Student Performance in First Year, Mathematics, and Physics Courses: Implications for Success in the Study of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Mathematics and physics courses are recognized as a crucial foundation for the study of engineering, and often are prerequisite courses for the basic engineering curriculum. But how does performance in these prerequisite courses affect student performance in engineering courses? This study evaluated the relationship between grades in prerequisite math and physics courses and grades in subsequent electrical engineering courses. Where significant relationships were found, additional analysis was conducted to determine minimum grade goals for the prerequisite courses. Relationships were found between five course pairs: calculus II and differential equations; calculus II and physics I (mechanics); physics II (electricity and optics) and circuits analysis II; physics II (electricity and optics) and signals and systems; and circuits analysis II and signals and systems. The results indicate that a grade of C+ or higher in calculus II, and a grade of B- or higher in physics II and circuits analysis II will lead to higher grades in subsequent mathematics, circuits, and signals and systems courses. This information will be used to aid faculty in making decisions about imposing minimum grade requirements

Identifying Factors Impacting First-year Persistence in Computer Graphics Technology

The retention of students is a goal that all universities strive to achieve. With more and more emphasis placed on degree completion, retaining students becomes even more important. University faculty and staff continually try to identify what possible factors affect a student’s decision to remain in their chosen field of study. Faculty in the Computer Graphics Technology (CGT) program are concerned with what factors, if any, affect the persistence of students in the CGT program. The goal of this study was to determine if personal factors such as gender and being a first-generation student and/or academic factors such as admission status, semester course load, and academic grades are related to the first-year persistence of CGT students. Results indicate that first semester performance is a significant indicator of persistence. Gender, first generation student, and admission status were not found to be significant indicators. This points out the importance of efforts focused on students in their first semester of college

The Perceived Impact of Information Technology Experiential Learning on Career Success: A Pilot Study

Employers in the Information Technology field place significant value on the amount of real-­world experience prospective employees possess. Recent IT graduates face a competitive job market against seasoned professionals with years of experience. Students must build a solid experience base from which they can advance professionally. This cannot be done without first holding an IT position. The key to solving the experience paradox is experiential learning – the process of learning by doing. The Living Lab at is a non-­traditional undergraduate course based on the concept of experiential learning in the field of Information Technology. The Living Lab is structured similarly to a corporate IT department, with students playing the role of IT personnel. Students learn to apply their previous course material and gain resume-­worthy experience, while working in teams to complete IT projects for their university and local businesses. Projects are fully documented and reported on throughout the course with a final presentation at semester end. This study investigates what, if any, benefit graduates gain from the Living Lab experience. Graduates who were involved in the Living Lab were electronically surveyed about their professional careers after college. Questions focused on how the student felt their time in Living Lab helped them gain employment and enhance their ability to perform as an employee. Results will be used to gauge the validity of the Living Lab program and experiential learning as an effective tool in terms of IT education. Data from this study can be used to improve the program, and help prospective students to make an informed decision when considering the Living Lab. Ultimately, other institutions may be encouraged to consider implementing a Living Lab or similar IT experiential learning environment of their own

The antibacterial action of microcin J25: evidence for disruption of cytoplasmic membrane energization in Salmonella newport

Microcin J25 (MccJ25) is a cyclic peptide of 21 unmodified amino acid residues produced by a fecal strain of Escherichia coli. It has previously been shown that the antibiotic activity of this peptide is mainly directed to Enterobacteriaceae, including several pathogenic E. coli, Salmonella and Shigella strains. In this paper we show that MccJ25 acts on the cytoplasmic membrane of Salmonella newport cells producing alteration of membrane permeability, and the subsequent gradient dissipation, that initiate the inhibition of process, such as oxygen consumption. These results, taken together with our in vitro observations [Rintoul et al. (2000) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1509, 65–72], strongly suggest that the disruption of the cytoplasmic membrane gradient is closely related to the bactericidal activity of MccJ25 in S. newport.Fil: Rintoul, Maria Regina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Beatriz Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Salomon, Raul Armando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Farias, Ricardo Norberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Morero, Roberto Dionisio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentin

Thermal responses of two sub-Antarctic notothenioid fishes, the black southern cod Patagonotothen tessellata (Richardson, 1845) and the Magellan plunderfish Harpagifer bispinis (Forster, 1801), from southern South America

The Notothenioidei are a typical example of stenothermal fishes since most species have evolved and lived in Antarctic waters, where the water temperature is low and stable. This fact enabled them to evolve physiological characteristics related to cold. Nevertheless, some species came out of Antarctic waters a few million years ago and coped with more variable thermal regimes. This work aims to determine the thermal tolerance and preference of two sub-Antarctic notothenioid species found in Southern South America, Patagonotothen tessellata and Harpagifer bispinis, adding valuable information about thermal adaptation mechanisms. Experiments were conducted after exposing their juveniles for three weeks at 4, 7, 10 and 12 °C. Their thermal tolerance limits were established using the Critical Thermal Methodology and their acute thermal preferenda, employing a horizontal thermal gradient tank. Fishes acclimated to different exposure temperatures had small to intermediate thermal tolerance polygons (P. tessellata: 593.85°C2, H. bispinis: 475.40 °C2) and positive relationships between preferred and acclimation temperatures. The Final Temperature Preferenda were estimated to be 14.25 °C for P. tessellata and 13.05 °C for H. bispinis, allowing to characterize them as cold eurythermal species, with P. tessellata more tolerant to heat and H. bispinis more tolerant to cold. Their different thermal sensitivities are in agreement with their different thermal histories and distributions. In a climate change context, the increase of sea surface temperatures is likely to reduce the northern boundaries of their distributions. Conversely, it can potentially enhance both species’ performances at their southernmost distribution limits since those environments are cooler than their maximum thermal tolerances.Fil: Giménez, Eloísa Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Barrantes, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Daniel Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur. Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Ambientales y Recursos Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Lattuca, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentin

Effectiveness of Web-Based Tutorials: Performance on Statistical Concepts

This study was designed to examine the effectiveness of Web Based Tutorials (WBTs) and the correlation between students’ self-efficacy score for self-regulated learning and their learning performance using WBTs. Participants were graduate students (N = 14) enrolled in a statistics course during a single semester. The results of this study showed that WBTs were effective for learning statistics concepts. However, there was no correlation between students’ self efficacy score for self regulated learning and their learning performance using WBTs. Additional investigation showed that the classroom instruction mode was more effective than the WBT

Assessment of STEM e-Learning in an Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) Environment

This paper shows the early research findings of utilizing a virtual reality environment as an educational tool for the operation of a computerized numerical control (CNC) milling machine. Based off of a previous work, the Advanced Virtual Machining Lab (AVML), this project features a virtual environment in which a virtual CNC machine is fully operable, designed to allow STEM students and training professionals to learn the use of the CNC machine without the need to be in a physical lab. Users operate in the virtual environment using an immersive virtual reality headset (i.e. Oculus Rift) and standard input devices (i.e. mouse and keyboard), both of which combined make for easy movement and realistic visuals. On-screen tutorials allow users to learn about what they need to do to operate the machine without the need for outside instruction. While designing and perfecting this environment has been the primary focus of this project thus far, the research goal is to test the ease of use and the pedagogical effectiveness of the immersive technology as it relates to education in STEM fields. Initial usability studies for this environment featured students from the graduate level CAD/CAM-Theory and Advanced Applications (ME 54600) course at IUPUI. Results from the study were tabulated with a survey using a four-point Likert scale and several open-ended questions. Findings from the survey indicate that the majority of users found the environment realistic and easy to navigate, in addition to finding the immersive technology to be beneficial. Many also indicated that they felt comfortable navigating the environment without the need for additional assistance from the survey proctors. Full details on the first usability study, including data and discussion, can be found in this paper. The general consensus from the study was that, while some features needed refinement, the immersive environment helped them learn about the operation of a CNC machine. Additional usability studies will need to be undergone to refine said features before beginning the final study, in which students learning from the immersive virtual environment will be tested against students learning from traditional methods. Details on this last study will be discussed in the final paper, which will also discuss the methods used for preparing the environment, full results and detailed discussion on each of the usability studies, and conclusions on the usability and educational effectiveness of the immersive virtual reality technology in STEM education

Variación diurna de la composición bacterioplanctónica y daño en el ADN de la comunidad microbiana de una laguna oligotrófica de los Andes

La Laguna Azul es un ambiente oligotrófico localizado a 4560 m de altura y sometido a elevados niveles de radiación solar. La composición de su comunidad bacterioplanctónica fue analizada empleando la técnica de electroforesis en gradiente desnaturalizante y se investigó el impacto de la radiación ultravioleta cuantificando los dímeros de pirimidina (CPD). Además, se expusieron simultáneamente cultivos puros de Acinetobacter johnsonii A2 y Rhodococcus sp. A5 para estudiar la acumulación de CPD. El análisis de los geles mostró siete secuencias pertenecientes a Alpha-proteobacteria (1 banda), Beta-proteobacteria (1 banda), Bacteroidetes (2 bandas), Actinobacteria (1 banda) y Firmicutes (1 banda). A lo largo del día se observaron cambios mínimos en la composición de la comunidad y no se detectaron CPD. A. johnsonii A2 presentó un daño bajo mientras que Rhodococcus sp. A5 no presentó daño en su ADN, sugiriendo que la comunidad bacteriana está muy bien adaptada a este ambiente altamente irradiado.Laguna Azul is an oligotrophic lake situated at 4,560 m above sea level and subject to a high level of solar radiation. Bacterioplankton community composition (BCC) was analysed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and the impact of solar ultraviolet radiation was assessed by measuring cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD). Furthermore, pure cultures of Acinetobacter johnsonii A2 and Rhodococcus sp. A5 were exposed simultaneously and CPD accumulation was studied. Gel analyses generated a total of 7 sequences belonging to Alpha-proteobacteria (1 band), Beta-proteobacteria (1 band), Bacteroidetes (2 bands), Actinobacteria (1 band), and Firmicutes (1 band). DGGE profi les showed minimal changes in BCC and no CPD was detected even though a high level of damage was found in biodosimeters. A. johnsonii A2 showed low level of DNA damage while Rhodococcus sp. A5 exhibited high resistance since no CPD were detected under natural UV-B exposure, suggesting that the bacterial community is well adapted to this highly solar irradiated environment.Fil: Fernandez Zenoff, Maria Veronica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Estévez, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Farias, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentin

Time representation in reinforcement learning models of the basal ganglia

Reinforcement learning (RL) models have been influential in understanding many aspects of basal ganglia function, from reward prediction to action selection. Time plays an important role in these models, but there is still no theoretical consensus about what kind of time representation is used by the basal ganglia. We review several theoretical accounts and their supporting evidence. We then discuss the relationship between RL models and the timing mechanisms that have been attributed to the basal ganglia. We hypothesize that a single computational system may underlie both RL and interval timing—the perception of duration in the range of seconds to hours. This hypothesis, which extends earlier models by incorporating a time-sensitive action selection mechanism, may have important implications for understanding disorders like Parkinson's disease in which both decision making and timing are impaired