"People want better": a qualitative exploration of stakeholders' views on introducing well-being coordinators in the screen industry

PURPOSE

There are several factors that negatively impact the well-being of those working in the screen industry. Consequently, the need to introduce Well-being Coordinators has been identified. This study explored the experiences of participants who undertook a Well-being Coordination course tailored for the screen sector. Additionally, it sought to delve into perspectives regarding well-being within the screen industry.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted. The study was guided by an interpretive descriptive approach. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse data.

FINDINGS

Five themes were identified: Opportunities and challenges working in the screen industry, co-existing with harassment, the need for change: importance of wellbeing, becoming a well-being co-ordinator: learning from the course, and the future of the well-being co-ordinator role: opportunities and challenges. The reality that cast and crew co-exist with several forms of harassment within the industry was noted. Despite this, there is hope for the future of the screen sector, particularly the positive impact the role of the Well-being Coordinator could have.

CONCLUSIONS

The experiences of professionals across the screen industry vary; however, a pervasive culture of bullying and harassment is commonplace. Through the introduction of Well-being Coordinators, there is the potential to enact positive change.

Identification of film-based formulations that move mRNA lipid nanoparticles out of the freezer

COVID-19 vaccines consisting of mRNA lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) encoding the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein antigen protected millions of people from severe disease; however, they must be stored frozen prior to use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the compatibility and stability of mRNA LNPs within a polymer-based film matrix. An optimized formulation of polymer base, glycerol, surfactants, and PEGylated lipid that prevents damage to the LNP due to physical changes during the film-forming process (osmotic stress, surface tension, spatial stress, and water loss) was identified. Surfactants added to LNP stock prior to mixing with other film components contributed to this effect. Formulations prepared at pH ≥ 8.5 extended transfection efficiency beyond 4 weeks at 4°C when combined with known nucleic acid stabilizers. mRNA LNPs were most stable in films when manufactured in an environment of ∼50% relative humidity. The optimized formulation offers 16-week stability at 4°C.

Advancing Photodynamic Antimicrobial Strategy: Sustainable Fabrication of Novel Lauryl Gallate-Chitosan Hydrophobic Films with Rapid Bacterial Capture and Biofilms Elimination Capabilities for Promoting Wound Healing

Bioinspired photoactive composites, in terms of photodynamic inactivation, cost-effectiveness, and biosafety, are promising alternatives to antibiotics for combating bacterial infections while avoiding antibacterial resistance. However, the weak bacterial membrane affinity of the photoactive substrate and the lack of synergistic antibacterial effect remain crucial shortcomings for their antibacterial applications. Herein, we developed a hydrophobic film from food antioxidant lauryl gallate covalently functionalized chitosan (LG-g-CS conjugates) through a green radical-induced grafting reaction that utilizes synergistic bacteria capture, contact-killing, and photodynamic inactivation activities to achieve enhanced bactericidal and biofilm elimination capabilities. Besides, the grafting reaction mechanism between LG and CS in the ascorbic acid (AA)/H2O2 redox system was further proposed. The LG-g-CS films feature hydrophobic side chains and photoactive phenolic hydroxyl groups, facilitating dual bactericidal activities through bacteria capture and contact-killing via strong hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions with bacterial membranes as well as blue light (BL)-driven photodynamic bacterial eradication through the enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species. As a result, the LG-g-CS films efficiently capture and immobilize bacteria and exhibit excellent photodynamic antibacterial activity against model bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and their biofilms under BL irradiation. Moreover, LG-g-CS films could significantly promote the healing process of S. aureus-infected wounds. This research demonstrates a new strategy for designing and fabricating sustainable bactericidal and biofilm-removing materials with a high bacterial membrane affinity and photodynamic activity.

Aqueous Dispersion of Aramid Nanofibers Achieved by Using Tannic Acid for Ultrahigh Strength Films

Polymer nanofibers have established a robust foundation and possess immense potential in various emerging fields such as sensors and biotechnology. In this study, aqueous dispersions of aramid nanofibers (ANFs) were successfully prepared by using tannic acid (TA). Morphological analysis revealed that TA effectively prevented self-aggregation of ANFs, and preserved the nanofiber structure during TA-assisted solvent exchange. Subsequently, the ANF and TA/ANF films were fabricated using casting and vacuum-assisted filtration techniques. Notably, the tensile strength of the casting TA/ANF film reached 393.8 MPa, exhibiting a remarkable improvement of 41.3% compared to that of the pure ANF film. These exceptional mechanical properties can be attributed to the well-dispersed nanostructures, hydrogen-bonding interactions, zigzag structures, and fiber-bridging effects. Furthermore, the TA/ANF film demonstrated superior ultraviolet (UV) shielding capabilities, visible transparency properties, and excellent resistance to chemical reagents. The above-mentioned interesting findings demonstrate its potential as a nanofiber-reinforced material for poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composites.

Characteristics of Dialdehyde Cellulose Nanofibrils Derived from Cotton Linter Fibers and Wood Fibers

Two types of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were isolated from cotton linter fibers and hardwood fibers through mechanical fibrillation methods. The dialdehyde cellulose nanofibrils (DACNFs) were prepared through the periodate oxidation method, and their morphological and structural properties were investigated. The characteristics of the DACNFs during the concentration process were also explored. The AFM analysis results showed that the mean diameters of wood fiber-based CNFs and cotton fiber-based CNFs were about 52.03 nm and 69.51 nm, respectively. However, the periodate oxidation treatment process obviously reduced the nanofibril size and destroyed the crystalline region of the nanofibrils. Due to the high crystallinity of cotton fibers, the cotton fiber-based DACNFs exhibited a lower aldehyde content and suspension stability compared to the wood fiber-based DACNFs. For the concentration process of the DACNF suspension, the bound water content of the concentrated cotton fiber-based DACNFs was lowered to 0.41 g/g, which indicated that the cotton fiber-based DACNFs could have good redispersibility. Both the wood fiber-based and cotton fiber-based DACNF films showed relatively good transmittance and mechanical strength. In addition, to the cotton fiber-based DACNF films had a very low swelling ratio, and the barrier water vapor and oxygen properties of the redispersed cotton fiber-based DACNF films decreased by very little. In sum, this study has demonstrated that cotton fibers could serve as an effective alternative to wood fibers for preparing CNFs, and that cotton fiber-based DACNFs have huge application prospects in the field of packaging film materials due to their stable properties during the concentration process.

Assessing the sensitivity and suitability of a range of detectors for SIMT PSQA

PURPOSE

Single-isocenter multi-target intracranial stereotactic radiotherapy (SIMT) is an effective treatment for brain metastases with complex treatment plans and delivery optimization necessitating rigorous quality assurance. This work aims to assess five methods for quality assurance of SIMT treatment plans in terms of their suitability and sensitivity to delivery errors.

METHODS

Sun Nuclear ArcCHECK and SRS MapCHECK, GafChromic EBT Radiochromic Film, machine log files, and Varian Portal Dosimetry were all used to measure 15 variations of a single SIMT plan. Variations of the original plan were created with Python. They comprised various degrees of systematic MLC offsets per leaf up to 2 mm, random per-leaf variations with differing minimum and maximum magnitudes, simulated collimator, and dose miscalibrations (MU scaling). The erroneous plans were re-imported into Eclipse and plan-quality degradation was assessed by comparing each plan variation to the original clinical plan in terms of the percentage of clinical goals passing relative to the original plan. Each erroneous plan could be then ranked by the plan-quality degradation percentage following recalculation in the TPS so that the effects of each variation could be correlated with γ pass rates and detector suitability.

RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS

It was found that 2%/1 mm is a good starting point for the ArcCHECK, Portal Dosimetry, and the SRS MapCHECK methods, respectively, and provides clinically relevant error detection sensitivity. Looser dose criteria of 5%/1 mm or 5%/1.5 mm are suitable for film dosimetry and log-file-based methods. The statistical methods explored can be expanded to other areas of patient-specific QA and detector assessment.

Investigation on the Correlation between Biaxial Stretching Process and Macroscopic Properties of BOPA6 Film

Biaxially oriented polyamide 6 (BOPA6) films were prepared by extrusion casting and biaxial stretching with polyamide 6. The effects of different biaxially oriented on the macroscopic properties of BOPA6 were investigated by characterizing the rheological, crystallization, optical, barrier and mechanical properties. The results show that the increase of stretching temperature leads to the diffusion and regular stacking rate of BOPA6 chain segments towards crystal nuclei increases, the relative crystallinity increases, reaching 27.87% at 180 °C, and the mechanical strength and optical performance decrease. Heat-induced crystallization promotes the transformation of β-crystals to α-crystals in BOPA6, resulting in a more perfect crystalline structure and enhancing oxygen barrier properties. BOPA6 chains are oriented, and strain-induced crystallization (SIC) occurs during the biaxial stretching. Further increasing the stretch ratio, the relative crystallinity increased to 30.34%. The machine direction (MD) and transverse direction (TD) tensile strength of BOPA6 (B-33) are nearly two times higher than the unstretched film, reaching 134.33 MPa and 155.28 MPa, respectively. In addition, the permeation decreases to 57.61 cc·mil/(m2 day), and the oxygen barrier performance has improved by nearly 30% compared to the sample B-22. BOPA6 has a high storage modulus at a high stretching rate (300%/s). Rapid chain relaxation would promote the molecular chain disorientation, destroy the entangled network of the molecular chain, and lead to a decrease in tensile strength, reducing to about 110 MPa.

On the art of audio description: Naomi Kawase's Radiance

Audio description improves access to visual culture for people who are unable to fully participate in it due to visual impairments. Because of this direct benefit to disabled people, it is usually defined as an accommodation or inclusion service. Rather than adopting this view, we see disability as a creative force, arguing that it can engender a new dimension of art: audio description as a form of cinematic ekphrasis. This claim is made by drawing on the 2017 movie Radiance, by Japanese director Naomi Kawase. This movie puts audio description in the spotlight and stimulates discussion on this underdeveloped and under-recognised art. Radiance is structured around the process of making the audio description, thus offering good insight into the artistry and main challenges of this process. Between the words of this meditation on the art of audio description, Kawase also challenges the dominant ocular normative narrative on blindness as a deficiency and provokes a discussion on the contribution that blindness-with its different, still culturally unexplored modes of perception-could make to the interpretation of visual arts. Radiance can thus be treated as an artful argument for the greater recognition of disabled people's right to participate in cultural life.

2D Self-Assembly of Large-Sized Inorganic Nanosheets Leading to Enhanced Power Factors in Earth-Abundant Cu3SbSe4-Based Flexible Hybrid Films

Fabrication of large-sized inorganic nanosheets is an efficient strategy to promote carrier transportation in flexible thermoelectric (TE) films. Herein, we report the self-assembly of large-sized Cu3SbSe4 nanosheets by using a Se nanowire template via wet chemical synthesis and then vacuum-assisted filter these plate-like microcrystals on nylon to prepare Cu3SbSe4 flexible thermoelectric (TE) hybrid films. SEM reveals that the as-synthesized Cu3SbSe4 powders by using Se nanowires as selenium sources presented 2D plate-like micron structures uniformly and tightly self-assembled by acute triangle-like nanoparticles. Furthermore, XPS evidences that extra Sb vacancies are generated in the unit cell of Cu3SbSe4 crystals synthesized by using the Se NW template, resulting in the shrinkage of the unit cell and the narrowing interplanar spacing, which are characterized by XRD and TEM. As a result, both carrier concentration and carrier mobility have been significantly improved. The high carrier concentration is proved to originate from the extra carriers induced by Sb vacancies, and the high carrier mobility of the film is mainly ascribed to its continuous grain boundaries in the plate-like microcrystal morphology. The large-sized nanosheet Cu3SbSe4/nylon hybrid film (CSS MPs) exhibits a high power factor (PF) of 235.45 μW m-1 K-2 at 400 K, which is 4.23 times higher than that of the Cu3SbSe4/nylon hybrid film (CSS NPs) where Cu3SbSe4 crystals are synthesized by using raw Se particles. This work reveals a novel approach to prepare plate-like Se-based semiconductors, which requires both high carrier concentration and high carrier mobility.

Evaluation of a novel patient-specific quality assurance phantom for robotic single-isocentre, multiple-target stereotactic radiosurgery, and stereotactic radiotherapy

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) of 3 targets in a single delivery using a novel film-based phantom.

METHODS

The phantom was designed to rotate freely as a sphere and could measure 3 targets with film in a single delivery. After identifying the coordinates of 3 targets in the skull, the rotation angles about the equator and meridian were computed for optimal phantom setup, ensuring the film plane intersected the 3 targets. The plans were delivered on the CyberKnife system using fiducial tracking. The irradiated films were scanned and processed. All films were analysed using 3 gamma criteria.

RESULTS

Fifteen CyberKnife test plans with 3 different modalities were delivered on the phantom. Both automatic and marker-based registration methods were applied when registering the irradiated film and dose plane. Gamma analysis was performed using a 3%/1 mm, 2%/1 mm, and 1%/1 mm criteria with a 10% threshold. For the automatic registration method, the passing rates were 98.2% ± 1.9%, 94.2% ± 3.7%, and 80.9% ± 6.3%, respectively. For the marker-based registration approach, the passing rates were 96.4% ± 2.7%, 91.7% ± 4.3%, and 78.4% ± 6.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel spherical phantom was evaluated for the CyberKnife system and achieved acceptable PSQA passing rates using TG218 recommendations. The phantom can measure true-composite dose and offers high-resolution results for PSQA, making it a valuable device for robotic radiosurgery.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

This is the first study on PSQA of 3 targets concurrently on the CyberKnife system.

Lanthanide-Polyoxometalate-Based Film with Reversible Photochromism and Luminescent Switching Properties for Erasable Inkless Security Printing

Security printing is of the utmost importance in the information era. However, the excessive use of inks and paper still faces many economic and environmental issues. Thus, developing erasable inkless security printing materials is a remarkable strategy to save resources, protect the environment, and improve information security. To this endeavor, a photoresponsive lanthanide-polyoxometalate-doped gelatin film with high transparency was developed through the solution casting method. Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions between gelatin and lanthanide-polyoxometalate. Absorption spectra, luminescent spectra, and digital images indicated that the film displayed reversible photochromism behavior and was accompanied by luminescent switching property upon exposure to UV irradiation and oxygen (in the dark) alternately, which allowed its potential application as a reprintable medium for inkless security printing. The printed information can be erased upon exposure to oxygen in the dark, and the film can be reused for printing again. The film exhibited excellent erasability, reprintability, renewability, and low toxicity. In addition, multiple encryption strategies were designed to improve information security. This work offers an attractive alternative strategy for constructing a reprintable film for inkless security printing in terms of simplifying the preparation process, saving resources, and protecting the environment.

3D-Printable Sustainable Bioplastics from Gluten and Keratin

Bioplastic films comprising both plant- and animal-derived proteins have the potential to integrate the optimal characteristics inherent to the specific domain, which offers enormous potential to develop polymer alternatives to petroleum-based plastic. Herein, we present a facile strategy to develop hybrid films comprised of both wheat gluten and wool keratin proteins for the first time, employing a ruthenium-based photocrosslinking strategy. This approach addresses the demand for sustainable materials, reducing the environmental impact by using proteins from renewable and biodegradable sources. Gluten film was fabricated from an alcohol-water mixture soluble fraction, largely comprised of gliadin proteins. Co-crosslinking hydrolyzed low-molecular-weight keratin with gluten enhanced its hydrophilic properties and enabled the tuning of its physicochemical properties. Furthermore, the hierarchical structure of the fabricated films was studied using neutron scattering techniques, which revealed the presence of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic nanodomains, gliadin nanoclusters, and interconnected micropores in the matrix. The films exhibited a largely (>40%) β-sheet secondary structure, with diminishing gliadin aggregate intensity and increasing micropore size (from 1.2 to 2.2 µm) with an increase in keratin content. The hybrid films displayed improved molecular chain mobility, as evidenced by the decrease in the glass-transition temperature from ~179.7 °C to ~173.5 °C. Amongst the fabricated films, the G14K6 hybrid sample showed superior water uptake (6.80% after 30 days) compared to the pristine G20 sample (1.04%). The suitability of the developed system for multilayer 3D printing has also been demonstrated, with the 10-layer 3D-printed film exhibiting >92% accuracy, which has the potential for use in packaging, agricultural, and biomedical applications.

Influence of Thermal Annealing on Mechanical and Optical Property of SiO2 Film Produced by ALD

The application range of fused silica optical components can be expanded and the cost of fused silica components can be reduced by depositing the same material film on fused silica substrate. However, due to the different manufacturing process, the performance of ALD SiO2 film is lower than that of fused silica substrate, which also limits the use of this process. In this paper, ALD SiO2 film with different thicknesses were deposited, and then the structure and properties were tested. Finally, the ALD SiO2 film was treated via the annealing process. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the ALD SiO2 film had good compactness and substrate adhesion. The Raman spectra showed that the ALD SiO2 film and substrate had the same structure, with only slight differences. The XRD pattern showed that ALD-fused silica did not crystallize before or after annealing. The infrared spectra showed that there was an obvious Si-OH defect in the ALD SiO2 film. The laser damage showed that the ALD SiO2 film had a much lower damage threshold than the fused silica substrate. The nanoindentation showed that the mechanical properties of the ALD SiO2 film were much lower than those of the fused silica substrate. After a low-temperature annealing treatment, the ALD SiO2 film Si-OH defect was reduced, the ALD SiO2 film four-member ring content was increased, the elastic modulus of the ALD SiO2 film was increased from 45.025 GPa to 68.025 GPa, the hardness was increased from 5.240 GPa to 9.528 GPa, and the ALD SiO2 film damage threshold was decreased from 5.5 J/cm2 to 1.3 J/cm2.

High-strength and high-toughness ECM films with the potential for peripheral nerve repair

Extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds are widely applied in the field of regeneration as the result of their irreplaceable biological advantages, and the preparation of ECM scaffolds into ECM hydrogels expands the applications to some extent. However, weak mechanical properties of current ECM materials limit the complete exploitation of ECM's biological advantages. To enable ECM materials to be utilized in applications requiring high strength, herein, we created a kind of new ECM material, ECM film, and evaluated its mechanical properties. ECM films exhibited outstanding toughness with no cracks after arbitrarily folding and crumpling, and dramatically high strength levels of 86 ± 17.25 MPa, the maximum of which was 115 MPa. Such spectacular high-strength and high-toughness films, containing only pure ECM without any crosslinking agents and other materials, far exceed current pure natural polymer gel films and even many composite gel films and synthetic polymer gel films. In addition, both PC12 cells and Schwann cells cultured on the surface of ECM films, especially Schwann cells, showed good proliferation, and the neurite outgrowth of the PC12 cells was promoted, indicating the application potential of ECM film in peripheral nerve repair.

Angle-Independent Color Change in Thermoresponsive Gel-Immobilized Colloidal Amorphous Film Attached to PET Substrate

Gel-immobilized colloidal amorphous structures comprise short-range-ordered monodisperse submicrometer particles embedded into a soft polymer gel. They exhibit an angle-independent structural color that is tunable in response to external stimuli via a volume change in the gel, which has significant potential for the development of sensors that respond to stimuli via angle-independent color changes. In this study, the amorphous structure of a charged colloidal suspension in water was immobilized in a thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) gel film and simultaneously attached to a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. The gel film exhibited a uniform angle-independent color that changed in response to changes in temperature (i.e., thermosensitivity). Attachment to the PET substrate suppressed changes in the gel film area and film distortion, despite significant volume changes in the gel. Consequently, the degree of thermosensitivity was enhanced. The PET-attached gel-immobilized colloidal amorphous film was easy to handle and had excellent flexibility, allowing it to wrap around the surfaces of curved objects. These features are advantageous for sensor applications.

Film as a pedagogical tool for climate change and mental health nursing education

The relationship between climate change and worsening mental health is of increasing concern globally. Climate change is ubiquitous, yet marginalized populations bear a disproportionate burden of the physical and mental health impacts, while youth are more likely to report mental health concerns related to climate change than older generations. Mental health nurses will inevitably see these impacts play out in their practice, thus it is important to explore innovative tools for teaching about and responding to the emotional and psychological impacts of climate change. This perspective paper presents an educational project that utilized film and structured reflection to engage with the intersecting topics of planetary and mental health. The authors created a documentary film that presents the relationship between mental health and climate change as well as an accompanying reflective toolkit. Both the film and toolkit were integrated into an undergraduate course about the health impacts of climate change. This paper explores the relevance of climate change to mental health nursing education and practice, describes the process of creating and integrating the film and toolkit into a course and advances the position that film is an innovative way to engage individuals and communities (such as student or community groups) with the emotional and psychological concerns that arise in response to complex challenges of climate change. More research is needed to better understand the mental health impacts of climate change and to explore novel approaches to education and advocacy about this topic. We hope that sharing our project and experiences will inspire additional discussion and research related to these emerging issues that are of great relevance to mental health nursing.

The poisoned father: Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog and the unexpected relevance of Lacan to psychiatric practice

OBJECTIVE

Lacan is often deemed an obscure theorist with little clinical application. However, in film studies his psychoanalytic theory has been highly influential. This paper is part of a series of articles published in this journal accompanying a psychiatry registrar teaching programme on film and psychodynamic concepts. It introduces the Lacanian ideas of the Symbolic, Imaginary and Real as they appear in Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog, and discusses their societal and clinical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

A Lacanian reading of Power of the Dog offers insights into 'toxic masculinity'. Furthermore, it demonstrates how clinical symptoms can represent an escape from socially mediated toxicities.

Effect of Glycerol Concentrations on the Characteristics of Cellulose Films from Cattail (Typha angustifolia L.) Flowers

Plastic waste has become a big problem for the environment globally. Biodegradable polymers are a potential replacement for plastics that can have a positive outcome both environmentally and economically. In this work, we used acid hydrolysis and alkaline treatment to extract cellulose fibers from cattails. The obtained cellulose was used as a substrate for the fabrication of cellulose film using a casting technique on plastic plates. Different concentrations of the plasticizer, glycerol, were used to prepare films for comparison, and its effects on the film's characteristics were observed. The morphology, chemical structure, and thermal stability of the cattail cellulose (CTC) films were studied using techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Measurements of transparency, moisture content (MC), water solubility (MS), and water contact angle (WCA) were also performed. Introducing glycerol into the films increased the transparency, MC, and WS values, as well as the gap width between film textures. However, it resulted in a decrease in the WCA of the films, showing that the hydrophilicity of the films is increased by the addition of glycerol. The interaction between the functional groups of cellulose and glycerol was established from the ATR-FTIR and XRD data. The obtained results indicated that glycerol affected the thermal stability and the degree of crystallinity of the produced films. Accordingly, the hydrophilicity of the cellulose film was increased by increasing the glycerol content; therefore, cattail cellulose films can be used as a biodegradable alternative to plastic in the future.

Recent Advances in Functional Cellulose-based Films with Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties for Food Packaging

The packaging of food plays a crucial role in food preservation worldwide. However, traditional packaging systems are passive layers with weak efficiency in protecting the food quality. Therefore, packaged foods are gradually spoiled due to the oxidation and growth of microorganisms. Additionally, most of the commercial packaging films are made of petroleum-based materials which raise environmental concerns. Accordingly, the development of eco-friendly natural-derived active packaging systems has increased the attention of scientists. Cellulose as the most abundant polysaccharide on earth with high biocompatibility, no toxicity, and high biodegradability has extensively been applied for the fabrication of packaging films. However, neat cellulose-based films lack antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Therefore, neat cellulose-based films are passive films with weak food preservation performance. Active films have been developed by incorporating antioxidants and antimicrobial agents into the films. In this review, we have explored the latest research on the fabrication of antimicrobial/antioxidant cellulose-based active packaging films by incorporating natural extracts, natural polyphenols, nanoparticles, and microparticles into the cellulose-based film formulations. We categorized these types of packaging films into two main groups: (i) blend films which are obtained by mixing solutions of cellulose with other soluble antimicrobial/antioxidant agents such as natural extracts and polyphenols; and (ii) composite films which are fabricated by dispersing antimicrobial/antioxidant nano- or microfillers into the cellulose solution. The effect of these additives on the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the films has been explained. Additionally, the changes in the other properties of the films such as hydrophilicity, water evaporation rate, and mechanical properties have also been briefly addressed.

Going vertical: examining the rise and impact of contemporary Russian sports cinema

Introduction

While Hollywood has been central to the definition and popularisation of the genre internationally, sport cinema also has a significant presence in national cinemas across the world, though less research has been undertaken to date of the place of sport within European cinema and its growing importance in this context. This article will introduce a new database and online research platform (Sport in European Cinema, sportandfilm.eu) recently made publicly available which enables a deeper consideration of the significance of sport in European cinema, including its increasing importance in the Russian context. Indeed the third most commercially successful indigenous film ever released (as of 2023) at the Russian box office is a sports film, Движение вверх (Going Vertical (AKA Three Seconds) (2017).

Methods

This article adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the place of sport in European cinema, including a case study of contemporary Russian sport cinema and its connection with broader political and ideological messaging.

Results

Sport cinema has become an increasingly important part of European cinema, both in terms of number of films produced and their impact on European society, as evident in the case study provided of Russian sport cinema.

Conclusion

This paper introduces a new research database dedicated to European Sport Cinema and identifies the increasing importance of sport cinema in the European context. It includes a case study of contemporary Russian sport cinema and identifies its role in articulating and affirming existing power structures and ideological hegemony within Russian society, as evident within Going Vertical and further recent Russian sport films in a particularly challenging period of national and international instability and contestation.

Evaluation of arts and humanities programs in surgery education: a systematic review

PURPOSE

This systematic review seeks to understand what outcomes have been reported for arts and humanities programs in surgery education.

METHODS

Authors searched Medline ALL (Ovid), Embase.com, Web of Science, and Academic Search Ultimate to identify articles on evaluated arts and humanities programs in surgery education. The search identified 1,282 titles and abstracts, of which 55 underwent independent full-text review. The authors identified 10 articles that met inclusion criteria, from which they collected and analysed data.

RESULTS

Medical students were the identified learners in most studies (6/10; 60%). Reflective writing was the arts and humanities activity in half of the studies (5/10; 50%); activities based on film, visual art other than film, literature, or social media in the remaining studies (5/10; 50%). Most studies (8/10; 80%) featured a non-controlled, non-randomized design. Authors categorised 5 studies (50%) as Kirkpatrick Level 1, 4 (40%) as Level 2, and 1 (10%) as Level 3.

CONCLUSION

Integration of the arts and humanities into surgery education may promote increased levels of learner reflection and empathy, in addition to improved acquisition of surgical skills. More rigorous evaluation of these programs would clarify the impact of arts and humanities programs on surgery learners.

Eco-Friendly Cellulose-Based Nonionic Antimicrobial Polymers with Excellent Biocompatibility, Nonleachability, and Polymer Miscibility

This study aims to prepare natural biomass-based nonionic antimicrobial polymers with excellent biocompatibility, nonleachability, antimicrobial activity, and polymer miscibility. Two new cellulose-based nonionic antimicrobial polymers (MIPA and MICA) containing many terminal indole groups were synthesized using a sustainable one-pot method. The structures and properties of the nonionic antimicrobial polymers were characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy (1H NMR), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), wide-angle X-ray diffractometry (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), gel chromatography (GPC), and other analytical techniques. The results showed that microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) molecules combined with indole derivatives through an esterification reaction to produce MICA and MIPA. The crystallinity of the prepared MICA and MIPA molecules decreased after MCC modification; their morphological structure changed from short fibrous to granular and showed better thermal stability and solubility. The paper diffusion method showed that both nonionic polymers had good bactericidal effects against the two common pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli, inhibition zone diameters >22 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, inhibition zone diameters >38 mm). Moreover, MICA and MIPA showed good miscibility with biodegradable poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and the miscible cellulose-based composite films (PVA-MICA and PVA-MIPA) showed good phase compatibility, light transmission, thermal stability (maximum thermal decomposition temperature >300 °C), biocompatibility, biological cell activity (no cytotoxicity), nonleachability, antimicrobial activity, and mechanical properties (maximum fracture elongation at >390%).

Robot Death and Human Grief in Films: Qualitative Study

Extant grief studies examine the way humans mourn the loss of a nonhuman, be it an animal, object, or abstract concept. Yet little is known about grief when it comes to robots. As humans are increasingly brought into contact with more human-like machines, it is relevant to consider the nature of our relationship to these technologies. Centered on a qualitative analysis of 35 films, this study seeks to determine whether humans experience grief when a robot is destroyed, and if so, under what conditions. Our observations of the relevant film scenes suggest that eight variables play a role in determining whether and to what extent a human experiences grief in response to a robot's destruction. As a result, we have devised a psychological mechanism by which different types of grief can be classified as a function of these eight variables.

Exploring RF Magnetron Sputtering Growth Composite Thin Film BiFeO3-Bi2Fe4O9 on C-Plane Al2O3 Substrate

Nanocomposite films of BiFeO3-Bi2Fe4O9 were fabricated on a sapphire substrate Al2O3 using the method of gas discharge high-frequency cathodic sputtering of a ceramic target with a stoichiometric composition in an oxygen atmosphere. The results of the film analysis using X-ray structural analysis, Raman scattering, XPS, and atomic force microscopy are presented. The lattice parameters, surface topography, chemical composition of the films, concentration, and average sizes of the crystallites for each phase were determined. It was shown that the ratio of the BiFeO3 to Bi2Fe4O9 phases in the obtained film is approximately 1:2. The sizes of the crystallites range from 15 to 17 nm. The optical and magnetic properties of the nanocomposite layers were studied, and the band gap width and magnetization hysteresis characteristic of ferromagnetic behavior were observed. The band gap width was found to be 1.9 eV for the indirect and 2.6 eV for the direct interband transitions. The magnetic properties are characterized by a hysteresis loop resembling a "wasp-waist" shape, indicating the presence of magnetic anisotropy.

Investigation of Cinnamic Acid Derivatives as Alternative Plasticizers for Improved Ductility of Polyvinyl Chloride Films

This study investigates the viability of cinnamic acid derivatives as alternative plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films by addressing concerns about conventional phthalate-based options that pose health and environmental risks. By theoretical modeling, this research evaluates the compatibility between various cinnamic acid-based plasticizers and the PVC matrix, which suggests their potential effectiveness. Additionally, the incorporation of these plasticizers notably enhances the tensile properties of PVC films, particularly in terms of ductility and elongation at break by surpassing the neat PVC. Moreover, cinnamic acid-based plasticizers induce a drop in the glass transition temperature and storage modulus by, thereby, enhancing flexibility and reducing brittleness in the material. Although a slight reduction in the onset degradation temperature is observed, it does not impede the industrial processing of PVC plastisols at temperatures up to 190 °C. Optically, plasticized films exhibit high transparency with minimal UV and visible light absorption, which renders them suitable for applications necessitating clarity. The water vapor transmission rate analysis indicates increased permeability, influenced by molecular volumes. Atomic force microscopy reveals a compacted, homogeneous surface structure in most plasticized films, which signifies improved film quality. Thus, utilizing cinnamic acid derivatives as PVC plasticizers offers substantial mechanical and structural benefits, while compatibility ensures effective integration by contributing to environmentally sustainable PVC formulations with enhanced performance.

Chitosan Film Sensor for Ammonia Detection in Microdiffusion Analytical Devices

Chitosan films have attracted increased attention in the field of sensors because of chitosan's unique chemico-physical properties, including high adsorption capacity, filmability and transparency. A chitosan film sensor was developed through the dispersion of an ammonia specific reagent (Nessler's reagent) into a chitosan film matrix. The chitosan film sensor was characterized to assess the film's properties by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A gas diffusion device was prepared with the chitosan film sensor, enabling the collection and detection of ammonia vapor from biological samples. The chitosan film sensor color change was correlated with the ammonia concentration in samples of human serum and artificial urine. This method enabled facile ammonia detection and concentration measurement, making the sensor useful not only in clinical laboratories, but also for point-of-care devices and wherever there is limited access to modern laboratory facilities.

A Comprehensive Review on Combinatorial Film via High-Throughput Techniques

Numerous technological advancements in the 21st century depend on the creation of novel materials possessing enhanced properties; there is a growing reliance on materials that can be optimized to serve multiple functions. To efficiently save time and meet the requirements of diverse applications, high-throughput and combinatorial approaches are increasingly employed to explore and design superior materials. Among them, gradient thin-film deposition is one of the most mature and widely used technologies for high-throughput preparation of material libraries. This review summarizes recent progress in gradient thin-film deposition fabricated by magnetron sputtering, multi-arc ion plating, e-beam evaporation, additive manufacturing, and chemical bath deposition, providing readers with a fundamental understanding of this research field. First, high-throughput synthesis methods for gradient thin films are emphasized. Subsequently, we present the characteristics of combinatorial films, including microstructure, oxidation, corrosion tests, and mechanical properties. Next, the screening methods employed for evaluating these properties are discussed. Furthermore, we delve into the limitations of high-throughput preparation and characterization techniques for combinatorial films. Finally, we provide a summary and offer our perspectives.

[Subject playing with flat images: Transmedia spreadability of anime and manga character images]

Anime and manga characters are so ubiquitous in Japan that people see them anywhere, regardless of public or private. The two-dimensional flatness of line drawing allows the character images to straddle the boundaries of the worlds of works and media. The analysis of individual artworks needs to be revised to understand the transmedia spreadability of characters and our living conditions. This paper, thus, overviews the preceding discussions of anime and manga scholars on human-character relations and compares them with the theory of subject formation in film studies, whose realist tendency once emphasized the three-dimensional space and time. While psychoanalysis-influenced theories such as suture and male gaze model after one-point perspective and subordinate two-dimensionality, Thomas Lamarre formulates a de-unified perspective in relation to the multilayered image field of Japanese anime. In conjunction with the orientation of cultural and fan studies to emphasize audience agency, this article discusses the de-unified perspective on flat images which has the potential for understanding the complexity of subject formation through the interplay with two-dimensional images.

Bacterial Polyhydroxyalkanoates-based Therapeutics-delivery Nanosystems

Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are bio-based aliphatic biopolyester produced by bacteria as an intracellular storage material of carbon and energy under stressed conditions. PHAs have been paid attention to due to their unique and impressive biological properties including high biodegradability, biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and different mechanical properties. Under this context, the development of drug-delivery nanosystems based on PHAs has been revealed to have numerous advantages compared with synthetic polymers that included biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxic, and low-cost production, among others. In this review article, we present the available state of the art of PHAs. Moreover, we discussed the potential benefits, weaknesses, and perspectives of PHAs to the develop drug delivery systems.

Bioinspired Natural Shellac Dressing for Rapid Wound Sealing and Healing

Developing safe and effective wound dressings that address the complexities of wound healing is an ongoing goal in biomaterials research. Inspired by the shield used to protect lac insects, we have designed and developed a type of bioactive shellac-based wound dressing in this paper. The dressing exhibited a high adhesion energy of 146.6 J·m-2 in porcine skin and showed a reversible binding due to its pH sensitivity. Meanwhile, a novel "shellac-like" compound, n-octacosanol gallate ester, has been synthesized and added to the dressing to improve its antibacterial and blood coagulation properties. The novel shellac-based dressing could be sprayed to form a sticky film within 70 s for rapid hemostasis and wound sealing, which could be conveniently applied to various wounds on extensible body parts. In addition, the shellac-based dressing can actively promote the healing of a full-thickness wound in the skin of mice. We also used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interactions between the shellac molecule and the phospholipid bilayer and attempted to show that the shellac molecule was beneficial for wound healing. This work provides a novel and practical bioinspired wound dressing with significant properties, facile preparation, and ease of use, which is an interesting alternative to its traditional counterparts.

Hybrid biodegradable materials from starch and hydrocolloid: fabrication, properties and applications of starch-hydrocolloid film, gel and bead

The potential for utilizing starch and hydrocolloids as sustainable biomaterials has garnered significant attention among researchers. The biodegradability and functional properties of composite films, gels, and beads, as well as their environmental friendliness, make them attractive options for a variety of applications. However, the hydrophilicity, brittleness, and regeneration limitations of starch materials can be addressed through the incorporation of non-starch hydrocolloids. This article summarizes the formation mechanisms and interactions of starch-hydrocolloid films, gels, and gel beads, evaluates the factors that affect their structural and functional properties, and presents an overview of the progress made in their physicochemical and functional applications. The structure of starch-hydrocolloid composites is primarily formed through hydrogen bond interactions, and the source, proportion, and preparation conditions of the components are critical factors that affect the properties of the biomaterials. Starch-hydrocolloid films are primarily used for extending the shelf life of food products and detecting food freshness. Starch-hydrocolloid gels are utilized as adsorption materials, wound dressings, and flexible sensors, and starch-hydrocolloid beads are primarily employed for the controlled release of bioactive substances. It is clear that starch-hydrocolloid composites have the potential to develop novel advanced materials for various applications in the food, biological, and materials industries.

One-Step Fabrication Bioinspired Flexible Hierarchical Micro-Nano Structures with Different Morphologies

In this study, different flexible structures that are morphologically like the micro-nano pillars, setae, and cilia on many natural organism surfaces are created with a novel fabricating strategy to explore the phenomenon and mechanism of static and dynamic droplets forming on them. Just by adjusting the mold pattern during fabrication, different micro/nanomorphologies including micro-nano pillar, filament, or flake arrays could be conveniently obtained on a pristine smooth film surface. Due to the existence of uniformly distributed hierarchical micro-nano structure arrays that are composed of top-down nanoscale filamentous tips, micro block bases, and grooves on the film, air trapped in arrays connects the atmosphere continuously and forms a successive air-pocket layer, which greatly reduces the solid-liquid interfacial fraction and endows the micro-nanotextured film with the capability of superhydrophobicity, low-adhesion, self-cleaning, anti-icing, and deicing characteristics. Through various mechanical and chemical tests, the film has demonstrated its robustness, making it highly suitable for a wide range of practical engineering applications.

Bismuth-Antimony Alloy Nanoparticles Embedded in 3D Hierarchical Porous Carbon Skeleton Film for Superior Sodium Storage

A composite film that features bismuth-antimony alloy nanoparticles uniformly embedded in a 3D hierarchical porous carbon skeleton is synthesized by the polyacrylonitrile-spreading method. The dissolved polystyrene is used as a soft template. The average diameter of the bismuth-antimony alloy nanoparticles is ~34.5 nm. The content of the Bi-Sb alloy has an impact on the electrochemical performance of the composite film. When the content of the bismuth-antimony alloy is 45.27%, the reversible capacity and cycling stability of the composite film are the best. Importantly, the composite film outperforms the bismuth-antimony alloy nanoparticles embedded in dense carbon film and the cube carbon nanobox in terms of specific capacity, cycling stability, and rate capability. The composite film can provide a discharge capacity of 322 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 0.5 A g-1, 292 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 1 A g-1, and 185 mAh g-1 after 2000 cycles at 10 A g-1. The carbon film prepared by the spreading method presents a unique integrated composite structure that significantly improves the structural stability and electronic conductivity of Bi-Sb alloy nanoparticles. The 3D hierarchical porous carbon skeleton structure further enhances electrolyte accessibility, promotes Na+ transport, increases reaction kinetics, and buffers internal stress.

Characterization of a diode dosimeter for UHDR FLASH radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

Ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) FLASH beams typically deliver dose at rates of  >40 Gy/sec. Characterization of these beams with respect to dose, mean dose rate, and dose per pulse requires dosimeters which exhibit high temporal resolution and fast readout capabilities.

PURPOSE

A diode EDGE Detector with a newly designed electrometer has been characterized for use in an UHDR electron beam and demonstrated appropriateness for UHDR FLASH radiotherapy dosimetry.

METHODS

Dose linearity, mean dose rate, and dose per pulse dependencies of the EDGE Detector were quantified and compared with dosimeters including a W1 scintillator detector, radiochromic film, and ionization chamber that were irradiated with a 10 MeV UHDR beam. The dose, dose rate, and dose per pulse were controlled via an in-house developed scintillation-based feedback mechanism, repetition rate of the linear accelerator, and source-to-surface distance, respectively. Depth-dose profiles and temporal profiles at individual pulse resolution were compared to the film and scintillation measurements, respectively. The radiation-induced change in response sensitivity was quantified via irradiation of ∼5kGy.

RESULTS

The EDGE Detector agreed with film measurements in the measured range with varying dose (up to 70 Gy), dose rate (nearly 200 Gy/s), and dose per pulse (up to 0.63 Gy/pulse) on average to within 2%, 5%, and 1%, respectively. The detector also agreed with W1 scintillation detector on average to within 2% for dose per pulse (up to 0.78 Gy/pulse). The EDGE Detector signal was proportional to ion chamber (IC) measured dose, and mean dose rate in the bremsstrahlung tail to within 0.4% and 0.2% respectively. The EDGE Detector measured percent depth dose (PDD) agreed with film to within 3% and per pulse output agreed with W1 scintillator to within -6% to +5%. The radiation-induced response decrease was 0.4% per kGy.

CONCLUSIONS

The EDGE Detector demonstrated dose linearity, mean dose rate independence, and dose per pulse independence for UHDR electron beams. It can quantify the beam spatially, and temporally at sub millisecond resolution. It's robustness and individual pulse detectability of treatment deliveries can potentially lead to its implementation for in vivo FLASH dosimetry, and dose monitoring.

High-Performance Ag2Se Film by a Microwave-Assisted Synthesis Method for Flexible Thermoelectric Generators

Flexible Ag2Se thermoelectric (TE) films are promising for wearable applications near room temperature (RT). Herein, a Ag2Se film on a nylon membrane with high TE performance was fabricated by a facile method. First, Ag2Se powders were prepared by a microwave-assisted synthesis method using Ag nanowires as a template. Second, the Ag2Se powders were deposited onto nylon via vacuum filtration followed by hot pressing. Through modulating the Ag/Se molar ratio for synthesizing the Ag2Se powders, an optimized Ag2Se film demonstrates a high power factor of 1577.1 μW m-1 K-2 and good flexibility at RT. The flexibility of the Ag2Se film is mainly attributed to the flexible nylon membrane. In addition, a six-leg flexible TE generator (f-TEG) fabricated with the optimized Ag2Se film exhibits a maximum power density of 18.4 W m-2 at a temperature difference of 29 K near RT. This work provides a new solution to prepare high-TE-performance flexible Ag2Se films for f-TEGs.

Metal-Organic Framework/Polyvinyl Alcohol Composite Films for Multiple Applications Prepared by Different Methods

The incorporation of different functional fillers has been widely used to improve the properties of polymeric materials. The polyhydroxy structure of PVA with excellent film-forming ability can be easily combined with organic/inorganic multifunctional compounds, and such an interesting combining phenomenon can create a variety of functional materials in the field of materials science. The composite membrane material obtained by combining MOF material with high porosity, specific surface area, and adjustable structure with PVA, a non-toxic and low-cost polymer material with good solubility and biodegradability, can combine the processability of PVA with the excellent performance of porous filler MOFs, solving the problem that the poor machinability of MOFs and the difficulty of recycling limit the practical application of powdered MOFs and improving the physicochemical properties of PVA, maximizing the advantages of the material to develop a wider range of applications. Firstly, we systematically summarize the preparation of MOF/PVA composite membrane materials using solution casting, electrostatic spinning, and other different methods for such excellent properties, in addition to discussing in detail the various applications of MOF/PVA composite membranes in water treatment, sensing, air purification, separation, antibacterials, and so on. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of the difficulties that need to be overcome during the film formation process to affect the performance of the composite film and offer encouraging solutions.

An Intelligent Sorting Method of Film in Cotton Combining Hyperspectral Imaging and the AlexNet-PCA Algorithm

Long-staple cotton from Xinjiang is renowned for its exceptional quality. However, it is susceptible to contamination with plastic film during mechanical picking. To address the issue of tricky removal of film in seed cotton, a technique based on hyperspectral images and AlexNet-PCA is proposed to identify the colorless and transparent film of the seed cotton. The method consists of black and white correction of hyperspectral images, dimensionality reduction of hyperspectral data, and training and testing of convolutional neural network (CNN) models. The key technique is to find the optimal way to reduce the dimensionality of the hyperspectral data, thus reducing the computational cost. The biggest innovation of the paper is the combination of CNNs and dimensionality reduction methods to achieve high-precision intelligent recognition of transparent plastic films. Experiments with three dimensionality reduction methods and three CNN architectures are conducted to seek the optimal model for plastic film recognition. The results demonstrate that AlexNet-PCA-12 achieves the highest recognition accuracy and cost performance in dimensionality reduction. In the practical application sorting tests, the method proposed in this paper achieved a 97.02% removal rate of plastic film, which provides a modern theoretical model and effective method for high-precision identification of heteropolymers in seed cotton.

Pilot outcomes of a filmmaking intervention designed to enhance treatment entry and social reintegration of veterans

Military personnel transitioning to civilian life have reported significant challenges in reintegrating into civilian culture. Filmmaking has been used as a therapeutic intervention to enhance the community reintegration of veterans, but there are no published quantitative data documenting its impact. The present study provides outcome data on 40 veterans who participated in the I Was There (IWT) filmmaking workshop. This 3-day (20-hr) group intervention involved veterans working in small teams with a film coach, making short films designed to communicate some aspect of their experience during or after military service, and then creating a screening event to show their films to community members. The sample consisted of community-dwelling veterans who reported at least some mental health symptoms and who were not engaged in mental health treatment for those symptoms. Targeted outcomes included engagement in mental health care, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and reported perception of community interest in their experience as veterans. Fifty-six percent of participants entered treatment within 4 months of participation. Significant decreases were noted in symptoms of PTSD at 1-month follow-up but not at the 4-month follow-up, while changes in depression were not statistically significant. Participation was related to increased perception of community interest in veterans' experience, and increased interest among community members who viewed the films. These data provide initial support for the conclusion that the IWT film workshop is a potentially effective tool for treatment engagement and for community reintegration among veterans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Nanoengineering Approach toward High Power Factor Ag2Se/Se Composite Films for Flexible Thermoelectric Generators

Herein, a flexible Ag₂Se/Se composite film with a high power factor has been fabricated on a nylon membrane. The film has a high density and contains well-crystallized Ag₂Se grains and embedded Se nanoinclusions, which exhibits not only excellent flexibility but also a comparably large room-temperature power factor and Seebeck coefficient of up to 2023 μW m^-1 K^-2 and -155 μV K^-1, respectively. The high Seebeck coefficient is ascribed to the energy-filtering effect as caused by the Se/Ag₂Se heterointerface. The assembled flexible thermoelectric generator (4-leg) exhibits a maximum output power of 1135 nW and a power density of up to 16.4 W m^-2 when the applied temperature difference is 30 K. This work offers a feasible method to design high-performance and low-cost flexible thermoelectric generators used for wearable electronics.

Cinematographic continuity edits across shot scales and camera angles: an ERP analysis

Film editing has attracted great theoretical and practical interest since the beginnings of cinematography. In recent times, the neural correlates of visual transitions at edit cuts have been at the focus of attention in neurocinematics. Many Event Related Potential (ERP) studies studies have reported the consequences of cuts involving narrative discontinuities, and violations of standard montage rules. However, less is known about edits that are meant to induce continuity. Here, we addressed the neural correlates of continuity editing involving scale, and angle variations across the cut within the same scene, two of the most popular devices used for continuity editing. We recorded the electroencephalographic signal obtained from 20 viewers as they watched four different cinematographic excerpts to extract ERPs at edit points. First, we were able to reproduce the general time and scalp distribution of the typical ERPs to filmic cuts in prior studies. Second, we found significant ERP modulations triggered by scale changes (scale out, scale in, or maintaining the same scale). Edits involving an increase in scale (scale out) led to amplification of the ERP deflection, and scale reduction (scale in) led to decreases, compared to edits that kept scale across the cut. These modulations coincide with the time window of the N300 and N400 components and, according to previous findings, their amplitude has been associated with the likelihood of consciously detecting the edit. Third, we did not detect similar modulations as a function of angle variations across the cut. Based on these findings, we suggest that cuts involving reduction of scale are more likely to go unnoticed, than ones that scale out. This relationship between scale in/out and visibility is documented in film edition manuals. Specifically, in order to achieve fluidity in a scene, the edition is designed from the most opened shots to the most closed ones.

Optimization of the Electrospray Process to Produce Lignin Nanoparticles for PLA-Based Food Packaging

The development of new processing methods is required in order to meet the continuous demand for thinner films with excellent barrier properties for food packaging and other applications. In this study, rice husk organosolv lignin nanoparticles were prepared using the electrospray method, which were applied to produce polylactic acid (PLA)-based films for food packaging. The effect of the following electrospray parameters has been investigated: lignin concentration (LC) ranging from 5-50 mg/mL, flow rate (FR) from 0.5-1 mL/min, applied voltage from 10-30 kV, and tip-to-collector distance (TCD) from 10-25 cm, on the morphology, size, polydispersity index (PDI), and Zeta potential (ZP) of lignin nanoparticles (LNPs). The response surface methodology with a Box-Behnken design was applied to optimize these parameters, while dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were used to characterize the controlled LNPs. The results showed that the LNPs shape and sizes represent a balance between the solvent evaporation, LC, applied voltage, TCD and FR. The application of optimal electrospray conditions resulted in the production of LNPs with a spherical shape and a minimal size of 260 ± 10 nm, a PDI of 0.257 ± 0.02, and a ZP of -35.2 ± 4.1 mV. The optimal conditions were achieved at LC = 49.1 mg/mL and FR = 0.5 mL/h under an applied voltage of 25.4 kV and TCD = 22 cm. Then, the optimized LNPs were used to improve the properties of PLA-based films. Three types of PLA-lignin blend films were casted, namely lignin/PLA, LNPs/PLA and PLA-grafted LNPs. PLA-grafted LNPs exhibited a more uniform dispersion in PLA for lignin contents of up to 10% than other composite samples. Increasing the lignin content from 5% to 10% in PLA-grafted LNPs resulted in a significant increase in elongation at break (up to four times higher than neat PLA). The presence of PLA-grafted lignin led to a substantial reduction in optical transmittance in the UV range, dropping from 58.7 ± 3.0% to 1.10 ± 0.01%, while maintaining excellent transparency to visible light compared to blends containing lignin or LNPs. Although the antioxidant capacity of unmodified lignin is well-known, a substantial increase in antioxidant capacity was observed in LNPs and PLA-grafted LNP films, with values exceeding 10 times and 12 times that of neat PLA, respectively. These results confirm the significant potential of using studied films in food packaging applications.

3D-Printed Polylactic Acid/Lignin Films with Great Mechanical Properties and Tunable Functionalities towards Superior UV-Shielding, Haze, and Antioxidant Properties

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is regarded as a novel technique to realize the customized production of films. However, the relative lack of printable materials with excellent mechanical properties and tailored functionalities seriously restricts its wide application. Herein, a promising multifunctional 3D printing filament was fabricated by incorporating lignin into the polylactic acid (PLA) matrix and firstly applied to film production. The results indicate that lignin was an excellent mechanical reinforcement of the PLA matrix, especially for toughening. Only 0.5% lignin doping improved the toughness by 81.8%. Additionally, 3D-printed films with 0.5-5% lignin exhibited excellent ultraviolet (UV)-blocking capability of 87.4-99.9% for UVB and 65.6-99.8% for UVA, as well as remarkable antioxidant properties, ranging from 24.0% to 79.0%, and high levels of haze, ranging from 63.5% to 92.5%. Moreover, the prepared PLA/lignin (P/L) films based on 3D printing achieved the customization of film production and have potential applications in the fields of packaging, electronic products, medical care, and so forth. Overall, this work not only enriches the 3D printing composites with tailored multifunctionality but also brings the promising potential for the production of customized films.

Drying Process of HPMC-Based Hard Capsules: Visual Experiment and Mathematical Modeling

Using plant-based polysaccharide gels to produce hard capsules is a novel application of this technology in the medicinal field, which has garnered significant attention. However, the current manufacturing technology, particularly the drying process, limits its industrialization. The work herein employed an advanced measuring technique and a modified mathematical model to get more insight into the drying process of the capsule. Low field magnetic resonance imaging (LF-MRI) technique is adopted to reveal the distribution of moisture content in the capsule during drying. Furthermore, a modified mathematical model is developed by considering the dynamic variation of the effective moisture diffusivity (D_eff) according to Fick's second law, which enables accurate prediction of the moisture content of the capsule with a prediction accuracy of ±15%. The predicted D_eff ranges from 3 × 10^-10 to 7 × 10^-10 m²·s^-1, which has an irregular variation with a time extension. Moreover, as temperature increases or relative humidity decreases, there is an increased acceleration of moisture diffusion. The work provides a fundamental understanding of the drying process of the plant-based polysaccharide gel, which is crucial for enhancing the industrial preparation of the HPMC-based hard capsules.

A Mousepad Triboelectric-Piezoelectric Hybrid Nanogenerator (TPHNG) for Self-Powered Computer User Behavior Monitoring Sensors and Biomechanical Energy Harvesting

Hybrid nanogenerators based on the principle of surface charging of functional films are significant in self-powering sensing and energy conversion devices due to their multiple functions and high conversion efficiency, although applications remain limited due to a lack of suitable materials and structures. Here, we investigate a triboelectric-piezoelectric hybrid nanogenerator (TPHNG) in the form of a mousepad for computer user behavior monitoring and energy harvesting. Triboelectric and piezoelectric nanogenerators with different functional films and structures work independently to detect sliding and pressing movements, and the profitable coupling between the two nanogenerators leads to enhanced device outputs/sensitivity. Different mouse operations such as clicking, scrolling, taking-up/putting-down, sliding, moving rate, and pathing can be detected by the device via distinguishable patterns of voltage ranging from 0.6 to 36 V. Based on operation recognition, human behavior monitoring is realized, with monitoring of tasks such as browsing a document and playing a computer game being successfully demonstrated. Energy harvesting from mouse sliding, patting, and bending of the device is realized with output voltages up to 37 V and power up to 48 μW while exhibiting good durability up to 20,000 cycles. This work presents a TPHNG utilizing surface charging for self-powered human behavior sensing and biomechanical energy harvesting.

On Structural and Molecular Order in Cellulose Acetate Butyrate Films

Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) is a possible candidate, being a raw material derived from renewable resources, to replace fossil-based materials. This is due to its thermoplastic properties and the relative ease with which it could be implemented within the existing industry. With a significant amount of variation in CAB on the market today, a knowledge gap has been identified regarding the understanding of the polymer structural arrangement in films. This relates to the underlying mechanisms that regulate CAB film material properties, insights that are important in product development. In this study, commercially available CAB was investigated with XRD, SEM, AFM, and TOPEM DSC in order to obtain physicochemical information related to its micro-structural features in solvent-cast films. The film-forming ability relates mostly to the number of hydroxyl groups, and the semi-crystallinity of the films depends on the type and position of the side groups along the cellulose backbone. The appearance of signs of possible cholesteric ordering in the films could be connected to higher amounts of hydroxyl groups along the backbone that disturb the helix arrangement, while the overall order was primarily related to the butyrate substitution and secondarily related to the molecular weight of the particular CAB studied. Cold crystallization was also observed in one CAB sample.

Porous Cellulose Thin Films as Sustainable and Effective Antimicrobial Surface Coatings

In the present work, we developed an effective antimicrobial surface film based on sustainable microfibrillated cellulose. The resulting porous cellulose thin film is barely noticeable to human eyes due to its submicrometer thickness, of which the surface coverage, porosity, and microstructure can be modulated by the formulations and the coating process. Using goniometers and a quartz crystal microbalance, we observed a threefold reduction in water contact angles and accelerated water evaporation kinetics on the cellulose film (more than 50% faster than that on a flat glass surface). The porous cellulose film exhibits a rapid inactivation effect against SARS-CoV-2 in 5 min, following deposition of virus-loaded droplets, and an exceptional ability to reduce contact transfer of liquid, e.g., respiratory droplets, to surfaces such as an artificial skin by 90% less than that from a planar glass substrate. It also shows excellent antimicrobial performance in inhibiting the growth of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis) due to the intrinsic porosity and hydrophilicity. Additionally, the cellulose film shows nearly 100% resistance to scraping in dry conditions due to its strong affinity to the supporting substrate but with good removability once wetted with water, suggesting its practical suitability for daily use. Importantly, the coating can be formed on solid substrates readily by spraying, which requires solely a simple formulation of a plant-based cellulose material with no chemical additives, rendering it a scalable, affordable, and green solution as antimicrobial surface coating. Implementing such cellulose films could thus play a significant role in controlling future pan- and epidemics, particularly during the initial phase when suitable medical intervention needs to be developed and deployed.

Magnetotransport property of oxygen-annealed Fe1+yTe thin films

Fe-based superconductors are one of the current research focuses. FeTe is unique in the series of FeSe_1-xTe_x, since it is nonsuperconducting near the FeTe side in the phase diagram in contrast to the presence of superconductivity in other region. However, FeTe thin films become superconducting after oxygen annealing and the mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report the temperature dependences of resistivity, Hall effect and magnetoresistance (MR) of a series of FeTe thin films with different amounts of excess Fe and oxygen. These properties show dramatic changes with excess Fe and oxygen incorporation. We found the Hall coefficients are positive for the oxygen-annealed samples, in contrast to the transition from positive to negative below 50 K for the vacuum-annealed samples. For all samples, both the resistivity and Hall coefficient show a dramatic drop, respectively, at around 50 K-75 K, implying coexistence of superconductivity and antiferromagnetic order for the oxygen-annealed samples. The vacuum-annealed samples show both positive and negative values of MR depending on temperature, while negative MR dominates for the oxygen-annealed samples. We also found that oxygen annealing reduces the excess Fe in FeTe, which has been neglected before. The results are discussed in terms of several contributions, and a comparison is made between the oxygen-annealed FeTe thin films and FeSe_1-xTe_x. This work is helpful for shedding light on the understanding of oxygen-annealed FeTe thin films.

Properties Comparison of Oxidized and Heat Moisture Treated (HMT) Starch-Based Biodegradable Films

Starch-based biodegradable films have been studied for a long time. To improve starch properties and to increase film characteristics, starch is commonly modified. Amongst different types of starch modifications, oxidation and heat moisture treatment are interesting to explore. Unfortunately, review on these modifications for film application is rarely found, although these starch modifications provide interesting results regarding the starch and film properties. This paper aims to discuss the progress of research on oxidized and heat moisture-treated-starch for edible film application. In general, both HMT and oxidation modification on starch lead to an increase in film's tensile strength and Young's modulus, suggesting an improvement in film mechanical properties. The elongation, however, tends to decrease in oxidized starch-based film, hence more brittle film. Meanwhile, HMT tends to result in a more ductile film. The drawback of HMT film is its lower transparency, while the opposite is observed in oxidized films. The observation on WVP (water vapor permeability) of HMT starch-based film shows that the trend of WVP is not consistent. Similarly, an inconsistent trend of WVP is also found in oxidized starch films. This suggests that the WVP parameter is very sensitive to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Starch source and its concentration in film, film thickness, RH (relative humidity) of film storage, oxidation method and its severity, plasticizer type and its concentration in film, and crystallinity value may partly play roles in determining film properties.

Assessing the Biodegradability of PHB-Based Materials with Different Surface Areas: A Comparative Study on Soil Exposure of Films and Electrospun Materials

Due to the current environmental situation, biopolymers are replacing the usual synthetic polymers, and special attention is being paid to poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), which is a biodegradable polymer of natural origin. In this paper, the rate of biodegradation of films and fibers based on PHB was compared. The influence of exposure to soil on the structure and properties of materials was evaluated using methods of mechanical analysis, the DSC method and FTIR spectroscopy. The results showed rapid decomposition of the fibrous material and also showed how the surface of the material affects the rate of biodegradation and the mechanical properties of the material. It was found that maximum strength decreased by 91% in the fibrous material and by 49% in the film. Additionally, the DSC method showed that the crystallinity of the fiber after exposure to the soil decreased. It was established that the rate of degradation is influenced by different factors, including the surface area of the material and its susceptibility to soil microorganisms. The results obtained are of great importance for planning the structure of features in the manufacture of biopolymer consumer products in areas such as medicine, packaging, filters, protective layers and coatings, etc. Therefore, an understanding of the biodegradation mechanisms of PHB could lead to the development of effective medical devices, packaging materials and different objects with a short working lifespan.