Online self‐assessment materials: Do these make a difference to student learning?

During the last decade the teaching of students in first‐year biology has changed from a teacher‐centred focus to a student‐centred focus. The change was designed to encourage students to take responsibility for their learning, develop team and communication skills and put in practice those skills required for lifelong learning. Students are introduced to small learning communities (in large classes) that give the students a sense of belonging and a peer support group. Activities have been devised and implemented to support student‐centred learning, which in more recent years has included using computers. All these activities are integrated into the course design so that the students are offered an array of learning opportunities relevant to the course(s) learning outcomes. An important requirement for the development of student‐centred learning is suitable and timely feedback that gives students guidance about their learning outcomes. Giving feedback to very large classes is an expensive commodity and one that is vulnerable in the current climate of reducing resources and increasing student numbers. First‐year biology students receive online feedback from a weekly quiz (with both formative and summative components), from a mid‐semester mock exam (formative only) and from a series of self‐assessment modules (formative only). This paper will examine the use of such online self‐assessment in a large first‐year biology class, discuss current evaluations of the materials and propose further research into how students use these integrated learning opportunities

Testing for Evidence of Nonlinear Structure in Daily and Weekly United Kingdom Stock and Property Market Indicies

In this paper we have tested for evidence of nonlinear structure in United Kingdom asset returns including those of real estate and investment trusts, stock market indices and returns for listed real estate companies. While some of our test procedures are designed to test for nonlinear deterministic (chaotic) structure against a random alternative, others have power against nonlinear stochastic structure. If nonlinear deterministic and random walk models are not appropriate to explain asset returns behaviour, then stochastic nonlinearity seems like a logical alternative. The results from our study lead us to that conclusion.

Some Views on the Economics of Brexit

In this paper I attempt to bring together a selection of the economic issues that have emerged during the debate running up to the 23rd June EU referendum. This selection is by no means complete. Further I fully accept that there are a range of other, non-economic, issues which individuals may wish to take into account before they cast their vote. Nevertheless I do hope that this contribution on the economic front will provide some information and views of some value to those making up their minds on such a critical topic

The Scottish Fiscal Commission : Some Key Issues

As the extent of devolution to Scotland of fiscal matters increases, so too does the requirement for objective, informed, transparent and independent analysis of and commentary on the Scottish Government's fiscal analysis and plans. The breadth, and quite possibly the depth, of this input will be required to expand as fiscal devolution continues. Some of this commentary should come from independent 'think tank' bodies, along the lines of the Institute for Fiscal Studies in the UK. The further development of bodies of this type in Scotland is to be encouraged. However, some of the input should come from a more official body, established by, but necessarily at a lengthy arm's length from, the Scottish Government, namely the new, proposed Scottish Fiscal Commission

Simplified techniques for predicting the transmission loss of a circular dissipative silencer

A closed-form analytical solution for the transmission loss of a dissipative silencer with a circular cross-section is described. The silencer contains a bulk reacting acoustic absorbent which is separated from a mean gas flow by a perforated screen. Theoretical predictions of the silencer transmission loss for three different dissipative silencers are compared both with experimental data and with another more complex modelling technique. Good agreement is noted between the analytical theory and experimental data in the low-to-medium frequency range. Below a defined upper frequency limit the analytical technique is also shown to provide good agreement with the finite element method. In addition it is observed that, even for relatively high open area porosities, the perforate screen has a significant effect on dissipative silencer performance

Osteoarthritis and the rule of halves

<b>Background</b> Symptomatic osteoarthritis poses a major challenge to primary health care but no studies have related accessing primary care ("detection"), receiving recommended treatments ("treatment"), and achieving adequate control ("control").<p></p> <b>Objective</b> To provide estimates of detection, treatment, and control within a single population adapting the approach used to determine a Rule of Halves for other long-term conditions.<p></p> <b>Setting</b> General population.<p></p> <b>Participants</b> 400 adults aged 50+ years with prevalent symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.<p></p> <b>Design</b> Prospective cohort with baseline questionnaire, clinical assessment, and plain radiographs, and questionnaire follow-up at 18 and 36 months and linkage to primary care medical records.<p></p> <b>Outcome measures</b> "Detection" was defined as at least one musculoskeletal knee-related GP consultation between baseline and 36 months. "Treatment" was self-reported use of at least one recommended treatment or physiotherapy/hospital specialist referral for their knee problem at all three measurement points. Pain was "controlled" if characteristic pain intensity <5 out of 10 on at least two occasions.<p></p> <b>Results</b> In 221 cases (55.3%; 95%CI: 50.4, 60.1) there was evidence that the current problem had been detected in general practice. Of those detected, 164 (74.2% (68.4, 80.0)) were receiving one or more of the recommended treatments at all three measurement points. Of those detected and treated, 45 (27.4% (20.5, 34.3)) had symptoms under control on at least two occasions. Using narrower definitions resulted in substantially lower estimates.<p></p> <b>Conclusion</b> Osteoarthritis care does not conform to a Rule of Halves. Symptom control is low among those accessing health care and receiving treatment

Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) : Inquiry into the UK Banking Sector

This policy brief summarises, with some limited comments, the Provisional Findings (PFs) and Notice of Possible Remedies published by the CMA on 22nd October 2015. The CMA commenced this inquiry in November 2014 and the final report is due by May 2016. The investigation covers the provision of personal and business current accounts and also some wider aspects of SME banking across the UK. Despite earlier comments that Scotland might be a separate market for SME lending, the whole of GB is treated as a single market for all aspects of this report. The SME sector is of major importance to the Scottish economy, accounting for over 99% of all business enterprises. In the PFs the Group set up by the CMA provisionally determine that as a result of certain features of the markets investigated, there are adverse effects on competition (AECs). Therefore they propose a number of remedies to offset the features identified and to reduce the consumer detriment resulting from the AECs. The key findings are summed up in this quote from the report: - ‘The combination of these features means that there is weak customer response to differences in prices or service quality and established banks have incumbency advantages. As a result, the incentives on banks to compete on prices, service quality and/or innovation are reduced.’ The proposed remedies focus on means of encouraging greater consumer response and better incentivising banks to compete. The CMA is not recommending any structural changes nor the end of ‘Free-if-in-credit’ current accounts. There are specific remedies to help support SME lending and ‘re-engineer’ the process of accessing loans. The PFs and proposed remedies are currently out to consultation, with comments required by 20 November 2015

'Hollowing out' of the Scottish Labour Market, Productivity, Social Mobility and Inclusive Growth

The decline in middle skill jobs and increase in low skills jobs ('hollowing out') is undermining attempts to increase productivity as well as threatening social mobility and 'inclusive growth'. This IPPI Policy Brief outlines what's happening in the Scottish labour market and how a greater policy emphasis on how this issue might be tackled, especially in industries and sectors with large low skill workforces