Virginia Tech

The dynamic nature of leadership education and the importance of bridging theory to practice call for research to understand how students perceive the relevance and effectiveness of incorporating real‐world application such as current events into their learning experience. This study explores the perceptions of students regarding the use of current events articles from The New York Times as supplementary resources in learning leadership concepts and theories. A convergent parallel mixed methods design was employed across three different sections (online, hybrid & in person) during the fall 2023 semester at a large, land‐grant university. A survey containing quantitative and qualitative items was sent to students in each class at the end of the semester for extra credit. Findings from the study show a positive perception among students regarding the usage of current events articles from The New York Times in supplementing their learning about leadership concepts and theories. The supplemental learning tool also gave students a better understanding of real‐world issues and scenarios and enhanced their interest in learning more about leadership issues. The research team concludes that the integration of The New York Times current articles proved to be highly effective in supplementing traditional learning materials in the leadership course.

The details surrounding the early evolution of eukaryotes and their viruses are largely unknown. Several key enzymes involved in DNA synthesis and transcription are shared between eukaryotes and large DNA viruses in the phylum Nucleocytoviricota, but the evolutionary relationships between these genes remain unclear. In particular, previous studies of eukaryotic DNA and RNA polymerases often show deep-branching clades of eukaryotes and viruses indicative of ancient gene exchange. Here, we performed updated phylogenetic analysis of eukaryotic and viral family B DNA polymerases, multimeric RNA polymerases, and mRNA-capping enzymes to explore their evolutionary relationships. Our results show that viral enzymes form clades that are typically adjacent to eukaryotes, suggesting that they originate prior to the emergence of the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA). The machinery for viral DNA replication, transcription, and mRNA capping are all key processes needed for the maintenance of virus factories, which are complex structures formed by many nucleocytoviruses during infection, indicating that viruses capable of making these structures are ancient. These findings hint at a diverse and complex pre-LECA virosphere and indicate that large DNA viruses may encode proteins that are relics of extinct proto-eukaryotic lineages.

Research is lacking on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) mineral nutrient uptake at broad scales, accounting for environmental variation, which is needed to effectively manage and model nutrient dynamics of wheat cropping systems. Therefore, our primary research objectives were to (1) provide analysis and estimation tools characterizing wheat nutrient (N, P, K, Mg, Ca, S, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu) uptake in grain and the whole crop at farm and regional scales and (2) evaluate nutrient harvest indices (NutHIs)—nutrients deposited in grain relative to total aboveground uptake—as an indicator of crop nutrient relations/economies. There were clear linear relationships between grain yield and nutrient uptakes in grain and the whole crop. Functions describing the nature and error of these relationships are presented, along with more flexible estimation approaches. Median NutHIs approximated averages synthesized from recent studies and generally exceeded those from older studies, consistent with evidence that NutHIs have increased with wheat improvement. The NutHIs, except ZnHI, were generally positively associated with grain harvest index and not related to yield. Given that grain mineral density, an indicator of nutritional value, has declined over time, making ongoing progress in simultaneously improving grain yield and mineral density may depend on selection for increased crop nutrient uptake and partitioning to grain. This study also provided corroborative evidence that the modern wheat classes do not differ in grain mineral density. In summary, this research provides valuable data and tools useful for sustainable nutrient management and provides insights into the nutrient economy and nutritional value of modern wheat.

The self‐assembly of amphiphilic bottlebrush block copolymers (BCPs), featuring backbones densely grafted with two types of side chains, is less well understood compared to linear BCPs. In particular, the solution self‐assembly of tapered bottlebrush BCPs—cone‐shaped BCPs with hydrophilic or hydrophobic tips—remains unexplored. This study investigates eight tapered and four cylindrical bottlebrush BCPs with varied ratios of hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) and hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) side chains, synthesized via sequential addition of macromonomers using ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (SAM‐ROMP). Self‐assembled nanostructures formed in water were analyzed using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, small‐angle neutron scattering, and dynamic light scattering. Most BCPs generated multiple nanostructures with surface protrusions, including spherical micelles, cylindrical micelles, and vesicles, alongside transitional forms like ellipsoids and semi‐vesicles. Coarse‐grained molecular dynamics simulations supported the experimental findings, which revealed two distinct self‐assembly pathways. The first involved micelle fusion, producing elliptical and cylindrical aggregates, sometimes forming Y‐junctions. The second pathway featured micelle maturation into semivesicles, which developed into vesicles or large compound vesicles. This work provides the first experimental evidence of vesicle formation via semivesicles in bottlebrush BCPs and demonstrates the significant influence of cone directionality on self‐assembly behavior in these cone‐shaped polymeric amphiphiles.

Transient experiments provide a unique vantage point for heterogeneous catalysis, where the kinetic properties of complex industrial materials can be precisely characterized in a highly controlled manner. Dynamic variation of catalyst surface states and the changing response of chemical reactions can bring great insight, but these methods require complex analysis. Temporal Analysis of Products (TAP) is one such method, used to measure kinetic properties by separating the intrinsic reaction on a catalytic surface from the mass transport in the reactor using precisely controlled reactant pulsing under low pressure conditions. However, calculating intrinsic kinetic quantities from the exit flux measured in TAP experiments requires careful data analysis and/or modeling. In this paper, we demonstrate a virtual TAP reactor model (VTAP) that connects the observed exit flux with the reactor concentration profile and catalyst surface state evolving as a function of time. A simple adsorption process (A(g) + * → A*) and catalytic reaction (A(g) + * → A*→ B* → B(g) + *) are modeled and discussed. As kinetic quantities and number of active sites are changed, the presentation of distinct rate/concentration ‘fingerprints’ emerge that form the basis of benchmarking catalyst behavior. These reaction simulations are used to interpret experimental pulse response data collected on both simple, Pt/SiO2, and complex, MoCx/ZSM5, catalysts. The strategies for interpreting the reactor exit flux data to extract intrinsic and transient kinetics quantities using the VTAP model are discussed. Transport and reaction simulations supported by the VTAP model framework provide clear visualization of the unique reactor physics and catalyst dynamics, laying the groundwork for designing more informative experiments that advance industrial catalysis.

Some people suggest that deliberately watching the camera during video calls can simulate eye contact and help build trust. In this study, we investigated the effects of simulated eye contact in video calls and job interviews through an experimental study and a survey. Study 1 involved participants in a mock interview as an interviewer, where a confederate interviewee simulated eye contact half the time. The gaze patterns of the participants were tracked to understand the effects. In Study 2, we conducted an online survey to confirm the findings of Study 1 on a larger scale by asking those with experience interviewing to evaluate interviewees based on interview videos, half of which simulated eye contact. The results of both studies indicate that simulated eye contact had little impact on their evaluation compared to common belief. We discuss how the results motivate future work and how computational approaches to correcting eye gaze can be deceptive.

Disturbances in ionospheric Total Electron Content (dTEC) with frequencies of ∼ ${\sim}$1–100 mHz can be driven from above by processes in the magnetosphere and below by processes on the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere. Past studies showed the potential of dTEC as a diagnostic of magnetospheric Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) wave activity and demonstrated that ULF dTEC can impact space weather by, for example, changing ionospheric conductance. However, most past work has focused on single event studies, lacked magnetospheric context, or used sampling rates too low to capture most ULF waves. Here, we perform a statistical study using Time History of Events and Macrsoscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) satellite conjunctions with a ground‐based magnetometer and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver at ∼ ${\sim}$65° magnetic latitude. We find that magnetospheric ULF waves generate dTEC variations across the broad range of frequencies examined in this study (∼ ${\sim}$2–50 mHz), and that ULF dTEC wave power is correlated with Kp, AE, solar wind speed, and magnetic field wave power observed in the magnetosphere and on the ground. We further find that magnetospheric ULF waves generate dTEC amplitudes up to <∼4 ${< } \sim 4$ TECU (∼30% ${\sim} 30\%$ background), with the largest amplitudes occurring during geomagnetically active conditions, at frequencies below 7 mHz, and at local times near midnight. We finally discuss the implications of our results for magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling and remote sensing techniques related to ULF waves.

A large proportion of adults in the developing world remain without access to formal banking. We assess the effectiveness of a network‐based information delivery strategy in fostering interest to learn about and subscribe to mobile money services in rural and peri‐urban communities in Peru. We posit that lack of information about mobile money technology is a barrier to financial inclusion, which can be mitigated through social proximity. We designed a randomized controlled trial where workshops were led by individuals personally known to participants (local ambassadors–treatment) or by external agents (control). We find that attendance and BiM subscription rates were twice as high in the local ambassadors' group, especially among low‐trust individuals.

Background: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are neurodegenerative disorders that afflict 1 in 9 older adults. As pharmacological interventions for ADRD are often ineffective and cause rampant side effects, interest has increased in finding adjunctive, non-pharmacological approaches. Music therapy may be especially beneficial for individuals with ADRD and their caregivers as music is a form of non-verbal communication. Objective: In this case series, we describe a 12-week group music therapy program for individuals with ADRD and their caregivers. Methods: Brain activity was recorded with hyperscanning electroencephalography (EEG) during each music therapy session from the individual with ADRD (n = 3), caregiver (n = 3), and music therapist (n = 1). Video recordings allowed for assessment of movement behavior and affective state responses. Results: This 12-week case series of group music therapy for individuals and their caregivers had a 66% retention and 95.8% adherence rate. We had success collecting behavioral and neural data using 360-degree video capture in combination with EEG. Video recordings allowed us to analyze affective state and nonverbal communication metrics. After pre-processing, neural recordings were clean and able to be analyzed for various neural metrics of interest. Conclusions: A human-centered design approach can be helpful for implementing longitudinal, non-pharmacological interventions in this vulnerable population. A team-science approach with a collective of creative arts therapists, neuroscientists, dementia care experts, creative technologists, and gerontology experts contributed to the conduction of this work. Future studies should examine the effects of music therapy on behavioral and neural outcomes, especially as it relates to interpersonal behavioral and neural synchrony.

The photogating effect, induced by a light‐driven gate voltage, modulates the potential energy of the active channel in field‐effect transistors, leading to a high photoconductive gain of these devices. The effect is particularly pronounced in low‐dimensional structures, especially in graphene field‐effect transistors. Along with unusual optical and electrical properties, graphene with ultra‐high carrier mobility and a highly sensitive surface generates a strong photogating effect in the structure, making it an excellent element for detecting light‐sensitive biomolecules. In this work, graphene field‐effect transistor biosensors is demonstrated for the rapid detection of photoactive yellow protein in an aqueous solution under optical illumination. The devices exhibit millisecond‐scale response times and achieve a detection limit below 5.8 fM under blue‐light excitation, consistent with the absorption characteristics of the protein. The photogating effect in graphene field‐effect transistors provides a promising approach for developing high‐performance, light‐sensitive biosensors for biomolecular detection applications.