Mathematical literacy in Plant Physiology undergraduates: results of interventions aimed at improving students' performance

The importance of mathematical literacy in any scientific career is widely recognized. However, various studies report lack of numeracy and mathematical literacy in students from various countries. In the present work we present a detailed study of the mathematical literacy of Spanish undergraduate students of Biology enrolled in a Plant Physiology course. We have performed individual analyses of results obtained during the period 2000-2011, for questions in the examinations requiring and not requiring mathematical skills. Additionally, we present the outcome of two interventions introduced with the aim of helping students improve their prospects for success in the course. Our results confirm previous research showing students' deficiencies in mathematical skills. However, the scores obtained for mathematical questions in the examinations are good predictors of the final grades attained in Plant Physiology, as there are strong correlations at the individual level between results for questions requiring and not requiring mathematical skills. The introduction of a laboratory session devoted to strengthening the application of students' previously acquired mathematical knowledge did not change significantly the results obtained for mathematical questions. Since mathematical abilities of students entering university have declined in recent years, this intervention may have helped to maintain students' performance to a level comparable to that of previous years. The outcome of self-assessment online tests indicates that though Mathematics anxiety is lower than during examinations, the poor results obtained for questions requiring mathematical skills are, at least in part, due to a lack of self-efficacy

The interpretation of seismic facies in the molassic deposition of Preadriatic Foredeep

The purpose of this article is to illustrate the principles of seismic facie analysis used in the interpretation of sedimentary rocks, in siliciclastic deposits, especially in molassic one. The recognition and definition of a seismic facies and the analysis of its vertical evolution (facies associations) lead to an environmental interpretation, which can give useful information on both sedimentary facies and reservoir characteristics. With this aim, the major depositional systems, from continental to deep marine, and the depositional elements in which they can be subdivided, will be briefly overviewed in terms of extension, geometry, continuity and lateral variations. For each of these systems, it is pointed out, the major physical active processes during the deposition, the resulting sedimentary structures and their vertical and lateral evolution. The comparison between the environmental interpretation derived from bottom cores, well - logs and that derived from the current depositional models, is used to predict the nature and distribution of reservoir and sealing rocks

Analysis of Learning Records to Detect Student Cheating on Online Exams: Case Study during COVID-19 Pandemic

In March 2020, due to the Covid19 pandemic, higher education had to switch from face-to-face to exclusively virtual mode overnight. In this unexpected scenario, supervisors also had to adapt the assessment procedures, including the exams. This caused a significant controversy, as, according to many students, supervisors were more concerned about how to prevent students from cheating, than actually measuring their learning. This paper introduces an experience that implemented several of the students' requests in an online exam and conducts a comprehensive analysis of students’ behavior according to the virtual learning environment records. Different existing software tools are used for the analysis, complemented with a Python application ad-hoc developed. The objective indicators gathered provide evidence that some students cheated and invite focusing on evidence-based assessment

Predição do pH urinário de gatos por meio do excesso de bases com enxofre na dieta

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se a equação excesso de bases empregando enxofre (EBS), para predição do pH urinário de gatos é eficaz para um alimento completo. Para tal, alimentou-se seis gatos sem raça definida com um alimento extrusado comercial. Por meio do EBS da dieta foi feita a predição do pH urinário. O pH urinário predito pela equação foi de 6,52 e o obtido in vivo foi de 6,25±0,02. Portanto, a equação não foi eficaz para predizer o pH urinário, porém o EBS mostrou-se eficaz para estimar se o pH urinário está na faixa aceitável (6,2 e 6,8)