bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The ongoing transformational journey of Australia’s oldest and largest oil and gas operation
Authors: Burger Tom
Published: May 2024

For over 50 years Gippsland Basin Joint Venture (GBJV) has been producing oil and gas from the Gippsland Basin. Through hard work, challenging the status quo and innovation, the business, the operation and the people have been on a transformational journey. You may have heard about our conventional expansion opportunities, Kipper-Tuna-Turrum development and Longford Gas Conditioning Plant, but have you heard about how GBJV is progressing carbon dioxide (CO2) to sales with BOC and Air Liquide or how the team has reduced flare by 46% since 2018? Have you heard how the team increased Longford’s capacity by 11% in 2022 to deliver the highest gas production since 2017 to meet market demand. Or about how we are transforming the operation through our Gippsland Asset Streamlining Project, where we will no longer have a Crude Stabilisation Plant or a Gas Plant 1 at Longford? We continue to focus on our reliable gas operation through upcoming projects such as Hastings Generation Project, and Kipper Compression Project while also pursuing meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions such as South East Australia Carbon Capture and Storage Project in the Gippsland Basin. Our transformation to a ‘Modern Australian Gas Business’ has not only meant change for our facilities but also change for our people in how we work and the culture we have built. Every day, our teams work to supply essential energy to Australian homes and businesses while also being on a transformational journey to improve the sustainability of our operation and contribute to the energy transition.
Analysis of an existing hydrocarbon gas pipeline for conversion to dense phase CO2 service
Authors: Levy David
Published: May 2024

Esso Australia is investigating the feasibility of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in East Gippsland, Victoria. Known as the South-East Australia Carbon Capture and Storage (SEA CCS) Hub, the project aims to re-purpose existing infrastructure and offshore depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs to store carbon dioxide (CO2). The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Esso’s Longford Gas Conditioning Plant, and to unlock future CCS opportunities for Australia. One option identified as part of the SEA CCS feasibility was to convert part of the existing onshore section of the Barracouta 450 mm gas pipeline to Longford Gas Plant (BTA450-LFD), Licence PL/1 under the Victorian Pipeline Act, to dense phase CO2 service. This paper documents the initial findings of the potential for the onshore section of the BTA450 for conversion, with particular emphasis on brittle and ductile fracture control considerations. In summary, when attempting to convert existing hydrocarbon gas pipelines for CO2 service, operators need to undertake an appropriate assessment of fracture control considerations. The insights of this paper may serve as a useful guide document for assessing other existing onshore pipelines for CO2 service conversion. Due to the thermal modulation effect of the surrounding water for subsea pipelines, this guidance does not apply to subsea pipeline sections.
Life of field emission forecast development and reduction option screening for a multi-train LNG hub
Authors: Whitelaw Louise , Patrizi Holly , Hillam Sally
Published: May 2024

The Karratha Gas Plant (KGP) is a complex integrated facility which produces liquified natural gas (LNG), domestic gas (Domgas), condensate, propane and butane products. The multi-train facility has been operating for 40 years with several phases of expansion resulting in a range of gas turbine technology and energy efficiency levels across the facility. The challenge for the next phase of KGP operation is to manage declining North West Shelf (NWS) feed gas levels, and the addition of Other Resource Owners feed gas while reducing emissions and maintaining energy efficiency. A flexible emissions forecasting tool has been developed which allows unit and whole of facility emissions reduction and energy efficiency options to be assessed. The tool builds on current quarterly timestep production forecasts and models ambient temperature, unit turndown and turn-off strategies, and potential implementation of lower emissions technology. The ability to generate and compare life of field emissions profiles for extrapolated operating modes and proposed modifications allows unit strategies and phasing of emissions reduction modifications to be investigated and screened before further economic assessment and creation of marginal abatement cost curves (MACC).
From raw seismic data to quantitative interpretation via cloud-based FWI
Authors: Debens Henry A.
Published: May 2024

Full-waveform inversion (FWI) has evolved in recent years from a technique for recovering long- to intermediate-wavelength updates of acoustic overburden velocities as part of a broader model building workflow to a standalone tool for high-fidelity seismic imaging using raw seismic data – with ever greater resolution and ever more sophisticated physics being sought. In doing so, it has moved notably closer to fulfilling the vision of its original inventors in the late 70s and early 80s. In this work, two novel approaches to FWI along with enabling technologies for their effective deployment are considered. The first of these allows for robust long-wavelength updates to be generated from raw seismic data in the absence of diving wave energy, providing reliable estimates of acoustic velocity at depths equivalent to or greater than the longest offsets available in the data – thereby enabling more effective imaging with data of limited quality. The second allows for the estimation of elastic amplitude-versus-angle behaviour while still using an acoustic wave equation, thereby mitigating the significant computational burden typically associated with elastic FWI. Finally, it is demonstrated that these approaches can be deployed in a reliable and cost-effective manner via the considered use of public cloud resources, with learnings relevant for analogous massively parallel scientific applications. Case studies from two marine environments are provided for discussion, one being from deep-water US Gulf of Mexico and the other from intermediate water depths offshore Western Australia.
Enhancing maintenance efficiency in energy assets through AI: a case study of maintAI
Authors: Buchan Gordon , Abdullah Muhammad
Published: May 2024

Energy assets demand periodic regular maintenance to ensure safe, reliable and efficient operations. The dynamic nature of operating conditions and evolving best practices necessitate frequent optimisation of maintenance programs. Traditionally, these programs were labour-intensive and costly to deploy, often yielding unclear outcomes due to subjective decision-making. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) presents an opportunity to challenge traditional approaches. This paper presents a case study where asset knowledge, data, and AI capabilities are leveraged to streamline maintenance optimisation using our ‘maintAI’ approach. The program addresses maintenance strategy, backlog, spares, and predictive maintenance optimisation with a focus on value creation, data-driven decisions, and consistent recommendations. A systematic methodology employs AI to sift through and eliminate non-value-adding tasks, enabling prioritisation of work and enhancing reliability and productivity throughout the production facility lifecycle. AI, including Natural Language Processing and Generative AI algorithms, enhances the speed and accuracy of failure mode classification from operational maintenance data. Reliability modelling techniques provide insights into equipment reliability. Recommendations undergo expert review before integration into a Computerised Maintenance Management System. Implementation of this data-driven approach demonstrates rapid deployment and sustained efficiency, yielding substantial gains in production uptime, cost reduction, and safety. The user-centric design ensures agility and ease of configuration. A recent project, which took only 6 weeks to deliver, led to a ~28% reduction in maintenance backlog, freeing capacity for critical focus areas. The maintAI approach proves a meaningful change for energy producers, offering a new solution in maintenance optimisation for enhanced reliability and productivity.
The buzz around the zoonotic infection, Buruli ulcer
Authors: O’Brien Carolyn , Stinear Timothy P.
Published: May 2024

Here, we provide an update on the significant progress towards understanding transmission of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of the neglected tropical skin disease, Buruli ulcer. We review the evidence that Buruli ulcer is an enzootic infection among Australian native possums, and we discuss the role of mosquitoes in transmit the infection to humans. We show how studies of M. ulcerans transmission – following the dramatic emergence of Buruli ulcer in temperate south-eastern Australia – are being supported by adherence to One Health principles, with interdisciplinary research teams uncovering connections between human health, animal health, and the environment. We also discuss some of the distinctive features of M. ulcerans revealed by genomics that should be considered when thinking about how this pathogen is spreading.
Essential role of N-terminal SAM regions in STIM1 multimerization and function
Authors: Sallinger Matthias , Humer Christina , Ong Hwei Ling , Narayanasamy Sasirekha , Lin Qi Tong , Fahrner Marc , Grabmayr Herwig , Berlansky Sascha , Choi Sean , Schmidt Tony , Maltan Lena , Atzgerstorfer Lara , Niederwieser Martin , Frischauf Irene , Romanin Christoph , Stathopulos Peter B. , Ambudkar Indu , Leitner Romana , Bonhenry Daniel , Schindl Rainer
Published: May 2024

The single-pass transmembrane protein Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 (STIM1), located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, possesses two main functions: It senses the ER-Ca
2+
concentration and directly binds to the store-operated Ca
2+
channel Orai1 for its activation when Ca
2+
recedes. At high resting ER-Ca
2+
concentration, the ER-luminal STIM1 domain is kept monomeric but undergoes di/multimerization once stores are depleted. Luminal STIM1 multimerization is essential to unleash the STIM C-terminal binding site for Orai1 channels. However, structural basis of the luminal association sites has so far been elusive. Here, we employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and identified two essential di/multimerization segments, the α7 and the adjacent region near the α9-helix in the sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain. Based on MD results, we targeted the two STIM1 SAM domains by engineering point mutations. These mutations interfered with higher-order multimerization of ER-luminal fragments in biochemical assays and puncta formation in live-cell experiments upon Ca
2+
store depletion. The STIM1 multimerization impeded mutants significantly reduced Ca
2+
entry via Orai1, decreasing the Ca
2+
oscillation frequency as well as store-operated Ca
2+
entry. Combination of the ER-luminal STIM1 multimerization mutations with gain of function mutations and coexpression of Orai1 partially ameliorated functional defects. Our data point to a hydrophobicity-driven binding within the ER-luminal STIM1 multimer that needs to switch between resting monomeric and activated multimeric state. Altogether, these data reveal that interactions between SAM domains of STIM1 monomers are critical for multimerization and activation of the protein.
How total mRNA influences cell growth
Authors: Calabrese Ludovico , Ciandrini Luca , Cosentino Lagomarsino Marco
Published: May 2024

Experimental observations tracing back to the 1960s imply that ribosome quantities play a prominent role in determining a cell’s growth. Nevertheless, in biologically relevant scenarios, growth can also be influenced by the levels of mRNA and RNA polymerase. Here, we construct a quantitative model of biosynthesis providing testable scenarios for these situations. The model explores a theoretically motivated regime where RNA polymerases compete for genes and ribosomes for transcripts and gives general expressions relating growth rate, mRNA concentrations, ribosome, and RNA polymerase levels. On general grounds, the model predicts how the fraction of ribosomes in the proteome depends on total mRNA concentration and inspects an underexplored regime in which the trade-off between transcript levels and ribosome abundances sets the cellular growth rate. In particular, we show that the model predicts and clarifies three important experimental observations, in budding yeast and
Escherichia coli
bacteria: i) that the growth-rate cost of unneeded protein expression can be affected by mRNA levels, ii) that resource optimization leads to decreasing trends in mRNA levels at slow growth, and iii) that ribosome allocation may increase, stay constant, or decrease, in response to transcription-inhibiting antibiotics. Since the data indicate that a regime of joint limitation may apply in physiological conditions and not only to perturbations, we speculate that this regime is likely self-imposed.
Investigations on tip-based large area nanofabrication and nanometrology using a planar nanopositioning machine (NFM-100)
Authors: Stauffenberg Jaqueline , Belkner Johannes , Dontsov Denis , Herzog Ludwig , Hesse Steffen , Rangelow Ivo W , Ortlepp Ingo , Kissinger Thomas , Manske Eberhard
Published: May 2024

This paper explores large area application of tip-based nanofabrication by field emission scanning probe lithography and showcases the simultaneous possibility of atomic force microscopy on macroscopic scales. This is made possible by the combination of tip-based technology and a planar nanopositioning and nanomeasuring machine. Using long range atomic force microscopy measurement of regular grating structures, the performance of the machine is thoroughly characterized over the full 100 mm range of motion of the positioning machine, which was confirmed by repeated measurements. After initially focussing on achieving the minimum line width of

<

40 nm in microscopic areas, a grating with a pitch of 1 μm is additionally fabricated over a total length of 10 mm, whereby the dimensions and deviations are also considered.
Unified framework for geometric error compensation and shape-adaptive scanning in five-axis metrology systems
Authors: Zhang Wen-Hao , Yu Jing-Wei , Zhu Wu-Le , Ju Bing-Feng
Published: May 2024

In response to the escalating demand for precise shape metrology of complex optical surfaces, this study unveils a unified geometric error compensation and trajectory planning framework tailored for high-accuracy five-axis scanning metrology systems, which remains a notably underexplored field compared to error compensation in machine tools. Founded on a unified geometric model, the proposed framework seamlessly integrates a versatile shape-adaptive trajectory planning strategy, a thorough global error sensitivity analysis approach, and an exhaustive geometric error compensation scheme. Leveraging inverse kinematics, an innovative shape-adaptive scanning trajectory generation strategy is mathematically formulated, thereby facilitating adaptable measurement trajectory generation for diverse surface geometries. Employing forward kinematics, an exhaustive geometric error model is established to extensively address the 53 distinct geometric errors in the metrology system. This proposed error model fundamentally augments conventional geometric error models in machine tool by managing not only the geometric errors from the motion system, but also those from the probe and workpiece. To streamline the error compensation procedure, a novel global error sensitivity analysis approach is introduced, identifying both system-oriented and process-oriented sensitive geometric errors for targeted compensation. Experimental validation using a standard ball, which achieved an exceptional 89.35% reduction in the root mean square of the measurement errors, further confirms the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed framework. By offering an universal trajectory planning, sensitivity analysis and error compensation trinity for five-axis scanning metrology systems, this study sets the stage for precision advancements and design optimization across diverse configurations of metrology systems.
Magnetic-induced chiral dynamics in an extended two-leg bosonic ladder
Authors: Mi Lai-Lai , Zhang Wei , Zhou Ming-Zhi , Xu Shi-Dong , Zhang Ai-Xia , Xue Ju-Kui
Published: May 2024

The realization and detection of chiral physics with ultracold atomic gases provide a unique path for the exploration of topological phases. Here, we show that the interplay of magnetic field and interacting particles in an extended two-leg ladder leads to rich chiral Bloch dynamics. Considering both the on-site contact interaction and nearest-neighbor interactions, the ground state and Bloch dynamics of the system are studied analytically and numerically. When the system is in the ground state, the threshold and phase diagram for the transition between zero-momentum state and plane-wave state are analytically obtained, showing the nearest-neighbor interactions along the legs and rungs have opposite impact on the ground state transition, providing new opportunity to manipulate the ground state transition. When the ladder is perturbated under an external linear force, chiral dephasing of Bloch oscillations (BOs), i.e. symmetry breaking damped BOs (the damping rate of BOs on one leg is larger than the other), are observed. This chirality is absent for vanishing the magnetic field and atomic interaction. Particularly, the chirality of damped BOs is inversed when the magnetic field (chiral current) is inversed. In addition, the damping of BOs induced by different types of atomic interactions is different, and the strength and damping rate of BOs initialized in different ground states are distinct, offering dynamic ways to detect the different ground states. Furthermore, the persistent chiral Bloch oscillations observed in single particle case is predicted analytically, which is a crucial requirement for observation and application of chiral BOs in nonlinear regime. Our results provide an interesting path towards the exploration of topological atomic superfluids.
Anti-scattering propagation in multiple-bend valley phononic crystals
Authors: Fan Xiying , Zhou Bin
Published: May 2024

Valley topological phononic crystals (PCs) have attracted wide attention due to the topological properties of their edge states. In general, valley interface states can exist in the interfaces that are constructed by opposite valley topological phases. Here we study the anti-scattering propagation properties of edge states in a single valley PC. We present that the edge states can exist in different boundary terminations with different band dispersions. The boundary transport behaviors of acoustic waves along the two designed PCs are demonstrated numerically. The results show that the chiral edge states are immune against additional scatterers that preserve the valley pseudospins, but the backscattering can happen when intervalley scattering is included. Nevertheless, the anti-scattering propagation in complex multiple-bend structures can be realized by the smooth transition between the edge states and the valley interface states. Similar to the designed frequency-selective device, more prospective applications can be anticipated in the manipulation of acoustic wave propagation.
Effect of biaxial tensile strain on the thermoelectric properties of monolayer ZrTiCO2
Authors: Sun Zi-Qi , Chang Wen-Li , Zhang Zi-Meng , He Xin-Huan , Zhang Ji-Long , Wei Xiao-Ping , Tao Xiaoma
Published: May 2024

Using ab-initio calculation principle calculations, we investigate the effect of biaxial tensile strain on the stability and electronic properties of the two-dimensional double transition metal MXenes ZrTiCO2. The monolayer ZrTiCO2 has stability and semiconducting properties under different strain conditions. The results of thermoelectric properties under other strain conditions calculated by Boltzmann transport theory and Slack model show that biaxial tensile strain can improve the electrical transport properties of monolayer ZrTiCO2 materials and lead to the decrease of lattice thermal conductivity. The thermoelectric efficiency of a material can be evaluated using the figure of merit ZT. The n-type ZrTiCO2 has a maximum ZT value of 1.49 at 900 K without adding biaxial strain and reaches a ZT value of 2.86 with 2% biaxial strain. The monolayer ZrTiCO2 material has the potential to become a thermoelectric material, and its thermoelectric properties can be improved by biaxial tensile strain.
The uncertainty of quantum states with respect to the projective measurement
Authors: Zhao Ming-Jing , Tao Yuanhong
Published: May 2024

The uncertainty relation is a distinctive characteristic of quantum theory. The uncertainty is essentially rooted in quantum states. In this work we regard the uncertainty as an intrinsic property of quantum state and characterize it systematically with respect to given projective measurement. Some basic concepts about uncertainty are reformulated in this context. We prove and get the form of the uncertainty preserving operations. The quantum states with maximal uncertainty are characterized. A universal decomposition of uncertainty into classical uncertainty and quantum uncertainty is provided. Furthermore, a unified and general relation among uncertainty, coherence and coherence of assistance is established. These results are independent of any explicit uncertainty measure. At last, we propose a new uncertainty measure called the geometric uncertainty based on the fidelity and link it with the geometric coherence.
Frequency dependent polarizability of confined harmonic oscillators
Authors: Pedersen T G , Burrows B L
Published: May 2024

The D-dimensional Schrödinger equation for a confined harmonic potential perturbed by a time-dependent dipole field is analysed. The model uses exact confined solutions for the harmonic potential whereas the time-dependent field is treated using first-order time-dependent perturbation theory. Exact analytic solutions are obtained in terms of generalised Laguerre functions. This system has applications to nanostructures where there are strong confinement potentials in some dimensions and example calculations are carried out to illustrate the effect of the dimension.
Research progress on numerical simulation of arc discharge plasma process
Authors: Zhang Da , Yuan Tiejian , Ding Ruixin , Shi Song , Zeng Xiongzhi , He Yan
Published: May 2024

The arc discharge plasma (ADP) technology has been widely developed in the fields of cutting, welding, spraying and nanomaterials synthesis over the past 20 years. However, during the process of ADP, it is difficult to explain the generation and evolution of arc column, the interaction between arc column and electrodes, as well as the effect of plasma generator structure on the physical characteristics of ADP by experimental means. Therefore, numerical simulation has become an effective mean to explore the physical characteristics of ADP, but also faces severe challenges because it involves multiple physical field coupling, resolution of multiscale features as well as robustness in the presence of large gradients. From the point of view of the construction of ADP mathematical physical models and combined with the practical application of ADP, this paper systematically reviews the researches on physical properties of arc column, near-cathode region, near-anode region as well as the today’s state of the numerical simulation of plasma generators. It provides a good reference for further mastering the physical characteristics of plasma, guiding the industrial application of plasma and optimizing the design of plasma generators. Meanwhile, the relevant computational aspects are discussed and the challenges of plasma numerical simulation in the future are summarized.
Stationary two-state system in optics using layered materials
Authors: Sasaki Ken-ichi
Published: May 2024

In scenarios where electrons are confined to a flat surface, such as graphene, quantizing electrodynamics reveals intriguing insights. We find that one of Maxwell’s equations manifests as part of the Hamiltonian, leading to novel constraints on physical states due to residual gauge invariance. We identify two quantum states with zero energy expectation values: one replicates the scattering and absorption of light, a phenomenon familiar in classical optics, while the other is more fundamentally associated with photon creation. These states form an inseparable two-state system, giving a new formula for reflection and transmission coefficients with photon emission effects. Notably, there exists a special thickness of the surface where these states decouple, offering intriguing possibilities for exploring physics through symmetry-based perturbations involving concepts of parity, axial gauge fields, and surface deformation.
Understanding the shape effect on the structural, energetic, magnetic, and pressure properties of the 38 atom-Co-Fe-Pd nanoalloys using Gupta and DFT calculations
Authors: Yıldırım Hüseyin , Taran Songül , Arslan Haydar
Published: May 2024

The alloy of magnetic metals with noble metals plays a key role in showing the magnetism of 3d metals and the catalytic properties of noble metals. A growing body of evidence suggests that 38 atoms is one of the most critical sizes for Ih and TO motifs. This study analyses the roles played by the shape effect on the structures, energies, magnetism, and pressures of Co6FenPd32-n (n = 0-32) nanoalloys and provides evidence regarding this phenomenon. Therefore, this study should be of value to researchers wishing to conduct future experimental and theoretical studies on the catalytic, electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of nanoalloys.
Crescent-shaped spatial distribution: radiation properties concerning beam waist from the cross collision of a tightly focused laser pulse and a relativistic electron
Authors: Li Yizhang , Yang Qingyu , Tian Youwei
Published: May 2024

The radiation properties of the cross collision between a single electron and an intense laser pulse are researched by numerical simulation methods. Under the condition of tightly-focused laser, the electron trajectories, spatiotemporal distribution and spectrum are compared with that under non-tightly focused lasers. The results show that the torsion effect on the electron during the oscillation process is more notable after the tightly focused laser interacts with electron. The radiation it generates is asymmetric in space, and its time distribution is nearly unimodal and can be regarded as a single attosecond pulse. In frequency domain, the spectrum appears to be a supercontinuum. With the increase of beam waist radius, the symmetry of the spatial distribution enhances and time distribution also exhibits a three-peak structure that is symmetrical about the main peak. Furthermore, the spectrum changes from a supercontinuum to a multimodal distribution. The analysis turns out that tightly focused laser is more realistic compared to non-tightly focused laser or even plane wave, which benefits the design of high-quality x-rays in practical application.
School-leaving examination in physics at the end of upper secondary school in the Czech Republic - Current state
Authors: Pschotnerová Petra , Mandíková Dana
Published: May 2024

The paper summarizes that the form and content of education in the Czech Republic is determined by the framework educational programmes (FEPs) and school educational programmes (SEPs). Analysis of these documents showed that the school-leaving examination (Maturita) in physics at the end of upper secondary education is not unified in any way on the national level. To map how the Maturita examination in physics looks like, the questionnaire survey was conducted. 366 gymnasiums and 32 schools with the study programme technical lyceum were proposed to participate in the survey. The return rate for the teacher questionnaire was approximately 28 %. The teacher questionnaire confirmed that the oral form of the Maturita examination in physics prevails in most schools and showed that the proportion of students choosing the Maturita examination in physics has been stable at around one-tenth of all school-leaving students with physics included in their curriculum. Students most often study for the exam on their own and as sources of information, use their own physics workbooks. As the easiest physics thematic area in terms of preparation for the exam is perceived mechanics, on the contrary, electricity and magnetism is considered to be the most difficult. The main reason to choose physics as one of the elective subjects in the Maturita exam appears to be students’ interest and enjoyment in physics.
Project-based Approach to Implement a STEM-Focused Engineering Curriculum
Authors: Gutiérrez-Berraondo J , Arrue M , Sanz K , Guisasola J
Published: May 2024

In recent decades, integrated science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) projects are occupying a central place in science and engineering curricula. The interest of this problem-based teaching approach in a scientific-technical context lies in finding ways to develop students’ content knowledge and to plan appropriate learning activities and instructional strategies. This paper focuses on designing, implementing and evaluating the introduction of STEM projects in the first year of the engineering degree of a Dual Engineering School. The focus of this study is the use of learning activities such as “predict and argument” and “design and do” to integrate STEM content into lessons and help students develop core competencies through engineering design processes. The evaluation results indicate that students moderately improve their scientific skills and conceptual understanding in the disciplines included in the project.
A Context-based Teaching Concept on Electric Circuits - Development and First Results
Authors: Gottschlich B , Burde J P , Wilhelm T , Dopatka L , Spatz V , Schubatzky T , Haagen-Schützenhöfer C , Ivanjek L , Hopf M
Published: May 2024

Despite the importance of electricity for today’s industrial society, students often perceive the abstract topic of electric circuits as uninteresting. In order to foster students’ interest, we developed a context-based teaching concept on simple circuits. Building on research findings on students’ interests, the concept covers the topic at the example of contexts like bumper cars, the electric eel, or the electric fence. While previous studies suggest that such a context-based approach can improve affective factors such as student interest, the evidence on the impact on students’ conceptual understanding is inconclusive. Therefore, we empirically evaluated the teaching concept in a field study with 7th and 8th graders to investigate the effects of context-based teaching on students’ conceptual understanding, while also assessing their interest and self-concept. By comparing our concept with conventional teaching in a pre-post-follow-up design, we aim to improve the current state of research regarding the effects of context-based teaching in authentic teaching environments. First analyses did not reveal significant differences between the context-based concept and conventional approaches, neither regarding the affective factors interest and self-concept nor conceptual understanding.
The Role of Experiment in Physics Education: Attitudes of Upper Secondary School Students
Authors: Marounová J , Kácovský P
Published: May 2024

The paper presents a segment of results obtained within a large study among Czech upper secondary students, whose general aim is to describe teachers’ and students’ views of physics experiments (and/or experimenting as such). The participants (N = 1,325) were asked closed questions concerning how they perceive experiments in physics lessons, how these lessons would look like without experiments and what is the respondents’ personal relation to physics experiments (not necessarily in the school context). Our results show that most often experiments are perceived as an enlivening element in physics lessons, a help with understanding the subject matter and an interesting complement to theory. On the other hand, only a minority of students perceive experiments as a tool physics uses to obtain new information about the world. Around half of the respondents admit that most of their physics lessons would not be affected in any way if experiments were removed. Concerning gender comparison, we found only rare differences at p < 0.05. Similarly, the answers were usually homogeneous across respondents’ year of study; the exceptions are discussed in the paper.
Assessing students’ views about experimental physics in a German laboratory course
Authors: Teichmann E. , Lewandowski H. J. , Alemani M.
Published: May 2024

Physics laboratory courses (PLC) have been recently the topic of several research studies examining their effectiveness at reaching their goals. As a result, a discussion about the effectiveness of traditional PLC for students’ content knowledge, skills, and “expert-thinking” acquisition has developed. Critical for the investigation of students learning in those settings has been the development of research-based assessments tools. An example of those is the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey for Experimental Physics (E-CLASS). Recently, we translated the E-CLASS into German and set up a centralized survey administration system for instructors, allowing data acquisition and automated data analysis. Previously, we described this process and presented the preliminary results of the study of the introductory PLC at the University of Potsdam (UP). Here, we present an extended study that allows us to make stronger conclusions about students’ views about experimental physics at the UP. Overall, we find that students at US institutions have a higher level of “expert-like” views than students at the UP.
RadioLab: Interdisciplinary Paths of Nuclear Physics
Authors: Montalbano Vera
Published: May 2024

Health effects of radon, most notably lung cancer, have been investigated for several decades. Therefore, indoor radon monitoring is a great way to consider the problem of natural radioactivity but also a way to insert phenomenological elements into physics education useful in understanding the crisis of classical physics and for introducing modern physics. The RadioLab project allowed to explore the possibility of a rapid introduction of elements of modern physics for younger students.
Introducing General Relativity in High Schools: a proposal for a Teaching-Learning Module
Authors: Mauro Marco Di , Naddeo Adele
Published: May 2024

A teaching-learning module, aimed at introducing basic concepts of general relativity at the high school level, is proposed. Emphasis is on conceptual rather than technical aspects, and only familiarity with simple calculus is required on the mathematical side. The starting point is a critical overview of the principles of Newtonian mechanics, in particular the role of fictitious forces, as well as of the limits of special relativity. Part of the module is devoted to the discussion and the reproduction of key thought or real experiments, for example experiments involving non-inertial frames, or the Einstein elevator.
Competence through authenticity – open data in education
Authors: Veteli Peitsa , Lassila-Perini Kati
Published: May 2024

The modern world is a very data-driven place, bristling with repositories of openly available information, yet these resources are seldom used in education below university levels. This may partially be due to lack of sufficient teacher training and ongoing support structures, but also due to lack of information on useful methods. We present the case for secondary school level use of open, authentic real world data and easily accessible programming as cross-disciplinary tools for advancing the students’ scientific literacy and broader subject knowledge. The use of computational essays and interactive programming exercises promotes modern ways of knowledge creation and allows the students to participate in doing science as practising scientists and industry workers would. Feedback from teacher trainings, student workshops and school courses between 2016-2022 indicates a very positive reception with topics ranging widely from analysis of particle physics data from the CMS experiment at CERN to climate questions or sociological problems.
An online teaching learning sequence with home experiments and simulations on relativity of motion and the equivalence principle in classical mechanics
Authors: Malgieri Massimiliano , Marzari Alessio , Rosi Tommaso , Onorato Pasquale
Published: May 2024

We designed a teaching-learning sequence on relative motion in classical mechanics, based on the fundamental design principle of highlighting those conceptual elements which could be valuable in the future learning of special and general relativity In order to highlight selected key concepts and motivate students in their exploration, we used a series of experiments based on video analysis and interactive simulations, which can be modified on the fly by the students. In this study, we introduce a pilot investigation focused on testing the instructional sequence, and we provide initial outcomes regarding students’ understanding. The sequence of activities was tested with a group of 24 undergraduate students in an online laboratory course during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Development of a RIASEC-based model to analyse students’ perceptions of the work of nuclear- and astrophysicists
Authors: Kriegel M , Spatz V
Published: May 2024

There are many stereotypical beliefs about the work of scientists among students. These can lead to a lack of interest and ill-considered career choices. This paper aims to shed more light on the everyday work of researchers in physics. To this end, an interview study (N=12) and a questionnaire study (N=66) were conducted among physicists in a Collaborative Research Centre for nuclear- and astrophysics in order to determine the physicists’ activity profiles using an adapted RIASEC+N model based on the theory of vocational choices by Holland. As a result, activities from all seven RIASEC+N dimensions were found, highlighting the broad spectrum of activities in modern physics research. However, with respect to the significance of each dimension, we found that the activity profiles of doctoral students and professors in general, as well as their profiles in theoretical and experimental groups differ particularly within the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative dimension. In the future, these results will be used to develop an outreach programme to give students an authentic insight into modern physics. Additionally, the activity profiles could serve as a reference for addressing stereotypes in school.
“Astronomy for sailors”: a web game to learn physics using the stars and a clock
Authors: Iovenitti S , Verna G , Orsenigo S , Chirico F , Sgarro R , Tosi S , Santopinto E
Published: May 2024

If you were on a boat in the middle of the sea how could you guess your position using just the stars and a clock? This is the challenge for hundreds of students at our interactive astronomy workshop in the context of the Genoa Science Festival held in Genoa (Italy) in 2021. Visitors played on the web application Astronomy for sailors which we developed from scratch. They could estimate their latitude and longitude in a virtual environment by measuring the altitude of the Sun above the horizon at solar noon and by using a marine chronometer. By recognising the brightest circumpolar constellations, they could learn how to find the North Star. The workshop included also an interdisciplinary section regarding orientation techniques in the animal world, ancient times and modernity. In this contribution we present the workshop’s activities, highlighting their original and innovative aspects. We report on the positive feedback from students and teachers who actively played with celestial navigation during our workshop. Around 600 people have visited us and the web application Astronomy for sailors is still available online for free.
Design and implementation of a STEAM Teaching/Learning sequence by Project-Based Learning for the training of future secondary school teachers
Authors: Portillo-Blanco A , Sarriugarte P , Zuza K , Guisasola J
Published: May 2024

In high school teacher education, although work on didactic units for teaching the curriculum of science disciplines is common, they rarely include multidisciplinary STEAM viewpoint. For this article we are using the definition of STEAM that says it is a teaching method that integrates content, skills and beliefs from at least two disciplines that form the acronym and that focuses on real world contexts In this project, we show the design and implementation of a teaching/learning sequence (TLS) to show the STEAM methodology in High School with a project-based learning approach, with students of the Master’s Degree in Secondary Science Teacher Training. The TLS designed integrates content and skills from various STEAM disciplines, with physics and biology being the main ones and adding a Project-Based Learning (PrBL) teaching approach through the search for the best way to protect oneself from the sun. In this case, the Master’s degree students had two roles: on the one hand, they acted like secondary education students and, on the other hand, like future teachers. Thus, we evaluated the sequence in three different ways: content acquisition, scientific skills and attitudes towards STEAM education. The results indicated a positive impact in all the aspects analysed.
Concept of Force Representations of Prospective Primary Teachers
Authors: Michelini M , Stefanel A
Published: May 2024

The representation of physics concepts is essential to support teaching/learning in primary school. Investigating how future teachers represent the physical concepts has great importance. Research was carried out on concepts of force representations of 274 prospective teachers, enrolled in the Primary Education Sciences degrees. Rubrics were designed and used to analyse different dimensions involved in drawing, descriptions, didactic and disciplinary motivations. It emerged that most of the representations do not include the representation of the involved forces, but rather implies a precise didactic approach to the force concept.
Impact of working with Arduino on mathematics and science teacher students’ self-assessment of TPACK and self-efficacy
Authors: Bernsteiner A , Schubatzky T , Haagen-Schützenhöfer C , Spitzer P
Published: May 2024

To prepare mathematics and science teacher students for the implementation of digitally transformed teaching, we are developing and researching a course using the design-based research paradigm at the University of Graz. Based on the findings of curriculum analyses and surveys, we selected two main content areas for the course: digital data acquisition with Arduino and dealing with misinformation. Learning arrangements were developed based on empirical findings and theoretical foundations. The initial implementation of the course took place in the summer semester of 2022 with 17 teacher students. We examined the teacher students’ learning processes and the effectiveness of the learning arrangements in terms of the teacher students’ learning using a mixed-methods design (pretest, posttest, reflection journal, and field observations of course instructors). This article presents the triangulation of the research findings related to the work with Arduino and the derived criteria for redesigning the learning arrangements. The results show that self-assessment of technological competencies and self-efficacy expectations related to working with Arduino differ between teacher students with and without prior programming knowledge. Our findings suggest that there is a need to implement scaffolds that support teacher students as they undertake practical work with Arduino.
Teaching Physics through Astronomy: an object-based approach
Authors: Leonardi Alessio Mattia , Carli Marta , Ciroi Stefano , Marcon Fanny , Pantano Ornella , Talas Sofia , Zagallo Monica
Published: May 2024

Astronomy plays an important role in the cultural and scientific development of students, yet it is not always valued in upper secondary school. However, many Astronomy topics can be fruitfully addressed within the Physics curriculum. In this contribution, we present two workshops designed for in-service Physics teachers, aimed at proposing strategies for integrating Astronomy into the teaching of Physics. We chose light as the disciplinary focus, considering ray optics and spectroscopy as the specific topics. Valuing our collaboration with local Museums, we structured the workshops according to an Object-Based Learning (OBL) approach, enhancing the potential of scientific instruments for learning. During the workshops, the teachers experienced different ways of integrating Astronomy in the teaching of Physics through the use of instruments, and after the workshop they were invited to reflect on the usability of the proposed activities in the classroom. The findings suggest that OBL is a valuable approach for incorporating Astronomy into the Physics curriculum.
Towards a Quantum Technology PCK for Teachers
Authors: Verbraeken L , Andreotti E , Frans R , Bondani M , Folkers B , Jurčić L , Malgieri M , Pallotta F , Pol H
Published: May 2024

For many years quantum physics has been introduced in European secondary schools. However, quantum physics, and even more quantum technology, is not sufficiently part of present physics teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK). For this reason, the QTEdu pilot project ‘Quantum Technology PCK for teachers’ put together the expertise of several educational researchers in order to i) pre-research the Pedagogical Content Knowledge teachers need to teach Quantum Mechanics (QM) and Quantum Technology (QT) and ii) develop a PCK Map of practical use for teachers and teacher educators. The consortium performed pilots at the local level of existing teaching resources. The partners applied qualitative research methods such as interviews and observations in order to collect illustrations for the activities included in the developed PCK map.
Educational reconstruction of physics of complexity within a creative writing classroom activity
Authors: De Zuani Cassina F , Levrini O
Published: May 2024

Disciplinary identity is widely studied in physics (and science) education research. Great attention has been devoted to studying the role of sociocultural factors in students’ career choices and persistence, such as students’ participation or gender differences. However, few works within the literature have investigated the role of the cognitive-epistemic core of scientific disciplines in identity work. In the first section of the paper we discuss the state of the art about science-identity. Then, we discuss the theoretical frameworks that informed the construction of our idea of epistemic-personal consonance/dissonance: the “Reconceptualized FRA to NOS framework” and the “Model of Educational Reconstruction”. In section 4 we introduce a qualitative analysis of data collected within a classroom activity held in 2021 and discuss it according to our Research Question. The findings show that students used complex systems epistemology as scaffolding for the expression of personal needs; they reconceptualized personal demands by borrowing epistemological structures and practices of complexity as tools to change perspectives about personal issues. The findings of this first dataset call for the need for further data to analyze and enrich the discussion around physics epistemology and identity.