Predicting university performance in psychology: the role of previous performance and discipline-specific knowledge

Recent initiatives to enhance retention and widen participation ensure it is crucial to understand the factors that predict students' performance during their undergraduate degree. The present research used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test three separate models that examined the extent to which British Psychology students' A-level entry qualifications predicted: (1) their performance in years 1-3 of their Psychology degree, and (2) their overall degree performance. Students' overall A-level entry qualifications positively predicted performance during their first year and overall degree performance, but negatively predicted their performance during their third year. Additionally, and more specifically, students' A-level entry qualifications in Psychology positively predicted performance in the first year only. Such findings have implications for admissions tutors, as well as for students who have not studied Psychology before but who are considering applying to do so at university

A New AR Interaction Paradigm for Collaborative TeleAssistance system: The P.O.A

International audienceIn this paper, we propose a prototype of a collaborative teleassistance system for mechanical repairs based on Augmented Reality (AR). This technology is generally used to implement specific assistance applications for users, which consist of providing all the information, known as augmentations, required to perform a task. For teletransmission applications, operators are equipped with a wearable computer and a technical support expert can accurately visualize what the operator sees thanks to the teletransmission of the corresponding video stream. Within the framework of remote communication, our aim is to foster collaboration, especially informal collaboration, between the operator and the expert in order to make teleassistance easier and more efficient. To do this we rely on classical repair technologies and on collaborative systems to introduce a new human-machine interaction: the Picking Outlining Adding interaction (POA interaction). With this new interaction paradigm, technical information is provided by directly Picking, Outlining and Adding information to an item in an operator's video stream

Vacancy-assisted domain-growth in asymmetric binary alloys: a Monte Carlo study

A Monte Carlo simulation study of the vacancy-assisted domain-growth in asymmetric binary alloys is presented. The system is modeled using a three-state ABV Hamiltonian which includes an asymmetry term, not considered in previous works. Our simulated system is a stoichiometric two-dimensional binary alloy with a single vacancy which evolves according to the vacancy-atom exchange mechanism. We obtain that, compared to the symmetric case, the ordering process slows down dramatically. Concerning the asymptotic behavior it is algebraic and characterized by the Allen-Cahn growth exponent x=1/2. The late stages of the evolution are preceded by a transient regime strongly affected by both the temperature and the degree of asymmetry of the alloy. The results are discussed and compared to those obtained for the symmetric case.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

THE BARILOCHE NEUTRON PHYSICS GROUP CURRENT ACTIVITIES

Our group has evolved around a small accelerator-based neutron source (ABNS), the 25 million electron Volt (MeV) linear electron accelerator at the Bariloche Atomic Centre. It is dedicated to applications of neutronic methods to tackle problems of basic sciences and to technological applications. Among these, the determination of total cross section of a material as a function of neutron energy by means of transmission experiments for thermal and sub-thermal neutrons is very sensitive to the geometric arrangement and movement of the atoms, over distances ranging from the 'first-neighbour scale' up to the microstructural level or 'grain scale'. This also allowed to test theoretical models of calculated cross sections and scattering kernels. Interest has moved from pulsed neutron diffraction towards deep inelastic neutron scattering (DINS), a powerful tool for the determination of atomic momentum distribution in condensed matter and for non-destructive mass spectroscopy. In recent years non-intrusive techniques aimed at the scanning of large cargo containers have started to be developed with this ABNS, testing the capacity and limitations to detect special nuclear material and dangerous substances in thick cargo arrangements. More recently, the use of the ever-present “bremsstrahlung” radiation has been recognized as a useful complement to instrumental neutron activation, as it permits to detect other nuclear species through high-energy photon activation. The facility is also used for graduate and undergraduate students experimental work within the frame of Instituto Balseiro Physics and Nuclear Engineering courses of study, and also MSc and PhD theses work

THE BARILOCHE NEUTRON PHYSICS GROUP CURRENT ACTIVITIES

Our group has evolved around a small accelerator-based neutron source (ABNS), the 25 million electron Volt (MeV) linear electron accelerator at the Bariloche Atomic Centre. It is dedicated to applications of neutronic methods to tackle problems of basic sciences and to technological applications. Among these, the determination of total cross section of a material as a function of neutron energy by means of transmission experiments for thermal and sub-thermal neutrons is very sensitive to the geometric arrangement and movement of the atoms, over distances ranging from the 'first-neighbour scale' up to the microstructural level or 'grain scale'. This also allowed to test theoretical models of calculated cross sections and scattering kernels. Interest has moved from pulsed neutron diffraction towards deep inelastic neutron scattering (DINS), a powerful tool for the determination of atomic momentum distribution in condensed matter and for non-destructive mass spectroscopy. In recent years non-intrusive techniques aimed at the scanning of large cargo containers have started to be developed with this ABNS, testing the capacity and limitations to detect special nuclear material and dangerous substances in thick cargo arrangements. More recently, the use of the ever-present “bremsstrahlung” radiation has been recognized as a useful complement to instrumental neutron activation, as it permits to detect other nuclear species through high-energy photon activation. The facility is also used for graduate and undergraduate students experimental work within the frame of Instituto Balseiro Physics and Nuclear Engineering courses of study, and also MSc and PhD theses work

Methylation and Expression Analyses of the 7q Autism Susceptibility Locus Genes MEST, COPG2, and TSGA14 in Human and Anthropoid Primate Cortices

The autism susceptibility locus on human chromosome 7q32 contains the maternally imprinted MEST and the non-imprinted COPG2 and TSGA14 genes. Autism is a disorder of the ‘social brain’ that has been proposed to be due to an overbalance of paternally expressed genes. To study regulation of the 7q32 locus during anthropoid primate evolution, we analyzed the methylation and expression patterns of MEST, COPG2, and TSGA14 in human, chimpanzee, Old World monkey (baboon and rhesus macaque), and New World monkey (marmoset) cortices. In all human and anthropoid primate cortices, the MEST promoter was hemimethylated, as expected for a differentially methylated imprinting control region, whereas the COPG2 and TSGA14 promoters were completely demethylated, typical for transcriptionally active non-imprinted genes. The MEST gene also showed comparable mRNA expression levels in all analyzed species. In contrast, COPG2 expression was downregulated in the human cortex compared to chimpanzee, Old and New World monkeys. TSGA14 either showed no differential regulation in the human brain compared to chimpanzee and marmoset or a slight upregulation compared to baboon. The human-specific downregulation supports a role for COPG2 in the development of a ‘social brain’. Promoter methylation patterns appear to be more stable during evolution than gene expression patterns, suggesting that other mechanisms may be more important for inter-primate differences in gene expression

Online Interactive Teaching Modules Enhance Quantitative Proficiency of Introductory Biology Students

There is widespread agreement within the scientific and education communities that undergraduate biology curricula fall short in providing students with the quantitative and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills they need to obtain a deep understanding of biological phenomena and be prepared fully to contribute to future scientific inquiry. MathBench Biology Modules were designed to address these needs through a series of interactive, Web-based modules that can be used to supplement existing course content across the biological sciences curriculum. The effect of the modules was assessed in an introductory biology course at the University of Maryland. Over the course of the semester, students showed significant increases in quantitative skills that were independent of previous math course work. Students also showed increased comfort with solving quantitative problems, whether or not they ultimately arrived at the correct answer. A survey of spring 2009 graduates indicated that those who had experienced MathBench in their course work had a greater appreciation for the role of mathematics in modern biology than those who had not used MathBench. MathBench modules allow students from diverse educational backgrounds to hone their quantitative skills, preparing them for more complex mathematical approaches in upper-division courses

Antecedents and outcomes of consumer environmentally friendly attitudes and behaviour

With the intensification of problems relating to the environment, a growing number of consumers are becoming more ecologically conscious in their preferences and purchases of goods. This paper presents the results of a study conducted among 500 Cypriot consumers, focusing on the factors that shape consumer environmental attitudes and behaviour, as well as on the resulting outcomes. The findings confirmed that both the inward and outward environmental attitudes of a consumer are positively influenced by his/her degree of collectivism, long-term orientation, political involvement, deontology, and law obedience, but have no connection with liberalism. The adoption of an inward environmental attitude was also found to be conducive to green purchasing behaviour that ultimately leads to high product satisfaction. On the other hand, an outward environmental attitude facilitates the adoption of a general environmental behaviour, which is responsible for greater satisfaction with life. The findings of the study have important implications for shaping effective company offerings to consumers in target markets, as well as formulating appropriate policies at the governmental level to enhance environmental sensitivity among citizens