ANU Research Publications
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The Australian National University's Research Publications collection is an online location for collecting, preserving and disseminating the scholarly output of the University. This service allows members of the University to share their research with the wider community. ANU Open Research accepts journal articles, conference papers, book chapters, working or technical papers and other forms of scholarly communication.
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Item type: Publication , Access status: Open Access , Comorbidity patterns and health-related quality of life in a cohort of Australian women cancer survivors(2026) Zhang, Haoyu; Yu, Xue Qin; David, Michael; Byles, Julie; Yap, Mei Ling; Steinberg, Julia; Rutherford, Claudia; Banks, Emily; Canfell, Karen; Rahman, Md MijanurPurpose: This study aimed to identify dominant comorbidity patterns among women cancer survivors and examine how these patterns relate to health-related quality of life (HRQL). Methods: 1544 participants (born 1946–1951) from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health diagnosed with cancer during the follow-up period from 1993 to 2019 were included. HRQL is measured with Short Form-36 included in the survey. Latent class analysis was applied to identify comorbidity patterns, and linear regression was used to assess their association with HRQL domains, adjusting for demographic factors. Results: Five distinct comorbidity classes were identified: relatively healthy (n = 880, 57%); hypertension and arthritis (n = 278, 18%); arthritis and osteoporosis (n = 139, 9%); respiratory conditions (n = 170, 11%); and complex multimorbidity (n = 93, 6%). Compared to the relatively healthy class, women in all other classes had significantly lower average HRQL (p < 0.01). For example, the classes’ adjusted mean score for general health domain varied: relatively healthy (mean = 70.8, reference), hypertension and arthritis (mean = 63.1, 95% CI = 59.9, 66.3), arthritis and osteoporosis (mean = 60.0, 95% CI = 55.8, 64.1), respiratory conditions (mean = 60.9, 95% CI = 57.2, 64.7), and complex multimorbidity (mean = 48.6, 95% CI = 43.4, 53.8). Women in the complex multimorbidity class had the lowest HRQL across all domains: physical functioning [adjusted mean difference from relatively healthy (AMD=− 22.2 and 95% CI − 27.4, − 17.0)], mental health (AMD=-11.4, 95% CI=− 15.4, -7.5). Conclusion: Comorbidity patterns varied substantially among women cancer survivors and were strongly associated with differences in HRQL. Survivors with complex multimorbidity experienced the greatest impairments. Incorporating comorbidity profiling into survivorship care may help identify high-risk groups and support targeted interventions to optimise quality of life.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , Manganese-Catalyzed Sustainable Synthesis of Pyrroles from Alcohols and Amino Alcohols(2017-06-12) Kallmeier, Fabian; Dudziec, Beata; Irrgang, Torsten; Kempe, RhettThe development of reactions that convert alcohols into important chemical compounds saves our fossil carbon resources as alcohols can be obtained from indigestible biomass such as lignocellulose. The conservation of our rare noble metals is of similar importance, and their replacement by abundantly available transition metals, such as Mn, Fe, or Co (base or nonprecious metals), in key technologies such as catalysis is a promising option. Herein, we report on the first base-metal-catalyzed synthesis of pyrroles from alcohols and amino alcohols. The most efficient catalysts are Mn complexes stabilized by PN5P ligands whereas related Fe and Co complexes are inactive. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions at catalyst loadings as low as 0.5 mol %, and has a broad scope and attractive functional-group tolerance. These findings may inspire others to use Mn catalysts to replace Ir or Ru complexes in challenging dehydrogenation reactions.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , The epidemiology and burden of smoking in countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), 1990–2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021(2025) Dai, Xiaochen; Ng, Marie; Gil, Gabriela Fernanda; Morgan, Brooks W.; Anderson, Jason A.; Adnani, Qorinah Estiningtyas Sakilah; Aji, Budi; Aljunid, Syed Mohamed; Amul, Gianna Gayle Herrera; Anwar, Sumadi Lukman; Apostol, Geminn Louis Carace; Artanti, Kurnia Dwi; Benjakul, Sarunya; Bermudez, Amiel Nazer C.; Chong, Bryan; Chu, Dinh Toi; Do, Thanh Chi; Efendi, Ferry; Effendi, Diyan Ermawan; Fauk, Nelsensius Klau; Hargono, Arief; Has, Eka Mishbahatul Marah; Huynh, Hong Han; Indriasih, Endang; Iqhrammullah, Muhammad; Jairoun, Ammar Abdulrahman; Kanmodi, Kehinde Kazeem; Khusun, Helda; Kurniasari, Maria Dyah; Kusuma, Dian; Laksono, Tri; Le, Nhi Huu Hanh; Le, Thao Thi Thu; Ma, Stefan; Marzo, Roy Rillera; Mohammed, Mustapha; Murray, Christopher J.L.; Nascimento, Gustavo G.; Nguyen, Phat Tuan; Nguyen, Van Thanh; Ningrum, Dina Nur Anggraini; Noman, Efaq Ali; O'Connell, Erin M.; Ong, Sok King; Roy, Bedanta; Safi, Sher Zaman; Sarasmita, Made Ary; Selvaraj, Siddharthan; Shrestha, Sunil; Solikhah, SolikhahBackground: Tobacco smoking has long been a regional health priority for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Despite decades of commitment to implementing tobacco control measures, the ASEAN region continues to face substantial challenges in reversing the epidemic. We aimed to analyse longitudinal data on smoking prevalence and attributable disease burden to understand the trajectory of the smoking epidemic, inform priority setting, and enable effective policy planning. Methods: We used data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 to evaluate the prevalence of tobacco smoking and its attributable disease burden in the ten ASEAN member states by age and sex, from 1990 to 2021. Current smoking prevalence was estimated using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression models, which synthesised data from 159 distinctive data sources specific to the ASEAN region in addition to 2646 data sources from other GBD countries. Dose–response risks for 36 health outcomes were derived using the latest burden of proof approach. Population attributable fractions were subsequently calculated and applied to determine the burden in terms of mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributable to tobacco smoking in these countries. Findings: In 2021, there were approximately 137 million (95% uncertainty interval 134–139) current smokers aged 15 years and older in the ASEAN region, with an estimated age-standardised prevalence of 48·4% (47·5–49·2) among males and 4·47% (4·09–4·92) among females. Tobacco smoking accounted for 10·8% (8·86–12·9) of all-cause mortality across the region. The total number of deaths and DALYs attributed to smoking were 526 000 deaths (433 000–622 000) and 15·7 million (12·9–18·5) DALYs. Death rates varied considerably across the region, especially among males, ranging from 68·9 (55·8–84·2) per 100 000 males in Singapore to 364 (279–463) per 100 000 males in Cambodia. Although smoking prevalence declined substantially in most ASEAN countries between 1990 and 2021, the absolute number of smokers increased by 63·3% (59·0–67·8), and the number of smokers aged 10 years and older increased by 53·0 million (50·2–56·2). Interpretation: Tobacco smoking remains a persistent public health threat in the ASEAN region. Considerable disparities exist across the region: while some countries have made remarkable progress in tobacco control, others lag behind. As a modifiable risk factor heavily influenced by commercial determinants, smoking can be controlled through effective policy changes. As a geopolitical and economic collaboration network, ASEAN countries must work together to overcome barriers hindering anti-tobacco efforts and collectively devise strategies to strengthen tobacco control across the region. Funding: Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , Patient Experience Correlates with Willingness to Retain Service Utilization in Post-Pandemic Times Among Telemedicine Users in Indonesia(2024-08-01) Effendi, Diyan Ermawan; Ardani, Irfan; Handayani, Sri; Nugroho, Arief Priyo; Fitrianti, Yunita; Machfutra, Eka DenisBackground: COVID-19 pandemic increases the use of telemedicine worldwide. Sustaining its use during post-pandemic times is important to overcome health care disparities, especially in countries with an inadequate number or uneven distribution of health care workers. This study aims to analyze factors associated with the willingness to retain telemedicine utilization after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey was administered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demographic characteristics and patient experience were used as predictors. Chi-square was used to examine the relationship between the outcome variable and the predictors. Finally, binary logistics regression was conducted to determine factors associated with willingness to retain telemedicine utilization after the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: A total of 784 responses were included in the analysis. The result showed a high rate of willingness to retain telemedicine utilization (81%). Factors associated with outcome variable were satisfaction (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 7.893; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.600–17.308; p < 0.001), telemedicine efficacy (aOR 1.747; 95% CI: 1.144–2.667; p = 0.010), ease of use (aOR 6.570; 95% CI: 3.029–14.250; p < 0.001), time efficiency (aOR 1.666; 95% CI: 1.092–2.540; p = 0.018), and cost efficiency (aOR 1.852; 95% CI: 1.005–3.411; p = 0.048). In contrast, patients who first used telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic were less likely to retain telemedicine utilization (aOR 0.437; 95% CI: 0.281–0.679; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The high willingness to retain utilization is a good indication of the sustainability of telemedicine services during post-COVID-19 pandemic. The stakeholders should focus on factors revealed in this study to increase the service uptake.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , High-Luminescence and Submillimeter-Scale MoS<sub>2</sub>Monolayer Growth Using Combinational Phase Precursors via Chemical Vapor Deposition(2022-10-25) Wibowo, Ary Anggara; Tebyetekerwa, Mike; Bui, Anh Dinh; Kremer, Felipe; Saji, Sandra; Yin, Zongyou; Lu, Yuerui; MacDonald, Daniel; Nguyen, Hieu T.We successfully synthesize high-luminescence and submillimeter-scale monolayers of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) employing a combinational phase precursor via a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach. First, sodium nitrate catalyst is demonstrated to assist the reaction equilibrium of a solid precursor CVD process, leading to an increased density and size of MoS2 monolayer flakes (∼120 μm). However, the monolayers' photoluminescence intensity is significantly reduced due to the presence of excess residues. A suspension solution-based precursor is also tested using the optimized temperature, pressure, and catalyst from the solid precursor case, and it is found to also give a high density of uniform triangles with an average size of ∼80 μm. Finally, combining both precursor phases (combinational phase precursor) yields the largest monolayer flakes with an average size of ∼200 μm and the highest luminescence, with photoluminescence intensities being 1 order of magnitude higher than that of a standard mechanical exfoliated monolayer.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , Rural-urban differences in common mental disorders among Indonesian youth: a cross-sectional national survey(2024) Khairunnisa, Marizka; Yunitawati, Diah; Latifah, Leny; Effendi, Diyan Ermawan; Fitrianti, Yunita; Handayani, Sri; Kusumawardani, Hastin DyahObjectives: The onset of common mental disorders (CMDs) is most prevalent among youth; thus, mental health management is crucial. We examined differences in risk and risk factor determinants regarding CMDs prevalence among youth in rural and urban Indonesia. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2018 Indonesia National Health Survey. The population comprised 122,114 respondents, aged 15 to 24 years, who had completed the 20-item Self-Report Questionnaire along with providing demographic and health behavior data. Chi-square testing and logistic regression were employed for analysis. Results: The CMDs risk was higher among urban than rural youth. Risk factors impacting both populations included being female, having a lower education level, consuming fewer than 7 portions of vegetables weekly, smoking, and drinking alcohol (p<0.05). Consuming under 7 portions of fruit weekly and being in the highest or lowest wealth quintile were significant risk factors only in urban youth, while unemployment and divorce were significant only among rural respondents (p<0.05). Marriage was protective against CMDs among rural participants. Conclusion: Being male, possessing a college degree, consuming at least 7 portions of vegetables weekly, not smoking, and not consuming alcohol were associated with reduced CMDs risk in urban and rural youth. Among rural youth, marriage and employment were linked to decreased risk, whereas divorce displayed the opposite relationship. In urban populations, consuming at least 7 portions of fruit weekly and belonging to neither the highest nor the lowest economic quintile were protective factors. Management strategies for CMDs in young people must address these considerations.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , Graphene–MXene van der Waals heterostructures for high-performance supercapacitors(2025) Kumar, Suraj; Bora, Priyakshi; Bhomick, Parimal Chandra; Rangappa, Dinesh; Sinha, DipakResearch on the exploration of graphene and two-dimensional (2D) materials is thriving and is anticipated to continue leading the forefront of materials science research. This growing interest in 2D nanomaterials is attributed to their distinct characteristics not present in their bulk counterparts. While various 2D nanomaterials have been developed, graphene and MXene, notably, have garnered significant global attention owing to their outstanding properties. Further, the ability to create van der Waals heterostructures has introduced a novel approach to amalgamating the advantageous features of graphene and MXene into a unified entity. These heterostructures not only overcome the inherent limitations of each material but also facilitate the realization of fascinating properties through their synergistic combination. This review discusses the evolution, recent advancements and prospects of these novel 2D materials. Additionally, we also address the challenges that must be overcome to achieve full-scale commercial adoption of this innovative class of layered materials. We also reviewed the application of graphene–MXene heterostructures for developing next-gen supercapacitor devices and outline potential directions for future research.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , Highly Active and Selective Manganese C=O Bond Hydrogenation Catalysts: The Importance of the Multidentate Ligand, the Ancillary Ligands, and the Oxidation State(2016-09-19) Kallmeier, Fabian; Irrgang, Torsten; Dietel, Thomas; Kempe, RhettThe replacement of expensive noble metals by earth-abundant transition metals is a central topic in catalysis. Herein, we introduce a highly active and selective homogeneous manganese-based C=O bond hydrogenation catalyst. Our catalyst has a broad substrate scope, it is able to hydrogenate aryl–alkyl, diaryl, dialkyl, and cycloalkyl ketones as well as aldehydes. A very good functional group tolerance including the quantitative and selective hydrogenation of a ketone in the presence of a non-shielded olefin is observed. In Mn hydrogenation catalysis, the combination of the multidentate ligand, the oxidation state of the metal, and the choice of the right ancillary ligand is crucial for high activity. This observation emphasizes an advantage and the importance of homogeneous catalysts in 3d-metal catalysis. For coordination compounds, fine-tuning of a complex coordination environment is easily accomplished in comparison to enzyme and/or heterogeneous catalysts.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , Pine Cone biomass as an efficient precursor for the synthesis of activated biocarbon for adsorption of anionic dye from aqueous solution: Isotherm, kinetic, thermodynamic and regeneration studies(2018) Bhomick, Parimal Chandra; Supong, Aola; Baruah, Mridushmita; Pongener, Chubaakum; Sinha, DipakThis study describes the synthesis of activated biocarbon from Pinus kesiya cone by ZnCl2 activation and it's efficacy in the removal of Alizarin Red S (ARS) dye. The prepared biocarbon was characterized using Elemental analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), FT-IR spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis and zero point charge. BET surface area and total pore volume of the synthesized carbon was found to be 878.07 m2 g−1 and 0.412 cm3 g−1 respectively. The impact of process parameters like adsorbent dosage, pH, initial concentration, and contact time were determined using batch experiments and an increase in adsorption capacity was observed with increase in the initial dye concentration, adsorbent dosage and contact time. The adsorption isotherm was well defined by Langmuir model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 118.06 mg g−1. Pseudo-second order kinetics gave the best correlation value (R2 > 0.99) reflecting the chemical nature of the adsorption process. Thermodynamic studies showed that adsorption was spontaneous (negative ∆G°) and endothermic in nature (positive ∆H°). Regeneration of spent carbon was also evaluated in order to assess the reusability which shows that the regenerated carbon can be used till the third cycle.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , Manganese Complexes for (De)Hydrogenation Catalysis: A Comparison to Cobalt and Iron Catalysts(2018-01-02) Kallmeier, Fabian; Kempe, RhettThe sustainable use of the resources on our planet is essential. Noble metals are very rare and are diversely used in key technologies, such as catalysis. Manganese is the third most abundant transition metal of the Earth's crust and based on the recently discovered impressive reactivity in hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions, is a potentially useful noble-metal “replacement”. The hope of novel selectivity profiles, not possible with noble metals, is also an aim of such a “replacement”. The reactivity of manganese complexes in (de)hydrogenation reactions was demonstrated for the first time in 2016. Herein, we summarize the work that has been published since then and especially discuss the importance of homogeneous manganese catalysts in comparison to cobalt and iron catalysts.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , ‘Children and armed conflict’ and the field of security studies(Routledge, 2017) Jacob, CeciliaOpening analyses in international relations (IR) to include children as significant security actors has much to offer by way of insight into the workings of global politics and security. A number of scholars have argued persuasively why children should be included in the study of IR, in the specific areas of global politics (Brocklehurst 2006), the international political economy (Watson 2009), security studies (Wagnsson, Hellman, and Holmberg 2010), and international humanitarian and human rights law (Carpenter 2010). Topically, scholars in IR and related fields – such as international law and peace studies – interested in children have examined child soldiers (Brett and McCallin 1998; Brett and Specht 2004; Cohn and Goodwin-Gill 1994; Denov 2006, 2010; Happold 2005; Singer 2006; Wessells 2006), the militarization of childhood (Beier 2011; Brocklehurst 2006; Lee-Koo 2011; Mazurana and Carlson 2008), children born of wartime sexual violence (Carpenter 2007, 2010), and children/youth as contributors to post-conflict peace-building (McEvoy-Levy 2006; Wessells and Monteiro 2006). What can we make of this interest in children in conflict, how should we go about theorizing children in IR, and what significance does this bear on the study of security in IR?Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , From service provider to investment platform? The limits of cooperative upgrading in Vietnam(2026) Do, Thang Nam; Nguyen, Kim Hoan; Le, Thi Ha Lien; Nguyen, Nhat Mai; Chu, LongSmallholder farmers in developing countries often face persistent barriers to productive investment arising from fragmented landholdings, limited collateral, and risk-averse decision-making, even where agricultural cooperatives provide valued services. This article examines why locally valued cooperatives struggle to move beyond service provision to mobilise farm investment. Using a mechanism-focused case study in Vietnam, we combine a household survey (n = 52), 15 interviews, financial analysis of irrigation provision, and a review of Vietnam's 2023 Cooperative Law to examine how cooperatives can become trapped in a low-investment equilibrium. While collective irrigation generates measurable cost savings, equality-centred governance, leadership risk aversion, informal land pooling, and subsidy-dependent finance constrain capital formation. More fundamentally, modest and uncertain returns dampen incentives to invest. Governance reform, land pooling, and selective climate-linked finance emerge as conditional pathways rather than straightforward solutions, each involving trade-offs over risk, control, and distribution. Cooperative upgrading is therefore best understood as a constrained and negotiated process rather than a linear transition from service provider to investment platform.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , The face of leadership: inferences, impressions, and behavioral consequences(2025) Neely, Brett H.; Eva, Nathan; Madison, Karryna; van Vugt, MarkFacial cues are powerful inputs in impression formation, yet their role in leadership contexts remains contested. Does a leader’s face offer meaningful insight into their qualities and potential, or merely reflect observers’ stereotypes? To address this question, we conducted a multidisciplinary review of 131 empirical articles spanning psychology, management, political science, and related fields. We organized findings around five guiding research questions: theoretical perspectives, trait inferences, leadership outcomes, contextual moderators, and methodological approaches. Across studies, we find that observers commonly infer competence, dominance, trustworthiness, and warmth from leader faces, and that these impressions predict perceptions of effectiveness, leadership emergence, and behavioral outcomes. However, we also identify critical limitations: many studies rely on Western samples, invoke theory without testing mechanisms, and rarely validate trait inferences against objective data. Contextual factors such as threat or cultural norms are often overlooked, and intersectionality is largely absent. Methodologically, studies vary in rigor and causal inference is often weak. We integrate these insights into a conceptual framework and offer a future research agenda that encourages theory-driven, context-sensitive, and methodologically robust work. By clarifying what faces cue, when these cues matter, and how they are studied, this review advances a more integrated science of leader perception.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , Social exchange theory in leadership research: A problematizing review(2025) Madison, Karryna; Eva, Nathan; De Cieri, Helen; Goh, ZenLeadership scholars frequently use social exchange theory to explain leader-follower relations and the influence of leadership behaviors and styles. Yet, the richness of social exchange theory often contrasts with how it is applied in leadership research. Thus, our problematizing review interrogates how leadership research has operationalized social exchange theory and what has been lost in the process. We surfaced six assumptions that structure how leadership research applies the theory: exchange is defined as transactional, unidirectional and leader-initiated, static, inferred through indirect proxies, enacted by identity-neutral actors, and decontextualized. We show how these assumptions depart from social exchange theory’s original emphasis on emergent reciprocity, negotiated power, and structural embeddedness. Building on this critique, we propose a future research agenda that reconnects leadership research with social exchange theory’s sociological roots, which positions exchange as a dynamic, emergent, and uncertain process influenced by individual identities, negotiated through social interactions, and structured by organizational and cultural contexts.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , Role of Socioeconomic Status in National Health Insurance Ownership in Indonesia’s Rural Areas(2024-12-01) Laksono, Agung Dwi; Wulandari, Ratna Dwi; Effendi, Diyan Ermawan; Tumaji, Tumaji; Nantabah, Zainul KhaqiqiBackground: National Health Insurance (NHI) is one of the Indonesian Government’s policies to increase public access to health services. The study analyzed the role of socioeconomic status in NHI ownership in rural Indonesia. Study Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: The study population included residents of rural Indonesia. The study examined secondary data from the survey entitled “Abilities and Willingness to Pay, Fee, and Participant Satisfaction in Implementing National Health Insurance in Indonesia in 2019”, involving 33 225 respondents representing Indonesia’s rural areas. The study was conducted from March to December 2019. The variables analyzed included NHI, socioeconomic level, age group, gender, education level, employment status, and marital status. In the final step, the study employed binary logistic regression to explain the relationship between socioeconomic status and NHI ownership. Results: The results show that 63.8% of the population in rural Indonesia participated in the NHI. The poorer residents were 1.235 times more likely to have NHI than the most impoverished population (AOR 1.235; 95% CI 1.234-1.237). People with middle wealth status were 1.086 times more likely to have NHI than the poorest (AOR 1.086; 95% CI 1.085-1.087). The richer residents were 1.134 times more likely to have NHI than the poorest (AOR 1.134; 95% CI 1.133-1.136). The richest residents were 1.078 times more likely to have NHI than the poorest residents (AOR 1.078; 95% CI 1.077-1.079). Conclusion: The study concluded that socioeconomic status is related to NHI ownership in rural Indonesia. The analysis indicated that all socioeconomic categories were more likely to become NHI participants than the poorest in Indonesia.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , From hero to humility: Critical approaches to teaching servant leadership(2023-12-01) Madison, Karryna; Fernando, Judith; Robberts, Jonathan; Eva, NathanDespite the growth of servant leadership research, current understandings of how to teach servant leadership are limited. Further, current approaches often reinforce heroic notions of servant leadership that do not adequately prepare learners to engage in leadership within their own lives. Against this backdrop, we integrate critical pedagogical approaches within servant leadership education. To do so, we outline several applications that focus on leader development, leadership development, and community leadership development as well as several critical considerations for educators.Item type: Publication , Access status: Open Access , Imaging throughput of compact handheld microscopes for quantitative single cell studies(2025) Bulloch, Sophie; Xu, Tienan; Herrmann, David; Timpson, Paul; Phan, Tri Giang; Lim, Yean Jin; Lee, Woei MingIncuscopes, incubator-compatible microscopes, are crucial for live single-cell imaging studies that spans several hours to days. However, traditional microscopy prioritize high-resolution imaging performance over throughput, neglecting efficient live-cell image sampling. This study challenges existing spatial bandwidth product (field of view/optical resolution) criteria for image sampling for live cells. We demonstrate that imaging throughput is fundamentally determined by the minimal pixel count necessary to adequately resolve single cells across the field of view, not spatial bandwidth product. Using an off-the-shelf handheld microscope (5MP, ~0.03 NA) and a scientific microscope (8MP, 4x, 0.4 NA), we revealed a striking disparity. Contrary to expectations, the handheld microscope exhibited ~4-fold higher imaging throughput, highlighting oversampling inherent in many scientific microscopes. This efficiency stems from a more optimized pixel-to-cell ratio for throughput. We validated this concept by deploying the handheld microscopes within a compact 30-liter incubator, enabling continuous imaging over 40 hours using open-source Micro-Manager. A series of experiments, including cell counting, tracking, division, migration, and spheroid dynamics, were successfully performed. The handheld microscope's compactness, ease of use, and cost effectiveness render it a compelling alternative to high-grade incubator microscopes for routine, non-fluorescence cell culture studies, offering a paradigm shift towards pixel optimized imaging throughput.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , Zinc Sulfide Enabling Remarkable Surface Passivation of Crystalline Silicon(2026) Bartholazzi, Gabriel; Galinier, Elodie; Kremer, Felipe; Kodithuwakku, Piyumi; Macdonald, Daniel; Black, LachlanThe development of future crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cell technologies requires innovative surface passivation layers. Sulfides are a somewhat unexplored class of passivation materials, despite previous reports showing that sulfurization of the c-Si surface enhances surface passivation. Herein, we report a novel transparent passivation stack composed of ZnS/Al2O3, sequentially deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD). This stack exhibits remarkable surface passivation, reaching a recombination current pre-factor J0 as low as 1.0 fA/cm2 and implied open-circuit voltages iVoc > 730 mV for a wide range of deposition and annealing conditions. Capacitance–voltage measurements reveal an extremely low interface state density of ≈ 1×1010 cm−2 eV−1, on par with state-of-the-art Si-based passivation layers such as SiO2 and a-Si:H, together with a moderate positive fixed charge. A close lattice match between c-Si and ZnS suggests potential epitaxial growth, which could explain the low interface state density and outstanding surface passivation, despite the observation of a polycrystalline bulk structure. These results establish ZnS as an important new material for c-Si surface passivation, with the potential to enable future innovations either as an interlayer for passivating contacts or as a dielectric passivation layer in c-Si solar cells.Item type: Publication , Access status: Metadata only , Synthesis of valuable benzenoid aromatics from bioderived feedstock(2023) Zheng, Shasha; Wei, Zhihong; Wozniak, Bartosz; Kallmeier, Fabian; Baráth, Eszter; Jiao, Haijun; Tin, Sergey; de Vries, Johannes G.Aromatic chemicals play indispensable roles in our daily lives, having broad applications in household goods, textiles, healthcare, electronics and automotive, but their production currently relies on fossil resources that have heavy environmental burdens. Synthesis of aromatic chemicals from bio-based resources would be a viable approach to improve their sustainability. However, very few methods are available for achieving this goal. Here we present a strategy to synthesize aromatics from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), an organic compound derived from sugars under mild conditions. HMF was first converted in two high-yielding steps into 2,5-dioxohexanal (DOH), a novel C6-compound containing three carbonyl groups. Subsequently, acid-catalysed intramolecular aldol condensation of DOH in the presence of secondary amines selectively produced a range of bio-based 4-dialkylamino substituted phenols and 1,4-di-(dialkylamino)benzenes (Wurster’s blue analogues) in 15–88% yields. In the absence of amines, the industrially important hydroquinone was also synthesized from DOH under acidic conditions. Using a similar approach where 4,5-dioxohexanal was the intermediate, we were also able to prepare catechol, a compound with important industrial applications, from HMF. The proposed approach can pave the way for the production of sustainable aromatic chemicals and move their industrial applications closer to achieving a bioeconomy.Item type: Publication , Access status: Open Access , A Homogeneous Nickel Catalyst for Reductive Amination of γ-Keto Acids using Hydrogen(2024-11-25) Chakrabortty, Soumyadeep; Moritz, Jan Ole; Kallmeier, Fabian; Neumann, Helfried; Tin, Sergey; Beller, Matthias; de Vries, Johannes G.The reductive amination of levulinic and 2-acetyl benzoic acids with hydrogen and various amines proceeds efficiently in the presence of a homogeneous Ni/triphos-catalyst. The reaction rate of the overall process is significantly enhanced using 3,3,3-trifluoroethanol (TFE) as solvent. The optimized synthetic protocol allows for a straightforward access of >20 examples of N-functionalized pyrrolidinones in high yields (75 % and >99 %). Upscaling to 10 mmol-scale is demonstrated and mechanistic in situ studies revealed the presence of alkoxy- and hydroxylactams as crucial intermediates.