubation of artemether/lumefantrine with vitamin C on the viscosity and elasticity of blood.

Methods:

Blood was collected from 12 healthy female volunteers with normal haemoglobin genotype (HbAA). A Bioprofiler was used to measure the viscosity and elasticity of untreated blood samples (control) and samples exposed to artemether/lumefantrine (0.06/0.36 mg/ml) alone and with low or high dose vitamin C (equivalent to adult doses of 100 or 500 mg).

Results:

Artemether/lumefantrine significantly (P<0.05) reduced viscosity of blood from 4.72 ± 0.38 to 3.78 ± 0.17 mPa.s. Addition of vitamin C (500 mg) further reduced blood viscosity to 2.67 ± 0.05 mPa.s. The elasticity of blood was significantly (P<0.05) reduced from 0.33 ± 0.04 mPa.s to 0.24 ± 0.03 mPa.s by the antimalarial drug, and further reduced to 0.13 ± 0.02 mPa.s in the presence of vitamin C (500 mg).

Interpretation & conclusions:

Co-incubation of blood with vitamin C and antimalarial combination drug potentiates the haemolytic effects of the latter on reducing blood viscosity and elasticity in vitro. This may possibly have implications in relation to haemolysis in patients receiving vitamin C supplementation with artemether/lumefantrine during malaria therapy.
Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) & IL-4 gene polymorphisms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) & their association with susceptibility to SLE
Authors: Mohammadoo-khorasani Milad , Salimi Saeedeh , Tabatabai Ehsan , Sandoughi Mahnaz , Zakeri Zahra , Farajian-Mashhadi Farzaneh
Published: August 2016

Background & objectives:

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is one of the pro-inflammatory cytokines that plays a main role in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) as an anti-inflammatory cytokine regulates balance between Th1 and Th2 immune responses. This study was undertaken to investigate the IL-1β and IL-4 genes polymorphisms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and also association between the polymorphisms and susceptibility to SLE.

Methods:

One hundred and sixty three SLE patients and 180 healthy controls were genotyped for the IL-4 VNTR (variable number tandem repeat), IL-1β C-511T and IL-1β T-31C polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) method.

Results:

The frequencies of CC genotype and C allele of the IL-1β T-31C polymorphism were significantly (P<0.01) lower in SLE patients than controls. Moreover, the frequencies of RP1/RP2 genotype and RP2 allele of IL-4 VNTR polymorphism were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the SLE patients. No association was observed between IL-1β C-511T polymorphism and increased risk of SLE. We observed increased frequency of CT and TT genotypes of IL-1β C-511T polymorphism in SLE patients with malar rash compared to SLE patients without this manifestation.

Interpretation & conclusions:

The present findings suggest that IL-1β T-31C and IL-4 VNTR polymorphisms but not IL-1β C-511T polymorphism may contribute in SLE pathogenesis. In addition, CT and TT genotypes of IL-1β C-511T polymorphism were associated with SLE.
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene abnormalities in Indian males with congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens & renal anomalies
Authors: Gajbhiye Rahul , Kadam Kaushiki , Khole Aalok , Gaikwad Avinash , Kadam Seema , Shah Rupin , Kumaraswamy Rangaswamy , Khole Vrinda
Published: August 2016

Background & objectives:

The role of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations in congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens and unilateral renal agenesis (CBAVD-URA) has been controversial. Here, we report the cases of five Indian males with CBAVD-URA. The objective was to evaluate the presence or absence of CFTR gene mutations and variants in CBAVD-URA. The female partners of these males were also screened for cystic fibrosis (CF) carrier status.

Methods:

Direct DNA sequencing of CFTR gene was carried out in five Indian infertile males having CBAVD-URA. Female partners (n=5) and healthy controls (n=32) were also screened.

Results:

Three potential regulatory CFTR gene variants (c.1540A>G, c.2694T>G and c.4521G>A) were detected along with IVS8-5T mutation in three infertile males with CBAVD-URA. Five novel CFTR gene variants (c.621+91A>G, c.2752+106A>T, c.2751+85_88delTA, c.3120+529InsC and c.4375-69C>T), four potential regulatory CFTR gene variants (M470V, T854T, P1290P, Q1463Q) and seven previously reported CFTR gene variants (c.196+12T>C, c.875+40A>G, c.3041-71G>C, c.3271+42A>T, c.3272-93T>C, c.3500-140A>C and c.3601-65C>A) were detected in infertile men having CBAVD and renal anomalies

Interpretation & conclusions:

Based on our findings, we speculate that CBAVD-URA may also be attributed to CFTR gene mutations and can be considered as CFTR-related disorder (CFTR-RD). The CFTR gene mutation screening may be offered to CBAVD-URA men and their female partners undergoing ICSI. Further studies need to be done in a large sample to confirm the findings.
El nombre de la marca corporativa. Una taxonomía de los nombres de empresa familiar en España
Authors: Pinillos Laffón Alberto , Olivares Delgado Fernando , Rodríguez Valero Daniel
Published: August 2016

En nuestro trabajo realizamos una revisión crítica de la literatura en torno al nombre de marca. Efectuamos una aproximación categorial a los criterios habituales para establecer nombres de marca y proponemos una taxonomía nueva en torno al criterio patronímico. Metodología: A partir de una muestra de nombres comerciales de empresas familiares españolas, con el planteamiento de variables y subvariables, referidas a criterios denominativos y a rasgos característicos de la empresa, formulamos nuevas categorías denominativas a partir de hibridar las comúnmente establecidas. Resultados: Una original taxonomía de patronímicos, a partir del análisis de los nombres comerciales de empresas familiares, lo cual representa un avance en los procesos de investigación, tanto académica como aplicada, en torno al naming corporativo.
Patterns of carbon processing at the seafloor: the role of faunal and
microbial communities in moderating carbon flows
Authors: Woulds Clare , Bouillon Steven , Cowie Gregory L. , Drake Emily , Middelburg Jack J. , Witte Ursula
Published: August 2016

Abstract. Marine sediments, particularly those located in estuarine and coastal zones, are key locations for the burial of organic carbon (C). However, organic C delivered to the sediment is subjected to a range of biological C-cycling processes, the rates and relative importance of which vary markedly between sites, and which are thus difficult to predict. In this study, stable isotope tracer experiments were used to quantify the processing of C by microbial and faunal communities in two contrasting Scottish estuarine sites: a subtidal, organic C rich site in Loch Etive with cohesive fine-grained sediment, and an intertidal, organic C poor site on an Ythan estuary sand flat with coarse-grained permeable sediments. In both experiments, sediment cores were recovered and amended with 13C labelled phytodetritus to quantify whole community respiration of the added C and to trace the isotope label into faunal and bacterial biomass. Similar respiration rates were found in Loch Etive and on the Ythan sand flat (0.64 ± 0.04 and 0.63 ± 0.12 mg C m−2h−1, respectively), which we attribute to the experiments being conducted at the same temperature. Faunal uptake of added C over the whole experiment was markedly greater in Loch Etive (204 ± 72 mg C m−2) than on the Ythan sand flat (0.96 ± 0.3 mg C m−2), and this difference was driven by a difference in both faunal biomass and activity. Conversely, bacterial C uptake over the whole experiment in Loch Etive was much lower than that on the Ythan sand flat (1.80 ± 1.66 and 127 ± 89 mg C m−2, respectively). This was not driven by differences in biomass, indicating that the bacterial community in the permeable Ythan sediments was particularly active, being responsible for 48 ± 18 % of total biologically processed C. This type of biological C processing appears to be favoured in permeable sediments. The total amount of biologically processed C was greatest in Loch Etive, largely due to greater faunal C uptake, which was in turn a result of higher faunal biomass. When comparing results from this study with a wide range of previously published isotope tracing experiments, we found a strong correlation between total benthic biomass (fauna plus bacteria) and total biological C processing rates. Therefore, we suggest that the total C-cycling capacity of benthic environments is primarily determined by total biomass.
CFSv2-based sub-seasonal precipitation and temperature forecast skill over the contiguous United States
Authors: Tian Di , Wood Eric F. , Yuan Xing
Published: August 2016

Abstract. Forecasts from global seasonal climate forecast models can be potentially exploited for sub-seasonal forecasts of precipitation and 2-m temperature. The probabilistic sub-seasonal forecast skill of ten precipitation and temperature indices is investigated using the 28-years’ hindcasts of the Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2) over the contiguous United States (CONUS). The forecast skill is highly dependent on the forecast indices, regions, seasons, leads, and methods. Indices characterizing mean precipitation and temperature as well as measuring frequency or duration of precipitation and temperature extremes for 7-, 14-, and 30-day forecasts were skillful depending on seasons, regions, and forecast leads. Forecasts for 7- and 14-day temperature indices showed skill even at weeks 3 and 4, and generally more skillful than precipitation indices. Overall, temperature indices showed higher skill than precipitation indices over the entire CONUS region. While the forecast skill related to mean precipitation indices were low in summer over the CONUS, the number of rainy days, number of consecutive rainy days, and the number of consecutive dry days showed considerable high skill for the west coast region. The 30-day forecasts of precipitation and temperature indices calculated from the downscaled monthly CFSv2 forecasts are less skillful than those calculated from the daily CFSv2 forecasts, suggesting the potential usefulness of the CFSv2 daily forecasts for hydrological applications relative to the temporally disaggregated CFSv2 monthly forecasts. While the presence of active Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) events improves CFSv2 weekly mean precipitation forecast skill over major areas of CONUS, MJO or El Niño Southern Oscillation did not have same strong effects on weekly mean temperature forecasts.
The Event That We Are: Ontology, Rhetorical Agency, and Alain Badiou
Authors: Daniel James Rushing
Published: August 2016

As scholars have recently suggested, rhetoric has long been remiss when it comes to nondiscursive concerns beyond its traditional purview. While many have sought to broaden rhetoric's scope, no one has yet undertaken a nondiscursive rhetorical investigation of social change in an effort to reconcile the tension between a critique of agency and the perception of human responsibility. This article undertakes such a critique through Alain Badiou's concept of the event, a concept that, I contend, offers the discipline a means of rethinking the opposition between relativism and flat ontology. Analyzing the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi through the frame of the event, I regard Bouazizi's act as an ontic occurrence exerting influence over protestors across the Arab world while demanding collective recognition to emerge as an event.
A Caliphate of Culture? ISIS's Rhetorical Power
Authors: Salazar Philippe-Joseph
Published: August 2016

When, on 4 July 2014, the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, preached in the venerable mosque of Mosul the restoration of the caliphate, his homily ushered in far more than a new phase in jihadist warfare against Western values. His oratory launched on the world scene a new culture that instantly began to shape, solidify, and even sublimate the caliphate as the most arresting rhetorical performance of radical and militant Islam.

However, despite this self-proclamation, political commentators failed to accurately size up the emerging culture of the new caliphate, and we find ourselves faced now with an alternative, global culture that draws irresistibly more and more converts and partisans into its orbit. The most perilous form of underestimating adversaries is to reduce their cultural complexity to a few, unreflective clichés, a telling sign of our own cultural illiteracy.
CONHECIMENTO ECOLÓGICO LOCAL SOBRE O VEADO, MAZAMA GOUAZOUBIRA (G. FISCHER, 1814), POR MORADORES DO ENTORNO DE UMA ÁREA PROTEGIDA DO SEMIÁRIDO BRASILEIRO
Authors: Bonifácio Kallyne Machado , Schiavetti Alexandre , Freire Eliza Maria Xavier
Published: August 2016

Em comunidades adjacentes à Área de Proteção Ambiental Chapada doAraripe investigou-se o conhecimento ecológico local sobre Mazamagouazoubira. Pela técnica bola de neve, foram entrevistadas 35 pessoas.Para análise, categorizaram-se os dados em conhecimento ecológico local,método de caça e percepção de disponibilidade. M. gouazoubira é conhecidapor veado comum (77,15% das citações) e é reconhecida por caracteresmorfológicos. Para 54,28% dos entrevistados, essa espécie é avistadatodo o ano (51,43%). Dentre os itens alimentares, destacaram-se os frutossilvestres (68,75%). Quanto à reprodução, essa espécie se reproduz o anotodo (22,86%). A técnica de caça para sua captura é a espera (100%). Sobrea mudança na quantitativa ao longo do tempo de M. gouazoubira, 91,42%perceberam diminuição no avistamento. Os entrevistados investigadosdemonstraram conhecimento consistente sobre M. gouazoubira, o que érelevante para viabilizar estratégias de manejo dessa espécie na região.
ESTUDO SOBRE MANUSEIO DE EMBALAGENS CONTAMINADAS – TAMBORES METÁLICOS: UMA PRÁTICA DE EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL NA INDÚSTRIA
Authors: Oliveira Andreia Borges , Baldin Nelma
Published: August 2016

Embalagens vazias, quando lançadas no meio ambiente, geridas oumanuseadas incorretamente, tornam-se poluidoras e podem provocarimpactos no meio ambiente e aos seres humanos. O estudo que subsidiaeste artigo objetivou a análise do trabalho de uma empresa situada noEstado de Santa Catarina, quanto aos procedimentos de seus colaboradoresna coleta, no transporte, na armazenagem temporária e no destino final deembalagens – tambores metálicos vazios contaminados. A metodologia,abordagens qualitativa e quantitativa, centrou-se em visitas técnicas àempresa e aplicação de questionários e entrevistas aos colaboradorestrabalhadores.Analisaram-se os procedimentos adotados, o ambiente detrabalho, as atividades desenvolvidas e o esclarecimento dos trabalhadoresno desempenho das suas funções. Os resultados referem falta deescolaridade dos trabalhadores, aliada à pouca atenção aos procedimentosde trabalho e à falta de esclarecimentos quanto ao desempenho de atividadespotencialmente poluidoras em relação ao meio ambiente. Diante dessesresultados, foram sugeridas práticas de Educação Ambiental (EA).
ANÁLISE GLOBAL DAS CARACTERÍSTICAS DE FRAÇÕES DE RESÍDUOS URBANOS RESIDENCIAIS
Authors: Feil Alexandre André , Spilki Fernando Rosado , Schreiber Dusan
Published: August 2016

A gestão de resíduos sólidos é considerada um dos desafios contemporâneose sua promoção eficiente necessita de conhecimento da natureza ecomposição. Nesse sentido, este estudo objetivou apurar uma médiade geração de resíduos totais, distribuídos em países desenvolvidos, emdesenvolvimento e subdesenvolvidos, incluindo a análise da regressãolinear e a correlação de Pearson. A metodologia aplicada é de abordagemquantitativa, com base em uma pesquisa bibliográfica. Os resultados revelamque a geração média de orgânicos opera como fator determinante da fraçãode resíduos urbanos, mas diferencia-se quanto a variável com a qual ele secorrelaciona. A geração média de resíduo orgânico em países desenvolvidos,em desenvolvimento e subdesenvolvidos, respectivamente, é de 34,32,61,33 e 64,21%. Conclui-se que a fração da geração média de resíduosorgânicos dos países em desenvolvimento e subdesenvolvidos apresenta-sesensivelmente similar.
Information System’s experiences of EGERFOOD project making use of it in the education of the database management
Authors: Radványi Tibor , Kovács Emőd , Kormos János
Published: August 2016

We present in this article the background of a developed food safety tracking system searched and formed in the Regional Knowledge Centre of Eszterházy Károly College, the requirements following from this, and by way of the requirements towards the information system appearing expectations. The development of the consumer centre system is a complex task which provides fast and cost-effective information for consumers, food producers and concerned authorities. It accomplishes severe expectations of the tracking system in connection with data security and encryption beside all this. We demonstrate in this article that forming of database model why we chose the general model. We also demonstrate what kind of SQL server we chose for buffer servers and central data warehouse. We wish to support our choosing with the result of done efficiency examinations. It is important viewpoint what kind of database planning principles we base these examinations on and how we match them to the requirements of the system. As software engineers took part in the development effectively from the first minute of the planning of the system, we can examine with what this project work was able to raise students' qualification and knowledge in addition to the general curricular substance.
Difference lists in Prolog
Authors: Csenki Attila
Published: August 2016

Prolog is taught at Bradford University within the two-semester module Symbolic and Declarative Computing/Artificial Intelligence. Second year undergraduate students are taught here the basics of the functional and the logic programming paradigms, the latter by using the Linux implementation of SWI Prolog [6]. The topic 'Difference lists' is mentioned in traditional textbooks such as [2] and [5] but it was felt that the available texts do not quite serve our purposes. We present here a lecture handout and a laboratory sheet for the teaching sessions on Difference lists. It is believed that the lectures and lab sessions together with the handouts shown here are a gentle, self-contained and reasoned introduction into the topic. The figures here shown to illustrate the concepts are considered a special feature of the handouts which in this form do not seem to be well known.
Hungarian mathematicians in the twentieth century
Authors: Kántor Tünde
Published: August 2016

In this article we want to present life and work of Ottó Varga on occasion of the centenary of his birth. He was an outstanding geometer, the head of the Mathematical Seminar / Department (1942-1959) and the first dean of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Debrecen (Hungary).
His area of research was differential geometry. The Debrecen school of differential geometry emerged due his activity. He wrote 57 papers.
Normalization based on dependency diagram
Authors: Czenky Márta
Published: August 2016

Normalization is an important database planning method, although the understanding and application of this method brings up the utmost problem during data modelling. That is why we were looking for alternative normalization methods, from which the normalization with dependency diagram proved to be the most efficient. This was also confirmed by the statistical estimation of the carried out survey.
MRP tasks, critical thinking and intrinsic motivation to proving
Authors: Takáč Zdenko
Published: August 2016

The lack of students' need for proof is often discussed. This is an important topic, on which quite a few others have written ([26], [27], [28], [17], [8]). Nevertheless, there is limited research knowledge about how teacher can participate in process of raising of students' intrinsic motivation to proving. In this article, we discuss relationships between intrinsic motivation to proving, critical thinking and special activity – engaging with so-called MRP tasks. We present here results of a research carried out by author in two elementary schools (21 classes, grade 5-9) in Ruzomberok, Slovakia. We identified the interesting relationship between students' dealing with MRP tasks and increasing of their intrinsic motivation to proving.
Improper integrals, an excursion to classical calculus
Authors: Zeitler Herbert
Published: August 2016

The aim of this paper is to show in what way we investigated improper integrals in the classroom. It was very important to calculate explicitly a lot of examples. Doing so, a criterion was developed. With step curves and infinite series we had a quick look at the mathematical background. The shot in the universe showed that improper integrals are needed in physics.
Report of meeting Researches in Didactics of Mathematics and Computer Sciences
Authors: Lajkó Károly , Maksa Gyula , Páles Zsolt
Published: August 2016

The meeting Researches in Didactics of Mathematics and Computer Sciences was held in Debrecen, Hungary from January 21 to January 23, 2010. The 42 Hungarian participants – including 16 PhD students – came from 5 countries, 14 cities and represented 25 institutions of higher education. The abstracts of the talks and the posters and also the list of participants are presented in this report.
Manipulative bulletin board for early categorization
Authors: Skoumpourdi Chrysanthi
Published: August 2016

According to various researchers categorization is a developmentally appropriate mathematical concept for young children. Classifying objects also relates to every day activities of human life. The manipulative bulletin board (MBB) served as a kind of auxiliary means for approaching categorization by young children. In this article we investigated the kind of MBB that pre-service early childhood education teachers constructed in order to involve children in tasks of categorization, as well as, the way children manipulated these boards in order to categorize items. The MBB, as teaching aids, facilitated the engagement of the children in different categorization processes.
Cultivating algorithmic thinking
Authors: Kátai Zoltán , Kovács Lehel István , Kása Zoltán , Márton Gyöngyvér , Fogarasi Kinga , Fogarasi Ferenc
Published: August 2016

Algorithmic thinking is a valuable skill that all people should master. In this paper we propose a one-semester, algorithm-oriented computer science course for human science students. According to our experience such an initiative could succeed only if the next recipe is followed: interesting and practical content + exciting didactical methods + minimal programming. More explicitly, we suggest: (1) A special, simple, minimal, pseudo-code like imperative programming language that integrates a graphic library. (2) Interesting, practical and problem-oriented content with philosophical implications. (3) Exciting, human science related didactical methods including art-based, inter-cultural elements.
Arithmetic progressions of higher order
Authors: Dlab Vlastimil
Published: August 2016

The aim of this article is to clarify the role of arithmetic progressions of higher order in the set of all progressions. It is important to perceive them as the pairs of progressions closely connected by simple relations of differential or cumulative progressions, i.e. by operations denoted in the text by r and s. This duality affords in a natural way the concept of an alternating arithmetic progression that deserves further studies. All these progressions can be identified with polynomials and very special, explicitly described, recursive progressions. The results mentioned here point to a very close relationship among a series of mathematical objects and to the importance of combinatorial numbers; they are presented in a form accessible to the graduates of secondary schools.
Implementation opportunities of the Moodle learning management system in virtual environment the Sloodle project
Authors: Kristóf Zsolt , Bodnár Károly , Takács Péter
Published: August 2016

Using e-learning was firstly appeared in companies' sphere. It should be very useful if learning management systems were applied. Nowadays e-learning is used in different fields and gives useful informations in case of basics and its knowledge. It is essential to know the arranging technics and applicated handling methods of some supporting learning management systems of e-learning. The Moodle is the best-known learning management system.
The Second Life is one of the virtual environments which is useful in learning-teaching methods that is used in most educational institute all over the world. Sloodle is an open source project which connects the Second Life with Moodle learning management system. Sloodle is a kind of "bridge" in which different kind of activities and registering and provided in both Moodle and Second Life.
In our department, University of Debrecen Health Faculty of Nyíregyháza ILIAS learning management system has operated since February, 2008. In the interest of higher level education we decided to use and made available some courses through Moodle learning management system.
Some tools of Sloodle will be presented in our article. It will be the first study for our research in which we would use the Moodle learning management system, the virtual environment of Second Life and the project of Sloodle itself. Our article will contain the starting details and its statistical confirmation of our Sloodle project. We like to demonstrate that the results of the Sloodle-aided group are significantly better than the results of the control group in the most cases.
Mathematician Judita Cofman (1936–2001)
Authors: Nikolić Aleksandar
Published: August 2016

Judita Cofman was the first generation student of mathematics and physics at Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad, Serbia, and the first holder of doctoral degree in mathematical sciences at University of Novi Sad. Her Ph.D. thesis as well as her scientific works till the end of 70's belong to the field of finite projective and affine planes and the papers within this topic were published in prestigious international mathematical journals. She dedicated the second part of her life and scientific work to didactic and teaching of mathematics and to work with young mathematicians.
Comments on the remaining velocity project with reports of school-experiments
Authors: Vancsó Ödön , Komzsík Attila , Csapodi Csaba
Published: August 2016

The aim of this article is to introduce different possible solutions to the exercise referring to the calculation of "remaining velocity". We explain the possible approaches to the problem with the help of either using the tools of mathematics or other subjects. During the past few years, we have made Hungarian and Slovakian secondary school students solve the exercise, choosing from both children of average and of high abilities. The experince has shown that very few students were able to solve the problem by themselves, but with the help of their teachers, the exercise and the solution has been an eye-opener experience to all of them. A lot of students were even considering to drive more carefully in the future after getting their driving licenses.
Research studies in didactics of mathematics supported by the Operant Motive Test
Authors: Munkácsy Katalin
Published: August 2016

The present paper reports a case-study which took place within an EUsupported international program organized for research and development of multi-grade schools (NEMED, [16] [26]). One of the main goals of the research was to develop the connection between disadvantageous social situations and the efficiency (success or failure) in learning mathematics especially from the point of view of average and above-average (talented) students: Why does the talent of children with socially disadvantageous background remain undiscovered? How can we make school mathematics more aware of hidden talents?
The author was looking for a didactical solution that compensated for social disadvantages without restricting the development of "average" students by using sociological, educational, psychological and mathematical (experimental and theoretical) studies in interaction with a series of experimental (hypothesis testing and exploratory) investigations.
We constructed tools and methods for exploration and experimental teaching, adapted to Hungarian conditions (Curriculum Development, teacher training, materials, interviews, Kuhl's motivation test, Malara's "researchers and practicing teachers in cooperation" method, etc., see [18], [20]).
The teaching materials and methodological guidelines are based on Bruner's representation theory (see [5]). The empirical research took place in 16 multi-grade schools located in different parts of the country. The author co-operated with nearly 250 students and 25 teachers for 3 years. In this paper we try to demonstrate how an Operant Motive Test can be involved in this research (see [18]).
The application of modelling tasks in the classroom – why and how?
Authors: Ambrus Gabriella , Vancsó Ödön , Koren Balázs
Published: August 2016

The aim of the article is to present the concept of mathematical modelling in the classroom. LEMA (Learning and Education in and through Modelling and Applications) was an EU Comenius funded project in which mathematics educators from six countries worked to produce materials to support teachers' professional development. A group of voluntary Hungarian mathematics teachers were taught modelling for a year and we were and still are given feedback continously. The article leads us from the general concept of mathematical modelling to its practice in the classroom. It presents difficulties that teachers have to face when doing modelling lessons and their students' reactions are also mentioned. We present sample tasks from the material of the teacher training course as well as tasks that were created by the participants.
Teaching puzzle-based learning
Authors: Falkner Nickolas , Sooriamurthi Raja , Michalewicz Zbigniew
Published: August 2016

While computer science and engineering students are trained to recognise familiar problems with known solutions, they may not be sufficiently prepared to address novel real-world problems. A successful computer science graduate does far more than just program and we must train our students to reach the required levels of analytical and computational thinking, rather than hoping that it will just 'develop'. As a step in this direction, we have created and experimented with a new first-year level course, Puzzle-based Learning (PBL), that is aimed at getting students to think about how to frame and solve unstructured problems. The pedagogical goal is increase students' mathematical awareness and general problem solving skills by employing puzzles, which are educational, engaging, and thought provoking. In this paper we continue sharing our experiences in teaching such a course. Whereas a brief discussion on our pedagogical objectives were covered in the first paper together with the material of the first of two lectures on pattern recognition, this follow-up paper presents the material of the second of two lectures, in which additional exercises are discussed to reinforce the lesson. Along the way we provide a glimpse of some foundational ideas of computer science such as incomputability and general system development strategies such as incremental and iterative reasoning. This paper discusses the outcomes of PBL courses, which include expected improvement in the overall results achieved by students who have undertaken PBL courses, compared to those students who have not.
Nice tiling, nice geometry!?!
Authors: Molnár Emil
Published: August 2016

The squared papers in our booklets, or the squared (maybe black and white) pavements in the streets arise an amusing problem: How to deform the side segments of the square pattern, so that the side lines further remain equal (congruent) to each other? More precisely, we require that each congruent transformation of the new pattern, mapping any deformed side segment onto another one, leaves the whole (infinitely extended) pattern invariant (unchanged).
It turns out that there are exactly 14 types of such edge-transitive (or so-called isotoxal) quadrangle tilings, sometimes with two different forms (e.g. black and white) of quadrangles (see Figure 2). Such a collection of tiling can be very nice, perhaps also useful for decorative pavements in streets, in flats, etc.
I shall sketch the solution of the problem that leads to fine (and important) mathematical concepts (as barycentric triangulation of a polygonal tiling, adjacency operations, adjacency matrix, symmetry group of a tiling, D-symbol, etc). All these can be discussed in an enjoyable way, e.g. in a special mathematical circle of a secondary school, or in more elementary form as visually attractive figures in a primary school as well.
My colleague, István Prok [11] developed an attractive computer program on the Euclidean plane crystallographic groups with a nice interactive play (for free download), see our Figures 3-5.
A complete classification of such Euclidean plane tilings (not only with quadrangles) can be interesting for university students as well, hopefully also for the Reader (Audience). This is why I shall give some references, where you find also other ones.
Further problems indicate the efficiency of this theory now. All these demonstrate the usual procedure of mathematics and the (teaching) methodology as well: We start with a concrete problem, then extend it further, step-by-step by creating new manipulations, concepts and methods. So we get a theory at certain abstraction level. Then newer problems arise, etc.
This paper is an extended version of the presentation and the conference paper [7]. The author thanks the Organizers, especially their head Professor Margita Pavlekovic for the invitation, support and for the kind atmosphere of the conference.
A differentiated e-learning teaching program in mathematics
Authors: Nguyen-Danh Nam , Tran Trung
Published: August 2016

The intelligent online interactions between students and teacher are still not assured because of the fact that a learning management system could not play the role of a teacher in producing a chain of deduction. Furthermore, managing a course in existing e-learning systems has not yet guaranteed the differentiated teaching because it does not enable students to appropriately learn at their corresponding levels. In this paper, we would like to introduce a differentiated e-learning course in Vietnam. We also present some designing principles for such courses and propose some typical situations in teaching mathematics aimed at helping high school students individualize their online learning in mathematics.
The theory of functional equations in high school education
Authors: Bessenyei Dorottya
Published: August 2016

In this paper, we are going to discuss some possible applications of the theory of functional equations in high school education. We would like to line up some problems, the solution of which by functional equations are mostly not new results – they have also been treated in [1] and [2] –, although their demonstrations in high school can show a new way in teaching of talented students. The area of the rectangle, the calculating method of compound interest, binomial coefficients, Euler's formula, the scalar product and the vector product of vectors – we are looking for the reasons behind the well-known formulas. Finally, we are going to give a functional equation in connection with mean values. It can be understood easily, but its solution is beyond the high school curriculum, so we advise this part only to the most talented students.
On an international training of mathematically talented students
Authors: Kántor Sándor , Kántor Tünde
Published: August 2016

The focus of this paper is to present the gems of the "Nagy Károly Mathematical Student-meetings" in Rév-Komárom (Slovakia) from 1991 to 2010. During these 20 years there was done a lot of work to train mathematically talented students with Hungarian mother tongue and to develop their mathematical thinking, and to teach them problem solving and heuristic strategies for successful acting on the competitions. We collected the most interesting problems and methods presented by the trainer teachers.
Erratum to the paper "The theory of functional equations in high school education" Teaching Mathematics and Computer Science 10/2 (2012), 345-360
Authors: Bessenyei Dorottya
Published: August 2016

A correction is necessary in subsection 2.5. although this does not affect the truth of the main formula.
Mathematics in Good Will Hunting II
Authors: Horváth Gábor , Korándi József , Szabó Csaba
Published: August 2016

This is the second part of a three paper long series exploring the role of mathematicians and of the mathematical content occurring in popular media. In particular we analyze the drama film Good Will Hunting. Here we investigate the mathematical content of the movie by considering the problems appearing in it. We examine how a mathematician or a mathematics student would solve these problems. Moreover, we review how these problems could be integrated into the higher education of Hungary.
Teaching probability using graph representations
Authors: Zsombori Gabriella , András Szilárd
Published: August 2016

The main objective of this paper is to present an elementary approach to classical probability theory, based on a Van Hiele type framework, using graph representation and counting techniques, highly suitable for teaching in lower and upper secondary schools. The main advantage of this approach is that it is not based on set theoretical, or combinatorial knowledge, hence it is more suitable for beginners and facilitates the transitions from level 0 to level 3. We also mention a few teaching experiences on different levels (lower secondary school, upper secondary school, teacher training, professional development, university students) based on this approach.
Development of spatial perception in high school with GeoGebra
Authors: Budai László
Published: August 2016

In everyday life, on numerous occasions we need to project 3D space onto a plane in order to activate our spatial perception. While our ability in this area can be improved, and considering several national and international research results, the development is even necessary on all levels of education. GeoGebra, as a supplement to previously used tools, has proven to be very useful respective to the development. We have many possibilities to display spatial elements in GeoGebra and to apply such kind of worksheets among 15-18 year old students. I show the results of the 2011/2012 school years connected to the development of spatial perception and the results of an input case survey, which also justifies the need for development.
Powers which commute or associate as solutions of ODEs
Authors: Gofen Alexander
Published: August 2016

This paper is dedicated to the two classical transcendental functions: The locus of points for which powers commute, and the locus of points for which powers associate. These classical functions however are considered in a new perspective: as holomorphic solutions of ODEs passing over the points of singularity of these ODEs.
Generally, solution functions which are holomorphic at singular points of the phase space of ODEs were studied in [2,3], and it was shown in [3], that certain holomorphic functions may satisfy only singular rational ODEs. This is the frame in which the function of commuting or associating powers are considered in this paper.
First we obtain several types of ODEs satisfied by these functions. The obtained ODEs happen to have singular points, yet the solutions are proved to be holomorphic at these points, and their Taylor expansions are obtained. However it is not yet known whether these two transcendental functions can satisfy a regular rational ODE at the respective special points. The article also poses an open question about remarkable inequalities related to the commuting powers.
Diophantine equations concerning various means of binomial coefficients
Authors: Rakamazi Richárd
Published: August 2016

The main goal of this paper is to show by elementary methods, that there are infinitely many different pairs of binomial coefficients of the form (n C 2) such that also their arithmetic, geometric and harmonic means, resp. have the same form. We give all solutions for the arithmetic mean. We also give infinitely many non-trivial solutions for the arithmetic mean of three binomial coefficients satisfying some special conditions. The proofs require the solution of some other interesting Diophantine equations, too. Since the author is also a secondary school teacher, we use elementary methods that mostly can be discussed in secondary school, mainly within the framework of group study sessions. This explains why the means are generally analysed for two terms and for binomial coefficients with "lower" value 2, since further generalizations require substantially deeper mathematical methods which are beyond the frames of this paper.
General key concepts in informatics
Authors: Szlávi Péter , Zsakó László
Published: August 2016

"The system of key concepts contains the most important key concepts related to the development tasks of knowledge areas and their vertical hierarchy as well as the links of basic key concepts of different knowledge areas. When you try to identify the key concepts of a field of knowledge, you should ask the following questions: Which are the concepts that are the nodes of the concept net and can be related to many other concepts? Which are the concepts that necessarily keep re-appearing in different contexts when interpreting what you have learnt before? Which are the concepts that arrange specific facts in structures, which contribute to interpreting and apprehending new information and experience? Which are the concepts that – if you are unfamiliar with and unaware of – inhibits you in systematizing various items of knowledge or sensibly utilizing them?" [9] One of the most important of these concepts is the data.
The appearance of the characteristic features of the mathematical thinking in the thinking of a chess player
Authors: Misetáné Burján Anita
Published: August 2016

It is more and more important in 21st century's education that not only facts and subject knowledge should be taught but also the ways and methods of thinking should be learnt by students. Thinking is a human specificity which is significant both in mathematics and chess. The exercises aimed at beginner chess players are appropriate to demonstrate to students the mathematical thinking of 12-14 year-old students.
Playing chess is an abstract activity. During the game we use abstract concepts (e.g. sacrifice, stalemate). When solving a chess problem we use logical quantifiers frequently (e.g. in the case of any move of white, black has a move that...). Among the endgames we find many examples (e.g. exceptional draw options) that state impossibility. Affirmation of existence is frequent in a mate position with many moves. We know there is a mate but the question in these cases is how it can be delivered.
We present the chess problem on beginners' level although these exercises appear in the game of advanced players and chess masters too, in a more complex form. We chose the mathematical tasks from arithmetic, number theory, geometry and the topic of equations. Students encounter these in classes, admission exams and student circles. Revealing the common features of mathematical and chess thinking shows how we can help the development of students' mathematical skills with the education of chess.
Force of summation
Authors: Gregorics Tibor
Published: August 2016

Programming theorems are important tools of programming methodology. By using analogous programming techniques, the solutions of different tasks can be created easily and fast based on programming theorems. Perhaps the summation is the simplest programming theorem that is widely-known among the programmers but once and for all the most various tasks can be solved by this theorem. The aim of the present paper is to investigate the summation programming theorem. Several different abstract levels of this theorem will be defined and the problem types that can be solved based on summation are going to be described. We will underline those points of a programming theorem that make a theorem general and that are not defined in advance, just later during its application, when the solution of a problem is derived from the theorem.
Heuristic arguments and rigorous proofs in secondary school education
Authors: Fülöp Zsolt
Published: August 2016

In this paper we are going to discuss some possible applications of the mechanical method, especially the lever principle, in order to formulate heuristic conjectures related to the volume of three-dimensional solids. In the secondary school educational processes the heuristic arguments are no less important than the rigorous mathematical proofs. Between the ancient Greek mathematicians Archimedes was the first who made heuristic conjectures with the methods of Mechanics and proved them with the rigorous rules of Mathematics, in a period, when the methods of integration were not known. For a present day mathematician (or a secondary school mathematics teacher) the tools of the definite integral calculus are available in order to calculate the volume of three dimensional bodies, such as paraboloids, ellipsoids, segments of a sphere or segments of an ellipsoid. But in the secondary school educational process, it is also interesting to make heuristic conjectures by the use of the Archimedean method. It can be understood easily, but it is beyond the normal secondary school curriculum, so we recommend it only to the most talented students or to the secondary schools with advanced mathematical teaching programme.
Modelling and simulation in education and the NetLogo simulation environment
Authors: Bernát Péter
Published: August 2016

Just like real experimentation, computer simulation is a method for understanding the world. In the present paper I will demonstrate its possible didactic advantages and application potentials. The displayed simulations, which will be analyzed in a separate section, were all made in the NetLogo environment, one of them by the author himself.