Direct Observation Of Behavior Research Articles

Direct observation of vanadium ion permeation behavior through Nafion 117 using 48V radiotracer for all-vanadium redox flow battery

Quantitation of vanadium ion crossover through membranes provides essential information for optimizing membrane properties in all-vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) and evaluating the efficiency of VRFB cells. However, a VRFB cell composition of highly concentrated vanadium solutions on both sides of the membrane makes it difficult to directly monitor vanadium ion crossover through the membrane. In this work, the permeation behavior of VO2+ and V3+ through Nafion 117 subjected to two different pretreatments is investigated using 48V radiotracer under conditions corresponding to a conventional permeability test employing a MgSO4/sulfuric acid solution and to a fully discharged VRFB. In situ and ex situ radiotracer permeation measurements demonstrate that use of Mg2+ on the acceptor side of the membrane is valid for quantitating concentration-gradient-induced VO2+ crossover. However, V3+ permeation through the membrane in the fully discharged VRFB does not exhibit linear behavior in contrast to a conventional permeability test. Thus, substitution of Mg2+ for VO2+ does not accurately replicate V3+ permeation behavior under these conditions. Our results indicate that radiotracer permeation has considerable potential for the direct observation of vanadium ion crossover in VRFB cells.

Assessing safety performance of tire retreading production employees

Occupational health and safety are one of the important studies that must be applied in the company. This study aims to determine the index of occupational hazards on tire retreading activities in PT. Inti Vulkatama. Direct observation of work behavior is done by evaluating hazard as well as with safety performance index (SPI) approach. The instruments were used in this research are critical behavior checklist (CBC) questionnaire and analytical hierarchy process questionnaire (AHP) for each workstation in the processing department of the hot and cold process. Based on the results of SPI calculations that have been integrated between the results of questionnaires CBC and AHP obtained workstation with the value of SPI < 0,5 indicated unsafe is scrape workstation with SPI 0.498, side cut workstation with SPI 0.496, and hot process workstation with SPI 0.492.

Assessing Sidewalk and Corridor Walkability in Developing Countries

Finding a simple and less expensive method to assess and improve sidewalk and corridor conditions in developing countries is essential in order to motivate more people to walk. This study aimed to design and test a method that uses direct observations of driver behavior and street measurements to assess sidewalk and corridor walkability in developing countries. The proposed method includes different walkability indicators related to sidewalk features, crossing facilities, sidewalk facilities, and driver behavior to provide one score that represents the walkability of a sidewalk and one that represents the walkability of a corridor. The method was tested on streets from 10 neighborhoods in the city of Doha, Qatar. The results indicated that the developed method was easy to use and could efficiently measure various indicators, illustrating that it can be used to evaluate corridors with different characteristics to identify and rank areas that require improvement. The study’s findings will provide maintenance agencies, policymakers, and practitioners in developing countries with a simple, efficient, and cost-effective method to evaluate, plan, rank, and improve the walkability of sidewalks and corridors.

Direct observations of the charge behavior of a high-efficiency blue organic light-emitting diode under operating conditions using electric-field-induced doubly resonant sum-frequency-generation vibrational spectroscopy

We investigated the carrier behavior in a high-efficiency multilayer blue organic light-emitting diode (OLED) that employs the triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA) phenomenon using electric-field-induced doubly resonant sum-frequency generation (EFI-DR-SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. We observed enhancements of the EFI-DR-SFG signals—particularly the peaks at 1404, 1464, and 1601 cm−1—when we applied forward- or reverse-bias voltages to the blue OLEDs. The results of our EFI-DR-SFG analyses of the carrier behavior in an operating blue OLED showed changes in the peak intensities at 1404 and 1464 cm−1, indicating that the electrons accumulate at the electron-blocking layer/emission layer interface. Conversely, the changes in the intensities of the peaks obtained from the hole-transport materials are caused by the cancelation of the interfacial polarization charges at the hole-injection layer/hole-transport layer interface. These results demonstrate that the EFI-DR-SFG technique is a powerful and effective tool for directly investigating the carrier behavior in practical multilayer organic devices with complicated operating mechanisms.

Hypothesizing novel mating behaviours in the squaretail grouper based on direct behavioural observations

Historically unfished, high-density spawning aggregations are vanishingly uncommon. Behavioural observations from such aggregations are rare, and may be sometimes novel and unexpected. Given the weight of evidence required to document spawning aggregations, how can we best report rare and unusual behavioural variations in spawning populations? Based on two years of in-water observations of a high-density spawning aggregation of the squaretail grouper in the Lakshadweep Archipelago, we described a previously unreported male alternative reproductive tactic (ART) and an inverse size assortment with large males courting several small females that shoaled mid-water (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-017-0120-5). In critiquing our manuscript, it has been suggested that our observations, methodologies and interpretation are inadequate, flawed, and do not fit within currently accepted theory (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-018-0206-8). While offering a detailed counter of the main methodological and theoretical criticisms we question how best to document and interpret novel behaviours in poorly known systems. Reporting novelty itself can hardly be the basis of criticism. Our report relied on direct in-water observations, conducted at peak densities over two spawning years. The critique ignores this, choosing instead to focus on a supplementary video which was not the basis of our conclusions. Like other researchers working on this species, we did not directly observe mating, but report courtship as a well-established proxy used across mating systems studies. Apart from these methodological concerns, the authors suggest that there is no theoretical support for our observations. However, sexual selection theory provides well-established frameworks showing that, at very high mating densities, a variety of tactics can emerge, that often vary considerably between populations and locations. In our original paper, we use this broader theory of sexual selection together with detailed behavioural data to propose plausible evolutionary explanations that bear testing in these novel, high-density systems. We agree with the authors that novel observations should be scrutinised carefully as they can challenge our current understanding of the range of behaviours populations display and serve as a springboard for theoretical advancement. Given their rarity, these observations should be evaluated against the rigour of their documentation and the transparency of their reporting. In this context, we hope our carefully documented observations serve as a useful addition to the fascinating and complex natural history of species like the squaretail grouper.

Teamwork Among Medicine House Staff During Work Rounds: Development of a Direct Observation Tool.

Teamwork is integral to effective health care but difficult to evaluate. Few tools have been tested outside of classroom or medical simulation settings. Accordingly, we aimed to develop and pilot test an easy-to-use direct observation instrument for measuring teamwork among medical house staff. We performed direct observations of 18 inpatient medicine house staff teams at a teaching hospital using an instrument constructed from existing teamwork tools, expert panel review, and pilot testing. We examined differences across teams using the Kruskal-Wallis statistic. We examined interrater reliability with the κ statistic, domain scales using Cronbach α, and construct validity using correlation and multivariable regression analyses of quality and utilization metrics. Observers rated team performance before and after providing feedback to 12 of the 18 team leaders and assessed changes in team performance using paired two-tailed t tests. We found variation in team performance in the situation monitoring, mutual support, and communication domains. The instrument evidenced good interrater reliability among concurrent, independent observers (κ = 0.7, P < 0.001). It had satisfactory face validity based on expert panel review and the assessments of resident team leaders. Construct validity was supported by a positive correlation between team performance and the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems physician communication score (r = 0.6, P = 0.03). Providing resident physicians with information about their teams' performance was associated with improved mean performance in follow-up observations (3.6-3.8/4.0, P = 0.001). Direct observation of teamwork behaviors by medicine house staff on ward rounds is feasible and feedback may improve performance.

Formation processes for large ejecta and interactions with melt pool formation in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing

Ejecta with a size much larger than the mean particle size of feedstock powder have been observed in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing, both during post-process sieving and embedded within built components. However, their origin has not been adequately explained. Here, we test a hypothesis on the origin of large (much larger than the mass-median-diameter of feedstock powder) ejecta—that, in part, they result from stochastic, inelastic collisions of ejecta and coalescence of partially-sintered agglomerates. The hypothesis is tested using direct observation of ejecta behavior, via high-speed imaging, to identify interactions between ejecta and consequences on melt pool formation. We show that stochastic collisions occur both between particles which are nearly-simultaneously expelled from the laser interaction zone and between particles ejected from distant locations. Ejecta are also shown to perturb melt pool geometry, which is argued to be a potential cause of lack-of-fusion flaws.

A new species of Harpagobaetis Mol, with amended diagnosis of the genus,and new considerations on predatory species of Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) from South America.

A remarkable new predatory species of Baetidae was collected in a relict patch of Amazonian savanna in Brazil. The feeding habit of the nymph of this new species is very rare in mayflies. Baetidae is composed of more than 900 species, but only 12 are considered to be predators; in South America, the only species recognized as a predator is Harpagobaetis gulosus Mol 1986. The objectives of this study are to describe Harpagobaetis brigada sp. nov., based on nymphs and to amend the diagnosis of the genus. The predatory habit of the nymphs of the new species was confirmed by gut-content analysis and by direct observations of behavior. Based on similar morphological adaptations, we hypothesized that Adebrotus lugoi Salles, 2010 possesses predatory habit. Harpagobaetis brigada sp. nov. can be classified as psammophilous, inhabiting a threatened stream in a relict patch of savanna in southern Amazonia. Based on these characteristics, we recommend evaluation of this new species to identify its conservation status and to contribute to the assessment of the state of conservation of the Brazilian fauna.

An Introduction to Interaction: Understanding Talk in Formal and Informal Settings

Reviewed by Raquel Lázaro GutiérrezUniversidad de Alcalá, Spain&#x0D; &#x0D; This textbook is a comprehensive guide for (mainly, but not only) linguistics, sociology, communication and even business students on the theories and research methodologies of conversation analysis. Based on ethnomethodology, a theoretical perspective of sociology which appeared in the 1960s and which explored how people create social order, social structure and situated action (Garfinkel 1967) through the direct observation of human behaviour, conversation analysis emerged in the 1980s as an approach to the study of talk in interaction. Sacks (1984), a graduate student who worked with Garfinkel, thought of talk as the ideal source of data to study human action, as it could be tape-recorded and carefully and repeatedly examined. The conversation analysis methodology was soon found useful for the study of a wide range of conversations (formal, informal, institutional, etc.) held for a great deal of different purposes and in diverse contexts (business, education, media, legal settings, etc.).

Local population density affects pollinator visitation in the endangered grassland daisy Rutidosis leptorhynchoides (Asteraceae)

The spatial arrangement of plants has implications for their pollination. Dense patches of flowering plants can result in increased pollinator attraction and, consequently, higher pollination and seed set per flower. We investigated this effect in the endangered, self-incompatible Australian daisy Rutidosis leptorhynchoides F.Muell. (Asteraceae) by quantifying the effect of plant density on pollinator visitation and seed set in a wild population. Pollinator activity was investigated by direct observation of insect behaviour, by examining the pollen carried on candidate insect species, by video monitoring of visitation, and by tracking the movement of dye as a pollen analogue. Two native Lasioglossum species (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) were identified as the most frequent pollen-carrying visitors to inflorescences. Their visitation was significantly higher where plants were dense, but no statistical correlation between seed set and plant density was found. Florivory was identified as potentially having a substantial negative influence on seed set, but without any clear relationship to plant density. Given that R. leptorhynchoides has declined substantially across its range, and previous reintroduction attempts have often failed, our findings provide key information pertaining to knowledge of pollinator and florivore behaviour in relation to plant density. To maximise success of future management strategies, these animal-plant interactions should be captured in species recovery designs.

Reproductive Science Methods for Wild, Fully-Marine Mammals: Current Approaches and Future Applications.

Determining reproductive rates of marine mammal populations can give insight into their persistence and resilience in changing environments. As our marine environments continue to degrade along developed coastal fringes and as mankind's influences extend across even our widest oceans, there is a concern that the reproductive functioning of marine mammals may be affected adversely. Since many marine mammal species and populations are still in the recovery phase post-commercial harvest, and yet others are endangered or threatened by ongoing pressures, further environmental changes may represent direct or indirect threats to their reproductive potential. In this chapter, we review the current methods employed to investigate various aspects of reproductive science in fully-marine mammals, including direct observation of reproductive behavior and output, endocrinology to determine reproductive state, and assisted reproductive technologies to enhance reproductive outcomes. In particular, we focus on the most recent developments and innovations to reproductively sample marine mammals. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the challenges thrown up to researchers studying free-ranging marine mammals, and to highlight diversity in research approach. The North Atlantic right whale is on the brink of extinction through historic overharvest and present-day entanglement and ship strike. Environmental disruption to their migration routes and declining population health has resulted in reduced reproductive rates. In contrast, the main current threats to the reproductive success and survival of the vulnerable dugong are extreme weather events that affect availability of its seagrass diet. Climate disruption with increasingly severe coastal storms and flooding threaten the health of coastal seagrass beds, and consequently reproductive success and survival of this species. It is anticipated that climate change may have diverse and often serious effects on marine mammal reproduction in populations around the globe.

As clear as day: nocturnal activity differs from diurnal activity in a temporally constrained capital breeder

Abstract Time-activity budgets are fundamental to behavioural studies, allowing examination of how individuals allocate their time, and potentially energy, and how these patterns vary spatially and temporally and in relation to habitat, individual identity, sex, social status and levels of anthropogenic disturbance. Direct observations of animal behaviour, especially in the wild, are often limited to daylight hours; therefore, many activity budgets relate to diurnal activity only, or assumptions are made about nocturnal activity. Activity budgets have been a key component of many behavioural and energetics studies of breeding grey seals (Halichoerus grypus, Fabricius, 1791), and yet very little is known about nocturnal activity of grey seals, and a general, implicit assumption of no significant change from day to night seems to pervade the literature. Here we use a combination of high resolution digital video and thermal imaging video camera to follow known individual grey seal mothers from day into night to examine activity patterns during lactation. We show distinct differences in nocturnal activity budgets relative to diurnal activity budgets. Mothers spent significantly more time resting with a reduction of time spent in the alert and comfort move behavioural categories during nocturnal periods. It is clear that diurnal time-activity patterns of breeding female grey seals cannot be extrapolated to represent activity across a 24-hour cycle. These considerations are particularly critical in studies that aim to use time-activity budgets as proxies for energy budgets.

Direct Observation of Large Deformation and Fracture Behavior at the Crack Tip of Slide-Ring Gel

Slide-ring gel is a highly deformable polymer gel prepared by cross-linking rings on polyrotaxanes, in which ring molecules are threaded onto a linear polymer chain. The remarkable extensibility of SR gels is due to the stress equalization effect caused by the sliding of cross-links on polymer chains. We directly observed the stress equalization effect by magnifying the instinctive micron-scale defect to artificial millimeter-scale crack and then mapping the crack tip stress field based on photoelasticity. By reducing coverage of rings on polymer chains in SR gels, obvious crack blunting and delayed crack growth are observed. Highly elongated non-linear “cohesive zone” with length of 0.6 mm and width less than 0.1 mm occurs ahead of crack tip before crack propagation. Our results show that SR gels with low ring coverage have large cohesive strength to survive large deformation before elastic chains rupture, which is essentially derived from the sliding of the cross-links that adjusts strand length automatically to equalize stress in the network.

Behavioral classification of low-frequency acceleration and temperature data from a free-ranging small mammal.

The miniaturization and affordability of new technology is driving a biologging revolution in wildlife ecology with use of animal‐borne data logging devices. Among many new biologging technologies, accelerometers are emerging as key tools for continuously recording animal behavior. Yet a critical, but under‐acknowledged consideration in biologging is the trade‐off between sampling rate and sampling duration, created by battery‐ (or memory‐) related sampling constraints. This is especially acute among small animals, causing most researchers to sample at high rates for very limited durations. Here, we show that high accuracy in behavioral classification is achievable when pairing low‐frequency acceleration recordings with temperature. We conducted 84 hr of direct behavioral observations on 67 free‐ranging red squirrels (200–300 g) that were fitted with accelerometers (2 g) recording tri‐axial acceleration and temperature at 1 Hz. We then used a random forest algorithm and a manually created decision tree, with variable sampling window lengths, to associate observed behavior with logger recorded acceleration and temperature. Finally, we assessed the accuracy of these different classifications using an additional 60 hr of behavioral observations, not used in the initial classification. The accuracy of the manually created decision tree classification using observational data varied from 70.6% to 91.6% depending on the complexity of the tree, with increasing accuracy as complexity decreased. Short duration behavior like running had lower accuracy than long‐duration behavior like feeding. The random forest algorithm offered similarly high overall accuracy, but the manual decision tree afforded the flexibility to create a hierarchical tree, and to adjust sampling window length for behavioral states with varying durations. Low frequency biologging of acceleration and temperature allows accurate behavioral classification of small animals over multi‐month sampling durations. Nevertheless, low sampling rates impose several important limitations, especially related to assessing the classification accuracy of short duration behavior.

Randomized control trial of an internet-based parenting intervention for mothers of infants

Early parenting home-visiting interventions have been found to be highly effective in promoting child development. Yet, there are many obstacles in the implementation of home-visiting programs, including travel and access to trained providers. Internet-based interventions can reach many parents of infants to overcome these barriers. The objective of this randomized control trial was to evaluate the impact of the Internet-adaptation of the Play and Learning Strategies (PALS) program, a preventive intervention program to strengthen effective parenting practices that promote early language, cognitive, and social development. Mothers in low-income environments (N = 164) of infants were randomized to either (a) an Internet-facilitated PALS parenting intervention or (b) an Internet-facilitated attention control condition. Measures included direct observations of maternal behavior with her infant, questionnaires about maternal functioning and parenting knowledge, and real-time program usage. Experimental participants demonstrated significantly greater increases in parenting knowledge and observed language-supportive parenting behaviors with a correlated positive change in infant language behaviors. Effects were pronounced when participants received a greater dosage of the intervention. Results suggest that the Internet-based translation of the PALS program is effective as a remotely delivered intervention for economically disadvantaged families to strengthen early parenting behaviors that promote infant social communication and child language development.

Electronic Knowledge Resources and Point-of-Care Learning: A Scoping Review.

The authors sought to summarize quantitative and qualitative research addressing electronic knowledge resources and point-of-care learning in a scoping review. The authors searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Database for studies addressing electronic knowledge resources and point-of-care learning. They iteratively revised inclusion criteria and operational definitions of study features and research themes of interest. Two reviewers independently performed each phase of study selection and data extraction. Of 10,811 studies identified, 305 were included and reviewed. Most studies (225; 74%) included physicians or medical students. The most frequently mentioned electronic resources were UpToDate (88; 29%), Micromedex (59; 19%), Epocrates (50; 16%), WebMD (46; 15%), MD Consult (32; 10%), and LexiComp (31; 10%). Eight studies (3%) evaluated electronic resources or point-of-care learning using outcomes of patient effects, and 36 studies (12%) reported objectively measured clinician behaviors. Twenty-five studies (8%) examined the clinical or educational impact of electronic knowledge resource use on patient care or clinician knowledge, 124 (41%) compared use rates of various knowledge resources, 69 (23%) examined the quality of knowledge resource content, and 115 (38%) explored the process of point-of-care learning. Two conceptual clarifications were identified, distinguishing the impact on clinical or educational outcomes versus the impact on test setting decision support, and the quality of information content versus the correctness of information obtained by a clinician-user. Research on electronic knowledge resources is dominated by studies involving physicians and evaluating use rates. Studies involving nonphysician users, and evaluating resource impact and implementation, are needed.

Ultrafast collective oxygen-vacancy flow in Ca-doped BiFeO3

The ultrafast motion of oxygen vacancies in solids is crucial for various future applications, such as oxide electrolytes. Visualization and quantification can offer unforeseen opportunities to probe the collective dynamics of defects in crystalline solids, but little research has been conducted on oxygen vacancy electromigration using these approaches. Here, we visualize electric-field-induced creation and propagation of oxygen-vacancy-rich and -poor competing phases and their interface with optical contrast in Ca-substituted BiFeO3 that contains a high density of mobile oxygen vacancies. We quantitatively determined the drift velocity of collective migration to be on the order of 100 μm s−1 with an activation barrier of 0.79 eV, indicating a significantly large ionic mobility of 2 × 10−6 cm2 s−1 V−1 at a remarkably low temperature of 390 °C. In addition, visualization enables direct observation of fluidic behavior, such as the enhancement of conduction at channel edges, which results in U-shaped viscous propagation of the phase boundary and turbulence under a reverse electric field. All of these results provide new insights into the collective motion of defects.

The effects of check-in check-out on the academic planning and behavior of African American males

PurposeThe Check-in Check-out (CICO) program is a Tier II behavioral intervention that has received empirical support as an effective way to reduce problem behaviors (Hawken and amp; Horner, 2003; March and amp; Horner, 2002). The purpose of this study is to use an intervention that combined CICO with social skill instruction and academic planning with three African-American ninth-grade males identified with emotional and behavioral disorders. A concurrent baseline across participants design was used to evaluate participants’ performance on academic planning and behavior. Results indicate that the combination of social skill instruction and academic planning with the CICO mentoring program improved participants’ academic planning and behavior.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a concurrent multiple baseline across participants design to determine the effect of the CICO mentoring program. CICO was combined with academic planning and social skills training to determine the effect on the DRC scores and the student’s educational success skills. This study included three phases: baseline, intervention (which included academic planning, social skills training and CICO) and maintenance.FindingsAll of the participants were below 50 per cent during baseline for points earned on the daily report card and the execution of steps for academic planning. During intervention, all of the participants had an increase in level and trend for both skills. Participants were able to maintain the skills two weeks after intervention.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has several limitations. First, the study was conducted in an urban setting; therefore, it cannot be generalized to other geographical populations, such as rural or suburban students. Second, the study is not generalizable to self-contained settings, resource rooms or other school environments. Third, the use of DRC data, as opposed to direct observations of behavior, is a strong limitation. Consequently, it is possible that improvements in DRC scores were because of changes in teacher perceptions rather than actual changes in student behavior.Practical implicationsThe study presents several implications for future studies. First, researchers could investigate different service-level settings (e.g. self-contained or resource) and different settings (e.g. suburban or rural). Second, researchers could focus on varied populations that are targeted for inappropriate behavior or academic difficulties such as English Language Learners. Researchers could also examine the effects of tutoring with CICO and investigate if mentoring is generalizable to community settings.Social implicationsSocial validity outcomes from students, parents and classroom teachers who participated this study were positive. Although social validity measures do not add to data for our dependent variables, it is important to consider perceptions from our stakeholders. Students indicated that they found daily mentoring sessions helpful and beneficial. Based on student perceptions and performance and teacher feedback, components of CICO were effective in reducing disruptive behavior of African-American males at the high school level.Originality/valueNot only does the study focus on African-American males in high school, but also contributes to the literature by focusing on the increase of students’ academic planning skills, social skills and the reduction of office discipline referrals. The version of CICO used in the present study included the use of FBAs. Few studies found in the literature even mentioned conducting an FBA before or during the implementation of CICO with successful results (Campbell and amp; Anderson, 2008; March and amp; Horner, 2002). The authors also monitored the positive gains of the student using Daily Report Cards (DRC). For this study, DRC is simply a method of reporting success to the mentor, student, parent and mentee.

Does Mothers' Self-Construal Contribute to Parenting Beyond Socioeconomic Status and Maternal Efficacy? an Exploratory Study of Turkish Mothers.

This study examined the relative contribution of mothers’ self-construal to parenting above and beyond family socioeconomic status (SES) and maternal efficacy beliefs about parenting. A total of 58 Turkish mothers and their preschool-aged children participated in dyadic tasks in the laboratory setting. For the measurement of parenting, direct behavioral observations of mother–child interactions in three interaction contexts were utilized, and mother ratings of emotion socialization were obtained. Mothers also reported on their parenting efficacy, self-construal, child temperament, and family demographics. Results revealed a more balanced endorsement of autonomous and relational self-characteristics as well as more sensitive parenting among higher SES mothers. Furthermore, mothers’ self-construal contributed unique variance to the prediction of sensitive parenting over and above SES, maternal efficacy and child temperament. Yet, in the prediction of negatively controlling parenting, mothers’ self-construal did not account for unique variance. Lower parenting efficacy and lower SES were the only predictors of punishing, overriding, and distress magnifying responses. Finally, results indicated a marginally significant indirect effect from SES to sensitive parenting via autonomous-related self-construal, controlling for the indirect effect of maternal efficacy.

Direct observation of pseudocapacitive sodium storage behavior in molybdenum dioxide anodes

Compared to research progress on cathode materials, progress on anode materials for sodium rechargeable batteries has been relatively slow. To bring sodium rechargeable batteries to a next level, it is necessary to explore feasible anode materials as well as understand clearly the reaction mechanism during electrochemical cycling. We herein introduce mesoporous and bulk molybdenum dioxide materials, which show excellent sodium storage performances under ether based electrolyte conditions, as anodes for sodium rechargeable batteries. Moreover, the pseudocapacitive sodium storage behavior in molybdenum dioxide anodes is proposed based on a quantitative analysis of the cyclic voltammetry responses. This result is systematically corroborated by using synchrotron radiation based analyses, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscope and ab initio molecular dynamics simulation. Comprehensive information on the electrochemical characterization as well as sodium storage mechanism of this transition metal oxide will provide a practical strategy to further advance anode materials for sodium rechargeable batteries.