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WHICH COMPANIES ARE LEADING THE WAY IN SOLID STATE BATTERY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT?

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Toyota Motor Corporation – Toyota is one of the early pioneers in solid-state battery R&D. They established a pilot plant for solid-state battery production back in 2014. Since then, they have continued robust research efforts. In 2022, Toyota announced that they planned to start producing solid-state batteries by the mid-2020s. Their goal is to use solid-state batteries to extend EV ranges to around 500 km on a single charge. Solid-state technologies could also help reduce manufacturing costs over time.

Sakti3 – This Ann Arbor, Michigan-based startup was acquired by Dyson in 2015. Under Dyson, Sakti3 continued its work developing all-solid-state battery cells using a thin film lithium metal anode. In 2020, Dyson announced it would stop work on solid-state batteries, abruptly ending Sakti3’s research efforts and redirecting resources. However, Sakti3 pioneered some key principles in solid-state cell designs during its tenure.

Cymbet – Founded in 1996, Cymbet is one of the earliest companies focused exclusively on solid-state thin film battery technology. They developed a proprietary alloy used in the creation of thin film solid-state batteries. Cymbet produced some of the first commercially available solid-state microbatteries. While they haven’t produced larger battery packs yet, their work established foundational approaches.

Volkswagen – The German automaker established a new business unit called PowerCo in 2020 to focus on battery technology research among other areas. One particular priority is developing solid-state batteries both in-house and through partnerships. VW aims to introduce solid-state designs around the later half of this decade to improve battery performance metrics.

BMW – This luxury automaker has been researching next-gen batteries including solid-state varieties. In 2021, BMW partnered with solid-state battery startup Solid Power to co-develop production-oriented cells. Their goal is to incorporate solid-state designs into vehicles starting in 2025. BMW is taking a collaborative approach which could help accelerate the technology.

QuantumScape – Founded in 2010, this Silicon Valley company went public via SPAC merger in late 2020. QuantumScape is developing solid-state lithium metal batteries using a ceramic separator. Independent testing has shown promising results for the company’s prototype cells including increased energy density and improved safety. They plan to start production in 2024.

Solid Power – Based in Colorado, Solid Power is partnering with BMW and Ford to further develop its sulfide all-solid-state battery technology. The company believes its design could offer 50% more energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries. Solid Power aims to scale up production and have pre-production cells ready by 2024.

LG Chem – The Korean battery giant established an energy solutions company called LG Energy Solution in 2020. They have an R&D division exploring solid-state technologies. LG aims to mass produce solid-state EV batteries by 2030 that could increase battery capacities by 30%. With significant existing manufacturing scale, LG is well-positioned for future commercialization.

CATL – China’s top battery supplier is also working on solid-state innovations. In 2021, they demonstrated a prototype solid-state battery pack and aims to start production around 2024-2025 pending further testing and optimization. CATL has the resources to scale solid-state rapidly depending on how their research progresses over the next few years.

Ionic Materials – Another US-based startup, Ionic Materials develops a proprietary solid polymer electrolyte material that could provide cost advantages over other solid-state approaches. Partners include Hyundai and Stellantis. Ionic aims to enable high-energy solid-state batteries by 2026 that exceed the performance of today’s lithium-ion packs.

As this overview shows, automakers and battery producers are aggressively pursuing solid-state technologies through both internal R&D and external partnerships. Early prototypes demonstrate the potential for significantly higher energy densities and greater safety. Several challenges around manufacturing processes and long-term cycling still need to be overcome before solid-state designs are ready for commercial vehicle applications. Major corporations are positioning themselves to be ready when the technology matures later this decade. Continued progress in 2022-2024 will become increasingly evident as more collaborative projects bear fruit.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF CONDUCTING ORIGINAL RESEARCH FOR A NURSING CAPSTONE

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Conducting original research is a rigorous process that involves carefully planning and implementing a research study to contribute new knowledge and insights to nursing practice. For a nursing capstone project, original research allows students to investigate an area of interest and gain first-hand experience with the research process from developing a question to disseminating results. Here are the key steps involved:

Identify a research topic or question. This is the starting point and lays the foundation for the entire study. It should address a gap in the current literature and be focused yet broad enough to yield meaningful results. Consulting with nursing faculty is recommended to select a topic of relevance. Potential topics may examine outcomes of a new clinical intervention, explore patient experiences, or identify correlates of healthy behaviors.

Conduct a thorough literature review. Once a topic is identified, exhaustive search of academic databases is required to review previous studies on similar topics and identify what is already known. Analyzing previous literature helps establish the need for the study, locate appropriate theoretical frameworks, uncover gaps in knowledge, and determine the best research design and variables/instruments. A minimum of 20-30 quality sources should be included.

Select a research design and methodology. Based on the topic and literature, determine the best design, either quantitative (experimental, quasi-experimental, descriptive, correlational), qualitative (grounded theory, phenomenology, ethnography, case study), or mixed methods. Designs such as pre-post, cohort, case-control are common for nursing topics. The methodology will include selecting subjects, instruments, data collection procedures, and a detailed plan for analysis.

Complete ethics training and obtain IRB approval. All research involving human subjects requires review by an Institutional Review Board to ensure protection, privacy, and informed consent. Completing CITI training is mandatory and an IRB application detailing the study must be approved before beginning any data collection. Revisions are common so starting this process early allows flexibility.

Recruit study participants and collect data. With IRB approval, recruit the required sample size through venues like clinics, schools, or community organizations. Administer surveys, conduct interviews, observe behaviors as planned and collect qualitative and/or quantitative data. Strict protocols must maintain anonymity, confidentiality, and minimize any risks. Ongoing review of informed consent is recommended.

Analyze collected data using appropriate statistical tests. For quantitative data, use software like SPSS to perform descriptive and inferential statistics like frequencies, correlations, t-tests, ANOVA, regression as indicated. Qualitative data requires coding, theming, and interpretation. Mixed methods may integrate both, looking for convergence. Periodic meetings with a faculty adviser ensures accurate analysis.

Report findings and conclusions. Summarize results in the format of a research manuscript, thesis, or presentation. Discuss how findings support or contradict previous research, offer new insights, and address limitations. Recommendations for practice and directions for future research should be provided based on implications. Interpretations must be objective and well substantiated by the literature and data analysis.

Disseminate results. Original research should be shared through publication, conference presentation, reports to participating organizations and forums. This allows the wider nursing community to benefit from new knowledge generated. Submissions to peer-reviewed nursing and health journals are ideal for dissemination and building the evidence base.

Reflect on the process. The researcher should reflect upon their experience, lessons learned from navigating the research process, and ways they have grown professionally. Feedback from faculty and participants can also aid continued improvement of research competencies critical for advancing the nursing field.

Conducting an original research study for a nursing capstone is a major undertaking requiring focus, time management and collaboration. The experience equips students with valuable skills for evidence-based practice and lays the groundwork for future scholarship as a career nurse or advanced practitioner. Adhering to best research practices ensures rigor and makes an important contribution toward empowering patients through the advancement of nursing science.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LITERATURE REVIEW AND ORIGINAL RESEARCH FOR A CAPSTONE PROJECT

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A literature review and original research are two important components of many capstone projects at the undergraduate and graduate level. While both involve an in-depth exploration of a topic, they differ significantly in their overall goals and methodologies.

A literature review is a comprehensive examination of the scholarly works, research studies, and theories that have addressed a particular topic, issue, or research question. The goal of a literature review is to summarize and synthesize the key findings and perspectives of the scholarly literature on the subject. It demonstrates to the reader that the student or researcher has become an expert in the secondary source material published on the topic.

Conducting a literature review primarily involves locating, selecting, evaluating, and synthesizing relevant scholarly sources such as peer-reviewed journal articles, academic books, government reports, and scholarly reviews. It does not typically involve primary data collection or experimentation. The student examines, compares, and contrasts what previous researchers have said about the topic in their published work. Key elements of a strong literature review include identifying relationships and gaps in the literature, discussing major themes and perspectives, determining the significance of the topic based on previous works, and showing how the proposed research will address gaps or expand current understanding.

Original research, on the other hand, goes beyond just summarizing and critiquing existing literature to make an original contribution of new knowledge through primary data collection and analysis. With original research, the student identifies a specific research question or hypothesis and designs a study to directly investigate or test that question. This requires determining an appropriate research methodology such as qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. Primary data is then directly collected using methods like interviews, surveys, experiments, observations, or archival research. The data undergoes rigorous analysis using relevant analytic techniques in order to determine new findings, draw original conclusions, and potentially generalize the results. Original contributions involve producing results, theories, or insights that have not previously been published.

Some key characteristics that differentiate original research in a capstone project include:

Formulating a specific, focused research question that has not yet been fully explored or answered in existing literature. This helps ensure the study will yield original findings.

Choosing an appropriate research design (e.g. quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods) to directly investigate and answer the research question. This may involve experiments, field work, interviews, or other empirical methods.

Collecting primary data through hands-on methods like interviews, surveys, observations, experiments rather than solely relying on secondary data analysis.

Analyzing the original data through valid statistical or qualitative analytic techniques in order to discover new patterns, relationships, or theories that have not been previously described.

Drawing original conclusions and implications from the findings of the study. These conclusions should offer new insights, perspectives, or applications beyond what is described in existing literature.

Discussing the limitations, validity, and generalizability of the results to demonstrate rigor. As well as acknowledging how the findings specifically address gaps or expand current knowledge on the topic based on the original research question posed.

Following strict ethical guidelines when directly interacting with or observing human subjects during data collection for the study. This includes obtaining necessary permissions and ensuring confidentiality.

Having the research and methodology sections clearly describe the process well enough that other researchers could in theory replicate or build upon the original study.

A literature review primarily synthesizes and critically evaluates previous research whereas original research makes a novel empirical contribution through a focused research question directly investigated using valid methodology and analytic techniques. Both serve crucial roles in a capstone project, but one examines what is known while the other aims to discover what is not yet known about a topic through direct data collection and analysis. Understanding the distinction between these two approaches is vital for students conducting meaningful capstone work.

WHAT ARE SOME IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN DESIGNING AN ORIGINAL RESEARCH STUDY FOR A PSYCHOLOGY CAPSTONE PROJECT

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Developing the Research Question: Coming up with a good research question is the critical first step in designing a study. The research question should be specific, focused, and address an area within psychology that could contribute meaningful knowledge. It should be something that has not already been extensively studied and addressed in the existing literature. The research question will guide every other aspect of the study design.

Reviewing Relevant Literature: Conducting a thorough review of existing research and literature related to the topic is essential for designing a strong study. This helps identify gaps in knowledge, controversies that need more research, and how the proposed study can build upon past work. The literature review also ensures the study does not simply replicate past research. It provides theoretical and empirical justification for the hypotheses.

Selecting a Research Method: The type of research method used needs to be matched to the research question. Common options in psychology include experimental, correlational, case study, ethnography, phenomenology, and mixed methods. Factors like control, variables, and generalizability need weighing to determine the most appropriate method. The method then informs procedures, tools, analysis plans, and how results will be interpreted.

Operationalizing Variables: All key variables mentioned in the hypotheses must be clearly defined and specifically measured. Independent and dependent variables need to be operationalized so their parameters are unambiguous. Operational definitions should specify the instruments, scales, categories, or other means by which each variable will be quantified and assessed. This establishes uniformity and reliability in measurement.

Sampling Strategy: The population being investigated must be well-defined, and a detailed sampling plan is necessary. The sample size needs to be adequately powered while balancing practical constraints. Probability or non-probability methods may be used depending on the research context. Demographic factors like gender, age, culture or clinical diagnosis also may need consideration in forming a representative sample.

Research Design: Decisions are made about the specific procedures, instruments, and structure of the study. For experiments, elements like control/treatment groups, random assignment, counterbalancing, pre/post testing, and manipulation procedures must be carefully constructed. Threats to both internal and external validity need addressing. Correlational and qualitative studies similarly require clear session protocols and analysis approaches. Pilot testing is advisable to uncover weaknesses.

Ethical Considerations: Psychology research involves human participants, so ethical standards outlined by professional organizations and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process require attention. Protecting participant privacy, informed consent, minimizing harm or distress, debriefing, and data security are just some of the ethical issues that deserve dedicated planning and documentation in the study design and proposal.

Analysis Plan: Long before data collection begins, the researcher determines how results will be analyzed based on the research question and method. Statistical tests must be chosen that properly align with variable types, research design, and number of groups. Qualitative analysis strategies similarly need defining according to the particular tradition being used. Interpretation of findings within the context of the existing literature also should be addressed.

Study Limitations: No study is flawless, so anticipated limitations need acknowledging and addressing as much as possible in the design. Limitations may relate to sampling, measurement, design weaknesses like lack of manipulation, control or randomization, or generalizability to other populations. Clarifying limitations demonstrates the researcher understands validity threats and areas for improvement in future research.

The above factors provide a systematic guide for developing an ethical, rigorous original empirical study that can produce meaningful results. Carefully addressing each component from the initial research question to limitations will help compose a strong capstone proposal or thesis that makes a valuable contribution through sound psychological investigation. Following best practices in research design sets the work up for success at the project level and lays a foundation for future scholarship.

CAN YOU PROVIDE MORE DETAILS ON HOW TO CONDUCT AN ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT FOR AN EDUCATION CAPSTONE

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Identify an area of focus. The issue, problem, or topic you want to explore through your action research should be directly relevant to your work or field of study in education. Select something you are genuinely interested in learning more about to improve practice. Some common areas of focus include curriculum development, instructional strategies, classroom management techniques, student engagement and motivation, cultural competence, leadership practices, and more.

Review relevant literature. Conduct background research on your topic by reviewing scholarly literature such as previous research studies, review articles, and theoretical frameworks. This will help you better understand what is already known about the issue and identify gaps that your study could address. Make sure to take detailed notes as you may want to discuss relevant literature in your capstone paper.

Develop a research question. Clearly articulate the specific question you want to answer with your action research. An effective question should befocused yet open-ended, with the potential to generate useful insights for practice. Some examples may include: How can I improve student collaboration skills in my classroom? What types of culturally relevant teaching practices most effectively engage Latinx students?

Determine your methodology. Decide on a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods research design that is appropriate for your question and context. Will you conduct observations, interviews, surveys, testing? How will you collect and measure data? Develop data collection instruments like protocols, questionnaires. procedures for gaining permission from your institution and participants should also be considered.

Implement your study. Put your methodology into action! Collect relevant data from your classroom, students, colleagues, or other participants over a set period of time, making sure to record and organize the information systematically. Stay open to emergent understandings and be prepared to modify your approach if needed based on what you are learning.

Analyze results. Use statistical analyses for quantitative data and coding/thematic analysis for qualitative data to identify meaningful patterns and themes in your results. Consider both expected and unexpected findings, and be thoughtful about how preexisting biases or assumptions may be influencing your interpretation.

Draw conclusions. Determine what conclusions can be made based on the results, relating it back to your original research question and goals. Were any hypotheses supported? Did any new understandings emerge? Discuss the ways your conclusions do or do not align with existing literature. Did the study help answer your question and provide useful insights for practice?

Take informed action. Use the results and conclusions from your study to directly improve your practice or make recommendations for your colleagues or institution. For example, you may modify a lesson plan, create a new training program, recommend a policy change, or design an intervention based on what you learned. Recognize the limitations and generalizability of a single action research study when determining appropriate next steps.

Reflect on the process. Consider the strengths and limitations of your methodology, areas where bias may have influenced your work, and lessons learned that could improve future action research studies. How has the process impacted your practice and perspective? What questions does it raise that could form the basis for additional inquiry? Self-reflection is crucial for action research as a continuing process of improvement.

Disseminate your findings. Share what you have learned through available channels like a capstone paper, conference presentation, or publication. While action research focuses on local practice improvement over generalizable knowledge, dissemination allows others to learn from and build upon your work, continuing the collaborative process of generating knowledge. You may also consider presenting implications and recommendations to stakeholders.

Properly planned and conducted action research serves as an effective process for educators to systematically investigate an area of their practice, implement solutions based on evidence, and continually work to enhance professional knowledge and student outcomes over time through reflective cycles of inquiry. For a capstone project, applying these methodology considerations leads to a worthwhile culminating academic experience that also generates immediate value within one’s teaching context.