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Combining enzymatic biofuel cells with supercapacitors to self-charging hybrid devices
No full textEnzymatic biofuel cells are energy conversion devices utilizing biocatalysts to directly convert chemical energy to electricity. Due to their biocompatible, sustainable and maintenance-free properties, they hold the promise as attractive energy sources for powering next generation medical electronics for personalized healthcare. Low current and power output are main bottlenecks of enzymatic biofuel cells to hinder their practical applications. Supercapacitors are able to harness ambitious energy and deliver high-power pulses. Combining enzymatic biofuel cells with supercapacitors to establish self-charging energy-conversion/energy-storage hybrid systems are considered as an effective strategy to improve the current and power output. This design enables the hybrid electric devices to scavenge ambient energy and simultaneously store it and thus increases the efficiency and facilitates the miniaturization for practical application. In this review, we first discuss various structural configurations of these self-charging hybrid systems, and then focus on explaining their charge storage mechanisms, including electrochemical double-layer capacitance, pseudocapacitance and hybrids. Several proof-of-concept applications as implantable and wearable power sources are enumerated. Finally, we provide an overview of challenges and opportunities for research and development of self-charging hybrid devices.</p
Dialogical development and the making of the self:Reflections on Lyra’s holistic approach
No full textThis chapter reflects on Maria Lyra’s holistic-dialogical framework and its implications for developmental psychology, especially regarding the emergence of the self. Drawing on Lyra and Rossetti-Ferreira’s (1987) foundational work, three interrelated principles are identified as being central to this approach: the dialogical unit of analysis, development as differentiation, and the multimodal and socioculturally embedded nature of interaction. Lyra’s contribution is situated within a broader historical and theoretical context—linking it to Vygotsky, Bakhtin, Werner, and Humboldt: From this theoretical basis it is argued that early mother-infant interactions constitute a dynamic, co-constructed unit of development rather than an exchange between separate individuals. The chapter emphasizes how the self emerges through dialogical processes involving mutual transformation, abbreviation of interactional histories, and sociocultural embeddedness. By integrating theoretical insights with empirical studies, the chapter advances a relational and processual view of self-development that challenges mechanistic and individualistic models in mainstream psychology
TOWARDS MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER:NEW LABORATORY METHODS AND PATIENTS’ PREFERENCES
No full textElectromechanical Modeling of Localized Micro-Scale Piezoelectric Interaction at Impact Site
Get PDFThe non-conformal contact between a moving spherical ball and a fixed piezoelectric layer results in a micro-scale contact area. This research investigates the localized micro-scale piezoelectric interaction at the contact area on the piezoelectric layer’s electrical response under the impact excitation. The ball indentation causes time-variable 3D mechanical stress and electric displacement distributions around the impact site in the piezoelectric layer. In this study, an innovative semi-analytical model is developed that divides the piezoelectric layer into two zones. This technique enables 2D-axisymmetric analysis of non-axially symmetric patches, reducing computational complexity. The results indicate that a high-voltage zone appears beneath the contact area, which can significantly contribute to the piezoelectric’s electrical response. For instance, under a specific impact excitation and electrical boundary condition, the peak voltage across the piezoelectric thickness reaches 600 V while the output voltage is 1 V. Validation and comparison against experimental tests and the FEM method confirm the accuracy and efficiency of this model in the prediction of piezoelectric’s transient voltage signal and voltage peak applicable to energy harvesting and sensory applications. Finally, the developed model is applied in the practical optimization of an implantable energy harvester for biomedical applications
Recruiting underrepresented populations for surveys:the case of people with schizophrenia and coexisting diabetes
No full textAim: To describe the challenges and strategies involved in recruiting adults to a cross-sectional survey study on psychosocial health and support, with individuals with schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes as the case. Materials and methods: This descriptive study tracked the recruitment process for a Danish survey study in a register, systematically synthesising all relevant information. This included details on how eligible patients were identified and invited to the study and their reasons for declining. Two recruitment strategies were employed: (1) Recruitment via mental health professionals in psychiatric outpatient clinics in Region Zealand, and (2) Recruitment via phone calls to eligible patients. Descriptive analyses of the recruitment data were conducted. Results: Three challenges were identified and described: (1) Challenges in identifying eligible patients, (2) Challenges in having mental health professionals to recruit participants, and (3) Patients’ inability to complete the questionnaire. The first two challenges were addressed through practical approaches: (1) Identifying eligible patients via electronic health records and medication types, and (2) Directly inviting patients via phone calls from a member of the research team. No additional initiatives were implemented to address the third challenge. Approximately 15% of all eligible patients declined to participate, indicating a high willingness to participate among the remaining individuals. Conclusions: Exploring various challenges was crucial for understanding the difficulties in recruiting this population, initiating new approaches to address these challenges, and recognising the high willingness to participate. Greater emphasis should be placed on patients’ rights to make their own decisions regarding participation in research.</p
Banal cosmopolitanism? An inquiry into the (de)construction of ‘the nation’ within Critical Intercultural Communication, 1990-2020
No full textOxygen tri-clusters make glass highly crack-resistant
Get PDFIdentifying key structural factors that surmount their intrinsic brittleness and poor crack initiation resistance (CR) is crucial for designing glass efficiently and predictably. In this study, we present three significant discoveries that contribute to the design of glasses with superior mechanical performances. Firstly, the CR of the aluminosilicate glasses exhibited a drastic increase when the alumina content surpasses a critical threshold. Secondly, the fraction of three-coordinated oxygens (i.e., oxygen tri-cluster fraction [(3)O]) was successfully quantified using our new Nuclear Magnetic Resonance technique. Thirdly, a correlation between the evolution trend of the [(3)O] and the alumina content was established, which aligns closely with the CR trend. These findings suggest that oxygen tri-clusters play a crucial role in significantly enhancing CR in aluminosilicate glasses.</p
An EEG Benchmark Data Set for Data-Driven Trust Assessment in Social HRI
No full textTrust is a crucial element in successful interactions with social robots. However, few existing methods attempt to measure trust in real time to adjust the robot’s behavior according to the user’s trust level. One of the significant challenges in this area is the scarcity of curated data sets necessary for developing machine learning models to detect trust from sensor data. In this paper, we introduce a structured approach to collecting data sets for trust assessment. We demonstrate this approach using an EEG data set from a study designed to build, break, and subsequently repair trust between the user and the robot. The data is available on Zenodo for development of real-time trust assessment models
