bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of a de novo Mutation in TMEM106B in a Saudi Child Causes Hypomyelination Leukodystrophy
Authors: Alotaibi Lena , Alqasmi Amal
Published: March 2023

Hypomyelinating leukodystrophies are one of the white matter disorders caused by a lack of myelin deposition in the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we report the first case of hypomyelinating leukodystrophy in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. This condition is caused by a mutation in the TMEM106B gene (HLD16; MIM 617964). Hypotonia, congenital nystagmus, delayed motor development, and delayed speech are the main clinical manifestations. The affected patient has mild pyramidal syndrome, a mild intellectual disability, ataxic gait, hyperreflexia, intention tremor, dysmetria, and other motor difficulties. Findings from neuroimaging reveal severe, ongoing, and diffuse hypomyelination identified via the whole exome sequencing, a harmful missense mutation in the TMEM106B gene that is heterozygous. The patient is the offspring of two unrelated persons. The protein's cytoplasmic domain contains a variation that is located in highly conserved residues. In an oligodendroglial cell line, the mutant protein significantly lowered the mRNA production of important myelin genes, decreased branching, and increased cell mortality. TMEM106B is abundantly expressed in neurons and oligodendrocytes in the CNS and is localized in the late endosome and lysosome compartments. TMEM106B levels can be controlled at the transcriptional level through chromatin modification, at the mRNA level through miRNAs, and at the protein level through lysosomal functions. Our findings reveal a novel role of zinc homeostasis in oligodendrocyte development and myelin production and show that variations in TMEM163 induce hypomyelination leukodystrophy.
Does Chemical Shift Magnetic Resonance Imaging Improve Visualization of Pars Interarticularis Defect?
Authors: Smith Emily , Nischal Neha , Murphy Jennifer , Azzopardi Christine , Iyengar Karthikeyan P. , Haleem Shahnawaz , Botchu Rajesh
Published: March 2023

Introduction A unilateral or bilateral pars interarticularis defect (spondylolysis) is a leading cause of axial back pain in adolescent athletes. Currently, a spectrum of imaging modalities is used for assessment of pars interarticularis defects.

Objectives The aim of this study is to compare the accuracy of chemical shift sequence (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) technique to conventional MRI sequences in the detection of pars defects.

Patients and Methods Conventional T1, T2, and short tau inversion recovery sagittal and axial, as well as “in-” and “out-” phase chemical shift sagittal MRI sequences of 70 consecutive patients referred for low back pain were reviewed. Demographic details, clinical indication, and presence/diagnosis of pars defects using a 5-point Likert scale on both conventional and chemical shift MRI sequences. Spearman's correlation was used for statistical analysis. Intraclass correlation coefficient analysis was evaluated to assess the intraclass reliability between observers. Data were analyzed using DATAtab web-based statistics software (2022).

Results A total of 70 patients with an average age of 54.34 years with a female predominance were included. There were 11 pars defects in the cohort. Both in and out phases of chemical shift imaging were able to identify pars defect and intact pars. However, out phase was relatively better in delineating pars defects, while the in phase was superior in identifying an intact pars, though this was not statistically significant. There was good intra- and interobserver reliabilities.

Conclusion Chemical shift MRI sequence is a quicker, complementary technique to assess and analyze pars interarticularis confidently than conventionally utilized MRI sequences in patients being evaluated for axial back pain.
Value-added-tax rate increases: A comparative study using difference-in-difference with an ARIMA modeling approach
Authors: Mgammal Mahfoudh Hussein , Al-Matari Ebrahim Mohammed , Alruwaili Talal Fawzi
Published: March 2023

Collecting and managing taxes is a critical keystone to protecting a country’s financial intensity and developing a country’s tax system, where value-added tax (VAT) has proven to be a nurturing and steady foundation of income for governments. VAT is a primary source of financial gain in developing nations, which differs from economic income in developed nations, where economic income is primarily derived from tax income. This study examines the influence of the new VAT on non-financial Saudi-listed companies. We compared and examined the impact of the newly introduced 15% VAT in various non-financial sectors. Using charts, tables, appropriate variance analysis, and ARIMA model in the Difference in Difference approach. Regarding data, we targeted 2019 before the new VAT, the discovery of COVID-19, and 2020 after the new VAT and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results show that a sharp increase in VAT (with other unmeasured variables in this study) has a significant positive/negative impact on inter-industry volatility in corporate financial reporting metrics and was even more dramatic with the COVID-19 disaster. The proposed 10% VAT increase has caused significant fluctuations in companies’ metrics, for example, a decrease in average profits—2.16%, an escalation in more inactive companies, and a higher probability of bankruptcy among companies. Such an outcome would undoubtedly affect unemployment and possibly lead to a reduction in tax revenues in the long run. The consequences of an unexpected VAT increase raise the question of whether they accurately reflect the natural tax system in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the Saudi government may consider the practical implications of outcomes before taking the next step in interventions in non-financial sectors.
Mathematical model describes fused deposition for 3D printers
Authors: Johnson-Groh Mara
Published: March 2023

Combining heat transfer and dendritic solidification models, researchers create a model for additive manufacturing.
Experimental observation of anomalous supralinear response of single-photon detectors
Authors: Hloušek Josef , Straka Ivo , Ježek Miroslav
Published: March 2023

The linearity of single-photon detectors allows accurate optical measurements at low light levels and using non-classical light in spectroscopy, biomedical imaging, optical communication, and sensing. However, in practice, the response of single-photon detectors can exhibit intriguing nonlinear effects that may influence the performed measurements. Here, we demonstrate a direct single-source measurement of the absolute nonlinearity of single-photon detectors with unprecedented accuracy. We discover a surprising supralinear behavior of single-photon avalanche diodes and show that it cannot be explained using known theoretical models. We also fully characterize sub- and supra-linear operation regimes of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors and uncover the supralinearity under faint continuous illumination. The results identify new detector anomalies that supersede existing knowledge of nonlinear effects at the single-photon level.
Push–pull large stroke flexure-based micropositioning stage driven by electromagnetic actuators with complementary double configuration
Authors: Liu Hao , Lai Leijie , Fang Yu , Zhu Limin
Published: March 2023

This paper aims at presenting a solution to overcome the problems of small driving force and the evident nonlinear characteristics of the large stroke flexure-based micropositioning stage driven by a voice coil motor (VCM). The push–pull mode of complementary configurations of VCMs on both sides is adopted to improve the magnitude and uniformity of the driving force, and model-free adaptive control (MFAC) is combined to achieve accurate control of the positioning stage. First, the micropositioning stage based on the compound double parallelogram flexure mechanism driven by double VCMs in the push–pull mode is proposed, and its most prominent features are introduced. Then, a comparison of the driving force characteristics of a single VCM and dual VCMs is conducted, and the results are empirically discussed. Subsequently, the static and dynamic modeling of the flexure mechanism was carried out and verified by finite element analysis and experimental tests. After that, the controller for the positioning stage based on MFAC is designed. Finally, three different combinations of different controllers and VCM configuration modes are used to track the triangle wave signals. The experimental results show that compared with the other two combinations, the maximum tracking error and root mean square error of the combination of MFAC and push–pull mode are significantly reduced, which fully proves the effectiveness and feasibility of the method proposed in this paper. At the same time, the reduction of current in the coil confirms the advantages of the push–pull mode.
Ubiquity of avalanches: Crackling noise in kidney stones and porous materials
Authors: Eckstein Jack T. , Carpenter Michael A. , Salje Ekhard K. H.
Published: March 2023

Systematic advances in the resolution and analytical interpretation of acoustic emission (AE) spectroscopy have, over the last decade, allowed for extensions into novel fields. The same dynamic failure patterns, which have been identified in earthquakes, magnetism, and switching of ferroelastic and ferroelectric materials, are shown, in this paper, to be equally important in medicine, and minerals, in the geological context, to give just two examples. In the first application, we show that biological samples, i.e., kidney stones, can be analyzed with acoustic emission and related to the progression of mechanical avalanches. Discrepancies between strong and weak AE signals are shown to have separate avalanche exponents for a urate kidney stone, with evidence of slight multi-branching. It is proposed that investigations of this nature can be adopted to the field of medicine, and in the case of kidney stones, can provide a blueprint for selecting ideal combinations of energy and frequency to instigate their destruction. In a second example, porous geological material failure is shown to proceed equally in avalanches, and precursors to catastrophic failure can be detected via AE. Warning signs of impeding macroscopic collapse, e.g., in mining activities, show systematic evolution of energy exponents. Ultimately, this behavior is a result of geological processes, man-made bio-mineralization, or the burning of carbon inclusions, creating pores and holes, causing cracks, and accelerating their interactions.
Order and disorder in cerium-rich ceria-zirconia solid solutions revealed from reverse Monte Carlo analysis of neutron and x-ray total scattering
Authors: Summer Aron , Playford Helen Y. , Owen Lewis R. , Fisher Janet M. , Kolpin Amy , Thompsett David , Walton Richard I.
Published: March 2023

A reverse Monte Carlo analysis of neutron and x-ray total scattering data from two ceria-zirconia samples of composition Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 is performed to analyze the distribution of cations and to examine the possibility of oxide-ion disorder. For the first material, heated in air under moderate conditions (800 °C), the structure is a single-phase solid-solution with the statistical distribution of cations, but a local tetragonal symmetry is found, consistent with the different coordination preferences of Ce and Zr. For the second material, heated under H2 at 1050 °C followed by reoxidation at 400 °C, the structure shows a considerable disorder, with evidence for oxygen interstitials (Frenkel-ion defects) and a non-statistical distribution of cations with significantly higher concentrations of like–like cation nearest neighbors, highlighting the existence of cation-rich nano-domains. The results highlight the dynamic nature of this solid-solution, with structural evolution upon thermal treatment, which is of relevance to understanding its stability under redox catalytic conditions in practical applications.
Multi-scale modeling and simulation of additive manufacturing based on fused deposition technique
Authors: Xia Qing , Sun Gangming , Kim Junseok , Li Yibao
Published: March 2023

The issue of multi-scale modeling of the filament-based material extrusion has received considerable critical attention for three-dimensional (3D) printing, which involves complex physicochemical phase transitions and thermodynamic behavior. The lack of a multi-scale theoretical model poses significant challenges for prediction in 3D printing processes driven by the rapidly evolving temperature field, including the nonuniformity of tracks, the spheroidization effect of materials, and inter-track voids. Few studies have systematically investigated the mapping relationship and established the numerical modeling between the physical environment and the virtual environment. In this paper, we develop a multi-scale system to describe the fused deposition process in the 3D printing process, which is coupled with the conductive heat transfer model and the dendritic solidification model. The simulation requires a computational framework with high performance because of the cumulative effect of heat transfer between different filament layers. The proposed system is capable of simulating the material state with the proper parameter at the macro- and micro-scale and is directly used to capture multiple physical phenomena. The main contribution of this paper is that we have established a totally integrated simulation system by considering multi-scale and multi-physical properties. We carry out several numerical tests to verify the robustness and efficiency of the proposed model.
Imposing a constraint on the discrete Reynolds–Orr equation demonstrated in shear flows
Authors: Nagy P. T. , Paál G. , Kiss M.
Published: March 2023

The Reynolds–Orr equation predicts the unconditional stability limit of a flow. Although this seems to be a desirable aim in engineering applications, the predicted critical Reynolds numbers are one magnitude below the experimental observations. In this paper, an attempt is made to reduce this gap for incompressible shear flows. It is known that the Navier–Stokes equation has no regular solution at the initial time if the initial velocity field does not fulfill the compatibility condition. However, the original solution of the Reynolds–Orr equation, the critical perturbation, does not necessarily fulfill this condition. Therefore, the condition is added to the original problem as a non-linear constraint. This requires the use of a discrete functional, introduced in the paper. Two different formulations are implemented and discussed. The solution is assumed in a waveform. The augmented problem is solved in the cases of planar Poiseuille and the Couette flow. The result shows that adding the constraint increases the critical Reynolds number significantly in the case of a streamwise perturbation but only slightly in the case of a spanwise one. It was demonstrated using numerical simulations that the single waveform assumption was unreasonably strict. The usage of the compatibility condition without assuming the single waveform has a negligible effect on the critical Reynolds number. However, the presented methods can be used for adding other reasonable and complicated constraints to the variational problem.
Numerical study of transverse jet mixing and combustion in a high-enthalpy supersonic crossflow with trace gases
Authors: Tang Tao , Wang Zhenguo , Yu Jiangfei , Huang Yuhui , Sun Mingbo , Wang Hongbo , Zhao Guoyan , Yang Yixin , Xiong Dapeng
Published: March 2023

High-enthalpy gas streams in a real engine or wind tunnel will contain some trace gases; however, this is often ignored in many studies. To investigate transverse fuel-jet mixing and combustion characteristics in a high-enthalpy inflow with trace-gas species, large-eddy simulations based on the HyShot II configuration have been adopted and verified. It was found that a trace amount of atomic oxygen (O) and nitrous oxide has a direct significance on ignition delay times and can, therefore, influence the overall flame distribution. In addition, the results show a greater sensitivity to the levels of O. The complex shock-wave system generated by the transverse jet is found to be a key factor in enhancing mixing and inducing combustion. It not only facilitates vortex generation by increasing the baroclinic term but also provides regions with high pressure and temperature, which accelerate the chemical-reaction rates for radical generation. The initial ignition locations, characterized by HO2 production rates, are mainly located in the low-speed region close to the injector, e.g., in the recirculation region, while OH is mainly formed downstream and accompanied by strong heat release. Based on the analysis of instantaneous contours and statistical results, the overall combustion was found to be in scramjet mode. The partially premixed flame dominates the combustor, where the combustion mainly lies in the flamelet regime, while the diffusion flame dominates the nozzle, where the combustion is spread over the flamelet regime, the broken flamelet regime, and the perfectly stirred reactor regime.
Students' Understandings of Electricity and Magnetism
Authors: van Kampen Paul , De Cock Mieke
Published: March 2023

In this chapter we highlight some of the physics education literature on students' ideas about electricity and magnetism. The research reviewed spans all age groups and includes work carried out within a wide variety of frameworks. We start the chapter with students' ideas about electric charge, attraction and repulsion, charging, polarization, and magnetic interactions primarily from a qualitative viewpoint. We then describe research related to students adopting a more quantitative approach: electrostatic and magnetostatic force and field; the superposition principle; electric potential, electric potential energy, and capacitance. Sections on representations and commonly used diagnostic tests serve as a bridge to more advanced topics that often also require more advanced mathematical techniques such as integration and vector calculus: Gauss' Law, Ampère's Law, and Faraday's Law. Throughout the chapter we highlight where we have found gaps in the literature.
Theorizing Concept Learning in Physics Education Research: Progress and Prospects
Authors: Amin Tamer G. , Levin Mariana , Levrini Olivia
Published: March 2023

Research on conceptual change addresses the question of how the conceptual resources that learners bring to the context of formal instruction are transformed into conceptual understanding consistent with the accepted knowledge in some domain. Research has been conducted on conceptual change in domains such as science, mathematics, history, and economics. Physics represents an important scientific domain in conceptual change research, as many of the core theoretical perspectives that have been developed have their roots in investigations of K–16 physics learning. Over the years, many reviews have synthesized this literature in a variety of different ways. In our review, we complement this large body of prior reviews by building a multi-layer landscape of current work, so as to unpack the multiple dimensions and types of knowledge involved in conceptual change. The landscape we offer is grounded in the foundational work on the nature of concepts and conceptual change, our first layer of analysis. Then, the second and the third layers address, respectively, the role of representations (such as language, visual representations and simulations, equations, and gesture) in concept representation and learning, and the interplay between the epistemological practices of explaining, modeling and arguing and conceptual change. We then review the literature on the relationship between conceptual change, metacognition and student's epistemologies, the fourth layer of analysis. Lastly, we turn to a fifth layer that expands the scope even further to examine how learner identity interacts with concept learning in disciplinary domains.
Teaching Practices
Authors: Tiberghien Andrée , Venturini Patrice
Published: March 2023

Science teaching practices have not been systematically reviewed in the scientific literature, and when they have been addressed, it has been in relation to the study of specific issues such as the implementation of pedagogical approaches, sequence design, the effects of training plans, etc. This chapter takes another view by focusing on practices and their characteristics, even if they are often the result of very different research perspectives. It thus reports the results of studies of these characteristics published in four major science education journals between 2015 and 2020. It is focused on teaching science in elementary, and middle school and physics in high school. More specifically, beyond descriptions and characterizations of practices as such, it takes stock of the relationships that practices have with student and teacher characteristics, with local or broader structures, with teacher training, with the resources available to teachers, or with the particular aspects of the taught content. The results show the great complexity and variety of science teaching practices, and allow us to understand the difficulty of grasping the expertise and ingenuity behind this human activity.
Framework for and Review of Research on Assessing and Improving Equity and Inclusion in Undergraduate Physics Learning Environments
Authors: Cwik Sonja , Singh Chandralekha
Published: March 2023

In this chapter, we begin with a theoretical framework that emphasizes the importance of creating an equitable and inclusive learning environment so that students from all demographic groups benefit from evidence-based active engagement curricula and pedagogies. We then discuss both quantitative and qualitative assessment findings (using survey data and ethnographic and interview data) that suggest that without explicit thoughts and measures, undergraduate physics learning environments are not equitable and inclusive. Our focus here is on two marginalized groups in physics: women and ethnic/racial minority students who are severely underrepresented in physics. We discuss research that shows highly troubling trends, e.g., ethnic and racial minority students’ drop out of the physics major at twice the rate compared to white students and women drop out with significantly higher GPAs than men. In addition to course level performance gaps, we discuss findings pertaining to beliefs that show that women and ethnic/racial minority students often have lower physics sense of belonging, self-efficacy, perceived recognition by others including instructors and identity compared to students from the dominant group. We also discuss how stereotype threat can result in the deteriorated performance of marginalized students. Finally, we discuss how social psychological classroom interventions and an explicit focus on creating student-centered inclusive classrooms can lead to more equitable outcomes.
History of Physics and Socio-Scientific Issues: Approaching Gender and Social Justice
Authors: de Mello Forato Thaís Cyrino , Carneiro de Lima Isabelle Priscila , Ferreira Gabriela Kaiana
Published: March 2023

This chapter presents a systematic understanding of how combining Socioscientific Issues (SSI) and History of Physics (HP) episodes can contribute to the advancement of democracy, the improvement of the quality of human life, by discussing proposals to train people committed to social justice and engaged with social transformation. The current scenario of exacerbated denialist movements (such as the anti-vaccine, environmental degradation, and the strengthened extreme right-wing movements all around the globe) produces socio-environmental vulnerability of portions of the population such as differences between certain ethnicities, leading to environmental racism and other social injustices. These inequalities of access and lack of recognition are also present in the erasure and exclusion of women throughout the HP causing gender inequality, bringing the responsibilities of the Physics Education Research (PER) community involvement. Considering that both education and gender equality are key parts for promoting human rights, inclusion, and sustainable development, these sensitive topics can bring discussing issues involving social justice and human rights. Also, promote the debate of how the historical development of Physics contributed to the constitution of global and local exclusionary and unfair systems, by understanding how the HP influenced the clash between forces that shape the world. Aiming at the development of empathy and generating commitment and engagement, this chapter presents a proposal to apply a theoretical framework by using a short narrative on Lise Meitner's contributions to the nuclear fission theory. Furthermore, the context of war, some deletions, values, actions regarding her Jewish family and gender issues involved in the episode are emphasized - implying undue liability and severe consequences for society, and human rights’ violation, approaching issues related to tackling gender bias, which is increasingly urgent within the PER community.
Evaluation of Physics Textbooks
Authors: Kapanadze Marika , Jonas-Ahrend Gabriela , Mazzolini Alexander , Joubran Fadeel
Published: March 2023

Physics textbooks are generally viewed as important tools that provide well-presented and reliable information that supports and enhances students' understanding of critical concepts. The main goal of this chapter is to find out what attention has been given to textbook evaluation in physics education research literature. Studies about physics textbooks from different countries and different eras are discussed and analyzed, and a broad overview about aspects that influence the efficacy of physics textbooks are presented. Research papers that discuss the importance and influence of digital textbooks (and similar technological resources) are also analyzed.
The Necessarily, Wonderfully Unsettled State of Methodology in PER: A Reflection
Authors: Hammer David
Published: March 2023

The field of PER as described in this Handbook began about 50 years ago. Many of us initially trained and became enculturated in the much older discipline of physics, and some of our expectations and esthetics for rigor of thought and empirical research might not apply: PER is a much newer pursuit, and the phenomena of learning and instruction are highly complex and difficult to conceptualize. In this chapter, I reflect on the first studies, in the 1970's, which combined qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and on the much greater diversity of work taking place today. My purpose is to suggest that methodology in PER remains significantly unsettled, like and coupled with our theoretical frameworks. And I suggest we embrace it as a wonderful privilege, to be involved as we are during the field's formation.
Front Matter
Authors: Taşar Mehmet Fatih , Heron Paula R. L.
Published: March 2023

The International Handbook of Physics Education Research: Special Topics covers the topics of equity and inclusion; history and philosophy of physics; textbooks; mathematics; research history, methodologies, and themes. As the field of physics education research grows, it is increasingly difficult for newcomers to gain an appreciation of the major findings across all sub-domains, discern global themes, and recognize gaps in the literature. The International Handbook of Physics Education Research: Special Topics incorporates the understanding of both physics and education concepts and provides an extensive review of the literature in a wide range of important topics.

The International Handbook of Physics Education Research: Special Topics includes:The history and philosophy of physics teaching, including a review of physics textbooks.Teaching mathematics for physics students.Methodologies in physics education research and the future of physics departments.

Readers will find this comprehensive treatment of the literature useful in understanding physics education research and extending to all the physical sciences including chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, and other related disciplines.
Index
Authors: Taşar Mehmet Fatih , Heron Paula R. L.
Published: March 2023

The International Handbook of Physics Education Research: Special Topics covers the topics of equity and inclusion; history and philosophy of physics; textbooks; mathematics; research history, methodologies, and themes. As the field of physics education research grows, it is increasingly difficult for newcomers to gain an appreciation of the major findings across all sub-domains, discern global themes, and recognize gaps in the literature. The International Handbook of Physics Education Research: Special Topics incorporates the understanding of both physics and education concepts and provides an extensive review of the literature in a wide range of important topics.

The International Handbook of Physics Education Research: Special Topics includes:The history and philosophy of physics teaching, including a review of physics textbooks.Teaching mathematics for physics students.Methodologies in physics education research and the future of physics departments.

Readers will find this comprehensive treatment of the literature useful in understanding physics education research and extending to all the physical sciences including chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, and other related disciplines.
Smartphones as an Educational Intervention for PER. Framing an Analysis for Determinants and Perspectives
Authors: Psycharis Sarantos , Patrinopoulos Matthaios , Iatrou Paraskevi , Kalovrektis Konstantinos
Published: March 2023

This chapter examines, through a literature review, the use of mobile resources and more specifically smartphones, as challenges for teachers to support physics education, with an emphasis on their use as support for the experimental process. The use of smartphones, through the perspective highlighted by relevant research, is related to the context of connecting the scientific and technological capabilities they provide and the educational practices proposed. The study examines the use of smartphones as a means of support of the educational experimental process, the technological capabilities of the devices and their sensors, and the most widespread applications of data capture, processing, and presentation. In addition, the proposed educational approaches for their utilization in physics are recorded, the perspectives, but also the concerns that are developed for the use of smartphones in education. The review provides a complete picture of the path followed, the current situation, and the potential future uses of smartphones in the educational practice of Physics, a synopsis of modern applications as well as the technologies related to smartphones in teaching and learning according to Physics Education Research (PER).
Experimental Environments in PER: A Critical and Comparative Evaluation of the International Literature—Trends
Authors: Tsihouridis Charilaos , Vavougios Dionysios (Denis)
Published: March 2023

Education is considered the cornerstone needed for the smooth integration of any individual into society. It is of fundamental importance for all people and one of the most valuable means that contributes to the improvement and development of their lives and the society in which they live, create and produce. Education and its process concerns all academic subjects, and it is not limited exclusively to the theoretical level, but it extends to the practical exercise of the knowledge acquired. Within the educational framework, science education is also of major importance. To this end, effective teaching, aiming at the understanding of science and physics concepts, in particular, has been a diachronic interest of all those involved in the educational practice (students, teachers, stakeholders). Physics Education Research (PER) is a multilevel process that contributes to the above goal by constantly allowing education participants to broaden their knowledge in many areas of physics, leading to the improvement of physics concepts knowledge and understanding. Experimental practice, pertaining to a greater or lesser extent to all areas of PER (social aspects, technology, evaluation of instructional interventions or instructional material and more), constitutes an important research field for education and physics learning. In addition, through continuous feedback of the experiment-teaching-research and technology process, new combined motivating experimental and learning environments are constantly being created, incorporating interdisciplinary and cross-curricular approaches in physics education.
Virtual Learning Environments
Authors: Irmak Meltem , Kaldaras Leonora
Published: March 2023

In physics learning, the ability to visualize and mentally manipulate the shapes or models is very important in effective conceptual learning. Virtual learning environments make a promise to help learners in this sense. Virtual learning environments (VLEs) are designed information spaces that may include various representations ranging from static visuals to interactive, fully-immersive, 3D environments. There is a range of environments some of which include less sophisticated interfaces and some of which include 3D / virtual reality technology. Simulations, computer games, virtual reality, and augmented reality are included in the scope of this chapter, as the most frequently used VLEs in physics education. We conducted literature review to search for the trends in research in these environments. We conclude that the design and use of virtual learning environments in the context of physics education is an open field for future research. The targeted learner groups and concepts to be learned in the VLEs are limited and need to be diversified. We discuss findings for each environment separately and provide recommendations for future research.
Physics Teacher Education for Early Science Learners
Authors: Gostinčar Blagotinšek Ana , Pavlin Jerneja , Čepič Mojca
Published: March 2023

Early science teaching and learning extends from preschool through primary school and culminates in lower secondary science education. It is characterized by content that connects to students’ everyday experiences and allows for observations and simple hands-on experiments. The role of physics, or more precisely of topics that can be related to physics in one way or another, is fundamental because experiments on these topics can be adapted to hands-on means, are very often quick and their results are repeatable because the variables are simple to control. Therefore, the physics topics are best suited to introduce and train students in elementary science skills: Observing, comparing, sorting, ordering, measuring, but also to formulate predictions, design test experiments, and draw conclusions from the results of the activities. To train competent preschool and primary school teachers, the program of study must provide knowledge of physics content and the methodology of teaching physics topics to young learners. Because young students’ learning must be based on experience, hands-on experimentation is of paramount importance. Competent teachers, therefore, have good experimental skills that enable them to introduce students to hands-on experimentation. The only way for prospective teachers to acquire experimental skills is through hands-on experimental work during courses and thorough testing and assessment of these skills. In this contribution we present in detail the methodology for testing and assessment of experimental skills that is included in the regular written examinations. During the examinations, students individually perform experiments, the correct execution of which enables the completion of experimental tasks that are an integral part of a written examination.
Assessment Practices in Interactive Physics Class: Explicating Theories and Applications
Authors: Ding Lin , Zhang Ping
Published: March 2023

When it comes to educational assessment, what distinguishes interactive engagement physics classes from traditional ones is the greater extent to which formative assessment practices are carried out in the former. In this chapter, we reexamine interactive physics instruction through the lens of formative assessment, which we consider as a goal-oriented practice aimed at improving learning by eliciting, interpreting and responding to the evidence of student needs. In interactive physics classes, various forms of formative tools are used as a vehicle to draw out information on student learning. The implementation of formative practices can be instructor-guided or student self-guided. Regardless, their goals invariantly include improving student conceptual learning of physics content and, in some cases, supporting students in developing a robust knowledge structure, general problem-solving and scientific process abilities, metacognition and epistemological sophistication. Because formative assessment is conventionally packaged as instructional practices, it often finds its antecedents in learning and pedagogical theories. In this board perspective, we discuss formative practices in interactive physics instruction by revisiting some commonly referenced but easily misunderstood theories related to constructivism, social constructivism and cultural historical activity theory in physics education.
A tale of two tubeworms: taxonomy of vestimentiferans (Annelida: Siboglinidae) from the Mid-Cayman Spreading Centre
Authors: Georgieva Magdalena N. , Rimskaya-Korsakova Nadezhda N. , Krolenko Varvara I. , Van Dover Cindy Lee , Amon Diva J. , Copley Jonathan T. , Plouviez Sophie , Ball Bernard , Wiklund Helena , Glover Adrian G.
Published: March 2023

The vestimentiferan tubeworm genera Lamellibrachia and Escarpia inhabit deep-sea chemosynthesis-based ecosystems, such as seeps, hydrothermal vents and organic falls, and have wide distributions across the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In 2010–2012 during initial explorations of hydrothermal vents of the Mid-Cayman Spreading Centre (MCSC), both genera were found to co-occur at the Von Damm Vent Field (VDVF), a site characterised by diffuse flow, therefore resembling a ‘hydrothermal seep’. Here, we erect two new vestimentiferan tubeworm species from the VDVF, Lamellibrachia judigobini sp. nov. and Escarpia tritentaculata sp. nov. Lamellibrachia judigobini sp. nov. differs genetically and morphologically from other Lamellibrachia species, and has a range that extends across the Gulf of Mexico, MCSC, off Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados, and also across both vents and seeps and 964–3304-m water depth. Escarpia tritentaculata sp. nov. is distinguished from other Escarpia species primarily based on morphology and is known only from vents of the MCSC at 2300-m depth. This study highlights the incredible habitat flexibility of a single Lamellibrachia species and the genus Escarpia, and historic biogeographic connections to the eastern Pacific for L. judigobini sp. nov. and the eastern Atlantic for E. tritentaculata sp. nov. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D9F72BD4-FDE1-4C0A-B84B-A08D06F2A981
The capsid lattice engages a bipartite NUP153 motif to mediate nuclear entry of HIV-1 cores
Authors: Shen Qi , Kumari Sushila , Xu Chaoyi , Jang Sooin , Shi Jiong , Burdick Ryan C. , Levintov Lev , Xiong Qiancheng , Wu Chunxiang , Devarkar Swapnil C. , Tian Taoran , Tripler Therese N. , Hu Yingxia , Yuan Shuai , Temple Joshua , Feng Qingzhou , Lusk C. Patrick , Aiken Christopher , Engelman Alan N. , Perilla Juan R. , Pathak Vinay K. , Lin Chenxiang , Xiong Yong
Published: March 2023

Increasing evidence has suggested that the HIV-1 capsid enters the nucleus in a largely assembled, intact form. However, not much is known about how the cone-shaped capsid interacts with the nucleoporins (NUPs) in the nuclear pore for crossing the nuclear pore complex. Here, we elucidate how NUP153 binds HIV-1 capsid by engaging the assembled capsid protein (CA) lattice. A bipartite motif containing both canonical and noncanonical interaction modules was identified at the C-terminal tail region of NUP153. The canonical cargo-targeting phenylalanine-glycine (FG) motif engaged the CA hexamer. By contrast, a previously unidentified triple-arginine (RRR) motif in NUP153 targeted HIV-1 capsid at the CA tri-hexamer interface in the capsid. HIV-1 infection studies indicated that both FG- and RRR-motifs were important for the nuclear import of HIV-1 cores. Moreover, the presence of NUP153 stabilized tubular CA assemblies in vitro. Our results provide molecular-level mechanistic evidence that NUP153 contributes to the entry of the intact capsid into the nucleus.
Tuning the surface reactivity of oxides by peroxide species
Authors: Zhu Yaguang , Wang Jianyu , Patel Shyam Bharatkumar , Li Chaoran , Head Ashley R. , Boscoboinik Jorge Anibal , Zhou Guangwen
Published: March 2023

The Mars–van Krevelen mechanism is the foundation for oxide-catalyzed oxidation reactions and relies on spatiotemporally separated redox steps. Herein, we demonstrate the tunability of this separation with peroxide species formed by excessively adsorbed oxygen, thereby modifying the catalytic activity and selectivity of the oxide. Using CuO as an example, we show that a surface layer of peroxide species acts as a promotor to significantly enhance CuO reducibility in favor of H
2
oxidation but conversely as an inhibitor to suppress CuO reduction against CO oxidation. Together with atomistic modeling, we identify that this opposite effect of the peroxide on the two oxidation reactions stems from its modification on coordinately unsaturated sites of the oxide surface. By differentiating the chemical functionality between lattice oxygen and peroxide, these results are closely relevant to a wide range of catalytic oxidation reactions using excessively adsorbed oxygen to activate lattice oxygen and tune the activity and selectivity of redox sites.
Unraveling the intricate cargo-BBSome coupling mechanism at the ciliary tip
Authors: Liu Yan-Xia , Li Wen-Juan , Zhang Rui-Kai , Sun Sheng-Nan , Fan Zhen-Chuan
Published: March 2023

Certain ciliary transmembrane and membrane-tethered signaling proteins migrate from the ciliary tip to base via retrograde intraflagellar transport (IFT), essential for maintaining their ciliary dynamics to enable cells to sense and transduce extracellular stimuli inside the cell. During this process, the BBSome functions as an adaptor between retrograde IFT trains and these signaling protein cargoes. The Arf-like 13 (ARL13) small GTPase resembles ARL6/BBS3 in facilitating these signaling cargoes to couple with the BBSome at the ciliary tip prior to loading onto retrograde IFT trains for transporting towards the ciliary base, while the molecular basis for how this intricate coupling event happens remains elusive. Here, we report that
Chlamydomonas
ARL13 only in a GTP-bound form (ARL13
GTP
) anchors to the membrane for diffusing into cilia. Upon entering cilia, ARL13 undergoes GTPase cycle for shuttling between the ciliary membrane (ARL13
GTP
) and matrix (ARL13
GDP
). To achieve this goal, the ciliary membrane-anchored BBS3
GTP
binds the ciliary matrix-residing ARL13
GDP
to activate the latter as an ARL13 guanine nucleotide exchange factor. At the ciliary tip, ARL13
GTP
recruits the ciliary matrix-residing and post-remodeled BBSome as an ARL13 effector to anchor to the ciliary membrane. This makes the BBSome spatiotemporally become available for the ciliary membrane-tethered phospholipase D (PLD) to couple with. Afterward, ARL13
GTP
hydrolyzes GTP for releasing the PLD-laden BBSome to load onto retrograde IFT trains. According to this model, hedgehog signaling defects associated with
ARL13b
and
BBS3
mutations in humans could be satisfactorily explained, providing us a mechanistic understanding behind BBSome-cargo coupling required for proper ciliary signaling.
Global dynamics for a collisionless charged plasma in Bianchi spacetimes in Eddington-inspired-Born–Infeld gravity
Authors: Djiodjo Seugmo Guichard , Tadmon Calvin
Published: March 2023

We consider a Bianchi type I–IX physical metric g, an auxiliary metric q with a collisionless charged relativistic plasma in Eddington-inspired-Born–Infeld theory. We first derive a governing system of second order nonlinear partial differential equations. Then, by the characteristics method applied to the Vlasov equation whose solution is the distribution function f, we manage to construct an iterated sequence. This leads to the existence and uniqueness of a local solution on an interval

[
0
,
T
)

, with

T
<
∞

. Then under certain assumptions of smallness on the mean curvatures in both directions, the Eddington parameter k and the dimensionless parameter λ, we show that this solution is global in time.
Omnidirectional wind piezoelectric energy harvesting
Authors: Zhang Lanbin , He Yixiang , Meng Bo , Dai Huliang , Abdelkefi Abdessattar , Wang Lin
Published: March 2023

A novel energy harvester based on vortex-induced vibration of the sphere and piezoelectric effect is proposed to efficiently gather wind energy from all horizontal directions. An elastically-supported foam sphere is vertically arranged and considerably oscillates in the cross-flow direction when the wind speed is in the lock-in region. A piezoelectric beam is attached to the supported sphere by a spring and deforms periodically around the original buckling state, thereby converting kinetic energy into electrical energy. Experimental studies are performed to assess the power output of the harvester when exposed to wind flows with varying directions and speeds. The omnidirectional wind flow is divided to 12 orientations with the interval angle of 30°, and the wind speeds range from 1.17 m s−1 to 7.87 m s−1. The testing findings indicate that the harvester has excellent consistency in both lock-in region and average power for various wind azimuths. When the wind direction is changed from 0° to 360°, the peak average power changes from 179.8 μW to 247.5 μW, and the wind speed region where the sphere undergoes vibration changes from 2.58 m s−1

∼

7.05 m s−1 to 2.58 m s−1

∼

7.87 m s−1. Following that, the effects of the length of the supporting spring and the diameter of the sphere on the output average power and lock-in region are investigated experimentally. Finally, a demonstration of powering a wireless sensing node is performed to show applications of the designed energy harvester in windy conditions.
Electronic signatures of successive itinerant, antiferromagnetic transitions in hexagonal La2Ni7
Authors: Lee Kyungchan , Hyun Jo Na , Wang Lin-Lin , Ribeiro R A , Kushnirenko Yevhen , Schrunk Ben , Canfield Paul C , Kaminski Adam
Published: March 2023

We use high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the electronic and magnetic properties of La2Ni7, an itinerant magnetic system with a series of three magnetic transition temperatures upon cooling, which end in a weak antiferromagnetic ground state. Our APRES data reveal several electron and hole pockets that have hexagonal symmetry near the Γ point. We observe significant reconstruction of the band structure upon successive magnetic transitions at T
1 ∼ 61 K, T
2 ∼ 57 K and T
3 ∼ 42 K. Several features observed in ARPES data were reasonably well reproduced by DFT calculations, while others were not. In particular, the flat band near E

F
predicted by DFT in antiferromagnet (AFM) state, was seemingly absent in ARPES data. Our results detail the effects of magnetic ordering on the electronic structure in a Ni-based weak AFM and highlight challenges of current computational methods.