Young Researchers Research Articles

Spiritual and Intellectual Development of Young Researchers in the Process of Their Scientific Formation in Institutions of Higher Education

On the basis of the analysis of scientific and pedagogical literature and the practice of research activity, the peculiarities of the spiritual and intellectual development of young researchers in the process of their scientific formation were revealed. It has been proven that the level of their methodological culture is the basis of the spiritual and intellectual development of education seekers as a systematic factor that ensures the systematization of cognitive and value-oriented strategies, relevant knowledge and skills, and becomes the core of the personal, professional and scientific development of a teacher-researcher. In this context, spiritual-intellectual development should be built on the basis of systemic, integral, narrative, activity, person-oriented, axiological humanistic, competence-based, cultural, adaptive and other approaches. The functions of methodological culture are singled out, such as worldview, cognitive, prognostic, semiotic, critical-reflexive, creative, and the function of professional self-development of the future teacher, which are directed by the worldview function. In the direction of spiritual and intellectual development, the stages of scientific formation of young researchers are highlighted: 1) entry into scientific and pedagogical activity (comprehension of the basic provisions of scientific and pedagogical activity, acquaintance with the research process); 2) scientific and professional formation (mastery of basic categories, methods of scientific and pedagogical knowledge, motivational and value orientation to scientific research); 3) conscious scientific search (spiritual and intellectual enrichment, mastering the basics of methodological culture, implementation of a research program); 4) scientific maturity (deep awareness of the specifics of pedagogical knowledge, personal growth, mastering cognitive processes and ways of thinking, methodological reflection, obtaining objective research results). The conducted research and taking into account the principles of academic integrity testify to the spiritual and intellectual growth of young researchers, which appears as an effective characteristic of methodological culture, which actualizes scientific and pedagogical thinking and acquires a proactive orientation and predicts their scientific activity.

The Role of Maternal Blood Elabela Levels in the Prediction of Placenta Previa and Accreta

IntroductionPlacenta previa and Placenta Accreta Spectrum are life-threatening obstetric conditions that are challenging to diagnose accurately. Currently, there is no biochemical parameter available for their diagnosis. The aim of our study is to investigate the potential of Elabela as a laboratory marker that could predict placenta previa and placenta accreta, both of which can lead to severe, life-threatening complications for the mother. MethodsIn this study, which was conducted prospectively in two tertiary centers between 2020 and 2022, Elabela levels were examined in patient groups with placental insertion and invasion anomalies. SPSS program was used for comparative statistical analysis between groups. ResultsOf the 67 analyzed patients, 32 were in the control group, 12 were in the previa group, and 23 were in the accreta group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding age, BMI, number of curettages, presence of previous cesarean section, and smoking status. The Elabela level was measured at 135.6 ± 72.1 in the control group, 988.3 ± 925.5 in the previa group, and 376 ± 364.6 in the accreta group, with a statistically significant difference between the groups. The cut-off value of Elabela levels in the previa group was determined to be 304, with a sensitivity of 83.30% and a specificity of 83.60% (AUC = 0.909). In the accreta group, the cut-off value was 195.5, with a sensitivity of 60.90% and a specificity of 61.40% (AUC = 0.658). DiscussionBy showing that the prediction of placenta previa and placenta acreata can be made with a biochemical parameter in our study, young researchers will focus more on this subject and thus make many contributions to science.

50 Years of the Czech and Slovak Society of Experimental Cardiology – Historical Background and Scientific Benefit

The history of the Czech and Slovak experimental cardiology describes a completely unusual curve. The personality of J.E. Purkynje caused this field to reach unprecedented peak at the very beginning of its modern history. The development of experimental cardiology after the death of the great scholar was certainly not linear. Just when it seemed to be raising its head, the German occupation came. Its second hopeful awakening was delayed for a long time by forty years of isolation. The significant limitation of foreign contacts gradually led to the loss of hopefully developing contacts, to professional isolation and lagging behind the stormy development of world science. At the moment of greatest depression, in 1971, in Prague there was created a professional forum that was supposed to enable its intellectual survival and reduce the negative consequences of the “splendid isolation”. The Society of Experimental Cardiology (SEC) was founded at the Czechoslovak Physiological Society of the Czechoslovak Medical Society J.E. Purkynje, with the main task of introducing theoretical and clinical cardiologists to the advances in world cardiology. The first meeting was held in 1973 and in 2023 we celebrated already the 50th anniversary of SEC. Moreover, nowadays we see the increasing interest of the young researchers, both experimental and clinical cardiologists, who consider SEC a very attractive platform for their education and professional growth.

Using ansys fluent udf for numerical study of the movement of the rollers of a downhole positive displacement pump

In order to improve the design and increase the technical characteristics of pump and compressor equipment, computational modeling of fluid dynamics is used. Numerical research techniques of positive displacement machines are quite diverse and are widely used for vane and gerotor pumps. The roller rotary pump considered in this work is used for oil production in the sidetracks of oil wells. The difference in the design is the use of rollers as partitions separating the working chambers of the pump. The authors of the article propose a method for studying the movement of rollers in the Ansys (Fluent) software package, and related issues of creating userdefined functions (UDF) to describe reciprocating motion using the macro DEFINE_CG_MOTION (name, dt, vel, omega, time, dtime). It is shown that the result of calculating the movement speed in ansys fluent differs from the graph of the given function. A sine law is substantiated to describe the speed of movement of the roller’s center of mass. The method for determining the coefficients in a sinusoidal dependence is described and it is shown how these coefficients affect the movement of the roller. The results obtained in the study can be used when performing verification of analytical calculation methods with finite element modeling data using UDF Ansys, and will also help young researchers understand the writing of UDF DEFINE_CG_MOTION. Keywords: fuel and energy complex; oil and gas industry; well equipment; volumetric pump; Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD); numerical simulation; moving mesh; User Define Function (UDF).

On the Development of Publication Experience as a New Direction of Young Researchers’ Education. Review of the Book “The Principles of Publication Activities”

The review analyzes the recently published textbook entitled “The Principles of Publication Activities”. It was written by authors who work at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University. Today, this subject area is at its initial phase of development in Russia, while all published study guides predominantly focus only on one of many aspects of publication processes. The main features of the analyzed book include (a) a complex review of the problems, and (b) their description from different viewpoints. It is authored by editors, scientometricians and lecturers, as all of them demonstrate a high level of personal engagement in research and publishing activities. The authors observe all actual issues of modern publication processes in a concise manner but give a sufficient number of illustrative examples and instructions to young researchers regarding preparation of manuscripts, their submission to a journal and further promotion into academic information space. Different types of research documents are thoroughly described, the stages of their preparation are characterized, recommendations on communication with journal editors and peer-reviewers are provided, the topical principles of publishing ethics are depicted, as well as features of functioning and assessment of published papers in different information systems are presented. The textbook will be useful for both young researchers and lecturers who teach students and postgraduates the basics of information and publishing activities.

19th Prof. Vladas Gronskas International Scientific Conference: Abstract Book

The “19th Prof. Vladas Gronskas International Scientific Conference” conference is an arena for cooperation and scholarly fellowship with young researchers and bachelor, master, and doctoral students from Lithuania and foreign countries. It is an arena for open discussion where young researchers can present and share their scientific insights. This conference encourages internationalization and closer cooperation between science and business. The conference keynote speakers – business representatives – provide participants with new insights and inspiration for further research. The main goal of this scientific gathering is to contribute to a reliable, safe, effective, and sustainable economy and business development. Encouraging entrepreneurship is a crucial condition for economic growth, and this puts forward a new approach to business, creativity, value creation, and innovation. It is precisely in this context that industry and science should interact.

Conference report: Fifth annual young researcher forum of the Japan Society of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences for Traditional Medicine

AbstractSeven young researchers presented their studies in the field of traditional Japanese herbal medicine (Wakan‐yaku) at the Fifth Annual Young Researcher Forum held the day before the 2024 annual meeting of the Japan Society of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences for Traditional Medicine. Ms Tanide presented on the changes in flavonoid and synephrine content in chimpi based on the storage period. Ms Hamai discussed natural compounds that contribute to improving bortezomib resistance in myeloma cells and their mechanisms of action. Ms Nishiura presented the production of a monoclonal antibody against geniposide and its application in indirect competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Mr Hatae presented about the effects of ninjin'yoeito on cisplatin‐induced anorexia and the variations in intestinal clock genes. Ms Nose explored the analgesic effects of bushi‐containing Kampo formulas, with a focus on goshajinkigan's improvement of cold allodynia. Dr Oda discussed the antifungal activity of henna leaves against Malassezia. Lastly, Mr Fukuda presented how cultivation environments affect the quality of Schizonepeta spikes, including their morphology and component content. The event, conducted both in person and online, attracted a total of 54 participants. Looking ahead, we aim to further develop and continue hosting this forum in 2025 and beyond, fostering the advancement of research in this field.

Academics in ophthalmology : An analysis of the gender distribution at German university hospitals and the Clinician Scientist Program

The number of female ophthalmologists has risen steadily in recent years. The aim of this study is to investigate the gender ratios, subspecialties, and academic degrees of ophthalmologists at German university hospitals. Additionally, the study analyzes the proportion of women in science programs such as the Clinician Scientist Program. Data collection was performed in August 2023 based on the official websites of university eye clinics and the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG). The numbers of male and female residents, specialists, senior physicians, and chief physicians as well as subspecialties and academic degrees were determined. Information on the Clinician Scientist Program was collected in a2022 survey by the Medical Faculty Council. In August 2023 there were two female chief physicians at the university eye clinics (5%), both specialized in retinal surgery. There were more male senior physicians than female senior physicians (59.9% vs.40.1%). There was no significant difference between the genders in terms of the number of habilitations (p = 0.554). There were more female specialists than male specialists at the university clinics (58.6% vs. 41.4%) as well as more female residents (56.9% vs. 43.1%). Female specialists were significantly more likely to hold adoctorate than their male colleagues (p = 0.037). The percentage of female applicants for the Clinician Scientist Program nationwide in 2022 was 46.6%, with 41.8% female program starters in 2021 and 39.7% female program graduates in 2021. Senior and chief physician roles at university eye clinics remain predominantly occupied by men. Additionally, support programs for young researchers are still predominantly awarded to men.

Monitoring spatiotemporal changes in global change drivers and their effects on semiarid woodlands and forests - fieldwork protocol

Training schools play a vital role in COST actions, particularly for young researchers, as they provide opportunities to visit international laboratories and learn new methodologies. In May 2024, CLEANFOREST organized its first training school, Monitoring Spatiotemporal Changes in Global Change Drivers and Their Effects on Semiarid Woodlands and Forests, held at the Faculty of Science of the Universidade de Lisboa. The training school included a field trip designed to explore global change drivers and their impacts on semiarid woodlands and forests. Participants engaged in hands-on activities to understand how forest ecosystems interact with key global change factors such as air quality and climate change. They were introduced to various monitoring techniques and parameters for assessing forest health, including ecosystem fluxes, tree physiology, mortality, and regeneration. Additionally, participants examined plant biodiversity and functional ecology, focusing on lichens and their connection to air quality. Soil-related topics, such as the characterization of forest soils and their physico-chemical properties, were also addressed. Participants applied these methodologies in real-world scenarios, conducting measurements in different grazing management settings to assess their effects on tree growth, biodiversity, and soil properties. They then processed and analyzed the collected data, synthesizing their results to develop recommendations for sustainable forest management in the context of global change. This paper presents the field trip protocol used at Companhia das Lezírias, where simplified versions of established methodologies for sampling various ecosystem components were employed. The protocol provides a valuable reference for replicating similar studies, ensuring consistency in methodologies for future training and monitoring efforts.

A Longitudinal Analysis Comparing the Mental Health of Children By Level of Young Carer Status.

Young carers research has predominantly focused on the experiences of children who often provide substantial levels of care for family members, and the impacts of this caring on their lives. While quantitative studies of prevalence have increased, there have been increasing calls for cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of young carers relative to children without caring responsibilities, to strengthen and challenge the existing evidence on impact. The study utilized the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England: Next Steps (LSYPE), a cohort study of over 12,500 children aged 13 in 2004. The data set enabled the cross-sectional and longitudinal study of young carers mental health relative to those without caring responsibilities. A descriptive analysis produced separate prevalence estimates for the whole young carer spectrum and those with more substantial responsibilities, and assessed caring impact on individual mental health aspects. This was a precursor to the structural equation modelling (SEM) of their overall mental health. The findings highlighted the marginal or positive impacts of short-term caring responsibilities, but also how mental health deteriorated over time. Both the short-term benefits and long-term deterioration of mental health was of a higher magnitude for those with more substantial responsibilities. The analysis of the larger young carer spectrum highlighted a diversity of positive and negative outcomes. While this was partly due to the size of the caring roles, duration of time in the carer role was a key factor in problematic caring roles.

A Brief Review of Hydrodynamic Circulation in the Mediterranean Gulfs

In this paper, a brief review regarding the hydrodynamic circulation of the Mediterranean gulfs is presented. Studies concerning the hydrodynamics of the Mediterranean gulfs with significant environmental and commercial importance were gathered as an initial insight of studies in the Mediterranean microtidal environment. Numerical models, field measurements, and satellite images are the methods used by the investigators for the description and prediction of the circulation in the gulfs. The basic hydrodynamic characteristics of the gulfs are mainly defined by the wind action and less by tide and baroclinicity. Most of the gulfs are characterized by a cyclonic wind-driven circulation, since the tidal effect remains weak in the Mediterranean basin. However, tidal resonance and strong currents are evident in the shallow coastal areas as well as in the wider area of straits. Basic gulfs’ characteristics are summarized in a table that gives an overview of the main Mediterranean gulfs, which can be especially useful for young researchers or new hydroenvironmental studies in the Mediterranean marine and coastal environment.

Mobility Medicine: A call to unify hyper-fragmented specialties by abstracts sent to 2025Pdm3, and typescripts to Ejtm3, and Diagnostics.

Mega scientific conferences increasingly suffer from the need for short and poster presentations without discussion. An alternative is to organize workshops in hotels large enough to accommodate all participants. This significantly increases the opportunities for constructive discussion during breakfasts, lunches, dinners and long evenings that can bring together experts of scientific and clinical sub-specialties and young fellows. Time for groups' discussions and new collaborations are increased so as the job opportunities for the young researchers. The Padova Muscle Days have offered in the previous thirty-five years these opportunities, which have matured into innovative and multidisciplinary results to the point that it came naturally to underline it with a neologism now included in the title of the 2025 event: "Mobility Medicine", a discipline not yet officially recognised, that makes explicit the call for rejoining knowledges dispersed in sub-specialisations. The included program of the Padua Days on Muscle and Mobility Medicine 2025 (2025Pdm3) will be hosted at the Hotel Petrarca in Euganean Thermae (Padua, Italy) from 25 to 29 March 2025. It further testifies by listing unique Sessions that it is possible to organize valid countermeasures to the inevitable tendencies towards hyperspecialization that the explosive increase in scientific progress brings with it. Furthermore, the European Journal of Translational Myology and Mobility Medicine (Ejtm3) will accept typescripts on results presented at the 2025Pdm3, together with the Special Section: New Trends in Musculoskeletal Imaging of the MDPI (Basel) Journal Diagnostics, because diagnosis is essential to prevent, manage and follow-up not only neuro-metabolic-muscular disorders, but the unavoidable physiologicical decay of performances in early and late aging. Hoping many others share our dreams, we look forward to meeting you at 2025Pdm3 conference.

No decision about me, without me: Collaborating with young people in mental health research.

Involving young people with lived experience in youth mental health research is important. In recognition of the value of collaborating with experts by experience, international funders are increasingly mandating that mental health research is developed by teams that include individuals from the population of study. Yet, research into how Patient Public Involvement, specifically co-production and co-design, is implemented in youth mental health research is limited to date. The current review examined this question and identified common practices for collaborating with experts by experience in young people's mental health research. Academic databases were systematically searched for studies that had involved young people in mental health research, had described these activities, and had reported some demographic information about the experts by experience. From a total of 2130 studies that were screened, 37 studies were eligible for inclusion. The use of co-production and co-design spanned a wide range of topics, including interventions, digital support tools and psychometric studies. Interactive workshops were the primary method of engaging experts by experience, although some studies utilised interviews or focus groups. From the reviewed studies we identified common methodological practices including: Scene setting, utilising a cyclical process, ensuring appropriate engagement and recognition of the cultural context. We draw on these findings to suggest common methods for conducting co-production and co-design activities, and emphasise the importance of ensuring experts by experience are respected and safeguarded throughout their collaboration in research. We also outline areas that deserve future attention and development, and include a response from two young people aged 16-18 and their suggestions for improving and extending co-production methods.

PRAGMATIC STRATEGIES OF VIRTUAL DISCOURSE

Online discourse is considered to be relatively a new field for researching although it is attracting views of scholars all over the world. It is evident that online discourse merits special attention. Consequently, this paper is devoted to the importance of virtual discourse. Our interest to online discourse was stimulated by pragmatic strategies of adolescent virtual discourse. Thus,this study aims to ascertain pragmatic strategies of virtual discourse. To accomplish this goal the attempts of reviewing discourse, its kinds and pragmatic intentions of communicants of virtual discourse, revealing the phenomenon of virtual language personality in some degree were undertaken. To define the pragmatic strategies of virtual discourse the authors applied to extracts of online Russian speaking adolescent virtual language personality texts. The research methodology is based on traditional linguistic methods, such as observation method, that allowed us to observe online texts from pragmalinguistic point of view, descriptive method, that was helpful in describing the pragmatic intentions of inter-communicants, contextual method, due to which we could see the sphere of communication, componential analysis, that facilitated analyzing the chosen linguistic means,interpretative analysis, which granted to highlight pragmatic strategies, etc. Current paper results in highlighting pragmatic strategies of adolescent virtual discourse analyzing the extracts from Facebook as one genre of virtual communication during winter vocation period. Scientific results of demonstrating pragmatic strategies of adolescent virtual discourse make it practically significant as an auxiliary tool for students, young researchers who are interested in discourse studies.

Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences Research Roadshow 2024

AUT’s Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences Research Roadshow is an annual event showcasing the diversity of research undertaken by faculty researchers, and postgraduate students. The 2024 faculty research roadshow was held on Thursday 12 September at AUT’s North Campus. The AUT Child and Youth Health Research Centre investigates the impact of illness and disability, home and family, health services, nutrition, physical activity and the wider environment on young people. We are committed to providing a space for young people’s voices. CYHRC presented members’ research abstracts. The theme of the roadshow was ‘Partnerships for Impact’ which for CYHRC projects incorporates – Youth as participants and coresearchers – Researchers in this field aim for meaningful youth engagement throughout the research process, from design, through recruitment and fieldwork, to dissemination. All important are efforts to create inclusive environments, provide appropriate support for youth, and demonstrate willingness to share decision-making power. For example, in two projects refugee youth were coresearchers helping to shape decision-making related to their health. Increasing the visibility of youth and the challenges they face - By focusing on a range of tools and activities, young participants and researchers, including postgraduate students, can significantly enhance their impact, visibility, and contributions to their fields. Building a strong research profile takes time and persistence, but ongoing effort will yield long-term benefits for research careers and the wider society. Partnering with organizations and actors interested in youth health – Such partnerships can contribute to youth health and empowerment and significantly increase the impact of research on youth voicelessness by application of key strategies and ensuring that organisations foster appropriate cultures and mindsets within their own and other organisations. By fostering partnerships, researchers can create a more robust ecosystem for addressing youth voicelessness. This collaborative approach ensures that research is not only more comprehensive and relevant but also more likely to lead to tangible improvements in young people's lives and opportunities for their voices to be heard. Challenges of partnering with youth given issues of voicelessness These include adult-centric perspectives and organisations, power imbalances, and communications difficulties. While there are many challenges, the potential for improved research impact makes youth engagement a valuable indeed imperative approach, especially for those focused on youth issues, such as youth health and wellbeing.

Preface

The International Conference on Frontiers in Pure and Applied Physics (ICFPAP-2024), held from 29 February to 2 March 2024, was organized by the Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) in collaboration with the Physics Academy of North-East (PANE). This conference served as a vital platform for researchers and scientists to exchange ideas, with tracks covering a broad spectrum from fundamental physics to advanced concepts. Aimed at bridging science and engineering, the conference aligned with the Indian government’s focus on outcome-based research to drive indigenous technology and innovation. It also provided young researchers a unique opportunity to learn from peers, enhancing their knowledge and career growth. The conference brought together around 250 researchers from diverse countries, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, Germany, the USA, Spain, Poland, the UK, Israel, Taiwan, and India. Featuring two plenary speakers and fourteen keynote speakers, ICFPAP-2024 presented a dynamic program with fifteen sessions spread across five parallel tracks, alongside two poster segments. With 120 oral and 90 poster presentations, the conference attracted both active presenters and attendees keen to learn from leading scientists. Held in a hybrid format, it offered flexibility with 20 online presentations upon request, while emphasizing in-person collaboration and engagement. The conference received 68 paper submissions, of which 63 were forwarded for review, with 76 reviewers ensuring the highest standards of scholarship to meet journal requirements, further elevating the quality and impact of the research shared. This book stands as a testament to the dedication of researchers bringing forward the latest advances in both theoretical and experimental physics from around the world. Covering a wide range of disciplines, it delves into areas such as condensed matter physics, material science, high energy and particle physics, atomic, molecular, and laser physics, as well as general relativity, astrophysics, and cosmology. It also explores plasma physics, nonlinear dynamics, nuclear and radiation physics, alongside instrumentation and communication technology. The book further extends into meteorology, atmospheric physics, and interdisciplinary sciences, showcasing the breadth of modern research aimed at deepening our understanding and pushing the boundaries of science. On behalf of the conference organizers, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all Guest Editors and Reviewers for their dedication and significant efforts, which greatly enriched the quality and success of this conference. We also wish to thank the authors and speakers for their invaluable contributions, which brought depth and relevance to the discussions. Our special thanks go to the USTM community and its outstanding facilities, which played a vital role in ensuring the smooth execution of the event. We are equally grateful to the members of PANE for their collaborative spirit, which enriched the conference experience. With such dedicated support, we are confident that future ICFPAP conferences will continue to reach new heights. Finally, we express our sincere appreciation to the editors and staff of Journal of Physics: Conference Series for their gracious assistance in publishing these proceedings. List of Committee Members are available in this Pdf.

Seductive emails, dangerous consequences: how predatory journals, conferences, and publishers target early-career researchers.

In recent years, early-career researchers and medical students have become targets of predatory publishers and conference organizers. These groups exploit the pressure to publish and gain recognition. They often offer tempting opportunities, such as fast publication, free travel, and prestigious positions. However, these offers often hide a profit-driven agenda. They lack academic integrity. Many of these events have little or no peer review. The impact metrics they claim are often inflated, and event details are vague. This paper aims to highlight the rise of predatory journals and conferences. It focuses on the harmful effects these organizations have on young researchers. We will identify the tactics they use. We will also point out key red flags. The goal is to help researchers, particularly medical students, understand how to navigate academic publishing and protect their careers. Predatory publishers and conferences pose a growing threat to academic integrity. Young researchers are especially vulnerable to these deceptive practices. It is important for academics to recognize warning signs. They should focus on quality over quantity when publishing. Educating the next generation of researchers is essential for preserving academic credibility.

How to assess the impact of fellowships on academic careers? Latent transition analyses for funding programmes of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

AbstractAlthough fellowship programmes continue to be seen as an effective means of advancing young researchers' academic careers, the impact of fellowship programmes on fellows' career development is still unclear. The central question of this article concerns the evaluation of fellowship programmes: What methodological challenges does the evaluation of fellowship programmes pose with regard to career development, and how these can be addressed in the context of evaluations? Specifically, there are three key methodological challenges facing research evaluation in the context of career development, which can be described by the terms 'impact', 'validity and fairness', and 'tailored programmes'. A career is understood as a transition between positions over time; career stages can be understood as latent categorical variables, i.e. types of career stages (temporary, full-time). Transition is modelled statistically using latent transition analyses within a person-centred approach. Covariates, such as funding programmes, can impact both the initial configurations (i.e. the frequency of fellows in different career stages) and the transition itself. A funding programme is fair if all fellows, regardless of their characteristics (gender, career stage, cohort), have the same chances of success. Different types of fellows with different career trajectories indicate heterogeneous subpopulations that require tailoring of funding programmes. The approach is illustrated with data on the career development of 1418 fellows from three Alexander von Humboldt Foundation programmes. The majority of fellows benefit in their academic careers from the funding, but the null hypothesis of no specific effects (e.g. programmes, age, gender) could not be rejected (endogenous and homogeneous trajectories).

Effect of Contamination in the Carbon Catalyst Support on Chemical Degradation of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes in Fuel Cells

Introduction One of the key components of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) is the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM). The PEM facilitates the transport of protons from the anode to the cathode, acts as an electronic insulator to prevent short circuits, and plays a role in preventing the direct reaction of hydrogen gas and oxygen in air. One of the major technical issues with PEMs is their chemical degradation, causing decomposition of their molecular structure. This leads to reduced protonic conductivity, increased hydrogen and oxygen crossover, and reduced mechanical strength, all of which significantly affect the power generation performance and durability of PEFCs (1). In addition, in our laboratory, the use of SnO2 and mesoporous carbon (MC) as cathode catalyst supports has been suggested to suppress membrane degradation (2). However, the relationship between the cathode catalyst materials and the chemical degradation of PEM has not yet been fully understood. Here in this study, we conduct durability tests such as accelerated chemical degradation of PEM in cells using cathode electrocatalysts with different carbon support materials, aiming to clarify the effects of carbon support materials properties (structure, contaminants, and graphitization) on the chemical degradation of electrolyte membranes. Experimental A commercial Pt/KB catalyst (TEC10E50E, Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo, Japan) was used as the anode catalyst. Several types of cathode catalysts were applied and compared: the commercial Pt/KB; Pt/MC where Pt was directly deposited on the MC; and various electrocatalysts where Pt was directly deposited on carbon supports such as graphitized AB (acetylene black). The durability test at open circuit voltage (OCV) was performed for 100 h. Before and after the durability test, cell performance, hydrogen crossover current density, and electrochemical surface area (ECSA) were characterized. The degree of membrane degradation was evaluated by measuring fluoride-ion emission rate (FER) by ion chromatography, and membrane thickness by cross-sectional observation with a focused-ion-beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM), as illustrated in Fig.1. Moreover, contaminants and graphitization of the carbon support materials were also analyzed, and their relationship to membrane degradation was considered. Results and discussion The results of OCV holding tests up to 100 h for four different MEAs are shown in Fig. 2. The voltage drop in using Pt/MC as cathode catalysts was smaller than that in using Pt/KB. The FER of Pt/MC as cathode catalysts was lower than that of Pt/KB as shown in Fig. 3, suggesting that the use of MC as carbon supports may suppress PEM degradation. In this presentation, we will show the effects of carbon support materials properties (structure, contaminants, and graphitization) in cathode catalysts on PEM degradation, and discuss possible mechanisms based on the characteristics of various carbon supports. Acknowledgements This paper is based on results obtained from a project, JPNP20003, commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). An educational part for young scientists was supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) through the program “Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem” (ASPIRE), Grant Number JPMJAP2307. The presenting author (S. Nakamura) is supported by the Miyamoto Jun-ichi Hydrogen Research Award, and the Kyushu University Q-PIT Support Program for Young Researchers and Doctoral Students. References M. Zatoń, J. Rozière, and D. J. Jones, Sustain. Energy Fuels, 1, 409 (2017).S. Nakamura, T. Ogawa, Z. Gautama, Z. Noda, M. Yasutake, S. M. Lyth, J. Matsuda, A. Hayashi, M. Nishihara, and K. Sasaki, ECS Trans., 112 (4), 315 (2023). Figure 1

Organic π-Conjugated Polymers as a Photoelectrocatalyst for Water-Splitting

Introduction Hydrogen gas (H2 ) is an important chemical feedstock; it is used as a reductant in petroleum refining, ammonia synthesis, the manufacture of stainless steel, and the production of core chemicals (e.g., methanol) and food (e.g., margarine). H2 is also regarded to be a critical and indispensable clean fuel for sustainable energy systems because of its extremely high energy density of 142 kJ g−1 (vs. 44 kJ g−1 for gasoline) and low pollution emissions.1) However, H2 is presently produced by conversion of hydrocarbons or fossil fuels and is accompanied by enormous energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. To realize carbon neutral and sustainable circulation technology, carbon-free and green H2 production methods, such as water-splitting, are required. 2) Results and discussion This presentation describes organic π-conjugated polymers as a novel photoelectrocatalyst towards water-splitting.2-4) π-Conjugated polymers synthesized without residual metals were developed to function in "water", which defied common sense, leading to this novel catalytic ability. In detail, (1) we succeeded in synthesizing polythiophene, which is a type of π-conjugated polymer, in a film form without residual metal by our unique iodine-vapor-phase polymerization method (2) We found that this polythiophene film worked as a novel photoelectrocatalyst that absorbs visible-light and highly efficiently reduces water to generate H2 . (3) In addition, based on a rigid π-conjugated polymer structure, this polythiophene film catalyzed water-splitting/ H2 production with surprisingly high durability (more than 1 month without no degradation). The development of environmentally-friendly organic catalysts that do not use precious metals will lead to the production of truly green H2 .We will also describe developments to other catalytic functions (O2 reduction/ H2O2 production etc.) of organic π-conjugated polymers. References 1) Schlapbach, L. et al., Nature, 2001, 414, 353-358.2) Oka, K. et al., Adv. Energy Mater., 2021, 11, 2003724.3) Oka, K. et al., Energy Environ. Sci., 2018, 11, 1335-1342.4) Oka, K. et al., Adv. Energy Mater. 2019, 9, 1803286. Acknowledgment This work was partially supported by Grants-in-Aids for Scientific Research (No. JP23K17945, JP23H03827, JP24K01552) from MEXT, Japan. K. Oka. also acknowledges the support from Shorai Foundation for Science and Technology, TEPCO Memorial Foundation, Amano Industry Technology Laboratory, Sugiyama Houkoukai, The Yamada Science Foundation, Kenjiro Takayanagi Foundation, Kansai Research Foundation for Technology Promotion, and JACI Prize for Encouraging Young Researcher.