Search

In this work, a comparative analysis was carried out by using titanium dioxide (TiO2) and tungsten disulfide (WS2) as an electron transport layer (ETL). This numerical analysis was conducted using SCAPS-1D software, which stands for solar cell capacitance simulator-1 Dimensional. The two device structures were: FTO/TiO2/N719/ MoO3 and FTO/WS2/N719/MoO3. For TiO2 ETL-based devices, the PCE was 11.42%, with J sc, V oc, and FF values of 18.50 mA cm−2, 0.872 V, and 70.75%, respectively. By contrast, WS2-based devices achieved a PCE of 14.23% with J sc, V oc, and FF values of 20.86 mA cm−2, 0.880 V, and 77.43%, respectively. Based on the above-mentioned data, WS2 has better PV performance of the solar cell. WS2 exhibits high electron mobility, chemically stable, tunable bandgap, therefore a promising candidate to replace TiO2 as an ETL in future designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical isolates of Yersinia, Klebsiella, and Escherichia coli frequently secrete the small molecule metallophore yersiniabactin (Ybt), which passivates and scavenges transition metals during human infections. YbtT is encoded within the Ybt biosynthetic operon and is critical for full Ybt production in bacteria. However, its biosynthetic function has been unclear because it is not essential for Ybt production by the in vitro reconstituted nonribosomal peptide synthetase/polyketide synthase (NRPS/PKS) pathway. Here, we report the structural and biochemical characterization of YbtT. YbtT structures at 1.4-1.9 Å resolution possess a serine hydrolase catalytic triad and an associated substrate chamber with features similar to those previously reported for low-specificity type II thioesterases (TEIIs). We found that YbtT interacts with the two major Ybt biosynthetic proteins, HMWP1 (high-molecular-weight protein 1) and HMWP2 (high-molecular-weight protein 2), and hydrolyzes a variety of aromatic and acyl groups from their phosphopantetheinylated carrier protein domains. In vivo YbtT titration in uropathogenic E. coli revealed a distinct optimum for Ybt production consistent with a tradeoff between clearing both stalled inhibitory intermediates and productive Ybt precursors from HMWP1 and HMWP2. These results are consistent with a model in which YbtT maintains cellular Ybt biosynthesis by removing nonproductive, inhibitory thioesters that form aberrantly at multiple sites on HMWP1 and HMWP2.

The Black Sea region has great geostrategic significance, as the decadeslong riualry between Western powers and Russia (formerly the USSR) indicates. Since the end of the Cold War, Russia has sought to assert its dominance in the area. Escalating Russian aggression, from the annexation of Crimea in 2014 to the 2022 con/Zict with Ukraine, has raised alarms in the West. The European Union, NATO, and particularly the United States perceive Russia's assertiveness as a challenge to their regional dominance. While the Black Sea was seen by the West chiefly as a hub for trade and economic growth, the expanding Russian sphere has caused a shift to a security-centric focus. Amidst this evolving competition, Turkey has emerged as a pivotal player in the changing geopolitical landscape. As a NATO member with a formidable military, an European Union (EU) partner, and with control over critical straits including the Dardanelles, the Bosphorus, and the Sea of Marmara, ntrkey wields considerable influence. This paper undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the multifaceted Russian-Western rivalry, exploring its impact on Turkey's regional positioning and alliances. It delues into Turkey's adept balance-of-power foreign policy, examining its role as a regional regulator while it safeguards its strategic interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the persistent Eurocentrism in the national IR academies within the Global South, notwithstanding continued appeals for pluralization of the global field of IR. Focusing on the discipline of IR in Pakistan, the study explores the implications of Western intellectual dominance through in-depth interviews with local IR academics. The findings demonstrate a marked dependence on realist ideas (the classical strand in particular), which emphasize state-centric and security-focused views of world politics. This restricted approach corresponds with realpolitik because of its pragmatic focus on state security and interests, while ignoring broader theoretical assumptions. These realist ideas are sustained through academic norms, establishing a pattern which perpetuates Eurocentric perspectives in the Pakistani IR community. The article recognizes Western intellectual gatekeeping practices, and the national higher education system of Pakistan, as notable hindrances to the advancement of the discipline in Pakistan. Additionally, lax academic standards in local knowledge production, tied to professional progression, confine Pakistani IR academics to domestic publishing platforms. This discursive environment incentivizes state and security-oriented research, leading to IR scholarship in Pakistan that lacks originality and quality, remains predominantly Eurocentric, and primarily supports state security policies. The study underscores the necessity for a more diverse and contextually relevant approach to IR in Pakistan, which would better capture the country’s unique realities and contribute to a richer global discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has encompassed not only a public health crisis due to the range of symptoms and rapid spread associated with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but it has also resulted in daily life changes due to public health mandates implemented to reduce the spread of the disease. The current study (N = 148) tested two hypotheses: that individuals experiencing increased stress due to the pandemic would be more likely to engage in protective behaviors that would limit exposure to the virus (e.g., limiting in-person contact) and that individuals experiencing increased stress would also engage in behaviors that may increase their risk for other health concerns (e.g., increased screen time increasing sedentary lifestyles). Using an online survey design with data collected from a college student sample, correlational analyses found that individuals reporting greater levels of stress were more likely to report reduced in-person contact and to identify COVID-19 as a public health threat. Stress did not relate to adherence to safety guidelines, however, considering COVID-19 as a public health threat did. Stress also correlated with increased screen time and caffeine consumption, but not alcohol or nicotine use. The results of the study highlight the importance of assessing both protective and maladaptive health behaviors when researching the relationship between public health concerns and stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]