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Item Open Access Advancing Photocatalysis: Insights from 2D Materials andOperational Parameters for Organic Pollutants Removal(Wiley, 2024) Balarabe, Bachir Yaou; Atabayev, TimurPhotocatalysis plays a crucial role in tackling environmental challenges by efficiently breaking down organic pollutants in water. This study highlights the significant contribution of 2D materials in advancing photocatalytic technology for sustainable environmental remediation. It explores various aspects of photocatalytic processes, including important performance metrics such as reaction rate, quantum yield, space yield, energy consumption, and figure of merit. The main focus is on 2D materials-based structures, such as metal oxide supported on graphene and graphene oxides, MXene, or MoS2 (referred as2D-MO NPs), as well as more complex nanocomposite configurations (referred as 2D-MO NCs). Furthermore, the research examines the complex interaction between compositional and operational factors that influence photocatalytic activity, as well as different photocatalytic mechanisms and active species. Finally, it addresses the current limitations of photocatalytic organic pollutants degradation for field applications and discusses the prospects of this technologyItem Open Access Advances in Top Transparent Electrodes by Physical Vapor Deposition for Buffer Layer-Free Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells(Wiley, 2024) Smirnov, Yury; Nigmetova, Gaukhar; Ng, AnnieThe advancements in halide perovskite materials, celebrated for their exceptional optoelectronic properties, have not only led to a remarkable increase in deficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) but also opened avenues for the development of semitransparent devices. Such devices are ideally suited for integration into building facades and for use in tandem solar cell configurations. However, depositing transparent electrodes (TEs) on top of the charge transport layers in PSC poses significant challenges. Physical vapor deposition (PVD),commonly used in the industry to prepare transparent conducting oxides (TCOs)as TEs, can introduce plasma-induced damage during the process, which decreases the efficiency of the final devices. While incorporating a buffer layer is the typical approach to mitigate plasma damage, it also increases the complexity and costs of solar cell fabrication. This perspective focuses on the developments of buffer-free semitransparent PSCs. It highlights the shift away from the typical approach of incorporating a buffer layer. Through a comprehensive analysis of recent research, this work presents successful cases of direct TCO deposition onto transport layers, evaluates scalability and stability, and concludes with recommendations for optimizing PVD processes in the fabrication of buffer-free PSCs. PERSPECTIVE www.solar-rrl.comSol. RRL 2024, 8, 2400354 2400354 (1 of 15) © 2024 The Author(s). Solar RRL published by Wiley-VCH GmbHItem Open Access A facile approach for enhancing mechanical resilience,and corrosion protection in epoxy coatings usingbismuthene nanosheets(Wiley, 2024) Meng, Qingshi; Li, Shuangshan; Guo, Fuyuan; Demiral, Murat; Han, Sensen; Meng, Fanze; Zhang, Yanxi; Gouda, Sherif ArabyThis study presents novel mechanochemical methods for the synthesis and chemical modification of bismuthine nanosheets (BINS) using a high-speed blender and planetary ball milling. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements confirmed successful exfoliation of 1.5-nm BINS. Epoxy/BINS nanocomposites exhibited enhanced mechanical properties, thermal stability, and chemical resistance. Chemical modification via ball milling improved the interface and dispersion of BINS within the epoxy matrix, leading to significant enhancements in mechanical performance and chemical resistance. Compared to neat epoxy, at 0.75 vol% m-BINS, Young's modulus, impact strength and fracture toughness K IC were respectively enhanced by 30%, 88.6%, and 144.4%while these increments were 10%, 55.7%, and 97.8% for pristine BINS-based epoxy nanocomposite. A 3D finite element model of the impact test of the nanocomposite was developed to predict its behavior under high-strain rate loadings; the numerical model showed high agreement with experimental measurements. Epoxy/m-BINS nanocomposites demonstrated exceptional chemical resistance, attributed to the small lateral dimensions of m-BINS, which fill the spaces between cross-linked epoxy molecules and uniformly dis-tribute within the matrix. These findings highlight the crucial role of interface and dispersion in defining the mechanical properties of nanocomposites. Over-all, this study provides a facile and scalable method for synthesizing and modifying bismuthene, showcasing its potential for developing functional polymer nanocomposites.Item Open Access Quenched PVDF/PMMA Porous Matrix for Triboelectric Energy Harvesting and Sensing(Wiley, 2025) Mubarak, Assem; Sarsembayev, Bayandy; Serik, Yerzhigit; Onabek, Abdirakhman; Kappassov, Zhanat; Bakenov, Zhumabay; Tsuchiya, Kazuyoshi; Kalimuldina, GulnurThe rapid development of nanotechnology has significantly revolutionized wearable electronics and expanded their functionality. Through introducing innovative solutions for energy harvesting and autonomous sensing, this research presents a cost-effective strategy to enhance the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). The TENG was fabricated from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and N, N0-poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA) blend with a porous structure via a novel optimized quenching method. The developed approach results in a high β-phase content(85.7%) PVDF/3wt.%PMMA porous blend, known for its superior piezoelectric properties. PVDF/3wt.%PMMA modified porous TENG demonstrates remarkable electrical output, with a dielectric constant of 40and an open-circuit voltage of approximately 600 V. The porous matrix notably increases durability, enduring over 36 000 operational cycles without performance degradation. Moreover, practical applications were explored in this research, including powering LEDs and pacemakers with a maximum power output of 750 mW m 2 . Also, TENG served as a self-powered tactile sensor for robotic applications in various temperature conditions. The work highlights the potential of the PVDF/PMMA porous blend to utilize the next-generation self-powered sensors and power small electronic devices.Item Open Access Metal-Free Ammonia Borane-Catalyzed Hydroboration ofLactones and Esters to Alcohols(Wiley, 2024) Yessengazin, Azamat; Seisenkul, Bakdaulet; Tusupbayev, Samat; Andizhanova, Tolganay; Khalimon, AndreyHerein we describe an efficient methodology for metal-free hydroborative cleavage of lactones and esters with HBPin (Pin =pinacol) to the corresponding alcohol derivatives using ammonia borane as a pre-catalyst. The reactions proceed under mild conditions, can be performed in a solvent-free manner, and do not require an inert atmosphere. Combined experimental and computational mechanistic studies suggest a novel mechanism that involves μ-aminodiboranes as catalytically active species.Item Open Access Nurses’ Attitudes Towards Scholarly Publishing Scale (NAS Scale):A Psychometric Analysis(Wiley, 2024) Cruz, Jonas Preposi; Almazan, Joseph U.; Colet, Paolo; Milan Jr., Jovencio M.; Jabonete, Fritz Gerald V.; Balay-Odao, Ejercito MangawaTe existing research studies on tool development are concentrated on determining and assessing the perception of individuals inscientifc research. Tese instruments do not measure the complex construct of nurses’ attitudes toward scientifc publications,which includes the nurses’ perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors regarding the value, accessibility, usability, and impact of scholarlypublications. Tus, the aim of this study was to develop and validate a scale specifcally measuring Nurses’ Attitudes TowardScholarly Publishing (NAS). Tis methodological study developed and psychometrically tested the NAS Scale (NAS Scale)through rigorous literature review and interviews with nurses. Content validity and exploratory factor analysis (EFA; n � 334) andconfrmatory factor analysis (CFA; n � 305) were performed. Hypothesis testing was also used to support the scale’s constructvalidity. Internal consistency was computed to support the scale’s reliability. Te data were collected among nurses in thePhilippines from February to March 2024. Te EFA revealed a 12-item NAS Scale with three factors: “NAS Challenges” (NASChallenges), “NAS Benefts and Values” (NAS Benefts and Values), and “NAS Support and Mentorship” (NAS Support andMentorship). Te CFA supported this three-factor solution: x2 /df � 2.96, RMSEA � 0.08 (90% CI � 0.06–0.09), SRMR � 0.057,NFI � 0.96, TLI � 0.96, and CFI � 0.97. Te hypothesis testing also supported the construct validity of the scale. Te computedCronbach’s alpha for the entire scale was 0.79, with subscale’s Cronbach alpha ranging from 0.91 to 0.95. Tus, the NAS Scale hassound psychometric properties in measuring the NAS.Item Open Access Understanding English medium instruction (EMI) policy from the perspectives of STEM content teachers in Kazakhstan(Wiley, 2024) Manan, Syed Abdul; Hajar, AnasIn this study, the authors address the case of STEM(science, technology, engineering, mathematics)content teachers in an English medium instruction(EMI) environment in Kazakhstan to argue that the professional needs and identities of these teachers are considerably different than the specialist English teachers who teach English language skills and grammar. Therefore, STEM teachers require a different language policy response and diagnosis, and should be understood through a different analytical lens. The study draws on qualitative interviews with one EMI expert and58 STEM content teachers from six cities or regions of Kazakhstan to present an account of the challenges they confront within mainstream schools. Findings suggest that policies force STEM content teachers to take the role of English teachers, although they are not prepared for that role. These teachers emphasize that their main responsibility is to teach course content, not the English language. As a result, they undergo several dilemmas such as professional [dis]investment and identity crisis, linguistic disadvantages, inferiority complexes, and pedagogical and theoretical limitations. Top-down policies render local teachers and practitioners voiceless and disconnected from policymaking. The authors propose a non-traditional, participatory, and non-hierarchical policy framework, where policy actors at different levels collaboratively engage to assess teachers' diverse needs and take contextually informed actions to address the afore-stated dilemmas and challenges.Item Open Access A typical point bar with atypical strata in the McMurray Formation, Alberta, Canada: Floods, tides and high suspended sediment concentrations(Wiley, 2024) Fustic, Milovan; Plink‐Björklund, Piret; Shchepetkina, Alina; Strobl, RudyStratigraphic positions and the nature of some breccias and mudstones observed in the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation type section (Alberta, Canada) challenge the existing fluvial point bar facies models. The currently applied large-scale, tidally influenced, sandy bedload facies model suggests that point bars fine upward, where breccias and cross-strata occur at the base of the succession and mud content increases upward. Instead, this study documents that: (i) mudstone clast breccias are not exclusively associated with basal channel-lag deposits and can occur throughout the point bar; and (ii) stratified mudstones are not limited to the top of the fining-upward succession and can occur at or near the channel base. This outcrop data, including lithology, sedimentary structures, trace fossils, bed thickness and boundaries, and the nature of stratal packages, further suggests dynamic interplay between fluvial and tidal processes. This article discusses the potential role of high-magnitude river floods in temporarily elevated sus pended sediment concentrations and highlights that fluid mud processes played a crucial role in mud deposition in both tide-influenced and fluvial parts of the system. Fluid mud processes allowed mud deposition along the channel base and across the point bar accretion surfaces. The breccias pre dominantly consist of broken pieces of inclined heterolithic strata and mostly occur on accretion sets of point bars, suggesting erosion and collapse of the point bar rather than of the cutbank. This work introduces a novel perspective to the existing models of point bar sedimentation, offering a new end member and concepts for the interpretation of subsurface data. The authors hope that this research encourages further investigations into similar phenomena elsewhere in the world.Item Open Access Traveling waves for a nonlinear Schrödinger system with quadratic interaction in R4(Wiley, 2024) Esfahani, AminIn this paper, we consider a nonlinear Schrödinger system with quadratic interaction. We extend the recent results of Fukaya et al. (Math. Ann. 2024) and show that the system has a ground state in R4 when the mass parameter 𝜅 is larger than 1/2Item Open Access The Regional Burden of Parkinson’s Disease in Kazakhstan 2014–2021: Insights From National Health Data(Wiley, 2025) Akhmedullin, Ruslan; Gusmanov, Arnur; Zhakhina, Gulnur; Crape, Byron; Aimyshev, Temirgali; Semenova, Yuliya; Kyrgyzbay, Gaziz; Gaipov, Abduzhappar; Martella, GiuseppinaBackground: This study explores the burden of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in Kazakhstan, the largest country in Central Asia, a region where data on neurological disorders are notably sparse. Methods: Utilizing data from Kazakhstan’s Unified National Electronic Health System during 2014–2021, the study investigates the epidemiology, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and survival outcomes in a cohort of PD patients. The authors employed Cox proportional hazards regression models and Kaplan–Meier analysis, alongside sensitivity analyses, to assess the impact of demographic factors, hypertension, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) on survival. Results: The study cohort included 10,125 patients, revealing a tenfold increase in PD prevalence during the study period. Mortality rates varied significantly, with the highest rates observed in the eldest age group (137.05 per 1000 person-years). PD contributed to a loss of 156.12 DALYs per 100,000 population, primarily driven by years of life lost. The analysis identified an increased risk of all-cause mortality among males (adjusted hazard ratio (a HR) 1.6; 1.5–1.8), older individuals (a HR 1.05;1.04–1.06), those with higher CCIs, and individuals of Kazakh ethnicity. Interestingly, patients with comorbid hypertension had a higher probability of survival (a HR 0.67; 0.60–0.73). Conclusion: Tis study is the first of its kind in Central Asia to examine the burden of PD using a large-scale outpatient registry. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address the growing burden of PD, particularly among males and ethnic Kazakhs. Additionally, further research is needed to explore the inverse association between hypertension and survival in the PD cohort.