Incorporating life cycle assessment and ecodesign tools for green chemical engineering: a case study of competences and learning outcomes assessment

Chemical engineers assume a broad range of roles in industry, spanning the development of new process designs, the maintenance and optimization of complex systems, and the production of intermediate materials, final products and new technologies. The technical aptitude that enables chemical engineers to fulfill these various roles along the value chain makes them compelling participants in the environmental assessment of the product in question. Therefore, the introduction of life cycle assessment (LCA) and ecodesign concepts into the chemical engineering curriculum is essential to help these future professionals to face design problems with a holistic view of the technical, economic, social and environmental impacts of their solutions. The teaching of these and other disciplines by means of student-centered methods, based on a holistic structure, have demonstrated better teamwork and communication skills. For that reason, this paper proposes a Micro (Assess-Analyze-Act) (M-3A) model of assessment mainly focused on closing the loop of the learning activities. This model has been applied to an ecodesign case study of the "University master's Degree in chemical engineering" of the University of Cantabria/University of the Basque Country, with positive feedback of the students. They felt that the approach has allowed them to utilize their analytical skills in quantifying a situation before applying other subjective measures, and that the public discussion of the results was a satisfactory element for improving their communication skills. Moreover, the students found that the workload was nicely adjusted, highlighting the acquisition of 4 competences preferentially: teamwork, creativity; relevance of environmental issues and initiative and entrepreneurship. Finally, the students suggest that the application of this methodology into their degree could motivate future students improving their performance

Experiments on the nature of how multiple images form in a plane mirror

This project will attempt to discover, by means of a series of experiments that explore the relationships between wholes, parts, planes and multiple images, the nature of how images are formed in a plane mirror. The aim of the activity is to give elementary school students the opportunity to accurately understand the definitions of a plane mirror as well as to make use of an everyday situation to make correct predictions about how many images a mirror can produce. The activity can be used as introductory experiments on the subject of images seen through a mirror which can be completed inside one classroom period.Este proyecto se intentará descubrir, a través de una serie de experimentos que exploran las relaciones entre conjuntos, piezas, planos e imágenes múltiples, la naturaleza de cómo se forman las imágenes en un espejo plano. El objetivo de la actividad es dar a los alumnos de primaria la oportunidad de comprender con precisión las definiciones de un espejo plano, así como hacer uso de una situación cotidiana para hacer predicciones correctas sobre el número de imágenes de un espejo puede producir. La actividad se puede utilizar como experimentos de introducción sobre el tema de imágenes que se ven a través de un espejo que puede ser completado dentro de un período de clase

A Suggestion for an Experiment That Integrates the Teaching of Science with Everyday Life: "Why Are the Seas Blue?"

"Why are the seas blue?" is a huge question that may reach far beyond the middle school level. However, our objective is to bring "simple" tools into the classroom to explain science without tampering with its essence and complexity. The experiment described in this article is only concerned with teaching the subject of absorption as related to light and matter interaction through an example from everyday phenomena--the color of the seas

Genetic parameter estimation of partial egg production traits in layers

WOS: 000180153000013To estimate heritabilities of different partial egg production traits and their correlations with each other and to use it as a selection criteria, egg productions of 1980 animals from 43 sires and 8 dams per sire were used. Heritability estimates of the second period egg production were the lowest based on sire and sire+dam variance components, while it was the lowest in the third period based on animal model. The highest heritability estimates were obtained for 31-40 weeks of age for all models used. Heritability estimates for animal.,model were generally close to heritability front sire model. Due to high correlations of sub-partial egg productions with 22-40 weeks of egg production, the former can be used as a selection criterion

Effect of Box-Cox transformation on genetic parameter estimation in layers

WOS: 000221257000001The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of Box-Cox transformation on estimations of the genetic parameters for egg production traits that do not hold to the assumptions of parametric statistical analysis. Egg production of 1980 animals from 43 sires and 8 dams per sire were used. Five partial record periods were considered: 22-30 weeks of age, 31-34 weeks of age, 22-34 weeks of age, 31-40 weeks of age and 22-40 weeks of age. The egg production traits showed non-normal distributions in the form of negative skewness and positive kurtosis. The greatest departure from normality was observed in the peak period (31-34 weeks of age). After applying Box-Cox transformation, the distribution of the transformed data became closer to normality. Applying Box-Cox transformation to partial egg production data resulted in an increase in heritabilities and slightly changed genetic and phenotypic correlations. Transformation such as Box-Cox should be preferred for estimating genetic parameters from the data, when the assumptions are not satisfied

The tendencies and difficulties experienced by pre-service science teachers during basic measuring

Besides the accuracy and reliability of the measuring tool, the other element that is required in this context is the basic knowledge, skills and competencies with which the individual making the measurement must be equipped. The present study aims to create awareness in third-year pre-service science teachers (n:75) about concepts of basic measurement (length, time, volume, mass and temperature) required in science/technology classes and to promote the development of related skills. Encompassing both quantitative and qualitative research techniques, the conclusion is drawn from data the whole measuring process is complex and the intentional and sustainable learning is required. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Comparison teaching strategies of videotaped and demonstration experiments in inquiry-based science education

The purpose of this study was to transfer some experimental activities designed by the researchers in line with the curriculum on light-matter interaction into audio-visual mediums that can be used in schools with insufficient laboratory facilities, in this way providing needed support for educational materials, offering guidance for teachers and contributing to student academic achievement. The study was conducted with second-year student teachers (n:148) in the format of demonstration experiments or videotaped experiments. The results showed no significant difference in the effectiveness of the demonstration or videotaped experimental format that means videotaped experiments could be alternative for demonstration experiments. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

An Activity-Based Study on Providing Basic Knowledge and Skills of Measurement in Teaching

Even though one of the prerequisites of inquiry-based science classes is acquiring measuring skills, there is not enough emphasis in the schools today on developing these skills. The current study, which has been designed with the thought that this situation may be caused by the fact that teachers do not have a sufficient level of measurement skills, aims to clarify knowledge of some basic quantities (length, mass, weight, volume, temperature and time), create awareness about fundamental skills in measuring related quantities, and develop these basic skills for the benefit of pre-service science teachers (n=73). The experimental study, which has been designed using a mixed research methodology, includes both qualitative and quantitative research methods, uses a skill-observation form and researcher observation notes, as well as pre-test, post-test and retention tests. This research, which focuses on developing measurement activities, reveals the importance of not only knowledge and skill integration but also of continuity in teaching measuring skills. In addition, recommendations have been set forth for the effective use of measurement tools in basic science education courses and some measurement activities have been suggested

Human stretch reflex pathways reexamined

WOS: 000331215500015PubMed ID: 24225537Reflex responses of tibialis anterior motor units to stretch stimuli were investigated in human subjects. Three types of stretch stimuli were applied (tap-like, ramp-and-hold, and half-sine stretch). Stimulus-induced responses in single motor units were analyzed using the classical technique, which involved building average surface electromyogram (SEMG) and peristimulus time histograms (PSTH) from the discharge times of motor units and peristimulus frequencygrams (PSF) from the instantaneous discharge rates of single motor units. With the use of SEMG and PSTH, the tap-like stretch stimulus induced five separate reflex responses, on average. With the same single motor unit data, the PSF technique indicated that the tap stimulus induced only three reflex responses. Similar to the finding using the tap-like stretch stimuli, ramp-and-hold stimuli induced several peaks and troughs in the SEMG and PSTH. The PSF analyses displayed genuine increases in discharge rates underlying the peaks but not underlying the troughs. Half-sine stretch stimuli induced a long-lasting excitation followed by a long-lasting silent period in SEMG and PSTH. The increase in the discharge rate, however, lasted for the entire duration of the stimulus and continued during the silent period. The results are discussed in the light of the fact that the discharge rate of a motoneuron has a strong positive linear association with the effective synaptic current it receives and hence represents changes in the membrane potential more directly and accurately than the other indirect measures. This study suggests that the neuronal pathway of the human stretch reflex does not include inhibitory pathways.Marie Curie Chair Project (GenderReflex)European Union (EU) [MEX-CT-2006-040317]; Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Organization GrantTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TUBITAK-107S029-SBAG-3556]; European Research Council Advanced GrantEuropean Research Council (ERC) [DEMOVE 267888]; Det Obelske Familiefond; Danish Government Scholarship Cultural Agreements [2010/11]This study is supported by Marie Curie Chair Project (GenderReflex) MEX-CT-2006-040317, Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Organization Grant TUBITAK-107S029-SBAG-3556, European Research Council Advanced Grant DEMOVE 267888, and the Det Obelske Familiefond. S. U. Yavuz, O. Sebik, and M. B. Unver are supported by Danish Government Scholarship Cultural Agreements 2010/11. K. S. Turker is a Fellow of the Turkish Academy of Sciences Association