The impact of Situated Learning for prospective primary teacher education and for the school

The apprenticeship and the in-context experience of the pre-service teacher play an essential role in the construction of a professional attitude. The model developed with over 20 years of research during the Physics Education Course (PEC) in the 5 years long Master degree for Prospective Primary Teachers (PPT) at the University of Udine includes situated learning. By means of a process of reflective design and planning of educational paths, the prospective primary teachers implement Teaching Intervention Modules (TIMs) in the classroom and monitor the learning process of children. The preparation, implementation and evaluation of the TIM in real classrooms is carried out within the PEC itself and has produced an institutional interaction between the PEC coordinators and the schools. The perception of 360 in-service teachers on the quality of the implementation of the TIM was collected over three years using a questionnaire probing different perspectives. The opinions collected included those about the role and way of working of the prospective primary teacher, those about the research-based innovation of the path proposals, those about the impact in the specific classroom, those about the teaching style of the host teachers and finally those about the cooperation between schools and university

A transversal educational proposal for prospective primary teachers: The theme of Time

Time is a transversal topic that plays a fundamental role in our every-day experience and represents a natural conceptual bridge between common sense ideas and scientific knowledge. Two classes of Prospective Primary Teachers (PPTs) at the Universities of Udine and Verona were introduced to the theme of Time in a formative intervention organized into a) the discussion of various educational and multidisciplinary approaches aimed to deal with different aspects of Time and b) the exploration/experimentation of various instruments for time measurement. In this work, we study and compare the learning outcomes in terms of planning and implementation of educational projects built by PPTs following two different Rubrics

Development and Evaluation of qPCR Detection Method and Zn-MgO/Alginate Active Packaging for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes Contamination in Cold-Smoked Salmon

To answer to food industry requests to monitor the presence of L. monocytogenes in cold-smoked salmon samples and to extend their shelf-life, a qPCR protocol for the detection of L. monocytogenes, and an antibacterial active packaging reinforced with zinc magnesium oxide nanoparticles (Zn-MgO NPs) were developed. The qPCR allowed the sensitive and easy detection of L. monocytogenes in naturally contaminated samples, with specificity in full agreement with the standard methods. The halo diusion study indicated a high antibacterial eciency of 1 mg/mL Zn-MgO NPs against L. monocytogenes, while the flow cytometry showed only moderate cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles towards mammalian cells at a concentration above 1 mg/mL. Thus, the novel active packaging was developed by using 1 mg/mL of Zn-MgO NPs to reinforce the alginate film. Cold-smoked salmon samples inoculated with L. monocytogenes and air-packed with the Zn-MgO NPs-alginate nanobiocomposite film showed no bacterial proliferation at 4 C during 4 days. In the same condition, L. monocytogenes growth in control contaminated samples packed with alginate film alone. Our results suggest that Zn-MgO nanoparticles can extend the shelf-life of cold-smoked salmon samples

Comparative meta-analysis of antimicrobial resistance from different food sources along with one health approach in the Egypt and UK

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global issue that poses significant threats to human health, animal welfare, and the environment. With the increasing emergence of resistant microorganisms, the effectiveness of current antimicrobial medicines against common infections is diminishing. This study aims to conduct a competitive meta-analysis of surveillance data on resistant microorganisms and their antimicrobial resistance patterns in two countries, Egypt and the United Kingdom (UK). Methods: Data for this study were obtained from published reports spanning the period from 2013 to 2022. In Egypt and the UK, a total of 9,751 and 10,602 food samples were analyzed, respectively. Among these samples, 3,205 (32.87%) in Egypt and 4,447 (41.94%) in the UK were found to contain AMR bacteria. Results: In Egypt, the predominant resistance was observed against β-lactam and aminoglycosides, while in the United Kingdom, most isolates exhibited resistance to tetracycline and β-lactam. The findings from the analysis underscore the increasing prevalence of AMR in certain microorganisms, raising concerns about the development of multidrug resistance. Conclusion: This meta-analysis sheds light on the escalating AMR problem associated with certain microorganisms that pose a higher risk of multidrug resistance development. The significance of implementing One Health AMR surveillance is emphasized to bridge knowledge gaps and facilitate accurate AMR risk assessments, ensuring consumer safety. Urgent actions are needed on a global scale to combat AMR and preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments for the well-being of all living beings

BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION DOES NOT AFFECT ACUTE MEASURES OF POWER AND FATIGUE DURING MAXIMAL CYCLING AMONG WOMEN

While it is known that blood flow restriction (BFR) can positively affect training and rehabilitation progression timelines, the physiological basis of this intervention is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the short-term impact of BFR upon power and fatigue performance measures during maximal cycling. In this study, maximal cycling was assessed using the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). Using a counterbalanced design, fourteen female participants completed standardized BFR and non-BFR protocols while completing the WAnT. No statistically-significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found between conditions for measures of peak power (PP), low power (LP) or fatigue index (FI). These findings suggest that BFR had no statistically-significant acute effect on these performance measures commonly assessed during the WAnT

THE EFFECTS OF BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION ON MEASURES OF GROSS MOTOR COORDINATION DURING THE WINGATE ANAEROBIC TEST

To date little research has addressed the impact of blood flow restriction (BFR) training upon gross motor coordination measures (GMCM) during a wide variety of maximal activities. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of BFR on GMCM exhibited during maximal cycling. The performance of 14 females between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five were analyzed during the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). The participants completed the test under two conditions, using BFR and without. Results showed statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between conditions for dependent variables assessed throughout this common 30 second test of maximal cycling. These findings suggest that BFR negatively influenced GMCM exhibited during the WAnT

CCLI: Model Eliciting Activities: Experiments and Mixed Methods to Assess Student Learning – Part II

As part of a seven university CCLI* Type 3 collaborative effort focused on models and modeling, we have extended the model eliciting activity (MEA) construct to upper division engineering programs. Originally developed and validated by mathematics education researchers, MEAs were found to have significant value as an educational tool. In particular, our overall goal has been to use this construct as a means for enhancing engineering students‟ problem solving and modeling skills as well as their conceptual understanding of certain engineering topics. Specifically,we have pursued two main research avenues: MEAs as teaching tools and MEAs as learning assessment tools. This paper summarizes our results for these two research thrusts as we enter our fourth project year. Particular emphasis is placed on our mixed measurements for student learning and achievement, and an examination of the relative conceptual gain for a series of MEA experiments, including those where a comparison group was available

Silicon resonant microcantilevers for absolute pressure measurement

This work is focused on the developing of silicon resonant microcantilevers for the measurement of the absolute pressure. The microcantilevers have been fabricated with a two-mask bulk micromachining process. The variation in resonance response of microcantilevers was investigated as a function of pressure 10−1-105 Pa, both in terms of resonance frequency and quality factor. A theoretical description of the resonating microstructure is given according to different molecular and viscous regimes. Also a brief discussion on the different quality factors contributions is presented. Theoretical and experimental data show a very satisfying agreement. The microstructure behavior demonstrates a certain sensitivity over a six decade range and the potential evolution of an absolute pressure sensor working in the same rang