A focus group study on psychology students' experience of assessments in higher education

Assessments at Higher Education (HE) have several functions. Its role in motivating student learning is undoubtedly its most important role. Despite this very little research has been carried out to assess the student experience of assessments (Hernandez, 2012). The design of this study was a qualitative focus group study. It is a preliminary study as part of a larger study involving a total of three focus groups. The data was analyzed using experiential Thematic Analysis (TA), as outlined by Braun and Clarke (2013). There were six focus group undergraduate student participants, five female and one male. Students’ experience of assessments and the resultant learning were influenced by both student and teaching factors. Student factors include the themes Academic Maturity and Emotion. Teaching factors include the themes Timing, Predictability and Support. All of these themes effected student learning and were substantial to the student experience of assessments. Academic staff need to be aware that the timing of assessments, level of predictability and balance of support all affect student learning. Strategies to promote academic maturity and reduce stress and fear in students could foster a more constructive approach to learning

California Drought Projections Based on Climate Change Models’ Effects on Water Availability

Future streamflow in California, as predicted by eight climate projections models, and their effects on water availability are discussed in this paper. The unimpaired projected streamflow for eleven California rivers, collected from Cal-Adapt Streamflow are compared with their unimpaired historical flows (1950-2015) using eight climate model projections (2020-2099) developed by Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Routed Streamflow Projections; Warm Dry RCP 4.5, Average RCP 4.5, Cool Wet RCP 4.5, Other RCP 4.5, Warm Dry RCP 8.5, Average RCP 8.5, Cool Wet RCP 8.5, Other RCP 8.5. Projected drought quantities, durations, and intensities are statistically tested against historical values to determine significance of differences between past streamflow and future streamflow. The models predict significant differences between historical and projected streamflows with all three drought categories (quantity, duration, intensity), using difference in means t-tests. Warm Dry and Other climate models are projected to have larger droughts (2-3 times larger) than the historical record. Average and Cool Wet climate models are projected to have fewer droughts than the historical period. Results are consistent for 4.5 and 8.5 RCP scenarios. Potential impacts of such streamflow variations are discussed

Exploring social representations of adapting to climate change using topic modeling and Bayesian networks

When something unfamiliar emerges or when something familiar does something unexpected people need to make sense of what is emerging or going on in order to act. Social representations theory suggests how individuals and society make sense of the unfamiliar and hence how the resultant social representations (SRs) cognitively, emotionally, and actively orient people and enable communication. SRs are social constructions that emerge through individual and collective engagement with media and with everyday conversations among people. Recent developments in text analysis techniques, and in particular topic modeling, provide a potentially powerful analytical method to examine the structure and content of SRs using large samples of narrative or text. In this paper I describe the methods and results of applying topic modeling to 660 micronarratives collected from Australian academics/researchers, government employees, and members of the public in 2010-2011. The narrative fragments focused on adaptation to climate change (CC) and hence provide an example of Australian society making sense of an emerging and conflict ridden phenomena. The results of the topic modeling reflect elements of SRs of adaptation to CC that are consistent with findings in the literature as well as being reasonably robust predictors of classes of action in response to CC. Bayesian Network (BN) modeling was used to identify relationships among the topics (SR elements) and in particular to identify relationships among topics, sentiment, and action. Finally the resulting model and topic modeling results are used to highlight differences in the salience of SR elements among social groups. The approach of linking topic modeling and BN modeling offers a new and encouraging approach to analysis for ongoing research on SRs

Developing clinical prediction models for diabetes classification and progression

Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have very different treatment and care requirements. Overlapping phenotypes and lack of clear classification guidelines make it difficult for clinicians to differentiate between type 1 and type 2 diabetes at diagnosis. The rate of glycaemic deterioration is highly variable in patients with type 2 diabetes but there is no single test to accurately identify which patients will progress rapidly to requiring insulin therapy. Incorrect treatment and care decisions in diabetes can have life-threatening consequences. The aim of this thesis is to develop clinical prediction models that can be incorporated into routine clinical practice to assist clinicians with the classification and care of patient diagnosed with diabetes. We addressed the problem first by integrating features previously associated with classification of type 1 and type 2 diabetes to develop a diagnostic model using logistic regression to identify, at diagnosis, patients with type 1 diabetes. The high performance achieved by this model was comparable to that of machine learning algorithms. In patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, we found that patients who were GADA positive and had genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes progressed more rapidly to requiring insulin therapy. We built upon this finding to develop a prognostic model integrating predictive features of glycaemic deterioration to predict early insulin requirement in adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The three main findings of this thesis have the potential to change the way that patients with diabetes are managed in clinical practice. Use of the diagnostic model developed to identify patients with type 1 diabetes has the potential to reduce misclassification. Classifying patients according to the model has the benefit of being more akin to the treatment needs of the patient rather than the aetiopathological definitions used in current clinical guidelines. The design of the model lends itself to implementing a triage-based approach to diabetes subtype diagnosis. Our second main finding alters the clinical implications of a positive GADA test in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. For identifying patients likely to progress rapidly to insulin, genetic testing is only beneficial in patients who test positive for GADA. In clinical practice, a two-step screening process could be implemented - only patients who test positive for GADA in the first step would go on for genetic testing. The prognostic model can be used in clinical practice to predict a patient’s rate of glycaemic deterioration leading to a requirement for insulin. The availability of this data will enable clinical practices to more effectively manage their patient lists, prioritising more intensive follow up for those patients who are at high risk of rapid progression. Patients are likely to benefit from tailored treatment. Another key clinical use of the prognostic model is the identification of patients who would benefit most from GADA testing saving both inconvenience to the patient and a cost-benefit to the health service

Natural pairing 天生一對

The potential for synergy between wineries and restaurants seems obvious today, but the winery-restaurant phenomenon is relatively new. Recent years, however, have seen such ventures flourish, and Michelin stars and multiple awards suggest it’s a marriage built to last. 今天，酒莊與餐廳相輔相成的潛力已顯而易見，以致近年才流行的酒莊餐廳如雨後春筍般發展，並屢獲米芝蓮星級殊榮及各種獎項肯定。酒莊與餐廳似乎能成為天長地久的結合

Participatory Systems Analysis An Introductory Guide.

An IES Special Report.In this guide I provide a general outline of PSA as well as an introduction to some of the more useful tools that I have encountered over the years. There are many more tools available than I will discuss-this is inevitable with such a broad field. At root the participatory approach is one of experimentation and practitioners are encouraged to innovate and see what works. Adaptation is the key. At the end of this guide I provide some useful references for those who would like to pursue the fuller range of available tools. The next section begins with a general overview of PSA and discusses how it is linked to more formal systems analyses. Then, in Section 3, I discuss some of the tools that have proven most useful as well as briefly mentioning some that show great promise

The brews brothers 啤酒新氣象

Across the globe, the growth of artisanal brewing methods – watched over by experts who demand a flavourful, well-served pint – means beer is being taken seriously, and starting to rival wine as a rewarding complement to good food. 全球各地的啤酒專家，各出奇謀，釀製各具特色而味道出眾的手工啤酒，使手工啤酒有力與葡萄酒一爭長短，成為各種佳餚的最佳配搭

Fluorescent calixarenes as molecular receptors

The synthesis of calixarene L1 is described. This molecular sensor incorporates a fluorescent naphthyl moiety, the necessary fluorophore for optical transduction, whose fluorescent intensity alters to differing degrees on binding of enantiomers. Means of distinguishing between enantiomers of a chiral molecule are of critical importance in many areas of analytical chemistry and biotechnology, particularly in drug design and synthesis. Fluorescent quenching studies of calixarene L1 in methanol demonstrated no enantiomeric selectivity in a short chain amino acid, phenylglycinol, while excellent selectivity was observed for a longer chain, phenylalaninol. Fluorescent lifetime studies of this calixarene with phenylalaninol guests confirmed that a static quenching mechanism is responsible for the decrease in fluorescence intensity of L1 in methanol upon addition of phenylalaninol. Calix[4]arenes are well-known to possess ion-binding properties. The formation of metal ion complexes of the p-allyl calix[4]arene propranolol amide derivative is shown to induce a more regular and rigid cone conformation in the calix[4]arene macrocycle, which generates a significant enhancement in the observed enantiomeric discrimination. The effect of solvent on the fluorescent properties of this calixarene has been studied with regard to methanol, acetonitrile and chloroform. While enantiomeric selectivity is observed in methanol, no discrimination is achieved in acetonitrile, and although there appears to be a 1:1 association with the guest in the latter solvent, in the case of methanol the guest must be far in excess of the host to achieve enantiomeric discrimination. Upon addition of the R-enantiomer of the guest in chloroform a new band is formed, which would suggest a charge transfer complex between this guest and the calixarene, an effect, which is not observed with the S-enantiomer. Fluorescence lifetime studies in chloroform indicate a static quenching mechanism of L1 by both enantiomers of phenylalaninol, which would suggest that exciplex formation is not responsible for the new band at 440nm upon addition of Rphenylalaninol. This new band has been attributed to the presence of two different conformations of calixarene L1, which is reinforced by the 1H-NMR studies and molecular modelling studies in chapter 4. After the successful performance of calixarene L1 with respect to enantiomeric discrimination (chapters 3, 4 and 5), an attempt was made to prepare a series of calixarene sensor molecules that possess similar properties to L1, but are prepared from inexpensive starting materials. Using DCC as a coupling agent to form amides directly from calixarene tetra-acids does not however, achieve tetra-substituted amides. An alternative route was taken to produce calixarene tetra-amides which involved two steps: 1 . formation of the amide moiety 2. attachment of amide moieties to calixarene backbone The first of these two steps was carried out successfully and led to the formation of three amide subunits however the second step suffered from partial substitution, and resulted in a series of mono-, di- and tri-substituted fluorescent calixarenes. A fivefold excess of the amide moiety was used which is not sufficient to complete the tetra-substitution