bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Cooperatives on the Socio-economic Development of Ethiopia
Authors: Atanaw Eshetie Berhan , Gebeyehu Sisay Geremew
Published: December 2018

This paper presents the role of cooperatives on the socio-economic development of Ethiopia. It is based on a national survey where 173 cooperatives and 831 cooperatives members were taken as a sample and Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) at eight different regions of the country were considered. The study was based on semi-structured questionnaire. It included a period of ten years (2001-2011).Results of the survey reveal that cooperatives have contributed a lot in the country’s economic development besides supporting their members by providing different products, services, as well as variety of benefits such as securing their food, increasing their income, improving life style and social participation, and inputs for their agriculture activities. Moreover, on the average cooperatives support nearly 15.00 to 29.68 descent jobs and spent 28,032.29 up to 122,297.7birr as wage and salary per cooperative per year. The average contribution of cooperatives to the Ethiopian GDP for the last ten years is found to be relatively less which ranges 1.21% to 12.27%. The overall findings showed that, cooperatives have struggled to impact the socio-economic development of the country and support their members to improve their livelihood with the unpaved economy and policy of the country.
Investigation of the Relationship between the Organizational Cynicism Levels and Intent of Revenge of Sports Science Faculty Students Who Work
Authors: Güllü Sevim
Published: December 2018

The research aims to determine the level of relationship between the organizational cynicism and the tendency ofrevenge of sports science students. In this study, descriptive and relational screening technique was used as theresearch technique. The working group consists of 105 students (36 female, 69 male). The participants are studentwho study at Istanbul University Faculty of Sports Science in the academic year of 2017-2018. All of the studentshave been working at an organization/ a workplace for at least 6 months. As the data collection tool, two scales wereutilized with the personal information form prepared by the researchers. Organizational Cynicism Scale and RevengeScale were used. The percentage (%), frequency, skewness, kurtosis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation analysiswere used. As a result there is a positive relationship between the level of organizational cynicism and intention ofrevenge. It was revealed that gender and type of employment variables did not make a significant difference inorganizational cynicism and sub-dimensions and will for revenge. However, significant differences have beenidentified in favor of the participants with a low salary in the behavioral sub-dimension of organizational cynicism.On the other hand, the scores of organizational cynicism and will for revenge of the participants are moderate andeven low.
Exploring the Teaching of Communicative Grammar in EFL Classes in Benin to Promote Language Use in CBA Context
Authors: Bancolé-Minaflinou Estelle
Published: December 2018

This paper sets out to investigate how communicative grammar can effectively be used in EFL classes in Benin topromote real language practice. To collect data, instruments such as questionnaires, interview and class observationwere used. The sample of the study consists of twenty purposively chosen secondary EFL teachers (ten of them teachtraditional grammar and ten, communicative grammar) and twenty six students ranging from beginners to advancedlevel. The data were analyzed using the SPSS tools, the goal of which is to verify the effectiveness of this approachover the traditional one.The findings of the investigation have revealed the following: (i) not many teachers teach communicative grammarin Benin and those who claim they teach it still have a hazy idea of what it is supposed to be; (ii) communicativegrammar teaching is what is needed to make EFL learning a rewarding experience for students’ effective use of thelanguage; (iii) both approaches are not mutually exclusive for they can become perfect complements.The study concluded with some strategies for implementation illustrated by some suggested activities that candevelop students’ communicative strategies and interactional skills.
Strategic Information Systems Enabling Strategy-as-Practice and Corporate Performance: Empirical Evidence from PLS-PM, FIMIX-PLS and fsQCA
Authors: Yoshikuni Adilson Carlos , Lucas Edimilson Costa , Albertin Alberto Luiz
Published: December 2018

Many studies have been investigating how IS (information systems) can help build a corporate performance, but there are less research investigating how IS contributing to performance by mediating business strategy in uncertain environments. To address this question, the present study seeks to empirically explore the relationship between strategic information systems and corporate performance by mediating business strategy. Partial Least Squares-Path Modeling (PLS-PM) confirmed SIS's strong influence on strategy, and full strategy mediation on the relationship between SIS and performance. SIS showed greater performance contribution in high heterogeneity environments than in lower ones, and small and medium-sized firms have 50% more contribution of the effects of strategy on performance than large firms. The post-hoc-analysis study did not identify the presence of heterogeneity segmentation not observed by Finite Mixture (FIMIX-PLS). Through fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), non-linear causality was verified in the strategy in certain solutions by the variables of large firms, with intensive use of SIS and high environmental heterogeneity. Moreover, the study demonstrated that SIS’s strategic alignment has strong effects and explanation power on performance and may suggest that it is an indissociable resource for the strategy-as-practice effectiveness. Hence, the study contributed to understanding how SIS create value to strategy-as-practice approach under environmental turbulence to impact corporate performance.
Factive vs. Ideological Knowledge in Political Discourse
Authors: Zheni Thouraya
Published: December 2018

Since political discourse portrays politicians’ knowledge state and their ideological assumptions, a critical analysis of Clinton’s speeches may unveil her perceptual and conceptual worlds. More specifically, CDA may uncover Clinton’s mental representations about the Tunisian Revolution and the US attitude towards such an important political event in North Africa and the Middle East. Studying factive presupposition and epistemic modality seems to be an effective pragmatic tool to reveal what is presented as factual or ideological knowledge in political discourse. The research instrument used to sort out the frequency distribution of lexical features, mainly factive and emotive verbs, factive noun phrases, mental state verbs and epistemic modal adjectives and adverbs, is the latest version of “AntConc” software. To uncover the epistemic state of Hillary Clinton, van Dijk’s (1995a) approach is implemented to analyze her speeches between January 2011 and December 2012. At the discourse level, research findings reveal that factive presupposition unveils the speaker’s strong personal commitment to the truth value of her propositions. At the cognitive level, results show that the speaker’s personal and social ideologies and knowledge are demystified by the cognitive mechanisms that govern discourse production and understanding via Idealized Cognitive Models (ICMs), cognitive frames and mental models. This study bridges the gap caused by the lack of research on factive vs. ideological knowledge in political discourse from a socio-cognitive perspective.
Morphophonemic Variation in CaC-Initial Verb Structures in Kuwaiti Arabic
Authors: Taqi Hanan A.
Published: December 2018

This study aims to investigate the linguistic and social factors influencing the realisation of the initial Modern Arabic verb form CaC-in Kuwaiti Arabic (KA). While very few studies have examined the sociolinguistic variation of the initial verb form CaC-in KA, this variable has been found to be produced in the speech of two Kuwaiti communities from different ethnic backgrounds, namely Najdi (from Saudi Arabia originally) and Ajami (from Iran originally). The aim is to analyse the realisation of CaC-forms as a reflection of ethnicity, age and gender in KA. Data were collected from 48 male and female Kuwaiti speakers from two ethnicities (Najdi and Ajami), three age groups (chosen according to relevant milestones in the history of Kuwait). Two main techniques were implemented to collect data in this study, namely spontaneous and controlled data. The investigation showed that there were significant differences in the realisation of the initial verb form CaC-in the two ethnicities and across age and gender. The study also showed that the CaC-form had less prestige than did the CiC-form, which is mostly found in the Najdi variety.
The Music and Memory Project: Understanding Music and Dementia through Applied Ethnomusicology and Experiential Filmmaking
Authors: Gubner Jennie
Published: December 2018

“Music lifts my spirits, I'm not the same guy leaving as when I come to begin with. It's kind of a floating feeling, I feel good, I feel drunk with fun!”

- Daryl, participant of the Music and Memory Project

“Music is like medicine… No, music is better than medicine!”

- Martha, participant of the Music and Memory Project

In Spring 2017, I designed and taught a filmmaking and service-learning course in the Indiana University (IU) Bloomington Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology called “Music and Memory: Studying Music & Alzheimer's Through Film.” This ongoing project is set in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and adult day programmes for individuals with age-related neurocognitive disorder, commonly referred to as dementia. In the course, undergraduate students learn to make personalized iPod music playlists for older adults living with Alzheimer's and other related dementias, and to document their experiences through short films intended for online public circulation; At a time when dementia has been flagged as one of the fastest growing global health priorities, applied ethnomusicology courses about music and aging provide dynamic interdisciplinary spaces where college students can gain knowledge, experience, and skills to creatively address these challenges in their families, communities, and careers.
A Final Accounting
Authors: Erwin Edward
Published: December 2018

More than a century has passed since Sigmund Freud began his groundbreaking work in psychoanalysis yet there is no consensus about his legacy; instead there is persistent disagreement not only about Freud's reputation and place in history but about the proper standards to use in evaluating his theory and therapy.

This book develops epistemological standards for Freudian psychology and provides a comprehensive evaluation of, and possibly final, verdict on Freud's theory and therapy. Unlike any other evaluation published to date, it contains a systematic discussion of both the Freudian experimental and non-experimental evidence and the proper standards for interpreting the evidence.

Part I considers the view that Freud's theory should be judged by special evidential standards deemed appropriate for judging hypotheses of commonsense psychology. Edward Erwin argues against this view and for the employment of standards applicable to causal hypotheses of both the natural and social sciences. Erwin also addresses other issues about standards such as the need for experimental evidence, the use of placebo controls, the proper goals of psychotherapy, and the use of meta-analysis in analyzing outcome data.

The standards developed in part I of the book are used in part II in evaluating the best available Freudian evidence.

Bradford Books imprint
The Primacy of the Subjective
Authors: Georgalis Nicholas
Published: December 2018

A proposal that the concept of minimal content—a narrow, first-person, non-phenomenal concept—plays a necessary, pivotal, foundational, and unifying role in the philosophy of mind and the philosophy of language.

In this highly original monograph, Nicholas Georgalis proposes that the concept of minimal content is fundamental both to the philosophy of mind and to the philosophy of language. He argues that to understand mind and language requires minimal content—a narrow, first-person, non-phenomenal concept that represents the subject of an agent's intentional state as the agent conceives it. Orthodox third-person objective methodology must be supplemented with first-person subjective methodology. Georgalis demonstrates limitations of a strictly third-person methodology in the study of mind and language and argues that these deficiencies can be corrected only by the incorporation of a first-person methodology. Nevertheless, this expanded methodology makes possible an objective understanding of the subjective.

Georgalis argues against the conflation of consciousness and subjectivity with phenomenal experience. Consequently, and contrary to common belief, he argues that consciousness without phenomenality is as strongly implicated in intentionality as it is in phenomenal states. He proposes a broader understanding of the "hard problem" of consciousness, arguing that there is an "explanatory gap problem" for both phenomenal and intentional states. His theory provides a framework that renders the vexing relations between mental and brain states comprehensible. Georgalis also argues for novel explanations of the phenomenal and of representation—explanations that follow from the core concept of minimal content. Treating the topics of meaning and reference, he introduces a first-person concept of intended reference derivative from minimal content that resolves various problems in the philosophy of language.

Eschewing ontology, Georgalis proposes his theory as a means to make sense of, analyze, and relate issues in the philosophies of mind and language. The concept of minimal content, he argues, plays a necessary, pivotal, unifying, and foundational role in advancing our understanding of these issues.

Bradford Books imprint
War Games
Authors: von Hilgers Philipp
Published: December 2018

The convergence of military strategy and mathematics in war games, from medieval to modern times.

For centuries, both mathematical and military thinkers have used game-like scenarios to test their visions of mastering a complex world through symbolic operations. By the end of World War I, mathematical and military discourse in Germany simultaneously discovered the game as a productive concept. Mathematics and military strategy converged in World War II when mathematicians designed fields of operation. In this book, Philipp von Hilgers examines the theory and practice of war games through history, from the medieval game boards, captured on parchment, to the paper map exercises of the Third Reich. Von Hilgers considers how and why war games came to exist: why mathematical and military thinkers created simulations of one of the most unpredictable human activities on earth.

Von Hilgers begins with the medieval rythmomachia, or Battle of Numbers, then reconstructs the ideas about war and games in the baroque period. He investigates the role of George Leopold von Reiswitz's tactical war game in nineteenth-century Prussia and describes the artifact itself: a game board–topped table with drawers for game implements. He explains Clausewitz's emphasis on the “fog of war” and the accompanying element of incalculability, examines the contributions of such thinkers as Clausewitz, Leibniz, Wittgenstein, and von Neumann, and investigates the war games of the German military between the two World Wars. Baudrillard declared this to be the age of simulacra; war games stand contrariwise as simulations that have not been subsumed in absolute virtuality.
The Connectives
Authors: Humberstone Lloyd
Published: December 2018

A comprehensive investigation of the sentence connectives—and, or, if, not—with special attention to their logical properties.

In The Connectives, Lloyd Humberstone examines the semantics and pragmatics of natural language sentence connectives (and, or, if, not), giving special attention to their formal behavior according to proposed logical systems and the degree to which such treatments capture their intuitive meanings. It will be an essential resource for philosophers, mathematicians, computer scientists, linguists, or any scholar who finds connectives, and the conceptual issues surrounding them, to be a source of interest.

This landmark work offers both general material on sentence connectives in formal logic, such as truth-functionality and unique characterization by rules, and information on specific connectives (including conjunction and disjunction), considering their pragmatic and semantic properties in natural language as well as various attempts to simulate the latter in the formal languages of different systems of propositional logic. Chapters are divided into sections, and each section ends with notes and references for material covered in that section. If a section covers numerous topics separately, the notes and references are divided into parts, each with its own topic-indicating heading. When topics are not covered in detail but are relevant to matters under discussion, the notes and references provide pointers to the literature. Readers may find it useful to browse through a topic of interest and then follow the references within it forward and backward on the topic in question, or those to the extensive literature outside it.
How Games Move Us
Authors: Isbister Katherine
Published: December 2018

An engaging examination of how video game design can create strong, positive emotional experiences for players, with examples from popular, indie, and art games.

This is a renaissance moment for video games—in the variety of genres they represent, and the range of emotional territory they cover. But how do games create emotion? In How Games Move Us, Katherine Isbister takes the reader on a timely and novel exploration of the design techniques that evoke strong emotions for players. She counters arguments that games are creating a generation of isolated, emotionally numb, antisocial loners. Games, Isbister shows us, can actually play a powerful role in creating empathy and other strong, positive emotional experiences; they reveal these qualities over time, through the act of playing. She offers a nuanced, systematic examination of exactly how games can influence emotion and social connection, with examples—drawn from popular, indie, and art games—that unpack the gamer's experience.

Isbister describes choice and flow, two qualities that distinguish games from other media, and explains how game developers build upon these qualities using avatars, non-player characters, and character customization, in both solo and social play. She shows how designers use physical movement to enhance players' emotional experience, and examines long-distance networked play. She illustrates the use of these design methods with examples that range from Sony's Little Big Planet to the much-praised indie game Journey to art games like Brenda Romero's Train.

Isbister's analysis shows us a new way to think about games, helping us appreciate them as an innovative and powerful medium for doing what film, literature, and other creative media do: helping us to understand ourselves and what it means to be human.
Interaction of merozoite surface protein 2 with lipid membranes
Authors: Lu Chenghui , Zheng Xue , Zhang Wei , Zhao Hongxin , MacRaild Christopher A. , Norton Raymond S. , Zhuang Yonglong , Wang Junfeng , Zhang Xuecheng
Published: December 2018

Merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2) is a potential vaccine candidate against malaria, although its functional role is yet to be elucidated. Previous studies showed that MSP2 can interact with membranes, which may facilitate merozoite invasion into the host cell. The N‐terminal 25 residues of MSP2 (MSP21–25), which may be aggregated on the merozoite surface, play a key role in the interaction with membranes. Here, we investigated the effects of MSP21–25–membrane interactions on the conformation and aggregation of MSP21–25 and on membrane integrity, using nanodiscs and small unilamellar vesicles as mimetics of cell membranes. MSP21–25–membrane interactions induced the peptide to form β‐structure and to aggregate, depending on the lipid composition of the membrane. Nonfibrillar aggregates in turn disrupted the membrane.

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Inert Gas Atomization of High‐Nitrogen TRIP‐Steels
Authors: Korobeinikov Iurii , Perminov Anton , Heller Hans‐Peter , Volkova Olena
Published: December 2018

High nitrogen steels with transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) effect have been recently developed within the framework of the project CRC799. These steels are utilized in a form of powder for the needs of this project. Therefore, the current study focuses on the powder production of high nitrogen steels via inert gas atomization process. Specifically, the role of nitrogen content in determination of the basic powder properties and its behavior on the atomization process are investigated. Additionally, the effects of several other process parameters, such as temperature of the melt and gas to metal ratio are discussed. Thereby, the effect of nitrogen content on the median particle size is not confirmed. Meanwhile, an increase in the spraying temperature and a rise in gas to metal ratio lead to a slight decrease in the median particle size. Nitrogen content in the powder is technologically controlled by the atmosphere above the melt before the spraying process. At last, nitrogen shows a significant impact on the phase composition of powder, by stabilizing the austenite phase. The results thus obtained are of high interest for the future application of the designed steels in the powder form.
High Cycle Fatigue Behaviors at High Temperatures of a Ti2AlNb‐Based Alloy
Authors: Zheng Youping , Zeng Weidong , Li Dong , Xu Jianwei , Ma Xiong , Liang Xiaobo , Zhang Jianwei
Published: December 2018

High cycle fatigue (HCF) behaviors of the bimodal size lamellar O phase microstructures of Ti–22Al–25Nb alloy are studied at the potential service temperatures. The axially‐tensile‐compressing HCF strength limits of this alloy are measured to be 470 MPa at 650 °C and 400 MPa at 700 °C via the small sampling up‐and‐down method (SSUDM). The ratio of the maximum stress and the minimum stress (R = σmax/σmin) is −1 while the run out fatigue life is 107 cycles. It is found that transformation B2 → β + O occurs in the mode of cellular precipitations at initial B2 grain boundaries during the HCF tests. The transformation results in inhomogeneous regions in the microstructure. In those transformed regions, the acicular O phases are clearly coarser than in the normal regions. The HCF micro cracks preferentially initiate in the inhomogeneous regions along the slip lines in β phase or at the O/β boundaries perpendicular to the slip lines. The cleavage fracture characteristic of the bimodal size lamellar O phase microstructure of this Ti2AlNb‐based alloy has significant effect on the HCF crack propagation. Flat fracture surface will form on cleavage planes in B2 grains. Moreover, different directions of cleavage planes in different B2 grains will deflect the straight HCF crack at B2 grain boundaries. It is the B2 matrix rather than the lamellar O phase in the bimodal size lamellar O phase microstructure that provides the crack‐tip shielding effect. B2 grain boundaries are also beneficial to increase the inhibition of HCF crack propagation.
Reduced Defects of MAPbI3 Thin Films Treated by FAI for High‐Performance Planar Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Zou Yuqin , Wang Hao‐Yi , Qin Yujun , Mu Cheng , Li Qi , Xu Dongsheng , Zhang Jian‐Ping
Published: December 2018

Organolead trihalide perovskite films with a large grain size and excellent surface morphology are favored to good‐performance solar cells. However, interstitial and antisite defects related trap‐states are originated unavoidably on the surfaces of the perovskite films prepared by the solution deposition procedures. The development of post‐growth treatment of defective films is an attractive method to reduce the defects to form good‐quality perovskite layers. Herein, a post‐treatment tactic is developed to optimize the perovskite crystallization by treating the surface of the one‐step deposited CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) using formamidinium iodide (FAI). Charge carrier kinetics investigated via time‐resolved photoluminescent, open‐circuit photovoltage decay, and time‐resolved charge extraction indicate that FAI post‐treatment will boost the perovskite crystalline quality, and further result in the reduction of the defects or trap‐states in the perovskite films. The photovoltaic devices by FAI treatment show much improved performance in comparison to the controlled solar cell. As a result, a champion solar cell with the best power conversion efficiency of 20.25% is obtained due to a noticeable improvement in fill factor. This finding exhibits a simple procedure to passivate the perovskite layer via regulating the crystallization and decreasing defect density.
Multifunctional and Water‐Resistant MXene‐Decorated Polyester Textiles with Outstanding Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Joule Heating Performances
Authors: Wang Qi‐Wei , Zhang Hao‐Bin , Liu Ji , Zhao Sai , Xie Xi , Liu Liuxin , Yang Rui , Koratkar Nikhil , Yu Zhong‐Zhen
Published: December 2018

Although multifunctional, flexible, and wearable textiles with integrated smart electronics have attracted tremendous attention in recent years, it is still an issue to balance new functionalities with the inherent performances of the textile substrates. 2D early transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) are considered as ideal nanosheets for fabricating multifunctional and flexible textiles on the basis of their superb intrinsic electrical conductivity, tunable surface chemistry, and layered structure. Herein, highly conductive and hydrophobic textiles with exceptional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency and excellent Joule heating performance are fabricated by depositing in situ polymerized polypyrrole (PPy) modified MXene sheets onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) textiles followed by a silicone coating. The resultant multifunctional textile exhibits high electrical conductivity of ≈1000 S m−1in conjunction with an exceptional EMI shielding efficiency of ≈90 dB at a thickness of 1.3 mm. The thin silicone coating renders the hydrophilic PPy/MXene‐decorated textile hydrophobic, leading to an excellent water‐resistant feature while retaining a satisfactory air permeability of the textile. Interestingly, the multifunctional textile also exhibits an excellent moderate voltage‐driven Joule heating performance. Thus, the deposition of PPy‐modified MXene followed by silicone coating creates a multifunctional textile that holds great promise for wearable intelligent garments, EMI shielding, and personal heating applications.
Recent Advances in Metallic Glass Nanostructures: Synthesis Strategies and Electrocatalytic Applications
Authors: Li Jinyang , Doubek Gustavo , McMillon‐Brown Lyndsey , Taylor André D.
Published: December 2018

Recent advances in metallic glass nanostructures (MGNs) are reported, covering a wide array of synthesis strategies, computational discovery, and design solutions that provide insight into distinct electrocatalytic applications. A brief introduction to the development and unique features of MGNs with an overview of top‐down and bottom‐up synthesis strategies is presented. Specifically, the morphology and structural analysis of several examples applying MGNs as electrodes are highlighted. Subsequently, a comprehensive discussion of commonly employed kinetic parameters and their connection with the unique material structures of MGNs on individual electrocatalytic reactions is made, including the hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, and alcohol (methanol or ethanol) oxidation reaction. Finally, a summary of the challenges and perspective on the future research and development relevant to MGNs as electrocatalysts is provided.
A Full‐Spectrum Metal‐Free Porphyrin Supramolecular Photocatalyst for Dual Functions of Highly Efficient Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Zhang Zijian , Zhu Yongfa , Chen Xianjie , Zhang Hanjie , Wang Jun
Published: December 2018

A full‐spectrum (300–700 nm) responsive porphyrin supramolecular photocatalyst with a theoretical solar spectrum efficiency of 44.4% is successfully constructed. For the first time, hydrogen and oxygen evolution (40.8 and 36.1 µmol g−1 h−1) is demonstrated by a porphyrin photocatalyst without the addition of any cocatalysts. The strong oxidizing performance also presents an efficient photodegradation activity that is more than ten times higher than that of g‐C3N4 for the photodegradation of phenol. The high photocatalytic reduction and oxidation activity arises from a strong built‐in electric field due to molecular dipoles of electron‐trapping groups and the nanocrystalline structure of the supramolecular photocatalyst. The appropriate band structure of the supramolecular photocatalyst adjusted via the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels of the porphyrin gives rise to thermodynamic driving potential for H2 and O2 evolution under visible light irradiation. Controlling the energy band structure of photocatalysts via the ordered assembly of structure‐designed organic molecules could provide a novel approach for the design of organic photocatalysts in energy and environmental applications.
Exceptional Performance of Hierarchical Ni–Fe (hydr)oxide@NiCu Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting
Authors: Zhou Yongfang , Wang Zixu , Pan Ziyan , Liu Le , Xi Jingyu , Luo Xuanli , Shen Yi
Published: December 2018

Developing low‐cost bifunctional electrocatalysts with superior activity for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is of great importance for the widespread application of the water splitting technique. In this work, using earth‐abundant transition metals (i.e., nickel, iron, and copper), 3D hierarchical nanoarchitectures, consisting of ultrathin Ni–Fe layered‐double‐hydroxide (Ni–Fe LDH) nanosheets or porous Ni–Fe oxides (NiFeOx) assembled to a metallic NiCu alloy, are delicately constructed. In alkaline solution, the as‐prepared Ni–Fe LDH@NiCu possesses outstanding OER activity, achieving a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of 218 mV, which is smaller than that of RuO2 catalyst (249 mV). In contrast, the resulting NiFeOx@NiCu exhibits better HER activity, yielding a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of 66 mV, which is slightly higher than that of Pt catalyst (53 mV) but superior to all other transition metal (hydr)oxide‐based electrocatalysts. The remarkable activity of the Ni–Fe LDH@NiCu and NiFeOx@NiCu is further demonstrated by a 1.5 V solar‐panel‐powered electrolyzer, resulting in current densities of 10 and 50 mA cm−2 at overpotentials of 293 and 506 mV, respectively. Such performance renders the as‐prepared materials as the best bifunctional electrocatalysts so far.
Assembling 2D MXenes into Highly Stable Pseudocapacitive Electrodes with High Power and Energy Densities
Authors: VahidMohammadi Armin , Mojtabavi Mehrnaz , Caffrey Nuala Mai , Wanunu Meni , Beidaghi Majid
Published: December 2018

Electrochemical capacitors (ECs) that store charge based on the pseudocapacitive mechanism combine high energy densities with high power densities and rate capabilities. 2D transition metal carbides (MXenes) have been recently introduced as high‐rate pseudocapacitive materials with ultrahigh areal and volumetric capacitances. So far, 20 different MXene compositions have been synthesized and many more are theoretically predicted. However, since most MXenes are chemically unstable in their 2D forms, to date only one MXene composition, Ti3C2Tx, has shown stable pseudocapacitive charge storage. Here, a cation‐driven assembly process is demonstrated to fabricate highly stable and flexible multilayered films of V2CTx and Ti2CTx MXenes from their chemically unstable delaminated single‐layer flakes. The electrochemical performance of electrodes fabricated using assembled V2CTx flakes surpasses Ti3C2Tx in various aqueous electrolytes. These electrodes show specific capacitances as high as 1315 F cm−3 and retain ≈77% of their initial capacitance after one million charge/discharge cycles, an unprecedented performance for pseudocapacitive materials. This work opens a new venue for future development of high‐performance supercapacitor electrodes using a variety of 2D materials as building blocks.
Attaching Photochemically Active Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complex Units to Amorphous Hydrogenated Carbon (a‐C:H) Layers
Authors: Schink Carina , Catena Alberto , Heintz Katharina , Görls Helmar , Beresko Christian , Ankerhold Georg , von der Au Marcus , Meermann Björn , Van Malderen Stijn J. M. , Vanhaecke Frank , Wehner Stefan , Imhof Wolfgang , Fischer Christian B.
Published: December 2018

Amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a‐C:H) films are applied 500 nm thick on Si(100) via plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) using ethyne. Present plasma conditions enrich the sp2‐content especially toward the outermost a‐C:H layers, which in turn are used to attach a photoactive Ru‐polypyridyl complex to the surface. An azo‐bridged dinuclear Ru‐polypyridyl complex is optimized in synthesis and the final mononuclear fragment attached on a‐C:H photochemically under UV‐irradiation with concomitant N2 release. The Ru‐polypyridyl complex is characterized by MS, NMR, IR, UV/vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and time‐dependent density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Crystallographic data for the intermediate 4‐nitro‐2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)pyridine 1‐oxide as essential precursor are established. Morphological characteristics of the a‐C:H @ Si and final Ru(complex) @ a‐C:H @ Si combinations are determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealing individual grain‐like structures. The presence of Ru on the a‐C:H @ Si surface is initially verified qualitatively by laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and by inductively coupled plasma‐sector field mass spectrometry (ICP‐SF‐MS) after chemical digestion. With laser ablation‐ICP‐MS mapping, full Ru coverage is proven, also revealing inhomogeneities in terms of “Ru hot spots”. The current investigation proves the successful attachment of a Ru‐complex on a‐C:H and indicates a starting point for the development of further material combinations for feasible sunlight to energy conversions.
Synthesis of Enantiopure γ‐Lactones via a RuPHOX‐Ru Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of γ‐Keto Acids
Authors: Li Jing , Ma Yujie , Lu Yufei , Liu Yangang , Liu Delong , Zhang Wanbin
Published: December 2018

A RuPHOX−Ru catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of γ‐keto acids has been developed, affording the corresponding enantiopure γ‐lactones in high yields and with up to 97% ee. The reaction could be performed on a gram scale with a relatively low catalyst loading (up to 10000 S/C) under the indicated reaction conditions and the resulting products can be transformed to several enantiopure building blocks, biologically active compounds and enantiopure drugs.

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Dichloromethane as C1 Building Block: Synthesis of 2,4‐Disubstitued 1,3,5‐Triazines via Copper‐Catalyzed Aerobic C−H/C−Cl Cleavage
Authors: Yan Yizhe , Cui Chang , Wang Jianyong , Li Shaoqing , Liu Yanqi
Published: December 2018

A copper‐catalyzed aerobic oxidative annulation of amidines with dichloromethane was first demonstrated. Using this novel approach, 16 examples of symmetrical 2,4‐disubstitued 1,3,5‐triazines and 7 examples of unsymmetrical ones were obtained with up to 82% yields. Moreover, a D‐labeling experiment proved that dichloromethane was employed as the C1 building block and solvent. A primary kinetic isotope effect revealed that the C−H cleavage of dichloromethane might be a rate‐determining step. This protocol provides a novel strategy for the synthesis of heterocycles.

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Partially Reduced Holey Graphene Oxide as High Performance Anode for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhao Jin , Zhang Yi‐Zhou , Zhang Fan , Liang Hanfeng , Ming Fangwang , Alshareef Husam N. , Gao Zhiqiang
Published: December 2018

The current Na+ storage performance of carbon‐based materials is still hindered by the sluggish Na+ ion transfer kinetics and low capacity. Graphene and its derivatives have been widely investigated as electrode materials in energy storage and conversion systems. However, as anode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs), the severe π–π restacking of graphene sheets usually results in compact structure with a small interlayer distance and a long ion transfer distance, thus leading to low capacity and poor rate capability. Herein, partially reduced holey graphene oxide is prepared by simple H2O2 treatment and subsequent low temperature reduction of graphene oxide, leading to large interlayer distance (0.434 nm), fast ion transport, and larger Na+ storage space. The partially remaining oxygenous groups can also contribute to the capacity by redox reaction. As anode material for SIBs, the optimized electrode delivers high reversible capacity, high rate capability (365 and 131 mAh g−1 at 0.1 and 10 A g−1, respectively), and good cycling performance (163 mAh g−1 after 3000 cycles at a current density of 2 A g−1), which is among the best reported performances for carbon‐based SIB anodes.
p‐Wave Superfluid Phases of Fermi Molecules in a Bilayer Lattice Array
Authors: Domínguez‐Castro Gustavo Alexis , Paredes Rosario
Published: December 2018

The superfluid phases in an ultracold gas of dipolar Fermi molecules lying in two parallel square lattices in 2D are investigated. As shown by a two‐body study, dipole moments oriented in opposite directions in each layer are the key ingredients in our mean‐field analysis from which unconventional superfluidity is predicted. The phase diagram summarizes our findings: stable and metastable superfluid phases appear as a function of both, the dipole–dipole interaction coupling parameter and filling factor. A first‐order phase transition, and thus a mixture of superfluid phases at different densities, is revealed from the coexistence curves in the metastable region. The model predicts that these superfluid phases can be observed experimentally at 10 nK in molecules of NaK confined in optical lattices of size  nm. Other routes to reach higher temperatures require the use of subwavelength confinement technique.
NOON State Generation with Phonons in Acoustic Wave Resonators Assisted by a Nitrogen‐Vacancy‐Center Ensemble
Authors: Li Jiu‐Ming , Hua Ming , Yan Xue‐Qun
Published: December 2018

Since the quality factor of an acoustic wave resonator (AWR) reached 1011, AWRs have been regarded as a good carrier of quantum information. In this paper, a scheme to construct a NOON state with two AWRs assisted by a nitrogen‐vacancy‐center ensemble (NVE) is proposed. The two AWRs cross each other vertically, and the NVE is located at the center of the crossing. By considering the decoherence of the system and using resonant interactions between the AWRs and the NVE, and the single‐qubit operation of the NVE, a NOON state can be achieved with a fidelity higher than 98.8% when the number of phonons in the AWR is .
Access to Metastable Gel States Using Seeded Self‐Assembly of Low‐Molecular‐Weight Gelators
Authors: Wang Yiming , de Kruijff Robin M. , Lovrak Matija , Guo Xuhong , Eelkema Rienk , van Esch Jan H.
Published: December 2018

Here we report on how metastable supramolecular gels can be formed through seeded self‐assembly of multicomponent gelators. Hydrazone‐based gelators decorated with non‐ionic and anionic groups are formed in situ from hydrazide and aldehyde building blocks, and lead through multiple self‐sorting processes to the formation of heterogeneous gels approaching thermodynamic equilibrium. Interestingly, the addition of seeds composing of oligomers of gelators bypasses the self‐sorting processes and accelerates the self‐assembly along a kinetically favored pathway, resulting in homogeneous gels of which the network morphologies and gel stiffness are markedly different from the thermodynamically more stable gel products. Importantly, over time, these metastable homogeneous gel networks are capable of converting into the thermodynamically more stable state. This seeding‐driven formation of out‐of‐equilibrium supramolecular structures is expected to serve as a simple approach towards functional materials with pathway‐dependent properties.
Ferroelectrically Switching Helical Columnar Assembly Comprising Cisoid Conformers of a 1,2,3‐Triazole‐based Liquid Crystal
Authors: Nguyen Manh Linh , Byun Jaeduk , Kim Suwoong , Hyun June Won , Hur Kahyun , Shin Tae Joo , Cho Byoung‐Ki
Published: December 2018

The 1,2,3‐triazole molecule, which is a product of click chemistry, possesses a high dipole moment and can be a useful polar motif for ferroelectric columnar liquid crystal (LC) materials—though it has not been used to date. Herein, we report the helical assembly and ferroelectric switching properties of a columnar liquid crystal comprising a naphthalene core and 1,2,3‐triazolyl linkages. The molecule assembles into a double‐stranded helical columnar LC structure (Colhel). The X‐ray simulations of cisoid and transoid columnar models suggest that the helical assembly comprises cisoid conformers with a non‐zero dipole moment. The helical columns in the Colhel phase are aligned homeotropically under an electric field. The ferroelectric switching of the axial polarization can be observed in the temperature range of 105–115 °C in the Colhel phase, wherein the triazolyl hydrogen bonding along the column axis is weakened. The ferroelectric switching event is attributed to the rotation of the polar triazolyl units in response to the electric field.
A Facile Route to Nonlinear Optical Materials: Three‐Site Aliovalent Substitution Involving One Cation and Two Anions
Authors: Chen Jin , Hu Chun‐Li , Mao Fei‐Fei , Feng Jiang‐He , Mao Jiang‐Gao
Published: December 2018

Two mixed‐metal gallium iodate fluorides, namely, α‐ and β‐Ba2[GaF4(IO3)2](IO3) (1 and 2), have been designed by the aliovalent substitutions of α‐ and β‐Ba2[VO2F2(IO3)2](IO3) (3 and 4) involving one cationic and two anionic sites. Both 1 and 2 display large second‐harmonic generation responses (≈6×KH2PO4 (KDP)), large energy band gaps (4.61 and 4.35 eV), wide transmittance ranges (≈0.27–12.5 μm), and high relevant laser‐induced damage thresholds (29.7× and 28.3×AgGaS2, respectively), which indicates that 1 and 2 are potential second‐order nonlinear optical materials in the ultraviolet to mid‐infrared. Our studies propose that three‐site aliovalent substitution is a facile route for the discovery of good NLO materials.
Effect of Two‐Dimensional Crystal Orbitals on Fermi Surfaces and Electron Transport in Three‐Dimensional Perovskite Oxides
Authors: Dylla Maxwell Thomas , Kang Stephen Dongmin , Snyder G. Jeffrey
Published: December 2018

Perovskite oxides are candidate materials in catalysis, fuel cells, thermoelectrics, and electronics, where electronic transport is vital to their use. While the fundamental transport properties of these materials have been heavily studied, there are still key features that are not well understood, including the temperature‐squared behavior of their resistivities. Standard transport models fail to account for this atypical property because Fermi surfaces of many perovskite oxides are low‐dimensional and distinct from traditional semiconductors. In this work, the low‐dimensional Fermi surfaces of perovskite oxides are chemically interpreted in terms of two‐dimensional crystal orbitals that form the conduction bands. Using SrTiO3 as a case study, the d/p‐hybridization that creates these low‐dimensional electronic structures is reviewed and connected to its fundamentally different electronic properties. A low‐dimensional band model explains several experimental transport properties, including the temperature and carrier‐density dependence of the effective mass, the carrier‐density dependence of scattering, and the temperature dependence of resistivity. This work highlights how chemical bonding influences semiconductor transport.
CT/MRI‐Guided Synergistic Radiotherapy and X‐ray Inducible Photodynamic Therapy Using Tb‐Doped Gd‐W‐Nanoscintillators
Authors: Yu Xujiang , Liu Xinyi , Wu Weijie , Yang Kai , Mao Rihua , Ahmad Farooq , Chen Xiaoyuan , Li Wanwan
Published: December 2018

The use of X‐rays instead of UV/Vis light to trigger photodynamic therapy, named X‐ray inducible photodynamic therapy, holds tremendous promise due to a high penetration capacity in tissues and is worthy of in‐depth study. In this study, a novel multifunctional nanoagent based on Merocyanine 540‐coupled Gd2(WO4)3:Tb nanoscintillators and the vitalization of its abilities for dual‐modal computed tomography and the magnetic‐resonance‐imaging‐guided synergistic radio‐/X‐ray inducible photodynamic therapy of tumors is reported. Synergistic therapies show a higher tumor growth inhibition efficiency at a lower X‐ray dose than radiotherapy alone. Through this proof‐of‐concept work, a way to tactfully understand and utilize nanoscintillators for cancer theranostics is shown.
RNA interference‐mediated knockdown of eye coloration genes in the western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus Knight)
Authors: Brent Colin S. , Hull J. Joe
Published: December 2018

Insect eye coloration arises from the accumulation of various pigments. A number of genes that function in the biosynthesis (vermilion, cinnabar, and cardinal) and importation (karmoisin, white, scarlet, and brown) of these pigments, and their precursors, have been identified in diverse species and used as markers for transgenesis and gene editing. To examine their suitability as visible markers in Lygus hesperus Knight (western tarnished plant bug), transcriptomic data were screened for sequences exhibiting homology with the Drosophila melanogaster proteins. Complete open reading frames encoding putative homologs for all seven genes were identified. Bioinformatic‐based sequence and phylogenetic analyses supported initial annotations as eye coloration genes. Consistent with their proposed role, each of the genes was expressed in adult heads as well as throughout nymphal and adult development. Adult eyes of those injected with double‐stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) for karmoisin, vermilion, cinnabar, cardinal, and scarlet were characterized by a red band along the medial margin extending from the rostral terminus to the antenna. In contrast, eyes of insects injected with dsRNAs for both white and brown were a uniform light brown. White knockdown also produced cuticular and behavioral defects. Based on its expression profile and robust visible phenotype, cardinal would likely prove to be the most suitable marker for developing gene editing methods in Lygus species.
Rational design and characterization of bioplastics from Hermetia illucens prepupae proteins
Authors: Barbi Silvia , Messori Massimo , Manfredini Tiziano , Pini Martina , Montorsi Monia
Published: December 2018

In this study proteins extracted from prepupae of Hermetia illucens, also known as black soldier fly, are investigated as promising base for a new type of bioplastics for agricultural purposes. Design of experiments techniques are employed to perform a rational study on the effects of different combination of glycerol as plasticizer, citric acid as cross‐linking agent and distilled water as solvent on the capability of proteins to form a free‐standing film through casting technique, keeping as fixed the quantity of proteins. Glycerol shows interesting properties as plasticizer contributing to the formation of homogenous and free‐standing film. Moreover, mechanical and thermal characterizations are performed to estimate the effect of increasing amounts of proteins on the final properties and thickness of the specimens. Proteins derived from H. illucens can be successfully employed as base for bioplastics to be employed for agricultural purposes.