Improving students’ use of argumentation is front and center in the increasing emphasis on scientific practice in K-12 Science and STEM programs. We explore the construct validity of scenario-based assessments of claim-evidence-reasoning (CER) and the structure of the CER construct with respect to a learning progression framework. We also seek to understand how middle school students progress. Establishing the purpose of an argument is a competency that a majority of middle school students meet, whereas quantitative reasoning is the most difficult, and the Rasch model indicates that the competencies form a unidimensional hierarchy of skills. We also find no evidence of differential item functioning between different scenarios, suggesting

In this paper a new structure for the AVR of the power system exciter is proposed and designed using digital-based LQR. With two weighting matrices R and Q,  this method produces an optimal regulator that is used to generate the feedback control law. These matrices are called state and control weighting matrices and are used to balance between the relative importance of the input and the states in the cost function that is being optimized. A sample power system composed of single machine connected to an infinite- bus bar (SMIB) with both a conventional and a proposed Digital AVR (DAVR) is simulated. Evaluation results show that the DAVR damps well the oscillations of the terminal voltage and presents a faster respo

Background: MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a global health problem. Many people are looking for new ways to combat MRSA, for example by using bacteriophages (phages). It has been extremely challenging to isolate a sufficient quantity of lytic anti-MRSA phages. Therefore, new techniques for separating, refining, and reworking anti-MRSA phages were sought in this study.

Methods: Of 437 S. aureus isolates, nine clinical MRSA isolates were obtained from three hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq and two ATCC MRSA strains were used to separate wild anti-MRS

Two molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) membranes for Levofloxacin (LEV) were prepared based on PVC matrix. The imprinted polymers were prepared by polymerization of styrene (STY) as monomer, N,N methylene di acrylamide as a cross linker ,benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator and levofloxacin as a template. Di methyl adepate (DMA) and acetophenone (AOPH) were used as plasticizers , the molecular imprinted membranes and the non molecular imprinted membranes were prepared.  The slopes and detection limits of the liquid electrodes ranged from -21.96 – -19.38 mV/decade and 2×10^-4M- 4×10^-4M, and Its response time was around 1 minute, respectively. The liquid  electrodes were packed with 0.1 M standar

The effect of 532nm Diode Pumped Solid State (DPSS) laser at power density of 5.234 W/cm2 on the growth of Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated. These bacteria were isolated from samples taken from burn and infected wound areas of 55 patients admitted to the burn-wound unit in Al-Kindy teaching hospital in Baghdad during the period from October 2012 to March 2013. Each isolate was identified using microscopic, cultural and biochemical methods. A standard bacterial suspension was prepared for each isolate. Serial dilutions were then prepared and a dilution of 10-5 was selected. Irradiation experiments included four groups: (L-P-) bacterial suspension in saline solution, (L-P+) bacteria

Background: The high reactivity of hydrogen peroxide used in bleaching agents have raised important questions on their potential adverse effects on physical properties of restorative materials. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of in-office bleaching agents on the microhardness of a new Silorane-based restorative material in comparison to methacrylate-based restorative material. Materials and method: Forty specimens of Filtek™ P90 (3M ESPE,USA) and Filtek™ Supreme XT (3M ESPE, USA) of (8mm diameter and 3m height) were prepared. All specimens were polished with Sof-Lex disks (3M ESPE, USA). All samples were rinsed and stored in incubator 37˚C for 24 hours in DDW. Ten sample of each material were subjected to

The enrollment of students in the university represents a new stage in their life that differ from the previous educational stages that student has previously established. It should be noted that students with special needs at the University of Baghdad are not large numbers. It appears that these students have an excel role in their colleges most often, That is, the handicap was not a barrier to their scientific progress, but rather an incentive for them to excel. The most important conclusion reached by the researcher is that the University of Baghdad had no role in caring for people with special needs and caring for them financially, socially, psychologically, healthily and economically, they need to pay attention to them and take care

This study included effect of polyherbs mixture treatment of diabetic patients type II for two months. The polyherbs mixture contains Nigella sativa seeds, Boswellia carterri gum, Citrus aurantifolia fruits, Elettaria cardamomum fruits. Also this study included estimation of some biochemical parameters in the serum Diabetes Mellitus (D.M.) patients-type II and knowing the relationship of these parameters with this disease. The parameters are glucose, cholesterol ,High density , Low density lipoproteins( HDL-C, LDL-C) respectively , Triglycerides TG, urea, total protein , albumin , Alkaline phosphatase ALP,Transaminase GOT, GPT enzymes . Take (77) samples of diabetic patients serum type II which included (47) samples for group one: herbs

The research aims at demonstrating the role of the formulation of the green strategy in adopting the areas of the green strategy at the level of jobs in the municipal institutions in the province of Babylon, specifically the Directorate of the municipality of Hilla. The most important areas related to the green strategy were highlighted directly or indirectly, after the indicators of environmental damage emerged from the actions of companies and institutions. The research included a sample size of 222 individual of municipal institutions with different job titles and specializations between the technical and administrative and different levels of academic achievement within the institutions within the Ministry of Construction, Ho