Scientific Reasoning Competencies:A Case of Preservice Teacher Education

In this study, we analysed the scientific reasoning competencies of preservice science teachers from a Canadian sample at the beginning and end of a science teacher education methods course. The course contained standard topics, such as the nature of science, assessment, and unit and lesson planning in science. The preservice science teachers were asked to reason about two types of problems in a validated pre- and post-questionnaire: investigatory-process problems and problems regarding modeling. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that the course significantly contributed to the development of preservice science teachers’ competencies for those who had two previous degrees compared with those that did not. Furthermore, a greater proportion of teachers were deemed highly competent at planning investigations and testing models than the more generative dimensions of scientific reasoning, such as formulating questions and generating hypotheses. Implications for science teacher education internationally and the movement towards competency-based curricula are put forward.</p

Safety and efficacy of benzoic acid for pigs and poultry

The Panel&nbsp;on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of benzoic acid as feed flavouring for piglets (suckling, weaned), pigs for fattening, sows (for reproduction, in order to have benefit in piglets), minor porcine species, chickens (for fattening, reared for laying), hens (laying, breeding), turkeys (for fattening, for breeding purposes, reared for breeding) and minor poultry species. Benzoic acid is safe for weaned piglets at 2,500&nbsp;mg/kg feed, and for laying hens, turkeys and chickens for fattening at 500&nbsp;mg/kg feed; no conclusions could be drawn for suckling piglets and sows. The conclusions on weaned piglets can be extended to pigs for fattening and extrapolated to growing minor porcine species. The conclusions on chickens/turkeys for fattening can be extended to chickens reared for laying and turkeys reared for breeding and extrapolated to minor poultry species up to the point of lay. In the absence of safety margin in laying hens, no conclusions can be reached for minor poultry species for laying/breeding. The use of the additive is not expected to pose a risk to consumer, considering that the additive is rapidly metabolised with very low deposition, if any, in edible tissues of pigs and poultry and that foods of animal origin provide a very minor contribution, if any, to the overall dietary intake of benzoic acid. Owing to the unlikelihood of exposure, no risk to users upon inhalation of the additive is expected; the additive is not a skin sensitiser, but is a skin/ eye irritant. The proposed use of the additive does not pose environmental risks. Benzoic acid is authorised as food flavouring and its function in feed is essentially the same; no further demonstration of efficacy is necessary

Safety and efficacy of Sorbiflore® ADVANCE (Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-3698 and Lactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3699) as a feed additive for chickens for fattening

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel&nbsp;on Additives and products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Sorbiflore® ADVANCE when used as a zootechnical feed additive for chickens for fattening. Sorbiflore® ADVANCE is an additive resulting from the fermentation of milk-based broth with Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-3698 and Lactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3699. Sorbiflore® ADVANCE is intended for use in feed for chickens for fattening at the minimum concentration of 5&nbsp;×&nbsp;107 Viable Forming Units (VFU)/kg and the maximum concentration of 2&nbsp;×&nbsp;108 VFU/kg complete feed. The data submitted did not allow a full characterisation of the additive, and therefore, uncertainty remains on the nature of the product in terms of viability, on the ratio between the active agents and on the stability and homogeneity of the additive. The active agents fulfil the requirements of the Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) approach to the assessment of safety and no concerns are expected from other components of the additive. Consequently, Sorbiflore® ADVANCE is presumed to be safe for the target animals, consumers of products from animals receiving the additive and the environment. The additive should be considered a respiratory sensitiser. In the absence of data, no conclusions can be drawn on the irritancy of Sorbiflore® ADVANCE to skin and eyes and on its dermal sensitisation potential. Sorbiflore® ADVANCE at 2&nbsp;×&nbsp;108 VFU/kg feed has the potential to be efficacious in chickens for fattening

Safety and efficacy of fumonisin esterase from Komagataella phaffii DSM 32159 as a technological feed additive for pigs and poultry

Fumonisin esterase produced from a genetically modified strain of Komagataella&nbsp;phaffi is intended to degrade fumonisin mycotoxins contaminants in feeds for pigs and poultry. The production strain and its recombinant genes are not present in the final product. The applicant selected 300&nbsp;U/kg feed to represent a likely upper limit. This concentration showed to be safe for piglets, chickens and turkeys for fattening and laying hens; the additive is thus safe for those categories. This conclusion is extended to all pigs, chickens reared for laying and turkeys reared for breeding and extrapolated to all other poultry species for growing and laying and to minor porcine species. No evidence of mutagenicity or genotoxicity was detected and no evidence of toxicity from a repeated-dose oral toxicity study; the residue assessment did not identify any concern. The use of the additive is, thus, considered safe for consumers. The additive is not toxic by inhalation and the respiratory exposure is likely to be low; however, a risk of sensitisation via the respiratory route cannot be excluded. The additive is non-irritant to skin and eyes and is not considered a dermal sensitiser. No risks for the environment are expected following the use of the additive in feeds under the proposed condition of use. The additive has the capacity to degrade fumonisin contaminants in feed of marketable quality when used at the minimum recommended dose of 10&nbsp;U/kg complete feed, as shown in studies with chickens for fattening, laying hens and weaned piglets. Since the mode of action of the additive can be reasonably assumed to be the same in animal species for which the application is made, the Panel&nbsp;on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) considers the additive efficacious for all poultry and all pigs

Safety and efficacy of Sorbiflore® ADVANCE (Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-3698 and Lactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3699) as a feed additive for weaned piglets

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel&nbsp;on Additives and products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Sorbiflore® ADVANCE when used as a zootechnical feed additive for weaned piglets. Sorbiflore® ADVANCE results from the fermentation of milk based-broth with Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-3698 and Lactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3699. The additive is intended for use in feed for weaned piglets at the minimum concentration of 1.25 × 108 viable forming units (VFU)/kg and the maximum concentration of 5 × 108 VFU/kg complete feed. The data submitted did not allow a full characterisation of the additive, and therefore, uncertainty remains on the nature of the product in terms of viability, on the ratio between the active agents and on the stability of the additive. The active agents fulfil the requirements of the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach to the assessment of safety and no concerns are expected from other components of the additive. Consequently, Sorbiflore® ADVANCE is presumed to be safe for the target animals, consumers of products from animals receiving the additive and the environment. The additive should be considered a respiratory sensitiser. In the absence of data, no conclusions could be drawn on the irritancy of Sorbiflore® ADVANCE to skin and eyes and on its dermal sensitisation potential. Sorbiflore® ADVANCE at 1.25 × 108 VFU/kg feed has the potential to be efficacious in weaned piglets

Safety and efficacy of Taminizer D (dimethylglycine sodium salt) as a feed additive for chickens for fattening

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Taminizer D (dimethylglycine sodium salt) as a feed additive for chickens for fattening, based on a dossier submitted for the modification of the terms of authorisation of the additive. The product is authorised in the European Union for chickens for fattening at the maximum content of 1,000&nbsp;mg/kg complete feedingstuffs. The applicant proposed the introduction of an additional manufacturing process, which introduces an impurity (dimethylamino-ethanol (DMAE)) in the additive at concentrations up to 0.09%. The EFSA Panel&nbsp;on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) considered that the proposed modification would not substantially affect the previous assessment as related to the safety of the environment and the efficacy of the product. Since the safety of the active substance was established, the current assessment has dealt with the impurity DMAE. Considering the toxicological profile of DMAE, the estimated intake by the target animal and consumers, and making use of the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) approach, the Panel&nbsp;concluded that Taminizer D, manufactured by the DMAE route, is safe for both chickens for fattening and consumers, up to the maximum level of 1,000 mg/kg feed. The FEEDAP Panel&nbsp;extends its conclusions about Taminizer D produced by the original method to cover also Taminizer D produced by the new DMAE method. There is minimal risk to users from dust produced as a result of normal handling of the additive. Taminizer D is not irritant to skin but may be irritant to eyes; it is regarded as a potential skin sensitiser. The FEEDAP Panel&nbsp;recommended to set a specification for the DMAE content in the additive

Safety and efficacy of Kelforce \uae (l-glutamic acid, N,N-diacetic acid, tetrasodium salt (GLDA-Na 4 )) as a feed additive for chickens for fattening

l-Glutamic acid, N,N-diacetic acid, tetrasodium salt (GLDA-Na 4 ) (Kelforce \uae ) is sought to be used as a zootechnical feed additive in chickens for fattening to improve the absorption of zinc from feed, reducing zinc emissions through manure and thus, affecting favourably the environment. The product has not been authorised in the European Union as a feed additive. Kelforce \uae is intended to be marketed as a liquid and solid formulation, containing 65&nbsp;47% and 65&nbsp;30% of GLDA-Na 4 , respectively. Kelforce \uae is safe for chickens for fattening at the maximum level of 1,000&nbsp;mg GLDA-Na 4 /kg complete feed. Based on the toxicological profile of GLDA-Na 4 and the consumer exposure to GLDA-Na 4 and to nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt (NTA-Na 3 ; an impurity of the additive), the use of Kelforce \uae at the maximum proposed level in feed of chickens for fattening is of no concern for consumer safety. Due to its low inhalation toxicity, the exposure to GLDA-Na 4 is unlikely to pose a risk by inhalation. However, owing to the high-dusting potential of the solid formulation, a risk from such high level of dust, even if toxicologically inert, cannot be excluded. Kelforce \uae is not a skin/eye irritant or skin sensitiser. No risks for the terrestrial compartment were identified at the maximum use level of the additive. Risks for the aquatic compartment cannot be excluded based on the secondary effect of the additive on green algae. In the absence of data, the Panel&nbsp;cannot conclude on the safety for the sediment compartment or the possible ground water contamination. The risk of bioaccumulation and secondary poisoning caused by the additive is considered very low. Owing to the inconsistent and conflicting results from the studies assessed, the Panel&nbsp;on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) cannot conclude on the efficacy of the additive. The Panel&nbsp;made a recommendation regarding the levels of formaldehyde and cyanide in the active substance

Assessment of the application for renewal of the authorisation of Amaferm® (fermentation product of Aspergillus oryzae NRRL 458) as a feed additive for dairy cows

AMAFERM® is a fermentation product produced by Aspergillus oryzae NRRL 458, containing alpha-amylase and cellulase enzyme activities, authorised for use as a feed additive for cows. This scientific opinion concerns the renewal of the authorisation of this additive for its use in dairy cows. In its former opinion, the EFSA Panel&nbsp;on Additives and Product or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP), based on the data and knowledge available at that time, concluded that the additive is safe for cows, for the consumers and the environment. In that assessment, the Panel&nbsp;also concluded that the additive is non-irritant or a dermal sensitiser but should be considered a potential respiratory sensitiser. The applicant provided new information regarding the characterisation of the additive in terms of enzyme activities as well as information concerning the production strain. Regarding the enzyme activities in the fermentation product, weaknesses and limitations in the methods of analysis were noted. The information regarding the production strain did not permit to confirm its taxonomic classification, moreover uncertainty remains regarding the presence of viable cells/spores in the final product. Therefore, the FEEDAP Panel&nbsp;could not confirm the previously drawn conclusions regarding the safety of the production strain and consequently could not confirm the safety for the target species and consumers. There was no need for assessing the efficacy of the additive in the context of the renewal of the authorisation

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of benzoic acid (Kalama® Animal Feed Grade Benzoic acid) for weaned piglets and pigs for fattening (Emerald Kalama Chemical, B.V)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of benzoic acid (Kalama®) as a zootechnical feed additive for weaned piglets at a level of 5000 mg/kg complete feed and for pigs for fattening at a minimum content of 5000 mg/kg and a maximum content of 10,000 mg/kg complete feed. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that benzoic acid is safe for weaned piglets at 5000 mg/kg complete feed and for pigs for fattening at 10,000 mg/kg complete feed. The Panel considered the use of benzoic acid under the proposed conditions of use to be of no concern for consumer safety and the environment. Benzoic acid poses a risk by inhalation, it is irritant to skin and corrosive to eyes, but no conclusions can be drawn on dermal sensitisation. The additive, benzoic acid, is efficacious as a zootechnical feed additive for weaned piglets and for pigs for fattening at the proposed conditions of use

Guidance on the assessment of the efficacy of feed additives

This guidance document is intended to assist the applicant in preparing and presenting an application, as foreseen in Article 7.6 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition. It specifically covers the assessment of the efficacy of feed additives