This study developed and empirically tested a model to predict the factors affecting students' behavioral intentions toward using mobile learning (m-learning). This study explored the behavioral ...intention to use m-learning from the perspective of consumers by applying the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model with the addition of perceived enjoyment, mobile self-efficacy, satisfaction, trust, and perceived risk moderators. A cross-sectional study was conducted by employing a research model based on multiple technology acceptance theories. Data were derived from an online survey with 1,562 respondents and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Partial least squares (PLS) regression was used for model and hypothesis testing. The results revealed that (1) behavioral intention was significantly and positively influenced by satisfaction, trust, performance expectancy, and effort expectancy; (2) perceived enjoyment, performance expectancy, and effort expectancy had positive associations with behavioral intention; (3) mobile self-efficacy had a significantly positive effect on perceived enjoyment; and (4) perceived risk had a significantly negative moderating effect on the relationship between performance expectancy and behavioral intention. Our findings correspond with the UTAUT model and provide a practical reference for educational institutions and decision-makers involved in designing m-learning for implementation in universities.
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► Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) doped filter papers as substrates for SERS measurements. ► Highly sensitive for detection of analyte in aqueous solution. ► Raman enhancement reaches 7 ...orders of magnitude.
Highly sensitive SERS substrates based on deposition of silver nanoparticles on commercially available filter paper were prepared in this work, and used to overcome problems found in analyses of aqueous samples. To prepare silver nanoparticle- (AgNP) doped filter substrates, a silver mirror reaction was used. The procedures for substrate preparation were systematically optimized. Pretreatment of filter paper, reaction time, temperature, and concentration of reagents for silver mirror reactions were studied. The morphologies of the resulting substrates were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and correlated with the SERS signals by probing with p-nitrothiophenol (pNTP). Filter papers with different pretreatments were found to have different sizes and distributions of AgNPs. The best performance was found when filter paper was pre-treated with ammonia solution before growth of AgNPs. Based on the SEM images, the resulting AgNPs had roughly spherical shape with a high degree of uniformity. The silver-coated filter paper substrates provide much higher SERS signals compared to glass substrates and the reproducibility was improved significantly. Based on statistical analyses, the relative standard deviations for substrate-to-substrate and spot-to-spot were both were less than 8% and the enhancement factors for the substrates were, in general, higher than 107. The SERS substrates were used to selectively detect tyrosine in aqueous solution. Results indicate that filter-based SERS substrates are highly suited to detection of tyrosine. Compared to glass-based SERS substrates, 50 times more SERS signal was observed in detection of tyrosine. The linear range can be up to 100
μM with a detection limit of 625
nM (S
N
−1
=
3).
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The stability of a tin‐based perovskite solar cell is a major challenge. Here, hybrid tin‐based perovskite solar cells in a new series that incorporate a nonpolar organic cation, guanidinium (GA+), ...in varied proportions into the formamidinium (FA+) tin triiodide perovskite (FASnI3) crystal structure in the presence of 1% ethylenediammonium diiodide (EDAI2) as an additive, are reported. The device performance is optimized at a precursor ratio (GAI:FAI) of 20:80 to attain a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.5% when prepared freshly; the efficiencies continuously increase to attain a record PCE of 9.6% after storage in a glove‐box environment for 2000 h. The hybrid perovskite works stably under continuous 1 sun illumination for 1 h and storage in air for 6 days without encapsulation. Such a tin‐based perovskite passes all harsh standard tests, and the efficiency of a fresh device, 8.3%, is certified. The great performance and stability of the device reported herein attains a new milestone for lead‐free perovskite solar cells on a path toward commercial development.
Hybrid cation (guanidinium/formamidinium) tin‐based perovskites that give a new performance record for lead‐free perovskite solar cells (power conversion efficiency = 9.6%) are demonstrated. The fabricated devices show an incredible light‐soaking stability for continuous 1 sun illumination for 1 h, and the device passes all harsh verification steps to attain a certified efficiency of 8.3% for a fresh cell.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Chronic non-healing wounds have become a major worldwide healthcare burden. The impact of biofilms on chronic wound infection is well established. Despite increasing understanding of the underlying ...mechanism of biofilm formation in chronic wounds, current strategies for biofilm diagnosis in chronic wounds are still far from ideal. In this review, we briefly summarize the mechanism of biofilm formation and focus on current diagnostic approaches of chronic wound biofilms based on morphology, microbiology, and molecular assays. Innovative biotechnological approaches, such as wound blotting and transcriptomic analysis, may further shed light on this unmet clinical need. The continuous development of these sophisticated diagnostic approaches can markedly contribute to the future implementation of point-of-care biofilm detection in chronic wound care.
The impact of biofilms on delayed wound healing has drawn increasing attention. Their importance led to the establishment of biofilm-based wound care where chronic wounds are treated using multipronged strategies to remove biofilms over wound beds to facilitate the recovery of epithelial integrity.
Current clinical and preclinical diagnostic techniques fail to accurately identify pathogens and the precise location of biofilms over wound surfaces, rendering timely medical or surgical intervention to eradicate biofilms elusive.
Wound blotting is a novel biotechnology that predicts wound outcomes and localizes biofilms on wound surfaces by determining the distribution pattern of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and biofilm mucopolysaccharides. The rapid and objective analysis offered by this technique may assist clinicians in treating chronic wound biofilms.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background
This study examines the predictive value of a novel systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII, platelet × neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.
Methods
A ...total of 5602 CAD patients who had undergone a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled. They were divided into two groups by baseline SII score (high SII vs low SII) to analyse the relationship between SII groups and the long‐term outcome. The primary outcomes were major cardiovascular events (MACE) which includes nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), nonfatal stroke and cardiac death. Secondary outcomes included a composite of MACE and hospitalization for congestive heart failure.
Results
An optimal SII cut‐off point of 694.3 × 109 was identified for MACE in the CAD training cohort (n = 373) and then verified in the second larger CAD cohort (n = 5602). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that a higher SII score (≥694.3) was independently associated with increased risk of developing cardiac death (HR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.43‐2.86), nonfatal MI (HR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.09‐1.85), nonfatal stroke (HR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.28‐2.99), MACE (HR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.36‐2.01) and total major events (HR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.32‐1.77). In addition, the SII significantly improved risk stratification of MI, cardiac death, heart failure, MACE and total major events than conventional risk factors in CAD patients by the significant increase in the C‐index (P < .001) and reclassification risk categories by significant NRI (P < .05) and IDI (P < .05).
Conclusions
SII had a better prediction of major cardiovascular events than traditional risk factors in CAD patients after coronary intervention.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The development of transition metal (TM) catalysis for organic synthesis under visible light without recourse to typical photoredox catalysts has become a rapidly growing area of research and has ...been actively explored in the past several years. Distinct from the extensively developed photoredox catalysis, in which the photocatalyst generally does not directly participate in a bond-forming process, and photocatalyst/TM synergistic catalysis, in which the photocatalyst absorbs photon energy and transfers energy to the TM catalyst through a redox or energy transfer process, this Review focuses on summarizing the recent developments of photocatalytic reactions that use TM complexes to both absorb visible light and participate in catalytic bond formation involving a catalyst covalently bonded intermediate. The contents of this Review are categorized by the transition metal used (Pd, Cu, Co, Ni, Mn, Au, Rh, Fe, Ru), with a descending sequence according to the number of examples reported of each metal, and provide an overview of TM catalysis under visible light reported to April 2020. Future perspectives and personal opinions regarding this actively expanding research field are also discussed.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
•A new SOS algorithm is introduced to solve engineering optimization.•Twenty-six mathematical problems and five engineering design problems are tested.•The results obtained by SOS are compared with ...other optimization methods.•Obtained results confirm the excellent performance of the SOS method.
This paper applies a new robust and powerful metaheuristic algorithm called Symbiotic Organisms Search (SOS) to numerical optimization and engineering design problems. SOS simulates the symbiotic interaction strategies adopted by organisms to survive and propagate in the ecosystem. Twenty-six unconstrained mathematical problems and four structural engineering design problems are tested and obtained results compared with other well-known optimization methods. Obtained results confirm the excellent performance of the SOS method in solving various complex numerical problems.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Escherichia coli is a generic indicator of fecal contamination, and certain serotypes cause food- and water-borne illness such as O157:H7. In the clinic, detection of bacteriuria, which is often due ...to E. coli, is critical before certain surgical procedures or in cases of nosocomial infection to prevent further adverse events such as postoperative infection or sepsis. In low- and middle-income countries, where insufficient equipment and facilities preclude modern methods of detection, a simple, low-cost diagnostic device to detect E. coli in water and in the clinic will have significant impact. We have developed a simple paper-based colorimetric platform to detect E. coli contamination in 5h. On this platform, the mean color intensity for samples with 105cells/mL is 0.118±0.002 (n=4), and 0.0145±0.003 (P<0.01⁎⁎) for uncontaminated samples. This technique is less time-consuming, easier to perform, and less expensive than conventional methods. Thus, paper-based ELISA is an innovative point-of-care diagnostic tool to rapidly detect E. coli, and possibly other pathogens when customized as appropriate, especially in areas that lack advanced clinical equipment.
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•A paper-based ELISA method was developed to detect E. coli.•The method is fast, simple, sensitive, and reproducible.•It facilitates rapid diagnosis of E. coli infection in clinical environments.•Possibly, the method may also be used to monitor food and water quality.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Generation of alkenes through decarboxyolefination of alkane carboxylates has significant synthetic value in view of the easy availability of a variety of carboxylic acids and the synthetic ...versatility of alkenes. Herein we report that palladium catalysts under irradiation with blue LEDs (440 nm) catalyze decarboxylative desaturation of a variety of aliphatic carboxylates to generate aliphatic alkenes, styrenes, enol ethers, enamides, and peptide enamides under mild conditions. The selection of a dual phosphine ligand system is the key enabler for the successful development of this reaction. The Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative desaturation is utilized to achieve a three-step divergent synthesis of Chondriamide A and Chondriamide C in overall 68% yield from simple starting materials. Mechanistic studies suggest that, distinct from palladium catalysis under thermal condition, irradiation-induced palladium catalysis involves irradiation-induced single-electron transfer and dynamic ligand-dissociation/association process to allow two phosphine ligand to work synergistically.