Pursuit Of Research Research Articles

Non enim legimus hoc a regula Benedicti … Benedictines and the University of Paris in the 13th century

Non enim legimus hoc a regula Benedicti …Benedictines and the University of Paris in the 13th century Helmut Flachenecker (bio) When one searches for the origins of an educational connection between Benedictine scholars and the University of Paris, one must reflect for a long time before arriving at even vague answers.1 Perhaps one may find these origins in the career of Jean Mabillon (1632-1707), the French Benedictine who gave diplomatic criticism a scientific foundation in history. The Reform congregation of the Maurists (Congregation of Saint Maur) also attempted to make an impressive connection between the monastic life and the pursuit of education and research. History as a science benefited in particular from the work of these highly educated Benedictines. The center of this new kind of scholarship was formed by the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Germain-des Prés. Indeed, in the tower of the monastery sits a stone-bust of Mabillon, which still overlooks the scenery, but it is doubtful many will even recognize it.2 Still, the Maurists had no strong connection to the University of Paris. It may be fruitful to look further back in time, before Mabillon and the Maurists. Was there a significant medieval Benedictine figure who both represented the interests of the order and had a connection to the University of Paris? For the Benedictine monk and famous chronicler Matthew (Matthaeus) Paris († 1259) from St Albans in England, the thought of monks seeking university training was clearly anathema. He condemned the Cistercians because they no longer despised Dominicans, Franciscans, and secular legal scholars but wanted to do exactly the same as they did: to introduce university education among their monks. As is well-known, the Mendicant orders established study houses (mansiones) in the city of Paris as well as in other towns with reputable schools. They wanted to instruct their members in theology, spiritual, and secular law (… in theologia, decretis et legibus studerent). In Matthew's eyes, this imitation [End Page 5] of the new educational model of the Mendicant order revealed the arrogance (superbia) of the entire world. He believed respect for cloisters in general and the severity of the monastic principles in particular would be lost if monks pursued this new educational path. At the universities, monks would study human-based knowledge about the despised mortal world! Such a pursuit was not intended in the rule of St. Benedict, which was much older and therefore wiser. As will soon be shown, Matthew was correct, at least on this point. After all, Benedict called for a life of solitude in the monastery, not in the disturbances of an increasingly conceited world.3 In the stern eyes of the Benedictine, the Mendicant friars were on completely the wrong path. Real monks could not live in the world and study worldly knowledge; they should instead pursue a life of prayer in the remoteness of the monastery. Matthew and others like him insisted that the Benedictines should stay away from the 'evil' of university knowledge and should not assume the new development of some trendy orders who found these new urban-based educational spaces attractive. They believed, and feared, education was becoming a worldly endeavor, one strongly against God's eternal order. In Matthew's view, the Cistercians had built a house of study in Paris only because they wanted to attain the same profane reputation as the Franciscans and Dominicans. They were simply imitators of an unwelcome and troublesome trend: the weakening of the religious and intellectual power of the old monastic orders (Et sic propter mundi nequitias rigor ordinis monastici in parte est enervatus).4 They had become the enemies of the old monastic ideals of reading, singing, and contemplation. But Matthew could not stop the Cistercians. The order founded a study house in the name of St Bernard in 1244 or 1245.5 The Pope confirmed [End Page 6] it on 6 January 1245 and again on 4 September of the same year. This new type of education could be received only in Paris in those days, and the need for a new generation of religious teachers was high. Still, some abbots—not only Benedictine but also Cistercian—resisted such educational...

Alliances and legitimacy among technology-based start-ups

Technology based start-up firms have historic importance as outlets for new technology product. A major challenge for start-ups commercialising inventions is to attract enough external resources until they achieve mainstream market acceptance for new technology products. Lack of performance history and novel technologies combine to create liabilities that they must overcome to gain legitimacy in the eyes of stakeholders and gain access especially financial resources. This makes strategies to increase legitimacy and reduce the likelihood for failure among technology-based start-ups (TBS) a persistent pursuit in entrepreneurship research with strong implications for practice. Forging alliances with important stakeholders show relevance and indicate legitimacy. Using data from 173 start-ups working with energy efficient technologies, this analysis found evidence to suggest that forging alliances and the public declaration of these can influence legitimacy among TBS. The influence however, it not straight forward and has implication for both research and practice.

Alliances and legitimacy among technology-based start-ups

Technology based start-up firms have historic importance as outlets for new technology product. A major challenge for start-ups commercialising inventions is to attract enough external resources until they achieve mainstream market acceptance for new technology products. Lack of performance history and novel technologies combine to create liabilities that they must overcome to gain legitimacy in the eyes of stakeholders and gain access especially financial resources. This makes strategies to increase legitimacy and reduce the likelihood for failure among technology-based start-ups (TBS) a persistent pursuit in entrepreneurship research with strong implications for practice. Forging alliances with important stakeholders show relevance and indicate legitimacy. Using data from 173 start-ups working with energy efficient technologies, this analysis found evidence to suggest that forging alliances and the public declaration of these can influence legitimacy among TBS. The influence however, it not straight forward and has implication for both research and practice.

Do Ambassadors Need a Relationship with the Brand or Product? The Study based on the Opinion of a Focus Group

Celebrity endorsement has been commonly used by marketing professionals for a very long time. Well-known characters can efficiently increase the number and value of the sales and extend the company market share. Celebrities can also affect the decision making process of the customer, the buying behaviour and also the cognitive functions. Cognition and attitudes are significant in the marketing process: with the display of celebrities potential customers may realize that they want to be similar with the person they see in the commercial, therefore the products they purchase can help them in the pursuit of their goals and additionally, also increases their self-confidence. There is no doubt that celebrities are powerful tools, the question is whether there must a sort of a relationship between the product and the endorser or it is only required to show a favourable image in order to create cognitive dissonance and eventually, to increase the sales. In the pursuit of answers, both secondary and primary researches had been concluded in order to find out how effective celebrity endorsement is when brands are aiming to psychologically influence consumer behaviour.

Innovative education and training in high power laser plasmas (PowerLaPs) for plasma physics, high power laser matter interactions and high energy density physics: experimental diagnostics and simulations

The second and final year of the Erasmus Plus programme ‘Innovative Education and Training in high power laser plasmas’, otherwise known as PowerLaPs, is described. The PowerLaPs programme employs an innovative paradigm in that it is a multi-centre programme, where teaching takes place in five separate institutes with a range of different aims and styles of delivery. The ‘in-class’ time is limited to 4 weeks a year, and the programme spans 2 years. PowerLaPs aims to train students from across Europe in theoretical, applied and laboratory skills relevant to the pursuit of research in laser plasma interaction physics and inertial confinement fusion. Lectures are intermingled with laboratory sessions and continuous assessment activities. The programme, which is led by workers from the Hellenic Mediterranean University and supported by co-workers from the Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Bordeaux, the Czech Technical University in Prague, Ecole Polytechnique, the University of Ioannina, the University of Salamanca and the University of York, has just finished its second and final year. Six Learning Teaching Training activities have been held at the Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Bordeaux, the Czech Technical University, the University of Salamanca and the Institute of Plasma Physics and Lasers of the Hellenic Mediterranean University. The last of these institutes hosted two 2-week-long Intensive Programmes, while the activities at the other four universities were each 5 days in length. In addition, a ‘Multiplier Event’ was held at the University of Ioannina, which will be briefly described. In this second year, the work has concentrated on training in both experimental diagnostics and simulation techniques appropriate to the study of plasma physics, high power laser matter interactions and high energy density physics. The nature of the programme will be described in detail, and some metrics relating to the activities carried out will be presented. In particular, this paper will focus on the overall assessment of the programme.

Preparation and properties of biomimetic hydroxyapatite-based nanocomposite utilizing bamboo fiber

Biomass fiber is currently one of the most attractive research pursuits in the biomaterials field. In this study, bamboo fiber (BF) was firstly chosen to replace other polymers to prepare nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA)-based nanocomposite, and the effects of different states, treatments methods, the addition amounts and addition methods of BF on the formation of n-HA on BF fiber and the corresponding n-HA/BF composites were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electromechanical universal tester, in vitro soaking in simulated body fluid and in vitro cell culture experiment. Results demonstrated that n-HA with the irregular morphology was attached on BF fibers, and it could be hybridized with BF to form n-HA/BF composite, however, there was subtle difference of the crystallinity, size and formed amount of n-HA attached on the different BF fibers, which brought about different surface properties of the n-HA/BF composites. And 30 wt% BF endowed the n-HA/BF composite with the best mechanical properties, whose was by far higher than that of pure n-HA. In addition, in vitro simulated body fluids soaking results indicated that n-HA/BF composites displayed different water absorption rates, and all n-HA/BF composites could promote the apatite deposit. Meanwhile, the n-HA/BF composites exhibited good cytocompatibility, including attachment and proliferation. All results proved that single BF polymer could be used to act as the organic matrix to prepare n-HA-based nanocomposite by replacing collagen component of natural bone, and the alkali treated and undissolved BF with 30 wt% addition amount by precipitated method was the best appropriate condition to prepare the ideal n-HA/BF composite. Consequently, the study would open up a new application of natural BF in the biomedical field. In this manuscript, bamboo fiber (BF) was firstly chosen to replace other polymers to prepare nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA)-based nanocomposite, and the effects of different states, treatments methods, the addition amounts and addition methods of BF on the formation of n-HA were investigated. Results demonstrated that n-HA with the irregular morphology was attached onto BF and hybridized with BF, and n-HA possessed different crystallinity and size, which brought about different properties of the n-HA/BF composites. Overall, the alkali treated and undissolved BF with 30 wt% addition amount by co-precipitated method was the best appropriate condition to prepare the ideal n-HA/BF composite, which had a great potential to be used as bone materials. The study proved that single BF could replace other polymers to develop n-HA-based nanocomposite used as bone materials, which would open up a new idea to utilize BF in biomedical field. SEM micrographs of samples. (a) Pure n-HA, (b) alkali/undissolved/precipitated, (c) unalkali/undissolved/precipitated, (d) alkali/dissolved/co-precipitated, (e) alkali/undissolved/blended, (f) acid/undissolved/precipitated, (A) 20%BF/n-HA, (B) 30%BF/n-HA, (C) 40%BF/n-HA

TEACHING OF ELECTROMAGNETISM WITH NDT (novel data technologies)

The importance to the affective domain in learning is underscored in many research pursuits at the expense of the cognitive development of students studying science, in particular, physics. The thesis has proposed a structure, the pedagogical technological combined medium (PTCM) founded on the electronic model, that builds on the existing premises of pedagogy, content, and technology to make space for the affective domain where these three premises intersect with each other. Establishment of the PTCM framework through a multi-loop model that explores the affective dimension as an overarching space for interaction among learners, teachers, and parents through a series of stages included home tasks, as well as seminar and out-of-university activities. The paper is wanted to show the effectiveness of the methods and techniques of teaching «Electromagnetism». The context provides the results of new technological education teaching, samples the needed literature, and also to bond strengthen the scientific research. Key words: education, teaching, modern education technology, electromagnetism.

Manipulation of the dually thermoresponsive behavior of peptide-based vesicles through modification of collagen-like peptide domains.

Materials that respond to temporally defined exogenous cues continue to be an active pursuit of research toward on‐demand nanoparticle drug delivery applications, and using one or more exogenous temperature stimuli could significantly expand the application of nanoparticle‐based drug delivery formulations under both hyperthermal and hypothermal conditions. Previously we have reported the development of a biocompatible and thermoresponsive elastin‐b‐collagen‐like polypeptide (ELP‐CLP) conjugate that is capable of self‐assembling into vesicles and encapsulating small molecule therapeutics that can be delivered at different rates via a single temperature stimulus. Herein we report the evaluation of multiple ELP‐CLP conjugates, demonstrating that the inverse transition temperature (T t) of the ELP‐CLPs can be manipulated by modifying the melting temperature (T m) of the CLP domain, and that the overall hydrophilicity of the ELP‐CLP conjugate also may alter the T t. Based on these design parameters, we demonstrate that the ELP‐CLP sequence (VPGFG)6‐(GPO)7GG can self‐assemble into stable vesicles at 25°C and dissociate at elevated temperatures by means of the unfolding of the CLP domain above its T m. We also demonstrate here for the first time the ability of this ELP‐CLP vesicle to dissociate via a hypothermic temperature stimulus by means of exploiting the inverse transition temperature (T t) phenomena found in ELPs. The development of design rules for manipulating the thermal properties of these bioconjugates will enable future modifications to either the ELP or CLP sequences to more finely tune the transitions of the conjugates for specific biomedical applications.

Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Orange Peel Extract Prepared by Plasmochemical Extraction Method and Degradation of Methylene Blue under Solar Irradiation

In pursuit of greener nanoscale research, the utilization of the reductive potency of a common byproduct of food-processing industry, i.e., orange peel, has been researched to prepare “green” silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and scanning electron microscopy. The results confirmed that silver nanoparticles were formed at the investigated concentrations of Ag+ (0.25–6.0 mmol/L) during 5–10 minutes, at ratio AgNO3 : extract (mL) = 1 : 1, and at 75°C. From the SEM images, the silver nanoparticles are found to be almost spherical. Powder XRD results reveal that Ag nanoparticles had a face-centered cubic crystal structure. The zeta potential value for AgNPs obtained was −21.7 mV, indicating the moderate stability of synthesized nanoparticles. The effect of pH on nanoparticle synthesis has been determined by adjusting the pH of the reaction mixtures. The catalytic effectiveness of the prepared green catalyst, AgNPs, has also been investigated in catalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The catalytic degradation reaction under solar irradiation was completed (99%) within 35 min, signifying excellent catalytic properties of silver nanoparticles in the reduction of MB.

Centenary of the Department of Geography, University of Aberdeen

ABSTRACTPrior to the amalgamation of Aberdeen’s two medieval universities in 1860, Geography had been taught to undergraduate students at both King’s and Marischal Colleges since at least the late 16th Century. First mooted in the early 1900s, it was not until 1919 that a lectureship in Geography at Aberdeen was created and a ‘Department of Geography’ came into being. In this contribution we chronicle how, over a century, the Geography department has evolved, highlighting developments in the curriculum and research-related activities. The early decades of the Department were shaped by John McFarlane, the first and only full-time appointee in Geography until his retirement in 1945. The post-World War II period, led by Andrew O’Dell, saw Geography develop into a large and influential Department. During the 1960s and 1970s, the Department (and University) experienced unprecedented levels of growth. Student numbers, research output and income accelerated apace. In the recent past national assessments of research and teaching quality and institutional restructuring have prompted further change. As the Department enters a second century it remains committed to delivering a high quality education to undergraduate and postgraduate students and to the pursuit of excellent geographical research.

Prolonged neutrophil retention in the wound impairs zebrafish heart regeneration after cryoinjury

Neutrophils are the first line defenders in the innate immune response, and rapidly migrate to an infected or injured area. Recently, bidirectional migration of neutrophils to the wound and the corresponding functions have become popular research pursuits. In zebrafish larvae, CXCR1/CXCL8 is the predominant chemoattractant pathway to recruit neutrophil to wound, while CXCR2/CXCL8 pathway mediate neutrophil dispersal in wound after injury. Here, we found that both CXCR1/CXCL8 and LTB4/BLT1 signals are activated in zebrafish heart after cryoinjury. And with a CXCR1/2 selective inhibitor (SB225002) treatment, the recruitment of neutrophils was not affected, but reverse migration of neutrophils was inhibited after cryoinjury of heart. We suggested that the neutrophil recruitment to cryoinjured area might be mediated by LTB4/BLT1 signals at the presence of SB225002. Therefore, SB225002 treatment resulted more accumulation and long retention of neutrophils in the injured heart. The long retention of neutrophils in the wound promoted revascularization in the injured heart; however, the AKT/mTOR pathway was inhibited and the regeneration was impaired. Our findings suggest that retention of neutrophils is a well-orchestrated process and might regulate regeneration by the AKT/mTOR pathway.

The False Hope of Becoming a Neuropsychologist. A Call for Action!

Abstract The Problem According to the Census Bureau, the number of immigrants living in the US will increase to 69 million by 2060. Unfortunately, the number of international neuropsychologists who practice in the U.S. is behind in terms of this expected shift in the population. This is not due to a lack of interest - as many international students are accepted into neuropsychology doctoral programs each year. However, the acquisition of appropriate postdoctoral training proves to be a significant challenge. In general, the required two-year postdoctoral positions in neuropsychology are competitive, as they should be; however, international students are at a remarkable disadvantage. They cannot stay in the U.S. without a sponsor for a visa after a year of graduating, thus placing them in a disadvantaged state to secure a neuropsychology postdoctoral position. The Impact Given the projected population changes, neuropsychological assessments will have to be adjusted, new norms will need to be collected, and providers who speak non-English languages will be in higher demand. International neuropsychologists contribute to the field of neuropsychology through the addition of cultural competence, the enrichment in our understanding of cognition across racial and ethnic groups, and the development and selection of tests from a different perspective. In addition, they strengthen research pursuits, increase access to high-quality healthcare service to minorities, and provide quality service to non-English speaking patients. Finally, they can disseminate quality neuropsychological services throughout the world. Call for Action We encourage all neuropsychologists to create an action plan to support international students. There are many ways in which this could be accomplished: advocate to your human resource department to sponsor international students, educate yourself on the barriers and the process of sponsoring a work/training visa, and assist international students in strengthening their training experience with research, authorship, and collaboration.

New insight into the impact of biochar during vermi-stabilization of divergent biowastes: Literature synthesis and research pursuits

Biochar amendment for compost stabilization of divergent biowastes is gaining considerable attention due to environmental, agronomic and economic benefits. Research to date exhibits its favorable physico-chemical characteristics, viz. greater porosity, surface area, amount of functional groups, and cation exchange capacity (CEC), which allow interface with main nutrient cycles, favor microbial activities during composting, and improve the reproduction of earthworms during vermicomposting. Biochar amendment during composting and vermicomposting of biowastes boosts physico-chemical properties of compost mixture, microbial activities and organic matter degradation; and reduces nitrogen loss and emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). It also improves the quality of final compost by increasing concentration of plant available nutrients, enhancing maturity, decreasing composting duration and reducing the toxicity of compost. Due to these characteristics, biochar could be considered a beneficial additive for the stabilization of different biowastes during composting and vermicomposting processes. Hence, good quality vermicompost, efficient recycling and management of biowastes could be achieved by addition of biochar through composting and vermicomposting.

Contemporary Periodization of Altitude Training for Elite Endurance Athletes: A Narrative Review.

Since the 1960s there has been an escalation in the purposeful utilization of altitude to enhance endurance athletic performance. This has been mirrored by a parallel intensification in research pursuits to elucidate hypoxia-induced adaptive mechanisms and substantiate optimal altitude protocols (e.g., hypoxic dose, duration, timing, and confounding factors such as training load periodization, health status, individual response, and nutritional considerations). The majority of the research and the field-based rationale for altitude has focused on hematological outcomes, where hypoxia causes an increased erythropoietic response resulting in augmented hemoglobin mass. Hypoxia-induced non-hematological adaptations, such as mitochondrial gene expression and enhanced muscle buffering capacity may also impact athletic performance, but research in elite endurance athletes is limited. However, despite significant scientific progress in our understanding of hypobaric hypoxia (natural altitude) and normobaric hypoxia (simulated altitude), elite endurance athletes and coaches still tend to be trailblazers at the coal face of cutting-edge altitude application to optimize individual performance, and they already implement novel altitude training interventions and progressive periodization and monitoring approaches. Published and field-based data strongly suggest that altitude training in elite endurance athletes should follow a long- and short-term periodized approach, integrating exercise training and recovery manipulation, performance peaking, adaptation monitoring, nutritional approaches, and the use of normobaric hypoxia in conjunction with terrestrial altitude. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of accumulated altitude training through repeated exposures, the interactions between altitude and other components of a periodized approach to elite athletic preparation, and the time course of non-hematological hypoxic adaptation and de-adaptation, and the potential differences in exercise-induced altitude adaptations between different modes of exercise.

Germline genome editing versus preimplantation genetic diagnosis: Is there a case in favour of germline interventions?

CRISPR is widely considered to be a disruptive technology. However, when it comes to the most controversial topic, germline genome editing (GGE), there is no consensus on whether this technology has any substantial advantages over existing procedures such as embryo selection after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Answering this question, however, is crucial for evaluating whether the pursuit of further research and development on GGE is justified. This paper explores the question from both a clinical and a moral viewpoint, namely whether GGE has any advantages over existing technologies of selective reproduction and whether GGE could complement or even replace them. In a first step, I review an argument of extended applicability. The paper confirms that there are some scenarios in which only germline intervention allows couples to have (biologically related) healthy offspring, because selection will not avoid disease. In a second step, I examine possible moral arguments in favour of genetic modification, namely that GGE could save some embryos and that GGE would provide certain benefits for a future person that PGD does not. Both arguments for GGE have limitations. With regard to the extended applicability of GGE, however, a weak case in favour of GGE should still be made.

Responsible innovation as empowering ways of knowing

ABSTRACTIn pursuit of responsible research and innovation (RRI), emphasis has been on various forms of inclusion in the governance of science, technology and innovation. Given that much of the ideas on inclusion in fact refer to discursive inclusion, it is surprising that little attention has hitherto been paid to what seems foundational to any discursive space: ontologies (theories of being) and epistemologies (theories of knowing), and notably how these relate to inclusion and exclusion. By means of an action-research case study on responsible innovation on biogasification in rural India, we show that one important mechanism of exclusion exists in a dispossession of epistemological agency and the rendering of ontologies as anomalous, even if this is not directly visible as social exclusion. We argue that RRI should adopt as one of its central values the epistemological empowerment of relevant groups.

Botany Teaching: An Overview of Academic Research in Brazil from 2002 to 2017

The enchantment by Botany teaching represents not an ordinary feeling among students, and even Biology teachers, at every educational level. Researches throughout the Botany teaching area point to a fragmented, decontextualized, quite theoretical and unattractive process. Therefore, in recent years, Botany has changed from a beloved science into a neglected science because of the botanical blindness that has been established in the general population. Thus, the present work aims to present a panorama of the academic researches about Botany teaching in Brazil. It was carried out of theses, dissertations, and articles published from 2002 to 2017. This period was intentionally selected as it fits the establishment of the Guidelines Curriculum for Biological Sciences courses. In parallel, the pursuit of researches on Botany teaching in other countries was also carried out, to verify the international scenario. The investigations were developed in CAPES, IBICT, and SCIELO portals, based on previously defined descriptors. The results, published in Brazil and in other countries, point out the lack of information and a valorization crisis of the scientific knowledge in the process of Botany teaching, both in basic and higher education. This finding gains strength especially when we check the publications of the Biological Sciences - Licentiate courses. These should present deep concerns with the process of teaching to teach, as the teaching roots are similar to the way we receive and comprehend it, which seems the reason Botany teaching ends up being relegated when compared to other areas of knowledge.

Rinse and Repeat: Understanding the Value of Replication across Different Ways of Knowing

The increasing pursuit of replicable research and actual replication of research is a political project that articulates a very specific technology of accountability for science. This project was initiated in response to concerns about the openness and trustworthiness of science. Though applicable and valuable in many fields, here we argue that this value cannot be extended everywhere, since the epistemic content of fields, as well as their accountability infrastructures, differ. Furthermore, we argue that there are limits to replicability across all fields; but in some fields, including parts of the humanities, these limits severely undermine the value of replication to account for the value of research.

One-Pot-Architectured Au-Nanodot-Promoted MoS2/ZnIn2S4: A Novel p-n Heterojunction Photocatalyst for Enhanced Hydrogen Production and Phenol Degradation.

Developing effective and simple one-pot synthetic strategies regarding the formation of heterojunction photocatalytic semiconductors remains an intense challenge in research pursuits. Further scheming of the p-n heterojunction has sustained renewed interest in catalysis, photocatalysis, energy storage, and conversion because they easily accelerate the bulk charge separation efficiency. Thus we have successfully designed a Au-MoS2/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction photocatalyst for the first time by adopting a simple one-pot hydrothermal technique, followed by a deposition-precipitation method. By adjusting the mole ratio of Mo with that of Zn and In precursors, we have fabricated a MoS2/ZnIn2S4 p-n heterojunction photocatalyst, and the established p-n heterojunction between MoS2 and ZnIn2S4 is demonstrated by various physicochemical and morphological characterizations. An interfacial junction is created between MoS2 and ZnIn2S4 at the depletion region via an in situ formation mechanism, leading to the enhancement of the charge separation through the p-n heterojunction and thus improving the photocatalytic activity. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity is projected to further improve by the incorporation of Au nanodots on the surface of MoS2/ZnIn2S4 photocatalysts. The increase in activity is due to the generation and participation of a large number of direct-electron-transfer-induced hot electrons in the photochemical reaction. From the experimental results, Au-MoS2/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction photocatalysts with only 1% MoS2 and 1% Au loading content displayed a 561.25 μmol/h H2 evolution rate and 84% degradation of phenol, which are nearly 15 and 6 times higher than those neat ZnIn2S4. In addition Au-MoS2/ZnIn2S4 photocatalysts exhibit a photocurrent density of ∼2.56 mAcm-2, which is nearly 2.4 times higher than that of the MoS2/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction photocatalyst. This exertion represents the synergetic enhancement of photocatalytic activity through the p-n heterojunction as well as the hot-electron participation by the metal nanocatalyst, which is an inspiration for developing efficient photocatalysts.

Tungsten-Doped VO2/Starch Derivative Hybrid Nanothermochromic Hydrogel for Smart Window.

Highly efficient energy-saving windows with high solar modulation properties (ΔTsol) are the everlasting pursuit of research for industrial applications in the smart window field. Hybridization is an effective means of improving both ΔTsol and luminous transmittance (Tlum). In this paper, hybrid thermochromic films were synthesized using tungsten-doped VO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and starch derivatives. Thermoresponsive 2-hydroxy-3-butoxypropyl starch (HBPS) was prepared with a low critical solution temperature (LCST) varying from 32 to 21 °C by the substitution of reactive groups. The hybrid film was obtained by dispersing W-doped VO2 NPs in HBPS hydrogels, which exhibiting remarkable solar modulation property (ΔTsol = 34.3%) with a high average luminous transmittance (Tlum, average = 53.9%).