16168 research outputs found
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Low-frequency noise characteristics of graphene/h-BN/Si junctions /
No full textGraphene/h-BN/Si heterostructures show considerable potential for future use in infrared detection and photovoltaic technologies due to their adjustable electrical behavior and well-matched interfacial structure. The near-lattice match between graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) enables the deposition of low-defect-density graphene on h-BN surfaces. This study presents a thorough exploration of the low-frequency electrical noise behavior of graphene/h-BN/Si heterojunctions under both forward and reverse bias conditions at room temperature. Graphene nanolayers were directly grown on h-BN films using microwave plasma-enhanced CVD. The h-BN layers were formed by reactive highpower impulse magnetron sputtering (HIPIMS). Four h-BN thicknesses were examined: 1 nm, 3 nm, 5 nm, and 15 nm. A reference graphene/Si junction (without h-BN) prepared under identical synthesis conditions was also studied for comparison. Low-frequency noise analysis enabled the identification of dominant charge transport mechanisms in the different device structures. Our results demonstrate that grain boundaries act as dominant defects contributing to increased noise intensity under high forward bias. Statistical analysis of voltage noise spectral density across multiple samples, supported by Raman spectroscopy, reveals that hydrogen-related defects significantly contribute to 1/f noise in the linear region of the junction’s current–voltage characteristics. This study provides the first in-depth insight into the impact of h-BN interlayers on low-frequency noise in graphene/Si heterojunctions
How consumers’ materialistic values and narcissistic tendencies affect their pro-environmental attitudes, intentions, and choices /
No full textThis research examines how materialism-success influences pro-environmental attitudes, intentions, and behaviors, with a particular focus on the potential moderating role of narcissism. The research comprises three separate studies: Study 1 (N = 201) assessed the relationship between materialism-success and pro-environmental attitudes; Study 2 (N = 291) explored how materialism-success affects pro-environmental intentions and behaviors in an online shopping task; and Study 3 (N = 100) investigated whether narcissism moderates these relationships. Regression analyses revealed a weak negative effect of materialism-success on pro-environmental attitudes. Contradicting previous research, materialism-success was found to have a small but positive effect on pro-environmental intentions and behavior. Narcissism did not emerge as a statistically significant moderator in these relationships. Chi-square analyses suggest that narcissism may still influence the overall pattern of associations, possibly through other mechanisms. These findings highlight the complexity of value-driven pro-environmental behaviors and suggest the need for further research to uncover additional psychological and contextual factors. The study's limitations include a simulated consumer context and a focus on a limited range of product categories. Future research should validate these findings across broader, real-world settings
Aesthetic memory and sustainability challenges in the interiors of Lithuanian rural houses: historical experience and educational perspectives.
No full textThe article examines the aesthetics of Lithuanian rural house interiors, analyzing their historical development, transformations during the Soviet era, and current sustainability challenges. It explores how different historical epochs influenced the hybridization of interiors, the loss of authenticity, and the emergence of new aesthetic trends. Particular attention is given to the educational potential, highlighting the importance of integrating traditional aesthetic values and sustainability principles into contemporary education. Drawing on existing diverse research in aesthetics and environmental psychology, the article discusses how interior authenticity influences residents’ cultural awareness and emotional experiences
Validation of the fermented food frequency questionnaire to assess consumption across four European regions: a study within the promoting innovation of fermented foods cost action /
No full textBackground: Fermented foods are an integral part of diets worldwide, and emerging epidemiological data suggest their significant beneficial health effects. However, assessing their intake is challenging since many of these foods are sporadically and/or locally consumed, hence current traditional nutritional assessment tools lack the specificity to capture this variability. To address this gap, the Fermented Food Frequency Questionnaire (3FQ) was developed and this study aimed to evaluate its relative validity and repeatability across European regions. Methods: In the validation study of the 3FQ, 12,646 adult participants were recruited across four European regions to assess consumption of sixteen major fermented food groups. Repeatability was assessed by administering the 3FQ twice, ∼6 weeks apart, to a subset of participants (n = 2,315). Validity was evaluated using 24-h dietary recalls (24 h). Statistical analyses included Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients and Intra-Class Correlation coefficients (ICC) for repeatability, and Bland-Altman plots for validity. Results: Results showed high repeatability, overall and by region, for estimated quantities and frequencies of consumption for most of the fermented food groups (from 0.4 to 1.0), with a few exceptions for infrequently consumed items (e.g., fermented fish). Validity assessment via Bland-Altman plots revealed excellent agreement between the 3FQ and 24 h formost of the food groups,with over 90% of values falling within the agreement interval. Notably, fermented dairy products, coffee, and bread categories showed the strongest agreement (>95%). Conclusion: The 3FQ is a robust and reliable tool for estimating the consumption of diverse fermented food groups across four European regions and provides valid estimates of the frequency and quantity of intake for specific fermented foods. The 3FQ could be a valuable instrument for epidemiological research aiming to elucidate associations between certain fermented foods and health parameters in European diets
Structure, composition and optical properties of thin films of copper sulphide and bismuth sulphide deposited on various textiles by the SILAR method /
No full textThe synthesis of thin films in multilayer structures on different textiles is of interest due to their potential use in flexible solar absorber coatings and thin-film solar cells. The aim of the study was to deposit bismuth(III) sulphide and copper(II) sulphide thin films on various textiles at the same time. This was achieved using the sustainable and cost-effective successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The study examined how the elemental distribution, phase composition, crystallinity, surface morphology, and optical features of the resulting films are determined by the intrinsic structure and material makeup of structural textiles. The analysis used data from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD), as well as ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Depending on the textiles used, the formed films were polycrystalline and rich in copper. According to the findings, the normalised atomic percentages were as follows: Cu, 57.66–68.75%; Bi, 1.19–5.26%; S, 30.06–38.63%. The direct transition optical energy gap values varied from 1.3 to 2.88 eV, while the indirect varied from 0.9 to 2.25 eV, and the refractive index from 1.3 to 1.8. These properties were influenced by the composition of the textiles and the films themselves. These properties directly impact the films’ applications
LCA4Regions: application of life cycle methodologies for regional sustainability in Europe /
No full textPurpose Even as regions become important players in the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), effective action is often handicapped by the absence of an integrated life cycle approach to the various interconnected issues that regions confront. This study investigates the uptake and application of life cycle thinking by seven European sub-national regions, describing the use by their selected regional institutions of certain life cycle methodologies already in common use to enhance their sustainability initiatives. Methods The EU Interreg project ‘LCA4Regions’ brought together seven regions from Finland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain, respectively, to share their experience with various life cycle tools to enhance resource efficiency, circular economy, and waste management. Through engagement with stakeholders, a set of ‘Good Practice’ case studies were compiled showing various life cycle-based activities in the regions, and the underlying issues being addressed. Results and discussion Over 100 examples were identified of the life cycle-based initiatives of various sorts that were profitably employed by these regions. Overall, however, public institutions struggle to apply life cycle approaches systematically across their entire organisations, often limiting initiatives to isolated actions of restricted scope. Institutions mostly address SDGs individually rather than as an interdependent set, and there is a reluctance to take all parts of the supply chain into account. Conclusion The lack of familiarity by regional officials with LCA procedures is exacerbated by the rigid structure and language of LCA that is not especially adapted for use by public administrations, thereby creating a gulf between researchoriented LCA and potential regional clients. Nonetheless, the LCA4Regions study shows an encouraging example of an increasing use of life cycle thinking for regional development in some parts of Europe. Further research is needed to understand the uptake of LCA and LCM in other European regions, and around the globe more generally
Breaking the silence: caregivers and the quest for inclusion /
No full textThis case study examines the hidden struggles of employees who are full-time caregivers for children with severe and complex disabilities while pursuing demanding careers. It follows the collective story of four professional women working in different organisational contexts: a mid-size manufacturing company, a public sector institution, an SME, and a service company, each balancing relentless caregiving with workplace responsibilities. The case highlights the silence surrounding caregiving in organisations due to stigma, the emotional exhaustion of long-term care, and the structural shift that occurs when state support is withdrawn once children turn eighteen. This turning point forces caregivers to manage greater responsibilities with fewer resources, intensifying the pressure on their professional lives. In their workplaces, colleagues sometimes murmured about “favouritism,” noticing that those who frequently needed to leave earlier or take unplanned absences still received similar performance evaluations or benefits. Behind these perceptions lay a lack of clear communication and understanding, because decisions were often made informally, without transparency or explanation, leaving both caregivers and co-workers uncertain about fairness and expectations. The women behind the initiative "Nepatogūs" (which means "Uncomfortable") have launched an advocacy movement aimed at recognizing caregivers as a significant and diverse social group. This movement seeks to highlight the importance of caregivers, including both employees and leaders, who share common experiences, face systemic barriers, and have specific inclusion needs that should be acknowledged in diversity and inclusion strategies. Situated within the context of European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this case provides an opportunity to analyze issues of organizational justice, workplace fairness, and the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in the inclusion of caregivers. Students are encouraged to propose solutions that foster ethical and inclusive workplaces
A biological additive in granulated mineral compound fertilizer improves productivity of spring wheat and sugar beet /
No full textD–A–D’ TADF emitters for LEEC fabrication: Meta vs ortho-linking controls color and efficiency /
No full textDual-emissive cores based on isophthalonitrile and phthalonitrile in the meta and ortho positions, respectively, were designed and developed as thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters. The incorporation of 50 wt.% of the ionic complex [Ir(buoppy)2(dmapzpy)][PF6] into the blue emitting meta-substituted dye 4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)-6-(3,6-di‑tert‑butyl‑9H-carbazol-9-yl)isophthalonitrile , and the green emitting ortho-substituted dye 3-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)-6-(3,6-di‑tert‑butyl‑9H-carbazol-9-yl)phthalonitrile significantly enhanced their photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs), reaching up to 79 %, especially for the doped meta-emitter. Tuning of the emission color from blue to green was achieved by substituting the acceptor core position, and a mechanochromic response was observed. The meta-substituted emitter exhibited a more rigid structure than its ortho counterpart, as evidenced by a higher glass transition temperature (Tg), due to the reduced conformational twisting between the core and the various carbazole donor derivatives. This rigidity of meta limited the spatial separation of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), facilitating enhanced overlap. Both emitters featured small singlet–triplet energy gaps (ΔEST < 0.11 eV), enabling efficient reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) and moderate to long delayed fluorescence lifetimes. Solution-processed light emitting electrochemical cells (LEECs) fabricated with these emitters achieved a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 6.99 %, with stable blue emission corresponding to CIE coordinates of (0.190, 0.382)
