A Study on the Propensity to cheat in University Exams: Development and Validation Process of the Questionnaire on Cheating in University Exams (QCUE)

This paper presents the seven-step approach to maximizing the evidence of validity that led to the development of the Questionnaire sur la tricherie aux examens à l’université (QTEU) [Questionnaire on Cheating in University Exams (QCUE)]. Composed of 28 items divided into 7 factors (propensity to cheat in exams, peer influence, cheating methods, institutional context, perception of control, performance goal, and commitment to one’s studies), the QCUE design was based on a comprehensive conceptual analysis of the scientific literature on cheating in exams, and on the work of Frenette, Hébert, Thibodeau, and Ndinga (2018) on how to develop a questionnaire maximizing the accumulation of validity evidence. With good psychometric properties, the QCUE meets a need for a French-language questionnaire on the propensity to cheat in exams and allows to measure the scope of cheating among university students.

Impacts of Interpersonal Interaction on Creative Performance: The Moderating Effect of Goal Orientation

This study adopted a social perspective to explore the relationships of interpersonal interaction on creative performance and the moderating effect of goal orientation based on the social exchange theory and social capital theory. Interpersonal interaction was divided into two types, expressive relations and instrumental relations. Goal orientation was differentiated as learning goal orientation and performance goal orientation. Creative performance was divided into three facets, namely creative thinking, creative proposals, and creative applications. Data were collected from research and development engineers. The results show that expressive relations have positive effects on all aspects of creative performance, whereas instrumental relations have positive effects on creative applications. Learning goal orientation moderates the relationship between instrumental relations and creative proposals. Performance goal orientation has moderating effects on the relationship between interpersonal relations (both expressive and instrumental) and creative performance. This study addresses a gap in research into types of interpersonal interaction and goal orientation as these relate to creative performance. Keywords: Interpersonal interaction, Goal orientation, Creative performance.

AI/ML Models to Aid in the Diagnosis of COVID-19 Illness from Forced Cough Vocalizations: Results and Challenges of a Systematic Review of the Relevant Literature

From a comprehensive and systematic search of the relevant literature on signal data signature (SDS)-based artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) systems designed to aid in the diagnosis of COVID-19 illness, we aimed to reproduce the reported systems and to derive a performance goal for comparison to our own medical device with the same intended use. These objectives were in line with a pathway to regulatory approval of such devices, as well as to acceptance of this unfamiliar technology by disaster/pandemic decision makers and clinicians. To our surprise, none of the peer-reviewed articles or pre-print server records contained details sufficient to meet the planned objectives. Information amassed from the full review of more than 60 publications, however, did underscore discrete impediments to bringing AI/ML diagnostic solutions to the bedside during a pandemic. These challenges then were explored by the authors via a gap analysis and specific remedies were proposed for bringing AI/ML technologies in closer alignment with the needs of a Total Product Life Cycle (TPLC) regulatory approach.

Goal Orientation & Metacognitive Self-Regulation Students on Discourse Learning

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted throughout all aspects of human life including education. Despite the previously applied distance education or e-learning in the conventional education, nowadays this instructional model became a newly common approach in education. Therefore, students have to make some adjustments in their learning approach in order to reach out their learning goals. Self-regulated learning (SRL) is a process of monitoring and controlling learning behaviors to achieve learning goals. One of the key factors that contribute to SRL is achievement goal orientation. The aim of this study is to find out the role of types of goal orientation towards metacognitive self-regulation. A total of 320 undergraduate students participated in this study. The findings showed that performance approach and performance avoidance were the significant predictors of metacognitive self-regulation. Students’ preferences to performance goal-orientations were associated with the preliminary study findings that the new instructional model was related to decreased students’ efficacy in learning and feelings of uncertainty to their academic achievement.

Modulation of neural activity in frontopolar cortex drives reward-based motor learning

The frontopolar cortex (FPC) contributes to tracking the reward of alternative choices during decision making, as well as their reliability. Whether this FPC function extends to reward gradients associated with continuous movements during motor learning remains unknown. We used anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the right FPC to investigate its role in reward-based motor learning. Nineteen healthy human participants practiced novel sequences of finger movements on a digital piano with corresponding auditory feedback. Their aim was to use trialwise reward feedback to discover a hidden performance goal along a continuous dimension: timing. We additionally modulated the contralateral motor cortex (left M1) activity, and included a control sham stimulation. Right FPC-tDCS led to faster learning compared to lM1-tDCS and sham through regulation of motor variability. Bayesian computational modelling revealed that in all stimulation protocols, an increase in the trialwise expectation of reward was followed by greater exploitation, as shown previously. Yet, this association was weaker in lM1-tDCS suggesting a less efficient learning strategy. The effects of frontopolar stimulation were dissociated from those induced by lM1-tDCS and sham, as motor exploration was more sensitive to inferred changes in the reward tendency (volatility). The findings suggest that rFPC-tDCS increases the sensitivity of motor exploration to updates in reward volatility, accelerating reward-based motor learning.

Factors Predicting Middle School Pupils’ Learning Orientations: A Multilevel Analysis

Investigating on what school- and student-level factors are related to pupils’ learning orientations was the main purpose of this study. The study used a sample of 2917 middle school pupils across Turkey. The Test of Science Related Attitude, Learning Approach Questionnaire and the Achievement Motivation Questionnaire were utilised as data collection tools. Analysis revealed that there were significant differences in pupils’ learning orientations with respect to both meaningful learning orientation and rote learning orientation. When learning and motivational factors were examined it was found that performance goal orientation and learning goal orientation positively contributed to both meaningful learning and rote learning orientations. Upon examination of sub-dimensions of attitudes toward science, it was determined that the adaptation of scientific attitudes and leisure interest in science made positive and significant contributions to meaningful learning orientation while enjoyment of science lessons contributed to students’ meaningful learning orientation negatively. With respect to rote learning orientation, both adaptation of scientific attitudes and enjoyment of science lessons negatively contributed.

Improving Sub-pixel Estimation of Laser Stripe Reflection Center by Autoconvolution on FPGA

Modern laser scanners perform high-speed real-time image processing algorithms while operating in harsh industrial environments. Their performance goal is to extract the central position of the laser line reflection with Gaussian distribution. Traditional algorithms for sub-pixel estimation, such as the Center of Gravity (CG) or Parabolic Fit (PF), show poor performances under low SNR or if the pixels are saturated. Data pre-processing usually has a key role in suppressing the effects of various noise sources and dynamic environment, especially when the images are overexposed and the top of Gaussian pulse is flattened. Both in simulation and in experiment, this study explains a method that improves the accuracy of estimation of the laser stripe reflection center, by using an autoconvolution for extending the bit-width of pixel intensity. Autoconvolution of the image line is an efficient real-time pre-processing filtering method for improving the accuracy of CG calculation. The proposed algorithm is implemented on Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and experimentally validated at real operational environment. It is shown that this method can reduce the error of CG laser reflection center estimation for more than one pixel in size when the image is highly affected by external noise sources and ambient light.

Aircraft Parking Trajectory Planning in Semistructured Environment Based on Kinodynamic Safety RRT ∗

To improve the safety and effectiveness of autonomous towing aircraft aboard the carrier deck, this study proposes a velocity-restricted path planner algorithm named as kinodynamic safety optimal rapidly exploring random tree (KS-RRT ∗ ) to plan a near time-optimal path. First, a speed map is introduced to assign different maximum allowable velocity for the sampling points in the workspace, and the traverse time is calculated along the kinodynamic connection of two sampling points. Then the near time-optimal path in the tree-structured search map can be obtained by the rewiring procedures, instead of a distance-optimal path in the original RRT ∗ algorithm. In order to enhance the planner’s performance, goal biasing scheme and fast collision checking technique are adopted in the algorithm. Since the sampling-based methods are sensitive to their parameters, simulation experiments are first conducted to determine the optimal input settings for the specific problem. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated in several common aircraft parking scenarios. Comparing with standard RRT ∗ and human heuristic driving, KS-RRT ∗ demonstrates a higher success rate, as well as shorter computation and trajectory time. In conclusion, KS-RRT ∗ algorithm is suitable to generate a near time-optimal safe path for autonomous high density parking in semistructured environment.

Three-Year Results from the Venovo Venous Stent Study for the Treatment of Iliac and Femoral Vein Obstruction

Purpose To assess safety and patency of the Venovo venous stent for the treatment of iliofemoral vein obstruction. Materials and Methods Twenty-two international centers enrolled 170 patients in the VERNACULAR study (93 post-thrombotic syndrome; 77 non-thrombotic iliac vein lesions). Primary outcome measures were major adverse events at 30 days and 12-month primary patency (freedom from target vessel revascularization, thrombotic occlusion, or stenosis > 50%). Secondary outcomes included the Venous Clinical Severity Score Pain Assessment and Chronic Venous Quality-of-Life Questionnaire assessments (hypothesis tested). Secondary observations included primary patency, target vessel and lesion revascularization (TVR/TLR), and assessment of stent integrity through 36 months. Results Freedom from major adverse events through 30 days was 93.5%, statistically higher than a pre-specified performance goal of 89% (p = 0.032) while primary patency at 12 months was 88.6%, also statistically higher than a performance goal of 74% (p < 0.0001). Mean quality-of-life measures were statistically improved compared to baseline values at 12 months (p < 0.0001). Primary patency at 36 months was 84% (Kaplan–Meier analysis) while freedom from TVR/TLR was 88.1%. There was no stent embolization/migration, and no core laboratory assessed stent fractures reported through 36 months. Six deaths were reported; none adjudicated as device or procedure related. Conclusion The Venovo venous stent was successfully deployed in obstructive iliofemoral vein lesions and met the pre-specified primary outcome measures through 12 months. At 3 years, primary patency was 84%, reintervention rates were low, standardized quality-of-life and pain measures improved from baseline, and there was no stent migration or fractures. Level of Evidence Level 2—prospective, multicenter, controlled clinical study without a concurrent control or randomization. Pre-specified endpoints were hypothesis-tested to performance goals derived from peer-reviewed clinical literature. Registration clinicaltrials.gov Unique Identifier NCT02655887.