Individual Religious Commitment and Interdisciplinary Academic Achievement: Student Religiosity as a Factor in a National Academic Competition

This study included an examination of the differences between the religiosity of students representing both public and private schools that qualified at the state and national levels in the United States Academic Decathlon, a national, interdisciplinary academic competition. The statistical significance of religiosity in relation to achievement scores in the Academic Decathlon was examined. The literature reviewed suggested a positive correlation between religiosity and academic achievement. The Duke University Religion Index (DUREL) instrument was administered to students on both teams to determine religiosity levels. Statistical analysis was applied to the data to test for significant difference. No significant difference between overall competition scores was found in relation to reported student religiosity; neither the public nor private school scored significantly higher or lower in the competition. Significant difference in scores was found for specific subject areas. Further, no significant difference was found between student religiosity in relation to grade point average. The conclusion that student religiosity was not found to have a significant influence on competition scores in the Academic Decathlon suggests that religiosity and academic achievement may not always positively correlate. The implications for Christian education suggest that faith-learning integration should be critically examined across disciplines in Christian school settings, particularly in the subjects of mathematics and science

Ammonium Toxicity and Potassium Limitation in Yeast

DNA microarray analysis of gene expression in steady-state chemostat cultures limited for potassium revealed a surprising connection between potassium and ammonium: potassium limits growth only when ammonium is the nitrogen source. Under potassium limitation, ammonium appears to be toxic for Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This ammonium toxicity, which appears to occur by leakage of ammonium through potassium channels, is recapitulated under high-potassium conditions by over-expression of ammonium transporters. Although ammonium toxicity is well established in metazoans, it has never been reported for yeast. To characterize the response to ammonium toxicity, we examined the filtrates of these cultures for compounds whose excretion might serve to detoxify the ammonium (such as urea in mammals). Using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry to assay for a wide array of metabolites, we detected excreted amino acids. The amounts of amino acids excreted increased in relation to the severity of growth impairment by ammonium, suggesting that amino acid excretion is used by yeast for ammonium detoxification

Computer Science students’ perceptions of social presence related to student retention in online degree programmes : a quantitative ex post facto correlational study

Abstracts in English, Xhosa and AfrikaansThis study was an examination of the relationship between social presence, student satisfaction, and persistence in online computer science undergraduate degree programmes. The problem is twofold: how social presence is perceived by students and the extent to which those perceptions relate to persistence and satisfaction related to the problem of attrition in online undergraduate computer science degree programmes. This study is significant because it seeks to address two interrelated objectives: firstly, to specifically examine perceptions of social presence (and how it relates to persistence and satisfaction) among students who have studied computer science online, and secondly, to contribute research to the body of literature seeking to validate measures of the social presence construct. As a quantitative ex post facto correlational study using archival data from the Computing Research Association’s Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP) Data Buddies dataset, Spearman’s rank procedure was applied to test non-normal data that did not meet assumptions tests. All three null hypotheses were rejected (p < 0.01). The findings suggested a significant positive relationship between composite social presence scores and persistence and satisfaction ratings among online computer science students. The post hoc procedures revealed weak effect sizes but strong power due to the large sample size (n = 1,646). The three subconstructs, social presence, sociability, and social space, were found to have strong internal consistency and reliability. The findings suggest that students with a higher social presence in online courses tend to persist in their studies and are more satisfied. However, the weak correlation coefficient and size of the effect suggest that other factors may also influence students’ experiences in online undergraduate computer science degree programmes and that social presence should not be overestimated as a unilateral factor related to student persistence and satisfaction. This study’s findings are consistent with previous research on social presence theory and the Community of Inquiry framework. Limitations include a correlational design, non-normality of data, nonparametric tests, small effect sizes, and a narrow scope of measures. By addressing a problem in computer science education, this study might inspire constructive changes in instructional practices by technology educators, especially those teaching computer science online.Olu phando luphonononge ubudlelwane phakathi kokuba yinxalenye yoluntu kwi-intanethi, ukwaneliseka kwabafundi, kunye nokuzingisa kwiinkqubo zangeintanethi zemfundo yesidanga sokuqala sezeNzululwazi yeKhompyutha. Ingxaki ibintlobombini: indlela yokuba yinxalenye yoluntu kwi-intanethi okubonwa ngayo ngabafundi, nokuba ezo mbono zinxulumene kangakanani nokuzingisa kunye nolwaneliseko nanjengoko zinxulumene nengxaki yokuncipha ngokuthe ngcembe kwabafundi kwezo nkqubo. Olu phando lubalulekile nanjengoko lukhangela ukusombulula iinjongo ezimbini ezinxulumeneyo: okokuqala, ukuphonononga ngokukodwa iimbono zokuba yinxalenye yoluntu kwi-intanethi (nendlela ezinxulumene ngayo nokuzingisa kunye nokwaneliseka) phakathi kwabafundi abafunda iNzululwazi yeKhompyutha kwi-intanethi, kwaye okwesibini, kukwenza igalelo lophando kuncwadi olusele lukho olufuna ukuqinisekisa imilinganiselo yengcingane yokuba yinxalenye yoluntu kwi-intanethi. Nanjengophando lweenkcukachamanani lolungelelaniso lwasemva kokuyinyani (quantitative ex-post facto correlational study) olusebenzisa idatha eselungcinweni lwengqokelela yeenkcukacha yeComputing Research Association's Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP) Data Buddies, kusetyenziswe inkqubo yokubeka ngokodidi kaSpearman ukuvavanya idatha engaqhelekanga engakhange ihlangane neemvavanyo zoqikelelo. Zontathu iingcinga ezithathwa njengenyaniso engekaqinisekiswa ezingenanto/ezingunothi ziye zakhatywa (p < 0.01). Iziphumo ziphakamise ubudlelwane obulungileyo obubalulekileyo phakathi kwamanqaku adityanisiweyo okuba yinxalenye yoluntu kwi-intanethi nokuzingisa kunye nokuhlela kokwaneliseka phakathi kwabafundi bezeNzululwazi yeKhompyutha kwi-intanethi. Iinkqubo zasemva kwesiganeko zibonise ubungakanani befuthe elibuthathaka kodwa zikwabonise namandla amakhulu ngenxa yobukhulu besampuli (n = 1 646). Nangona kunjalo, ukuba buthathaka kokuhambelana kwamanani andisayo kunye nobungakanani befuthe kubonisa ukuba eminye imiba inganempembelelo kumava abafundi kwiinkqubo zangeintanethi zesidanga sezeNzululwazi yeKhompyutha, kwaye ukuba yinxalenye yoluntu kwi-intanethi akufanelekanga ukuba kuqikelelwe ngokugqithiseleyo nanjengempembelelo enye enxulumene nokuzingisa nokwaneliseka kwabafundi. Iziphumo zolu phando ziyahambelana nophando lwangaphambili malunga nethiyori yokuba yinxalenye yoluntu kwi-intanethi kunye nesikhokelo seCommunity of Inquiry. Izithintelo zibandakanya uyilo lokuhambelana, ukungabikho kwisiqhelo kwedatha, iimvavanyo ezenza iingqikelelo ezimbalwa (nonparametric tests), ubungakanani bobuncinane befuthe, kunye nobumxinwa bommandla wemilinganiselo. Ngokujongana nengxaki kwimfundo yezeNzululwazi yeKhompyutha, olu phando lungakhuthaza utshintsho olwakhayo kwiinkqubo zokufundisa zootitshala bezobuchwepheshe – ngakumbi abo bafundisa iNzululwazi yeKhompyutha kwi-intanethi.Hierdie studie het die verhouding tussen sosiale teenwoordigheid, studentetevredenheid en volharding in aanlyn voorgraadse Rekenaarwetenskap-programme ondersoek. Die probleem was tweevoudig: hoe sosiale teenwoordigheid deur studente waargeneem is, en die mate waartoe daardie waarnemings oor volharding en tevredenheid geassosieer word met die probleem van studente wat nie hierdie programme voltooi nie. Hierdie studie is betekenisvol aangesien dit daarna gestreef het om te kyk na twee onderling verwante doelwitte: eerstens, om in die besonder die waarnemings van sosiale teenwoordigheid te ondersoek (en hoe dit verband hou met volharding en tevredenheid) onder studente wat Rekenaarwetenskap aanlyn studeer het, en tweedens, om ’n bydrae te lewer tot navorsing vir die vakliteratuur om die maatreëls van die sosiale teenwoordigheidkonstruksie te bekragtig. As ’n kwantitatiewe terugskouend gesiene korrelasiestudie wat argiefdata gebruik van die Rekenaarnavorsingsassosiasie (Computing Research Association) se Sentrum vir die Evaluering van die Navorsingspyplyn (Centre for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP)) Data Buddies-datalêer, is Spearman se rangprosedure toegepas om nie-normale data te toets wat nie voldoen aan aannames-toetse nie. Al drie nulhipoteses is verwerp (p < 0,01). Die bevindings suggereer ’n beduidende positiewe verhouding tussen saamgestelde sosiale teenwoordigheidstellings en volharding- en tevredenheidsgraderings onder aanlyn Rekenaarwetenskap-studente. Die post hoc-prosedures het swak effekgroottes onthul maar sterk krag weens die groot steekproefgrootte (n = 1 646). Daar is gevind dat die drie subkonstruksies – sosiale teenwoordigheid, geselligheid en sosiale ruimte – oor ’n sterk interne konsekwentheid en betroubaarheid beskik. Die bevindings dui aan dat studente met ’n hoër sosiale teenwoordigheid in aanlyn kursusse geneig was om te volhard in hulle studie en meer tevrede was. Die swak korrelasiekoëffisiënt en grootte van die effek dui aan dat ander faktore ook studente se ervarings van aanlyn voorgraadse Rekenaarwetenskap-programme kan beïnvloed, en dat sosiale teenwoordigheid nie oorskat moet word as ’n eensydige faktor wat verband hou met studentevolharding en -tevredenheid nie. Hierdie studie se bevindings is verenigbaar met vorige navorsing oor sosiale teenwoordigheidteorie en die “Gemeenskap van Navrae”-raamwerk (“Community of Inquiry” framework). Beperkings sluit in ’n korrelasieontwerp, die nie-normaliteit van data, klein effekgroottes en ’n beperkte omvang van maatreëls. Deur te kyk na ’n probleem in Rekenaarwetenskap-opvoeding kan hierdie studie ’n inspirasie wees vir konstruktiewe veranderings in die instruksionele praktyke van tegnologie-opvoeders – veral dié wat Rekenaarwetenskap aanlyn onderrig.Science and Technology EducationD. Phil. (Technology Education (Education)

HIGH PREVALENCE OF CYTAUXZOON FELIS IN BOBCATS (LYNX RUFUS) ACROSS OKLAHOMA AND OCCURRENCE IN WEST TEXAS, USA

Cytauxzoonosis is a fatal tick-borne disease in domestic cats caused by infection with the apicomplexan Cytauxzoon felis. Bobcats are the natural wild-vertebrate reservoirs for C. felis, and infections are typically subclinical and chronic in this species. The present study was done to determine the prevalence and geographic distribution of C. felis infection in wild bobcats from Oklahoma and the occurrence in northwestern Texas. Tongue samples from 360 bobcats were collected from 53 counties in Oklahoma and 13 samples from three counties in Texas. For DNA extracted from each tongue sample, a probe-based droplet digital PCR assay was performed targeting the C. felis mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (cox3). Prevalence of C. felis infection was calculated for each county sampled, and data from individual counties were combined according to geographic regions and compared using chi-square tests. Overall prevalence of C. felis in bobcats from Oklahoma was 80.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 75.6-83.8). The prevalence of infection was \u3e90% for bobcats from central, northeastern, south-central, and southeastern regions of Oklahoma, but \u3c68% for bobcats from northwestern and southwestern regions. Bobcats from central counties in Oklahoma were 25.693 times more likely to be infected with C. felis compared to all other bobcats sampled from the state. Higher prevalence estimates of C. felis in bobcats appeared to be in counties where known tick vectors are most common. Occurrence of C. felis in bobcats from northwestern Texas was 30.8% (95% CI, 12.4%-58.0%) based on 13 samples. Results of this study support the utilization of bobcats as sentinel animals to identify geographic areas with risk of C. felis infection to domestic cats

The scope and severity of white-nose syndrome on hibernating bats in North America.

Assessing the scope and severity of threats is necessary for evaluating impacts on populations to inform conservation planning. Quantitative threat assessment often requires monitoring programs that provide reliable data over relevant spatial and temporal scales, yet such programs can be difficult to justify until there is an apparent stressor. Leveraging efforts of wildlife management agencies to record winter counts of hibernating bats, we collated data for 5 species from over 200 sites across 27 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces from 1995 to 2018 to determine the impact of white-nose syndrome (WNS), a deadly disease of hibernating bats. We estimated declines of winter counts of bat colonies at sites where the invasive fungus that causes WNS (Pseudogymnoascus destructans) had been detected to assess the threat impact of WNS. Three species undergoing species status assessment by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Myotis septentrionalis, Myotis lucifugus, and Perimyotis subflavus) declined by more than 90%, which warrants classifying the severity of the WNS threat as extreme based on criteria used by NatureServe. The scope of the WNS threat as defined by NatureServe criteria was large (36% of Myotis lucifugus range) to pervasive (79% of Myotis septentrionalis range) for these species. Declines for 2 other species (Myotis sodalis and Eptesicus fuscus) were less severe but still qualified as moderate to serious based on NatureServe criteria. Data-sharing across jurisdictions provided a comprehensive evaluation of scope and severity of the threat of WNS and indicated regional differences that can inform response efforts at international, national, and state or provincial jurisdictions. We assessed the threat impact of an emerging infectious disease by uniting monitoring efforts across jurisdictional boundaries and demonstrated the importance of coordinated monitoring programs, such as the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat), for data-driven conservation assessments and planning