bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Almond Shell‐Derived Carbons under Low‐Temperature Activation with Ultra‐High Surface Area and Superior Performance for Supercapacitors
Authors: Guo Yu , Zhang Lifeng , Liu Yi , Guo Shouwu 
Published: November 2019

AbstractNitrogen containing almond shell‐derived porous carbons (ACs) have been synthesized by adding sodium amide (NaNH2) as activator in calcination process. The optimized carbon material is denoted as AC‐4‐550 (mass ratio of NaNH2/C equals 4 and activation temperature is 550 °C). AC‐4‐550 possesses a high specific surface area of 3249.68 m2 g−1 and total pore volume of 1.85 cm3 g−1 with approximately a half proportion of micropores. Theoretically, the heteroatoms generate pseudocapacitance and wettability, the high specific surface area provides more active adsorption sites for ions, the micropores reduce the thickness of electrical double layer to enhance capacitance and the mesopores speed up the ion transmission. In a three‐electrode supercapacitor in 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte, the specific capacitance reached to 440.29 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, even 240.00 F g−1 at 50 A g−1. And after 10 000 cycles, AC‐4‐550 retains 92% capacitance at 10 A g−1. Furthermore, the high energy density (129.40 W h kg−1 at a power density of 900 W Kg−1) in a symmetrical coin‐cell capacitor using ionic liquid electrolyte demonstrates the possible applications in practical situation.
Vertically MoS2 on Reduced Graphene Oxide with Superior Durability for Quasi‐solid‐state Supercapacitor
Authors: Li Huijun , Jiang Nianjun , Deng Qianwen , Wang Xiaomin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMolybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a two‐dimensional layer structure with high edge energy state, resulting in high chemical activity. It can be widely used in the supercapacitors. Herein, a novel conductive architectures of MoS2/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets was immobilized on carbon cloth (CC) via hydrothermal method. The MoS2/rGO nanosheets are uniformly grown on CC, which can provide a higher specific surface area and increase additional active sites. The intimate contact between nanostructured MoS2/rGO and active CC is in favor of maintaining the stability of structure. As a result, MoS2/rGO as a supercapacitor electrode material shows high specific capacitance of 331 F g−1 at 0.75 A g−1 and excellent cycling stability with a specific capacitance retention of 110.7% after 15000 cycles. Moreover, the asymmetric supercapacitor is assembled and the device shows a high energy density of 29.2 Wh kg−1 and a high power density of 4517.7 W kg−1. These results indicate that MoS2/rGO as an electrode material has an important application potential in supercapacitors.
Computational Insights into the Interaction between Li2S/Li2S2 and Heteroatom‐Doped Graphene Materials
Authors: Yi Zonglin , Su Fangyuan , Cui Guangyu , Han Peide , Dong Nan , Chen Chengmeng 
Published: November 2019

AbstractElectrochemical nucleation and deposition of Li2S/Li2S2 is among the major problems hindering the application of lithium‐sulfur batteries. Adsorption behavior of Li2Sx (x=1, 2, 4, 8) with nitrogen‐doped, boron‐doped graphene and reduced graphene oxides (r‐GOs) are investigated in this study by DFT method. It is discovered that graphene with pyridinic N doping (PD−N) and pyrrolic N doping (PL−N) are able to benefit the nucleation for short‐chain lithium‐polysulfides (Li2S/Li2S2) through Li−N interaction. r‐GOs can also enhance the nucleation to some extent through Li−O interaction, which is not as good as Li−N interaction. At the same time, pristine graphene, graphene with graphitic N (GRN) and B‐doped graphene can only provide Li−C interaction, which is weaker than Li−O and Li−N. This makes the sequence of adsorption strength to be PD−N≈PL−D>r‐GO>B>GRN≈pristine graphene. The unique mechanism of B‐doped graphene adsorbed with Li2S/Li2S2 is also discovered.
Synthesis and Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Rare Earth Ion (Ce3+, Nd3+, Pr3+ or Sm3+) Doped Bi2WO6 Microspheres for Rhodamine B Degradation
Authors: Zhang Xianghui , Wang Manqi , Jia Xiao , Cao Kaixuan , Zhang Mingming 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPure and rare earth ion (Ce3+, Nd3+, Pr3+or Sm3+) doped Bi2WO6 microspheres were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal process. Their physical and chemical properties were characterized by using X‐ray diffraction, UV‐vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and N2 adsorption‐desorption isotherm analysis. Results showed that rare earth ion doping into Bi2WO6 leaded to decreased crystallite size, narrowed band gap and increased surface area. The organic dye rhodamine B was chosen to explore the photocatalytic activity of all the samples. It had been found that Nd3+ doped Bi2WO6 showed extremely higher photocatalytic activity compared to the pure Bi2WO6. The improved photocatalytic activity had been attributed to the reduced size of crystallite, enhanced visible light absorption and enlarged surface area which resulted in the effective separation of the photogenerated electron hole pairs. The sample also had a good stability after six times of cycling experiments. In addition, the photocatalytic mechanism had been inferred by the radical‐trapping experiments. It had verified that the photogenerated holes play a major role in the photocatalysis process.
Synthesis of Benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b’]dithiophene and Benzocondensed Thiaheterocycles
Authors: Baldoli Clara , Cauteruccio Silvia , Licandro Emanuela 
Published: November 2019

AbstractA two‐step synthesis of benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b’]dithiophene (BDT) was carried out starting from 3‐thiophene carbaldehyde as the sole thiophene precursor. This method involves the selective lithiation of the 2‐position of 3‐thiophenecarbaldehyde ethylene acetal, followed by the condensation with 3‐thiophenecarbaldehyde and subsequent dehydrative cycloaromatization of the dithienylmethanol intermediate to give BDT. This synthetic pathway was extended to other thiophene benzocondensed heterocycles.
Aligned High Density Semi‐Conductive Ultra‐Small Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Wang Yun , Ben Teng , Qiu Shilun , Valtchev Valentin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractZeolite type material (AlPO‐5, AFI‐type) with rod‐like morphology and mono‐dimensional channel system running along the long crystal axis was vertically grown on a stainless‐steel plate. The organic template used in the synthesis was carbonized to generate single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Thus, SWCNTs with a diameter of 0.4 nm, perfectly aligned and vertically oriented to the support surface with a density of 2.6 × 105 SWCNTs μm−2, were obtained. The free end of AlPO‐5 crystal was chemically etched in order to create contact surface and measure the conductivity of SWCNT@AlPO‐5 film which was found to be 4.16 × 10−1 Ω−1 cm−1. This approach of aligned SWCNTs can be applied to different types of substrates, thus opening the road to practical uses of SWCNTs.
Weiss‐Cook Condensations for the Synthesis of Bridged Bithiophene Monomers and Polymers
Authors: Nitti Andrea , Bianchi Gabriele , Po Riccardo , Porta Alessio , Galbiati Alessandro , Pasini Dario 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe report on the design, synthesis and properties of innovative π‐conjugated compounds in which a 2,2’‐bithiophene ring system embeds a functionality‐rich C(sp3)‐C(sp3) carbon bridge. The synthesis is achieved in high yields making use of a one‐pot sequence of Weiss‐Cook condensation as the key step, followed by decarboxylation. The monomers can be polymerized with appropriate comonomers via Pd‐catalyzed crosscoupling, thus rapidly approaching rigid, functionality‐rich bithiophene containing conjugated polymers.
The toxic effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on plasma glucose metabolism are more severe in developing mice than in adult mice
Authors: Hu Hailong , Zhang Boya , Li Li , Guo Qian , Yang Daqian , Wei Xiangjuan , Fan Xingpei , Liu Jing , Wu Qiong , Oh Yuri , Feng Yujie , Chen Kun , Wang Changlin , Hou Liping , Gu Ning 
Published: November 2019

AbstractTitanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are authorized food additives, and children have the highest exposure. Therefore, children are likely more susceptible to the adverse effects of TiO2 NPs than adults. Previous study showed that oral administration of 50 mg/kg body weight (bw) TiO2 NPs increase plasma glucose in mice. However, few studies have directly compared the adverse effects of exposure to TiO2 NPs on plasma glucose metabolism of different age groups. In this study, the developing (age 3 weeks) and adult mice (age 10 weeks) were orally administered with 50 mg/kg bw TiO2 NPs per day. The TiO2 NPs induced hyperglycemia earlier in the developing mice than in the adult mice. Then mechanisms were analyzed after mice were oral administration of TiO2 NPs for 8 weeks and 26 weeks, respectively. Results showed that the treatment with TiO2 NPs activated xenobiotic biodegradation in livers of both developing and adult mice at the early stage. However, only in the developing mice, TiO2 NPs induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in livers and increased reactive oxygen species in livers and sera in the early stage. The ER stress and ROS activated an inflammation response and mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways, thereby inducing insulin resistance in the livers of developing mice at the early stage. The response of the adult mice was delayed, and these changes were observed in the late stage of the study. The results of this study all suggest that children are more susceptible than adults to the toxicity of orally administered TiO2 NPs.
Laparoscopic Trans‐Abdominal Retromuscular (TARM) Repair for Ventral Hernia: A Novel, Low‐Cost Technique for Sublay and Posterior Component Separation
Authors: Masurkar Ashwin A. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe complications of intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair for ventral hernia has favored sublay mesh placement like open Rives–Stoppa repair (ORS). There was a need for low‐cost laparoscopic trans‐abdominal repair using a polypropylene mesh (PPM) with sublay, midline closure and addition of posterior component separation (PCS) by transversus abdominis release (TAR).MethodsThe techniques used three or six operating ports with triangulation. After adhesiolysis, a transverse incision was made on the peritoneum (P) and posterior rectus sheath (PRS). The retromuscular space was developed by raising a P‐PRS flap. Midline closure was performed with No. 1 polydioxanone, and a PPM was placed in sublay, followed by closure of defect and P‐PRS incision. For large hernias with divarication; myo‐fascial medialization using PCS‐TAR aided low‐tension midline closure.ResultsEighty‐nine patients were operated from 2010 to 2019, 26 primary ventral; 63 incisional; and 22 recurrent hernias. Of the primary, 21 were umbilical, one Spigelian and four epigastric hernias. The incisional group had 57 patients with lower midline scars (C‐section 25, open tubal ligation 15, abdominal hysterectomy 17), five lateral (appendicectomy), one post‐laparotomy. The mean age, male/female sex ratio and BMI were 41.23 years, 1:10.1 and 29.2 kg/m2, respectively. Mean defect and mesh area were 110 cm2 and 392 cm2. Mean operating time was 192 min. Conversion to open, mesh infection and recurrence rates were 3.4%, 1.1% and 5.62%.ConclusionLaparoscopic TARM with PPM in sublay avoids mesh–bowel contact. It provides midline closure and PCS‐TAR within the same port geometry with results comparable with ORS.
Robotic CT-guided out-of-plane needle insertion: comparison of angle accuracy with manual insertion in phantom and measurement of distance accuracy in animals
Authors: Komaki Toshiyuki , Hiraki Takao , Kamegawa Tetsushi , Matsuno Takayuki , Sakurai Jun , Matsuura Ryutaro , Yamaguchi Takuya , Sasaki Takanori , Mitsuhashi Toshiharu , Okamoto Soichiro , Uka Mayu , Matsui Yusuke , Iguchi Toshihiro , Gobara Hideo , Kanazawa Susumu 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Objectives
To evaluate the accuracy of robotic CT-guided out-of-plane needle insertion in phantom and animal experiments.

Methods
A robotic system (Zerobot), developed at our institution, was used for needle insertion. In the phantom experiment, 12 robotic needle insertions into a phantom at various angles in the XY and YZ planes were performed, and the same insertions were manually performed freehand, as well as guided by a smartphone application (SmartPuncture). Angle errors were compared between the robotic and smartphone-guided manual insertions using Student’s t test. In the animal experiment, 6 robotic out-of-plane needle insertions toward targets of 1.0 mm in diameter placed in the kidneys and hip muscles of swine were performed, each with and without adjustment of needle orientation based on reconstructed CT images during insertion. Distance accuracy was calculated as the distance between the needle tip and the target center.

Results
In the phantom experiment, the mean angle errors of the robotic, freehand manual, and smartphone-guided manual insertions were 0.4°, 7.0°, and 3.7° in the XY plane and 0.6°, 6.3°, and 0.6° in the YZ plane, respectively. Robotic insertions in the XY plane were significantly (p < 0.001) more accurate than smartphone-guided insertions. In the animal experiment, the overall mean distance accuracy of robotic insertions with and without adjustment of needle orientation was 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm, respectively.

Conclusion
Robotic CT-guided out-of-plane needle insertions were more accurate than smartphone-guided manual insertions in the phantom and were also accurate in the in vivo procedure, particularly with adjustment during insertion.

Key Points
• Out-of-plane needle insertions performed using our robot were more accurate than smartphone-guided manual insertions in the phantom experiment and were also accurate in the in vivo procedure.
• In the phantom experiment, the mean angle errors of the robotic and smartphone-guided manual out-of-plane needle insertions were 0.4° and 3.7° in the XY plane (p < 0.001) and 0.6° and 0.6° in the YZ plane (p = 0.65), respectively.
• In the animal experiment, the overall mean distance accuracies of the robotic out-of-plane needle insertions with and without adjustments of needle orientation during insertion were 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm, respectively.
Reactive hyperemia and baseline pulse amplitude among smelter workers exposed to fine and ultrafine particles
Authors: Bugge Merete Drevvatne , Ulvestad B. , Berlinger B. , Stockfelt L. , Olsen R. , Ellingsen D. G. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Objective
Ambient exposure to fine particles is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Associations between occupational particulate matter (PM) exposure and cardiovascular disease have been studied less. The objective of this study was to examine associations between PM exposure and endothelial function among workers in Norwegian smelters.

Methods
We examined endothelial function with Endo-PAT equipment after a working day (WD) and on a day off (DO) in 59 furnace workers recruited from three metal smelters in Norway. The difference in baseline pulse amplitude (BPA) and reactive hyperemia index (RHI) between the 2 days was analysed in relation to individual exposure to PM < 250 nm (PM250) or the respirable aerosol fraction of particles, and adjusted for relevant covariates.

Results
The exposure to PM250 ranged from 0.004 to 5.7 mg/m3. The mean BPA was significantly higher on WD relative to DO (772 vs. 535, p = 0.001). This difference was associated with PM concentrations among participants ≥ 34 years, but not among the younger workers. Reactive hyperemia was significantly lower on workdays relative to days off (1.70 vs. 1.84, p = 0.05). This difference was observed only among participants above the age 34. No associations with PM exposure were observed.

Conclusions
PM exposure was associated with higher BPA among participants older than 34 years. BPA reflects microvessel pulsatility. Our results may indicate an age-dependent cardiovascular susceptibility to PM exposure. Endothelial function measured by RHI was reduced on WD among participants 34 years and older, but we found no associations between PM exposure and RHI.
Entwicklung innovativer Recyclingverfahren für Mineralwolleabfälle – Projekt RecyMin
Authors: Sattler Theresa , Galler Robert , Vollprecht Daniel 
Published: November 2019

ZusammenfassungMineralwolleabfall, Glas- sowie Steinwolleabfall fällt durch den Rückbau von Gebäuden im Bauwesen an. Dieser Abfallstrom weist eine schlechte Verdichtbarkeit, elastisches Verhalten und eine geringe Rohdichte auf, was sich bei der Deponierung als problematisch erweist. Mineralwolleabfall, bestehend aus Mineralwolle, die vor dem Jahr 1998 produziert wurde, wird als gefährlicher Abfall eingestuft. Diesem Abfall wird die gefahrenrelevante Eigenschaft HP 7 (karzinogen) zugeordnet. Mineralwolleabfälle bestehend aus Mineralwolleprodukten, die das RAL oder EUCEB Gütesiegel tragen, sind als ungefährlicher Abfall einzustufen und werden der Schlüsselnummer 31416 „Mineralfasern“ zugeordnet. Das Projekt RecyMin beschäftigt sich mit der Entwicklung unterschiedlicher Recyclingoptionen von Mineralwolleabfällen, da es in Österreich derzeit noch kein Recycling für diesen Abfallstrom gibt. Im Gegensatz zu Recyclingkonzepten anderer Länder werden bei RecyMin sämtliche Mineralwolleabfälle, auch durch Störstoffe verunreinigte Mineralwolleabfälle unbekannter Herkunft, berücksichtigt. Die im Projekt vorgesehenen Recyclingoptionen werden anhand ökonomischer und ökologischer Kriterien beleuchtet.
Evidence of climate shift for temperature and precipitation extremes across Gansu Province in China
Authors: An Dong , Du Yiheng , Berndtsson Ronny , Niu Zuirong , Zhang Linus , Yuan Feifei 
Published: November 2019

AbstractTemperature and precipitation extremes are the dominant causes of natural disasters. In this study, seven indices of extreme temperature and precipitation events in Gansu Province, China, were analysed for the period 1961–2017. An abrupt climate shift was recorded during 1980–1981. Thus, the study period was divided into a preshift (before the climate shift) period 1961–1980 and an aftshift (after the climate shift) period 1981–2017. Comparison of mean extreme indices for preshift and aftshift periods was performed for the purpose of exploring possible increasing/decreasing patterns. Generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution was applied spatially to fit the extreme indices with return periods up to 100 years for preshift/aftshift periods. Singular value decomposition (SVD) was adopted to investigate possible correlation between the extreme climate events and indices of large-scale atmospheric circulation. The results indicate that changes in mean and return levels between the preshift and aftshift periods vary significantly in time and space for different extreme indices. Increase in extreme temperature regarding magnitude and frequency for the aftshift period as compared with the preshift period suggests a change to a warmer and more extreme climate during recent years. Changes in precipitation extremes were different in southern and northern parts of Gansu. The precipitation extremes in the north have increased that can result in more serious floods and droughts in the future. SVD analyses revealed a complex pattern of correlation between climate extremes and indices of large-scale atmospheric circulation. Strengthening of westerlies and weakening of the south summer monsoon contribute to the complex changing patterns of precipitation extremes. Results in this study will contribute to disaster risk prevention and better water management in this area.
Problem-driven scenario generation: an analytical approach for stochastic programs with tail risk measure
Authors: Fairbrother Jamie , Turner Amanda , Wallace Stein W. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractScenario generation is the construction of a discrete random vector to represent parameters of uncertain values in a stochastic program. Most approaches to scenario generation are distribution-driven, that is, they attempt to construct a random vector which captures well in a probabilistic sense the uncertainty. On the other hand, a problem-driven approach may be able to exploit the structure of a problem to provide a more concise representation of the uncertainty. In this paper we propose an analytic approach to problem-driven scenario generation. This approach applies to stochastic programs where a tail risk measure, such as conditional value-at-risk, is applied to a loss function. Since tail risk measures only depend on the upper tail of a distribution, standard methods of scenario generation, which typically spread their scenarios evenly across the support of the random vector, struggle to adequately represent tail risk. Our scenario generation approach works by targeting the construction of scenarios in areas of the distribution corresponding to the tails of the loss distributions. We provide conditions under which our approach is consistent with sampling, and as proof-of-concept demonstrate how our approach could be applied to two classes of problem, namely network design and portfolio selection. Numerical tests on the portfolio selection problem demonstrate that our approach yields better and more stable solutions compared to standard Monte Carlo sampling.
Exploring methodological approaches to assess climate change vulnerability and adaptation: reflections from using life history approaches
Authors: Singh Chandni , Tebboth Mark , Spear Dian , Ansah Prince , Mensah Adelina 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPeople in developing countries face multiple risks, and their response decisions sit at the complex and often opaque interface of climatic stressors, constrained resource access, and changing livelihoods, social structures, and personal aspirations. Many risk management studies use a well-established toolkit of methodologies—household surveys, focus group discussions, and semi-structured interviews. We argue that such methodological conservatism tends to neglect the dynamic and differentiated nature of livelihood decisions. Since different methodologies privilege different portrayals of risk and response, we highlight how plural methodological approaches can capture a broader range of perspectives and problematisations. In this paper, we draw on life history (LH) interviews across four countries (Kenya, Namibia, Ghana, and India) to offer one way of expanding current methodological approaches on vulnerability and adaptation. We argue that LHs offer four key ‘value additions’. First, LHs give insights into the multiple and interacting nature of drivers of response behaviour. Second, they highlight intra-household dynamics to demonstrate how people with differential power shape risk management decisions. Third, LHs support explorations of past decisions, present situations, and future aspirations, thus producing temporally nuanced enquiries. Fourth, they provide a powerful analytical lens to capture the interplay of motivations, aspirations, and values on livelihood choices and adaptation outcomes. By adding value in these four ways, LHs challenge assumptions about how and why people respond to multiple risks and offer a nuanced understanding of adaptation processes.