Setting-up a research club for high school students: an engineering educational concept based on increasing both interest and self-efficacy

In the fall of 2019, the research club changING started as an outreach program in the Cluster of Excellence SE2A. While the cluster deals with interdisciplinary research topics to explore technologies for sustainable and environmentally friendly aviation, the associated research club offers students from the 10th grade onwards the opportunity to gain insights into engineering. The target group here is primarily young women, who are heavily underrepresented in this career field. The research club is experience-oriented and offers high school students the opportunity to explore engineering, its systems, technologies, applications, and social and cultural significance by participating in different projects at various engineering institutes in the Cluster. During their four years of participation in the club, which is voluntary, students are challenged to discover, create, construct, and solve problems. In the process, students learn different engineering concepts and skills. Currently, three batches (75 highschool students) actively participate in the program, accompanied by engineering Bachelor students who serve as mentors. This paper presents the structure of the research club which is based primarily on theories of the emergence and development of individual interests and self-efficacy expectations. A well-known model depicting the development of individual interests is the four-phase model. This model is considered the basis for the structure of the research club program. In this paper, the most important factors in the set-up of the research club and the expected results as well as the many lessons learned are presented

Measurement of Lepton-Jet Correlation in Deep-Inelastic Scattering with the H1 Detector Using Machine Learning for Unfolding

The first measurement of lepton-jet momentum imbalance and azimuthal correlation in lepton-proton scattering at high momentum transfer is presented. These data, taken with the H1 detector at HERA, are corrected for detector effects using an unbinned machine learning algorithm (multifold), which considers eight observables simultaneously in this first application. The unfolded cross sections are compared with calculations performed within the context of collinear or transverse-momentum-dependent factorization in quantum chromodynamics as well as Monte Carlo event generators

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF CRYSTALLIZATION FOULING ON GROOVED STAINLESS STEEL SURFACES DURING CONVECTIVE HEAT TRANSFER

The beneficial aspects of enhanced or extended heat transfer surfaces may be off-set if operated under fouling conditions. In the present paper, preliminary experimental results for crystallization fouling of CaSO4 solutions onto surfaces with different structures are reported. Flat stainless steel plates (50 mm x 59 mm) with \u27V\u27 shaped grooves on the side of fluid flow were used as heat transfer surfaces. Experiments were carried out both under clean and fouling conditions to discern how the same surface structures perform under such circumstances. In addition, the impact of both, the direction of grooves with respect to fluid flow (crossed, longitudinal and mixed flow grooves) and the groove dimensions has also been investigated. Fouling trends are discussed in terms of delay time and fouling rate. Significant differences have been found for the various flow conditions

Artifacts from manganese reduction in rock samples prepared by focused ion beam (FIB) slicing for X-ray microspectroscopic analysis

Abstract. Manganese (Mn)-rich natural rock coatings, so-called rock varnishes, are discussed controversially regarding their genesis. Biogenic and abiogenic mechanisms, as well as a combination of both, have been proposed to be responsible for the Mn oxidation and deposition process. We conducted scanning transmission X-ray microscopy - near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (STXM-NEXAFS) measurements to examine the abundance and spatial distribution of the different oxidation states of Mn within these nano- to micrometer thick crusts. Such microanalytical measurements of thin and hard rock crusts require sample preparation with minimal contamination risk. Focused ion beam (FIB) slicing, a well-established technique in geosciences, was used in this study to obtain 100–200 nm thin slices of the samples for X-ray transmission spectroscopy. However, even though this preparation is suitable to investigate element distributions and structures in rock samples, we observed that, using standard parameters, modifications of the Mn oxidation states occur in the surfaces of the FIB slices. Based on our results, the preparation technique likely causes the reduction of Mn4+ to Mn2+/3+. We draw attention to this issue, since FIB slicing, SEM imaging, and other preparation and visualization techniques operating in the keV range are well-established in geosciences, but researchers are often unaware of the potential for reduction of Mn and possibly other elements in the samples’ surface layers

Adhesion of Different Resin Cements to Zirconia: Effect of Incremental versus Bulk Build Up, Use of Mould and Ageing.

Bonding to zirconia presents a great challenge, as the clinical guidelines for predictable adhesion are not sufficiently validated. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of various bonding methodologies of various resin cements on zirconia, using different aging protocols. Manufactured zirconia specimens (N = 300 and n = 20 per group) were randomly assigned to three luting protocols: 1-in mould incremental build up; 2-in mould incremental build up with mould removal; 3-in mould non-incremental bulk build up. Five dual, photo- and chemical-cure resin cements were used, namely, Variolink Esthetic (Ivoclar), Tetric (Ivoclar), Panavia (Kuraray), TheraCem (Bisco), and RelyX UniCem (3M ESPE), and were applied on primed zirconia using photopolymerization protocols. Thereafter, the specimens were subjected to the following three ageing methods: 1-dry; 2-thermocycling (×5000; 5-55 °C); 3-3-6 months of water storage. Using a universal testing machine, the specimens were loaded under shear, at 1 mm/min crosshead speed. An analysis of the data was performed using three-way ANOVA and the Bonferroni method. The moulding type, ageing and luting cement significantly affected the results (p < 0.05). Among all the protocols under dry conditions, TheraCem (16 ± 3; 11 ± 1; 16 ± 3) showed the best bond strength, while, after thermocycling, TheraCem (7 ± 2) and Tetric (7 ± 2) performed the best with Protocol 1. In Protocol 2, RelyX (7 ± 3) presented the highest result, followed by TheraCem (5 ± 3) and Tetric (5 ± 1) (p < 0.05). Using Protocol 3, RelyX (10 ± 6) showed the highest result, followed by TheraCem (7 ± 2) and Panavia21 (7 ± 2) (p < 0.05). Six months after water storage, TheraCem presented the highest result (10 ± 2) in Protocol 1, while, in Protocols 2 and 3, Tetric (10 ± 2; 15 ± 5) presented the highest result, followed by TheraCem (6 ± 2; 8 ± 3). Adhesion tests using the incremental or bulk method, using moulds, showed the highest results, but removing the mould, and the subsequent ageing, caused a decrease in the adhesion of the resin cements tested on zirconia, probably due to water absorption, with the exclusion of Tetric

Investigation of marmoset hybrids (Cebuella pygmaea x Callithrix jacchus) and related Callitrichinae (Platyrrhini) by cross-species chromosome painting and comparative genomic hybridization

We report on the cytogenetics of twin offspring from an interspecies cross in marmosets (Callitrichinae, Platyrrhini), resulting from a pairing between a female Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus, 2n = 46) and a male Pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea, 2n = 44). We analyzed their karyotypes by multi-directional chromosome painting employing human, Saguinus oedipus and Lagothrix lagothricha chromosome-specific probes. Both hybrid individuals had a karyotype with a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 45. As a complementary tool, interspecies comparative genomic hybridization (iCGH) was performed in order to screen for genomic imbalances between the hybrids and their parental species, and between Callithrix argentata and S. oedipus, respectively. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Evidence for exotic hadron contributions to Λb0→J/ψpπ−\Lambda_b^0 \to J/\psi p \pi^- decays

A full amplitude analysis of $\Lambda_b^0 \to J/\psi p \pi^-$ decays is performed with a data sample acquired with the LHCb detector from 7 and 8 TeV $pp$ collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb$^{-1}$. A significantly better description of the data is achieved when, in addition to the previously observed nucleon excitations $N\to p\pi^-$, either the $P_c(4380)^+$ and $P_c(4450)^+\to J/\psi p$ states, previously observed in $\Lambda_b^0 \to J/\psi p K^-$ decays, or the $Z_c(4200)^-\to J/\psi \pi^-$ state, previously reported in $B^0 \to J/\psi K^+ \pi^-$ decays, or all three, are included in the amplitude models. The data support a model containing all three exotic states, with a significance of more than three standard deviations. Within uncertainties, the data are consistent with the $P_c(4380)^+$ and $P_c(4450)^+$ production rates expected from their previous observation taking account of Cabibbo suppression

Study of B0(s)→K0Sh+h′− decays with first observation of B0s→K0SK±π∓ and B0s→K0Sπ+π−

A search for charmless three-body decays of B 0 and B0s mesons with a K0S meson in the final state is performed using the pp collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1, collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV recorded by the LHCb experiment. Branching fractions of the B0(s)→K0Sh+h′− decay modes (h (′) = π, K), relative to the well measured B0→K0Sπ+π− decay, are obtained. First observation of the decay modes B0s→K0SK±π∓ and B0s→K0Sπ+π− and confirmation of the decay B0→K0SK±π∓ are reported. The following relative branching fraction measurements or limits are obtained B(B0→K0SK±π∓)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)=0.128±0.017(stat.)±0.009(syst.), B(B0→K0SK+K−)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)=0.385±0.031(stat.)±0.023(syst.), B(B0s→K0Sπ+π−)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)=0.29±0.06(stat.)±0.03(syst.)±0.02(fs/fd), B(B0s→K0SK±π∓)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)=1.48±0.12(stat.)±0.08(syst.)±0.12(fs/fd)B(B0s→K0SK+K−)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)∈[0.004;0.068]at90%CL