Preschool STEM Activities and Associated Outcomes: A Scoping Review

This review highlights the need for further investigation into the benefits of STEM activities in preschool children’s learning, girls’ engagement and learning of children with disabilities in the STEM field. The review process involved accessing 19 relevant studies from Scopus, ERIC and Google Scholar databases in March 2023. Through the synthesis of information from these studies, seven STEM activities were identified as effective in enhancing preschool children’s learning: educational robots, educational games, argumentative interactions, inquiry-based learning and engineering design, drawing and telling about engineers, free play and pretend play, and group membership. Each of these activities contributes to different learning outcomes for children. Moreover, the review emphasizes the importance of role-playing activities ‘as if’ engineers and scientists, facilitated by teachers, in fostering girls’ motivation and engagement in the STEM field from an early age. Long-term scientific interventions at home have a significant positive impact on the science literacy skills of deaf children. The implications of this review are particularly relevant for early childhood educators, as it provides valuable insights into the use of STEM activities to enhance children’s learning outcomes

Aiming to the superior of phosphor pattern: Influence of SiO2 nanoparticles on photoluminescence intensification of YAG:Ce

Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG: RE) rare-earth-doped phosphors have great photoluminescence (PL) characteristics and are commonly used in light-emitting rectifying tubes. The RE elements used in these phosphors, however, are precious and in shortage. The production of phosphorus containing a limited amount of RE content is therefore essential. One solution is to manufacture Nano composite phosphors that use an inexpensive and more easily available content as a matrix for RE oxide. In this research, we developed a YAG: Ce/SiO2 Nano composite using a sol-gel procedure; in order to impulse micelle formation and agglomeration, poly (ethylene glycol) and urea have been added, respectively. X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to characterize the Nano composites. In proposing an explanation for this enhancement, we defined the concentration of SiO2 that produced optimum PL enhancement and used geometric models as well as the characterization consequences. Our results demonstrated that a 10% SiO2 concentration produced a 120% PL intensity of pure YAG:Ce. TEM analysis revealed that SiO2 nanoparticles filled the voids between the YAG:Ce crystals' single grain borders, hence inhibiting light scattering, resulting in increased PL. This procedure would be beneficial for the synthesis of low-RE and high-PL phosphors on a wide scale

Using SiO2 nano-particles for better color uniformity and lumen output in 8500 K conformal and in-cup white LEDs

In the effort of improving the performance of white light LEDs devices (WLEDs), the SiO2 nano-particles were applied and have shown a significant impact on the optical properties. Specifically, the light output of the lighting devices is enhanced when a mixture of SiO2 particles and silicone gel is diffused on the encapsulation layer surface. This enhancement is the result of light scattering from SiO2 that strengthens the emitted blue light at further angles and reduces the color discrepancy. The evidence is that CCT deviation in SiO2-doped structure decline from 1000 K to 420 K in -70° to 70°. In addition, the SiO2 with refractive index in between the phosphor material and outside environment allows light to be emitted outward more effectively. This lighting enhancement of SiO2-doped structure increases the lumen output by 2.25% at 120 mA power source in comparison to structure without SiO2. These experimental outcomes suggest that SiO2 is an effective material to add in WLEDs structure for better lighting efficiency

Using CaCO3-doped package to improve correlated color temperature uniformity of white light-emitting diodes

The white light-emitting diode (WLED) has been the most advance lighting method currently, however, the fabrication process of this configuration still has drawbacks which negatively affect its color quality. This research was conducted to provide a method for WLED’s lighting output enhancement. Since CaCO3 particles are excellent for thermal stability enhancement, especially when being combined with an adhesive substance, we decided to integrate CO3 particles into resin matrix such as melamine formaldehyde (MF) and investigate their influences on the optical properties, including color uniformity and lumen output, of the WLED. The results showed that CaCO3 and MF resin are beneficial to the light scattering efficiency, which results in higher luminous flux and chromatic quality for WLED packages. In addition to that, the appropriate amounts of MF resin and CaCO3 for reaching the best lumen efficiency and color quality are figured out at 1% and 10%, respectively. Moreover, another advantage of using MF resin and CaCO3 for fabricating WLEDs is cost effectiveness. Hence, it has turned out that CaCO3 and MF resins can be potential materials for next high-quality WLED generations

The effect green YF3:ER3+,YB3+ phosphor on luminous flux and color quality of multi-chip white light-emitting diodes

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the advantages of the green phosphor YF3:Er3+,Yb3+ combined with multi-chip package to the enhancement of lighting efficiency of modern WLEDs. In an effort to improve the quality of WLEDs and create a new generation of lighting device, green phosphor YF3:Er3+,Yb3+ is added into the phosphor compounding of the WLED package to improve the color quality and lighting capacity. Through experiments, WLEDs with YF3:Er3+,Yb3+ green phosphor has shown improved results in lighting performance specifically in color homogeneity and light output of WLEDs in the ACCT range from 5600-7000 K. However, the color quality scale (CQS) declines gradually. Therefore, if the appropriate concentration and size of YF3:Er3+,Yb3+ are determined, the performance of MCW-LEDs will be enhanced and become more stable

BaAl1.4Si0.6O3.4N0.6:Eu2+ green phosphors’ application for improving luminous performance

The molten salt synthesis (MSS) method was used to effectively prepare green phosphors BaAl1.4Si0.6O3.4N0.6:Eu2+ (or BSON:Eu2+) via one homogeneous sphere-like morphology utilizing NaNO3 in the form of the reacting agent. The phosphors produced one wide stimulation spectrum between 250 and 460 nm, as well as a significant green emission has a maximum point at 510 nm owing to the 4f65d1-4f7 (8S7/2) shifts for Eu2+ ions. With illumination under 365 as well as 450 nm, the ideal discharge strengths for the specimen prepared utilizing melted salt would receive a boost of 17% and 13%, surpassing the specimen prepared utilizing the traditional solid-state reaction (SSR) approach. The abatement of concentration for the ions of Eu2+ from BSON:Eu2+ is 5 mol%. In addition, the interactivity of dipole-dipole would be the cause of said abatement. Heat abatement would be studied utilizing the formation coordinate method with abatement temperature reaching ∼200 oC. Elemental mapping as well as power-dispersing X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) spectra demonstrated that the expected BaAl1.4Si0.6O3.4N0.6:Eu2+ materials were formed

Impact of trained human resources, adoption of technology and international standards on the improvement of accounting and auditing activities in the agricultural sector in Viet Nam

Recently, the adoption of accounting and auditing standards in the agricultural sector has been a global phenomenon that has gained increasing trend due to the significant role of the agricultural industry in the country's economy. Thus, the present study examines the impact of trained human resources, technology adoption, and international standards on improving accounting and auditing activities in the agricultural sector in Vietnam. The present research investigates the moderating impact of agricultural, institutional support among the linkage of trained human resources, technology adoption, international standards, and improvement of accounting and auditing activities in the agricultural sector. The present article has adopted the questionnaires to gather the primary data from selected respondents. The current research has applied the smart-PLS to test the study's hypotheses. The results revealed that trained human resources, technology adoption, and international standards positively impact the improvement of accounting and auditing activities in the agricultural sector. The findings also indicated that the agricultural institutional support significantly moderates the linkage of trained human resources, technology adoption, international standards, and improved accounting and auditing activities in the agricultural sector.Nguyen Van Hoa (University of Kinh Bac (UKB)), Nguyen Thi Hanh Duyen (Vinh University), Vu Ngoc Huyen (Viet Nam National University of Agriculture (VNUA)), Hoang Vu Quang (Researcher at Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD)), Nguyen Van Huong (Hung Yen University of Technology and Education (UTEHY)), Nguyen Thi Cam Tu (National Economics University (NEU)), Bui Thi Minh Nguyet (Vietnam National University of Forestry (VNUF))Includes bibliographical references

Primary pulmonary T-cell lymphoma mimicking asthma and community-acquired pneumonia: a rare case report

Primary pulmonary T-cell lymphoma (PPTL) is a rare disease. Diagnosing PPTL is challenging due to non-specific clinical symptoms and imaging. A 32-year-old female presented with persistent fever, cough, and dyspnoea. The symptoms were initially treated as asthma and community-acquired pneumonia without improvement. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed bilateral consolidations with a CT angiogram sign, and flexible bronchoscopy showed infiltrative lesions causing bronchial stenosis. Histopathological examination of the tissue biopsy identified T-cell lymphoma through immunohistochemical staining positive for CD3. This case highlights the importance of considering differential diagnoses such as PPTL in patients with atypical presentations of asthma or non-resolving pneumonia. This case also demonstrates the diagnostic utility of flexible bronchoscopy in identifying airway obstruction due to malignant cells, which can mimic asthma

Insulin signaling and its application

The discovery of insulin in 1921 introduced a new branch of research into insulin activity and insulin resistance. Many discoveries in this field have been applied to diagnosing and treating diseases related to insulin resistance. In this mini-review, the authors attempt to synthesize the updated discoveries to unravel the related mechanisms and inform the development of novel applications. Firstly, we depict the insulin signaling pathway to explain the physiology of insulin action starting at the receptor sites of insulin and downstream the signaling of the insulin signaling pathway. Based on this, the next part will analyze the mechanisms of insulin resistance with two major provenances: the defects caused by receptors and the defects due to extra-receptor causes, but in this study, we focus on post-receptor causes. Finally, we discuss the recent applications including the diseases related to insulin resistance (obesity, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer) and the potential treatment of those based on insulin resistance mechanisms

A polyhydroxylated sterol and a saponin isolated from the starfish culcita novaeguineae

Using various chromatographic methods, a polyhydroxylated sterol 5α-cholestane-3β,6β,7α,8β,15α,16β,26-heptol (1) and an asterosaponin sodium salt of 6α-[(O-β-D-fucopyranosyl-(l®2)-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(l®4)-O-[β-D-quinovopyranosyl-(l®2)]-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(l®3)-O-β-D-quinovopyranosyl)oxy]-5α-pregn-9(11)-ene-20-one (2), were isolated from the methanol extract of the starfish Culcita novaeguineae. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D-NMR experiments and comparison of their NMR data with reported values. Compounds 1 was isolated from         C. novaeguineae for the first time