Participatory or deliberative democracy? Exploring the mediation effects of perceived online deliberation and online interactive activities on social outcomes

Using the structural equation modeling method (N = 811), this study explores the structural relationships among online news consumption, political participation and social trust, with a focus on the mediating effects of online users’ deliberative perceptions and news-related online interactive activities. The analysis confirms that users’ perceptions of online deliberation exert a significant mediating effect on users’ levels of news consumption, political participation, and social trust. Users’ interactive civic messaging behaviors, on the other hand, solely enhance participatory intentions. The findings also show that the consumption of political news and the consumption of entertainment news have different effects on users’ perceptions of online deliberation, social trust, and political participation. Specifically, while political news has a direct and relatively strong influence on participation, entertainment news has a limited and indirect effect on participation. Online interactive activities are negatively associated with users’ perceived competency for online deliberation. Further implications of the study are also discussed.     

Materials and Wireless Microfluidic Systems for Electronics Capable of Chemical Dissolution on Demand

Electronics that are capable of destroying themselves, on demand and in a harmless way, might provide the ultimate form of data security. This paper presents materials and device architectures for triggered destruction of conventional microelectronic systems by means of microfluidic chemical etching of the constituent materials, including silicon, silicon dioxide, and metals (e.g., aluminum). Demonstrations in an array of home‐built metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistors that exploit ultrathin sheets of monocrystalline silicon and in radio‐frequency identification devices illustrate the utility of the approaches.     

Failure analysis of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic modules: degradation mechanism of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells under harsh environmental conditions

High‐temperature‐induced and humidity‐induced degradation behaviors were investigated through the failure analysis of encapsulated Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) modules and non‐encapsulated CIGS cells. After being exposed to high temperature (85 °C) for 1000 h, the efficiency loss of CIGS modules and the resistivities of the aluminum‐doped zinc oxide (AZO) layer, CIGS layer, and Mo layer were slightly increased. After damp heat (DH) testing (85 °C/85% RH), the efficiency of some modules decreased significantly accompanied by discoloration, and in these areas, the resistivity of the AZO layers increased markedly. The causes of degradation of CIGS cells after high temperature and DH tests were suggested through X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The high‐temperature‐induced degradation behaviors were revealed to be increases in series resistance of the CIGS cells, due to the adsorption of oxygen on the AZO, CIGS, and Mo layers. The degradation behavior after DH (85 °C/85% RH) exposure was caused by the adsorption of oxygen, as well as the generation of Zn(OH)₂ due to water molecules. In particular, the humidity‐induced degradation behavior in discolored CIGS modules was ascribed to the generation of Zn(OH)₂ and carboxylic acids in the AZO layer, due to a chemical reaction between the AZO, ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer, and water. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Resveratrol analogue,HS-1793, inhibits inflammatory mediator release from macrophages by interfering with the TLR4 mediated NF-κB activation

Food Science and Biotechnology - Resveratrol is known to have anti-inflammatory properties. However, high-dose resveratrol is required for optimal anti-inflammatory effects. HS-1793 is a derivative...     

Separation of oligonucleotides by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography

The use of Reversed-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) was investigated for the separation of oligonucleotides. By the gradient elution with the mobile phase of methanol, 0.1 M KH₂PO₄ and 0.02 M MaCl₂, the mixtures could be separated in a 250 mm × 4.6 mm I.D. column. The number of theoretical plates and resolution were compared belween this technique and Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography (MECC). The charged nucleic acid constituents in the RP-HPLC were relatively better separated than in the MECC.     

Characteristics of gas-liquid chromatography

The effects of sample size, liquid loading, particle size, column length, and column temperature on retention volumes were studied and separation factor, column efficiency, partition coefficient, and heat of solution were also obtained by gas-liquid chromatography. The feed materials were chosen by similar boiling points as diethylether, dimethoxymethane and dichloromethane. The relations between retention volume and above mentioned various variables were obtained. Separation factor was more affected by column temperature than other variables, and decreased with the temperature. HETP increased almost linearly with sample size. From the exponential relationship between partition coefficient and column temperature heat of solution of each material was calculated.