bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct-Writable and Thermally One-Step Curable “Water-Stained” Epoxy Composite Inks
Authors: Kim Suyeon , Yang Jeewon , Kim Jieun , Ryu Seoung Young , Cho Hanbin , Kim Yern Seung , Lee Joohyung
Published: October 2022

In this study, a simple method for preparing direct-writable and thermally one-step curable epoxy composite inks was proposed. Specifically, colloidal inks containing a mixture of ordinary epoxy resin and anhydride-type hardener with the suspended alumina microplates, as exemplary fillers, are “stained” with small amounts of water. This increases the elasticity of the ink via the interparticle capillary attraction and promotes curing of the epoxy matrix in low-temperature ranges, causing the three-dimensional (3D) printed ink to avoid structural disruption during one-step thermal curing without the tedious pre-curing step. The proposed mechanisms for the shape retention of thermally cured water-stained inks were discussed with thorough analyses using shear rheometry, DSC, FTIR, and SEM. Results of the computer-vision numerical analysis of the SEM images reveal that the particles in water-stained inks are oriented more in the vertical direction than those in water-free samples, corroborating the proposed mechanisms. The suggested concept is extremely simple and does not require any additional cost to the one required for the preparation of the common epoxy–filler composites, which is thus expected to be well-exploited in various applications where 3D printing of epoxy-based formulations is necessary.
Stress Relaxation Behavior of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)/Graphene Composites: Ultraviolet Irradiation
Authors: Ju Yu-Cheng , Chiang Donyau , Tsai Ming-Yen , Ouyang Hao , Lee Sanboh
Published: October 2022

The graphene/poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites are a promising candidate for electronic, optoelectrical, and environmental applications. Understanding the mechanical degradation of PMMA-based materials is of practical importance in improving the reliability and lifespan of the associated structures and systems. In this study, we investigate the effects of functionalized graphene (FG) and UV irradiation on the stress–relaxation of PMMA. Uniaxial tensile and stress –relaxation tests are performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of the composites. The mechanical strength and elongation at the break increase with the graphene concentration but decrease with the increase of the irradiation dose. Raman spectroscopy and intrinsic viscosity measurement are applied to examine the root cause of the degradation in the composites. UV irradiation leads to polymer chain scission and loss of molecular weight. The Kelvin representation of the standard linear solid model (SLSM) is used to describe the stress–relaxation curves of the composites. The value of the elastic modulus in the Kelvin element decreases with the increase in temperature. The viscosity follows the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy of viscosity increases with the increasing FGs concentration because the FGs hinder the chain motion of PMMA. However, UV irradiation makes chain scission of PMMA/FGs composite so that the polymer chain moves more easily and the activation energy of stress relaxation lowers. The steady-state stress follows the van ’t Hoff equation that stress relaxation is an exothermal deformation process. Although Maxwell’s representation of SLSM is mathematically identical to the Kelvin representation of SLSM, the former cannot interpret the stress–relaxation behavior of PMMA/FGs composite, which is against the concept of Young’s modulus as a decreasing temperature function.
Encapsulation of Bioactive Compounds for Food and Agricultural Applications
Authors: Zabot Giovani Leone , Schaefer Rodrigues Fabiele , Polano Ody Lissara , Vinícius Tres Marcus , Herrera Esteban , Palacin Heidy , Córdova-Ramos Javier S. , Best Ivan , Olivera-Montenegro Luis
Published: October 2022

This review presents an updated scenario of findings and evolutions of encapsulation of bioactive compounds for food and agricultural applications. Many polymers have been reported as encapsulated agents, such as sodium alginate, gum Arabic, chitosan, cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose, pectin, Shellac, xanthan gum, zein, pullulan, maltodextrin, whey protein, galactomannan, modified starch, polycaprolactone, and sodium caseinate. The main encapsulation methods investigated in the study include both physical and chemical ones, such as freeze-drying, spray-drying, extrusion, coacervation, complexation, and supercritical anti-solvent drying. Consequently, in the food area, bioactive peptides, vitamins, essential oils, caffeine, plant extracts, fatty acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, and terpenes are the main compounds encapsulated. In the agricultural area, essential oils, lipids, phytotoxins, medicines, vaccines, hemoglobin, and microbial metabolites are the main compounds encapsulated. Most scientific investigations have one or more objectives, such as to improve the stability of formulated systems, increase the release time, retain and protect active properties, reduce lipid oxidation, maintain organoleptic properties, and present bioactivities even in extreme thermal, radiation, and pH conditions. Considering the increasing worldwide interest for biomolecules in modern and sustainable agriculture, encapsulation can be efficient for the formulation of biofungicides, biopesticides, bioherbicides, and biofertilizers. With this review, it is inferred that the current scenario indicates evolutions in the production methods by increasing the scales and the techno-economic feasibilities. The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for most of the encapsulation methods is going beyond TRL 6, in which the knowledge gathered allows for having a functional prototype or a representative model of the encapsulation technologies presented in this review.
Design Strategies for and Stability of mRNA–Lipid Nanoparticle COVID-19 Vaccines
Authors: Liu Ting , Tian Yang , Zheng Aiping , Cui Chunying
Published: October 2022

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have shown great preventive potential in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The lipid nanoparticle (LNP), as a non-viral vector with good safety and potency factors, is applied to mRNA delivery in the clinic. Among the recently FDA-approved SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines, lipid-based nanoparticles have been shown to be well-suited to antigen presentation and enhanced immune stimulation to elicit potent humoral and cellular immune responses. However, a design strategy for optimal mRNA-LNP vaccines has not been fully elaborated. In this review, we comprehensively and systematically discuss the research strategies for mRNA-LNP vaccines against COVID-19, including antigen and lipid carrier selection, vaccine preparation, quality control, and stability. Meanwhile, we also discuss the potential development directions for mRNA–LNP vaccines in the future. We also conduct an in-depth review of those technologies and scientific insights in regard to the mRNA-LNP field.
Fabrication Mechanisms of Lignin Nanoparticles and Their Ultraviolet Protection Ability in PVA Composite Film
Authors: Zhang Jiawei , Tian Zhongjian , Ji Xingxiang , Zhang Fengshan
Published: October 2022

Lignin is an indispensable and essential compound present in plants. It is a renewable resource and a green alternative to traditional petroleum energy. The rational utilization of lignin can reduce the environmental damage caused by traditional industrial development. The preparation of lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) using the self-assembly method is one of the most favorable ways to achieve high value-added utilization of lignin. However, the process requires an in-depth understanding of the sphere-forming mechanism of lignin self-assembly and the interaction of self-assembly forces. We used the same raw materials and two different preparation methods to prepare LNPs. The results revealed that the variation in the order of the dropwise addition of lignin solution and deionized water produced LNPs with varying average sizes. The sphere-forming mechanisms of the two kinds of lignin nanoparticles were discussed for the preparation of UV-resistant polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymeric films. During lignin spherification, the faster the solution reaches the supersaturation state, the faster the spherogenesis rate is, the smaller the size is, and the narrower the particle size distribution is. The lignin micro/nanospheres are produced by exploiting the π–π bonding interactions in lignin itself. The lignin micro/nanospheres are then mixed with PVA to form a film to obtain a lignin–PVA composite film material with an anti-UV effect.
PMMA-Grafted Calcium Sulfate Whiskers for Applications as Fillers in PVC
Authors: Li Qingbiao , Liu Hao , Nie Chenchen , Xie Guiming , Che Zhaomei , Zhu Dehui , Guo Lei , Xiang Yuan , Shi Wei
Published: October 2022

Calcium sulfate whiskers (CSWs) were hydroxylated with a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution and isolated for subsequent treatment with an ethanolic 3-(methacryloxy)propyltrimethoxysilane (KH570) solution to introduce C=C double bonds on the CSWs’ surfaces. Then, CSW-g-PMMA was prepared by grafting polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) onto the surface of modified CSW using in situ dispersion polymerization. The CSW-g-PMMA was used as a filler and melt-blended with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to prepare PVC-based composites. The surface chemical structure, PMMA grafting rate, and hydrophobic properties of CSW-g-PMMA were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and water contact angle measurements, respectively. The effects of the CSW-g-PMMA filler on the mechanical properties of the CSW-PMMA/PVC composites were also investigated. The results showed that NaOH treatment significantly increased the number of hydroxyl groups on the surface of the CSWs, which facilitated the introduction of KH570. PMMA was successfully grafted onto the KH570 with a grafting rate of 14.48% onto the surface of the CSWs. The CSW-g-PMMA had good interfacial compatibility and adhesion properties with the PVC matrix. The tensile, flexural, and impact strengths of the CSW-g-PMMA/PVC composite reached 39.28 MPa, 45.69 MPa, and 7.05 kJ/m2, respectively, which were 38.55%, 30.99%, and 20.10% higher than those of the CSW/PVC composite and 54.52%, 40.80%, and 32.52% higher than those of pure PVC, respectively. This work provides a new method for surface modification of inorganic fillers, resource utilization, and high value-added application of CSWs from phosphogypsum.
Development of New Bio-Composite of PEO/Silk Fibroin Blends Loaded with Piezoelectric Material
Authors: Fouad Hassan , Khalil Khalil Abdelrazek , Alshammari Basheer A. , Abdal-hay Abdalla , Abd El-salam Nasser M.
Published: October 2022

New bio-composite nanofibers composed of polyethylene oxide (PEO)/silk fibroin (SF)/barium titanate (BaTiO3) are introduced in this study. The SF solution was added to the PEO solution to form a PEO/SF blend with different weight percentages (5, 10, 15, 20 wt.%). The PEO/15 wt.% SF blend was selected to continue the experimental plan based on the optimum nanofiber morphology. Different wt.% of BaTiO3 particles (0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1 wt.%) were added to the PEO/15 wt.% SF blend solution, and the suspensions obtained were introduced to an electrospinning device. The fabricated tissue was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The zeta potential of the solution and the piezoelectric performance of the fabricated tissue were characterized. A newly designed pizoTester was used to investigate piezoelectric properties. The results showed that a well-organized, smooth PEO/15 wt.% SF/0.2 wt.% BaTiO3 nanofiber composite with low bead contents was obtained. Improved properties and electrical coupling were achieved in the newly introduced material. Electrospun PEO/15 wt.% SF/0.2 wt.% BaTiO3 mats increased the output voltage (1150 mV) compared to pristine PEO and PEO/SF composite fibers (410 and 290 mV, respectively) upon applying 20 N force at 5 Hz frequency. The observed enhancement in piezoelectric properties suggests that the prepared composite could be a promising material in cardiac tissue engineering (CTE).
Comparative Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Sustainable Epoxy Polymer Networks Derived from Linseed Oil
Authors: Necolau Madalina Ioana , Damian Celina Maria , Olaret Elena , Iovu Horia , Balanuca Brindusa
Published: October 2022

Considering its great industrial potential, epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) was crosslinked with different agents, both natural and synthetic: citric acid (CA, in the presence of water—W, or tetrahydrofuran—THF, as activator molecules) and Jeffamine D230, respectively, resulting bio-based polymeric matrices, studied further, comparatively, in terms of their properties, through different methods. Thermal curing parameters were established by means of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Fourier transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and DSC were used to identify the reactivity of each ELO-based formulation, discussing the influence of the employed curing systems under the conversion of the epoxy rings. Then, the obtained bio-based materials were characterized by different methods, establishing the structure–properties relation. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed higher thermal stability for the ELO_CA material when THF was used as an activator. Moreover, a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) with ~12 °C was registered for this material when compared with the one that resulted through the crosslinking of ELO with D230 conventional amine. Other important features, such as crosslink density, storage modulus, mechanical features, and water affinity, were discussed. Under the loop of a comprehensive approach, a set of remarkable properties were obtained for ELO_CA_THF material when compared with the one resulting from the crosslinking of ELO with the synthetic Jeffamine.
Poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)–Laponite XLG Nanocomposite Hydrogels: Characterization, Properties and Comparison with Divinyl Monomer-Crosslinked Hydrogels
Authors: Podaru Ionela Alice , Stănescu Paul O. , Ginghină Raluca , Stoleriu Ştefania , Trică Bogdan , Şomoghi Raluca , Teodorescu Mircea
Published: October 2022

The present work investigates, for the first time, the synthesis and properties of some nanocomposite (NC) hydrogels obtained by the aqueous solution free radical polymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) in the presence of Laponite XLG (XLG) as a crosslinker, in comparison with the corresponding hydrogels prepared by using two conventional crosslinking divinyl monomers: N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) and tri(ethylene glycol) divinyl ether (DVE). The structure and properties of the hydrogels were studied by FTIR, TEM, XRD, SEM, swelling and rheological and compressive mechanical measurements. The results showed that DVE and XLG are much better crosslinking agents for the synthesis of PNVP hydrogels than MBA, leading to larger gel fractions and more homogeneous network hydrogels. The hydrogels crosslinked by either DVE or XLG displayed comparable viscoelastic and compressive mechanical properties under the experimental conditions employed. The properties of the XLG-crosslinked hydrogels steadily improved as the clay content increased. The addition of XLG as a second crosslinker together with a divinyl monomer strongly enhanced the material properties in comparison with the hydrogels crosslinked by only one of the crosslinkers involved. The FTIR analyses suggested that the crosslinking of the NC hydrogels was the result of two different interactions occurring between the clay platelets and the PNVP chains. Laponite XLG displayed a uniform distribution within the NC hydrogels, the clay being mostly exfoliated. However, a small number of platelet agglomerations were still present. The PNVP hydrogels described here may find applications for water purification and in the biomedical field as drug delivery systems or wound dressings.
Preparation and Characterization of Wood Scrimber Based on Eucalyptus Veneers Complexed with Ferrous Ions
Authors: Liu Shiqin , Lin Qiuqin , Yu Yanglun , Yu Wenji
Published: October 2022

Wood-based products manufactured from fast-growing wood species such as eucalyptus have gained increasing attraction with the demand of using wood in architecture, furniture, and decoration. In this paper, a new type of wood scrimber based on eucalyptus veneers complexed with ferrous ions was prepared and its properties were characterized. The results showed that the presence of complexes did not affect the mechanical properties of eucalyptus wood scrimber, but made its surface more hydrophobic (contact angle increased by 38.48% and dimensional stability improved (thickness swelling rate decreased by 32.26%). Most importantly, the color of eucalyptus wood scrimber changed significantly, from the original brown to dark blue, and its anti-photoaging property also greatly improved. These advantages would make this type of wood scrimber based on the eucalyptus veneer complexes with ferrous ions more widely applicable in decorations and buildings.
Silicon-Based Scaffold for Wound Healing Skin Regeneration Applications: A Concise Review
Authors: Zulkiflee Izzat , Masri Syafira , Zawani Mazlan , Salleh Atiqah , Amirrah Ibrahim Nor , Wee Mohd Farhanulhakim Mohd Razip , Yusop Salma Mohamad , Fauzi Mh Busra
Published: October 2022

Silicon has made its breakthrough in various industries, including clinical and biomedical applications. Silicon-based biomaterials that were fabricated into various types of scaffolds may attract interest due to their highly favorable properties covering their excellent biocompatibility, high surface area, mechanical strength, and selectivity depending on their application including film, hydrogel, nanoparticles, and so on. Silicon-based materials have also shown exciting results involving cell culture, cell growth, as well as tissue engineering. In this article, a simple review compromising the evaluation of silicon’s unique properties has been discussed and followed by the application of the silicone-based product in future perspectives in biomedical fields. The review goals are to widen and inspire broader interest in silicone-based materials in wound healing research.
Infill Strategy in 3D Printed PLA Carbon Composites: Effect on Tensile Performance
Authors: Guessasma Sofiane , Belhabib Sofiane
Published: October 2022

Tuning the infill pattern is one of the key features in additive manufacturing to optimise part weight. In this work, the effect of the infill strategy, including rate and pattern type, is studied on the mechanical performance of polylactic acid (PLA)-carbon composite. In particular, three types of patterns and four filling levels are combined. These combinations are evaluated by tensile loading applied on dogbone specimens. In addition, the underlined deformation mechanisms are further explored using filament-based finite element model. The numerical simulation is built from sliced models and converted into 3D meshes to predict tensile performance. The results show that the infill rate has a nonlinear effect on the density of PLA–carbon composites, and its magnitude depends on the complexity of the generated pattern. In addition, tensile loading is found to activate varied modes of shearing and uniaxial deformations depending on the pattern type. This leads to different profiles and rankings of the tensile performance and allows the infill strategy to significantly affect the part performance, along with its density.
Experimental, Analytical, and Numerical Assessments for the Controversial Elastic Stiffness Enhancement of CFRP-Strengthened Timber Beams
Authors: Saad Khaled , Lengyel András
Published: October 2022

The strengthening of timber beams with carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRP) has been widely used in the last decades to enhance the behaviour of historical or new timber structures, usually for bending. While considerable improvement in capacity and ductility is typically achieved, the increase in stiffness was, in many cases, well short of analytical expectations, which tend to overestimate stiffness. This study addresses the problem by investigating the underlying mechanical behaviour using experimental, analytical, and numerical tools on a sample of Norway spruce (Picea abies) beams reinforced with carbon-fibre fabric. In the experimental program, each beam is tested for bending with and without CFRP reinforcement in order to determine specimen-specific stiffness increase on an individual basis. The reinforcement yielded an increase of 27% in capacity, 53% in ultimate displacement, and 133% in compliance, verifying its efficiency. Axial compression tests on an independent sample are also performed to verify modulus of elasticity in compression. Numerical computations based on a beam model and a three-dimensional finite element model are performed with the introduction of separate moduli of elasticity for tension and compression in timber. Inverse computation using the experimental load–deflection curves yielded the moduli and the compression yield stress of timber to provide the best match between tests and simulations. The mean difference of only 6% in stiffness between FEM and the tests is obtained. The dominance of normal stresses in the longitudinal direction is found, in correspondence with the experimentally observed tensile failure of timber (apart from a few defected specimens). Compression yield stresses are within 7% (beam model) and 2% (FEM) error compared with the control axial tests. The differences between FE simulations and tests in ultimate load and compliance are within 1%. This study concludes that the application of CFRP in the composite beams enables the determination of timber material properties opposed to pure timber beams without reinforcement, and the adoption of separate moduli of elasticity for tension and compression leads to adequate modelling of reinforced timber beams.
Film-Forming Polymers for Tooth Erosion Prevention
Authors: Augusto Marina Gullo , Scaramucci Tais , Campos Tiago Moreira Bastos , Aoki Idalina Vieira , Schlueter Nadine , Borges Alessandra Bühler
Published: October 2022

Different agents have been proposed to prevent the progression of acid induced dental substance losses, which are called erosive tooth wear (ETW), such as fluorides, calcium, and phosphate-based products; however, there is a need for a further increase in efficacy. Recently, the ability of polymers to interact with the tooth surface, forming acid resistant films, has come into the focus of research; nevertheless, there is still the need for a better understanding of their mode of action. Thus, this article provides an overview of the chemical structure of polymers, their mode of action, as well as the effect of their incorporation into oral care products, acid beverages, and antacid formulations, targeting the prevention of ETW. Recent evidence indicates that this may be a promising approach, however, additional studies are needed to confirm their efficacy under more relevant clinical conditions that consider salivary parameters such as flow rate, composition, and clearance. The standardization of methodological procedures such as acid challenge, treatment duration, and combination with fluorides is necessary to allow further comparisons between studies. In conclusion, film-forming polymers may be a promising cost-effective approach to prevent and control erosive demineralization of the dental hard tissue.
Biosynthesis and Properties of a P(3HB-co-3HV-co-4HV) Produced by Cupriavidus necator B-10646
Authors: Zhila Natalia O. , Sapozhnikova Kristina Yu. , Kiselev Evgeniy G. , Nemtsev Ivan V. , Lukyanenko Anna V. , Shishatskaya Ekaterina I. , Volova Tatiana G.
Published: October 2022

Synthesis of P(3HB-co-3HV-co-4HV) copolymers by the wild-type strain Cupriavidus necator B-10646 on fructose or sodium butyrate as the main C-substrate with the addition of γ-valerolactone as a precursor of 3HV and 4HV monomers was studied. Bacterial cells were cultivated in the modes that enabled production of a series of copolymers with molar fractions of 3HV (from 7.3 to 23.4 mol.%) and 4HV (from 1.9 to 4.7 mol.%) with bacterial biomass concentration (8.2 ± 0.2 g/L) and PHA content (80 ± 2%). Using HPLC, DTA, DSC, X-Ray, SEM, and AFM, the physicochemical properties of copolymers and films prepared from them have been investigated as dependent on proportions of monomers. Copolymers are characterized by a reduced degree of crystallinity (Cx 38–49%) molecular weight characteristics Mn (45–87 kDa), and Mw (201–248 kDa) compared with P(3HB). The properties of the films surface of various composition including the porosity and surface roughness were studied. Most of the samples showed a decrease in the average pore area and an increase in their number with a total increase in 3HV and 4HV monomers. The results allow scaling up the productive synthesis of P(3HB-co-3HV-co-4HV) copolymers using Cupriavidus necator B-10646.
Facile Fabrication of Flexible Polymeric Membranes with Micro and Nano Apertures over Large Areas
Authors: Li Kebin , Hernández-Castro Javier Alejandro , Morton Keith , Veres Teodor
Published: October 2022

Freestanding, flexible and open through-hole polymeric micro- and nanostructured membranes were successfully fabricated over large areas (>16 cm2) via solvent removal of sacrificial scaffolds filled with polymer resin by spontaneous capillary flow. Most of the polymeric membranes were obtained through a rapid UV curing processes via cationic or free radical UV polymerisation. Free standing microstructured membranes were fabricated across a range of curable polymer materials, including: EBECRYL3708 (radical UV polymerisation), CUVR1534 (cationic UV polymerisation) UV lacquer, fluorinated perfluoropolyether urethane methacrylate UV resin (MD700), optical adhesive UV resin with high refractive index (NOA84) and medical adhesive UV resin (1161-M). The present method was also extended to make a thermal set polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes. The pore sizes for the as-fabricated membranes ranged from 100 µm down to 200 nm and membrane thickness could be varied from 100 µm down to 10 µm. Aspect ratios as high as 16.7 were achieved for the 100 µm thick membranes for pore diameters of approximately 6 µm. Wide-area and uniform, open through-hole 30 µm thick membranes with 15 µm pore size were fabricated over 44 × 44 mm2 areas. As an application example, arrays of Au nanodots and Pd nanodots, as small as 130 nm, were deposited on Si substrates using a nanoaperture polymer through-hole membrane as a stencil.
In-Situ Oxidative Polymerization of Pyrrole Composited with Cellulose Nanocrystal by Reactive Ink-Jet Printing on Fiber Substrates
Authors: Li Xu , Cao Meijuan , Li Shasha , Li Luhai , Yang Yintang , Liu Ruping , Sun Zhicheng , Mo Lixin , Xin Zhiqing , Chen Yinjie , Li Yaling , Fang Yi , Qi Yuansheng
Published: October 2022

A simple and novel method for the deposition of polypyrrole (PPy) and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) composites on different fiber substrates by reactive ink-jet printing was proposed. PPy/CNCs composites were successfully prepared, and the surface resistance of conductive layer deposited on different fiber substrates is the least when the monomer concentration is 0.6 M. PPy/CNCs were deposited on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to form a conductive layer by adding polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and the optimum sintering temperature is 100 °C (monomer/PVA ratio 4.0, conductivity 0.769 S cm−1). The PPy/CNCs conductive layer deposited on the paper has the lowest surface resistance and the best adhesion, and the surface resistance of PPy/CNCs conductive layer decreases first and then increases with the increase of sulfonate concentration. Moreover, the volume of anion in sulfonate will affect the arrangement and aggregation of PPy molecular chain in composite materials. Appropriate sulfonate doping can improve the conductivity and stability of conductive paper, and the maximum conductivity is 0.813 S cm−1. Three devices based on PPy/CNCs conductive paper were proposed and fabricated. Therefore, this ink-jet printing provides a new method for the preparation of conductive materials, sensors, energy storage and electromagnetic shielding, etc.
Study of Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Wellbeing of Staff Working in a Forensic Mental Health Service
Authors: Baker Heather , Gill Sikander Singh , Aboaja Anne , Kole Swapan , Perry Amanda E.
Published: October 2022

This study explored the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health and wellbeing and trust support of Tees Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS forensic staff using an online google survey during the second wave of the pandemic. Survey respondents were a voluntary cross-sectional sample of 246 TEWV staff working in the forensic directorate staff; this included males (n = 60, 24.5%); with the majority of staff aged between 36–50 years (n = 99, 40.2%) and 50 years or older (n = 80, 32.5%). The results showed that staff working at home and on the front line were both affected by depression, stress and anxiety. Those most at risk were younger staff members. We concluded that the mental health and well-being of staff working should be a priority. It is important to consider targeted support that should be aimed at younger staff members to provide an open culture enabling for those who want support to have readily available signposted resources. Staff working in different settings may have experienced a different impact of COVID-19 on their mental health and wellbeing, and whilst some interventions might be successfully applied across the service, it would be beneficial to understand the unique needs of staff working in specific settings.
Cognitive Subjective Well-Being during the Second Lockdown in Portugal: The Predictive Role of Sociodemographic and Psychopathological Dimensions
Authors: Peixoto Maria Manuela , Sousa Mariana , Cruz Sara , Cunha Olga
Published: October 2022

The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being has been widely described. However, studies on how country-specific characteristics influenced the impacts of the pandemic experience on cognitive subjective well-being are still needed. This study examined the predictive role of sociodemographic characteristics and psychopathological dimensions on cognitive subjective well-being during the second lockdown period in Portugal. An online sample of 332 adults completed a series of self-report instruments between April and July 2021, covering the period from 15 January to 15 March 2021. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that being married or living in a civil union, not having/or living with children, not living with/or caring for an elderly person, and not being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 were significant and positive predictors of higher cognitive subjective well-being. In contrast, a non-heterosexual sexual orientation; isolation due to COVID-19; and higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, along with repetitive negative thinking, were significant predictors of negative cognitive subjective well-being during the second lockdown in Portugal. The importance of developing promotional, preventive, and remedial interventions focused on specific country and individual characteristics for poor cognitive subjective well-being for promoting mental health and well-being during this critical period and similar future crisis events is discussed.
Geelong Cyber Cats: Evaluation of an Intervention to Prevent Cyberbullying Behaviours
Authors: Klettke Bianca , Clancy Elizabeth Mary , Howard Dominika , Gregory Keith
Published: October 2022

Cyberbullying behaviours can result in serious adverse mental health outcomes. We report evaluation findings from the Geelong Cyber Cats, a one-day community-based cyberbullying prevention intervention targeting Year 7 adolescents. The longitudinal, mixed-methods evaluation involved students completing surveys at baseline (N = 309), intervention completion (N = 316), and 3-month follow-up (N = 154). Controls (N = 58) who had not attended the intervention completed follow-up surveys. We measured behaviours, attitudes, and intentions regarding cyberbullying, and mental health. Positive attitudes towards cyberbullying significantly reduced from baseline to post intervention, with some rebound at follow-up. There was a significant reduction in experiences of cyberbullying victimisation, perpetration, and witnessing for participants at follow-up. Mental health improved from baseline to follow-up although not significantly. Confidence in responding to cyberbullying significantly improved post-intervention, with a loss of some gains at follow-up but remaining improvement compared to baseline. There were significant increases in post- intervention intentions, including being kind, careful and safe, and disengagement from problematic applications or social media platforms. Participants were positive about the intervention impact on understanding cyberbullying, and increased motivation and confidence to respond. Content about responding to cyberbullying, and helping others, was perceived the most helpful. The intervention demonstrates benefits to cyberbullying attitudes, behaviours and mental health.
How Nurses Perceived Their Work-Environments and Its Related Nursing Management Perspectives during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Investigatory Study
Authors: Vitale Elsa
Published: October 2022

Human resource management could be defined as the set of policies which, if properly designed and developed, contribute to improving the performance of employers. The present study aimed to investigate how nurses directly involved in the care of COVID-19 patients perceived their working activities and environments during the pandemic and if there were any associations between their perceptions’ levels and sampling characteristics. An observational, multicenter, cross- sectional study was carried out from October 2021 to February 2022. Socio-demographic characteristics and a total of 10 items were collected in order to assess nurses’ perceptions on their working activities and environments during the pandemic. A total of 126 nurses were recruited in this study. Of these, 35 (27.8%) were males and 91 (72.2%) were females. The most part of participants (62.7%) aged between 20–30 years and were employed during their first decade of work experience (69.8%), were employed only during the morning (46%) and attended the basic nursing course (82.5%). Most of participants considered their nursing activities as very hard, in both the age and work experience groups. Additionally, further associations were reported between nurses who were employed during the three shifts par day, as they considered their activities very hard; however, data were higher in one/shift group than in the three-shift group, too. Younger nurses reported higher emotional levels in their nursing activities than their older collogues (11–20 years and 21–30 years), while the oldest group recorded higher levels of emotional involvement than the younger groups (11–20 years and 21–30 years), respectively. Finally, all groups of work experience nurses considered the nursing activities very hard. The perceived organization work environment was not favorable, explaining potential opportunities for intervention by also improving nurses’ well-being, particularly during this very hard period of the pandemic. Therefore, nursing leaders might influence the orientation and development of collaborators by involving them with respect to the choices and challenges of the administration, rather than traditional managers who interpreted their role through complicated command procedures and control.
Political Violence and Instrumental Use of Religion in the Works of Carl Schmitt and Walter Benjamin
Authors: Witkowski Maciej
Published: October 2022

Walter Benjamin and Carl Schmitt were active in the interwar period, a very difficult time in the history of Germany. The issues of violence, war, and the role of religion in public affairs were of vast importance for both men. I want to show that, in relation to the issues of religion and political theology, both favored instrumentalizing religious concepts in the name of their own political ideas. Schmitt used Catholicism to establish the so-called concrete order, and Benjamin used Judaism to promote Marxist and anarchist ideas of liberation. That means they were more interested in earthly affairs than in having mystical religious experiences or exploring metaphysical concepts of God and the afterworld. I believe that the instrumental use of theology and religion in the works of Schmitt and Benjamin could indicate that theology was then and is now in a big crisis.
The Spirit of the Atonement: The Role of the Holy Spirit in Christ’s Death and Resurrection
Authors: Johnson Adam , Hayashida Tessa
Published: October 2022

In this essay, we marshal resources from a range of biblical, trinitarian and soteriological commitments, set within a broadly Barthian framework, to offer a doctrinal proposal for the Spirit’s role in the triune God’s work of at-one-ment. We argue that the Spirit plays a vital role in the atoning work of the triune God, as the Spirit is the love of God directed toward the incarnate Son a two-fold manner: (1) in the mode of wrath against our sin born by Christ our representative, and (2) in its mode of blessing in the resurrected and ascended Christ, the exalted one in whom we receive the promised Holy Spirit. Seen in this light, Christ’s death and resurrection was God’s two-fold act of love in the Spirit: the two-fold means of making our representative, Jesus, a fit receptacle for the promised Holy Spirit, that in him all the peoples of the earth might be blessed through his recapitulation of Israel. Key to this thesis are two commitments: (1) seeing a changing economic relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit integral to Jesus’ recapitulation of Israel, and (2) viewing wrath as a mode of God’s love, and therefore a part of, rather than something alien to, the work of the Spirit. With these doctrinal resources in hand, we have the necessary conceptual tools to affirm that the Spirit, just as much as the Father and the Son, is the one who saves us in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Experience of Prophecy and the Metaphysics of Providence in Aquinas
Authors: Oliva Mirela
Published: October 2022

This paper discusses the active role of the prophet within divine providence, namely her understanding of the prophetic message and her use of prophecy. I focus on Aquinas’ account of prophecy and I adopt two methods: the phenomenological method that describes the experience of prophecy and the metaphysical method that starts from the divine attribute of goodness and works through the order of divine providence. In Aquinas’ view, prophecy is a personal mission that the prophet receives to fulfill God’s plan for humankind. This mission involves the prophet’s mental operations and practical engagement. I start with the metaphysics of providence and then describe the prophetic experience. Finally, I address the issue of judgment in the understanding of the prophetic message and the use of prophecy.
The Multiple Dimensions of Confucian Relational Ethics and the “Way of Being With”
Authors: Wang Zhongjiang
Published: October 2022

To reduce Confucian ethics to a “hierarchy of association” or to say that it is incapable of dealing with the problems of strangers is to only see that Confucian ethics stipulates different treatments for kin relations and the sexes. However, this fails to see the multiple different dimensions of Confucian ethics. In fact, the Confucians established universal relational ethics, rationality of social engagement, and a “way of being with” in the interpersonal relationships that are obtained between the self and others. This kind of ethics was not only effective in ancient society, but it is also effective at dealing with the problems of the modern “society of strangers”: it has a universal applicability. Beginning from two Confucian stories, and drawing on records of Confucius and his disciples in the Analects alongside supporting passages from the Mengzi and the Xunzi, this essay elucidates the notions of how self and other should treat each other, how wise people should know themselves and others, how benevolent people should love themselves and others, to argue that Confucianism possesses a universal relational ethics and a “way of being with”, and that the multiple dimensions of Confucian ethics cannot be reduced to just one.
A Christology of Religions and a Theology of Evangelism
Authors: McNabb Tyler Dalton , DeVito Michael
Published: October 2022

In this paper, informed by Vatican 2 and one of its premier modern day scholars, Gerald O’Collins, we will argue (1), that while the Christian evangelist should proclaim that Jesus is the only way to God, she should nonetheless be open to the possibility that Christ is saving those in non-Christian traditions as non-explicit or anonymous Christians, and, (2), that other serious religious traditions can be interpreted as doctrinally consistent with (or something nearby) the Nicene Christian tradition. In conclusion, these theses will lead us to argue that in the Christian’s approach to evangelism, her first step in persuading her non-Christian counterpart should be to emphasize the commonality that exists between the Christian tradition and the relevant non-Christian tradition. The evangelist then, should not see her main task as developing arguments against her interlocuter’s religious tradition (though, this has its place), but rather her focus should be on proclaiming an additional truth that her interlocuter can accept alongside many of her already held religious commitments.
Does the Analogy of an Ideal State Disprove God’s Existence? James Sterba’s Argument and a Thomistic Response
Authors: Hrmo Patrik
Published: October 2022

This paper provides an analysis of James Sterba’s argument from evil in the world and the author’s Thomistic counterargument. Many authors of contemporary analytic philosophy of religion discuss the concept of “horrendous evils”, which is a representative name for pointless evil and suffering in the world. Sterba claims that the existence of such evil is not logically compatible with the existence of the all-good theistic God. If such a God existed, according to Sterba, he would have intervened in time and prevented and not permitted horrendous evil consequences; in other words, he would have acted as an ideal state. The author of this paper argues that the analogy of an ideal state does not disprove the existence of God of theism. Furthermore, people would prefer if God was not like an ideal state. Applying the characteristics of an ideal state to a theistic God is not reasonable because it relies on anthropomorphism. Such anthropomorphism is incoherent with some basic theistic beliefs. The author of this paper applies Thomistic concepts to the problem of horrendous evils.
Vincent Ferrer’s Vision: Oral Traditions, Texts and Imagery
Authors: Calvé Mascarell Óscar
Published: October 2022

All stories vary depending on the channel through which they are presented. In the Late Middle Ages, the transmission of a single fact or event differed significantly according to the means of communication. Since at least 1408, Dominican preacher Saint Vincent Ferrer (c. 1350–1419) used to talk, in some sermons, about the vision experienced by a nameless friar who, being healed in extremis by Christ, preached the arrival of Antichrist afterward. In 1412, Ferrer wrote a letter addressed to pope Benedict XIII including the story of this ecstasy, though with some changes. In 1429, in the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta (frazione Stella, Macello, Piedmont) the earliest depiction of this legendary episode was made. Ferrer was explicitly identified for the first time as the unknown friar mentioned in his sermons from 1408. Extraordinarily, a picture of the friar’s figure appeared beside a literal copy of some passages from Ferrer’s letter to Benedict XIII, incorporated in the same frescoes. This rich documentation reveals the importance of interactions between sermons, texts and images in shaping the narrative of Vincent Ferrer’s vision and its later memory.
Folk Religion and the Idea of the Catholic Nation in Poland as an Intellectual and Pastoral Heritage of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński
Authors: Modrzejewski Arkadiusz , Potulski Jakub
Published: October 2022

In the article, we present Polish Catholicism as an example of folk religion. As a result of a complicated political history, the Catholic Church became not only the depositary of Christian faith and morality, but also the mainstay of Polish national identity, shaped during the partitions in opposition to Russian Orthodoxy and Prussian Protestantism. It was then that Polishness became a stereotypical synonym of Catholicism. The stereotype of a Pole—a Catholic was consolidated. In Poland, as a predominantly agricultural country, folk religiosity was shaped, appealing to the sphere of ideas and emotions of the rural population or of those of rural origin settled in urban centres. This form of piety was reinforced by Polish Romanticism with its folk preferences. Romanticism, although often inconsistent with Catholic dogmatics, took root in Catholic circles. Its legacy is the messianism present in the Polish collective consciousness, which is also dear to many Catholic thinkers and clergymen. Poland, tormented under partitions, plagued by numerous wars, national disasters, betrayals, and harm caused by neighbouring nations, became an allegory of Christ suffering on the cross. This suggestive image appealed to the mass imagination of Poles, and the Catholic Church became its transmitter. The contemporary face of the Catholic Church in Poland was formed in the times of so-called real socialism, when the Church and its hierarchy once again became defenders of traditional Polishness and Polish national identity, opposing atheisation and the construction of a new identity based on Soviet models. For over three decades, the leader of Polish Catholicism was Stefan Wyszyński, the Primate of Poland, who became a promoter of folk piety, including, in particular, the Marian cult. Through the massive mobilisation of Polish Catholics united by common religious practices, he successfully prevented the secularisation of Polish society that affected other communist states. That is why, forty years after his death, Wyszyński can be considered the architect of contemporary Polish Catholicism with its dominant ritual form of piety and a nationalist trait.
Design and Scaling of Exoskeleton Power Units Considering Load Cycles of Humans
Authors: Waldhof Marcel , Wochner Isabell , Stollenmaier Katrin , Parspour Nejila , Schmitt Syn
Published: October 2022

Exoskeletons are powerful tools for aiding humans with pathological conditions, in dangerous environments or in manually exhausting tasks. Typically, they are designed for specific maximum scenarios without taking into account the diversity of tasks and the individuality of the user. To address this discrepancy, a framework was developed for personalizing an exoskeleton by scaling the components, especially the electrical machine, based on different simulated human muscle forces. The main idea was to scale a numerical arm model based on body mass and height to predict different movements representing both manual labor and daily activities. The predicted torques necessary to produce these movements were then used to generate a load/performance cycle for the power unit design. Considering these torques, main operation points of this load cycle were defined and a reference power unit was scaled and optimized. Therefore, a scalability model for an electrical machine is introduced. This individual adaptation and scaling of the power unit for different users leads to a better performance and a lighter design.