“Hits” (not “Discussion Posts”) predict student success in online courses: A double cross-validation study

The efficacy of individual components of an online course on positive course outcome was examined via stepwise multiple regression analysis. Outcome was measured as the student’s total score on all exams given during the course. The predictors were page hits, discussion posts, and discussion reads. The vast majority of the variance of outcome was accounted for by total page hits. Participation in discussion had little to no effect on performance as measured by outcome on exams. The results were double cross-validated with a sample chosen from another class. There was no shrinkage, indicating that the equations derived from the two samples were very reliable.     

Visualizing “typical” and “exotic” Internet traffic data

The threat of cyber attacks motivates the need to monitor Internet traffic data for potentially abnormal behavior. Due to the enormous volumes of such data, statistical process monitoring tools, such as those traditionally used on data in the product manufacturing arena, are inadequate. “Exotic” data may indicate a potential attack; detecting such data requires a characterization of “typical” data. We devise some new graphical displays, including a “skyline plot,” that permit ready visual identification of unusual Internet traffic patterns in “streaming” data, and use appropriate statistical measures to help identify potential cyberattacks. These methods are illustrated on a moderate-sized data set (135,605 records) collected at George Mason University.     

A correction to “Nonmonotonic inconsistency” [Artificial Intelligence 149 (2003) 161–178]

This note corrects an error in the statement and proof of Propositions 9 and 10 of [C. Cross, Nonmonotonic inconsistency, Artificial Intelligence 149 (2) (2003) 161–178]. Both results turn out to depend on the postulate of Consistency Preservation.     

Who are “stinkybug” and “Packerfan4”? Email Pseudonyms and Participants’ Perceptions of Demography,Productivity, and Personality

This study explores whether in the absence of face‐to‐face interaction individuals rely on mediated “clues” for constructing their perceptions of other individuals. Specifically, we assess whether individuals use the information in email usernames to create basic assumptions about the sender of a message. Ninety‐four male and 206 female participants completed self‐report surveys asking their perceptions of an instructor‐assigned, fictional group member including sex, age, race, and work productivity. A majority of participants assigned biological sex, ethnicity, and age to the fictional member. Participants often identified the creative emails as belonging to Caucasian males, while plain usernames were unknown and perceived as significantly more productive. The majority of participants chose to delete the message, listing lack of recognition as a reason for avoidance. These results suggest that email usernames may shape perceptions when other, nonverbal cues are absent.     

“Electric” Zip Tips™, Preliminary Results

Induction based fluidics (IBF), a new, simple patented approach for transporting liquids in the micro and the macro world, is discussed. Electric fields are shown to energize liquid/s in a container/s to execute an array of purposes. IBF is shown uniquely to energize N liquids in simple off the shelf devices, inductively. We discuss calibration and other issues, as we demonstrate how simple devices can dispense nanoliters and microliters with high precision and accuracy. Furthermore, we show preliminary single and eight channel data for the Zip Tip™ made by Millipore where the device transports liquids “electrically.” We briefly consider how such new devices, “electric” Zip Tips™, might automate desalting and the placement of digests for MALDI TOF analysis.     

Property evaluation in The Expert System for Thermodynamics (“TEST”) web application

Ever since its release, TEST has found use as thermodynamic courseware in many universities around the world. TEST offers web-based analysis tools–java applets called daemons–for property evaluation of working substances, energy, entropy, and exergy analysis of generic open and closed systems, IC engines, gas and vapor power cycles, refrigeration, HVAC, combustion, chemical equilibrium, and gas dynamics. Other modules of TEST include animations, problems, examples, and system navigations that are closely integrated with the daemon module to create a comprehensive analysis tool for engineering thermodynamics. In this paper the methodology of thermodynamic state evaluation by TEST is discussed with several examples.     

Analysis of “Salary man” motivation and the will to work (YARUKI)

The Inner Graphic Formula Method (IGF) which was originally conceived by Professor Ishiketa and further developed by him and his associates was used to investigate the motivation of new company employees.

Japanese companies traditionally recruit new employees from senior classes and notify successful candidates of their intention to employ them around the first of January. Since graduation is in March, April first is, then, the first day of work for almost all of these graduates in their new companies.

The investigation period for this study covers the eleven months from January until the middle of November, and therefore includes the three month period after notification but prior to actual work, from January first until March thirty-first, and the first eight month of actual work, from April first to the middle of November. The subjects fell, naturally, into two groups; a “Blue Collar” group and a “White Collar” group.

This paper deals with the motivation of these newly employed workers in general and, specifically, with the difference in motivational tendencies between “Blue Collar” and “White Collar” workers. As expected analysis showed that clear motivational differences appeared.

Motivation in the white collar workers tended to raise after an initial downturn, while a general downward trend was detected for the blue collar workers. White collar worker's attitudes toward themselves and toward their work seemed to change for the better as a result of having the chance to become introspective while plotting the graph and writing the anecdotal responses needed to complete the investigative sheet for this study.     

Corrigendum to “Exponential state estimation for recurrent neural networks with distributed delays” [Neurocomputing 71(1–3) (2007) 428–438]

In the letter [Neurocomputing 71(1–3) (2007) 428–438], there exists one minor error in computing the derivative of V₂((t)) and thus, the proof of Theorem 1 needs some improvement.     

“The Spotting Accelerator™”, Customizable Head Assembly For Advanced Microarraying

Microarraying technologies have emerged as key tools for determining genomic expression. The quality of gene arrays is reliant on spotting pins for production of uniform spots, which are consistent in volume, shape, size and alignment.Point Technologies, Inc., has developed an advanced spotting technology. Emphasis has been placed on producing the “perfect spots” customized to each microarraying application. Uniform surface texturing such as highly polished or matte finishes, and hydrophilic/hydrophobic zonal coating is produced using Point Technologies' proprietary micro-machining technology. Microfabrication also permits the production of advanced pin designs, and high density, high throughput print-head assemblies of 1536 pins and greater. Point Technologies specializes in the micro-electrochemical machining of spotting pins in any size, shape and configuration.Presented data will demonstrate spotting pin design solutions, such as: variety of tip dimensions, surface finishes, specialized coatings, and material options instrumental in producing the ideal spot size, shape and spot density during extended usage.