Physical Sciences Research Articles

Assessing Iraqi ESL Fourth Year College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences Students' Writing Anxiety

يعد القلق من الكتابة مؤشرا هاما قد يعيق القدرات الكتابية ويؤدي إلى عدم كفاءة الأداء. تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى تقييم القلق الكتابي لدى طلاب السنة الرابعة في كلية التربية البدنية وعلوم الرياضة العراقيين دارسي اللغة الإنجليزية كلغة ثانية (ESL) , حيث واجهوا صعوبات وعقبات في هذا المجال. ان تصميم الدراسة الحالية هو تصميم وصفي واداة القياس لهذه الدراسة تتالف من مقياس مكون من (20) فقرة. ان عينة الدراسة الحالية مختارة بطريقة عشوائية من كلية التربية البدنية وعلوم الرياضة في جامعة بغداد من طلاب السنة الرابعة وتتالف من (300) طالب , واحتسب الصدق والثبات, و تشير نتائج هذه الدراسة إلى أن طلاب الجامعات العراقية واجهوا، للاسف ، تحديات وقضايا حقيقية في هذا المجال. ومن ثم تم تحديد الاستنتاجات والتوصيات. الكلمات المفتاحية: مهارة الكتابة، القلق

Ways to improve the properties of high-entropy alloys Cantor CoCrFeNiMn and CoCrFeNiAl

Created one of the first and studied more than 20 years ago, high-entropy five-component alloys CoCrFeNiMn (Cantor alloy) and CoCrFeNiAl still attract the attention of researchers in the field of physical materials science due to their possible application in various industries because of their successful combination of strength and plastic properties. To date, a large amount of experimental materials has been accumulated on the ways to control the properties of these alloys. This article reviews the publications of domestic and foreign authors in two areas of improving the properties of these alloys: alloying, precipitation and heat treatment, and the use of CALPHAD phase diagrams. In the first direction, the role of alloying with B, Al, V, Si, Nb is analyzed; γ and γ′ nanoprecipitations, various modes of thermal and deformation processing. It was concluded that it is necessary to conduct experiments on the alloying of HEAs with Zr and Nb, which have proven themselves well in hardening steels. Creation and modification of the properties of five-component HEAs is possible using the CALPHAD computer programs developed for calculating state diagrams. The results of publications on the thermodynamic description of five-component alloys analyzed in the article are confirmed by comparing the phase diagrams with the available experimental data. In one of the analyzed works on the phase formation of five-component HEAs consisting of Co, Cr, Fe, Ni, Al, Mn, Cu, 2436 compositions were considered, which made it possible to determine 1761 variants of reliab­le prediction of the formation of bcc/B2 and fcc phases, bypassing amorphous phases and intermetallic compounds, thereby designing a certain level of mechanical properties. It is shown that the design of a new generation of HEAs is possible based on calculation of the CALPHAD phase diagrams.

Listening to children in nature: emergent curriculum in science teaching and learning in bush kinders

ABSTRACT Outdoor early childhood education contexts such as nature kindergartens have been established for well over 50 years in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. Despite their popularity in these settings, similar approaches in countries such as Canada, China, New Zealand and Australia have taken time to become established. One example of where this approach to nature kindergartens in early childhood education has recently taken a foothold is the Australian ‘bush kinder’. Bush kinders are a context where four- to five-year-old preschool children can experience and learn biological, chemical and physical sciences in natural environments through play. This paper draws on research undertaken in bush kinders, applying ethnographic data. Data collection commenced in 2015 and subsequently, members of the research team returned to bush kinders in 2017, 2020 and 2023 to understand how the bush kinder approach to curriculum has continued to develop and grow. We respond to two research questions in this paper, (1) What are teachers’ experiences of an emergent science curriculum in bush kinder setting? And (2) How does an emergent science curriculum develop within bush kinder settings? Through observing educators’ application of emergent curriculum, we found that time spent in bush kinder provides children with the voice to articulate their science understandings.

Pembelajaran Sains dengan Konteks Physical Science pada Anak Usia Dini

Science is a process og gaining knowledge related to activities looking for natural phenomena or fact through natural activities or research by observation using the scope of physical science. Physical science is a learning process that provides direct experience for children to interact with scientific materials and encourages children’s initiative to explore these phycical materials. Physical science is seen as a process so that in learning it must consider learning strategies or methods, one of which is through demonstration and practical activities. This research uses a qualitative type of research with research using the literature study method. The results of the research explain the importance of science and science activities that can be carried out with children by introducing God’s creation and all of nature using experiments that are safe for children.

Studies on Estimates of Heritability and Genetic Advance for Certain Quantitative Traits in Fieldpea (Pisum sativum L. var. arvense)

Twenty two field pea genotypes were evaluated for estimation of variability, heritability and genetic advance. The Fieldpea genotypes were sown in, Randomized Block Design with three replications at the experimental farm of department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Kamla Nehru Institute of Physical and Social Sciences Sultanpur 228118 (U.P.) India, during Rabi, season 2022-2023. Phenotypic data were recorded for nine characters viz. days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, 100-grain weight, grain yield per plant and biological yield per plant. It was reported that in general the value of phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) is slightly higher than the value of genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV) indicating the importance of environment in the phenotypic performance of the genotypes studied. The maximum value of GCV was observed for plant height (31.94), grain yield per plant (20.02). High estimates of heritability in broad sense (h2b) were recorded for plant height (97.28), days to 50% flowering (83.96), 100-grain weight (78.48) and days to maturity (64.83). High estimates of genetic advance as percent of mean were recorded for plant height (64.89), 100-grain weight (25.28) and grain yield per plant (25.15). Thus, the characters (plant height, days to 50% flowering, 100-grain weight etc) having high value of GCV, heritability as well as genetic advance may be exploited in Fieldpea breeding program for further improvement in grain yield.

Teachers’ Experiences with the Use of Virtual Laboratories in the Teaching of Physics in Rwandan Secondary Schools: A Survey Design

Laboratory experimentation providing students with hands-on experiences can greatly enhance the teaching and learning of physics. However, traditional hands-on laboratories are very expensive, limiting the possibilities for practical activities. In addition, limited time for laboratory practices prevents teachers and students from conducting laboratory activities properly. A possible solution to these limitations could be the use of virtual laboratories (VLs). The present study was conducted to explore the availability of teaching resources to support experimental work, the use of these resources including VLs and the challenges teachers face in using VLs. An online survey with 107 secondary school physics teachers was used to collect data. The study is framed by the Concerns-Based Adoption Model for teacher use of curriculum innovations. Regarding VLs, a mere 6% of teachers reported regular use, revealing a significant gap in adoption. Challenges identified included a lack of awareness, limited information and communications technology tools and insufficient supporting resources. Cross-item analysis revealed that only 25% of 107 teachers reported having a well-equiped physics laboratory, 45% work without a physics laboratory but with science kits or improvised materials, while 30% have no access to a physics laboratory, science kits or improvised local materials. Thus, for teachers without access to a physics laboratory, science kits or improvised local materials, VLs represent a crucial opportunity to provide learners with a complete laboratory experience. The study recommends tailoring continuing professional development support to address teachers’ concerns regarding the use of VLs. This includes enhancing awareness and providing information for teachers without access to well-equipped physics laboratories, while addressing management concerns for those with or without such resources.

Preparing new secondary science teachers in the context of sustainable development goals: green and sustainable chemistry

Abstract School science teachers have an important role to play in preparing young people for a sustainable future. Yet their teaching is usually constrained by national school curricula, which may be slow to change to address the issues of sustainable development. Initial teacher education should anticipate the required changes in school curricula so that newly qualified teachers are better equipped to implement the changes when they happen. This paper is based upon the situation prevailing in South Africa, a country with some of the best and some of the worst schools in sub-Saharan Africa. It suggests ways that the BEd course for physical science education student teachers can be developed toward education for sustainable development, while accepting the constraints of the national curriculum, which has become the defining structure of the BEd.

The impact of design thinking on the learning of basketball and badminton

This study investigated the impact of the design thinking strategy on students' acquisition, learning, and maintenance of basketball and badminton skills. Using an experimental method, researchers compared two groups: an experimental group (Group A) that utilized the design thinking strategy and a control group (Group C) that used traditional teaching. The sample consisted of 58 third-year students from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at Al-Mustaqbal University, representing both groups. The acquisition test, prepared by the researchers, covered comprehension, interpretation, and application of concepts. It followed the same lesson sequence as the control group. Pre-existing basketball and badminton skills tests from the Hilla College curriculum were used. Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups, with the experimental group outperforming the control group in both the acquisition (p < 0.05) and maintenance tests (p < 0.05). The design thinking strategy effectively enhances the acquisition and maintenance of basketball and badminton skills compared to traditional methods. It also increases student engagement by fostering active participation, discussions, and creative problem-solving.

Engineering cancer’s end: An interdisciplinary approach to confront the complexities of cancer

Cancer engineering is an interdisciplinary approach that promises to confront the complexities of cancer and accelerate transformative discoveries by integrating innovative fields across engineering and the physical sciences with a focus on cancer. We offer a conceptual framework for the hallmarks of cancer engineering, integrating 12 fields: system dynamics; imaging, radiation, and spectroscopy; robotics and controls; solid mechanics; fluid mechanics; chemistry and nanomaterials; mathematics and simulation; cellular and protein engineering; kinetics and thermodynamics; materials science; manufacturing and biofabrication; and microsystems.

Coming in from the cold: Addressing the challenges experienced by women conducting remote polar fieldwork

Remote fieldwork is an important component of polar research across both physical and social sciences. There is increasing recognition that the inherent logistical, physical, psychological, and interpersonal challenges of remote polar fieldwork are not felt equally across the polar research community, with minority groups often disproportionately affected. Although historically lacking diversity, the demographics of polar researchers have shifted, and the way polar research is conducted has been changing in response. However, there are still barriers to equal participation. Removing these barriers would attract scientists from more diverse backgrounds and improve scientific outcomes. We explored the lived experiences of those who identify as women in polar fieldwork through a review of current literature and an anonymous survey, using existing networks to connect with women working in polar research. We synthesised survey responses with regards to topics such as harassment, hygiene, inefficient communication, gendered work expectations and responsibilities to form a holistic understanding of the key fieldwork challenges faced by women. The majority of survey respondents (79%, n = 320) had encountered negative experiences during fieldwork, with the most common and impactful issues relating to field team dynamics and communication, sexism, rest, and weather. Many other issues including fieldwork preparation, work expectations, harassment, and personal space and privacy were also raised by respondents. We identify critical points of action from the survey results and in literature and propose strategies to remove barriers to participation and improve the experiences of women in polar fieldwork. These include individual- and organisational-level strategies for pre, during, and post fieldwork. A diverse polar research community is imperative in order to address the challenges presented by current unprecedented climate change. Though this study focussed on women’s experiences, we seek to advance the discourse on challenges faced by all minorities in polar research.

Development of Physical Science Teaching Module Phase F for Physically Impaired Students in Special Schools on the Nature of Light

This research aims to produce a pahse F science teaching module for disabled students that is feasible, practical, and effective. This research was carried out at the Bone Bolango state special school. This type of research is research and development using the ADDIE development model and was tested in class XII of Bonebolango State Special School. The results of this research show that: 1) the teaching module developed is very valid and suitable for use in learning, 2) the teaching module developed is practically determined by the average percentage of learning implementation during three meetings which reached 88,36% with very good criteria, 3) effective teaching modules developed are determined through the average percentage of student activity during three meetings which reached 79,16% with very good criteria, and the completeness of student learning outcomes is determined through the average percentage of cognitive assessments during three meetings which reached 88,89% with very good criteria, the average percentage of attitude assessments during three meetings which reached 79,16% with very good criteria, and the average percentage of skills assessments during three meetings which reached 82,77% with very good criteria good based on this, it can be concluded that the physics teaching module on the nature of light material developed is feasible, practical and effective.

Ranking academic institutions based on the productivity, impact, and quality of institutional scholars

Abstract Purpose The quantitative rankings of over 55,000 institutions and their institutional programs are based on the individual rankings of approximately 30 million scholars determined by their productivity, impact, and quality. Design/methodology/approach The institutional ranking process developed here considers all institutions in all countries and regions, thereby including those that are established, as well as those that are emerging in scholarly prowess. Rankings of individual scholars worldwide are first generated using the recently introduced, fully indexed ScholarGPS database. The rankings of individual scholars are extended here to determine the lifetime and last-five-year Top 20 rankings of academic institutions over all Fields of scholarly endeavor, in 14 individual Fields, in 177 Disciplines, and in approximately 350,000 unique Specialties. Rankings associated with five specific Fields (Medicine, Engineering & Computer Science, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Mathematics, and Social Sciences), and in two Disciplines (Chemistry, and Electrical & Computer Engineering) are presented as examples, and changes in the rankings over time are discussed. Findings For the Fields considered here, the Top 20 institutional rankings in Medicine have undergone the least change (lifetime versus last five years), while the rankings in Engineering & Computer Science have exhibited significant change. The evolution of institutional rankings over time is largely attributed to the recent emergence of Chinese academic institutions, although this emergence is shown to be highly Field- and Discipline-dependent. Research limitations The ScholarGPS database used here ranks institutions in the categories of: (i) all Fields, (ii) in 14 individual Fields, (iii) in 177 Disciplines, and (iv) in approximately 350,000 unique Specialties. A comprehensive investigation covering all categories is not practical. Practical implementations Existing rankings of academic institutions have: (i) often been restricted to pre-selected institutions, clouding the potential discovery of scholarly activity in emerging institutions and countries; (ii) considered only broad areas of research, limiting the ability of university leadership to act on the assessments in a concrete manner, or in contrast; (iii) have considered only a narrow area of research for comparison, diminishing the broader applicability and impact of the assessment. In general, existing institutional rankings depend on which institutions are included in the ranking process, which areas of research are considered, the breadth (or granularity) of the research areas of interest, and the methodologies used to define and quantify research performance. In contrast, the methods presented here can provide important data over a broad range of granularity to allow responsible individuals to gauge the performance of any institution from the Overall (all Fields) level, to the level of the Specialty. The methods may also assist identification of the root causes of shifts in institution rankings, and how these shifts vary across hundreds of thousands of Fields, Disciplines, and Specialties of scholarly endeavor. Originality/value This study provides the first ranking of all academic institutions worldwide over Fields, Disciplines, and Specialties based on a unique methodology that quantifies the productivity, impact, and quality of individual scholars.

Effectiveness of Flipped Classroom Model (FCM) on Students’ Learning Achievement in Physical Science: A Meta-Analysis

Effectiveness of Flipped Classroom Model (FCM) on Students’ Learning Achievement in Physical Science: A Meta-Analysis

The effectiveness of integrated science, technology, engineering and mathematics project-based learning module

<p class="IOPKwd"><span lang="EN-US">Physics is a tricky subject to learn, especially when it comes to students applying physics knowledge to the real world and its application. This paper aims to study the effectiveness of the integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics project-based learning (iSTEM-PjBL) module in physics on students’ belief-specific categories, i.e., real-world connection, conceptual connection and applied conceptual understanding. This research used the quasi-experimental model, employing a two-group pre-survey-post-survey design. Quantitative data were collected using the Colorado Learning Attitude about Science Survey (CLASS) instrument at two selected schools in Sabah, Malaysia, and Seoul, Korea. The sample size was 88 from Malaysia and 66 from Korea who learned classical mechanics. The students were divided into two groups, respectively, i.e., the experimental group (Malaysia=44, Korea=33) and the control group (Malaysia=44, Korea=33). Participants in the experimental group were intervened with the integrated STEM-PBL physics module, whilst participants in the control group learned physics through a conventional approach for eight weeks. Participants in both groups were then administered a pre-survey before and post-survey after the intervention. This research showed that the integrated STEM-PjBL physics module significantly improved students’ real-world connections, conceptual connections, and applied connections after the intervention. The implications and suggestions were also discussed to extend the research further.</span></p>

3D revisualization: a new method to revisit segmented data.

3D visualization and segmentation are increasingly widely used in physical, biological and medical science, facilitating advanced investigative methodologies. However, the integration and reproduction of segmented volumes or results across the spectrum of mainstream 3D visualization platforms remain hindered by compatibility constraints. These barriers not only challenge the replication of findings but also obstruct the process of cross-validating the accuracy of 3D visualization outputs. To address this gap, we developed an innovative revisualization method implemented within the open-source framework of Drishti, a 3D visualization software. Leveraging four animal samples alongside three mainstream 3D visualization platforms as case studies, our method demonstrates the seamless transferability of segmented results into Drishti. This capability effectively fosters a new avenue for authentication and enhanced scrutiny of segmented data. By facilitating this interoperability, our approach underscores the potential for significant advancements in accuracy validation and collaborative research efforts across diverse scientific domains.

Role of Time Management in Developing Self- Regulating Study Habits among Students at University Level

The research work conducted on the topic of role of time management in developing self-regulating study habits among students at University level. In order to achieve the objectives, this study used descriptive survey design. Total population was 792 students from public sector universities of okara region. 70% sample of total population was selected. Consequently, 167 male and 217 female students were selected from University of Okara. Whereas, 91 male 80 female students were selected from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad ( sub campus Depalpur Okara). All of these students were selected from various departments (Statistics, Islamic Studies, Physics, Mathematics, Education, Biology, English, Zoology, Chemistry, and Computer Science). A self-structured questionnaire was used to collect data for the students. It was a 5-point scale type consisting 40 statements along with 2 questions as open ended to assess the role of time management in developing self-regulating study habits among students at university level. Systematic random sampling method was used to select sample size of 555 students. The purpose of this study was to achieve the following objectives, 1 assess the effect of time management on self-regulating study habits of students at university level, 2 to analyze the important factors that affect the study habits of students at university level, 3 to compare the effect of time management techniques on the basis of gender, locality, university and departments (science and arts). Present study was aimed to answer the following questions, 1) how the time management effect self-regulating study habits of students at university level? 2) What are the factors that affect the study habits of students at university level? 3) What is the effect of time management techniques on the basis of gender, locality, university and departments (science and arts)? The results help in the field of education specially and for the bright future of students generally. The major findings of this study indicate that majority of the students have agreed about the importance of time management for achieving high ranks at university level. They feel stressed due to over work and try to minimize interruptions. Most of the students have reported that they share their academic issues with family and home environment affect the students grades. Students also reported that class environment also affects student learning. The study concluded that importance of time management can never be neglected. It indicates that time management is a key to success and is very important for the development of self-regulating study habits among students at university level. The study also concluded that there is no significant difference between the students on the basis of gender, locality, university and science and arts departments regarding the role of time management in developing self-regulating study habits among students at university level.

An educational startup as a form of graduate qualification work for students of a pedagogical university

The article examines and analyzes the experience of the Samara State University of Social Sciences and Education under the Startup as a Diploma program, which has been implemented in Russian universities since 2019. Within its framework, graduate students – future teachers develop educational business projects, presenting and defending them in the form of final qualification papers. The author of the article shares his experience in leading the preparation and defense of a thesis in the form of a startup by students of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science of the Samara State University of Social Sciences and Education. It was based on a project to create and market an educational and methodological manual with electronic support for teaching a propaedeutic course «Introduction to Physics» in elementary school. The manual presents the author's program of the summer physical school for students in grades 1–4, lesson summaries and accompanying illustrative materials. In addition to the theoretical and practical aspects of pedagogical research, the final qualification paper in the form of a startup contains a financial and economic justification for the project, the development of which was carried out with the support of specialists in this field. The analysis of the results of the experiment on the introduction of the methodology of final certification of graduates based on the program «Startup as a diploma» in the Samara State University of Social Sciences and Education allowed the author of the article to identify the positive and negative aspects of its implementation in a pedagogical university.

Integration of Multijunction Absorbers and Catalysts for Efficient Solar‐Driven Artificial Leaf Structures: A Physical and Materials Science Perspective

Integration of Multijunction Absorbers and Catalysts for Efficient Solar‐Driven Artificial Leaf Structures: A Physical and Materials Science Perspective

Active versus passive learning: Comparative case study of problem-solving competencies in stoichiometry

Teaching methods can help learners to develop problem-solving skills and enhance their achievement in stoichiometry. Process oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) is one of the teaching methods that promote problem-solving skills because it provides opportunities for learners to work with many formulae through many steps in solving problems such as stoichiometric calculations of number of moles and concentration of solutions. To understand how POGIL can improve learners’ achievement and develop problem-solving skills, four grade 11 physical sciences classes of mixed gender and multicultural black learners were purposefully and conventional sampled from four different township schools in Pretoria, South Africa. Through pre- and post-test case study and lesson observations, two different independent groups (POGIL group and lecture group) were included in the study. POGIL group constituted 48 students, while lecture group 62 students taught by their respective teachers at their schools for three weeks using English second language. The results from the pre-test suggest that learners in all the four classes lacked problem-solving competencies in solving both the low-order and the high-order stoichiometry questions. According to the research interpretation, lesson observations of POGIL were active learning while lecture method was passive learning. The post-test results indicate statistically significant greater problem-solving competencies in POGIL group than in the lecture group. The study recommends the use of POGIL in teaching stoichiometry.

67th International Open Readings Conference for students of Physics and Natural Sciences. Annual Abstract Book 2024

“Open Readings 2024” is an international academic platform for students and young researchers worldwide to present their ongoing research results and practices in physics and natural sciences. The 67th International Scientific Conference for Students of Physics and Natural Sciences brings together participants to discuss, learn, exchange, and share their scientific experiences, meet key experts, and enjoy an exciting program. The conference features lectures by well-known, leading, and accomplished scientists, as well as presentations of students’ research. “Open Readings 2024” offers BSc, MSc, and PhD students an opportunity to present their scientific research to a larger audience and receive constructive criticism and helpful advice. This book provides an overview of all the presentations at the Open Readings 2024 conference.