Academic maturity of students in an extended programme in mathematics

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on the students who are registered in the University of Pretoria’s academic development programme, named the Four-year Programme (FYP). The programme was introduced as a gateway for students who are underprepared but have the potential to succeed and then continue their studies into the mainstream science programmes. Our research focuses on measuring the change in the academic maturity of these students. In the theoretical framework that we developed, academic maturity is subdivided into two components namely non-subject based maturity and subject based maturity (mathematical maturity). This paper focuses on measuring non-subject based academic maturity. The survey used for this purpose is called the Student Academic Readiness Survey (STARS), taken at the beginning of the year and after the first semester respectively. The results of the surveys are compared to measure the change in students’ views. Results show that in all constructs there is a surprising decline in students’ perceptions regarding their own abilities over the first semester at university. We use the Dunning–Kruger effect to explain this unexpected decline, in that students seem to develop a more realistic view of their own maturity, which in itself can be seen as a growth in academic maturity.     

Total synthesis of natural (levo) and enantiomeric (dextro) forms of prostaglandin El

1 newly-discovered method of synthesizing PGE1 (prostaglandin E1) is explained and diagrammed chemically. Recrystallization of the synthetic product produced material identical in all respects with natural PGE1. The synthetic product showed the same infrared spectrum and chromatographic values as racemic and natural forms of PGE1. The biological activity of the synthetic product was found to be .1% of that of the naturally-occurring PGE1 in the stimulation of smooth muscle contraction. This is the 1st report of a total synthesis of PGE1. Research continues on improvements in this synthesizing method and on discovering other synthetic approaches to PGs.     

Proton transfers in hydrogen bonded systems. Electron correlation effects in (H3NHOH2)+

The energetics of proton transfer between the N and O atoms of (H₃NHOH₂)⁺ are calculated via ab initio molecular orbital methods. A single-well potential is obtained at the equilibrium intermolecular separation Inclusion of electron correlation via the POL CI technique produces a less steep potential, reducing the energy barrier to proton transfer at greater NO distances.