Poor Rate Research Articles

Gas Dynamics in the Central Molecular Zone and its connection with the Galactic Bar

Abstract The innermost region of the Milky Way harbors the central molecular zone (CMZ). This region contains a large amount of molecular gas but a poor star formation rate considering the densities achieved by the gas in this region. We used the arepo code to perform a hydrodynamic and star formation simulation of the Galaxy, where a Ferrers bar was adiabatically introduced. During the stage of bar imposition, the bar strength excites density waves close to the inner Lindblad resonance guiding material toward the inner Galaxy, driving the formation of a ring that we qualitatively associate with the CMZ. During the simulation, we identified that the ring passes three main phases, namely: formation, instability, and quasi-stationary stages. During the whole evolution, and particularly in the quasi-stationary stage, we observe that the ring is associated with the x2 family of periodic orbits. Additionally, we found that most of the star formation occurs during the ring formation stage, while it drastically decreases in the instability stage. Finally, we found that when the gas has settled in a stable x2 orbit, the star formation takes place mostly after the dense gas passes the apocenter, triggering the conveyor-belt mechanism described in previous studies.

Cold-Induced Browning: A Novel Method to Improve the Retention Rate of Fat Graft.

Autologous fat grafting is frequently used to heal soft-tissue defects. The key restriction that must be addressed is the poor transplant retention rate. Growing evidence has demonstrated that the browning of white adipose tissue enhances the survival of fat grafts. We hypothesized that cold-induced browning before transplantation may be a novel method to improve fat graft survival. Mice were kept in the 4 °C environment for 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks separately to detect whether different times of cold exposure could induce different numbers of beige adipocytes. Then, inguinal fat (roughly 150 mg) was collected and transferred. After post-graft weeks 4 and 12, the grafts were collected. The graft retention rate, histological morphology, vascularization, and browning were all assessed. Mice inguinal fat showed enhanced beige adipose regeneration as the cold exposure (4 °C) time increased. Cold-induced browning resulted in greater retention, reduced fibrosis and necrosis, and improved angiogenesis at post-graft weeks 4 and 12. Simultaneously, few beige adipocytes were seen in grafts at post-graft weeks 4 and 12. Cold-induced browning showed increased retention by promoting angiogenesis in a paracrine manner. Cold exposure of subcutaneous fat before transplantation may be a novel method to improve fat graft retention rate and retention quality. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Towards High-Performance Li-Rich Cathode Materials: from Morphology Design to Electronic Structure Modulation.

Lithium-rich cathode materials (LRMs) have garnered significant interest owing to their high reversible discharge capacity (exceeding 250 mAh g⁻¹), which is attributed to the redox reactions of transition metal (TM) ions as well as the distinctive redox processes of oxygen anions. However, there are still many problems, such as their relatively poor rate performance and voltage fading and hysteresis, hindering their practical applications. Herein, the recent insights into the mechanisms and the latest advancements in the research of LRMs are discussed. Strategies to promote the performance of LRMs are discussed following a top-down approach from the morphology design to electronic structure modulation. Finally, the ongoing efforts in this area are also discussed to inspire more new ideas for the future development of LRMs.

Fire Protection Systems, Life-Saving Facilities, and Fire Management in Depok City in 2020: A Case Study

Introduction: Hospital fire can result in greater casualties, injuries to patients or staff, and loss of property and equipment compared to fires in other types of building. This is attributed to the presence of a large number of vulnerable individuals, including those who are ill, disabled, pregnant, children, elderly, immunocompromised, on life support, or incapable of moving independently. This study aims to assess the implementation of the fire protection system, life-saving facilities, and fire management in Hospital X. Methods: This was a quantitative study on active fire protection system facilities, passive protection system facilities, live-saving facilities, and fire management as the subjects. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and document review, as well as a checklist and then analyzed by comparing the actual conditions with applicable standards and regulations. The final result was presented as the percentage compliance level and categorization according to the criteria established by the Research and Development Agency of the Public Works Department. Results: The active fire protection system presented a standard fulfillment rate of 53%, categorizing it as poor. The passive fire protection systems similarly demonstrated a poor fulfillment rate at 42%, while the life-saving facilities achieved a 66.7% fulfillment rate, placing them in the quite good category. Additionally, fire management attained an 81% fulfillment level, which falls under the good category. Conclusion: Hospital X has a good fire prevention approach with a standard fulfillment level of 60%.

Long‐Durable Potassium Ion Batteries Enabled by Medium‐Entropy Lattice Engineering on Prussian Blue Analogues Cathodes

AbstractGiven their structural merits and electrochemical benefits, Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) hold great promise as cathode materials for potassium ion batteries (PIBs). However, these cathodes face formidable hurdles by structural failure and poor rate capability, primarily resulting from significant volumetric changes and sluggish kinetics during repeated intercalation/deintercalation of bulky K+ ions. Theoretically, the study reveals explicitly that quaternary medium‐entropy PBAs (Q‐ME‐PBAs), composed of Fe, Ni, Co, and Cu, demonstrate minimal lattice volume variations and low diffusion barriers during K+ ion interactions. This endows Q‐ME‐PBA with favorable ability to induce significant 3D lattice distortion, enabling the material to endure structural alterations during K+ ion movements and reinforce phase stability. Consequently, leveraging the structural and compositional advantages, the resultant Q‐ME‐PBAs cathode showcases exceptional cycling performance, maintaining over 90% capacity retention after 300 cycles at 0.25 C with a high initial coulombic efficiency of 94.4% and retaining 74.7% capacity even after an ultra‐long 10 000 cycles at 3.75 C over 147 days. Notably, full cells paired with hard carbon and graphite anodes show outstanding cycling stability and rate capability. This study charts fresh design directions for crafting high‐performance and durable cathodes through medium‐entropy lattice engineering for advanced PIBs.

Probiotic Mixture Attenuates Colorectal Tumorigenesis in Murine AOM/DSS Model by Suppressing STAT3, Inducing Apoptotic p53 and Modulating Gut Microbiota.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. The standard CRC chemo drug, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), has a poor response rate and chemoresistance, prompting the need for a more effective and affordable treatment. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether Prohep, a novel probiotic mixture, would alleviate azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS)-induced colorectal tumorigenesis and enhance 5-FU efficacy and its mechanism. Our results suggested that Prohep showed stronger anti-tumorigenesis effects than 5-FU alone or when combined in the AOM/DSS model. Prohep significantly reduced the total tumor count, total tumor size, caecum weight, colonic crypt depth, colonic inflammation, and collagen fibrosis. Prohep downregulated pro-inflammatory TNF-α and proliferative p-STAT3 and upregulated apoptotic p53. Metagenomics analysis indicated that Prohep-enriched Helicobacter ganmani, Desulfovibrio porci, Helicobacter hepaticus, and Candidatus Borkfalkia ceftriaxoniphila were inversely correlated to the total tumor count. In addition, Prohep-enriched Prevotella sp. PTAC and Desulfovibrio porci were negatively correlated to AOM/DSS enriched bacteria, while forming a co-existing community with other beneficial bacteria. From KEGG analysis, Prohep downregulated CRC-related pathways and enhanced pathways related to metabolites suppressing CRC like menaquinone, tetrapyrrole, aminolevulinic acid, and tetrahydrofolate. From Metacyc analysis, Prohep downregulated CRC-related peptidoglycan, LPS, and uric acid biosynthesis, and conversion. Prohep elevated the biosynthesis of the beneficial L-lysine, lipoic acid, pyrimidine, and palmitate. Prohep also elevated metabolic pathways related to energy utilization of lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) and acetate producers. Similarly, fecal acetate concentration was upregulated by Prohep. To sum up, Prohep demonstrated exceptional anti-tumorigenesis effects in the AOM/DSS model, which revealed its potential to develop into a novel CRC therapeutic in the future.

Alignment Strategies in Total Knee Arthroplasty: The Rise and Role of Enabling Technology.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains the gold standard surgical care for end-stage knee arthritis. Since its inception, TKA has seen many transformative factors with advances in material properties, implant design, and fixation. Improvements in implant longevity has culminated in TKA being recognized as one of modern medicine's most successful surgical procedures. Patient satisfaction, however, remains a significant challenge. Recent studies report that patient satisfaction with current implants and techniques remains at 80 to 90%, suggesting that up to one in five patients remain dissatisfied with their procedure. A balanced knee, defined as equal medial and lateral gaps in knee extension and flexion, is a desired outcome in TKA. This has been shown to be associated with improved clinical outcomes. Given the poor rate of surgeon-defined balance, intraoperative knee balance can be confirmed with objective load data using sensor-embedded smart inserts or by measuring gaps using computer-assisted or robotic platforms. Currently, there is no consensus on the correct alignment or laxity targets for individualized alignment strategies in TKA, and further research in this area is required to answer this. Tremendous advances in our understanding of knee anatomy and kinematics have come to light in the recent past, and these insights have spawned interest in alternative alignment techniques in TKA. More recently, an appreciation of individual knee phenotypes and associated classification systems have provided a platform and the scientific justification behind these contemporary alignment strategies. Paired with enabling technologies, it is becoming an accepted paradigm that surgeons have the ability to select a desired alignment target when undertaking an individualized alignment strategy in TKA and execute the surgery with a high degree of precision. It is hoped that this may reduce the rate of dissatisfaction following TKA and improve clinical outcomes. This review article provides an overview of the concepts of knee phenotypes, current alignment strategies in TKA, and the emerging benefits of enabling technologies.

Quantifying Heterogeneous Degradation Pathways and Deformation Fields in Solid‐State Batteries

AbstractSolid‐state batteries are compelling candidates for next‐generation energy storage devices, promising both high energy density and improved safety, by utilizing metallic Li as the negative electrode. However, they suffer from poor cyclability and rate capability, which limits their wide application. Degradation in these devices occurs through complex mechanical, chemical and electrochemical pathways, all of which produce heterogeneous deformation fields. Therefore, isolating solid‐state degradation mechanisms, and explicitly linking them to the associated deformation fields requires a multimodal characterization strategy. Here, a novel 3‐D, in situ methodology for linking degradation to deformation in solid‐state cells is presented. X‐ray imaging is used to measure the morphological degradation, and combined with X‐ray diffraction to quantify (electro)chemical aspects. Finally, the heterogeneous stress fields from these various pathways are mapped in situ. This heterogeneity is shown globally, from the interface to the bulk electrolyte, as well as locally, around features such as cracks and voids. Through these analyses, it is possible to delineate the effects of solid electrolyte processing, cell assembly, and cycling on the end‐of‐life state of the cell. Moreover, the importance of stress mitigation in these cells is highlighted, with mean stresses around the interface and some cracks comfortably exceeding the elastic limit of Li.

Risk factors for poor outcomes in adult patients with lip through-and-through wounds

BackgroundRisk factors associated with infection and traumatic lacerations affecting the face are still not fully understood. This study investigated risk factors for poor outcomes in adult patients with through-and-through lip wounds who underwent debridement and suturing. MethodsPatients with through-and-through lip wounds who underwent debridement in our emergency department between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021, were included. The effects of gender, age, wound age (time from injury to wound closure), antibiotic application, injury mechanism, diabetes, wound length, wound cleanliness, peripheral tissue damage, and postoperative wound blood scab on the poor outcome rate were assessed for all patients. Poor outcome was analyzed based on atraumatic wound dehiscence before suture removal, pus in the wound, and unhealed oral wounds with a length >1 cm or deeper than the muscle layer 5–6 days after surgery. ResultsA total of 728 cases were included, with a poor outcome rate of 20.88 %. The univariable analysis showed that the proportion of poor outcomes was significantly associated with male gender, age (65–79 years old), bicycle/electric bicyble, antibiotic use, wound length of 4–8 cm, wound contamination, peripheral tissue damage, and scabs. Binary logistic analysis showed that the proportion of poor outcomes was significantly associated with older age (65–79 years old), wound length of 4–8 cm, peripheral tissue damage and wounds covered by scabs. In the binary logistic regression analysis, poor outcomes were not associated with gender, injury mechanism, wound contamination or the use of antibiotics. ConclusionOur findings provide valuable information on the risk factors for poor outcomes in adult patients with lip through-and-through wounds who underwent debridement and suturing.

Flower-like graphitic carbon derived from biomass for anode of potassium ion battery

The conventional graphite anode for potassium ion batteries (PIBs) can be structurally disrupted by intercalation of potassium ion with a large radius, resulting in the poor cycling stability and rate capability. Here an architecture of flower-like graphitic carbon (FLGC) derived from biomass is designed. As the anode for PIBs, FLGC achieves the stable performance and high-rate capability because of numerous mesopores, intrinsic defects, and a large interlayer spacing. FLGC presents a stable cycling performance (171mAh g−1 after 1700 cycles at 500 mA g−1 with a capacity retention of 79.2 %) and a high potassium storage capacity (301mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1), in addition to low charge/discharge plateaus (0.35 V for charge and 0.12 V for discharge). More importantly, the mechanism for potassium storage and influence of intrinsic defects on the electrochemical performance are investigated. This study offers a novel design for graphitic structures, which is important for PIBs.

Triple modifications of Li-rich manganese-based cathode materials using LiMnPO4 one-step method

Li-rich manganese-based layered oxide (LMR) is one of the most promising cathode materials for lithium batteries owing to its high specific capacity and low cost. Unfortunately, its commercial application is hindered by voltage decay, capacity diminishing, and poor rate performance during cycling. Thus, a facile surface triple modification method for Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 has been proposed. This method constructs a protective LiMnPO4 coating layered, a spinel interface, and introduces some oxygen vacancies. The construction of the coating layer and oxygen vacancies alleviates interface side reactions and irreversible loss of O, ultimately suppressing voltage decay and improving cycling performance. The spinel phase constructs a 3D Li+ diffusion pathway, which improves the rate performance. As expected, electrochemical tests indicate that the materials coated by 3 wt% LiMnPO4 exhibit a mitigated voltage attenuation from 2.204 mV to 1.626 mV, an enhanced capacity retention of 85.60 % at 1C after 100 cycles, and a discharge capacity of 171.6 mAh·g−1 at 5C, which is better than that of bare materials (163.9 mAh·g−1 at 5C). This one-step processing method provides a simple and efficient method for modifying LMR materials.

Biomass‐Derived Phosphorus‐Doped Porous Hard Carbon Anode for Stable and High‐Rate Sodium Ion Batteries

Biomass‐derived hard carbon, despite being promising for anode material of sodium‐ion batteries, usually suffer from low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE), poor rate capacity, and limited cycling stability caused by complex surface defects and low intrinsic conductivity. Herein, phosphorus‐doped porous hard carbon (HC@PC‐P) were synthesized by the thermal polymerization of soy lecithin on the surfaces of hard carbon derived from olive kernels. The incorporation of heteroatom phosphorus in the porous hard carbon framework expands the carbon lattice spacing, optimizes the graphitization degree, and increases electrical conductivity, guaranteeing ensuring rapid electron and ion transfer. These coupling effects enable HC@PC‐P anode to achieve a high reversible capacity of 350 mAh g‐1 at 0.1 A g‐1, an impressive initial coulombic efficiency of 89.6%, and remarkable long‐term cycling stability at 1 A g‐1 over 1000 cycles with negligible capacity fade. The mechanisms behind sodium storage and enhanced electrochemical performance were elucidated by ex‐situ Raman spectroscopy and kinetic analysis. Additionally, the assembled HC@PC‐P//Na3V2(PO4)3 full cell demonstrated a high energy density of 257.9 Wh kg‐1. This work provides a rational guide for designing advanced hard carbon anode materials for high‐energy sodium‐ion batteries.

The mechanism of the impact of Li2MnO3 with dual-edged sword functionality on the cyclic performance of lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials

The Li2MnO3 phase is a double-edged sword hanging over lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials (LLOs). It provides a theoretical specific capacity of over 300mAh/g for LLOs, but it is also the main source of issues such as low Initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), poor rate performance, and voltage decay. In recent years, related research has primarily focused on the lattice oxygen. From the perspective related to the Li2MnO3 phase, this study achieves different activation degrees of Li2MnO3 phase through ingenious electrochemical methods. It conducts a detailed analysis of the phase transition and polarization of Li2MnO3 phase under high and low rates, and delves into the different mechanisms that cause the electrochemical performance degradation of LLOs under high and low rates. The results show that during low-rate cycling, the more Li2MnO3 phase in LLOs, the more transformation of crystal structure from layered to spinel phase occurs during cycling, and the structural transformation of the material will ultimately lead to the degradation of cycle performance and voltage decay. During high-rate cycling, due to the intrinsic conductivity difference of Li2MnO3 phase, the large polarization effect of LLOs can lead to severe decomposition of the electrolyte at high voltages, resulting in the degradation of cycle performance. Therefore, conducting research on LLOs focused on the Li2MnO3 phase may be an effective approach, providing a new modification idea for achieving more excellent cycling performance of LLOs.

The Effect of Nickel Addition on α-Fe2O3 Synthesis Using NaOH and Application as Lithium-Ion Battery Anode Material

Research has been conducted in the pursuit of developing the performance of batteries. The increasing demand for electronic devices and electric vehicles has driven the development of high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Among the various anode materials, α-Fe2O3 has attracted significant attention due to its high theoretical specific capacity of 1007 mAh/g. However, its low conductivity and poor rate capability limit its practical application. To address these issues, this study investigates the addition of nickel (Ni) into α-Fe2O3 through a co-precipitation method. The synthesized materials were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The electrochemical performance was evaluated using an LCR meter and charge-discharge cycling. The results showed the addition of Ni improved the conductivity of the α-Fe2O3 material. The optimal Ni content was found as much as 18×10-4 mol which exhibits the highest conductivity and specific capacity. The synthesized α-Fe1.965Ni0.035O3 material demonstrated a specific charging capacity of 1.8433 mAh/g and a specific discharging capacity of 1.8388 mAh/g. These findings suggest that Ni-doped α-Fe2O3 has the potential to be a promising anode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).

Determinants of Bond Performance (Study of Companies Listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange)

Bond ratings are critical for firms that issue them, as they reflect the company's risk level. A higher bond rating typically leads to lower costs for the company. Most investors tend to avoid bonds with poor credit ratings. This research aims to examine how profitability, liquidity, and leverage influence bond prices, using bond ratings as a key variable. The study population comprises all firms listed on the Indonesian stock market from 2019 to 2021, totaling 116 entities. Through purposive sampling, the research focused on 72 companies that met specific criteria: firms that issued reports in rupiah, generated profits, and were rated by PT Pefindo. The study employed path analysis to test the hypotheses. The findings reveal that profitability, liquidity, and leverage have minimal impact on bond ratings. Furthermore, changes in liquidity and leverage do not affect bond prices. However, profitability and bond ratings significantly influence bond prices. The study also shows that bond ratings do not mediate the effects of liquidity and leverage on bond prices. Nonetheless, bond ratings reflect the yield of bond prices. In conclusion, this study finds that while profitability, liquidity, and leverage do not significantly affect bond ratings, bond prices are influenced by profitability and bond ratings. The practical implications suggest that bond ratings and bond prices play a pivotal role in enhancing company performance, particularly in terms of managing liquidity to meet interest and installment obligations and leveraging strategies to boost income.

Association between self-reported pain experiences in hospital and ratings of care, readmission and emergency department visits: a population-based study from New South Wales, Australia.

Evidence on patient experiences with pain in hospitals and its impact on post-discharge outcomes is limited. This study investigated the prevalence of pain in hospitals, patient characteristics associated with pain management adequacy, and the link between pain experiences, care ratings, readmission and emergency department visits after discharge. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the 2019 Adult Admitted Patient Survey, focusing on self-reported pain experiences, including presence, severity and management adequacy. The outcomes included self-reported overall care ratings; readmission; and emergency department visits within one month of discharge. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for population weight was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios. Among 75 large public hospitals, 21,900 patients responded (35% response rate), with 51% of patients reporting pain (mean (SD) age 57 (8.8) y; 54.9% female), 38.3% of whom classified their pain as severe. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and patients who spoke a language other than English were less likely to report adequate pain management (aOR (95%CI) 0.74 (0.58-0.96) and 0.82 (0.70-0.96), respectively). Pain also correlated with poor to very poor care ratings (aOR (95%CI) 2.05 (1.42-2.95)). Those patients who experienced pain were twice as likely to be readmitted (aOR (95%CI) 1.92 (1.55-2.37)) or visit the emergency department after discharge (aOR (95%CI) 1.91 (1.58-2.32)). Conversely, adequate pain management was associated with a lower likelihood of readmission (aOR (95%CI) 0.69 (0.51-0.94)) and emergency department visits (aOR (95%CI) 0.62 (0.44-0.87)). Mediation analysis suggests adequate pain management significantly mediated the relationship between pain severity and hospital rating (50.8%), readmission (11.6%) and emergency department visits (5.9%), after adjusting for all available observed confounders. This study highlights the importance of adequate pain management in patients' perception of care and recovery outcomes, especially among culturally and linguistically diverse patients.

E-Wallets Unplugged: Navigating Benefits and Challenges in a Post-Pandemic World

The COVID-19 pandemic has expedited the utilization of digital payment alternatives, with e-wallets becoming a significant component of the financial ecosystem. This study examines the diverse benefits and challenges of e-wallets in a post-pandemic context. The researchers conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) of peer-reviewed academic papers utilizing the Emerald Insights database. Forty-four articles published between January 2021 and September 2024 were reviewed, highlighting the study's benefits and challenges. The findings indicate that e-wallets enhance financial inclusion, promote convenience and accessibility, stimulate business and economic growth, support the digital economy, facilitate technological integration, and improve consumer convenience, especially in an increasingly cashless environment. Nonetheless, the study also examines the substantial challenges associated with this swift digital transformation, encompassing security issues, poor adoption rates, insufficient knowledge, trust deficits, regulatory hurdles, feature limitations, and user attitude challenges. This study seeks to elucidate the changing function of e-wallets in influencing the future of commerce through a thorough investigation. The study offers recommendations for e-wallet providers, policymakers, and researchers to successfully manage the complexity of e-wallet adoption, enhancing benefits while resolving the inherent challenges.

Progress in Pyrene-4,5,9,10-Tetraone-Based Organic Electrode Materials for Rechargeable Batteries.

Pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone (PTO), a coal tar derivative with redox-active ortho-carbonyl groups, has been intensively explored for sustainable organic electrodes due to its remarkably high capacity, superior redox robustness, and versatile cation storage. However, PTO often suffers from poor cycling stability due to its slight solubility in organic electrolytes, thereby causing detrimental shuttle effects and self-discharge behavior, ultimately reducing battery efficiency and lifespan. Its low electrical conductivity also results in poor rate performance. Recently, various strategies have been developed to address these challenges, aiming to enhance battery efficiency, lifespan, and rate performance. In this review, the latest progress in enhancing the performance of PTO-based electrodes and their applications in various battery types is presented. First, a brief discussion is provided on the relationship between the structural characteristics of PTO and its electrochemical performance. Then, approaches to inhibiting the shuttle effect of molecular PTO are outlined and compared. Furthermore, the design and synthesis of PTO-based polymer electrode materials are discussed. Finally, some perspectives and challenges are put forward regarding the performance improvement of PTO-based electrode materials, inspiring further development of not only PTO but also other organic electrode materials in electrochemical energy storage applications.

(Invited) Elucidating Redox Mechanisms in Battery Materials through Resonant Inelastic X-Ray Spectroscopy (RIXS)

Novel battery materials offer the promise of greatly increased energy densities for automative and other applications. However, their practical adoption is often limited by problems in electrochemical performance, such as poor rate capability, voltaic efficiency, and cyclability. Resonant Inelastic X-ray Spectroscopy (RIXS) has become a valuable tool for understanding the redox mechanisms in such materials, representing a first step towards solving problems in electrochemical performance. In many cases, however, the underlying origins of RIXS features are unclear. For example, redox mechanisms in Li-rich cathodes are associated with several absorption and emission features in oxygen RIXS measurements, but a clear picture of what redox mechanisms create these features remains elusive. As a step towards identifying redox mechanisms in Li-rich and related cathode materials, this presentation reviews existing theories of reaction mechanisms in these compounds, revisits experimental RIXS data on these materials and related oxides, and presents ab initio calculations evaluating possible origins of commonly observed features. Results suggest that some features could arise from molecular oxygen residing in low-symmetry environments. Additionally, prospects for using error-corrected quantum computation to more accurately model such electronic structure problems will be discussed.

The Perceived Impact of Leadership Practices of Academic Leaders on Student Success in a Higher Education Institution in South Africa

The research reported on in this paper was motivated by the need to investigate student complaints in the higher education sector in South Africa regarding the poor quality of teaching and learning which has resulted in low student success rates in many institutions in the country. To mitigate poor student success rates, higher educational institutions in South Africa need to consider implementing effective leadership practices of academic leaders to support students in their academic journey. This study identified how academic leaders leadership practices are perceived by students in a higher education institution in South Africa, and to identify which leadership practices are more impactful in supporting student success. According to Hoadley, Christie and Ward (2009) and Hallinger (2011), leadership practices are indeed aligned to academic performance. Grajfoner (2024) suggests that effective academic leadership is a key contributor to attaining academic excellence. However, Bryman (2007: 14) asserts that “one of the key problems in Higher Education is that not enough is known about exactly what makes an effective leader and what, in turn, may make them ineffective”. The theoretical framework upon which the study is based was developed by Mukan, Hawryluk and Stolyarchuk (2015: 42), who suggest that “leadership is a derivative quality of people collaborating, co-operating and supporting each other. It is characterized by openness and is a dynamic, inclusive, collegial process that occurs in a particular context”. In this research, a quantitative study was conducted using a purposeful sample selected from the target population of students at a higher education institution in South Africa. The final sample included 78 undergraduate students from the selected institution. The analysis undertaken in the study revealed that perceived leadership practices of academic leaders do have an impact on student success and that student success is not based on any one element of leadership practice alone; instead there are various perceived dimensions of leadership practices that play a role in promoting student performance. The findings of the study highlighted three key leadership practices that impact on student success, namely engagement, support and communication.