Precise dd excitations and commensurate intersite Coulomb interactions in the dissimilar cuprate YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-x) and La_(2-x)Sr_xCuO_4

Using high-resolution extreme ultraviolet resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (EUVRIXS) spectroscopy at Cu M-edge, we observed the doping dependent spectral shifts of inter-orbital (dd) excitations of YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-x) and La_(2-x)Sr_xCuO_4. With increasing hole doping level from undoped to optimally doped superconducting compositions, the leading edge of dd excitations is found to shift towards lower energy loss in a roughly linear trend that is irrespective to the cuprate species. The magnitude of energy shift can be explained by including a 0.15 eV Coulomb attraction between Cu 3d_(x^2-y^2) electrons and the doped holes on the surrounding oxygens in the atomic multiplet calculations. The consistent energy shift between distinct cuprate families suggests that this inter-site Coulomb interaction energy scale is relatively material-independent, and provides an important reference point for understanding charge density wave phenomena in the cuprate phase diagram.Comment: 29 pages; 8 figures. Physical Review B, in press. This paper reveals a Cu 3d-O 2p intersite interaction energy for the first time experimentally. It also explains why Tc of YBCO is higher than that of LSC

Knowledge transfer of eLearning objects: Lessons learned from an intercontinental capacity building project

Background Effective knowledge transfer of eLearning objects can hasten the adoption and dissemination of technology in teaching and learning. However, challenges exist which hinder inter-organisational knowledge transfer, particularly across continents. The ACoRD project aimed to transfer knowledge on digital learning development from UK/EU (provider) to Malaysian (receiver) higher education institutions (HEIs). This study explores the challenges encountered during the knowledge transfer process and lessons learned. Methods This is a qualitative study involving both the knowledge providers and receivers in focus group discussions (n = 25). Four focus group discussions were conducted in the early (n = 2) and mid-phase (n = 2) of the project by trained qualitative researchers using a topic guide designed to explore experiences and activities representing knowledge transfer in multi-institutional and multi-cultural settings. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and checked. The transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Five main themes emerged from this qualitative study: mismatched expectations between providers and receivers; acquiring new knowledge beyond the professional "comfort zone"; challenges in cascading newly acquired knowledge to colleagues and management; individual and organisational cultural differences; and disruption of knowledge transfer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion This study highlights the need to create a conducive platform to facilitate continuous, timely and bi-directional needs assessment and feedback; this should be done in the early phase of the knowledge transfer process. The challenges and strategies identified in this study could guide more effective knowledge transfer between organisations and countries.publishedVersio

Prioritising topics for developing e-learning resources in healthcare curricula: A comparison between students and educators using a modified Delphi survey

Background Engaging students in the e-learning development process enhances the effective implementation of e-learning, however, students’ priority on the topics for e-learning may differ from that of the educators. This study aims to compare the differences between the students and their educators in prioritising the topics in three healthcare curricula for reusable e-learning object (RLO) development. Method A modified Delphi study was conducted among students and educators from University Malaya (UM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Taylor’s University (TU) on three undergraduate programmes. In Round 1, participants were asked to select the topics from the respective syllabi to be developed into RLOs. Priority ranking was determined by using frequencies and proportions. The first quartile of the prioritised topics was included in Round 2 survey, which the participants were asked to rate the level of priority of each topic using a 5-point Likert scale. The mean score of the topics was compared between students and educators. Result A total of 43 educators and 377 students participated in this study. For UM and TU Pharmacy, there was a mismatch in the prioritised topics between the students and educators. For UPM, both the educators and students have prioritised the same topics in both rounds. To harmonise the prioritisation of topics between students and educators for UM and TU Pharmacy, the topics with a higher mean score by both the students and educators were prioritised. Conclusion The mismatch in prioritised topics between students and educators uncovered factors that might influence the prioritisation process. This study highlighted the importance of conducting needs assessment at the beginning of eLearning resources development.publishedVersio

Prioritising topics for developing e-learning resources in healthcare curricula: A comparison between students and educators using a modified Delphi survey

Background Engaging students in the e-learning development process enhances the effective implementation of e-learning, however, students’ priority on the topics for e-learning may differ from that of the educators. This study aims to compare the differences between the students and their educators in prioritising the topics in three healthcare curricula for reusable e-learning object (RLO) development. Method A modified Delphi study was conducted among students and educators from University Malaya (UM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Taylor’s University (TU) on three undergraduate programmes. In Round 1, participants were asked to select the topics from the respective syllabi to be developed into RLOs. Priority ranking was determined by using frequencies and proportions. The first quartile of the prioritised topics was included in Round 2 survey, which the participants were asked to rate the level of priority of each topic using a 5-point Likert scale. The mean score of the topics was compared between students and educators. Result A total of 43 educators and 377 students participated in this study. For UM and TU Pharmacy, there was a mismatch in the prioritised topics between the students and educators. For UPM, both the educators and students have prioritised the same topics in both rounds. To harmonise the prioritisation of topics between students and educators for UM and TU Pharmacy, the topics with a higher mean score by both the students and educators were prioritised. Conclusion The mismatch in prioritised topics between students and educators uncovered factors that might influence the prioritisation process. This study highlighted the importance of conducting needs assessment at the beginning of eLearning resources development

Utility and usability evaluation of an information diary tool to measure health information access and exposure among patients with high cardiovascular risk

BackgroundOnline health misinformation about statins potentially affects health decision-making on statin use and adherence. We developed an information diary platform (IDP) to measure topic-specific health information exposure where participants record what information they encounter. We evaluated the utility and usability of the smartphone diary from the participants' perspective.MethodsWe used a mixed-method design to evaluate how participants used the smartphone diary tool and their perspectives on usability. Participants were high cardiovascular-risk patients recruited from a primary care clinic and used the tool for a week. We measured usability with the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire and interviewed participants to explore utility and usability issues.ResultsThe information diary was available in three languages and tested with 24 participants. The mean SUS score was 69.8 ± 12.9. Five themes related to utility were: IDP functions as a health information diary; supporting discussion of health information with doctors; wanting a feedback function about credible information; increasing awareness of the need to appraise information; and wanting to compare levels of trust with other participants or experts. Four themes related to usability were: ease of learning and use; confusion about selecting the category of information source; capturing offline information by uploading photos; and recording their level of trust.ConclusionWe found that the smartphone diary can be used as a research instrument to record relevant examples of information exposure. It potentially modifies how people seek and appraise topic-specific health information

X-ray spectroscopy study of ZnxSn1-xO2 nanorods synthesized by hydrothermal technique

An environment friendly, inexpensive solvothermal route is used to synthesize polycrystalline ZnxSn1-xO2 (0.0 <= x <= 0.07) nanorods with nanoflower morphology without using any organic solvents, surfactant or any catalytic agent under low hydrothermal pressure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive x-ray spectra depicts the formation of near stoichiometric ZnxSn1-xO2 nanorods. SEM analysis reveals that Zn incorporation in SnO2 decreases the nanorod diameter from similar to 20 nm to similar to 10 nm. High-resolution x-ray diffraction analysis reveals the rutile structure for x <= 0.04 samples, while for x = 0.07 a Zn2SnO4 phase is observed. Near edge x-ray absorption fine structure and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy indicate that Zn atoms have been substituted for Sn sites in SnO2 lattice without forming secondary phases and also create numerous oxygen vacancy in the structure

Enhanced orbital anisotropy through the proximity to a SrTi O3 layer in the perovskite iridate superlattices

We have used angle-dependent soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at the O K edge and first-principles calculations to investigate the electronic structures of iridate-based superlattices (SrIrO3)m/(SrTiO3) (m=1, 2, 3, and ∞). We focus on the pre-edge Ir 5d t2g-O 2p orbital hybridization feature in the XAS spectra. By varying the measurement geometry relative to the incident photon polarization, we are able to extract the dichroic contrast and observe the systematic increase in the anisotropy of Ir 5d orbitals as m decreases. First-principles calculations elucidate the orbital anisotropy coming mainly from the enhanced out-of-plane compression of IrO6 octahedra in the SrIrO3 layers that are adjacent to the inserted SrTiO3 layers. As m decreases, the increased volume fraction of these interfacial SrIrO3 layers and their contact with the SrTiO3 layers within the (SrIrO3)m/(SrTiO3) supercell lead to enhanced orbital anisotropy. Furthermore, the tilt and rotation of IrO6 octahedra are shown to be essential to understand the subtle orbital anisotropy in these superlattices, and constraining these degrees of freedom will give an incorrect trend. Our results demonstrate that the structural constraint from the inserted SrTiO3 layers, in addition to other electronic means such as polar interface and charge transfer, can serve as a knob to control the orbital degree of freedom in these iridate-based superlattices