Proton transport over nanoparticle surface in insulating nanoparticle film-based humidity sensor

We study a proton transport on the surface of insulating nanoparticles for humidity sensors. We use the approach to reveal proton transfer mechanisms in humidity sensitive materials. Hydrophilic and hydrophobic ligand-terminated silica nanoparticle films are adopted for evaluating temperature dependence of the ion conductivity. According to the activation energy of the conductivity, we explain the Grotthuss (H+ transfer) and vehicular (H3O+ transfer) mechanisms are mainly dominant on hydrophilic (-OH terminated) and hydrophobic (acrylate terminated) surface of nanoparticles, respectively. This investigation gives us a clue to understand a proton transfer mechanism in solution-processed humidity-sensitive materials such as oxide nanomaterials.

How do policy transfer mechanisms influence policy outcomes in the context of authoritarianism in Vietnam?

The literature on policy transfer shows that it may result in simultaneous policy convergence and policy divergence. However, little is known about how such results happen when transferring from multiple and possibly contrasting sources. This study finds that civil service reforms in Vietnam’s merit-based policies are influenced by both western and Asian models of meritocracy. This makes them both closer to universal ‘best practices’ and at the same time sharpens the distinctiveness of Vietnam’s policy. The calculations of political actors in combination with the context of a one-party authoritarian state have led to policy transfer through mechanisms of translation and assemblage which brings about a hybrid of convergence and divergence. This study enhances understanding of policy transfer in the context of Asian authoritarianism. In finding hybridity in transfer outcomes in this national context, the article shows the uniqueness of resultant policy change and develops an analytical framework for the influence of policy transfer on policy outcomes.

Antecedents and Consequences of International Joint Venture Knowledge Acquisition

Studies on the establishment of international joint ventures (IJVs) in open-oriented markets as a vehicle for knowledge acquisition have been increasing of late. Drawing on the transaction cost economics theory and the knowledge-based view, the chapter examines the impact of absorptive capacity, transfer mechanisms, knowledge management practices, and environmental uncertainty on knowledge acquisition of IJVs from foreign partners. Further, the author examines IJV innovativeness as a consequence of knowledge acquisition. The author tested the model with data from 122 IJVs in Algeria. By analyzing the data using SPSSv25 and smart PLS 3.0, the findings show that absorptive capacity and transfer mechanisms are positively and significantly related to knowledge acquisition of the IJVs. However, knowledge management practices and environmental uncertainty are not significant. In addition, the relationship between IJV knowledge acquisition and innovativeness is significant.

Theoretical insights into the antiradical activity and copper-catalysed oxidative damage of mexidol in the physiological environment

Mexidol ( MD , 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine) is a registered therapeutic agent for the treatment of anxiety disorders. The chemical structure suggests that MD may also act as an antioxidant. In this study, the hydroperoxyl radical scavenging activity of MD was studied to establish baseline antioxidant activity, followed by an investigation of the effect of MD on the copper-catalysed oxidative damage in biological systems, using computational methods. It was found that MD exhibits moderate radical scavenging activity against HOO • in water and pentyl ethanoate solvents following the single electron transfer and formal hydrogen transfer mechanisms, respectively. MD can chelate Cu(II), forming complexes that are much harder to reduce than free Cu(II): MD chelation completely quenches the Cu(II) reduction by ascorbic acid and suppresses the rate of reduction reaction by O 2 ⋅ − that are the main reductants of Cu(II) in biological environments. Therefore, MD exerts its anti-HO • activity primarily as an OIL-1 inhibitor.