Cumulative Points Research Articles

Ordinary Level as Results Predictors of Students’ Academic Performance in Chemistry in Nigerian Universities

This paper examined ordinary level result as predictors of students’ academic performance in chemistry in South-west Nigeria universities. It also examined the relationship between the academic performance of students in each level of the university examinations and their corresponding secondary school certificates examination. The sample of the study is made up of 312 chemistry students randomly selected from three universities within South-west Nigeria based on the (proprietorship status) federal, state and private universities. Ex-post facto research design was adopted. The grades of all the chemistry students sampled were selected from the directorate of admission and statistics while the cumulative grade points were selected from chemistry department of the sampled universities. The results revealed that the ordinary level chemistry results related poorly with their respective universities results. The results of the study also showed that there is little or no influence of the mode of entry on the academic performance at all levels and the two examining bodies were equivalent. Based on this finding, it was recommended that both West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) should be used as mode of entry into chemistry department.

An ordinary level as predictors of students' academic performance in chemistry in Nigerian universities

This paper examined an ordinary level as predictors of students’ academic performance in chemistry in South-west Nigeria universities. It also revealed the relationship between the academic performance of students in each level of the university examinations and their corresponding secondary school certificates examination. The sample of the study is made up of 312 chemistry students randomly selected from three universities within South-west Nigeria based on the (proprietorship satisfactory) federal, state and private universities. Ex-post facto design was adopted. The grades of all the chemistry students sampled were selected from the directorate of admission and statistics while the cumulative grade points were selected from chemistry department of the sampled universities. The results revealed that the ordinary level chemistry results related poorly with their respective universities results. The results also showed that there is little or no influence of the mode of entry on the academic performance at all levels and the two examining bodies were equivalent. Based on this finding, it was recommended that both West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) should be used as mode of entry into chemistry department. Key words: Nigerian universities, ordinary level, predictors, students’ achievement.

Clinicopathological findings and disease staging of feline infectious peritonitis: 51 cases from 2003 to 2009 in Taiwan

Fifty-one cats histopathologically confirmed to have been naturally infected by feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), were collected to analyse the clinical and laboratory findings and to characterise disease staging. Effusive FIP was found in 33 cats, non-effusive FIP in 12 cats, and mixed-type in six cats. Highly significant decreases in haematocrit and albumin levels and an increase in total bilirubin level were noted in both effusive and non-effusive FIP, at first presentation and before death. In serial blood examinations of the effusive group, anaemia and increases in bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were observed from 2 weeks to 0–3 days before death. The packed cell volume, bilirubin, AST, potassium, and sodium levels were established to predict disease staging and survival time. Cumulative points ranging from 0 to 4, 5 to 11 and excess of 12, indicate that the cat can survive for at least 2 weeks, less than 2 weeks and less than 3 days, respectively.

Daily Mini Quizzes as Means for Improving Student Performance in Anatomy Course

To evaluate daily-written 10-question quizzes in a medical anatomy course as a way to integrate assessment into the course and to evaluate their effect on the course success. Students answering correctly 8/10 or more questions were awarded 0.5 points per quiz. There were 34 quizzes with a maximum point score 17. Measurable outcomes of academic progress in anatomy course (pass rates on 4 examination terms, total pass rate, and average marks) were calculated, and 2007/08 academic year was compared with the previous academic year in which daily written quizzes were not a part of the course. The relationship between cumulative points on daily quizzes and 3 components of the final examination (written, practical, and oral) for 2007/08 academic year was assessed by non-parametric correlation testing. Individual scores on quizzes ranged from 1.5 to 13.5 points. There was a positive correlation between scores on quizzes and grades on 3 components of the final examination: written (Spearman rho=0.784, P<0.001, n=79), practical (Spearman rho=0.342, P<0.002, n=79), and oral (Spearman rho=0.683, P<0.001, n=79) part. Compared with students in the previous academic year, students attending the course with daily quizzes significantly improved their academic achievement, expressed as the pass rate at the first examination term (39% vs 62%, respectively, chi(2) test, P=0.006, ) and the average course grade (2.71+/-1.08 vs 3.38+/-1.26, respectively; t test, P<0.001). Despite their frequency and possible associated stress, daily quizzes were associated with better academic success in the anatomy course.

Statistical Distribution of the Measure of Coherence

The recent papers by Miranda de Sa et al. (2001) and Miranda de Sa (2004) proposed a new measure of coherence between two signals. In this paper, we derive the exact probability density function and moments of the measure. We also provide simple programs for computing the associated cumulative distribution function and percentile points as well as for generating random samples of the measure.

Fantasy Football and Mathematics Score Touchdowns with Students

In the 1990s, I combined two of my passions— mathematics and Fantasy Football— into a meaningful, powerful assignment that engaged students in grades 5–8 who lacked motivation in mathematics. Fantasy Football is a game played nationwide by an estimated 15 million adolescents and adults (Fantasy Sports Trade Association 2003). Between 16 percent to 20 percent of all participants are female (Beason 2005). Students create fantasy teams by purchasing National Football League (NFL) players and compete by earning points based on the real-life statistics of the players. Each week, students locate the names of their players in box scores (statistical summaries of games) to compute the points scored by their players. Weekly points are accumulated throughout the entire season, and the student with the highest cumulative points is the winner.

Trends in RTA related spinal injuries: the post penalty points era

On October 31st 2002 a system of cumulative penalty points for road traffic offences was introduced. Early evidence suggested a reduction in road traffic accident (RTA) related morbidity. To evaluate the persistence of the initial reduction in RTA related spinal injuries following penalty points introduction. Retrospective review of all acute spinal trauma admissions to the NSIU between November 1st 1998 and October 31st 2004 (n = 966). Patient demographics and injury aetiology were assessed. Follow-up questionnaires evaluated RTA circumstances. RTA related spinal injuries accounted for 39.3% of NSIU admissions. These injuries were significantly more common in males aged 16-24, drivers (70.8%), on routine journeys (77.5%) and rural roads (48.8%). The highest proportion of accidents occurred during weekends (64.3% from Fri-Sun) and from midnight to 6am (29.3%). The initial reduction in RTA related spinal injuries has not been sustained. Young male drivers are the greatest at risk group.

Clinical Neurophysiology: EEG–Video Monitoring

Clinical Neurophysiology: EEG–Video Monitoring

Graphical interpretation of confidence curves in rankit plots.

A well-known transformation from the bell-shaped Gaussian (normal) curve to a straight line in the rankit plot is investigated, and a tool for evaluation of the distribution of reference groups is presented. It is based on the confidence intervals for percentiles of the calculated Gaussian distribution and the percentage of cumulative points exceeding these limits. The process is to rank the reference values and plot the cumulative frequency points in a rankit plot with a logarithmic (In=log(e)) transformed abscissa. If the distribution is close to In-Gaussian the cumulative frequency points will fit to the straight line describing the calculated In-Gaussian distribution. The quality of the fit is evaluated by adding confidence intervals (CI) to each point on the line and calculating the percentage of points outside the hyperbola-like CI-curves. The assumption was that the 95% confidence curves for percentiles would show 5% of points outside these limits. However, computer simulations disclosed that approximate 10% of the series would have 5% or more points outside the limits. This is a conservative validation, which is more demanding than the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The graphical presentation, however, makes it easy to disclose deviations from In-Gaussianity, and to make other interpretations of the distributions, e.g., comparison to non-Gaussian distributions in the same plot, where the cumulative frequency percentage can be read from the ordinate. A long list of examples of In-Gaussian distributions of subgroups of reference values from healthy individuals is presented. In addition, distributions of values from well-defined diseased individuals may show up as In-Gaussian. It is evident from the examples that the rankit transformation and simple graphical evaluation for non-Gaussianity is a useful tool for the description of sub-groups.

Evaluation of the Alter-Rater Model for Timing of Fungicide Applications for Control of Alternaria Brown Spot of Citrus.

Alternaria brown spot, caused by Alternaria alternata, results in serious yield losses of tangerines and their hybrids in Florida. The Alter-Rater model predicts the need for fungicide applications based on daily cumulative points that are assigned on the basis of rainfall, leaf wetness, and temperature. Previously, Alter-Rater threshold or trigger values of 50, 75, 100, and 150 points for application of copper fungicides were suggested for groves with different cultivars and disease histories. In this study, we evaluated thresholds of 50, 100, and 150 points in four Minneola tangelo and Murcott tangor groves in 2000 and 2001. For comparison, copper fungicides were applied according to the DISC Copper Model in 2000 and according to calendar sprays in 2001. Use of the Alter-Rater model resulted in fewer sprays in three of the four groves in 2000 and better fruit quality in the other grove than the Copper Model. Compared to a calendar spray schedule in 2001, use of the Alter-Rater model resulted in fewer sprays in two of the four groves but more sprays in one grove. The results confirmed that the Alter-Rater is a valuable tool for timing fungicide applications and that its use results in better disease control or fewer sprays.

Genetic correlations between field test results of Swedish Warmblood Riding Horses as 4-year-olds and lifetime performance results in dressage and show jumping

The main objective of this study was to estimate genetic correlations between traits of young sport horses (4 years old) evaluated in the Swedish Riding Horse Quality Test (RHQT) and later competition results in dressage and show jumping. The data comprised 3708 Warmblood horses born between 1968 and 1982 that had participated in the RHQT as 4-year-olds and 25 605 horses born between 1953 and 1995 with competition records. According to the criteria between 1206 and 1879 horses were common to this two files and were available for the estimations of the genetic correlations. Competition performance traits were cumulative points and cumulative placings received during a horse’s lifetime, and a log 10 transformation was used to achieve a more normal distribution of the data. Genetic correlations between gait traits scored in the RHQT and competition results in dressage were favourable, in the range 0.63–0.75, and between jumping traits scored in the RHQT and results in show jumping 0.83–0.93. Estimated heritabilities for gait and jumping traits scored in the RHQT were in the range 0.09–0.27 and 0.10–0.18, respectively. Estimated heritabilities for the cumulative points and cumulative placings in dressage and show jumping were 0.17/0.16 and 0.23/0.27, respectively. Thus, the results from the RHQT have proved to be useful for early genetic evaluation and selection of both mares and stallions for sport performance traits.

Multiple risks in multi-objective forest planning: integration and importance

Multiple risks were integrated in multi-objective forest planning with the scenario technique and with an application of multi-attribute utility theory. The sources of risks were divided into three categories: risks related to inventory data, risks arising from unknown future states of nature, and risks associated with the decision maker's preferences. Stochastic models and other procedures for producing scenarios of inventory data, growth rate, mortality and natural regeneration of trees, success of tree planting, timber prices, cost level, and importance of management objectives are described. Some of the models for the scenarios were based on empirical data and obtained from earlier investigations, while others were specified by parameters given by the decision maker. The decision maker's attitude toward risk was integrated in planning via the distribution of a utility index. The utility index was computed from an additive utility function. Cumulative points of the distribution were weighed in a manner reflecting decision maker's risk preferences. The weighed utility index was used as the ultimate criterion when searching for the optimal plan. Optimization was done using a heuristic algorithm. The case study conducted indicated that both risks and attitude toward risks affect the choice of plan; optimal plans produced by a deterministic system were different from the stochastic optima, and a risk-neutral decision maker had optima different from those of risk-averse and risk-seeking decision makers. Depending on the decision maker's attitude toward risk, utility losses ranging from 0.1% to 4.5% were to be expected when the deterministic optimum was selected. Implementing a risk-neutral decision maker's optimal plan caused utility losses less than 3.5% for risk-averse and risk-seeking decision makers.

Change of plasma 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol levels after the onset of diabetes in spontaneous diabetes prone BB/Wor/(/)Tky rats.

Plasma 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (AG) is a marker of the diabetic state and also reflects the glycosuria induced by hyperglycemia but not by renal pathology. To investigate the benefits of the AG determination in order to diagnose diabetes in BB/Wor/(/)Tky rats, AG was measured in non-diabetic (n = 104) and diabetic (n = 113) BB/Wor/(/)Tky rats. AG was significantly higher in non-diabetic rats than in diabetic rats (25.2 +/- 9.3 vs 4.1 +/- 7.4 micrograms/ ml, mean +/- SD, p < 0.001). The best cut-off level for AG (8.5 micrograms/ml) was highly specific (100%) for ruling out diabetes and fairly sensitive (82.3%) to detect diabetes. Based on the AG cut-off levels, 90% of false-negative diabetic rats (18/20) were observed within 4 days after the onset of diabetes, which corresponded to 38.3% in diabetic rats (18/47) at that time. The false-negative diabetic rats and positive rats could be effectively distinguished based on the cumulative points given according to the urinary glucose after the onset of diabetes. 1 point for each cross [+] indicating glycosuria using the Testape, i.e. 2 or less points false negative and 4 or more points for diabetic rats in the first 4 days. In conclusion, there is a close inverse relation between the level of plasma AG and the amount of glycosuria detected just after the onset of overt diabetes in BB/Wor/(/)Tky rats.

Seditious Science: A Reply to Paul Weindling

Paul Weindling's paper, ‘Science and Sedition,’ which covers the period 1795–1819, appears to be a critical response to my own short note on ‘London science and the Seditious Meetings Act of 1817’. As several misconceptions are fairly formally iterated in Mr Weindling's treatment, I would like to take the opportunity of clarifying the issues, adding some further detail, and answering the one or two points of substance which have been raised with respect to my initial note. In an effort to save the valuable space of the Journal and avoid undue repetition, my reply takes the form of distinct but hopefully cumulative points, and remains centred upon the legislation of 1817, although I do permit myself some comments on the years 1817–20 as a coherent period.

Basic Research in A Natural Setting: Auditing or Social Comparison behavior As a Function of Class Rank

Previous findings on social comparison behavior established in a laboratory setting were extended to a natural setting. The research strategy to accomplish this represents an intermediate point on the dimension from basic laboratory research to basic research in the natural setting. The research depended on the natural environment for the independent variable (grades in a college class) but had the advantage of a controlled experimental chamber, arbitrary responses, and an automated apparatus for the dependent measure. Cumulative points earned on assignments by college students were entered in an apparatus that students used one-at-a-time to check their scores in a room adjoining the classroom. Cumulative points were changed weekly over a 7-week course. Automatically recorded button-press responses by the students (audit responses) allowed access to self-, other person, and standard scores (i.e., scores indicating A, B, and C grade levels). Self-scores were audited most consistently and standard scores were checked more than any other person’s score. Persons in middle positions with respect to point totals emitted more self-, coactor, and standard audits than persons in the high or low ranks. The middle position provided the most information about availability of the major reinforcer, being ahead, because in the middle position a student’s cumulative score had a greater chance of fluctuating over all three positions.

The Effect of Differing Criteria for Unit Exam Mastery on College Test Performance

The influence of differing criteria for receiving a grade of A on unit exams (representing 75% of the course grade) in a college course was investigated. Group 1 students received an A if they scored 90% on each of the ten unit exams. Group 2 students were required to score 100% on nine of the exams. Group 3 students were required to accumulate 90% of the cumulative total points on the unit exams considered collectively. Group 2 students were significantly superior to those of the other groups in: (a) their performance on a common final exam (representing 25% of the course grade), and (b) their final course grade. Also, there were significantly more retakes among Group 2 students.