Beyond statistical testing: individual differences and the contentand accuracy of mental representations of space

The article uses data from two experiments on the content and accuracy of mentalrepresentations of space by the blind and visually impaired in order expose some of theshortcomings of typical statistical testing and propose an individual differences approach to theanalysis of data. It begins with a discussion of some of the problems associated with the strictclassification and eventual comparison of individuals between groups. The individual differencesapproach is then presented and the concepts of ability and present competence are explored alongwith the importance of detailed participant description. Examples from the two experiments areused to demonstrate how null hypothesis significance testing can be complemented with effect sizeestimates, box-plots and ranking techniques. Throughout the article we are reminded of the need toadopt mutually supportive techniques to account for the heterogeneity of experience and skillsbetween participants. The article uses data from two experiments on the content and accuracy of mentalrepresentations of space by the blind and visually impaired in order expose some of theshortcomings of typical statistical testing and propose an individual differences approach to theanalysis of data. It begins with a discussion of some of the problems associated with the strictclassification and eventual comparison of individuals between groups. The individual differencesapproach is then presented and the concepts of ability and present competence are explored alongwith the importance of detailed participant description. Examples from the two experiments areused to demonstrate how null hypothesis significance testing can be complemented with effect sizeestimates, box-plots and ranking techniques. Throughout the article we are reminded of the need toadopt mutually supportive techniques to account for the heterogeneity of experience and skillsbetween participants

Computation of pressures on under-water-bodies

An existing code in the division is utilized to obtain pressures on under-water-bodies supplied by the User agency (Naval Science and Technology, Vishakapatnam - 6

Spatial representation and low vision: two studies on the content, accuracy and utility of mental representations

The paper reports on two studies being conducted with students from Dorton College - Royal London Society for the Blind (RLSB) in Kent. The first experiment will examine the content and accuracy of mental representations of a well-known environment. Students will walk a route around the college campus and learn the position of ten buildings or structures. They will then be asked to make heading judgments, estimate distances, complete a spatial cued model and sequentially visit a series of locations. The second experiment will examine the strategies and coding heuristics used to explore a complex novel environment. Students will be asked to explore a maze and learn the location of different places. Their search patterns will be digitally tracked, coded and analyzed using GIS software.Students will be tested using the same methods as in the first experiment and their performance level will be correlated with their exploratory patterns. Throughout the paper we are reminded that construct validity can only be secured by employing multiple converging techniques in the collection and analysis of cognitive data. Methods should be designed to test content and accuracy as well as the utility of mental representations

Psychosocial implications ofblindness and low-vision

This article discusses several aspects of psychosocial adjustment to blindness andlow-vision and proposes that the education of both the self and society are essential forpositive adjustment. It exposes some of the general misunderstandings about visualimpairment and demonstrates how these are partly responsible for the perpetuation of mythsand misconceptions regarding the character and abilities of this population. It argues thatconfidence and self-esteem are deeply connected to ability and should be regarded asconstructive elements of the ego usually manifested in different types of introverted orextroverted behaviour. Wherever possible arguments will be backed by current and pastresearch in social and abnormal psychology as well as specific case studies recorded by theauthor during the years he spent conducting research and working as a life-skills tutor at theRoyal London Society for the Blind

Morbidity following Surgical Management of Vulval Cancer.

The objective of this study was to know the complications following vulvectomy and inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy including the time taken to complete wound healing. 42 patients who were subjected to either radical or modified radical vulvectomy for primary and inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (80 groins) for groin metastases were analysed retrospectively. The complications analysed were wound breakdown, wound cellulitis or infection, lymphocyst, limb edema and the time to wound healing. In a total of 80 inguinofemoral lymphadenectomies 55% had wound breakdown, 17.5% had wound infection/cellulitis, lymphocyst in 31%, limb edema in 36% and time taken for complete wound healing ranged from 10-134 (average 46 days). Overall post operative morbidity was 85%

Embodiment and designing learning environments

There is increasing recognition amongst learning sciences researchers of the critical role that the body plays in thinking and reasoning across contexts and across disciplines. This workshop brings ideas of embodied learning and embodied cognition to the design of instructional environments that engage learners in new ways of moving within, and acting upon, the physical world. Using data and artifacts from participants' research and designs as a starting point, this workshop focuses on strategies for how to effectively leverage embodiment in learning activities in both technology and non-technology environments. Methodologies for studying/assessing the body's role in learning are also addressed

An empirical biometric-based study for user identification from different roles in the online game League of Legends

© 2017 CEUR-WS. All rights reserved. The popularity of computer games has grown exponentially in the last few years. In some games, players can choose to play with different characters from a pre-defined list, exercising distinct roles in each match. Although such games were created to promote competition and promote self-improvement, there are several recurrent issues. One that has received the least amount of attention is the problem of "account sharing" so far is when a player pays more experienced players to progressing in the game. The companies running those games tend to punish this behaviour, but this specific case is hard to identify. The aim of this study is to use a database of mouse and keystroke dynamics biometric data of League of Legends players as a case study to understand the specific characteristics a player will keep (or not) when playing different roles and distinct characters

MHD free convection-radiation interaction in a porous medium - part I : numerical investigation

A numerical investigation of two dimensional steady magnetohydrodynamics heat and mass transfer by laminar free convection from a radiative horizontal circular cylinder in a non-Darcy porous medium is presented by taking into account the Soret/Dufour effects. The boundary layer conservation equations, which are parabolic in nature, are normalized into non-similar form and then solved numerically with the well-tested, efficient, implicit, stable Keller–Box finite-difference scheme. We use simple central difference derivatives and averages at the mid points of net rectangles to get finite difference equations with a second order truncation error. We have conducted a grid sensitivity and time calculation of the solution execution. Numerical results are obtained for the velocity, temperature and concentration distributions, as well as the local skin friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number for several values of the parameters. The dependency of the thermophysical properties has been discussed on the parameters and shown graphically. The Darcy number accelerates the flow due to a corresponding rise in permeability of the regime and concomitant decrease in Darcian impedance. A comparative study between the previously published and present results in a limiting sense is found in an excellent agreement

Massive Splenic Pseudocysts : Report of 2 cases

Splenic cysts can be classified as parasitic and nonparasitic. Non parasitic cysts can be further divided into true and pseudocysts. Pseudocysts of spleen does not contain an epithelial lining. Pseudocysts of spleen are usually post traumatic and they rarely grow to a large size and most of them are asymptomatic. It can be confused with cystic lesions of spleen or pancreas or from the surrounding structures. These cases require exploration and is both diagnostic and therapeutic. Conservative measures to preserve spleen can be considered only in presence of expertise and if remnant functional splenic parenchyma is more than 25 %. Here we present two cases of giant pseudocysts who were confused with malignancy and referred to our centre and were later found to be pseudocysts of spleen. We would like to report these cases as they are rare and as diagnostic dilemmas