Elaborating the Mastery State and the Confidence Frame

In reversal theory (RT; e.g., Apter, 1982, 2001) the mastery metamotivational state is the motivational orientation that leads the individual to value having power and control, either over others or oneself. When it is operative, winning or success (i.e., gaining in felt transactional outcome) generates pleasant feelings such as pride and satisfaction. Losing or failure (i.e., losing in felt transactional outcome) generates negative emotions such as humiliation, and, when an athlete’s needs for power and control are not being met, this can result in tension-stress. This theoretical manuscript provides an elaboration of RT's mastery state and more clearly defines its relationship with protective confidence frames, its interaction with other metamotivational states, and its antecedents. The manuscript is set in the context of sport and exercise psychology, but the arguments presented have implications for other areas of psychology, and for human endeavour and performance in general. It is intended as a discussion document aimed at stimulating debate and rethinking about the nature and role of the mastery state in RT

The impact of mobile learning on student performance as gauged by standardised test (NAPLAN) scores

This paper discusses the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) performance of Years Five, Seven and Nine students in standardised tests prior and post the implementation of a mobile learning initiative in a Western Australian school for boys. The school sees the use of ICT as important in enhancing its potential to deliver optimal educational outcomes. However, the School is also cognisant of the shared concern of teachers and parents in the school community about an over-reliance on mobile devices for learning, to the detriment of students’ accomplishments in literacy and numeracy. The paper examines NAPLAN results from standardised test scores prior and post the mobile learning initiative at the School and in comparison to national data. Literacy and numeracy results were analysed between two periods: prior to 2010 in which the mobile learning initiative was not implemented at the School and between 2010 and 2012, in which the mobile learning initiative was implemented in Years Five, Seven and Nine. It is argued that the implementation of mobile learning has had a minimal effect on student performance as gauged by standardised testing

The second shifted difference of partitions and its applications

A number of recent papers have estimated ratios of the partition function $p(n-j)/p(n)$, which appears in many applications. Here, we prove an easy-to-use effective bound on these ratios. Using this, we then study second shifted difference of partitions, $f(j,n):= p(n) -2p(n-j) +p(n-2j)$, and give another easy-to-use estimate of $f(j,n)$. As applications of these, we prove a shifted convexity property of $p(n)$, as well as giving new estimates of the $k$-rank partition function $N_k(m,n)$ and non-$k$-ary partitions along with their differences

Secrets of succulence

Succulent plants are iconic components of the florae of many terrestrial ecosystems, but despite having caused fascination and prompted investigation for centuries, they still harbour many secrets in terms of physiological function and evolution. Tackling these mysteries is important, as this will not only provide insights into the dynamics and details of the convergent evolution of a major adaptive syndrome, but also inform efforts to conserve endangered biodiversity and utilize the unique physiological characteristics of succulents for biofuel and biomass production. Here I review advances in the phylogeny and organismal biology of succulent plants, and discuss how insights from recent work in the wider fields of plant hydraulics and photosynthetic physiology may relate to succulents. The potential for the exploration of mechanistic relationships between anatomical structure and physiological function to improve our understanding of the constraints that have shaped the evolution of succulence is highlighted. Finally, attention is drawn to how new methodologies and technologies provide exciting opportunities to address the wide range of outstanding questions in succulent plant biology.JM is funded by Natural Environment Research Council award 1359020

Impact of Technology on Meat Safety

Innovations and new technologies tend to create apprehension among consumers who are not familiar with the technologies and their mode of action. This case currently exists regarding the use of hormones, antibiotics and other feed additives in livestock production. The purpose of this fact sheet is to familiarize consumers with some of the products of technology that are currently utilized in the production of meat animals and to provide an evaluation of how these products impact the safety of meat and meat products

Effects of Limit Feeding a High Concentrate Diet on Feedlot Performance and Carcass Composition of Lambs

Limit feeding high concentrate diets offers several potential benefits to lamb feeders. Limit feeding is one alternative to ad libitum feeding where intake is restricted to an amount which will permit animals to attain some predetermined daily weight gain. This type of feeding system provides a means to reduce day-to-day variations in feed intake, simplifies bunk management, and allows for greater control over feed inventories (Zinn, 1 986) . Using limit feeding to program a particular rate of gain also allows greater marketing flexibility. Restricting intake has been shown to improve the efficiency at which feed is converted into live weight gain in sheep (Glimp et al. , 1989) and cattle (Plegge, 1986) . Reduced average daily gains have been shown to reduce the fat content of empty body weight gains (Turgeon et al. , 1986) . The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of limit feeding a high concentrate diet to achieve three different rates of gain on feedlot performance and body composition of growing lambs

The Mathematical Nature of Reasoning-and-Proving Opportunities in Geometry Textbooks

International calls have been made for reasoning-and-proving to permeate school mathematics. It is important that efforts to heed this call are grounded in an understanding of the opportunities to reason- and-prove that already exist, especially in secondary-level geometry where reasoning-and-proving opportunities are prevalent but not thoroughly studied. This analysis of six secondary-level geometry textbooks, like studies of other textbooks, characterizes the justifications given in the exposition and the reasoning-and-proving activities expected of students in the exercises. Furthermore, this study considers whether the mathematical statements included in the reasoning-and-proving opportunities are general or particular in nature. Findings include the fact that the majority of expository mathematical statements were general, whereas reasoning-and-proving exercises tended to involve particular mathematical statements. Although reasoning-and-proving opportunities were relatively numerous, it remained rare for the reasoning-and-proving process itself to be an explicit object of reflection. Relationships between these findings and the necessity principle of pedagogy are discussed