Active Facets Research Articles

In Situ Photodeposition of Gold Nanoparticles with Exposed High-Activity Crystal Facets under Different Sacrificial Agents.

In situ photodeposition presents a powerful approach for integrating noble metal co-catalysts onto semiconductor surfaces. However, achieving precise control over the microstructure of the deposited co-catalyst remains a major challenge. Au nanoparticles (NPs) are deposited onto H-KCNO using HAuCl4 in the presence of various sacrificial agents in this study. Notably, the choice of sacrificial agent decisively influences the exposed crystal facets, loaded content, and particle size of the deposited Au NPs. Importantly, in situ photodeposition under an ethanol solution facilitates the exposure of the highly active (111) and (220) crystal facets of Au. The introduction of Au NPs significantly enhances photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, achieving rates of 4.93, 57.88, and 15.44 μmol/h for H-KCNO/Au-(water, ethanol, and lactic acid), respectively. The observed photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution indicates that the exposure of the highly active planes emerges as critical for significant performance enhancement. Photoelectrochemical and photoluminescence measurements suggest that the highly active (111) and (220) crystal facets effectively segregate sites for redox reactions, thereby impeding the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs.

Synergy between AI and Optical Metasurfaces: A Critical Overview of Recent Advances

The interplay between two paradigms, artificial intelligence (AI) and optical metasurfaces, nowadays appears obvious and unavoidable. AI is permeating literally all facets of human activity, from science and arts to everyday life. On the other hand, optical metasurfaces offer diverse and sophisticated multifunctionalities, many of which appeared impossible only a short time ago. The use of AI for optimization is a general approach that has become ubiquitous. However, here we are witnessing a two-way process—AI is improving metasurfaces but some metasurfaces are also improving AI. AI helps design, analyze and utilize metasurfaces, while metasurfaces ensure the creation of all-optical AI chips. This ensures positive feedback where each of the two enhances the other one: this may well be a revolution in the making. A vast number of publications already cover either the first or the second direction; only a modest number includes both. This is an attempt to make a reader-friendly critical overview of this emerging synergy. It first succinctly reviews the research trends, stressing the most recent findings. Then, it considers possible future developments and challenges. The author hopes that this broad interdisciplinary overview will be useful both to dedicated experts and a general scholarly audience.

A Novel Nanozyme to Enhance Radiotherapy Effects by Lactic Acid Scavenging, ROS Generation, and Hypoxia Mitigation.

Uveal melanoma (UM) is a leading intraocular malignancy with a high 5-year mortality rate, and radiotherapy is the primary approach for UM treatment. However, the elevated lactic acid, deficiency in ROS, and hypoxic tumor microenvironment have severely reduced the radiotherapy outcomes. Hence, this study devised a novel CoMnFe-layered double oxides (LDO) nanosheet with multienzyme activities for UM radiotherapy enhancement. On one hand, LDO nanozyme can catalyze hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the tumor microenvironment into oxygen and reactive oxygen species (ROS), significantly boosting ROS production during radiotherapy. Simultaneously, LDO efficiently scavenged lactic acid, thereby impeding the DNA and protein repair in tumor cells to synergistically enhance the effect of radiotherapy. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations decoded the transformation pathway from lactic to pyruvic acid, elucidating a previously unexplored facet of nanozyme activity. The introduction of this innovative nanomaterial paves the way for a novel, targeted, and highly effective therapeutic approach, offering new avenues for the management of UM and other cancer types.

Structure-led manifestation of photocatalytic activity in magnetically recoverable spinel CuFe2O4 nanoparticles and its application in degradation of industrial effluent dyes under solar light

An efficient removal of the photocatalysts used in the decontamination of water is crucial after its application beside its expected visible light sensitive activities. This study presents the synthesis of magnetically separable CuFe2O4 nanoparticles (CFNPs) with enhanced photoactivity under AM 1.5 G sunlight. A simple two-step process involving co-precipitation and hydrothermal treatment is employed, with subsequent annealing at temperatures from 200 °C to 1000 °C to synthesize the CFNPs. The characteristic features of the highest photoactive tetragonal phase of CFNP are confirmed by powder XRD studies with Rietveld refinement. This scheme strategically controls the growth of a highly photoactive tetragonal phase with predominant (224) facets over other less active facets in cubic CuFe2O4. Mott–Schottky analysis confirms the p-type semiconducting nature of CFNPs. A favourable direct optical band gap of 1.73 eV, as well as photoluminescence emission quenching for visible photons, show that the (224) oriented CFNPs are good photocatalysts in the visible spectrum with demonstrated organic dye degradations, including methylene blue and others. A density functional theory-based approach validates that the adsorption of such dye is thermodynamically more favourable on (224) facets of CuFe2O4 to facilitate the redox action by the excitons.

Analysis of University Students' Perspectives on Physical Activity and Mandatory Physical Education

The decline in physical activity levels during the transition from high school to college is evident, despite the known impact of youth and adolescent physical activity on later life. Observable trends reveal a decline in enthusiasm for sports activities and a notable decrease in motivation for engaging in physical activity. The college environment plays a pivotal role in shaping students' engagement with physical activity, presenting an opportunity to significantly enhance their quality of life. This study's primary objective is to analyse university students' attitudes toward physical activity and assess their satisfaction with compulsory physical education at Masaryk University, comparing results spanning nearly two decades. In adherence to contemporary research methodologies, a questionnaire survey combining standard quantitative and qualitative analysis procedures was conducted. The survey questions focused on examining various facets of physical activity, including volume, intensity, sports preferences, and attitudes toward mandatory physical education at Masaryk University in Brno. A total of 1,293 respondents (422 men and 871 women) with an average age of 20.7 years participated in the study. The findings underscore a notable inclination among almost 73% of students to welcome an extension of compulsory physical education to 2 or more semesters (currently set at 2 semesters at MU). Moreover, over 75% of students express contentment with the spectrum of mandatory sports activities offered in physical education. The study reveals a growing interest among students in individual physical activities and a burgeoning enthusiasm for unorganized sports. These outcomes furnish valuable insights into students' perceptions regarding the organization of physical and sports education activities within university settings.

Role of Technology-Enhanced Service Learning in Empowering Marginalized Communities in Malaysia

Service learning (SL) provides a fitting opportunity for students to engage with and learn from the larger community. Such engagements are fast becoming a crucial facet of student and academic activities within Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in Malaysia. (SL) enhances pedagogical learning, fosters more durable relationships which extend beyond campus walls and appropriately prepares students for life outside the campus. The integration of community engagement within the (HEIs)’s curricula fosters an educational setting which facilitates the students’ academic, personal and professional developments. (SL) is a learning pedagogy that helps students identify issues within the community, work together and address some of the diverse challenges that have been identified. Today, without a basic knowledge of Information and communication technology (ICT) or digital literacy, it is very difficult to secure employment. Marginalized communities are faced with various socio-economic and environmental barriers which prevent them from obtaining such knowledge. This, in turn further perpetuates a vicious cycle that leaves them within a constant state of powerlessness. This study sought to explore the potential of (SL) in empowering marginalized communities by providing them with basic (ICT) training. A qualitative approach was utilized involving interviews with twenty respondents from marginalized communities. The respondents currently hold jobs which require a basic knowledge of (ICT). The findings indicate that basic digital literacy is becoming increasingly crucial toward the empowerment of marginalized communities in Malaysia. However, the relevant initiatives toward this are sorely lacking. Thus, service learning has a great potential to address the current gap.

RESEARCH ON TOURIST SATISFACTION AND BEHAVIORAL INTENTION IN ECOLOGICAL HEALTH TOURISM ACTIVITIES IN BAMA, GUANGXI BASED ON STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODEL

This study endeavors to delve into the intricacies of tourist contentment and proclivities in the realm of ecological health tourism activities within Bama, Guangxi. An exploration of the intricate structural relationships is undertaken, unraveling the quintet of variables encompassing tourists' engagement in Bama's ecological health tourism - namely, the effects of activities, the experiential facet of activities, the pecuniary dimension of activities, coupled with tourist satisfaction and behavioral intent. Employing the methodological framework of constructing a structural equation model, this study leverages IBM SPSS 23.0 software to execute correlation analyses across various variables, including demographic information statistics, reliability and validity metrics. Survey research orbits around the quintet of variables. The findings illuminate that the experiential tapestry woven by tourists partaking in ecological health tourism activities exerts a conspicuously affirmative influence on both their satisfaction and behavioral intentions. Conversely, the financial investment made by tourists in ecologi cal health tourism activities manifests a counteractive impact on their satisfaction and behavioral intentions. Evidently, heightened tourist activity experiences and diminished costs conduce to the facilitation of tourists' aspirations for individualistic tourism activities, thereby enhancing travel satisfaction and behavioral intent. Nevertheless, the potency of tourists' activity effe cts on tourist satisfaction remains suboptimal. Consequently, it is proffered that the propagation of health care paradigms be fortified, coupled with the augmentation of activity experience design. Further, the optimization of cost structures and the enhancement of resource utilization efficiency are recommended, alongside ameliorating activity effects and steering behavioral intent. This comprehensive approach is anticipated to immerse tourists more profoundly into the local ethos of longevity culture, thereby fostering the robust and sustainable evolution of longevity tourism in Bama.

Bismuth-doping boosting Na+ diffusion kinetics of layered oxide cathode with radially oriented {010} active lattice facet for sodium-ion batteries.

O3-type layered oxide cathodes (NaxTMO2) for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted significant attention as one of the most promising potential candidates for practical energy storage applications. The poor Na+ diffusion kinetics is, however, one of the major obstacles to advancing large-scale practical application. Herein, we report bismuth-doped O3-NaNi0.5Mn0.5O2 (NMB) microspheres consisting of unique primary nanoplatelets with the radially oriented {010} active lattice facets. The NMB combines the advantages of the oriented and exposed electrochemical active planes for direct paths of Na+ diffusion, and the thick primary nanoplatelets for less surface parasitic reactions with the electrolyte. Consequently, the NMB cathode exhibits a long-term stability with an excellent capacity retention of 72.5% at 1C after 300 cycles and an enhanced rate capability at a 0.1C to 10C rate (1C = 240 mA g-1). Furthermore, the enhancement is elucidated by the small volume change, thin cathode-electrolyte-interphase (CEI) layer, and rapid Na+ diffusion kinetics. In particular, the radial orientation-based Bi-doping strategy is demonstrated to be effective at boosting electrochemical performance in other layered oxides (such as Bi-doped NaNi0.45Mn0.45Ti0.1O2 and NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2). The results provide a promising strategy of utilizing the advantages of the oriented active facets of primary platelets and secondary particles to develop high-rate layered oxide cathodes for SIBs.

Enhanced piezo-catalytic performance of BaTiO3 nanorods combining highly exposed active crystalline facets and superior deformation capability: Water purification and activation mechanism

Using piezoelectric materials for advanced oxidation is a green and viable means of water purification and environmental restoration. However, unmodified piezoelectric catalysts exhibited unsatisfactory catalytic performance, which had become a bottleneck for the practical application of piezoelectric catalysis. In this work, piezoelectric responsiveness and exposed active crystal surface area were rationally coordinated by synthesizing one-dimensional BaTiO3 nanorods (BTO NRs). Enhanced piezo-responsivity enables faster free charge carriers transfer, while the highly exposed area of the (001) facets provides more active sites for piezo-catalytic reactions. Consequently, BTO NRs degraded RHB (Rhodamine B) and TC (Tetracycline) with first-order rate constants of 0.018 min−1 and 0.012 min−1, respectively, 5 times higher than BaTiO3 nanoparticles. The specific active sites on the (001) crystal plane were further investigated through a combination of DFT calculations, free radical trapping experiments, and XPS analysis. Ti4+ adsorbs and activates water molecules to generate Ti3+ and •OH, in the catalytic reaction. Afterward, Ti3+ is oxidized to Ti4+ by piezo-holes (holes driven by piezoelectric potential), while •OH is desorbed and involved in the degradation of pollutants. This research not only provides an approach to modify piezoelectric catalysts with high catalytic activity but also presents new insights into the mechanism of piezoelectric catalysis from the viewpoint of the atom level.

Bi site doped Ferroelectric BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 Nanoparticles for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

AbstractThe investigation delves into the functionality exhibited by ferroelectric BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 (BFM) nanoparticles (NPs) concerning the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The electrocatalytic activity of BFM NPs undergoes a transformative shift as a consequence of mono‐, di‐, and tri‐valent cation substitution. Notably, the strategic engineering of doping at the Bi site within BFM NPs yields a remarkable outcome, namely the conspicuous reduction of the kinetic overpotential prerequisite for HER. This diminished overpotential in doped BFM NPs arises from the confluence of multifarious factors: diminished charge transfer resistance, augmented specific surface area, a discernible distribution of pore sizes ranging from narrow to broad, particles endowed with a shape boasting abundant active facets, and the integration of dopants as novel active sites on the surface. Furthermore, the presence of surface defects, oxygen vacancies, and amplified microstrain within doped BFM NPs contributes to the reduction in overpotential.

N-Acetylcysteine, N-Acetylcysteine Amide, and Thioredoxin Mimetic Peptides Regenerate Mercaptoalbumin and Exhibit Antioxidant Activity.

Albumin (HSA) is the most abundant circulating protein and plays a pivotal role in maintaining the redox state of the plasma. Three HSA proteoforms have been identified based on the redox state of cysteine 34. These proteoforms comprise of the reduced state (HSA-SH) referred to as mercaptoalbumin, non-mercaptoalbumin-1, containing a disulfide with small thiols such as cysteine (HSA-Cys), and non-mercaptoalbumin-2, representing the higher oxidized proteoform. Several clinical studies have shown a relationship between an individual's serum HSA redox status and the severity of diseases such as heart failure, diabetes mellitus, and liver disease. Furthermore, when HSA undergoes oxidation, it can worsen certain health conditions and contribute to their advancement. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of the redox compounds AD4/NACA and the thioredoxin mimetic (TXM) peptides TXM-CB3, TXM-CB13, and TXM-CB30 to regenerate HSA-SH and to enhance its redox activity. The HSA proteoforms were quantified by LC-MS, and the antioxidant activity was determined using dichlorofluorescin. Each of the compounds exhibited a significant increase in HSA-SH and a reduction in HSA-Cys levels. The increase in HSA-SH was associated with a recovery of its antioxidant activity. In this work, we unveil a novel mechanistic facet of the antioxidant activity of AD4/NACA and TXM peptides. These results suggest an additional therapeutic approach for addressing oxidative stress-related conditions.

The Role of ChatGPT in Exploring Science and Its Applications: A Case Study at the “Citizen” Program

From the citizen science perspective, this study investigates the multidimensional function that ChatGPT, an innovative language model developed by OpenAI, plays in the field. Using its capacity to generate text that is incredibly similar to that produced by humans, ChatGPT shows a great deal of promise in enabling and improving a variety of facets of collaborative scientific activities. While the paper does an excellent job of showing the potential uses, it also discusses the limitations and difficulties of implementing ChatGPT into citizen science programs.

Confining the reactions on active facet enhances the simultaneous removal of NOx and toluene by copper-titanium catalysts

Exposure of the low adsorption energy barrier facet facilitates the interaction between the catalyst support and the active species, and morphology modification was considered to be a feasible strategy to regulate the exposure of specific facet. The TiO2 support with hollow spherical shell structure (h-TiO2) was prepared using hard template method, and CuO was loaded on the inside and outside of h-TiO2 to obtain catalysts with different loading positions (Cu@h-TiO2, Cu/h-TiO2). For the efficient catalyst Cu@h-TiO2, NO conversion was above 95 % and N2 selectivity exceeded 90 % in the range of 250–275 ℃. In this catalyst, CuO was loaded on the internal low adsorption energy barrier facet of anatase TiO2 (200). In comparison to Cu/h-TiO2, and Cu@h-TiO2 exhibited more acidic site, stronger redox ability and reduced the temperature of toluene oxidation to match the temperature for NH3-SCR. Based on DFT studies, the adsorption energies of three adsorbates: toluene, NH3, and H2O on two types of anatase TiO2 crystal facets (200) and (101) were calculated, respectively. The results revealed that the adsorbates had a lower energy barrier on the (200) facet, which indicated a higher activation efficiency for the three adsorbates on this facet.

Piezoelectric Effect Promoted Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Ability of ZnIn2S4 Photoanode with Highly Exposed Active (110) Facets

AbstractIt is important to design high performance photoelectrode materials in the process of photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Herein, ZnIn2S4 nanomaterial with highly exposed active (110) facets were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. Meanwhile, piezoelectric polarization was used to induce the generation of built‐in electric field, which can suppress the compounding of photogenerated charge carriers caused by structural defects at the semiconductor surface. By controlling the crystal facet structure, ZnIn2S4 with a highly exposed active (110) facet shows a better photoelectrochemical water splitting performance under ultrasound, and its photocurrent density increases with the increase of ultrasound frequency, reaching a maximum value of 0.36 mA/cm2 at 1.23 VRHE, which is 2.8 times higher than that without ultrasound. It can be concluded that the (110) facet of ZnIn2S4 can induce a larger internal piezoelectric potential which allows rapid electron transer at the ZnIn2S4 surface, under ultrasonic conditions. And the highly exposed (110) facet also provides more reactive sites, leading to further enhanced catalytic activity. Such nanomaterial with highly exposed active facets will provide inspiration for the construction of photoelectrode systems with high photoelectrochemical water splitting efficiency.

Garret Ranking of Constraints Perceived by Silkworm Rearers in Sericulture Enterprise

The current investigation primarily delves into the challenges faced by sericulture growers in mulberry and cocoon production. Sericulture, a highly competitive and capital-intensive enterprise, is prevalent across rural and semi-urban areas in India. This industry not only contributes to household income but also generates employment opportunities for entire families, with women actively participating in various facets of sericulture activities. A multistage sampling design was employed to select districts, tehsils, villages, and sericulture growers for the study. Specifically, Beed, Parbhani, and Jalna districts were purposively chosen in the Marathwada region due to their significant sericulture production. Two tehsils from each district and four villages from each tehsil were then selected, resulting in a total of 24 villages with 240 sample respondents. The study utilized Garret's ranking technique to assess the constraints affecting the adoption of sericulture production. The study identified four key types of constraints in the examined area: economic, technical, marketing, and supply constraints. According to Garret's ranking, the primary economic constraint was the high cost of inputs, including FYM, planting material, and chemical fertilizers. In the realm of technical constraints, a lack of information about Uzi fly control emerged as the major hurdle. Marketing constraints were predominantly characterized by fluctuations in cocoon prices, ranking highest in prominence. Additionally, insufficient FYM availability was highlighted as a significant supply constraint.

Atomistic Modeling of Spinel Oxide Particle Shapes and Reshaping under OER Conditions

The surface configurations of the low-index facets of a set of spinel oxides are investigated using DFT+U calculations to derive surface energies and predict equilibrium nanoparticle shapes via the Wulff construction. Two very different conditions are investigated, corresponding to application either in heterogeneous catalysis or in electrocatalysis. First, the bare stoichiometric surfaces of NiFe2O4, CoFe2O4, NiCo2O4, and ZnCo2O4 spinels are studied to model their use as high-temperature oxidation catalysts. Second, focusing attention on the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and on the CoFe2O4 inverse spinel as the most promising OER catalyst, we generate surface configurations by adsorbing OER intermediates and, in an innovative study, we recalculate surface energies taking into account adsorption and environmental conditions, i.e., applied electrode potential and O2 pressure. We predict that under OER operating conditions, (111) facets are dominant in CoFe2O4 nanoparticle shapes, in fair agreement with microscopy measurements. Importantly, in the OER case, we predict a strong dependence of nanoparticle shape upon O2 pressure. Increasing O2 pressure increases the size of the higher-index (111) and (110) facets at the expense of the (001) more catalytically active facet, whereas the opposite occurs at low O2 pressure. These predictions should be experimentally verifiable and help define the optimal OER operative conditions.

Exposing the (002) active facet by reducing surface energy for a high-performance Na3V2(PO4)2F3 cathode

Carbon additives regulate Na3V2(PO4)2F3 crystal growth, achieving 82% exposure of the (002) active facet. The exposed (002) facet offers stable Na+-storage sites, lower diffusion barriers, and enhanced kinetics/stability.

Green marketing strategies in india

Environmental issues are escalating in severity with the rapid progression of globalization. Despite the pervasive impact of environmental challenges on all facets of human activities, only a few academic disciplines have integrated green themes into their literature. The pressing need for a holistic approach to address environmental concerns has spurred businesses to reassess and modify their behaviors. This shift is a response to the evolving societal consciousness regarding environmental issues. The proliferation of green marketing strategies is a direct consequence of the changing dynamics within the consumer market. As businesses strategically align themselves with the environmental concerns of consumers, there is a noticeable increase in the frequency with which they target environmentally conscious consumers. Green marketing, as a multifaceted approach, involves the creation and promotion of goods and services that not only cater to consumer demands for reliability, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and convenience but also ensure a minimal negative impact on the environment. This paradigm shift reflects a broader trend wherein businesses are adapting to consumer preferences and values related to sustainability and environmental responsibility. In this evolving landscape, the intertwining of business strategies with environmental consciousness underscores the crucial role of green marketing in shaping the future trajectory of commerce.

Riscos do avanço tecnológico e o processo de retroalimentação do Antropoceno em energia e agricultura

Abstract Purpose: This article aims to highlight the existence of an Anthropocene feedback process originating from the pressures of human actions on Earth, particularly the adoption of novel technologies that bring risks and negative environmental impacts in two strategic economic sectors: energy and agriculture. Originality/value: We defend the argument that each technological advance generates new associated risks, increasing the negative pressure on terrestrial ecosystems. This argument draws inspiration from the discourse on the “risk society” (Beck, 2011), which deals with the unquantified uncertainties linked to technological progress. It also aligns with the concept of the Anthropocene (Crutzen & Stoermer, 2000), which examines how human actions and organizations impact the Earth’s system. The discussions demonstrate that uncertainty remains an inherent facet of human activities, thus perpetually subjecting such actions to risk. Design/methodology/approach: We employ a theoretical essay approach to discuss evidence that underscores the challenges posed by technological advancements in the energy and agriculture sectors, notably expressing human-induced environmental impacts. Findings: By analyzing technological advances in energy and agriculture, we substantiate the existence of the Anthropocene feedback process. This analysis contradicts the notion of a favorable “good Anthropocene” (Asafu-Adjaye et al., 2015) and challenges the misconception that technological progress alone can sufficiently mitigate the repercussions of human activities on Earth.

EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP: Building a Positive Academic Culture

In the organizational context, leadership assumes a pivotal role as a foundational element in executing functions and wielding authority. Occupying positions of prominence and wielding significant authority, leaders possess the capacity to effectively oversee and guide the organization. The leader's strategic positioning is indispensable, rendering them a key ally in advancing the collective interests of the organization's various echelons, ranging from the grassroots to the uppermost tiers, with a steadfast commitment to objective-oriented pursuits. This research endeavors to scrutinize the responses, perceptions, and evaluations of lecturers regarding the leadership exhibited by heads of study programs, thereby furnishing a comprehensive and contextual comprehension of the intricacies of leadership dynamics. The study was conducted at Pamulang University, focusing on the Undergraduate Management study program within the Faculty of Economics and Business. Primary respondents comprised level one lecturers who concurrently served as developers of the study program. Employing a simple random sampling technique facilitated by the distribution of direct questionnaires, the research data underwent analysis through qualitative descriptive methods. Findings from the research reveal that the leadership style demonstrated by the head of the Undergraduate Management study program at the Faculty of Economics and Business embodies democratic characteristics. This is evidenced by the active involvement of developer lecturers in all facets of the tri dharma activities and the decision-making processes inherent to the study program.