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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]

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]

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]

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 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]

Cyperus esculentus is a hard-to-control, destructive perennial weed propagating and spreading through rhizomes and tubers. Currently, a combination of mechanical, cultural, and chemical measures sustained over time is required for satisfactory control of arable crops. Hood steaming is a promising thermal technique for rapid depletion of the soil tuber bank. The effect of hood steaming on C. esculentus tuber vitality was investigated using a dose–response experiment on two localities in Belgium. Steaming was performed for five durations (2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 min). Moreover, the effects of tuber burial depth (5, 15, and 25 cm), genetic C. esculentus clone (three different clones), and pedohydrological parameters (sandy and sandy, loamy soil) on hood steaming efficacy were determined. Additionally, the heat sensitivity of genetically diverse C. esculentus tubers was investigated in a laboratory incubator experiment in which incubation temperature and duration varied. To control tubers at depths of 5, 15, and 25 cm, treatment durations of 8, 16, and 32 min were required, respectively. In general, clones producing large tubers showed lower heat sensitivity. As pedohydrological parameters may affect heat transfer into the soil, they may affect steaming efficacy as well. To obtain complete control of C. esculentus tubers, soil temperature should be 50 °C or more for at least 42 min. Hood steaming is a highly suitable alternative technique for a rapid and strong depletion of the soil tuber bank in small well-delineated C. esculentus patches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognizing the omnipresence of mathematics across various contexts, this paper addresses the untapped potential of museums as rich venues for informal mathematics learning beyond traditional educational settings like classrooms. This paper presents the InformalMath program, designed for the professional development of primary and middle school teachers using integrating mathematics education within art and history museums through designing mathematics visit workshops. Specifically, the focus is placed on Phase 1 of the program, in which teachers participated in two informal mathematics education workshops at two museums in Turin, Italy, and were asked to reflect on their participation through a written essay. The analysis of the essays reveals significant engagement, appreciation of mathematics as a cultural artifact, and the emergence of creativity and inclusion among participating teachers. These findings highlight the benefits of such interdisciplinary approaches in enhancing mathematical understanding and pedagogical strategies. Conclusions emphasize the program's success in not only enriching teachers' instructional repertoire but also in promoting a more holistic, engaging, and contextualized approach to mathematics education, suggesting a promising avenue for future educational practices and research in informal learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal power plant slag is a waste that is presently obtained from many power stations all over the world. A possible method for its utilization is using it to produce concrete. This paper analyses the effect of thermal power plant slag on the technological properties of concrete mixtures and the mechanical properties of concrete subjected to heat–moisture processing. Quantitative estimates of the investigated factors' influence on the concrete mixture's water demand and the strength of steamed concrete were obtained. The influences of TPP slag content and its water demand on concrete composition features as well as concrete strength are shown. The novelty of the work lies in the use of an experimental–statistical model to optimize the composition of steamed concrete using slag from the viewpoint of maximum strength per kilogram of cement. It has been demonstrated that the optimal part of slag in aggregate, which provides maximum strength at 4 h and 28 days after steaming, is 0.5–0.55 and 0.45–0.55, respectively. A method for the design of concrete composition using slag from thermal power plants is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of dough proofing degree (1.1, 1.3, 1.5, and 1.7 mL/g) and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC-Na) on the quality of frozen dough steamed bread (FDSB). As the dough proofing degree was increased from 1.1 to 1.7 mL/g, the specific volume of FDSB initially increased and then decreased, with the maximum at 1.3 mL/g, and then dramatically decreased at 1.5 and 1.7 mL/g, accompanied by a harder texture and secession of crust and crumb, which were the detrimental effects brought by over-proofing. The optimal amount of CMC-Na effectively alleviated the deterioration associated with over-proofing, and the proofing tolerance of FDSB was increased from 1.3 mL/g to 1.7 mL/g. Fermentation analysis showed that CMC-Na significantly improved the extensibility and gas-holding capacity of the dough by increasing the maximum height of the dough (Hm) and the emergence time (T1) of Hm. Frequency sweep tests indicated that CMC-Na improved the plasticity of proofed dough by increasing loss factor tan δ. Significant reductions were found in peak viscosity and complex modulus G* in pasting properties tests and temperature sweep measurements, respectively, suggesting that CMC-Na influenced starch gelatinization and dough stiffening during steaming, which promoted the extension of the network structure, thus facilitating gas expansion and diffusion. These property changes theoretically explained the improvement in the proofing tolerance of FDSB by CMC-Na. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, different CFD models to compute flows inside a steam ejector were investigated. The results were compared to the analytical models as well as the experimental results from the literature. All the simulations gave realistic results from the hydrodynamic perspective with a relative error of the entrainment ratio between 25% and 40% compared to reference experimental data. However, an analysis of the temperature profiles showed that only realistic results from the thermodynamic perspective were given by multiphase calculations. The first multiphase model tested was the so-called Wet-Steam model from ANSYS Fluent. This model gave inconsistent results for the steam ejector CFD simulation due to the physical boundaries of this model. The second model tested was the Eulerian mixture model, which gave the most realistic results in terms of the physical conditions of the liquid and vapor phases inside the ejector. It also showed that the phase change could have a significant impact on the value of the critical output pressure as a way to improve the performance of the ejector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The only treatment for celiac disease (CD) is a strict and lifelong gluten-free diet (GFD), which must be safe and nutritionally balanced. Avoiding gluten brings difficulties with following the diet and can affect the social life of people with CD. The Zeliakide Project is a nutrition education program aimed at increasing the knowledge of the general population about healthy diets, CD and GFD, and, therefore, to improve the social inclusion and quality of life of people with CD. It is a one-month intervention program, two-armed cluster, non-randomised and controlled trial, conducted among 10–12-year-old children. Pre- and post-intervention evaluation and 1 month follow-up will be carried out to assess the effectiveness of the program. It is based on competencies and their respective learning outcomes. The teaching methodology chosen is a STEAM methodology: inquiry-based learning (IBL). A teaching unit has been created to develop the project, which, in the future, will be useful for the self-application of the program. This study will provide a valid and useful tool to achieve changes in the diet at the school level and will help to promote the social inclusion of people with CD. Moreover, it will enforce the STEAM competences of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-temperature oxidation performance of SP2215 has become an important issue when they were used as superheaters and reheaters exposed to two different high-temperature environments. In this study, the oxidation behavior of SP2215 steel was investigated under steam and an atmosphere of 650–800 °C for 240 h. The microstructural and chemical characterization of the samples were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), a glow discharge optical emission spectrometer (GD-OES), and atomic force microscope (AFM). The kinetic curves of oxidation revealed excellent oxidation resistance under both environments, but significant different oxidation characteristics, oxide film composition, and structure were obvious. In the steam experiment, selective intergranular oxidation was evident at relatively low temperatures, which was attributed to the preference absorption of supercritical water molecules at the grain boundary. Conversely, a double-layer structure of outer Fe2O3 and a small amount of Fe3O4 and inner Cr2O3 was formed uniformly at 800 °C. In the high-temperature atmosphere experiment, a protective chromium film was dominant at 650–700 °C, and a loose multicomponent oxide film was formed at 750–800 °C, primarily consisting of Cr2O3, spinel FeCr2O4, and CuO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The valorization of untreated municipal waste (MSW) biochar for energetic uses, through its co-gasification with olive stone (OST) biochar under a steam or carbon dioxide atmosphere, was investigated. The experiments were conducted in a fixed bed unit and a thermal analysis–mass spectrometer system. The thermal behavior, reactivity, conversion, product gas composition, syngas yield and energy potential were determined, while the influence of the fuel's internal structure, chemical functional groups and operating conditions were examined. The concentrations of H2 and CO2 in the product gas mixture under a steam atmosphere were increased with steam/biochar ratio, while that of CO was reduced. At a steam/biochar = 3 H2 yield, the higher heating value and conversion for the OST were 52.8%, 10.8 MJ/m3 and 87.5%; for the MSW, they were 44.4%, 9.9 MJ/m3 and 51.5%, whereas for their blend, they were 50%, 10.6 MJ/m3 and 76.6%, respectively. Under a carbon dioxide atmosphere, the reactivity and conversion of the OST biochar (84%) were significantly higher as compared with the MSW biochar (50%). The higher heating value of the product gas was 12.4–12.9 MJ/m3. Co-gasification of the MSW with OST (in proportions 30:70) resulted in the enhanced reactivity, conversion, syngas yield and heating value of product gas compared with gasification of solely MSW material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gasification performance of lignite/barley straw mixtures for syngas production was investigated. The experiments were carried out under a steam or carbon dioxide atmosphere, in fixed-bed and thermogravimetric–mass spectrometry systems. The thermal behavior, reactivity, conversion, product gas composition, liquid and gaseous by-products and interactions between fuels were determined and correlated with the structural characteristics and inherent minerals in ashes, which were analyzed via mineralogical, chemical and fusibility tests. Devolatilization of the materials up to 600 °C resulted in the carbon enrichment of chars and a 30–90-fold increase in the specific surface area. Gaseous and liquid by-products with higher heating values of 5–7 MJ/m3 and 20–28 MJ/kg could offer valuable energy. Upon steam gasification up to 1000 °C, product gas was enriched in hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The syngas yield and heating value of the gas mixture were higher for barley straw fuel (0.77 m3/kg, 11.4 MJ/m3), which, when blended with the lignite, produced upgraded products. Upon carbon dioxide gasification up to 1000 °C, barley straw char exhibited a 3-times higher rate than the lignite, as well as higher conversion (94.5% vs. 62.9%) and a higher syngas yield (0.84 m3/kg vs. 0.55 m3/kg). Lignite/barley straw blends showed synergistic effects and presented higher gasification reactivity and conversion in comparison to lignite. The overall performance of lignite was improved with the steam reagent, while that of barley straw was improved with the carbon dioxide reagent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) in various stages of maturity are widely used in the diets of individuals and in the food industry; they are consumed both fresh and after thermal processing. However, every type of processing impacts the overall textural and bioactive characteristics of this plant-based food. In order to quantify the changes in the bioactive substances and color-structural characteristics that occur during selected heat treatments (contact grilling, roasting, roasting combined with microwaving, and steam cooking) of bell peppers at three maturity stages (green, yellow, and red), analyses of antioxidant activity, reducing sugar content, polyphenolic compound content, textural properties, and color coordinates in the L*a*b* system were carried out. Some of the processes used, such as contact grilling (15.43 mg GAE/g d.b.) and roasting combined with microwaving (15.24 mg GAE/g d.b.), proved to be beneficial as the total polyphenol content of green peppers (2.75 mg GAE/g d.b.) increased. The roasting (3.49 mg TE/g d.b.) and steaming (6.45 mg TE/g d.b.) methods decreased the antioxidant activity of yellow bell peppers (14.29 mg TE/g d.b.). Meanwhile, the roasting (0.88 mg Glc/g d.b.), contact-grilling (2.19 mg Glc/g d.b.), simultaneous microwaving and roasting (0.66 mg Glc/g d.b.), and steaming (1.30 mg Glc/g d.b.) methods significantly reduced the content of reducing sugars and reducing substances in red bell peppers (4.41 mg Glc/g d.b.). The studies proved that in order to preserve the antioxidant and bioactive properties of bell peppers, it is necessary to consider the use of appropriately selected heat treatments, depending on the different stages of maturity. The proper selection of adequate thermal treatment can not only increase digestibility, but also improve the bioavailability of bioactive substances from this raw material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is a wide diversity of project-based learning instructional designs presented as "STEAM projects". However, it is essential to evaluate if all these STEAM projects align their learning objectives and activities with the intended STEAM competences. This paper aims to characterize the impact of the STEAM educational approach through the analysis of contemporary STEAM projects implemented in five Spanish secondary schools from a curricular perspective based on STEM practices. A dataset comprising 46 secondary school STEAM projects implemented in Spain was evaluated using STEM project-based learningrubric, considering 21 evaluation criteria. The findings reveal an imbalance in the sophistication of STEAM projects concerning Science and Technology disciplinary-linked criteria and meta-disciplinary-linked criteria within this framework. These results enable the mapping and highlighting of the fact that not all STEAM projects equally serve their intended educational purposes or integrate all their features with the same level of sophistication. Curriculum organizations from different secondary school levels are also pointing out notable differences regarding how they address STEM competence. Acknowledging these differences and challenges in further initiatives of STEAM PBL instructional designs could support their design. By identifying areas of improvement, educators can optimize the impact of these projects on fostering STEAM competences among students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STEM education has been a topic of interest in many countries around the world. Many STEM research studies have been conducted; however, most of them focus on middle-school students and high-school students. At the primary level, STEAM education is known as an advanced mode of STEM education, which is highly integrated between science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. This study proposes a procedure of organizing primary-school students' learning activities in STEAM education as an approach to help students experience positive emotions and stimulate passion, thereby developing the capacity of problem solving and creativity for students—one of the common competencies emphasized in the General Education Program 2018 in Vietnam. The procedure of organizing STEAM education activities in this study is close to the 5E procedure, but it is flexibly applied to suit the psycho-physiological characteristics of primary-school students in Vietnam. This research was conducted under the project title "Developing STEM education in a number of schools in Lang Son province to meet the new general school program" according to the cooperation document between the University of Education—Thai Nguyen University with the Department of Education and Training of Lang Son Province, No. 77/HT-SGD and DTLS-ĐHSPTN, dated 10 January 2020. The trial of this study was conducted at eight primary schools in Lang Son, Vietnam, with the theme "My green garden" in teaching nature and society in grade 1. Through observing the students' participation in learning activities, evaluating the learning products made by those students, and collecting comments and feedback from teachers about the procedure of organizing the learning activities, it can be initially seen that the students actively participated in learning activities with joyful feelings, ready to cooperate with each other to complete assigned tasks, and that the students' creativity was clearly expressed through many unique ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shallow- and thin-layer heavy oil reservoirs are characterized by their shallow burial, thin thickness, high viscosity, and scattered distribution. After years of steam injection development, several issues have emerged, including a highly comprehensive water cut in the reservoir and serious steam channeling. Therefore, there is an urgent need to change the development approach to enhance crude oil recovery. It has been discovered that developing heavy oil reservoirs through nitrogen foam-assisted steam flooding can effectively address the challenges encountered in pure steam development. This paper takes H Oilfield Block A as a case study, analyzes the geological characteristics and development status of the reservoir in this block, and predicts the recovery of steam injection development in this block using the injection-production characteristic curve method. Furthermore, by establishing a reservoir geological model and fitting it to the historical behavior of the target reservoir, the nitrogen foam-assisted steam flooding injection and production parameters were optimized. The optimal parameters are as follows: optimal steam injection intensity of 2.0 t/(d·ha·m), optimal production/injection ratio of 1.2:1, optimal nitrogen foam slug injection volume of 0.15 PV, optimal nitrogen/steam ratio of 2:1, and intermittent injection between 3 and 4 foam slugs. It is anticipated that this optimized scheme will result in a predicted increase in final recovery of 13.55%. The findings of this study hold significant importance in guiding the application of nitrogen foam-assisted steam flooding in shallow and thin heavy oil reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research article explores the potential of optical fibers as sensors, highlighting their ability to measure various parameters such as temperature, pressure, stress, and radiation dose. The study focuses on investigating the material compatibility of optical fibers in challenging sensing environments like Gen II/II+ and advance nuclear reactors, as well as concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. Material compatibility tests were conducted to determine the feasibility of using fluorine and germanium optical fiber sensors in these environments. The study found that raw fibers were corrosion-resistant to lead bismuth eutectic at 600 °C, regardless of the coating. In molten salt environments, raw fibers were incompatible with FLiNaK but showed corrosion resistance to MgCl₂-NaCl-KCl. However, the survivability of raw fiber optics improved with a gold coating in FLiNaK. Raw fiber optics were found to be incompatible in high-temperature steam at 1200 °C and in a pressurized water reactor (PWR) at 300 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the activated carbon was prepared with superior CO2 selective adsorption properties using walnut shells, a biomass waste, as a precursor. The activations were conducted at various times using the microwave heating technique in a steam atmosphere. The surface morphology and chemical composition of activated carbon were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The textural properties were investigated using the N2/77K isothermal method, and the structural characteristics were examined using X-ray diffraction analysis. The CO2 and H2 adsorption properties of activated carbon were analyzed using a thermogravimetric analyzer and a high-pressure isothermal adsorption apparatus, respectively, under atmospheric and high-pressure conditions. Depending on the activation time, the specific surface area and total pore volume of the activated carbon were 570–690 m2/g and 0.26–0.34 cm3/g, respectively. The adsorption behaviors of CO2 of the activated carbon were different under atmospheric and high-pressure conditions. At atmospheric pressure, a significant dependence on micropores with diameters less than 0.8 nm was observed, whereas, at high pressure, the micropores and mesopores in the range of 1.6–2.4 nm exhibited a significant dependence. However, H2 adsorption did not occur at relatively low pressures. Consequently, the prepared activated carbon exhibited superior selective adsorption properties for CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to describe the analysis of the validity and reliability of an instrument that determines the self-perception of natural science teachers using the STEAM approach regarding the planning, development, and evaluation of their pedagogical activities. For its design, empirical studies were obtained from a bibliographic review, theoretical criteria on self-perception and STEAM approach, and population characteristics. For the instrument quality assessment, content validity parameters were analyzed by experts, and construct validity and reliability were assessed with the help of the SPSS statistical package. Ten educational doctors served as expert judges and 143 teachers (pre-service and in-service) participated in the pilot test. As the main finding, the instrument applied to a sample presents a high reliability coefficient (Cronbach's alpha = 0.920) and validity (KMO = 0.903) in three factors after performing a factor analysis. Thus, it is concluded that the instrument has structure and coherence both in its internal consistency and meaning grid, which facilitates progress in understanding the self-perception of using the STEAM approach in didactic practices in natural sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) on pupils' learning has been increasingly highlighted recently. This study aims to shed light on the effect of STEAM activities based on experiential learning on ninth graders' mental motivation and learning. The present research adopted a mixed methodology (quantitative and qualitative). The study sample consisted of 90 students divided into three groups. The tools utilized in conducting the study included California Measurement Mental Motivation, and semi-structured interviews with (10) participants. The tools' validity and reliability were verified. After data were analyzed, the findings showed statically significant differences between students' post average scores regarding mental motivation due to teaching method, and in favor of the experimental groups (face-to-face STEAM activities, online STEAM activities). This provides tangible proof for the need to include STEAM activities in school curricula to enhance learners' curiosity, problem-solving skills and self-confidence through learning, as well as their task accomplishment ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to improve the steaming process of black sesame seeds. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted using the grey-correlation method based on the variation-coefficient weight to observe the treatments of normal-pressure (NPS) and high-pressure (HPS) steaming (with/without soaking in water) for nine cycles. Their effects on the contents of water, protein, fat, ash, melanin, sesamin, and sesamolin of black sesame seeds, as well as the sensory score of the black sesame pill, were determined. We found that with varied steaming methods and increased steaming cycles, the contents of the nutritional and functional components of black sesame seeds and the sensory score of the black sesame pill differed. The results of the variation-coefficient method showed that water, protein, fat, ash, melanin, sesamin, sesamolin, and sensory score had different effects on the quality of black sesame seeds with weighting factors of 34.4%, 5.3%, 12.5%, 11.3%, 13.9%, 11.3%, 7.8%, and 3.5%, respectively. The results of two-factor analysis of variance without repeated observations indicated that the grey-correlation degree of HPS was the largest among the different steaming treatments, and the following sequence was HPS after soaking in water (SNPS), NPS, and SNPS. There was no significant difference between NPS and SNPS (p < 0.05). Moreover, with increased cycles, the value of the grey-correlation degree increased. The comprehensive score of the procedure repeated nine times was significantly higher than other cycles (p < 0.05). The results of the grey-correlation degree and grade analysis showed that the best steaming process of black sesame seeds was HPS for nine cycles, followed by HPS for eight cycles and NPS after soaking in water (SNPS) for nine cycles. These findings could provide a scientific basis for replacing SNPS with HPS to simplify steaming and realize the parametric steaming of black sesame seeds, and thus, ensure the quality of black-sesame products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ca-looping is an effective way to capture CO2 from coal-fired power plants. However, there are still issues that require further study. One of these issues is the effect of steam on the Ca-looping process. In this paper, a self-madethermogravimetric analyzer that can achieve rapid heating and cooling is used to measure the change of sample weight under constant temperature conditions. The parameters of the Ca-looping are studied in detail, including the addition of water vapor alone in the calcination or carbonation stage and the calcination/carbonation reaction temperatures for both calcination and carbonation stages with water vapor. Steam has a positive overall effect on CO2 capture in the Ca-looping process. When steam is present in both calcination and carbonation processes, it increases the decomposition rate of CaCO3 and enhances the subsequent carbonation conversion of CaO. However, when steam was present only in the calcination process, there was lower CaO carbonation conversion in the following carbonation process. In contrast, when steam was present in the carbonation stage, CO2 capture was improved. Sample characterizations after the reaction showed that although water vapor had a negative effect on the pore structure, adding water vapor increased the diffusion coefficient of CO2 and the carbonation conversion rate of CaO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal gasification is considered a promising solution for the production of synthetic fuels and eventually as a fuel for combined heat and power systems and heating buildings. There are several factors that affect the gasification efficiency and syngas quality, such as gasification parameters (temperature, pressure, etc.), reactants and their ratio, utilisation of catalysts, and gasifier design. The multi-stage gasifier is known as a promising approach in the enhancement of process efficiency, as well as the syngas quality. In this study, the Hungarian brown coal was gasified in a two-stage gasifier. The pyrolysis stage was kept at 600 °C. The gasification stage was conducted at 700, 800, and 900 °C. The steam per carbon (S/C) ratio was examined at 0.75, 1.00, and 1.25. The positive effects of increasing gasification temperature on char and dry gas yield were obviously shown at all S/C ratios. The increase in the S/C ratio did not show a positive effect at all temperature conditions, especially at 700 and 900 °C. The highest dry syngas yield was 1.14 Nm3/kgcoal obtained at 900 °C and the S/C ratio of 1.25. The increase in the gasification temperature also had a significant impact on the volume fraction of CO and CO2. Meanwhile, the syngas concentration varied slightly when the S/C ratio increased from 0.75 to 1.25. From a chemical utilization point of view, the gasification temperature at 900 °C and the S/C ratio of 1.25 resulted in the most promising H2/CO ratio of 1.99. In addition, the highest carbon conversion and cold gas efficiency were achieved at 900 °C and an S/C ratio of 1.00–1.25, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to study coal steam gasification with various methods of coal in-core treatment in FB using a newly developed thermodynamic calculation method. A calculational study of subbituminous coal steam non-catalytic gasification was carried out using four different methods of coal in-core treatment in single-vessel multisectional fluidized-bed gasifiers. A semi-empirical model based on the entropy maximization thermodynamic method and "restricted equilibria" based on previously obtained experimental data has been developed. Based on thermodynamic calculations, the effect of the leading thermochemical processes and operating parameters of the fluidized bed (temperature, fluidization number, steam/coal ratio feed rate) was revealed. New information was obtained regarding the composition of char and syngas at the gasifier outlet, the syngas heating value, and the cold gas efficiency of the steam gasification of Borodinskiy subbituminous coal char. The results indicate the possibility of significantly accelerating and improving non-catalytic steam gasification in fluidized bed gasifiers through the appropriate organization of in-core coal treatment. Based on the results obtained, the following recommendation is made—when designing multi-section and multi-vessel steam-blown gasifiers, the ratio of residence times should be set in favor of increasing the coal residence time in the steam-blown carbonization zone. Structurally, this can be achieved by increasing the volume and/or area of the steam-blown carbonization section (vessel). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term success of dental implant rehabilitation depends significantly on proper peri-implant soft tissue integration. Therefore, decontamination of abutments prior to their connection to the implant is beneficial to enhance soft tissue attachment and to aid in maintaining marginal bone around the implant. Consequently, different implant abutment decontamination protocols were evaluated regarding biocompatibility, surface morphology, and bacterial load. The protocols evaluated were autoclave sterilization, ultrasonic washing, steam cleaning, chlorhexidine chemical decontamination, and sodium hypochlorite chemical decontamination. The control groups included: (1) implant abutments prepared and polished in a dental lab without decontamination and (2) unprepared implant abutments obtained directly from the company. Surface analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Biocompatibility was evaluated using XTT cell viability and proliferation assays. Biofilm biomass and viable counts (CFU/mL) (n = 5 for each test) were used for surface bacterial load evaluation. Surface analysis revealed areas of debris and accumulation of materials, such as iron, cobalt, chromium, and other metals, in all abutments prepared by the lab and with all decontamination protocols. Steam cleaning was the most efficient method for reducing contamination. Chlorhexidine and sodium hypochlorite left residual materials on the abutments. XTT results showed that the chlorhexidine group (M = 0.7005, SD = 0.2995) had the lowest values (p < 0.001) (autoclave: M = 3.6354, SD = 0.1510; ultrasonic: M = 3.4077, SD = 0.3730; steam: M = 3.2903, SD = 0.2172; NaOCl: M = 3.5377, SD = 0.0927; prep non-decont.: M = 3.4815, SD = 0.2326; factory: M = 3.6173, SD = 0.0392). Bacterial growth (CFU/mL) was high in the abutments treated with steam cleaning and ultrasonic bath: 2.93 × 109, SD = 1.68 × 1012 and 1.83 × 109, SD = 3.95 × 1010, respectively. Abutments treated with chlorhexidine showed higher toxicity to cells, while all other samples showed similar effects to the control. In conclusion, steam cleaning seemed to be the most efficient method for reducing debris and metallic contamination. Bacterial load can be reduced using autoclaving, chlorhexidine, and NaOCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, heavy metal concentrations (Cu, Zn, Pb, As) from former industrial areas were analyzed in soil and the plant species Phragmites Australis (common reed), a plant species found in shallow river banks. The objectives of the study were to determine the accumulation, translocation, and enrichment capacity of soils and plants (root, stem, leaf, and flower) with heavy metals, and to evaluate the potential of the plant species Phragmites Australis (common reed) in the phytoremediation of heavy-metal-polluted soils. The sediments and plants investigated were particularly rich in heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Pb, and As, and Pb and Zn concentrations were determined to be of phytotoxic level. The highest transfer coefficient of heavy metals from the soil to the root of the plant species Phragmites Australis (common reed) was for the metals Cu and Zn. The transfer of heavy metals from the root of the plant species Phragmites Australis (common reed) to the aerial part of the plant was lowest for Cu. A very low enrichment factor value was recorded for the metal As. The mobility of heavy metals was generally higher from the sediment to the plant roots, with the order of the average transfer coefficient values being Cu > Zn > Pb > As for all three areas analyzed. The translocation of heavy metals from the root to the upper aerial part of the plant was in the form of As > Pb > Zn > Cu in the plant species Phragmites australis (common reed). According to the average values obtained for the three coefficients, the accumulation, translocation, and enrichment capacity of heavy metals in soil and the plant species Phragmites Australis (common reed), it can be stated that the plant species Phragmites Australis (common reed) is very suitable for use in the process of soil remediation by phytoremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the last two decades have seen an increased interest in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) in K-12 schools, few efforts have focused on the teachers and teaching practices necessary to support these interventions. Even fewer have considered the important work that teachers carry out not just inside classrooms but beyond the classroom walls to sustain such STEAM implementation efforts, from interacting with administrators to recruiting students and persuading parents about the importance of arts and computer science. In order to understand teachers' needs and practices regarding STEAM implementation, in this paper, we focus on eight experienced computer science teachers' reflections on implementing a STEAM unit using electronic textiles, which combine crafting, circuit design, and coding so as to make wearable artifacts. We use a broad lens to examine the practices high school teachers employed not only in their classrooms but also in their schools and communities to keep these equitable learning opportunities going, from communicating with other teachers and admins to building a computer science (CS) teacher community across district and state lines. We also analyzed these reflections to understand teachers' own social and emotional needs—needs important to staying in the field of CS education—better, as they are relevant to engaging with learning new content, applying new pedagogical skills, and obtaining materials and endorsements from their organizations to bring STEAM into their classrooms. In the discussion, we contemplate what teachers' reported practices and needs say about supporting and sustaining equitable STEAM in classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study developed a smart greenhouse virtual reality (VR) curriculum based on STEAM learning and explored its effects on students' satisfaction and learning outcomes. The objectives included evaluating STEAM capability indicators, the practicability of VR-assisted teaching, constructing the VR curriculum, discussing students' satisfaction, and assessing the impact on learning effectiveness. The fuzzy Delphi method was used to evaluate the importance of STEAM capabilities and the practicability of VR-assisted teaching. Experimental teaching was carried out on 26 engineering students, and the case study method was adopted for hybrid analysis and discussion based on quality and quantity. The study found that "hands-on skills" and "problem-solving" were the most important capabilities, with the highest practicability in VR-assisted teaching. Based on this, an analysis was conducted on the integrated teaching design, and the smart greenhouse VR teaching materials based on STEAM learning were developed. After 18 weeks of experimental teaching, most students expressed significant positive affirmation of their satisfaction with the "STEAM smart greenhouse VR" curriculum. The study highlights the importance of hands-on skills and problem-solving in VR-assisted teaching. The study suggests that the practicability analysis of VR-assisted teaching should be reviewed according to the curriculum characteristics, and three phases of VR-assisted teaching modes, such as teacher operation, student exercises, and student testing, should be planned to guide students to learn step by step. The curriculum design and planning based on STEAM learning in this study could provide a reference for teachers and researchers to plan students' STEAM capability training and interdisciplinary capability learning and development. The study highlights the importance of hands-on skills, problem-solving in VR-assisted teaching, and the positive impact of multi-sensory experiences on student learning outcomes. These findings can inform the development of future VR-assisted teaching materials and curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flue gas is composed of N2 and CO2, and is often used as an auxiliary agent for oil displacement, with good results and very promising development prospects for co-injection with steam to develop heavy oil. Although research on the oil displacement mechanism of flue gas has been carried out for many years, the flow characteristics of steam under the action of flue gas have rarely been discussed. In this paper, the flow resistance and heat transfer effect of flue gas/flue gas + steam were evaluated by using a one-dimensional sandpack, a flue gas-assisted steam flooding experiment was carried out using a specially customized microscopic visualization model, and the microscopic flow characteristics in the process of the co-injection of flue gas and steam were observed and analyzed. The results showed that flue gas could improve the heat transfer effect of steam whilst accelerating the flow of steam in porous media and reducing the flow resistance of steam. Compared with pure steam, when the volume ratio of flue gas and steam was 1:2, the mobility decreased by 2.8 and the outlet temperature of the sandpack increased by 35 °C. This trend intensified with an increase in the proportion of flue gas. In the microscopic oil displacement experiments, the oil recovery and sweep efficiency of the flue gas and steam co-injection stage increased by 4.7% and 32.9%, respectively, compared with the pure steam injection stage due to the effective utilization of blocky remaining oil and corner remaining oil caused by the expansion of fluid channels, the flow of flue gas foam, and the dissolution and release of flue gas in heavy oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been argued that much of how math is taught in schools aligns with a particular epistemology that comes from western mathematicians and philosophers, potentially leading to an undervaluing of diverse skills and abilities. Tinkering, a common STEAM practice, is one way of participating that does not necessarily involve a straightforward path from problem to solution; rather, tinkering may be non-linear, and involve movement back and forth between known and new solutions. This process is not always supported or encouraged in traditional mathematics spaces but may be more available through activities such as crafting. This study examines a weaving workshop with middle-school students, asking the question: When and how do learners tinker in mathematical ways as they learn to weave? Video data were analyzed using qualitative techniques and perspectives informed by interaction analysis and other multimodal analytic techniques. Findings show that youth could be seen tinkering in the workshops in the forms of "negotiating and renegotiating with materials" and "trying unexpected solutions." Examples from two focal cases break these tinkering forms down in deeper detail and showcase the mathematical engagement made possible by the space to tinker. This work sparks possibilities for designing math learning spaces that honor youths' personally meaningful ways of doing and being both through the materials used and the practices encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of steaming treatment on the soluble dietary fiber (SDF) of sweet potato was investigated. The SDF content increased from 2.21 to 4.04 g/100 g (in dry basis) during 20 min of steaming. The microcosmic morphology of the fractured cell wall indicated the release of SDF components during steaming. The SDF from fresh (SDF-F) and 20 min steamed (SDF-S) sweet potato was characterized. The neutral carbohydrates and uronic acid levels in SDF-S were significantly higher than SDF-F (59.31% versus 46.83%, and 25.36% versus 9.60%, respectively) (p < 0.05). The molecular weight of SDF-S was smaller than SDF-F (5.32 kDa versus 28.79 kDa). The probiotic property was evaluated by four Lactobacillus spp. fermentation in vitro with these SDF as carbon source, using inulin as the references. SDF-F showed the best proliferation effects on the four Lactobacillus spp. in terms of the OD600 and pH in cultures, and the highest production of propanoic acid and butyric acid after 24 h fermentation. SDF-S presented higher Lactobacillus proliferation effects, but slight lower propanoic acid and butyric acid production than inulin. It was concluded that 20 min of steaming released SDF with inferior probiotic properties, which might derive from the degraded pectin, cell wall components, and resistant dextrin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, there has been notable academic interest in the multidisciplinary studies of science education with the emergence of STEAM. Accordingly, this study aimed to conduct an experimental study to explore the effectiveness of a STEAM-based space-themed learning module in science education taught to primary school students. The sample of the study was 6th- and 7th-grade students from the Central Anatolia Region of Turkiye. The experimental group consisted of 180 students, whereas the control group consisted of 94 students. The STEAM-based learning module was applied to the students in the experimental group, and the traditional lecture-based approach was applied to students in the control group. The traditional education and intervention lasted eight weeks. The chi-square test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the differences and associations between the variables. The results indicated that gender and academic achievement level were the two key factors determining the effectiveness of the STEAM-based learning module. The comparison of the pre-test and post-test scores indicated that the scores of the female students who participated in the module increased the most. This suggested that girls benefited more from the STEAM-based learning module than boys. Further, the lecture-based approach led to a decrease in some high-achieving students. The findings have implications for educational policymakers, curriculum developers, and syllabus designers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) steaming, a green and highly efficient delignification method, has been demonstrated to provide a wood skeleton with a very low content of residual lignin in the manufacturing of transparent wood. It usually requires a long reaction time and a large amount of H2O2 because the piece of wood is treated using steaming equipment. Herein, a H2O2 solution steaming method was developed for the highly efficient removal of lignin from wood. Specifically, several wood samples were simultaneously immersed in a hot H2O2 solution to obtain delignified wood with a relatively high content of residual lignin, which provided a high strength and preserved the cellulose skeleton. Subsequently, the delignified wood with a relatively high content of residual lignin was further treated with H2O2 steam to obtain a very low lignin delignified wood. Compared with the previous H2O2 steaming method, the reaction time and used H2O2 volume of the H2O2 solution steaming method was reduced by 37.3% and 52.7%, respectively. All-biomass transparent wood could be obtained by infiltrating the delignified wood with cellulose acetate, which showed both a high transmittance of 83.0% and a low thermal conductivity of 0.30 Wm−1K−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scratch is an educational software based on visual programming blocks. It was created in 2003 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab (MIT) and it develops computational thinking (CT) skills from an early age in schools and allows STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) projects to be carried out. The aim of this research is to know the development of the scientific production of the Scratch programme in the educational field in scientific articles in WoS and its link with the STEM field. The methodology used in this study is of a bibliometric nature with an analysis of the development in the scientific literature and co-words. The Scratch in Education (Scratch-EDU) programme has been studied using the Web of Science (WoS) database. WoS, Vosviewer and SciMAT were used to extract the results and a total of 579 manuscripts were analysed. The results of the study show that the first scientific article on Scratch published in WoS dates back to 2004, although it is from 2011 when a considerable volume of studies began to appear in the scientific literature, and moreover, in recent years the scientific literature relates Scratch-EDU with topics and keywords related to the STEM field. The conclusions of the study are that the Scratch programme has had a progressive evolution in the scientific field related to education from 2012 to 2020, mainly in proceedings papers, with a decrease in manuscripts in the last two years. The emerging themes and keywords that have most influenced Scratch-EDU manuscripts in recent years are related to the terms "Implementation" and "Curriculum", connected in turn, with terms such as "pedagogy", "public school" or "students". Another term that stands out in the development of scientific evolution is "Computational Thinking", associated with topics such as "Primary Education", "Learning" or "Problem Solving". Finally, a discussion and conclusion of the results has been carried out, which can serve as a turning point for future lines of research on programming and CT in the STEM field from an early age in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vocation is one of the determining factors taken into account by students when choosing their university studies. However, when the students start their studies, in their first year, they will find a series of basic subjects that barely motivate or stimulate them. In the specific case of mathematics, the problem is aggravated when many of the students already begin the first year showing rejection towards this subject. The lack of motivation for mathematics also affects the subject of physics because "the role of mathematics is to be the language of physics". The EXPLORIA project proposed by the CEU Cardenal Herrera University is a potential solution to this problem. The objective of this project is the implementation of STEAM learning (Science Technology Engineering Art Mathematics) in the Degree in Fundamentals of Architecture at CEU Cardenal Herrera University through the EXPLORIA project. This article focuses on the activities carried out in the subject of physics in the Degree in Fundamentals of Architecture, corresponding to the part of mechanical engineering in order to show that through the realization of different challenges, we can develop creative products, new buildings with their logos and storytelling, as well as connect with the rest of subjects. For its development, students must use everyday objects within their reach, such as forks, spoons, knives, shoes, etc., to build an object or structure that must remain in a "creative balance" and this will serve as an inspiration for new buildings. These new creations are evaluated by an architecture team who fills in a rubric to evaluate the creativity and originality of the products. The number of students included in this project was 24 and the participants' age ranged between 18 and 20 (similarly distributed). At the end of the work, an anonymous ad hoc questionnaire was carried out to show the students' assessment of the new teaching methodology and the challenges developed in the subject of physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multidisciplinary team collaborated on the development of a learning experience involving 10th grade students using a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) approach. The experience was based on the development (conception, implementation, and evaluation) of a science cartoon that aimed to highlight different scientific and technological dimensions related to the diversity of marine worms (Phylo Annelida, class Polychaeta) present in the continental shelf off the coast of Aveiro, Portugal (NE Atlantic coast). The study was implemented in a Portuguese high school in the Aveiro region, involving 24 10th grade students, emphasizing a social context close to the students' lives. All pedagogical interventions occurred in face-to-face sessions during the 2020/21 school year and were oriented by the following research question: What is the role of science cartoons in establishing STEAM connections for solving real-world problems presented to 10th grade students? Following a qualitative and interpretative research methodology, with a design-based research focus, data were collected through a questionnaire, observations, and students' written records. The content analysis shows that most students learned new concepts related to STEAM areas. Evaluating the impact of the science cartoon reveals that it can be considered an innovative science communication resource due to its educational potential in stimulating a STEAM approach within the students' learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STEAM education postulates integrated problem-solving-based learning of its disciplines. Although positive results are being reported, there are some difficulties with its implementation. The purpose of this research is to analyze the conceptions and attitudes of Early Childhood and Primary School teachers in Spain towards this educational approach, as well as to determine the initial relationship with their training and experience. A multiple case study with 11 teachers was conducted using a reflection protocol, a photo-elicitation, and a semi-structured interview. All teachers presented an integrated profile. Although they explicitly acknowledged cognitive, affective, and logistical obstacles, a positive relationship was detected between their level of training, experience in STEAM education, and conception of STEAM. Based on this evidence, some recommendations are proposed to optimize the conceptions of the STEAM approach and the usual practices of the teaching staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese kale is a vegetable belonging to the family Brassicaceae in which members of this family produce unique metabolites called glucosinolates and isothiocyanates. These substances have been found to exhibit many benefits to human health. This study aimed to investigate and compare the contents of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, and the anti-leukemic activity of fresh and steamed Chinese kale juice (CKJ). Cell viability and proliferation activity of U937 cells treated with CKJ were determined. Cell apoptosis and alterations of apoptosis-related protein expression were studied. Results showed that CKJ significantly decreased the viability of leukemic cells and inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After treatment with 5% v/v fresh and steamed CKJ for 24 h, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased to 53% and 36%, respectively. Increased amounts of cleaved caspase-3 in U937 cells treated with CKJ were observed, indicating that CKJ can trigger apoptotic cell death through a caspase-dependent pathway. Fresh CKJ was found to be more effective than steamed CKJ in suppressing cell survival and inducing cell apoptosis. The results suggest that Chinese kale possesses an anti-leukemic potential and could be further developed for cancer therapy and prevention. However, thermal cooking could reduce its beneficial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, there is much to praise about the rise in acknowledging the need for young citizens to exercise their rights and duties, but the belief remains that this is not yet entrenched in young citizens' overall democratic involvement. A lack of citizenship and engagement in community issues was revealed by a recent study conducted by the authors in a secondary school from the outskirts of Aveiro, Portugal, during the 2019/2020 school year. Under the umbrella of a Design-Based Research methodological framework, citizen science strategies were implemented in the context of teaching, learning, and assessment, and at the service of the educational project of the target school, in a STEAM approach, and under Domains of Curricular Autonomy activities. The study's findings suggest that to build the bridge for participatory citizenship, teachers should engage students in collecting and analyzing data regarding communal environmental issues in a Citizen Science approach supported by the Internet of Things. The new pedagogies addressing the lack of citizenship and engagement in community issues promoted students' involvement at school and in the community, contributed to inform municipal education policies, and promoted dialogue and communication between local actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current work, the effects of steam and boiling water blanching on the drying characteristics, water distribution, microstructure, and contents of bioactive substances of Gastrodia elata (G. elata) were explored. Results showed that the degree of steaming and blanching was related to the core temperature of G. elata. The steaming and blanching pretreatment increased the drying time of the samples by more than 50%. The low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) of treated samples showed that the relaxation time corresponded to water molecule states (bound, immobilized, and free) and G. elata became shorter, which indicated a reduction in free moisture and increased resistance of water diffusion in the solid structure during drying. Hydrolysis of polysaccharides and gelatinization of starch granules was observed in the microstructure of treated samples, which was consistent with changes in water status and drying rates. Steaming and blanching increased gastrodin and crude polysaccharide contents and decreased p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol content. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of the effect of steaming and blanching on the drying behavior and quality attributes of G. elata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass gasification is a relevant option to produce a gaseous fuel, it faces, however, several barriers regarding its quality for energetic applications. Therefore, in this study, air-steam and O2-enriched air mixtures were used as gasification agents during the gasification of residual biomass from eucalyptus to improve the producer gas quality. The steam addition promoted an increase in CO2 and H2 concentrations, whilst decreasing the CO and CH4 concentrations. The steam addition had no evident impact on the lower heating value of the dry producer gas and a positive effect on gas yield and the H2:CO molar ratio, attaining the later values up to 1.6 molH2∙mol−1CO. The increase in O2 concentration in the gasification agent (φ) promoted an increase in all combustible species and CO2 concentrations. The lower heating value of the dry producer gas underwent an increase of 57%, reaching a value of 7.5 MJ∙Nm−3dry gas, when the φ increased from 20 to 40 %vol.O2, dry GA. The gas yield had a significant decrease (33%) with φ increase. This work showed that the addition of steam or O2 during air gasification of residual biomass improved producer gas quality, overcoming some of the barriers found in conventional air gasification technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2016, Tosei General Hospital, a tertiary emergency medical facility with 633 beds in Japan, experienced a large nosocomial outbreak of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) that had spread to numerous sink outlets. Based on our experience with using steam cleaners to suppress CPE on environmental surfaces, we report the efficacy of steam cleaners in the disinfection of sink outlets. Steam cleaners were used to disinfect 22 target areas. CPE disappeared in 90.9% of the sink outlets within the first two months after disinfection, and, after 12 months, 54.5% of the sink outlets remained negative throughout the remainder of the study period. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of using steam cleaners to disinfect sink outlets contaminated with CPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal plasma has emerged as a technology with tremendous promise for municipal wastes that should be disposed of sustainably. A numerical simulation of a symmetric turbulent plasma jet from a thermal air plasma torch was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics®5.4 engineering simulation software. The velocities, temperature, arc root motion, and joule heating of the plasma jet were examined under the impact of the gas mass flow rate and current. Moreover, the electrical power required for the municipal solid waste (MSW) processing was estimated. The enthalpy and the effectiveness of the plasma torch were analyzed and discussed. Subsequently an investigation was conducted into the gasification characteristics of MSW using air and steam gases. The torch's power and efficiency could be enhanced with a higher mass flow rate and temperature. Three operating modes were identified from the current–arc flow combination. Among the plasma gas considered, the air gas plasma torch guarantees an acceptable thermal efficiency and a low anode erosion rate. Plasma gasification produces cleaner syngas with higher efficiency (84%) than the conventional process due to the elevated temperature used during the process that breaks down all the char, dioxins, and tars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to present a model for the rheological behavior of simple liquids as a function of the amplitude of the imposed shear stress or strain. The elastic mode theory is first generalized to take into account the fact that, during a flow experiment, mechanical energy is injected in a system initially at thermodynamic equilibrium. This generalized theory can be seen as a particular aspect of the general problem of perturbation by the measurement, associated with that of the coupling between fluctuation and dissipation. This generalization leads to a "finitary" character of the model. It is then combined with the inertial mode theory. The formalism thus obtained allows us to model the rheological behavior of liquids over a wide range of velocity gradients, including the intermediate narrow range corresponding to the Newtonian regime. As experimental tests, viscosity measurements with two kinds of moving rotor rheometers were performed. Only data obtained with liquid water at room temperature are presented and quantitatively analyzed here. It is also shown that liquid n-octane exhibits the same qualitative behaviors as those of liquid water. In the appendices, connection of this theory with quantum mechanics and turbulence phenomena are discussed, and the notion of viscous mass is introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A methodology for the computation of the thermal energy efficiency of modes for the heat treatment of frozen wooden prisms in an autoclave with saturated water vapor at changing operational conditions has been proposed. The methodology includes computer simulations with two own-coupled unsteady models: one to calculate the 2D temperature distribution in the cross-section of prismatic wood materials during their heat treatment, and the second to determine the heat balance of industrial autoclaves for such wood treatment. Simulations were carried out in order to determine the duration, energy consumption, and thermal efficiency of different modes, caused by changed operational conditions, for the autoclave steaming of frozen beech prisms with industrial parameters in the absence and presence of dispatcher intervention. The influence of nine combinations between the time of dispatcher intervention and the degree of reduction of the constant maximum temperature from the 130 °C of the basic mode on the thermal efficiency of the autoclave was investigated. The results show that all studied dispatching interventions cause an increase in both the duration and the thermal efficiency of the modes. This efficiency in the modes at changing operational conditions has values between 68.7% and 74.6%, while the efficiency in the basic steaming mode is equal to 68.0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's growing power demands and emission norms require more efficient coal-based power plants. The shifting of power plants from subcritical to ultra-supercritical (USC) steam conditions could improve efficiency by 12% and reduce CO 2 emissions by 35%. There is a need to develop and qualify materials under ultra-supercritical steam conditions with high temperatures and high pressures in laboratory scale. The sample materials were exposed to high temperatures of 700 °C under air and high pressure steam at 700 °C/243 bars for 1000 h in as-received and grain-boundary-enhanced conditions. Grain boundary enhancement included optimization of a thermo-mechanical process involving cold rolling and annealing of samples. The effect of air and steam oxidation on IN 617, a nickel-based candidate superalloy, was analysed. Steam oxidation was performed on a custom-built PARR 4650 series autoclave, and the oxidized samples were characterised under scanning electron microscopy, to evaluate the oxide scales. The grain-boundary-engineered material performed better than the as-received samples. IN 617 overall fared better under both air and steam conditions, with far less weight gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]