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Background: Using infection control barriers (ICBs) on light curing units (LCUs) became mandatory to achieve proper infection control measures without jeopardizing the integrity of the restorations, especially at deeper layers. This study explored the effect of two ICBs on the irradiance of the LCU, as well as the degree of conversion (DC) and flexural strength (FS) of two types of bulk-fill composites. Water vapor permeability (WVP) of both barriers was also assessed to evaluate the capability of such barriers to prevent transmission of blood and saliva droplets and aerosols. Methods: Two bulk-fill composites (X-tra fil and Tetric N- ceram) and two ICBs (Pinnacle Cure sleeve and Sanita wrapping film) were used in this study. Light irradiance was recorded per experimental condition using spectroradiometer. For DC and FS, specimens of 4 mm thickness were prepared. Each specimen was composed of two separable upper and lower layers of thickness 2 mm. DC and FS were measured using Infra-red spectroscopy and three-point loading test respectively. WVP was investigated using the cup method. Means and standard deviations were calculated, and the data were statistically analyzed using factorial analysis of variance test (α = 0.05). Results: Light irradiance showed highest values using no ICBs and lowest values using Pinnacle curing sleeve. Both bulk-fill composites showed higher DC mean values without ICBs and when using Sanita wrapping film for both upper and lower layers of the specimens compared to Pinnacle curing sleeve. The upper layers of composite specimens showed higher DC compared to lower layers for all experimental conditions. Both ICBs had no adverse effect on FS of both composites' upper layers. Pinnacle sleeve significantly reduced FS of both composites' lower layers. X-tra fil showed higher DC and FS compared to Tetric N-Ceram for all experimental conditions. Regarding WVP; the wrapping film showed higher WVP compared to the curing sleeve. Conclusions: Sanita wrapping film can be used as a successful ICB, without jeopardizing the concept of bulk-fill composites. Pinnacle cure sleeve can be considered an effective ICB, however its influence on properties and serviceability of bulk-fill composites remains questionable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STEAM contests play a pivotal role in maintaining students' interest and motivation in STEAM education. Finding factors that are related to students' continuance intention (CI) to participate in STEAM contests is important for promoting STEAM education. Previous studies mostly focused on exploring the relationships between students' behavioural attitude, positive affect and their CI for a STEAM contest. However, few studies have explored students' CI from the perspective of help-seeking attitude with the belief-attitude-behaviour model. Thus, this study investigated the relationships among students' hands-on making self-efficacy (HMSE), incremental belief of intelligence (IBI), help-seeking attitudes including instrumental help-seeking (IHS) and executive help-seeking (EHS), and their CI for STEAM contests based on the belief-attitude-behaviour model. A total of 405 elementary and junior high school students who took part in the 2022 STEAM PowerTech contest participated in this study. Structural equation modelling was used for confirmatory analysis to validate the hypotheses. Results indicated that EHS exhibited a negative association with CI, whereas IHS exhibited a positive association with CI. HMSE and IBI were negatively associated with EHS, and positively associated with IHS. This study implies that students with a high level of HMSE and IBI are inclined to exhibit IHS and thus have a strong CI for STEAM contests. The findings provide suggestions on enhancing students' CI for STEAM contests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarizes the use of film-forming amines (FFAs) for corrosion protection in water/steam industrial circuits, focusing on carbon steel. It discusses industrial feedback on FFAs' benefits and challenges, alongside experimental methods for studying their inhibition and structural properties. Key research areas include FFAs' corrosion inhibition mechanisms, adsorption kinetics, and layer structures. The review also identifies knowledge gaps and suggests future research directions to deepen the understanding of FFAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehension of mathematical notions can profit from the personal background of a population of students, drawing upon their former knowledge in another field. In particular, the embodiment of mathematics provides us with a bridge to transfer competencies from music to intuitive understanding of non-trivial geometries and topologies. In this study, we analyse an experiment in which music composition students are introduced to the Klein bottle for the first time. Through the Ontological and Semiotic Approach (OSA), a conceptual framework in mathematics education, we evaluate the evolution from an initial intuition of the Klein bottle to a formal understanding of the object via musical renditions and verbal presentations to both neophyte and specialist audiences in mathematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) has a significant role in developing thinking in children in preschool and elementary school age. The process of learning supports children's development in constructing their own knowledge, in designing, discussing, and testing ideas and finding solutions to different problems. The questions and solutions that require non-standard thinking and imagination provoked John Maeda in 2002 to introduce the arts to the commented approach. At the beginning, he proposed to integrate only the visual arts and especially those in the field of design, but many educators defended the thesis that, in addition to those listed, others could be added too. Thereby, creativity, cultural diversity and aesthetic features as form and content are added to the scientific fields and the approach acquires the extended version - STEAM. The results of the research and analysis of music educators' positions showed the need to implement music to STEM subjects and the need to train teachers to learn how to integrate music into the STEAM approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STEAM has gained traction across informal and formal educational settings, but the connections between STEAM disciplines are not always obvious to youth. We argue that an explicit focus on how art and STEM overlap in the world, and how these overlaps connect personally to learner's interests and concerns, is a way to support the development of STEAM-related identities. We developed a "STEAM objects" pedagogical activity aimed at explicitly surfacing the ways that art and STEM are intertwined in everyday objects, as well as the ways that STEAM is connected to learners' own lives. We piloted the activity with educators, asking what they took up from the experience. Our results show how the educators made connections to land, historicity, their professions, function, aesthetics, and agency of materials during the activity. The STEAM objects served as boundary objects that illustrated the integrative nature of art and STEM in the world, as well as bridging important aspects of their lives and STEAM. We discuss the importance of recognizing and leveraging the multiplicities of meaning and ways of knowing, as well as implications for the classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Event cameras produce asynchronous discrete outputs due to the independent response of camera pixels to changes in brightness. The asynchronous and discrete nature of event data facilitate the tracking of prolonged feature trajectories. Nonetheless, this necessitates the adaptation of feature tracking techniques to efficiently process this type of data. In addressing this challenge, we proposed a hybrid data-driven feature tracking method that utilizes data from both event cameras and frame-based cameras to track features asynchronously. It mainly includes patch initialization, patch optimization, and patch association modules. In the patch initialization module, FAST corners are detected in frame images, providing points responsive to local brightness changes. The patch association module introduces a nearest-neighbor (NN) algorithm to filter new feature points effectively. The patch optimization module assesses optimization quality for tracking quality monitoring. We evaluate the tracking accuracy and robustness of our method using public and self-collected datasets, focusing on average tracking error and feature age. In contrast to the event-based Kanade–Lucas–Tomasi tracker method, our method decreases the average tracking error ranging from 1.3 to 29.2% and boosts the feature age ranging from 9.6 to 32.1%, while ensuring the computational efficiency improvement of 1.2–7.6%. Thus, our proposed feature tracking method utilizes the unique characteristics of event cameras and traditional cameras to deliver a robust and efficient tracking system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Over the past two decades, bed bugs (Cimex spp.) have resurged as common urban pests around the world. The search for efficient and safe control measures has become a key interest among researchers, manufacturers, and pest control professionals. In this study, we evaluated and compared the efficacy of steam, diatomaceous earth (DE) dust, and a combination of both against tropical bed bugs (Cimex hemipterus (F.)) under laboratory and field conditions. RESULTS: In the laboratory study, the mortality of bed bugs after 2 days of exposure to DE dust was 100%. When bed bugs stayed on the surface of an object or in cracks, a brief steam treatment (1 s) caused 100% mortality. However, when bed bugs were hidden under a fabric cover, steam application for 10 s only caused 89 ± 6% mortality. Bed bugs that survived steam treatment exhibited reduced feeding activity. In a 14‐week long study, there was no significant difference in the reduction rate of bed bugs between steam treatment and DE dust treatment. A 37‐week long control study showed that steam and steam plus DE dust treatments eliminated 97–100% of the infestations. CONCLUSION: Applying steam and DE dust are effective strategies for eliminating natural tropical bed bug infestations. Continuous follow‐up monitoring and treatment until no bed bugs are found are crucial in completely eliminating the infestation of tropical bed bugs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the importance of innovation, artificial intelligence (AI) education, and online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, we explored the effects of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) hands-on learning on online AI learning and creativity. We also analyzed the effects of creative emotions on AI learning using facial expressions. We recruited 25 preservice teachers at a public university as participants. A pretest – post-test nonequivalent comparison group design was adopted. AI learning was applied to experimental teaching. The experimental and control groups received online STEAM hands-on learning and standard teaching, respectively. The findings were as follows: STEAM hands-on learning had a significant positive effect on the conjunction item, example item, and total AI concept scores, and an even greater positive effect on AI attitude scores, particularly for AI processing and output; the effect size of STEAM hands-on learning on AI creativity was large, and the effect was positive in terms of design novelty, elaboration, and usability; and participants had higher anger levels in the designing and drawing AI learning stages, implying a high degree of focus and engagement. Finally, recommendations for instruction include the use of more online resources and engaging practical software to improve professional learning and enjoyment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choice and autonomy are central tenets of interest-driven learning. Yet, in most studies on interest in school, students' choice and autonomy have been confined within the boundaries of the curriculum and the subject matter in question. This limits our understanding of how schools can support interest-driven learning as well as students' interest development in educational settings more broadly. To address this gap, in this study, we have focused on student learning when they are allowed to follow their interests beyond the curriculum during school time. Building on relational and practice-based perspectives on interest, we conceptualized such extensions as productive deviations and centered on a particular case of two 6th-grade students - Tamaz and Nuri - who created two computer games during their time in the FUSE Studio, alternative STEAM learning infrastructure for schools. Our interactional analysis of Tamaz and Nuri's problem-solving during their game-making shows that their productive deviation formed a significant learning experience for them in terms of game design and working with computers. Overall, our study contributes to discussions on fostering and supporting students' interest-driven learning and interest development in school settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here are presented 5-set Venn diagram tasks for concept formation. Rotational symmetry of a curve is used to visualize a 5-set Venn diagram. Emphasis is placed on the number of solutions and inverse problems. The role of computer models in their construction, solution and dissemination, including their use in museums, is discussed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the need to apply innovative educational models in modern education. A brief scientific review is made of the emergence of the STEM/STEAM education, the latter currently being one of the priority approaches for application in educational policies around the world. The basic integrating factor for the STEM and STEAM education is games. Through games, children apply their real-life experience, and they favour their overall cognitive development. Game technologies for STEM/STEAM education in kindergartens are aimed at developing the skills of modern children for critical and creative thinking, design and coding, communication and interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. The connection between the traditions and innovations of the more-than-a-century-old tradition of preschool pedagogy in Bulgaria is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption of arsenate from wastewaters was investigated by applying Mg-, Zn- or Ca-modified nut residue biochar activated by nitrogen/steam. The parameters studied were the contact time, adsorbent dose, initial arsenate concentration and solution pH. The adsorption mechanism was investigated. Various analyses of the material before and after arsenate adsorption were carried out, and experimental data were simulated by applying two isotherm models. The results indicated that the maximum removal efficiency of arsenate was 29.4% at an initial concentration of 10 mg/L. The modification of biochar by Mg, Zn or Ca oxides increased the removal rate significantly, from 49.4% at 100 mg/L As5+ up to 8%, 97% and 97%, respectively. Zn-modified biochar presented an excellent performance for both low and high As5+ concentrations. All experimental data were accurately fitted by the Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.94–0.97), confirming a multilayer adsorption mechanism. For a biochar dose of 2 g/L, the maximum capacity of adsorption was enhanced after Mg-, Zn- or Ca-modification from 12.4 mg/g to 35 mg/g, 50 mg/g and 49 mg/g, respectively. The potential mechanisms of adsorption were ligand exchange, chemical complexation, surface precipitation and electron coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) approach has a variety of benefits for all children as it triggers multiple senses through hands-on activities, experiential learning, exploration opportunities on different scientific topics, and various tools and materials. Five STEAM activities were designed and implemented with fifteen 60–72-month-old children over a five-week period. Each activity required children to make their own designs to create their product, and was prepared to emphasize a particular feature of STEAM education. Instrumental case study was utilized in this study. It was observed that children engage more and spend more time, demand additional materials and use their imagination to design more creative and various products in STEAM activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streaming perception is a crucial task in the field of autonomous driving, which aims to eliminate the inconsistency between the perception results and the real environment due to the delay. In high-speed driving scenarios, the inconsistency becomes larger. Previous research has ignored the study of streaming perception in high-speed driving scenarios and the robustness of the model to object's speed. To fill this gap, we first define the full-speed domain streaming perception problem and construct a real-time meta-detector, StreamTrack. Second, to perform motion trend extraction, Swift Multi-Cost Tracker (SMCT) is proposed for fast and accurate data association. Meanwhile, the Direct-Decoupled Prediction Head (DDPH) is introduced for predicting future locations. Furthermore, we introduce the Uniform Motion Prior Loss (UMPL), which ensures stable learning of the model for rapidly moving objects. Compared with the strong baseline, our model improves the SAsAP (Speed-Adaptive steaming Average Precision) by 15.46 %. Extensive experiments show that our approach achieves state-of-the-art performance in the full-speed domain streaming perception task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoforming of fibre‐based materials faces challenges due to their restrictive three‐dimensional formability and lack of compatibility between material properties and traditional thermoforming methods. Treatment techniques present an intriguing area of research to address the gap between material characteristics and process requirements. Therefore, this study examined the influence of inline steam treatment on the thermoforming of plastic‐coated fibre‐based materials with different product geometries. Three plastic‐coated paperboards were subjected to thermoforming, with and without steaming, and their thermoformability was assessed based on the maximum depth and draft angle of the samples. Following 7 s of steaming, the materials exhibited a moisture content 2–4 percentage points higher than that of the original setup, yielding a greater curling rate in the produced samples across different geometries. The curling rate was influenced by the tensile stiffness of the materials and was correlated with the size of the flat‐edge area in the studied geometries. Furthermore, findings revealed varying rates at which steaming affected different geometries. Steaming substantially enhanced the achieved depth for geometries where the material was incapable of reaching the mould without moisturization, particularly observed for smaller geometrical shapes. This improvement was linked to steaming, which enhanced pliability, facilitated material penetration, and increased the final depth. However, in geometries where the material could reach the mould without moisturization, steaming expanded the contact area but could also result in a greater spring‐back rate and reduced depth, potentially owing to the loss of elastic modulus by moisturization. Nevertheless, the rate of spring‐back did not consistently increase with steaming and could be influenced by various material‐related factors, including the properties, composition, preparation methods, and postforming drying. Despite depth changes, steaming consistently improved the obtained draft angles, indicating that the materials were drawn more efficiently to the sidewalls across all instances studied. Thus, this study underscored the importance of choosing appropriate materials and moulds for hydrothermal moisturization treatments in the thermoforming process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Nine steaming and nine drying is a traditional chinese medicine (TCM) processing method and it is widely used for processing tonifying herbs. Modern research reveals that the repeated steaming and drying process varies the composition and clinical efficacy of TCM. Objective: this paper analyzes and explores the historical evolution, research progress, development strategies, and problems encountered in the nine steaming and nine drying process so as to provide a reasonable explanation for this method. Methods: english and chinese literature from 1986 to 2023 was collected from databases including web of Science, PubMed, elsevier, chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 (CP), and CNKI (chinese). Nine steaming and nine drying, processing, TCM and pharmacological activity were used as the key words. Results: Nine steaming and nine drying has undergone thousands of years of clinical practice. Under specific processing conditions of nine steaming and nine drying, the ingredients of the TCM have significant changes, which in turn altered clinical applications. Conclusions: this review provides sufficient evidence to prove the rationality and scientific value of nine steaming and nine drying and puts forward a development direction for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a comprehensive review of published literature on fish glue (FG), the ecological glue for traditional furniture, the traditional handicraft for making FG was found to include six main processes: soaking, steaming, manual smashing, decoction, filtration, and airing. The handicraft that makes FG is manual and is not only time-consuming and laborious but does not have clearly documented standard processes and is thus less repeatable. Considering this, experiments to optimize a new technique for making FG were designed. Six basic technological processes (cutting and drying, crushing, soaking, decoction, filtration, and airing) were investigated to optimize the new glue production technique. The technological processes of the new technique were compared with those of the traditional handicraft method. The results indicated that preparing FG following the optimal processes of the new glue-making technique not only ensured the quality of the glue solution but also outperformed the traditional handicraft technique in the following aspects: 1) it simplifies the production process, reduces labor intensity, and saves time: the soaking time is decreased by 50% and the traditional manual smashing process is not required; 2) it improves the glue yield by 5.42%; and 3) due to introduction of mechanical processing, time and temperature are controllable, rendering production more repeatable and easily up-scaled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability impacting patients' daily lives. Adequate and ongoing rehabilitation is a necessity. Due to disability problems, rehabilitation in the health care system is limited. Traditional medicine has been promoted in Thailand for stroke rehabilitation, with physical therapy as the primary treatment plan. However, despite more options, many patients still receive inadequate rehabilitation. The development of an appropriate rehabilitation model is still necessary. This study aims to study factors influencing limb movements in post-stroke patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 120 ischemic stroke patients obtained by multi-stage sampling in Muang district, Phitsanulok province. The data were collected using questionnaires with Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.89. The ability to move the muscles of the limbs of the patients was assessed using the motor power assessment form, and binary logistic regression statistics analyzed the factors influencing limb movements. Result: Data analysis shows that 76% of the stroke patients were female, 39.3% aged 61–70 years had a mean of 62 years and a standard deviation (S.D.) of 8.9, 4.6% of stroke patients had a duration of illness of 6–12 months, and 94.2% had a caregiver. 53.1% received rehabilitation once a week, and 92.5% received Thai massage. Thai traditional medicine utilization methods consist of Thai massage, herbal compresses, herbal steam, and taking herbal medicines. There are two factors influencing the ability to move the limb muscles of stroke patients as follows: (1) the massage with the Thai traditional medicine rehabilitation method (Adj OR = 28.917, p-value = 0.006) and (2) the number of rehabilitation sessions per week (Adj OR = 2.465, p-value < 0.001). These two variables explain the variance of regaining limb movement among post-stroke patients of 42.5% at a significance level of 0.05. In this analysis, the predictive accuracy was 70%. Conclusion: Rehabilitation using Thai massage, together with the number of rehabilitation sessions per week, influenced the ability of limb movement in post-stroke patients. In other words, increasing the number of rehabilitation times per week and using Thai massage in rehabilitation will help stroke patients move their limbs better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the revision of the STEAM model originally proposed by Yakman, in 2008, introducing the Human variable, as an extremely important element for the model, which was defined as STEAM ∀H, where ∀H is for all Humanity. This proposal is motivated by several factors. On the one hand, the evolution of industrial design from the 19th century to present, going from designing objects focused on facilitating industrialization and focused on the user, to design focused on the human being and humanity. On the other hand, since the formulation of the STEAM model, different improvements have been proposed in the literature in order to introduce humanistic disciplines into the model, also seeking to introduce society as a fundamental element. For example, the literature has proposed the STREAM model, where R is religion, or STEAM-ED, where -ED implies an approach based on the constructivist social theory. The STEAMS model, where S is Society, has also been proposed to try to improve training in understanding society and the implications of designing for it. Initially Yakman introduces the "A" in the STEM model as the sum of different disciplines that use the word "art" in their description: Fine Arts, Physical Arts, Manual Arts and Liberal Arts. The first three disciplines are associated with the practical and also creative part, while the Liberal Arts approach various disciplines in the humanities and social areas. Yakman's definition of STEAM was quickly accepted and assimilated by the scientific community. However, for the purposes of application, the "A" is treated fundamentally as that creative and artistic component transversal to the rest of the model, relegating humanistic and social learning to the background. In the first section of this article the redefinition of the "A" in the STEAM model is proposed, which was originally defined by Yakman, by integrating the areas of Fine Arts, Physical Arts and Manual Arts; adding ∀H, as STEAM ∀H, which integrates the Liberal Arts, defining the model as: "the learning of Science and Technology interpreted through Engineering and Art based on the language of Mathematics and taking into account the implications of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math' for all Humanity" The second section of this article proposes the implementation in detail of the STEAM ∀H model in higher education, specifically, in the first year of the Degree in Industrial Design Engineering and Product Development, where the STEAM areas represented by the subjects of Physics, Mathematics, Basic Design, Representation of Shapes, etc., must be integrated with the subject of Social Doctrine of the Church. The model has been tested in three consecutive courses. An empirical qualitative study, case study method was carried out thorugh multiple-question Likert scale questionnaries to analize the perpective and perception of the participants to the new method. The frequency of the results obtained are shown and analized at the end of the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) is associated with a promising pedagogical approach to improve the development of students at different educational stages. Degrees linked to a STEAM approach encourage real-world problem solving through the application of multidisciplinary knowledge. The objective of this research is to analyze the perception of Early Childhood and Primary to Secondary Education teachers on the existence of the gender gap among pre-university students in subjects related to STEAM degrees in Spain. Given the results obtained, it is possible to affirm that according to teachers, there is a gender gap among students in the early educational stages in topics related to STEAM careers, which can mark their future gender gap in university education. Given this scenario, it is necessary to continue researching the possible factors that influence the gender gap in these degrees to understand possible gender inequalities in the educational field. Furthermore, the need to implement educational strategies that promote gender equality in Spain from the first educational stages is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Synthetic Fiber Industry is the property of Sinopec Baling Petrochemical Company and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

With a research design using the Research and Development method, the aim of this research is to develop a Basic Biomedical learning model using a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) approach based on Augmented Reality. In developing the Basic Biomedical Learning Model, researchers used the development model from Hannafin and Peck, while in designing augmented reality software that was integrated with a marker-based encyclopedia, researchers used the Waterfall model. After designing and developing, the model and media were evaluated using Tessmer formative evaluation with 4 stages, 1) Experts Reviews, 2) Onto-One, 3) Small Group and 4) Field Test. The research subjects were 2nd semester students, Health Study Program, FIKES, Ibn Khaldun University Bogor on Human Anatomy Physiology material. In collecting data, researchers used interview techniques, data, questionnaires, tests, observation sheets and documentation. The results of media tests based on learning model development must meet the requirements for feasibility, practicality and effectiveness. So it is hoped that the results of testing the development of a Basic Biomedical Learning Model using the Augmented Reality-based STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) approach can improve students' 21st century skills in biomedical practicum activities and student learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Si/Al molar ratio of MAZ aluminosilicate zeolite prepared by the direct hydrothermal method is generally less than five, thus giving rise to poor thermal and hydrothermal stability for this low-silica zeolite. With the purpose of enhancing the Si/Al molar ratio of MAZ zeolite, post-synthesized methods including acetic acid treatment and steaming treatment, as well as interzeolite transformation from FAU zeolite, were employed to prepare MAZ zeolite with high silica. It was found that steaming treatment was more effective in increasing the Si/Al molar ratio in comparison with acetic acid treatment, affording a maximum Si/Al molar ratio of 16.9 along with a preserved crystallinity of approximately 75%. Additionally, high-silica MAZ zeolite with a Si/Al molar ratio of up to 7.3 was also capable of being directly hydrothermally synthesized using interzeolite transformation from FAU zeolite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) is a fruiting shrub native to tropical and subtropical countries around the world and cultivated in many regions due to its nutraceutical value. The current study investigated the metabolic profiling and enzyme inhibitory activities of volatile constituents derived from the C. aurantium peel cultivated in Egypt by three different extraction methods. Methods: The volatile chemical constituents of the peel of C. aurantium were isolated using three methods; steam distillation (SD), hydrodistillation (HD), and microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD), and then were investigated by GC-MS. The antioxidant potential was evaluated by different assays such as DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, and phosphomolybdenum and metal chelating potential. Moreover, the effect of enzyme inhibition of the three essential oils was tested using BChE, AChE, tyrosinase, glucosidase, as well as amylase assays. Results: A total of six compounds were detected by GC/MS analysis. The major constituent obtained by all three extraction methods was limonene (98.86% by SD, 98.68% by HD, and 99.23% by MAHD). Differences in the composition of the compounds of the three oils were observed. The hydrodistillation technique has yielded the highest number of compounds, notably two oxygenated monoterpenes: linalool (0.12%) and α-terpineol acetate (0.1%). Conclusion: In our study differences in the extraction methods of C. aurantium peel oils resulted in differences in the oils' chemical composition. Citrus essential oils and their components showed potential antioxidant, anticholinesterase, antimelanogenesis, and antidiabetic activities. The presence of linalool and α-terpineol acetate may explain the superior activity observed for the oil isolated by HD in both radical scavenging and AChE inhibition assays, as well as in the enzyme inhibition assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the development and application of an approach for evaluating audience response to and meaning-making from large-scale public murals, created as part of an art-science-community engagement project. The project adapted Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) facilitation, a common technique in visual arts education, with a focus group style interview to investigate if the murals generated the intended meaning-making among members of the communities they depicted. We piloted a VTS-centered focus group discussion with three groups of community residents in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. Thematic coding of observations in the discussion groups suggest that a VTS-centered focus group is an effective approach to evaluate audience meaning-making by prompting slow looking, protracted discussion, and offering a structure for discussion that keeps the facilitator from shaping topics of conversation. The affordances and limitations of this approach as a tool for research and evaluation of learning through public art and exhibitions is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STEM, STEAM education is important for building a better future, and teachers have a key role in attracting students to the field of STEM. However, when teachers need to shift from traditional disciplinary-based education to integrated STEM education, they often find this transition challenging. This difficulty arises because their beliefs about science teaching and learning are deeply rooted in traditional disciplinary-based approaches. Beliefs have a profound influence on their teaching practises as well as their professional development, even though teachers are often not conscious of their own beliefs. To address this issue, we employed a phenomenological approach to investigate the phenomena when their beliefs espoused by asking formative episodes that influenced their development as science teachers. This study aimed at exploring the current subject-specific beliefs of in-service science teachers. This told us how best to guide teachers through this process of the transition from traditional disciplinary-based education to STEM education. Our findings revealed that teachers’ beliefs showed that curiosity and/or interest towards science to be the most important factors in student learning. This indicates that while teachers’ core beliefs are not entirely disciplinary-oriented, they are more open. It would reduce their anxiety and low self-efficacy in conveying STEM education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of the cooking methods (frying, stir-frying, air-frying, boiling, steaming, baking and sous-vide, and microwaving) on total phenolic content (TPC) and sensory profile of cauliflower have been investigated. Higher cooking temperatures have resulted in higher TPC values, which can be attributed to the generation of new phenolics by the Maillard reaction and cleavage of bound phenolics. The highest TPC and bitterness were obtained when steaming and baking (180°C for 20 min) were applied. While the boiling procedure results in low bitterness and sweetness due to the loss of related compounds in boiling water, the taste of cooked cauliflower was higher when steamed (12 min) and stir-fried (4.5 min). Overall acceptability of the boiled, steamed, and fried samples was higher than in baked and sous-vide treated samples. Steaming was determined as the best technique regarding TPC content and sensory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is a reaction product during the oxidation of alloys in steam. A fraction of the hydrogen produced diffuses into the alloy, while the remainder is released back into the gas phase. Hydrogen permeation experiments on iron and nickel foils were made to quantify the fraction of hydrogen which permeated through the metal and the fraction which went back into the gas phase. Tests were conducted at 750 °C in Ar-3% H2O on one side of the foil to track hydrogen transport during oxidation. Exposure tests at 650 and 700 °C in atmospheric pressure steam on ferritic steel T23 and ferritic/martensitic steel T92, as functions of gas velocity and sample orientation, provide evidence that the transport of hydrogen back into the gas phase influences the oxidation kinetics. Boundary layer controlled hydrogen diffusion away from the scale and into the gas phase was modelled to predict the effects of gas velocity and pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Espacios is the property of Talleres de Impresos Oma and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bulletin of Ablai Khan KazUIRandWL: Series 'Pedagogical Sciences' is the property of Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations & World Languages and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Environmental science classes often ask students to examine changes in species or their environments to determine the human impact on a particular habitat or ecosystem. It is not always practical to take students out for a field study to do this kind of analysis; instead, the scientific method and diversity analyses can be utilized while students compare topographic maps, photographs, or paintings over time. In this article, we present three laboratories that use artwork (e.g., paintings or photographs) to have students examine anthropogenic alterations in the character of landscapes and explore how our connection with nature has changed over time. These laboratories can benefit educators looking for an interdisciplinary STEAM approach to introduce both biology majors and nonmajors to environmental science concepts and the scientific method in a highly relatable way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancements of machine learning and AI technologies, robots have been more widely used in our everyday life and they have also been used in education. The present study introduces a 12-week child-robot theater afterschool program designed to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education with art elements (STEAM) for elementary students using social robots. Four modules were designed to introduce robot mechanisms as well as arts: Acting (anthropomorphism), Dance (robot movements), Music and Sounds (music composition), and Drawing (robot art). These modules provided children with basic knowledge about robotics and STEM and guided children to create a live robot theater play. A total of 16 students participated in the program, and 11 of them were involved in completing questionnaires and interviews regarding their perceptions towards robots, STEAM, and the afterschool program. Four afterschool program teachers participated in interviews, reflecting their perceptions of the program and observations of children's experiences during the program. Our findings suggest that the present program effectively maintained children's engagement and improved their interest in STEAM by connecting social robots and theater production. We conclude with design guidelines and recommendations for future research and programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jurnal Syntax Admiration is the property of Ridwan Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

K-12 teacher professional development in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) is often utilized to enhance teachers' abilities to use STEAM pedagogical methods in the classroom. One such program is GoSTEAM, a five-year initiative centered on K-12 teacher professional development in STEAM. Teachers participating in GoSTEAM collaborate on the implementation of STEAM lessons and activities with an Innovator-in-Residence, who is an individual with experience in a STEAM field, often from a local community organization or university. This study analyzes focus group findings from teachers and school administrators to assess how the partnership with the Innovator-in-Residence impacts teachers' professional development in STEAM. The findings suggest teachers and administrators perceived there to be several impacts on teachers' professional development as a result of the partnership, such as the development of STEAM skills and making connections between STEAM, district standards, and real-world concepts. As such, the results of this study indicate that a teacher's professional development in STEAM can be impacted by an ongoing partnership and collaboration with community partners and those experienced in STEAM fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how incorporating art into an upper-level undergraduate field-based ecology research course influenced students' communication and collaboration skills, their career goals, and how they conceptualized the scientific method. Student pairs designed an independent research study that used artwork and a scientific research poster to disseminate their findings at an end-of-term exhibit. Students enrolled in either a local or a (subsidized) travel abroad section of the course. Students in both sections found new or deeper connections between art and science, developed a more sophisticated understanding of the science method, became more confident with their science skills, and reported an expanded perspective on their future careers (often including field work and a wider geographic job search). Science–art student teams indicated they wanted more opportunities for collaborative work in the future, and that their final products were more professional due to their collaborations, as compared to science–science teams. Additionally, the travel abroad students benefitted from experiencing new ecosystems and cultures, from working with science and art professionals from other countries, and from working in an isolated field station without distractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the philosophical constructs of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) curricula entwined with self-regulation and mindfulness to afford students holistic learning. STEAM education is often presented as STEM, resulting in the loss of blended arts integration. The researchers present rationale for including the arts to provide students with interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary curricula that promotes increased creativity and emotive connections to learning. Blending of the arts in STEAM provides students with a greater depth and breadth of critical-thinking, creative-thinking, and social-emotional connections to content. The social capital and emotive connections students construct in STEAM learning present educators with opportunities to entwine mindfulness practices to empower students to develop confidence and competence in their STEAM abilities. Entwining STEAM, self-regulation, and mindfulness provides both a canvas and laboratory of aesthetic, holistic learning of the mind and spirit. The researchers provide instructional and clinical professional practices as well as recommendations for STEAM as a construct for not only providing opportunities for students to engage in cognitive progression, but also to assist learners in developing social, emotional, and behavioral skills for lifelong regulatory and mindfulness learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Besides controlling NOx emissions, reducing the emissions of secondary pollutants including N2O and NH3 is required to meet the strict emission regulations. In order to understand the effects of exhaust gas components on catalytic NOx reduction, NO conversion as well as the formation features of N2O and NH3 were tested on a catalytic activity simulation evaluation device and the catalytic reaction was carried out by using a self-prepared three-way catalyst under different reductants and at different concentrations of CO and steam. It was found that N2O formation was significantly ascribed to the catalytic reduction of NO by CO, because of the synergistic effect of active oxygen species on the catalyst surface. And the amounts of NH3 formation were positively correlated with the reaction temperature in the range of 150-400 °C. Introducing water vapour led to an increase in N2O and NH3 contents and the adsorption of H2O molecules on the catalyst surface inhibited the consumption of reactive oxygen species. Increasing CO concentration would reduce N2O formation but promote NH3 generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the emotions that pre-service teachers (PSTs) experience when they interact with geometric knowledge and 3D design in a project focused on the way of Saint James pilgrimage route. The sample was made up of 101 PSTs from the University of Santiago de Compostela, the final point of the pilgrimage path. An emotional questionnaire, together with a participant observation notebook and a rubric, served as data collection instruments. The analytical frameworks included the didactical suitability criteria for mediational and affective facets, and SAMR (substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition) model for the effective integration of technology in schools. The results show a greater presence of pleasant emotions, highlighting the emotions of curiosity and cheerfulness. Despite this, less pleasant emotions such as brain-taster or bewilderment were notable. Pleasant emotions shown, as well, higher correlation rates. In conclusion, 3D design seems to indicate great potential for working on emotions with this group of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the Rankine vapor power thermodynamic cycle using steam/water as the working fluid, which is common in commercial power plants for power generation as the source of the rotary shaft power needed to drive electric generators. The four-process cycle version, which comprises a water pump section, a boiler/superheater section, a steam turbine section, and a condenser section, was considered. The performance of this thermodynamic power cycle depends on several design parameters. This study varied a single independent variable, the absolute pressure of the condenser, by a factor of 256, from 0.78125 to 200 kPa. The peak pressure and peak temperature in the cycle were fixed at 50 bar (5,000 kPa) and 600°C, respectively, corresponding to a base case with a base value for the condenser's absolute pressure of 12.5 kPa (0.125 bar). The analysis was performed using the thermodynamics software package Cantera as an extension of the Python programming language. The results suggest that over the range of condenser pressures examined, a logarithmic function can be deployed to describe the dependence of input heat, the net output work, and cycle efficiency on the absolute pressure of the condenser. Each of these three performance metrics decreases as the absolute pressure of the condenser increases. However, a power function is a better choice to describe how the steam dryness (steam quality) at the end of the turbine section increases as the absolute pressure of the condenser rises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the quality of whole wheat steamed bread, in this paper, stone-ground whole wheat flour with low-temperature and low-speed milling was selected, and the natural pigment of pumpkin flour was utilized to study the effect of the addition of pumpkin flour on the whole wheat flour-wheat flour mixture, and the effects of the addition of whole wheat flour, the addition of pumpkin flour, the addition of yeast, and the fermentation time on the sensory, specific volume, and chromaticity of the whole wheat steamed bread. On this basis, the sensory score was used as the response value, and the Box-Behnken experiment was used to optimize to obtain the optimal formulation of whole wheat steamed bread and the nutritional characteristics of whole wheat steamed bread were analyzed. The results showed that the influence of each factor on the sensory scores of whole wheat steamed bread was in descending order: the amount of whole wheat flour added, the amount of yeast added, and the amount of pumpkin flour added. The optimal formulation of whole wheat steamed bread was 55% wheat flour, 45% whole wheat flour, 10% pumpkin flour, 2% yeast, and fermentation time 40 min. The sensory score of whole wheat steamed bread prepared under this formulation was 97.23, which was similar to the predicted value of 97.81. The moisture content of pumpkin whole wheat steamed bread under the optimal formulation was 44.86%, the polyphenol content was 5.47 mg/g, and the flavonoid content was 2.57 mg/g. The steamed bread under the formulation had a golden color, and prominent aroma, fluffy and tasty, and possessed the unique flavors of pumpkin and whole wheat. It provides a useful reference for the deep processing and comprehensive utilization of pumpkins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the results of the homogenization of the color of sapwood and false heartwood Fagus sylvatica L. into a uniform color shade due to the influence of the temperature of saturated moist air and saturated water steam in individual steaming modes. The results of analyses of the influence of temperature within 24 h point out the different changes in the color of the sapwood and the wood of the false heartwood when the uniform color of the beech wood is achieved by the steaming process. By steaming beech wood with a false heartwood saturated with moist air at a temperature of tI = 95 °C during τ = 24 h, the color of the sapwood does not merge with the color of the wood of the false heartwood. The sapwood darkens and, on the other hand, the wood of the false heartwood slightly lightens, while the significant color contrast is removed, but the color homogenization in the individual zones does not occur. The unification of the colors in individual zones occurs during the steaming process at a temperature of saturated water steam tII ≈ 105 °C in 18 h, where the resulting brown color is identified in the color space CIE L*a*b* by the values of the lightness L* = 61.3 ± 2.2 and of the red color a* = 12.4 ± 1.3 and yellow color b* = 19.5 ± 1.4. The most pronounced homogenization of the color occurs through the steaming process at a temperature of saturated water steam tIII ≈ 120 °C, where the wood acquires a uniform dark brown–gray color in a time of τ ≈ 9 h steaming. The coordinates of the color-homogenized steamed beech wood are L* = 55.9 ± 1.9, a* = 12.3 ± 1.2, and b* = 19.6 ± 1.3. The unification of the colors by the steaming process is achieved by darkening both the sapwood and the wood of the false heartwood. In the overall color homogenization, the sapwood and the wood of the false heartwood do not participate equally in the steaming process. While the total color difference between the sapwood and a color homogenized state is quantified by the value ∆EtI* = 8, ∆EtIII* = 22.7, the total color difference in the wood with a false heartwood is only ∆EtI* = 1.9, ∆EtIII* = 11.8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tianjin Petrochemical's 1.3 MM TPY wax oil hydrogenation started construction in 2007 and was successfully started in December 2009. In 2016, the fractionation tower was shut down and the fractionation furnace was extinguished. Extinguishing the reaction furnace is a symbol of efficient operation of hydrogenation equipment. Extinguishing the reaction furnace is not only a reflection of energy consumption, but also a technological innovation. At the beginning of 2024, it was planned to shut down the reaction furnace. After the reaction furnace was shut down, due to the fact that the self-produced 1.0 MPa steam was not overheated, it could not be integrated into the 1.0 MPa steam pipeline network directly, and the hydrogen sulfide stripping tower used superheated steam, it was necessary to send the self-produced 1.0 MPa steam to the 0.45 MPa steam pipeline network. Therefore, a new process flow of self-produced 1.0 MPa steam to the 0.45 MPa steam pipeline network was added. The 1.3 MM TPY wax oil hydrogenation unit can reduce fuel gas consumption by 400 m³/h after extinguishing the reaction furnace, achieving an annual efficiency increase of 11 million yuan. Before extinguishing the reaction furnace, it is necessary to conduct feedstock analysis and heat calculation. After extinguishing the reaction furnace, attention should be paid to maintenance to achieve high-quality extinguishing of the reaction furnace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In recent years, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education has become an increasingly popular tool to promote student learning and engagement across disciplines. However, researchers and practitioners continue to note the lack of clarity around definitions of STEAM, its intended purpose, and the nature of discipline integration. In this paper, we explore teachers' understandings and implementation of STEAM as they participated in a teacher professional learning program. Methods: Using a mixed-methods approach, we analyzed data from 4 years of programimplementation with K-12 teachers acrossmultiple schools and districts (n = 61). Results: Participants' understanding of STEAM was deepened through their involvement in the professional learning program, with many reflecting on their initial, often shallow, (mis)conceptualizations of STEAM. Using an integration continuum developed by the authors, we identified ways in which integration varied across the STEAM lessons teachers developed, contextualizing these findings within the changing educational landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic, as teachers transitioned between remote, hybrid, and in-person instruction. Participants shared their reflections on the personal, professional, and contextual factors that supported and hindered successful STEAM integration. Discussion: We found that, when provided with sustained, collaborative pedagogical and material support, teachers could successfully improve their understanding of STEAM and implement STEAM lessons tailored to their grade-level and disciplinary context. Our findings reinforce that teachers need support, autonomy, and flexibility to adopt an approach to STEAM integration that best fits their classroom and school context. We discuss the implications of these findings for researchers and practitioners working to provide effective STEAM teacher professional learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In recent years, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education has become an increasingly popular tool to promote student learning and engagement across disciplines. However, researchers and practitioners continue to note the lack of clarity around definitions of STEAM, its intended purpose, and the nature of discipline integration. In this paper, we explore teachers' understandings and implementation of STEAM as they participated in a teacher professional learning program. Methods: Using a mixed-methods approach, we analyzed data from 4 years of programimplementation with K-12 teachers acrossmultiple schools and districts (n = 61). Results: Participants' understanding of STEAM was deepened through their involvement in the professional learning program, with many reflecting on their initial, often shallow, (mis)conceptualizations of STEAM. Using an integration continuum developed by the authors, we identified ways in which integration varied across the STEAM lessons teachers developed, contextualizing these findings within the changing educational landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic, as teachers transitioned between remote, hybrid, and in-person instruction. Participants shared their reflections on the personal, professional, and contextual factors that supported and hindered successful STEAM integration. Discussion: We found that, when provided with sustained, collaborative pedagogical and material support, teachers could successfully improve their understanding of STEAM and implement STEAM lessons tailored to their grade-level and disciplinary context. Our findings reinforce that teachers need support, autonomy, and flexibility to adopt an approach to STEAM integration that best fits their classroom and school context. We discuss the implications of these findings for researchers and practitioners working to provide effective STEAM teacher professional learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]