Examining PhD and research masters theses

The examination of research theses has only relatively recently attracted research interest that has focused on what examiners do and how consistent they are. The research questions in this study address firstly whether PhD and research masters theses were treated by examiners as qualitatively different on 12 indicators of importance across the areas: contribution of the thesis, the literature review, approach and methodology, analyses and results and presentation. Secondly what was the examiner assessment of quality of a recently examined thesis on the same indicators and, finally, how well the indicators were reflected in a holistic assessment of thesis quality. The work reported here draws on the responses of 353 PhD and 74 research masters thesis examiners. Findings showed the examiners generally rated the relative importance of the indicators very similarly at both degree levels. Further the order of importance across indicators was essentially the same for the two levels of thesis. Anticipated differences did emerge with the examiners giving higher quality gradings for all contribution indicators for PhD as compared with research masters theses. The 12 specific quality indicators, individually and collectively were strongly related to the holistic assessment of thesis quality, particularly at the PhD level.     

Contribution of leaf growth on the disappearance of fungicides used on tea under south Indian agroclimatic conditions

The sprayed chemicals on tea leaves disappear over a period of time by the influence of rainfall elution, evaporation,growth dilution, and photodegradation. Influence of plant growth on the four fungicides (hexaconazole, propiconazole, tridemorph,and c) was studied to know the constructive loss of fungicides. The study shows that residues of fungicides sprayed on tea shoots got diluted by the growing process. The expansion of a leaf took 8 to 11 d and more than 50% of the fungicide residues were cleaned out during this leaf expansion period. Under south Indian agroclimatic condition, the fungicides are sprayed at an interval of 10 d, so it is safe that the tea is harvested on the 10th day of the application of fungicides.     

Enhanced production of thermostable laccases from a native strain of Pycnoporus sanguineus using central composite design

研究目的：优化获得血红密孔菌（P.sanguineus）的最佳培养基组成,提高耐热漆酶的产量。创新要点：获得了目前文献报道的最高水平的漆酶活力。研究方法：通过单因素试验研究了不同培养基（番茄汁、麦麸、麦芽提取物和葡萄糖细菌蛋白胨培养基）和不同组合诱导剂（大豆油、阿魏酸、没食子酸、二甲基苯胺、酸性蓝62和活性蓝19分别与硫酸铜组合诱导剂）对P.sanguineus产耐热漆酶的影响。在此基础上采用中心组合试验设计,进一步研究了番茄汁培养基结合硫酸铜和大豆油组合诱导剂对P.sanguineus产耐热漆酶的影响。利用SAS10.0和响应面分析方法对试验结果进行了统计分析和建立回归模型。重要结论：通过中心组合设计优化得出P.sanguineus产耐热漆酶的最优培养基条件：以36.8%番茄汁为培养基,以3 mmol/L硫酸铜和1%大豆油作为组合诱导剂。该条件下在10 L搅拌槽生物反应器中漆酶活力达到了143 000 IU/L（2,2＇-联氮双（3-乙基苯并噻唑啉-6-磺酸）为底物,pH值为3.0）。     

An examination of knowledge prioritisation in secondary physical education teacher education courses

A number of terms have been used to describe knowledge needed for teaching, one of which is subject knowledge. How knowledge for teaching is conceptualised in teacher education prioritises some knowledge bases over other knowledge bases. Further, knowledge prioritised by student teachers is influenced by socialisation prior to and during an initial teacher education course and priorities for student teachers as they develop as teachers. Previous research in physical education teacher education points to the pre-eminence of content knowledge above other knowledge bases. The purpose of this study was to look at what knowledge is prioritised by student teachers, school-based mentors and university tutors working on three secondary physical education initial teacher education courses in England. Results showed that content knowledge was seen as having greater importance for student teachers and mentors, but university tutors generally conceptualised subject knowledge more broadly, suggesting that it should be seen as covering a number of knowledge bases needed for teaching. These results are discussed in relation to socialisation processes in education and phases of development. Although there is a clear physical education focus to this work, it is possible that student teachers learning to teach other subjects may also focus excessively on subject content knowledge above other knowledge bases.     

Assay of tubercular antibody, circulating free and immune complexed antigen in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis

Analysis of tubercular antibody, circulating free and immune complexed antigen (CIC-Ag) was done in confimed pulmonary tuberculosis sera by ELISA, using ES-31 antigen and affinity purified anti ES-31 antibody. Twenty three of 25 (92%) tuberculosis sera were positive for IgG antibody to ES-31 antigen. Using anti ES-31 antibody, free tubercular antigen could be detected in 20 of 25 (80%) cases whereas circulating immune complexed antigen (CIC-Ag) in 18 of 25 (72%) cases by sandwich ELISA. Of the two sera showing absence of antibody, one showed presence of free and CIC-Ag whereas the other showed the presence of free antigen. Thus antigen assay may be used as an adjunct tool for confirmation of pulmonary tuberculosis.     

Molecule matters The Quinine story: A 100-year saga

Ever since its isolation in 1820, Quinine has played a crucial role in the development of organic chemistry, chemical industry and modern medicine. The total synthesis of quinine, widely regarded as anevent of epochal importancewas claimed by Woodward and Doering in 1945. This work, however, heavily relied on unsubstantiated literature reports and it appears that Woodward’s work fell short of a total synthesis of quinine. The first stereoselective total synthesis of quinine was accomplished only in 2001, by Stork, who incidentally is the originator of the concept of stereoselectivity in total synthesis. Naturally, this work has been attested as a landmark in organic synthesis by leaders in the field.     

Discrimination,Parent–Adolescent Conflict,and Peer Intimacy: Examining Risk and Resilience in Mexican-Origin Youths' Adjustment Trajectories

Peer discrimination and parent–adolescent conflict in early adolescence were examined as predictors of depressive symptoms and risky behaviors from early to late adolescence using four waves of data over an 8-year period from a sample of 246 Mexican-origin adolescents (M_{Time 1 age} = 12.55, SD = 0.58; 51% female). The buffering effect of friendship intimacy and moderating role of adolescent gender were tested. Higher levels of discrimination and conflict in early adolescence were associated with higher initial levels of depressive symptoms and risky behaviors in early adolescence and stability through late adolescence. For females who reported higher than average discrimination, friendship intimacy had a protective effect on their depressive symptoms.     

Responsibility for teaching: Some international comparisons of teacher perceptions

As part of a major study of classroom environment conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), primary and secondary teachers were asked the degree of responsibility they felt for various aspects of their teaching, such as the content and the way they taught, assessment practices, student progress and interactions with parents.The countries involved in the study were Australia, Canada (Ontario and Quebec), Hungary, Israel, the Netherlands, Nigeria, the Republic of Korea, and Thailand. When considered as a total group, the highest proportions of teachers felt responsible for the amount of homework set, followed by classroom organization and use made of tests. Less than half the teachers felt responsible for deciding on student progress and only a quarter for the topics they taught.When comparisons were made across countries, most teachers in Israel, Australia and Ontario, about half the teachers in Quebec, Nigeria and the Republic of Korea, and minorities of teachers in Hungary, the Netherlands and Thailand felt generally responsible. Possible links between teacher responsibility and professionalism are suggested.

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Zusammenfassung Primar- und Sekundarlehrer wurden im Rahmen einer von der International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) durchgeführten größeren Studie betreffs der Gestaltung des Klassenzimmers über den Grad der Verantwortung, den sie für verschiedene Aspekte ihrer Lehrtätigkeit empfanden, befragt; so z. B. über Inhalt und Art des Lehrens, Bewertungspraktiken, Fortschritt der Schüler und wechselseitigen Einfluß mit den Eltern.Die in die Studie einbezogenen Länder waren Australien, Kanada (Ontario und Québec), Ungarn, Israel, die Niederlande, Nigeria, Südkorea und Thailand. Der größte Teil der Lehrer, als Gesamtgruppe betrachtet, fühlte sich für die Menge der gestellten Hausaufgaben verantwortlich, gefolgt von der Einrichtung des Klassenzimmers und der Durchführung von Klassenarbeiten; weniger als die Hälfte der Lehrer fühlte sich für die Beurteilung des Fortschritts der Schüler verantwortlich und nur ein Viertel für die von ihnen unterrichteten Themen.Bei Ländervergleichen stellte sich heraus, daß sich die meisten Lehrer in Israel, Australien und Ontario, ungefähr die Hälfte der Lehrer in Québec, Nigeria und Südkorea und nur wenige Lehrer in Ungarn, den Niederlanden und Thailand allgemein verantwortlich fühlten. Es werden mögliche Verbindungen zwischen Verantwortlichkeit der Lehrer und Professionalismus angedeutet.

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Résumé Dans le cadre d'une étude majeure du milieu scolaire conduite par l'Association internationale de l'évaluation des résultats scolaires (IEA), on a demandé aux enseignants du primaire et du secondaire quel est le degré de responsabilité qu'ils éprouvent á l'égard des divers aspects de leur travail, tels que le contenu et la méthodologie qu'ils emploient, les techniques d'évaluation, la progression des apprenants et les interactions avec les parents.Les pays impliqués dans cette étude étaient l'Australie, le Canada (Ontario et Québec), la Hongrie, Israel, les Pays-Bas, Le Nigeria, la République de Corée et la Thailande. Considérés comme un groupe entier, la majorité des enseignants se sentaient responsables de la quantité de devoirs à faire à la maison, puis de l'organisation de la classe et enfin de l'utilisation faite des tests. Moins de la moitié des enseignants se sentaient responsables de la décision de la progression des élèves et seul un quart des maltres disaient être responsables des thèmes qu'ils enseignaient.Les comparaisons faites entre les pays ont révélé que la plupart des enseignants en Israel, en Australie et dans l'Ontario, environ la moitié des maltres au Québec, au Nigeria et en République de Corée, et quelques groupes insignifiants en Hongrie, aux Pays-Bas et en Thailande se sentaient responsables généralement. On mentionne ensuite les liens qui peuvent éventuellement être établis entre la responsabilité et le professionnalisme de l'enseignant.