Partners in Crime? A Close Look at Cheating!

Students and teachers alike, agree to the reality of cheating and to the frequency of its occurrence. Currently, few methods exist to determine the incidence of cheating or the factors that contribute to it. This researcher initially noticed the occurrence while student teaching. As a result this study was designed to investigate three demographic factors and their relationship to cheating frequency. The questions researched were: Does the incidence of cheating increase from grades seven to twelve? Is one sex more likely to cheat than the other? Are students with certain reported grade point averages more likely to cheat than others? Can a survey be designed that determines the honesty of the responses? A survey was designed which consisted of two parts. The first involved an opinion survey of fifteen questions, five of which pertained to cheating. The second part related specifically to cheating behaviors. The purpose of the two parts was to confirm, or deny, the honesty of the student\u27s responses. This was confirmed through the use of x2 and Cramer\u27s Phi. The x2 showed a statistically significant difference between the high frequency cheater and the low frequency cheater at the .001 level. Cramer\u27s Phi resulted in a .425, which indicates a moderately strong relationship and is sufficient to establish the test-retest reliability of the instrument. X2 confirmed the results that cheating frequency increases between grades seven and twelve, at the .001 level. Additionally there was a modest indication that sex is a determinant as indicated at the .05 level. Reported grade point average (GPA), however was determined not to be a factor

Konsum ökologischer Milch aus gesundheitlichen Gründen - Eine qualitative Erhebung auf deutschen Demeter Milchviehbetrieben und bei ihren Kunden

Supposedly beneficial nutritional compositions were found in organic milk. Studies report that the consumption of organic milk products affects health eg. prevention of eczema in children. Single cases describe a better digestibility of organic milk for consumers suffering from diverse atopic disorders and food allergies. To clarify whether this is a real phenomenon, a survey in combination with interviews was carried out on bio-dynamic milk farms and with affected consumers in Germany. The results show that there are consumers which are buying fresh bio-dynamic raw milk because of a better personal digestibility

Competition of fusion and quasi-fission in the reactions leading to production of the superheavy elements

The mechanism of fusion hindrance, an effect observed in the reactions of cold, warm and hot fusion leading to production of the superheavy elements, is investigated. A systematics of transfermium production cross sections is used to determine fusion probabilities. Mechanism of fusion hindrance is described as a competition of fusion and quasi-fission. Available evaporation residue cross sections in the superheavy region are reproduced satisfactorily. Analysis of the measured capture cross sections is performed and a sudden disappearance of the capture cross sections is observed at low fusion probabilities. A dependence of the fusion hindrance on the asymmetry of the projectile-target system is investigated using the available data. The most promising pathways for further experiments are suggested.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, talk presented at 7th International School-Seminar on Heavy-Ion Physics, May 27 - June 1, 2002, Dubna, Russi

Modelling of compound nucleus formation in fusion of heavy nuclei

A new model that includes the time-dependent dynamics of the single-particle (s.p.) motion in conjunction with the macroscopic evolution of the system is proposed for describing the compound nucleus (CN) formation in fusion of heavy nuclei. The diabaticity initially keeps the entrance system around its contact configuration, but the gradual transition from the diabatic to the adiabatic potential energy surface (PES) leads to fusion or quasifission. Direct measurements of the probability for CN formation are crucial to discriminate between the current models.Comment: 4 pages,2 figures,1 table, Submitted to PR

A data mining approach to the SAR values over large MR image repositories

Purpose: In magnetic resonance imaging, the radiofrequency energy absorption arises as one of the main safety concerns, being mainly related with increased body temperature. Monitoring radiofrequency absorption is achieved by the estimation of specific absorption rate (SAR), whose implementation lies on equipment manufacturers, which in turn are not totally enlightening about its calculus. This work presents an exploratory approach of whole-body SAR values stored in DICOM metadata aiming to find correlation with body weight, body mass index (BMI), gender and pulse sequences for abdominal/pelvic (17.812 series) and head (29.907 series) studies. Methods and Materials: All studies were acquired in a 3 Tesla scanner with high-performance gradients. Data were extracted using Dicoogle, a DICOM metadata mining tool. Several DICOM tags were analysed (e.g. patient weight, height, gender, sequence name). For each study type, specifically weighted pulse sequences were related with weight, BMI and gender through boxplot diagrams, statistical and effect size analysis. Results: SAR limits were never exceeded. Generally, SAR values tended to decrease with increasing body weight and BMI values for abdominal/pelvic studies. On the other hand, head studies showed different trends regarding distinct pulse sequences. SAR values tend to be higher in male individuals (p<0,05). As expected, turbo spin echo sequences present the highest SAR values. The values found for echo gradient spoiled sequence (FLASH) were also high. Conclusion: It is confirmed that SAR estimates are related with the analysed variables. An individual examination of pulse sequences is recommended to observe trends regarding weight, BMI or gender.publishe

High-yield atmospheric water capture via bioinspired material segregation

Atmospheric water harvesting is urgently needed given increasing global water scarcity. Current sorbent-based devices that cycle between water capture and release have low harvesting rates. We envision a radically different multi-material architecture with segregated and simultaneous capture and release. This way, proven fast-release mechanisms that approach theoretical limits can be incorporated; however, no capture mechanism exists to supply liquid adequately for release. Inspired by tree frogs and airplants, our capture approach transports water through a hydrogel membrane ``skin'' into a liquid desiccant. We report an extraordinarily high capture rate of 5.50 $\text{kg}\,\text{m}^{-2}\,\text{d}^{-1}$ at a low humidity of 35%, limited by the convection of air to the device. At higher humidities, we demonstrate up to 16.9 $\text{kg}\,\text{m}^{-2}\,\text{d}^{-1}$, exceeding theoretical limits for release. Simulated performance of a hypothetical one-square-meter device shows that water could be supplied to two to three people in dry environments. This work is a significant step toward providing new resources to water-scarce regions.Comment: 22 pages, 23 figure

Risk, Uncertainty, and the Perceived Threat of Terrorist Attacks: Evidence of Flight-to-Quality

© 2013 World Scientific Publishing Company and Midwest Finance Association. Information provided by the US Department of Homeland Security regarding potential terrorist attacks significantly affects US Treasury securities markets. When the government announces heightened terror alert levels, investors\u27 perceptions of risk increase and investors purchase 1-month and 1-year Treasury bills and 3-year, 5-year, 7-year, and 10-year US Treasuries in a flight-to-quality episode. Partial anticipation of increased threat level announcements is stronger than the anticipation of announcements regarding the federal funds rate during the 10 days prior to an announcement