RECONSTRUCTION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES THROUGH NARRATIVE

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present new directions and research strategies through critical analysis of the academic tendencies of existing social science and humanities. The narrative theory of human experience is adopted as a theoretical rationale for critical analysing existing social sciences and humanities. Since the 1970s and 1980s, the academic tendencies of the humanities and social sciences have been transformed into the narrative turn. We focus on the new integrity of humanities and social sciences in light of the narrative theory that approaches the totality of human life. The narrative theory for academic inquiry makes use of the position of Bruner, Polkinghorne, Ricoeur Methodology: We reviewed the literature related to the research topic and took an integrated approach to the philosophical analysis of core claims. Main Findings: As a result, the narrative theory has a characteristic approach to human life and experience as a whole, and it is possible to integrate by narrative ways of knowing. Implications/Applications: Based on this narrative theory, existing humanities and social sciences need to be reconstructed into narrative science. And a narrative method or narrative inquiry is useful as its specific inquiry method. As a narrative science, humanities and social sciences can be implemented by the integration of human experience and narrative epistemology. It has the advantage of integrating the atomized sub-sciences into the narrative of human experience according to this new method. Also, in-depth research on concrete exploration strategies is expected in the future

Recent Developments in Synthesis and Photocatalytic Applications of Carbon Dots

The tunable photoluminescent and photocatalytic properties of carbon dots (CDs) via chemical surface modification have drawn increased attention to this emerging class of carbon nanomaterials. Herein, we summarize the advances in CD synthesis and modification, with a focus on surface functionalization, element doping, passivation, and nanocomposite formation with metal oxides, transition metal chalcogenides, or graphitic carbon nitrides. The effects of CD size and functionalization on photocatalytic properties are discussed, along with the photocatalytic applications of CDs in energy conversion, water splitting, hydrogen evolution, water treatment, and chemical degradation. In particular, the enzyme-mimetic and photodynamic applications of CDs for bio-related uses are thoroughly reviewed

Selective synthesis of pure cobalt disulfide on reduced graphene oxide sheets and its high electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction

We synthesized single-phase CoS2 on a large scale by adding graphene oxide of sufficient quantity via the hydrothermal method using cobalt acetate and thioacetamide as precursors; this produced the hybrid of CoS2 with reduced graphene oxide which exhibited high electrocatalytic activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction.ope

Wavelength-selective silencing of photocurrent in Au-coated C-60 wire hybrid

A Au-coated C-60 wire device showed wavelength-selective silencing of photocurrent on illumination with 532 nm light.close6

Control of size and physical properties of graphene oxide by changing the oxidation temperature

The size and the physical properties of graphene oxide sheets were controlled by changing the oxidation temperature of graphite. Graphite oxide (GO) samples were prepared at different oxidation temperatures of 20 degrees C, 27 degrees C and 35 degrees C using a modified Hummers' method. The carbon-to-oxygen (C/O) ratio and the average size of the GO sheets varied according to the oxidation temperature: 1.26 and 12.4 mu m at 20 degrees C, 1.24 and 10.5 mu m at 27 degrees C, and 1.18 and 8.5 mu m at 35 degrees C. This indicates that the C/O ratio and the average size of the graphene oxide sheets respectively increase as the oxidation temperature decreases. Moreover, it was observed that the surface charge and optical properties of the graphene oxide sheets could be tuned by changing the temperature. This study demonstrates the tunability of the physical properties of graphene oxide sheets and shows that the properties depend on the functional groups generated during the oxidation process.clos

Toward growth of wafer-scale single-crystal hexagonal boron nitride sheets

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has a two-dimensional planar structure without dangling bonds and is considered an insulator material that can overcome the limitations of SiO2 and HfO2, which typically exhibit large densities of dangling bonds and charged impurities at the interface. However, most of the reported hBN films prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are polycrystalline with grain boundaries. The grain boundaries of a polycrystalline hBN cause current leakage and gas permeability. A recent notable study reports the growth of wafer-scale single-crystal hBN monolayer, which could mitigate the aforementioned problems caused by polycrystalline hBN films. In this perspective, we discuss the recent progress in the research on single-crystal hBN and the direction to be taken for single-crystal hBN in future. The progress is closely related to the development of a single-crystal substrate and large area of monolayer single-crystal was grown on Cu (111). In terms of the hBN growth, the next step would be to grow multilayer single-crystal hBN, which is expected to expand the scope of applications

Influence of the molecular structure of metal-phthalocyanine on electrocatalytic reactions

The demand for new catalysts for renewable energy production has become crucial. As an alternative to metal catalysts for electrocatalysis to produce energy sources, metal-phthalocyanine (MPc) electrocatalysts have shown potential. Their physicochemical and electrochemical properties depend on the chemical structure of the MPc and the central metal atom. Recent reviews of MPcs focused on their electrochemical performance in specific catalytic reactions, such as oxygen reduction reaction and CO2 reduction reaction. However, understanding the structure of MPcs in depth is important, since their electrochemical catalytic activity is affected by structural modifications of MPcs. Therefore, this minireview focuses on how the molecular structure of MPcs affects electrochemical catalysis

Structural characterization and electrochemical properties of Co3O4 anode materials synthesized by a hydrothermal method

Cobalt oxide [Co3O4] anode materials were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal process, and the reaction conditions were optimized to provide good electrochemical properties. The effect of various synthetic reaction and heat treatment conditions on the structure and electrochemical properties of Co3O4 powder was also studied. Physical characterizations of Co3O4 are investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller [BET] method. The BET surface area decreased with values at 131.8 m2/g, 76.1 m2/g, and 55.2 m2/g with the increasing calcination temperature at 200°C, 300°C, and 400°C, respectively. The Co3O4 particle calcinated at 200°C for 3 h has a higher surface area and uniform particle size distribution which may result in better sites to accommodate Li+ and electrical contact and to give a good electrochemical property. The cell composed of Super P as a carbon conductor shows better electrochemical properties than that composed of acetylene black. Among the samples prepared under different reaction conditions, Co3O4 prepared at 200°C for 10 h showed a better cycling performance than the other samples. It gave an initial discharge capacity of 1,330 mAh/g, decreased to 779 mAh/g after 10 cycles, and then showed a steady discharge capacity of 606 mAh/g after 60 cycles

Commercial video games and cognitive functions: video game genres and modulating factors of cognitive enhancement

Background Unlike the emphasis on negative results of video games such as the impulsive engagement in video games, cognitive training studies in individuals with cognitive deficits showed that characteristics of video game elements were helpful to train cognitive functions. Thus, this study aimed to have a more balanced view toward the video game playing by reviewing genres of commercial video games and the association of video games with cognitive functions and modulating factors. Literatures were searched with search terms (e.g. genres of video games, cognitive training) on database and Google scholar. Results video games, of which purpose is players entertainment, were found to be positively associated with cognitive functions (e.g. attention, problem solving skills) despite some discrepancy between studies. However, the enhancement of cognitive functions through video gaming was limited to the task or performance requiring the same cognitive functions. Moreover, as several factors (e.g. age, gender) were identified to modulate cognitive enhancement, the individual difference in the association between video game playing and cognitive function was found. Conclusion Commercial video games are suggested to have the potential for cognitive function enhancement. As understanding the association between video gaming and cognitive function in a more balanced view is essential to evaluate the potential outcomes of commercial video games that more people reported to engage, this review contributes to provide more objective evidence for commercial video gaming.It was supported by a grant from Game Science Forum in South Kore