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A cerium-doped tungsten trioxide-functionalized sensing platform for photoelectrochemical detection of ascorbic acid with high sensitivity

Analyst, 2024, 149,5206-5212
DOI: 10.1039/D4AN01165A, Paper
Xueying Zhu, Tikai Liang, Dianping Tang
A highly efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) strategy was proposed for the determination of ascorbic acid (AA).
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The development of a method to produce diagnostic reagents using LaNiO3 nanospheres and their application in nanozyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the colorimetric screening of C-reactive protein with high sensitivity

Analyst, 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4AN01160K, Paper
Maria Nikitina, Pavel Khramtsov, Stepan Devyatov, Rishat Valeev, Marina Eryomina, Andrey Chukavin, Mikhail Rayev
LaNiO3 nanosphere-based NLISA has been demonstrated for the first time. The assay enables the CRP effective detection with high sensitivity.
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Electronic Relaxation Pathways in Thio-Acridone and Thio-Coumarin: Two Heavy-Atom-Free Photosensitizers Absorbing Visible Light

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2024, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4CP03720K, Paper
Open Access
Chris Acquah, Sean J. Hoehn, Sarah E. Krul, Steffen Jockusch, Shudan Yang, Sourav Kanti Seth, Eric Lee, Han Xiao, Carlos E. Crespo-Hernández
Heavy-atom-free photosensitizers (HAF-PSs) have emerged as a new class of photosensitizers aiming to broaden their applicability and versatility across various fields of the photodynamic therapy of cancers. The strategy involves...
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Utilization of lead-based saturated adsorbents for the fabrication of battery-like hybrid asymmetric supercapacitors

Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2024, 11,1654-1670
DOI: 10.1039/D3EN00601H, Paper
Sourav Acharya, Shrabani De, Ayon Ganguly, Brijesh K. Mishra, Ganesh Chandra Nayak
In this study S-doped graphitic CN/ZIF-8 composite was fabricated to remove Pb from water which was anchored through heat treatment. This formed a composite of carbon, Zn-NCN, PbO and PbS and was used as supercapacitor anode.
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A new Cd(II)-based coordination polymer as a luminescent sensor and adsorbent for dichromate ions

CrystEngComm, 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4CE00256C, Paper
Ying-Gui Xia, Xue Lan, Jun Wang, Xiao-Hong Liu, Mohd. Muddassir, Devyani Srivastava, Aparna Kushwaha, Abhinav Kumar
A new 3,5-bis(1-imidazol)pyridine-appended Cd(II) coordination polymer was synthesized and used as a luminescent sensor and adsorbent for dichromate ions.
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Emulation of neuron and synaptic functions in spin–orbit torque domain wall devices

Nanoscale Horiz., 2024, 9,1962-1977
DOI: 10.1039/D3NH00423F, Communication
Durgesh Kumar, Ramu Maddu, Hong Jing Chung, Hasibur Rahaman, Tianli Jin, Sabpreet Bhatti, Sze Ter Lim, Rachid Sbiaa, S. N. Piramanayagam
Neuromorphic computing based on spin–orbit torque driven domain wall (DW) devices is promising for energy-efficient computation. This study demonstrates energy efficient operations of DW neurons and synapses by novel reading and writing strategies.
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Unraveling States, Energetics, and Kinetics of Adsorbing Oxygen Species above MoS2

Nanoscale Horiz., 2024, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4NH00441H, Communication
Open Access
Hejin Yan, Hongfei Chen, Xiangyue Cui, Qiye Guan, Bowen Wang, Yongqing Cai
MoS2 and related transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have recently been reported to exhibit extensive applications in nanoelectronics and catalysis due to their unique physical and chemical properties. However, one practical...
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Revealing a synergistic orbital coupling adsorption mechanism of the oxygen reduction reaction in dual-atom catalysts

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, 12,30676-30684
DOI: 10.1039/D4TA05099A, Paper
Yangfan Liu, Yejun Li, Xinghan Liu, Jinming Li, Gufei Zhang, Jun Gong, Yanbin Jiang, Zhou Li
A synergistic adsorption mechanism of the oxygen evolution reaction for the dual atom catalysts (DACs) was proposed, which dominates the adsorption strength of intermediate species, potential determining step, and catalytic activity of DACs.
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Tuning the acidity and textural properties of polyethyleneimine-supported adsorbents for enhanced economical CO2 capture

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, 12,30309-30317
DOI: 10.1039/D4TA05215C, Paper
Bitan Ray, Sathyapal R. Churipard, Arjun Cherevotan, Diku Raj Deka, Devender Goud, Harishankar Kopperi, Sebastian C. Peter
The acidity and textural properties of polyethyleneimine-supported adsorbents are tuned to enhance the capture of carbon dioxide in an economical way.
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Modulating the band gap of a pyrazinoquinoxaline-based metal–organic framework through orbital hybridization for enhanced visible light-driven CN bond construction

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, 12,30582-30590
DOI: 10.1039/D4TA06282E, Paper
Zitong Chen, Linghui Cao, Aogang Liu, Pengda Liu, Yuan Chen, Juntao Yan, Bao Li
An indium-based metal–organic framework bearing a pyrazinoquinoxaline derivative is synthesized to facilitate two methods for the construction of CN bonds, and their mechanisms are investigated through detailed theoretical calculations.
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Multifunctional additive enables lead-adsorbing carbon electrodes for perovskite solar cells

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, 12,30611-30617
DOI: 10.1039/D4TA05429F, Paper
Yuanzhu Jiang, Aodong Zhu, Teng Liao, Wang Zhao, Mengmeng Cheng, Xinxin Zhang, Yi-Bing Cheng, Junyan Xiao
Phosphate, being a single-component multifunctional additive, serves as a viable material for the carbon electrode in perovskite solar cells. This utilization ensures the device's performance and mitigates the risk of potential lead pollution.
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Vertical Macroporous Chitosan Aerogel Adsorbents for Simple and Efficient Enhancement of Atmospheric Water Harvesting and Air Dehumidification

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4TA07005D, Paper
Zhiguang Guo, Changhui Fu, Yuxuan He, Anhui Yu, Guangyi Tian, Danyan Zhan, Huimin Zhang
Adsorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) has become one of the effective methods to extract water from the air in arid regions due to its high efficiency and low energy consumption....
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Long-lasting, flexible and fully bioresorbable AZ31–tungsten batteries for transient, biodegradable electronics

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4TA06222A, Paper
Open Access
Gwan-Jin Ko, Tae-Min Jang, Daiha Shin, Heeseok Kang, Seung Min Yang, Sungkeun Han, Rajaram Kaveti, Chan-Hwi Eom, So Jeong Choi, Won Bae Han, Woon-Hong Yeo, Amay J. Bandodkar, Jiung Cho, Suk-Won Hwang
An eco-friendly, fully biodegradable magnesium alloy (AZ31)–tungsten (W) battery exhibits enhanced stability and corrosion resistance. The integration of alginate-based elastic electrolytes demonstrates a fully biodegradable solid-state battery.
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Devotional platform AppsForBharat raises $18 mn led by Fundamentum

The funds will be used to expand the Sri Mandir app’s operations in India and internationally, onboard new temples, launch new services, and build an all-encompassing tech infrastructure for the devotional ecosystem




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5 Indian firms among Forbes’ most innovative companies




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Agnikul’s sub-orbital rocket launch on March 22 

Chennai-based Agnikul Cosmos to test-fire Agnibaan rocket with 3D printed engine, aiming for suborbital flight trajectory control




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Stuck-in-space astronauts reflect on being left behind and adjusting to life in orbit

The astronauts stuck in space say it was hard to see their Boeing capsule leave without them




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Chandrayaan-3 gets closer to Moon after fourth orbit reduction manoeuvre

The manoeuvre was performed from ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru. The spacecraft is now just 177 km away from the moon.




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India’s first Voco Hotel in Jim Corbett offers many surprises beyond the tiger trail

The romance of the mountain rains, fragrance of the forest and petrichor, a symphony by sung by the birds and a taste of Kumaoni cuisine and cocktail, that’s how India’s first Voco Hotel in Jim Corbett invites you to live in the moment




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Lignin-based porous carbon adsorbents for CO2 capture

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4CS00923A, Review Article
Open Access
  This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.
Daniel Barker-Rothschild, Jingqian Chen, Zhangmin Wan, Scott Renneckar, Ingo Burgert, Yong Ding, Yi Lu, Orlando J. Rojas
This review covers the state-of-the-art in the production of lignin-based carbon adsorbents for CO2 capture, discussing lignin chemistry and properties, traditional synthesis approaches to emerging methods, and fundamentals for rational design.
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Regulatory Forbearance in the U.S. Insurance Industry: The Effects of Eliminating Capital Requirements [electronic journal].




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Optimal Forbearance of Bank Resolution [electronic journal].




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Bank Capital Forbearance [electronic journal].




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Establishing a new methodology for determining the water absorbability of cellulose-derived materials via a vapor-monitoring headspace strategy

Anal. Methods, 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D3AY02209A, Communication
Yi-Xian Gong, Wei-Qi Xie
In this research, for the first time, we introduce a vapor-monitoring headspace strategy to establish a new methodology for determining the water absorbability of cellulose-derived materials.
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India home to 56 of the world’s largest public firms: Forbes

Reliance Industries maintains its top position of leading the largest public companies in India




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Forbes’s list of self-made American women has two with India connect




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Arundhati Bhattacharya leads 4 Indian women on Forbes global power list




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The surface diffusivity of nanoparticles physically adsorbed at a solid–liquid interface

Soft Matter, 2024, 20,8446-8454
DOI: 10.1039/D4SM00992D, Paper
Troy Singletary, Nima Iranmanesh, Carlos E. Colosqui
This work proposes an analytical model considering the effects of hydrodynamic drag and energy barriers induced by liquid solvation forces to predict the in-plane translational diffusivity of a nanoparticle physically adsorbed on a wetted surface.
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Intermediate diradical character and thermal cis–trans isomerization of near-infrared absorbing thionated squaraine dyes

Org. Chem. Front., 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4QO01722F, Research Article
Open Access
Taishi Oka, Takeshi Maeda, Daisuke Sakamaki, Naoya Suzuki, Shigeyuki Yagi, Shintaro Kodama, Hideki Fujiwara
Near-infrared absorbing squaraine dyes incorporating 4-membered thionated oxocarbon and chalcogenopyrylium moieties exhibit intermediate diradical character, which impacts thermal cis–trans isomerization.
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Correction: Sustainable polymeric adsorbents for adsorption-based water remediation and pathogen deactivation: a review

RSC Adv., 2024, 14,35104-35104
DOI: 10.1039/D4RA90129K, Correction
Open Access
  This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.
Huda Alkhaldi, Sarah Alharthi, Salha Alharthi, Hind A. AlGhamdi, Yasmeen M. AlZahrani, Safwat A. Mahmoud, Lamiaa Galal Amin, Nora Hamad Al-Shaalan, Waleed E. Boraie, Mohamed S. Attia, Samera Ali Al-Gahtany, Nadiah Aldaleeli, Mohamed Mohamady Ghobashy, A. I. Sharshir, Mohamed Madani, Reem Darwesh, Sana F. Abaza
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A guide to key figures in Donald Trump's orbit

Donald Trump will return to the White House accompanied by a crew of longtime friends and aides as well as newfound, splashy allies




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Design and theoretical analysis of a tunable bifunctional metasurface absorber based on vanadium dioxide and photoconductive silicon

Dalton Trans., 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4DT02563F, Paper
Changfeng Fu, Xinke Wang, Yicheng Zhang, Jiaxin Ju, Wei Fan, Xiaobo Yan, Lianfu Han
A bifunctional metasurface absorber based on vanadium dioxide (VO2) and photoconductive silicon (PSi) is proposed, which can be switched from dual- to single-broadband absorption by VO2, and the absorptivity is tunable by varying σPSi.
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Theoretical calculations-driven rational screening of d-block single-atom electrocatalysts based on d-p orbital hybridization for durable aqueous zinc-iodine batteries

Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE04119D, Paper
Jin Yang, Yuanhong Kang, Fanxiang Meng, weiwei meng, guanhong Chen, Minghao Zhang, Zeheng Lv, Zhipeng Wen, Chengchao Li, Jinbao Zhao, Yang Yang
Aqueous Zn−iodine (Zn-I2) batteries, featuring intrinsically high-safety aqueous electrolytes and eco-friendly cathode/anode materials, however are restricted by the shuttling of polyiodide and sluggish redox kinetics of iodine redox. Although various...
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Orbs of colour

The author tells you about a popular and charming garden plant




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Solid-state fermentation of green lentils by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum leads to formation of distinct peptides that are absorbable and enhances DPP-IV inhibitory activity in an intestinal Caco-2 cell model

Food Funct., 2024, 15,11220-11235
DOI: 10.1039/D4FO03326D, Paper
Elisa Di Stefano, Nico Hüttmann, Pieter Dekker, Monic M. M. Tomassen, Teresa Oliviero, Vincenzo Fogliano, Chibuike C. Udenigwe
In vitro gastrointestinal digestion, brush border enzyme activity, and microbial fermentation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum influenced the peptidome of green lentils and peptide transport across the intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayer.
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Booker Prize 2024: British writer Samantha Harvey wins for space-station novel 'Orbital'

She called the book a “space pastoral” about six astronauts circling the Earth, which she began writing during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns




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Morning Digest: British writer Samantha Harvey’s space-station novel ‘Orbital’ wins Booker Prize for fiction; Big names face test as Jharkhand votes in Phase I, and more

Here is a select list of stories to start the day




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Major Boeing-made communications satellite disintegrates in orbit

While Intelsat 33e had a history of issues while in orbit, its unexpected disintegration has heightened concerns about space junk




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Vibrational frequencies utilized for the assessment of exchange–correlation functionals in the description of metal–adsorbate systems: C2H2 and C2H4 on transition-metal surfaces

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4CY00685B, Paper
Ray Miyazaki, Somayeh Faraji, Sergey V. Levchenko, Lucas Foppa, Matthias Scheffler
Vibrational frequencies can be utilized as a reference to assess the reliability of the exchange–correlation functionals.
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Deciphering the role of chemisorbed CO in CO2 methanation: kinetic and mechanistic investigation over monometallic (Ru) and bimetallic (Ru–Ni) catalysts

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4CY01004C, Paper
Pavan Dongapure, Jyoti Tekawadia, V. Satyam Naidu, R. Nandini Devi
Supported metal catalysts have made prominent contributions to CO2 mitigation through conversion into useful chemicals.
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Cr2TiC2Tx MXene as an Adsorbent Material in Ultrasonic-Assisted d-µ-Solid Phase Extraction for Trace Detection of Heavy Metals

Nanoscale, 2024, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4NR02556C, Paper
Saman Bagheri, Rashmeet Kaur Khurana, Md. Ibrahim Kholil, Michael J. Loes, Shengyuan Luo, Alexander Sinitskii
MXenes are a large family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides. While MXenes have great potential for applications in analytical chemistry, most of the studies in this field...
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Copper(II)-based metal–organic framework delivery of calcium ascorbate for enhanced chemodynamic therapy via H2O2 self-supply and glutathione depletion

Biomater. Sci., 2024, 12,1871-1882
DOI: 10.1039/D3BM01922E, Paper
Meng Zhang, Hongjin Xue, Jiaxin Yang, Xin Zhao, Mei Xue, Wei Sun, Jianfeng Qiu, Zhihong Zhu
A Cu/ZIF-8/Vc-Ca/HA nanosystem synchronously releases Fenton catalytic Cu2+ and Vc-Ca to achieve improved chemodynamic therapy via H2O2 self-supply and GSH depletion.
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We’re not playing around: Board games medical and morbid




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Conservators consult Forbes Pigment Collection to solve artwork mysteries

Library of 2,500 samples offers clues about hues, both old and new




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Where the motorbike maniacs meet

Say ‘Bullet’ and people go nuts over the very mentions of iconic thumping bike. Royal Enfield worshippers will gather by the thousands in Goa this weekend for Rider Mania. BHUMIKA K. speaks to four bikers from Bengaluru...




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Owen Smith may not beat Jeremy Corbyn, but he passed the Today test | Michael White

As he tussled with John Humphrys on Radio 4, the Labour leadership challenger sounded confident, articulate and human

Listening to the radio this morning I had an experience I realised I’d almost forgotten. It was the sound of a Labour politician being combatively quizzed on Radio 4 by Today’s John Humphrys in the key 8.10 spot and giving confident, articulate answers in return. When did I last hear that, I wondered?

What follows here isn’t a party political broadcast for Owen Smith. For the first time since Labour’s glittering leadership contest to succeed Harold Wilson in 1976 – Callaghan versus Healey, Foot, Crosland, Jenkins and Benn – he’s a leadership contender whom OAP Mike doesn’t really know.

Continue reading...




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Can Labour win an election under Corbyn? Readers debate

Catch up on our discussion looking at whether Labour can win under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership

We’re going to close comments shortly - thanks for taking part in the debate today. We’ll have another one next Thursday lunchtime.

The Labour Party will not win the next general election, but that isn’t the right way of looking at the problem. Labour is in the midst of the same crisis as its sister social-democratic parties across Europe, with one twist: as evidenced by all those new members, it is also home to the kind of new, insurgent politics we’ve seen with Podemos in Spain, Syriza in Greece, the Bernie Sanders campaign in the US etc. Time spent this week at Momentum’s A World Transformed event in Liverpool reminded me that a great deal of Labour and the left’s future lies with some of the people involved (I’ve written a column about this, out later today), but a watershed moment is probably going to be a long time coming.

As things stand, most of what we know takes the form of negatives: that the politics of New Labour are dead, that Labour is dangerously estranged from its old working class base, that the party is pretty much finished in Scotland. What happens next is unclear: my own belief is that it will have involve Labour embracing changing the voting system, creating a politics beyond work and the worker, and understanding that amassing a critical mass of support will involve other forces and parties. All this will take time.

Can Labour win without electoral reform? Certain prominent Labour MPs have been convinced of the merits of proportional representation, and Chris, a reader from Exeter, thinks Labour needs to be thinking in terms of a progressive alliance.

The future of British politics is coalitions and he can lead a combination of Labour / Lib Dem and Greens with support from SNP. He can reach out to those who are outside the current voting patterns and disenfranchised - which is a far greater number is the vote for 16 year olds can be passed.

What really needs to change is our voting system so it takes account of proportional representation. A system where a government is formed out of 40% choice is not representative and also unfair to smaller parties

Thanks everyone, we now have 10 minutes left to discuss. Please get any final points in while you can.

Looking at the Labour party in its current state – confused, conflict-ridden and in desperate need of coherent strategy – it would be easy to assume that electoral success is off the cards for the foreseeable future. Certainly, current polling suggests the party is on track to lose dozens of seats unless something changes.

It’s fairly widely accepted that Labour is in need of some new ideas for the 21st century. Encouragingly, these issues do seem to be being discussed. The Momentum conference fringe event was buzzing with energy and many speakers were tackling difficult topics such as automation and the possibility of a citizens income. Many politicians are also keen to explore similar themes, Jonathan Reynolds MP immediately springs to mind.

How will the triggering of article 50 affect Labour’s chances? If Labour are to benefit from Conservative turmoil over Europe, what line should the party take on negotiations? Jamie, 37, from Sheffield, sees opportunities:

Corbyn undoubtedly needs to reach out to the political centre. But we should not underestimate the trouble brewing for the Tories. This is Theresa May’s honeymoon period but already the cracks are beginning to show. Brexit, specifically the failure to trigger article 50, is a time bomb waiting to go off for the Conservative party. With a slim majority, a Eurosceptic rebellion could see off this government at any moment.

A Labour majority is difficult to imagine. But a coalition with Labour as the largest party? Entirely achievable.

A more optimistic view from a commenter, who believes the terms of the debate - particularly on austerity - have shifted to the extent that Labour’s only viable future is one where it tacks to the left.

Before Corbyn, Labour is going the way of PASOK in Greece - a pro-austerity embarrassment of a Party surviving on the remembered fumes of the Trade Union movement. Since Corbyn became Labour the membership has doubled and the Party has shifted the debate inexorably to the Left. Austerity, as a proclaimed intent, is finished. Not even the Tories can promote themselves as the Party of inequality and free enterprise. Of course, it'll take time for the ideas which have reclaimed the Labour Party to percolate outwards, and it won't be a smooth transition as the Right doing everything in their power to stop Labour, but it's a start of something better.

Readers responding to our form have been making the point that until Labour moves public opinion on key narratives, it’s going to be very difficult for them to make electoral headway. How can the party develop a reputation for economic competence when many voters still blame them for the 2008 economic crash?

Here’s the view of Martin, a registered Labour supporter in Sheffield:

The SNP have shown that the country is ready to elect an anti-austerity government. A government that actually provides excellent public services will find a public willing to bear the cost up to point.

There is a lot that needs to go their way - but I still feel that the main challenge is to change the narrative on the economy. Until we can change the narrative that investment can be positive for the economy, or that cuts aren’t effective in dealing with debt it will be difficult to get anywhere with undecided voters.

This is an interesting comment – making points about the fact that Jeremy Corbyn spent his career on backbenches. What do you think? Is he not very good at preaching to the non-converted? Or is he a man of the people?

No one would think of appointing a CEO of a major company who had no experience at a relatively senior management level, yet this is what the Labour Party has done with Jeremy Corbyn – and Leader of the Opposition is at least as demanding a role as leading a global corporation in terms of the organisational and negotiating skills, strategic vision, stamina, drive, pragmatism and media savviness required.

Corbyn looks like what he is – someone who has spent his entire career on the backbenches, free to follow his own principles and unaccustomed with the burden of having to make compromises and prioritise. And who is now out of his depth.

We’re trying out a new poll tool. Let us know what you think in the comments - and don’t forget to vote!

A commenter below the line makes the reasonable point that it’s all far too early to tell. Given the upheavals seen in domestic and international politics over the past few years, predicting the 2020 election is very difficult - particularly with the full effects of Brexit still to come.

The next election is most likely three and a half years away during which time we will experience the unprecedented upheaval of leaving the EU. There is also issues around boundary changes, scottish independence, the relevance of UKIP, whether labour can resolve their internal issues and divisions within the tory government. So on that basis nobody can say that Labour are not going to win the next election.
In the run up to the 2010 election the tories managed to paint the 2008 crash as caused by Labour and argued they were not economically responsible, yet could not win outright power. And against Gordon Brown of all people.
During the 2015 election campaign the tories maintained the argument, cast Ed Miliband as the son of Britain hater, glorified their own work on the economy since 2010, scapegoated the Lib Dems and saw the SNP all but obliterate Labour in Scotland, yet only managed a 17 seat majority.
Who wins the next election is pure guesswork, mine is that nobody wins outright.

Possible path to victory.
1. An electoral pact. The right win because they always vote together as one big monolith. Our turn. The scare of a small handful of Tories going over to UKIP was enough to panic Cameron into a Brexit referendum. I'm in a supposed Tory safe seat but the truth is that if you counted the Lib Dem and Labour vote together, we would comfortably win. That's repeated up and down the country. An electoral pact means not standing candidates against the most likely to win. It also means people can vote strategically yet maintain allegiance with the party of their conscience.
2. Stand a Labour candidate in Northern Ireland to recover ground lost in Scotland
3. Try and win over the 40% of non-voters.
4. As far as immigration is concerned, it really isn't rocket science. Saying Labour will build 60k new council homes a year is great but it is also arbitrary. Labour should go a bit further and say "we will institute whatever policy is necessary and build however many homes are required to make sure that house and rent prices don't outstrip wages, and if we can't achieve that, we'll look to reduce immigration"

One repeated criticism of Corbyn’s electoral strategy is that he doesn’t do enough to reach out to the centre: the kind of voters with no fixed political allegiance, the kind of voted for Blair in 1997 but were more convinced by David Cameron in 2015.

One ready, a 46 year old Labour member from Brighton, got in touch to say there’s another way of winning: by reaching out to those who don’t currently vote.

At the moment more that 35% of the eligible voters in the UK don’t vote. This is equal to or more than the number of eligible voters that voted Tories to win the last election. Most of these people are mostly not taken into account by pollsters. In my view, Corbyn is connecting with this group of eligible voters. If he can bring them into play in a large number, together with the traditional labour voters that remain loyal to the party, he has a credible path to victory.

An interesting comment from a reader below the line who suggests Corbyn does something to surprise voters.

For Corbyn to win he will need to do something big to convince enough Tories, Liberals and swing voters to vote for him - that's just the mathematical reality. It will be painful for him and his loyal membership perhaps, but he'll need to have at least one or two proposals that make this voting group sit up and say 'wow, I wouldn't have expected him to say that!', it's called cognitive dissonance and is used in advertising to cut through a crowded market place and change brand perceptions.

New Labour understood this; the end of Clause 4, being relaxed about the filthy rich, keeping to Tory spending plans for two years, and making the BoE independent all raised hell in the party, but were highly effective in changing damaging perceptions very quickly and forced the wider electorate to reconsider the brand. There is a downside of course; he will get slated by many on his own side and that hurts, but he has their votes already, he needs to hold his nose and put forward policies that appeal directly to the voters of his opposition.

In a year when Donald Trump’s campaign for the White House has moved from ugly fantasy to likely outcome it would take a very rash old political hack to say without reservation: “Labour cannot win a general election with Jeremy Corbyn as its leader.”

That’s what I think, of course. I do so on the basis of 40 years watching mainstream British politics from a ringside seat inside what my Twitter detractors routinely call the “Westminster bubble” - as if Momentum activists or Ukip Brexiteers don’t live in a tiny confirmation biased bubble of their own.

Comments are now open. For those without a commenting account, there’s also a form you can fill in at the start of the live blog.

We’ve been hearing from Labour members on whether they think the party can turn around its electoral fortunes - keep the views coming, though we’re happy to hear from non-Labour members too. What would it take for you to vote for the party under Corbyn, and what put you off voting for them in 2015?

On opinion, we hear from a Labour member who vows to be more engaged in communicating the party message.

Our engagement isn’t just about reassuring the Labour faithful. The polls are a stark reminder of just how much work there is to do. We must turn the party into a movement that can be radical, and can win. As Corbyn said in his speech at conference, this wave of new members is in fact a “vast democratic resource” – not, as some people see it, a threat.

Related: New Labour members like me need to do more - it’s time to get involved

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn gave his keynote speech to conference on Wednesday, relaunching his stewardship of the party by outlining his agenda for the country under a Labour government.

Responding to critics who accuse Corbyn of being more interested in campaigning than the more complicated and compromise-strewn business of winning general elections, Corbyn said:

Related: Jeremy Corbyn’s critics must decide: unity or terminal decline | Owen Jones

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Purdue promotes Norbert Elliott to track and field and cross country coach

Norbert Elliott, who served as associate track and field and cross country coach, succeeds Lonnie Greene as head coach.

      




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RED LION RD HAS INTERMITTENT LANE CLOSURES AT BEAR CORBITT RD TIL 4PM