In Situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of LaFeO and LaFeO/LaNiO Thin Films in the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

We study the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction using in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to track the dynamics of the valence state and the covalence of the metal ions of LaFeO and LaFeO/LaNiO thin films. The active materials are 8 unit cells grown epitaxially on 100 nm conductive LaSrMnO layers using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The perovskite layers are supported on monolayer CaNbO nanosheet-buffered 100 nm SiN membranes.

A High-Entropy Oxide as High-Activity Electrocatalyst for Water Oxidation.

High-entropy materials are an emerging pathway in the development of high-activity (electro)catalysts because of the inherent tunability and coexistence of multiple potential active sites, which may lead to earth-abundant catalyst materials for energy-efficient electrochemical energy storage. In this report, we identify how the multication composition in high-entropy perovskite oxides (HEO) contributes to high catalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), i.e.

Effect of replacing sugar with non-caloric sweeteners in beverages on the reward value after repeated exposure.

Background: The reward value of food is partly dependent on learned associations. It is not yet known whether replacing sugar with non-caloric sweeteners in food is affecting long-term acceptance.

Objective: To determine the effect of replacing sugar with non-caloric sweeteners in a nutrient-empty drink (soft drink) versus nutrient-rich drink (yoghurt drink) on reward value after repeated exposure.

Familiarity mediates the relationship between emotional arousal and pleasure during music listening.

Emotional arousal appears to be a major contributing factor to the pleasure that listeners experience in response to music. Accordingly, a strong positive correlation between self-reported pleasure and electrodermal activity (EDA), an objective indicator of emotional arousal, has been demonstrated when individuals listen to familiar music. However, it is not yet known to what extent familiarity contributes to this relationship.

Interactions between the nucleus accumbens and auditory cortices predict music reward value.

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate neural processes when music gains reward value the first time it is heard. The degree of activity in the mesolimbic striatal regions, especially the nucleus accumbens, during music listening was the best predictor of the amount listeners were willing to spend on previously unheard music in an auction paradigm. Importantly, the auditory cortices, amygdala, and ventromedial prefrontal regions showed increased activity during listening conditions requiring valuation, but did not predict reward value, which was instead predicted by increasing functional connectivity of these regions with the nucleus accumbens as the reward value increased.