Enhancing Proficiency in Quadratic Equations and Functions Through the MILAPlus Strategy

This study investigates the efficacy of the Mathematics Independent Learning Activity Practice and Play Unite Scheme(MILAPlus)as an instructional strategy to improve the proficiency levels of Grade 9 students in quadratic equations and functions through a study carried out at Quezon National High School.The research involved 116 Grade 9 students and utilized a quantitative approach,incorporating both pre-assessment and post-assessment measures.The research utilizes a quasi-experimental design,examining the academic performance of students before and after the introduction of MILAPlus.The pre-assessment establishes a baseline,and the subsequent post-assessment measures the impact of the instructional strategy.Statistical analyses,including t-tests,assess the significance of differences in mean scores and mean percentage scores,providing quantitative insights into the effectiveness of MILAPlus.Findings from the study revealed a statistically significant improvement in both mean scores and mean percentage scores after the utilization of MILAPlus,indicating enhanced proficiency in quadratic equations and functions.The Mean Proficiency Scores(MPS)also showed a substantial increase,demonstrating a marked improvement in overall proficiency levels among Grade 9 students.In light of the results,recommendations were given including the continued utilization of MILAPlus as an instructional strategy and aligning its development with prescribed learning competencies.Emphasizing the consistent adherence to policies and guidelines for MILAPlus implementation is suggested for sustaining positive effects on students’long-term performance in mathematics.This research contributes valuable insights into the practical application and effectiveness of MILAPlus within the context of Grade 9 mathematics education at Quezon National High School.

Open Approach-Based Subject Matter： A New Aspect of Mathematical Activity Fostering Students＇ Creativity

This study compares the subject matter appeared on traditional Thai textbooks and Japanese textbooks and analyzes how extension and integration sequence on Japanese textbooks evokes students＇ mathematical creativity. The data were collected from the series of four lessons in the fifth grade by teaching experiment methodology conducted following the professional development project implemented lesson study and open approach in Thailand. The results show that extension and integration sequence is an appropriate subject matter to generate lesson for problem-solving classroom. The sequence of lesson leads students to excitement, curiosity, confidence and intimacy in mathematics that are powerful effects of mathematical creativity. Students can produce the different and various ways to solve problems that indicate their divergent thinking.

Proposal and evaluation of a new norm index-based QSAR model to predict pEC50 and pCC50 activities of HEPT derivatives

The search and development of anti-HIV drugs is currently one of the most urgent tasks of pharmacological studies. In this work, a quantitative structure-activity relationship （QSAR） model based on some new norm indexes, was obtained to a series of more than 150 HEPT derivatives （1-[（2-hydroxyethoxy）methyl]-6-（phenylthio）thymine） to find their pEC50 （the required effective concentration to achieve 50% protection of MT-4 cells against the cytopathic effect of virus） and pCC50 （the required cytotoxic concentration to reduce visibility of 50% mock infected cell） activities. The model efficiencies were then validated using the leave-one-out cross validation （LOO-CV） and y- randomization test. Results indicated that this new model was efficient and could provide satisfactory results for prediction of pECso and pCC50 with the higher R2 train and the higher Rt2est. By using the leverage approach, the applicability domain of this model was further investigated and no response outlier was detected for HEFT derivatives involved in this work. Comparison results with reference methods demonstrated that this new method could result in significant improvements for predicting pEC50 and pCC50 of anti-HIV HEPT derivatives. Moreover, results shown in this present study suggested that these two absolutely different activities pECso and pCC50 of anti-HIV HEPT derivatives could be predicted well with a totally similar QSAR model, which indicated that this model mizht have the potential to be further utilized for other biological activities of HEFT derivatives.

Modified DIX model for ion-exchange equilibrium of L-phenylalanine on a strong cation-exchange resin

L-phenylalanine, one of the nine essential amino acids for the human body, is extensively used as an ingredient in food, pharmaceutical and nutrition industries. A suitable equilibrium model is required for purification of L-phenylalanine based on ion-exchange chromatography. In this work, the equilibrium uptake of L-phenylalanine on a strong acid-cation exchanger SH11 was investigated experimentally and theoretically. A modified Donnan ion-exchange （DIX） model, which takes the activiW into account, was established to predict the uptake of L-phenylalanine at various solution pH values. The model parameters including selectivity and mean activity coefficient in the resin phase are presented. The modified DIX model is in good agreement with the experimental data. The optimum operating pH value of 2.0, with the highest t-phenylalanine uptake on the resin, is predicted by the model. This basic information combined with the general mass transfer model will lay the foundation for the prediction of dynamic behavior of fixed bed separation process.