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.     

A detailed analysis of the photoemission spectra of basic thioaromatic monolayers on noble metal substrates

Analysis of photoemission spectra of complex thioaromatic self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) requires the knowledge and understanding of such spectra for the basic systems. Keeping this goal in mind, synchrotron-based high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to characterize SAMs formed from the simplest thioaromatic compounds, namely thiophenol, 1,1′-biphenyl-4-thiol and 1,1′;4′,1″-terphenyl-4-thiol on evaporated Au(1 1 1) and Ag(1 1 1) substrates. The acquired S 2p and C 1s spectra were analyzed in terms of fine structure and initial and final state effects in the photoemission process. The assignment of the individual spectral features was considered in detail. Conclusions on quality and chemical and structural homogeneity of the investigated SAMs were derived.     

平原农田防护林杨树生长模型及应用研究

应用MATLAB6．5软件，采用经典理论生长方程Logistic方程、Richards方程、单分子式（Mitscherlich）方程对苏北平原建湖县农田防护林I-72杨的平均高、优势高、平均胸径、平均材积生长数据进行曲线拟合．结果表明，Logistic方程拟合胸径、平均高生长效果最好，而Richards方程拟合优势高、材积生长效果最好，并运用拟合模型结果进行立地质量评价和成熟龄确定．     

A model for carbon isotope distribution of methane during diagenesis

The evolution of methane carbon isotope with depth has been discussed based on diagenetic reaction kinetics and isotopic Rayleigh fractionational theory. A mathematical model to describe data of methane carbon isotope for the Liaohe oil field has been established.     

Pion absorption by16O using realistic interactions—II: Free pion absorption followed by emission of proton

Matrix element of the Gallilean invariant nonrelativistic reduction of the pseudoscalar-pseudovector interaction has been calculated for free pion absorption by a single nucleon inside the nucleus of¹⁶O. The Hartree-Fock wavefunctions obtained with the unitary-model-operator approach starting with the hard-core nucleon-nucleon interaction have been used for the π-capturing nucleon in the initial state. The initial pion distortion in the presence of nuclear field of the absorbing nucleus prior to its absorption together with the Coulomb interaction with the finite nuclear size has been taken into account. The distortion of the emitted proton in the field of the residual nucleus has also been considered. The differential cross-sections have been obtained and calculated results are compared with the previous experimental and theoretical work.     

用气相色谱法测定轻苯干点

研究用气相色谱法代替蒸馏法测定不含萘的轻苯干点。轻苯中1，3，5－三甲苯、1，2，4－三甲苯和茚的色谱峰高之和与轻苯的干点呈线性关系，回归方程为Y＝0.521X-69.2954，线性范围为130－153℃，相关系数为r=0.9997。该方法的相对标准偏差为3.98%；经F检验和t检验证明，该方法与蒸馏法测定结果无显著性差异。     

Three-dimensional quantum dynamics study of vibrational predissociation of HeI_2 van der Waals molecule for low vibrational excitation using the time-dependent wave packet method

Three-dimensional quantum mechanical calculations for vibrational predissociation of HeI2(B) van der Waals molecules are presented using the time-dependent wave packet technique within the golden rule approxima tion.The total and partial decay widths,lifetimes,rates and their dependence on initial vibrational states were obtained for HeI2 at low initial vibrational excited levels.Our calculations show that the calculated tota decay widths,lifetimes and rates agree well with those extrapolated from experimental data available The predicted total decay widths as a function of initial vibrational states exhibit highly nonlinear behavior.The very short propagation time (less.than 1 ps) required in the golden rule wave packet calculation is determined by the duration time of the final state inter-action between the fragments on the vibrationally deexcited adiabatic potential surface.The final state interaction between the fragments is shown to play an important role in determining the final rotational distri     

高速公路软基最终沉降预测的范例推理方法

针对高速公路软基沉降的复杂性和不确定性，充分利用地质资料，运用模糊相似优先的概念，构造了高速公路软基最终沉降预测模型。对每个影响软基沉降的因素，分别建立了软基目标范例与源范例之间的模糊相似优先关系。经过影响因素之间的两两比较，获得了不同影响因素下软基的目标范例与源范例之间的相似性序列，计算得到软基目标范例和源范例之间的综合相似性序列，从而找到与软基目标范例最相似的源范例，实现了软基最终沉降预测。实例评价结果与实际沉降观测结果一致，这为预测软土地基路基沉降提供了一种新的方法。     

Technology for long cable erection of a thousand meter scale cable stayed bridge

In the background of the construction of Sutong Yangtze River Bridge （ short as Sutong Bridge ）, the cable construction method and techniques of a thousand-meter scale cable-stayed bridge are introduced. Some key construction techniques, such as outspreading cable on deck, installing cable at pylon, pulling and fixing cable at the attachment with decks and cable PE sheath protection are discussed.     

适度裁减PM3提升中小规模低成熟度组织的管理水平

理论发展图谱显示成熟度模型依次跨越了制造业、软件业、项目主导型组织,理论界近些年广泛开展了项目管理成熟度模型（PM^3）的研究．充分考虑处于PM^3一、二级区间组织（低成熟度组织）的特点,进而结合PM^3相对严谨的结构发现：低成熟度组织需要适度裁减PM^3,进而论证模型裁减的具体实施方式以及有效运行的基本条件．