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Increased demands for technological integration in higher education have resulted in new forms of course instruction. Under a flipped approach, students learn course materials outside the classroom while active learning methods are employed inside. This study focuses on the perceived effects of flipped instruction on knowledge acquisition in undergraduate students using information communication, accessibility, stimulation, interaction, and accumulation as measures. Undergraduate students indicated positive effects of flipped teaching and students' perceived learning improved as time spent using learning management systems increased. While knowledge acquisition tended to increase in most students, technological incompatibilities prevented the flipped approach from being fully accepted.

Submerged entry nozzle (SEN) clogging is investigated with an emphasis on the interfacial reaction between the nozzle refractory and the liquid steel. Within the context of carbothermically produced CO(g) being the main cause of the early stage SEN clogging, various SEN refractory materials are assessed in view of their impact on the initial clog deposit formation. A series of high‐temperature experiments are carried out to observe the interfacial reaction between the SEN refractory materials and the liquid steel: three oxide‐based and one oxide‐less refractory materials are employed. Ti‐free and Ti‐added ultra‐low C steel are reacted with these refractory materials. The reactivity of the refractories is assessed by 1) the morphology, composition, and thickness of the initial clog deposit and 2) the evolution of steel compositions. Decreasing SiO2 content in "oxide‐based" refractory is recommended. The "oxide‐less" refractory composed of AlON–BN–AlN is shown to be promising to suppress the early stage of SEN clogging. The present results would provide directions for designing the SEN refractory constitution to suppress the SEN clogging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces contribute to improving people's physical and mental health by reducing levels of stress and anxiety. Marginalized communities in the USA experience poor health outcome in part because of health disparities related to social and structural determinants of health. The purpose of this study is to assess the prospective role of Kellogg Park, a newly built community park in a marginalized community in California, in enhancing residents' physical and mental health. The researchers collected the data by conducting an in-person survey, which covered questions related to environmental and safety perceptions, overall satisfaction, changes in physical activity changes and mental health with respondents' pre- and post-occupancy experiences. For analyzing data, bivariate analyses using a t-test and a correlation analysis were conducted to examine if there was a relationship between the overall satisfaction and visiting experience. The results indicated an increased positive environmental perception. Besides, respondents reported positively to questions of safety and their overall satisfaction. This research yielded positive results, indicating an improvement in the respondents' physical activity changes and mental health after the construction of the park. The results will advocate for and assist planners, designers, and policy-makers in prioritizing green spaces in marginalized communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid, sensitive, and quantitative detection of biomarkers is needed for early diagnosis of disease and surveillance of infectious outbreaks. Here, we exploit a plasmonic syringe filter and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in the development of a rapid detection system, using human IgG as a model diagnostic biomarker. The novel assay design facilitates multiple passages of the sample and labeling solution through the detection zone enabling us to investigate and maximize sampling efficiency to the capture substrate. The vertical flow immunoassay process in this study involves the utilization of filter paper embedded with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to form a plasmonic substrate. Capture antibody (anti-human IgG) is then immobilized onto the prepared plasmonic paper and inserted into a vertical flow device (syringe filter holder). Sample solution is passed through the filter paper and the target antigen (human IgG) is selectively captured by the immobilized antibody to form an antibody–antigen complex. Next, functionalized AuNPs as extrinsic Raman labels (ERLs) are passed through the filter paper to label the captured biomarker molecules forming a layered structure. This sandwiched geometry enhances plasmonic coupling and SERS signal to provide highly sensitive detection of biomolecules. Systematic studies to investigate the impact of multiple infuse/withdraw cycles of the sample and labeling solutions reveal that antigen and ERL binding are maximized with 10 and 20 cycles, respectively. The optimized assay achieves a detection limit of ∼0.2 ng mL−1 for human IgG with a total assay time of less than 5 minutes, meeting the demands for rapid point of care diagnostics. Additionally, the optimized platform was implemented in the quantitative analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, the typical target in commercial, FDA-approved rapid antigen tests for COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]