The impact of integrated STEM professional development on teacher quality

This study of a state‐funded, 3‐year implementation of an integrated STEM professional development (PD) program for teachers from two middle schools in the midwestern U.S. examined if participants in the PD were enabled to transform their practice and perceptions of STEM. An integrated STEM approach includes a focus on the STEM disciplines, along with leveraging social studies/history and English/language arts as important context and tools for solving society’s biggest challenges. Findings in this study indicated that teachers implemented more effective STEM teaching strategies and had more positive perceptions regarding STEM overall. Further, participants became more aware of their personal needs for resources and support to teach through integrated STEM. Implications for research and practice are discussed.     

A new three-component one pot reaction of trinitromethane, epoxides and alkenes via dinitronitronates: synthesis of highly functionalized 3,3-dinitroisoxazolidines

A novel approach to acyclic alkyldinitronitronates using nucleophilic opening of epoxides with the trinitromethyl anion is presented. The scope and limitations of this synthetic procedure are presented. A series of highly functionalized 3,3-dinitroisoxazolidines were synthesized as mixtures of diastereomers.     

Unsteady mass and energy transfer in binary gas mixtures

Thermodynamic analysis and a theory of unsteady-state process of thermal diffusion and diffusional thermal effect in gas mixtures are presented. A mathematical model for unsteady mass transfer process in gas mixtures is developed.     

Separation of water-soluble vitamins by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with ultra-violet detection: application to polyvitaminated premixes

Nine water-soluble vitamins: [thiamine (B1), ascorbic acid (C), nicotinamide (PP), pyridoxine (B6), calcium pantothenate (B5), folic acid (B9), cyanocobalamin (B12), riboflavin (B2) and biotin (B8)] were separated on a YMC-Pack Pro C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm particle size) in a single run with a gradient elution of mobile phase consisting of 0.025% trifluoroacetic acid pH 2.6 (solvent A) and acetonitrile (solvent B). The separation was achieved within 17 min with a flow rate of 0.8 ml min(-1) and the detection was performed at two wavelengths (210 and 275 nm). The calibration graphs plotted with six concentrations of each vitamin were linear with a regression coefficient R2 > 0.995. The method was applied for the quantification of vitamins B1, C, PP, B6, B5, B9 B2 and B8 in polyvitaminated premixes (premixes) used for the fortification of infant nutrition products. The sample preparation involves an aqueous extraction of vitamins and two different samples dilution were used prior the LC-analysis. The specificity of the method was demonstrated by the retention characteristics, UV spectra and by comparing the peak purity with the standard of each vitamin. The repeatability of the method was evaluated at different level of concentrations on 12 premixes and the coefficients of variation (CVr) were below 6.5%. The values of the intermediate precision (CV1) were below 9.6% (n = 6). The concentrations of vitamins found in premixes with our method were comparable to the declared values, since no bias was found between the two sets of results at 95% confidence. The simplicity of the procedure should make it highly desirable for quality control of premixes in the food industry.     

Andreev states near short-ranged pairing potential impurities

We study Andreev states near atomic scale modulations in the pairing potential in both s- and d-wave superconductors with short coherence lengths. For a moderate reduction of the local gap, the states exist only close to the gap edge. If one allows for local sign changes of the order parameter, however, resonances can occur at energies close to the Fermi level. The local density of states (LDOS) around such pairing potential defects strongly resembles the patterns observed by tunneling measurements around Zn impurities in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x (BSCCO). We discuss how this phase impurity model of the Zn LDOS pattern can be distinguished from other proposals experimentally.     

Stable isotope composition of the meteoric precipitation in Croatia

The precipitation is the input into the water system. Its stable isotope composition has to be known for the proper use and management of water resources. Croatia is not well represented in the Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) database, and the geomorphology of the country causes specific local conditions. Therefore, at the Stable Isotope Laboratory (SILab), Rijeka, we monitor the stable isotope composition (δ¹⁸O, δ²H) of precipitation. Since δ¹⁸O and δ²H are well correlated, we concentrate the discussion on the δ¹⁸O distribution. Together with GNIP, our database contains 40 stations in Croatia and in the neighbouring countries. Their different latitudes, longitudes and altitudes give information of great detail, including the influence of the topographic structure on the precipitation in the south-eastern part of Europe, as well as the complex interplay of the different climate conditions in the area. Within a few hundred kilometres, the stable isotope values display a significant change from the maritime character in the south (mean δ¹⁸O around?6 to?8%‰) to the continental behaviour in the north (mean δ¹⁸O around?8 to?11%‰). Depending on the location, the mean δ¹⁸O values vary with altitude at a rate of approximately?0.2%‰/100 m and?0.4%‰/100 m, respectively. Also the deuterium excess has been found to depend on location and altitude. The data are being used to construct a δ¹⁸O map for the entire area.     

Instant controlled pressure drop technology and ultrasound assisted extraction for sequential extraction of essential oil and antioxidants

The instant controlled pressure drop (DIC) technology enabled both the extraction of essential oil and the expansion of the matrix itself which improved solvent extraction. The sequential use of DIC and Ultrasound Assisted Extraction (UAE) triggered complementary actions materialized by supplementary effects. We visualized these combination impacts by comparing them to standard techniques: Hydrodistillation (HD) and Solvent Extraction (SE). First, the extraction of orange peel Essential Oils (EO) was achieved by HD during 4 h and DIC process (after optimization) during 2 min; EO yields was 1.97 mg/g dry material (dm) with HD compared to 16.57 mg/g dm with DIC. Second, the solid residue was recovered to extract antioxidant compounds (naringin and hesperidin) by SE and UAE. Scanning electron microscope showed that after HD the recovered solid shriveled as opposite to DIC treatment which expanded the product structure. HPLC analyses showed that the best kinetics and yields of naringin and hesperidin extraction was when DIC and UAE are combined. Indeed, after 1 h of extraction, DIC treated orange peels with UAE were 0.825 ± 1.6 × 10^?2 g/g of dry material (dm) for hesperidin and 6.45 × 10^?2 ± 2.3 × 10^?4 g/g dm for naringin compared to 0.64 ± 2.7 × 10^?2 g/g of dry material (dm) and 5.7 × 10^?2 ± 1.6 × 10^?3 g/g dm, respectively with SE. By combining DIC to UAE, it was possible to enhance kinetics and yields of antioxidant extraction.     

Multiple levels of metacognition and their elicitation through complex problem-solving tasks

Building on prior efforts, we re-conceptualize metacognition on multiple levels, looking at the sources that trigger metacognition at the individual level, the social level, and the environmental level. This helps resolve the paradox of metacognition: metacognition is personal, but it cannot be explained exclusively by individualistic conceptions. We develop a theoretical model of metacognition in collaborative problem solving based on models and modeling perspectives. The theoretical model addresses several challenges previously found in the research of metacognition. This paper illustrates how metacognition was elicited, at the environmental level, through problems requiring different problem-solving processes (definition building and operationalizing definitions), and how metacognition operated at both the individual level and the social level during complex problem solving. The re-conceptualization of metacognition has the potential to guide the development of metacognitive activities and effective instructional methods to integrate them into existing curricula that are necessary to engage students in active, higher-order learning.