A review of rubric use in higher education

This paper critically reviews the empirical research on the use of rubrics at the post‐secondary level, identifies gaps in the literature and proposes areas in need of research. Studies of rubrics in higher education have been undertaken in a wide range of disciplines and for multiple purposes, including increasing student achievement, improving instruction and evaluating programmes. While, student perceptions of rubrics are generally positive and some authors report positive responses to rubric use by instructors, others noted a tendency for instructors to resist using them. Two studies suggested that rubric use was associated with improved academic performance, while one did not. The potential of rubrics to identify the need for improvements in courses and programmes has been demonstrated. Studies of the validity of rubrics have shown that clarity and appropriateness of language is a central concern. Studies of rater reliability tend to show that rubrics can lead to a relatively common interpretation of student performance. Suggestions for future research include the use of more rigorous research methods, more attention to validity and reliability, a closer focus on learning and research on rubric use in diverse educational contexts.     

ISSR markers based on GA and AG repeats reveal genetic relationship among rice varieties tolerant to drought, flood, or salinity

Drought,flood,salinity,or a combination of these limits rice production.Several rice varieties are well known for their tolerance to specific abiotic stresses.We determined genetic relationship among 12 rice varieties including 9 tolerant to drought,flood,or salinity using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers.Based on all markers,the nine tolerant varieties formed one cluster distinct from the cluster of three control varieties.The salt-tolerant varieties were closest to two flood-tolerant varieties,and together they were distinct from the drought-tolerant varieties.(GA)8 YG was the most informative primer,showing the highest polymorphic information content (PIC) and resolving power (Rp).The drought-,flood-,and salt-tolerant varieties grouped in three distinct clusters within the group of tolerant varieties,when (GA)8 YG was used.Sabita was the only exception.The two aus varieties,Nagina22 and FR13A,were separated and grouped with the drought-and flood-tolerant varieties,respectively,but they were together in dendrograms based on other primers.The results show that ISSR markers associated with (GA)8 YG delineated the three groups of stress-tolerant varieties from each other and can be used to identify genes/new alleles associated with the three abiotic stresses in rice germplasm.     

No regrets? Measuring the career benefits of a psychology placement year

We report an analysis of whether a psychology placement provides significant benefit to graduates’ careers. Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey data six months post‐graduation suggested that placement programme graduates across the university are significantly more likely to be (1) in work and (2) in graduate‐level jobs. For psychology, the association between graduates’ placement status and employment status at the same time was not significant overall. However, when analyses were split by degree classification obtained, it was shown that amongst those graduates with 2.1 degrees reporting themselves as working, more placement vs. non‐placement programme graduates had obtained graduate‐level jobs (63% vs. 33%). In 2.2 classified graduates there was no significant association. This pattern persisted in the data from a survey of psychology alumni (from 18 months to six and a half years post‐graduation). Psychology placement programme alumni were also more satisfied with their careers. Although placement graduates earned marginally more, this difference did not reach statistical significance. This study was therefore able to show some measurable and persistent effects of a psychology placement year, although whether the benefits can be claimed to outweigh the costs is inconclusive. Limitations and implications of the study are discussed.     

Educating Laboratory Science Learners at a Distance Using Interactive Television

Laboratory science classes offered to students learning at a distance require a methodology that allows for the completion of tactile activities. Literature describes three different methods of solving the distance laboratory dilemma: kit-based laboratory experience, computer-based laboratory experience, and campus-based laboratory experience, which all allow the implementation of laboratory activities to students learning science at a distance. This article describes an additional method of implementing laboratory activities using interactive television. Interactive television allows real-time, synchronous student–instructor communication and interaction.     

Detection of tubercular antibody and antigen in sera of bone and joint tuberculosis

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) solubilized and DEAE fractionatedMycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Ra excretory-secretory (ES) antigen viz., Mtb EST DE1 and affinity purified goat antibodies to the TCA solubilized ES antigen (Mtb EST) were explored in detecting tubercular antibody and antigen respectively in sera of bone and joint tuberculosis by indirect and sandwich ELISA. Out of total 36 bone & joint tuberculosis cases, tubercular antibody was detected by indirect ELISA in 30 patients (sensitivity 83%), while circulating tubercular antigen was detected by sandwich ELISA in 27 patients (sensitivity 75%). Out of 34 non tubercular disease control cases, 10 patients showed positive reaction for antibody while only 4 patients showed positive reaction for antigen. In another group of 34 healthy subjects who were screened, 4 individuals showed positive reaction for tubercular antibody and 2 cases for antigen. This study shows that antigen detection assay using affinity purified anti Mtb EST antigen antibody is superior with overall specificity of 91% as compared to antibody detection assay with 75% specificity in bone & joint tuberculosis.     

Assessment of oxidative stress and effect of antioxidant supplementation during radiotherapy in carcinoma of upper digestive tract

Oxidative stress was studied by estimating plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), beta carotene, vitamin E and erythrocytic superoxide dismutase(E-SOD) activity in 50 cases of carcinoma of upper digestive tract which included carcinoma of oral cavity, pharynx and oesophagus. While plasma MDA level was found to be increased (3.5±1.0 nmole/ml), a significant decrease in beta carotene (81.2±14.5mg%), vitamin E (8.5±1.1 mg/L) level and E-SOD activity (657.0±80.6 U/G Hb) were observed in carcinoma of upper digestive tract. Patients were treated with radiotherapy which itself was toxic enough and produced its deleterious effects by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). As antioxdiants can detoxify ROS, beneficial effect if any, of antioxidant administration during radiotherapy was studied in two groups of patients, group A (n=5, supplemented with antioxidants) and group B (n=5, without antioxidant supplementation). Plasma MDA level was found to be elevated in both the groups but the increase in group B was significant, compared to pretreatment level. Further, body weight was found to be significantly decreased in group B patients, which was maintained in group A patients. Moreover, group A patients showed significant elevation in beta carotene concentration, thus showing beneficial effect of administration of antioxidants during radiotherapy without disturbing the desirable therapeutic effect of radiotherapy.     

Ladder realizations of multivariable positive real functions

Necessary and sufficient conditions are obtained for the realization of an m-variable positive real function (PRF) as the impedence function of a resistively-terminated ladder network of m lossless two-ports connected in cascade. Each two-port is a single-variable lossless ladder with all of its transmission zeros either at the origin or at finity. Conditions are also obtained when each of the two-ports is a Fujisawa-type lowpass ladder.     

Coordination compounds in biology The chemistry of vitamin B12 and model compounds

Vitamin B₁₂ is an important coordination compound in biology. It is an interesting biomolecule in the sense that no other vitamin contains a metal ion. This is the only naturally occurring organometallic compound found in biology. An intriguing aspect of vitamin B₁₂ is the great stability of the metal-carbon bond. A great deal of new and interesting inorganic chemistry has been uncovered while studying systems pertinent to B₁₂. In this article some salient features of this unique molecule (B₁₂) and its model compounds are presented.     

Influence of Altered Hormonal Status on Platelet 5-HT and MAO-B Activity in Cigarette Smokers

The present study was designed to understand the cigarette smoking-induced alterations in hormones and the resulting changes in platelet serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and monoamine oxidase (MAO-B) activity in chronic smokers. Human male volunteers aged 35 ± 8 years, were divided into two groups, namely controls and smokers (12 ± 2 cigarettes per day for 7–10 years). Results showed that cigarette smoking significantly (p < 0.05) elevated plasma triiodothyronine (T₃), cortisol and testosterone levels with significant (p < 0.05) reduction in plasma tryptophan and thyroxin (T₄). Moreover, smokers showed reduced platelet 5-HT levels and MAO-B activity. In smokers, plasma cortisol was negatively correlated with tryptophan (r = −0.386), platelet MAO-B (r = −0.264), and 5-HT (r = −0.671), and positively correlated with testosterone (r = 0.428). However, testosterone was negatively correlated with platelet MAO-B (r = −0.315), and 5-HT (r = −.419) in smokers. Further, smokers plasma T₃ levels were negatively correlated with platelet MAO-B (r = −0.398), and 5-HT (r = −0.541), whereas T₄ levels were positively correlated with platelet MAO-B (r = 0.369), and 5-HT (r = 0.454). In conclusion, our study showed that altered testosterone and cortisol levels may aggravate behavior, mood disturbances and symptoms of depression by decreasing platelet 5-HT and MAO-B activity in smokers.     

Association of Estrogen Receptor-α Gene &; Metallothionein-1 Gene Polymorphisms in Type 2 Diabetic Women of Andhra Pradesh

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multifactorial disease where both genetic and environmental factors contribute to its pathogenesis. Estrogen plays an important role in type 2 DM pathogenesis. A number of polymorphisms have been reported in the estrogen receptor (ESR1), including the XbaI and PvuII restriction enzyme polymorphisms of ESR1,which may be involved in disease pathogenesis. Metallothioneins (MT) act as potent antioxidants against various oxidative damages. Very few studies have indicated the association between Estrogen Receptor-α, MT1 gene polymorphisms with type2 DM. A total of 100 type 2 diabetic women and 100 age, sex matched controls were recruited. Using the PCR based RFLP method, the PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms of ESR1 and in MT1A (rs8052394 and rs11076161) gene polymorphisms were analysed. The genotype distribution and frequency of mutated allele showed no significant differences between diabetic and non-diabetic groups in PvuII (χ2 = 2.443; P = 0.1181) or XbaI (χ2 = 1.789; P = 0.1812) and rs8052394 (χ2 = 1.154; P = 0.2840) or rs11076161 (χ2 = 0.4141; P = 0.5199), polymorphisms. This is the first Indian study to conclude that ESR1 and MT1 gene polymorphisms are not associated with increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in Indian women.