bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anion‐Exchange Formation of Hollow NiCo2S4 Nanoboxes from Mesocrystalline Nickel Cobalt Carbonate Nanocubes towards Enhanced Pseudocapacitive Properties
Authors: Hou Linrui , Hua Hui , Bao Ruiqi , Chen Zhiyi , Yang Chao , Zhu Siqi , Pang Gang , Tong Liuniu , Yuan Changzhou , Zhang Xiaogang 
Published: May 2016

AbstractAn efficient anion‐exchange protocol was investigated for the controllable fabrication of hollow NiCo2S4 nanoboxes (NBs) from mesocrystalline nickel cobalt carbonate nanocubes as promising pseudocapacitive materials for electrochemical capacitors. The underlying processes of the formation of the hollow architecture were systematically investigated. Originating from the unique structural and compositional advantages, the resultant hollow NiCo2S4 NB electrode with a loading of 5 mg cm2 delivered a large specific capacitance of 777 F g−1 at a high rate of 4 A g−1 in a three‐electrode configuration with 6 m KOH as electrolyte. Furthermore, an asymmetric device constructed with the hollow NBs and activated carbon (AC) as positive and negative electrodes, respectively, showed extraordinary supercapacitance within an electrochemically operating voltage window from 0.0 to 1.5 V. The unique AC//NiCo2S4 NB hybrid capacitor exhibited a large specific energy density (active mass normalized) of approximately 17.1 W h kg−1 at a high power density of 2250 W kg−1, and desirable cycling durability with approximately 75 % specific capacitance retention after 5000 consecutive cycles at a current rate of 2 A g−1. These electrochemical investigations strongly indicated that the as‐fabricated hollow NiCo2S4 NBs can be elegantly utilized as powerful candidates for advanced electrode platforms.
Mimiviruses: Replication, Purification, and Quantification
Authors: Abrahão Jônatas Santos , Oliveira Graziele Pereira , Ferreira da Silva Lorena Christine , dos Santos Silva Ludmila Karen , Kroon Erna Geessien , La Scola Bernard 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe aim of this protocol is to describe the replication, purification, and titration of mimiviruses. These viruses belong to the Mimiviridae family, the first member of which was isolated in 1992 from a cooling tower water sample collected during an outbreak of pneumonia in a hospital in Bradford, England. In recent years, several new mimiviruses have been isolated from different environmental conditions. These giant viruses are easily replicated in amoeba of the Acanthamoeba genus, its natural host. Mimiviruses present peculiar features that make them unique viruses, such as the particle and genome size and the genome's complexity. The discovery of these viruses rekindled discussions about their origin and evolution, and the genetic and structural complexity opened up a new field of study. Here, we describe some methods utilized for mimiviruses replication, purification, and titration. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Hydroclimatic influences on peatland CO2 exchange following upland forest harvesting on the Boreal Plains
Authors: Plach J.M. , Petrone R.M. , Waddington J.M. , Kettridge N. , Devito K.J. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractA comparative study of forest clear‐cut logging effects on daily growing season (May to October) net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) of adjacent peatlands was conducted in two neighbouring forest upland‐peatland complexes over 4 years (2005 to 2008) on the Boreal Plains (BP) of Alberta, Canada. Higher vapour pressure deficit at the harvested‐upland (H‐U) peatland, reflecting increased turbulent mixing after adjacent upland forest removal (2007 and 2008), resulted in increased peatland evapotranspiration rates that contributed to a seasonal decline in soil moisture (volumetric moisture content) influencing NEE. Overall, a significant change in mid‐season NEE occurred at the H‐U peatland 1 year post‐harvesting, greater than NEE changes at the neighbouring intact‐upland peatland. However, 2 years post‐harvesting, mid‐season NEE returned to within range of pre‐harvesting variability (−0.54 to 1.34 g CO2‐C m−2 day−1). Results of this study demonstrate that BP peatland NEE is largely regulated by site‐specific water availability, which, in turn, may be influenced in the short term by shifting microclimate and soil moisture patterns because of clear‐cut logging. As such, predicting long‐term carbon storage function of BP peatlands will require careful consideration of changing hydroclimatic conditions because of rapid expansion of BP deforestation, given that these ecosystems already exist in a state of hydrologic risk in this moisture deficit eco‐region. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of anthropogenic land‐use change on hillslope erosion in the Waipaoa River Basin, New Zealand
Authors: Cerovski‐Darriau Corina , Roering Joshua J. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractEuropean settlement of the Poverty Bay Region resulted in deforestation and conversion of > 90% of the landscape to pastureland. The resulting loss of vegetation triggered a rapid increase in hillslope erosion as widespread landslide complexes and gully systems developed on weak lithologic units in the Waipaoa Basin. To quantify the rate and volume of historic hillslope degradation, we used a 1956–2010 sequence of aerial photographs for a ~16 km2 catchment to map temporal changes in the spatial extent of active landslides. Then we created a ‘turf index’ based on the extent and style of pastoral ground disruption, which correlates with downslope velocity. Based on the movement of trees and other features, we assigned average velocities to the turf classes as follows: (1) minimal disrupted ground: 0.6 m/yr, (2) a mix of disrupted ground and intact blocks: 3.4 m/yr, and (3) no intact blocks or vegetation: > 6 m/yr. We then calculated the average annual sediment flux using these turf‐derived velocities, the width of the landslide‐channel intersection, and an average toe depth of 4.4 ± 1.3 m (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) from 37 field measurements. The resulting catchment averaged erosion rates are (mean ± SD): 29.9 ± 12.9 mm/yr (1956), 28.8 ± 13.7 mm/yr (1969), 13.4 ± 4.9 mm/yr (1979), 17.0 ± 6.2 mm/yr (1988), and 9.9 ± 3.6 mm/yr (2010). Compared with long‐term (post‐18 ka) erosion rates (1.6 mm/yr) and the long‐term uplift rate (~1 mm/yr) for this site, the 50‐year anthropogenically‐driven rate is an order of magnitude larger (~20 mm/yr). Previously, we measured an increase in erosion over the past 3.4 kyr (2.2 mm/yr), and here, we demonstrate this increase could be primarily due to human land‐use change – showing that a century of rapid erosion superimposed on the background geologic rate can profoundly skew the interpretation of erosion rates. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kinetic determination of vitellogenin induction in the epidermis of cyprinid and perciform fishes: Evaluation of sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays
Authors: Allner Bernhard , Hennies Mark , Lerche Cristiano F. , Schmidt Thomas , Schneider Klaus , Willner Marco , Stahlschmidt-Allner Petra 
Published: May 2016

Abstract

Induction of vitellogenin (VTG) in male and immature fish is a standardized endpoint in endocrine-disruption testing. To establish a nondestructive swab sampling method, VTG induction in the epidermis of Cypriniformes and Perciformes species was investigated. Both VTG and estrogen receptor genes are expressed in epidermal cells. Immunoaffinity and mass fingerprint analyses show induction of identical VTG peptides in liver and epidermis. Induction of VTG by estradiol (E2) and bisphenol A (BPA) in the epidermis was quantified with homolog enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Initial values in juveniles and males were below 1 ng VTG/mL extraction buffer. Exposure to E2 led to values between 200 ng/mL and 4600 ng/mL in cyprinids and between 10 ng/mL and 81 ng/mL in perciforms. Exposure to BPA increased VTG amounts to 250 ng/mL in fathead minnows, 1360 ng/mL in goldfish, 100 ng/mL in zebrafish, and 12 ng/mL in bluegills. Serum VTG contents demonstrated a similar dose–response pattern in the epidermis and the blood. These results show that VTG induction may be reliably assessed in the skin mucus of fishes, demonstrating the suitability of this biological sample for investigating estrogenic activity in compliance with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development standard protocols. This broadens the perspectives in toxicological screening and environmental monitoring, reducing the number of tested animals and minimizing harmful effects for animals, allowing for follow-up of individual induction profiles. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2916–2930. © 2016 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.
Phytotoxicity of soluble graphitic nanofibers to model plant species
Authors: Gorka Danielle E. , Jeger Jonathan Litvak , Zhang Hongbo , Ma Yanwen , Colman Benjamin P. , Bernhardt Emily S. , Liu Jie 
Published: May 2016

Abstract

Carbon nanomaterials are considered promising for applications in energy storage, catalysis, and electronics. This has motivated study of their potential environmental toxicity. Recently, a novel nanomaterial consisting of graphene oxide wrapped around a carbon nanotube (CNT) core was synthesized. The resulting soluble graphitic nanofibers were found to have superior catalytic properties, which could result in their use in fuel cells. Before this material undergoes widespread use, its environmental toxicity must be determined because of its aqueous solubility. The authors used the plant species Lolium multiflorum, Solanum lycopersicum, and Lactuca sativa to study the toxicity of the soluble graphitic nanofibers, as well as multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene oxide, all synthesized in-house. Soluble graphitic nanofiber–exposed plant roots and shoots showed decreased growth, with roots showing more toxicity than shoots. Decreased pH of nanomaterial solutions corresponded to insignificantly decreased root growth, suggesting that another mechanism of toxicity must exist. Agglomeration and adsorption of soluble graphitic nanofibers onto the roots likely caused the remaining toxicity because a gray layer could be seen around the surface of the root. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes showed little toxicity over the concentration range tested, whereas graphene oxide showed a unique pattern of high toxicity at both the lowest and highest concentrations tested. Overall, soluble graphitic nanofibers showed moderate toxicity between that of the more toxic graphene oxide and the relatively nontoxic MWCNTs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2941–2947. © 2016 SETAC
Chronic toxicity of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to algae and crustaceans using passive dosing
Authors: Bragin Gail E. , Parkerton Thomas F. , Redman Aaron D. , Letinksi Daniel J. , Butler Josh D. , Paumen Miriam Leon , Sutherland Cary A. , Knarr Tricia M. , Comber Mike , den Haan Klaas 
Published: May 2016

Abstract

Because of the large number of possible aromatic hydrocarbon structures, predictive toxicity models are needed to support substance hazard and risk assessments. Calibration and evaluation of such models requires toxicity data with well-defined exposures. The present study has applied a passive dosing method to generate reliable chronic effects data for 8 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the green algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and the crustacean Ceriodaphnia dubia. The observed toxicity of these substances on algal growth rate and neonate production were then compared with available literature toxicity data for these species, as well as target lipid model and chemical activity-based model predictions. The use of passive dosing provided well-controlled exposures that yielded more consistent data sets than attained by past literature studies. Results from the present study, which were designed to exclude the complicating influence of ultraviolet light, were found to be well described by both target lipid model and chemical activity effect models. The present study also found that the lack of chronic effects for high molecular weight PAHs was consistent with the limited chemical activity that could be achieved for these compounds in the aqueous test media. Findings from this analysis highlight that variability in past literature toxicity data for PAHs may be complicated by both poorly controlled exposures and photochemical processes that can modulate both exposure and toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2948–2957. © 2016 SETAC
Deriving bioconcentration factors and somatic biotransformation rates from dietary bioaccumulation and depuration tests
Authors: Gobas Frank A.P.C. , Lo Justin C. 
Published: May 2016

Abstract

The present study develops, applies, and tests a method for deriving empirical bioconcentration factors and somatic biotransformation rate constants from dietary bioaccumulation tests and simplified bioaccumulation experiments that measure depuration rates. In this approach, measurement of the chemical concentration in the water is not required. The method aims to improve bioaccumulation assessment, reduce cost and animal use, and shorten experiments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2968–2976. © 2016 SETAC
VIX Exchange Traded Products: Price Discovery, Hedging, and Trading Strategy
Authors: Bordonado Christoffer , Molnár Peter , Samdal Sven R. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThis paper investigates the most traded VIX exchange traded products (ETPs) with focus on their performance, price discovery, hedging ability, and trading strategy. The VIX ETPs track their benchmark indices well. They are therefore exposed to the same time‐decay (high negative expected returns) as these indices. This makes them unsuitable for buy‐and‐hold investments, but it gives rise to a highly profitable trading strategy. Despite being negatively correlated with the S&P 500, the ETPs perform poorly as a hedging tool; their inclusion in a portfolio based on S&P 500 will decrease the risk‐adjusted performance of the portfolio. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 37:164–183, 2017
Moral psychology and genetic engineering
Authors: Kaebnick Gregory E. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractFor the last six months or so, some of us at The Hastings Center have been participating in a kind of short‐term book group. Together we have been thinking about the contribution of moral psychology to bioethics. One of our questions is whether bioethics’ understanding of moral values should draw on what moral psychology tells us about moral values. Bioethics tends to look to philosophy for guidance. Can it learn from insights in moral psychology into the biological, environmental, and cultural influences on morality? The question can be taken in many directions. One that I've wrestled with has to do with debates about genetic engineering, where a common concern is that genetic alteration of other organisms, and maybe also of humans, doesn't sit well with the kind of relationship that people want to have to nature.
The psychology of autonomy
Authors: Kaebnick Gregory E. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIn May 2016, right around the time that this issue of the Hastings Center Report should be published, The Hastings Center is holding a conference in New York City titled “Bioethics Meets Moral Psychology.” The goal of the conference is to consider the lessons that bioethicists should learn from the raft of literature now accumulating on how the mental processes of perception, emotion, and thinking affect things that bioethicists care about, from the education of health care professionals to the conflicts that arise in clinical care, the “culture wars” over bioethical policy issues, the status of different cultures’ value systems, and the very understanding of the values that are foundational in moral thinking. The articles in this issue simply provide more evidence that bioethics is meeting moral psychology.
Medicare and Advance Planning: The Importance of Context
Authors: Dresser Rebecca 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIn January 2016, a long‐delayed Medicare change took effect. The Medicare program will now reimburse doctors for time they spend talking with patients about end‐of‐life care. This is the move that Sarah Palin and other Affordable Care Act critics said would authorize government “death panels” to decide whether older Americans should live or die. Today virtually no one buys into Palin's death panel rhetoric. But many people do think the Medicare change is a big deal. Representative Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon who sponsored the original ACA reimbursement proposal, lauded the Medicare provision as “a turning point in end‐of‐life care.” Others are not so sure about that. After all, laws promoting advance care planning have existed for decades. The federal Patient Self‐Determination Act of 1990 and the many court decisions and state laws supporting advance care planning have had relatively little impact. Similarly, legal recognition of physician orders for life‐sustaining treatment as advance planning instruments have not produced the improvements that were predicted. And from a broad perspective, advance care planning is a small piece of the puzzle. The effort to improve end‐of‐life care must take into account the limitations of advance decision‐making, as well as the overriding importance of the general standard of care for terminally ill patients.
Implementation of a comprehensive competency‐based transoral robotic surgery training curriculum with ex vivo dissection models
Authors: Sobel Ryan H. , Blanco Ray , Ha Patrick K. , Califano Joseph A. , Kumar Rajesh , Richmon Jeremy D. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTBackgroundDespite its increasingly widespread adoption of transoral robotic surgery (TORS), there is still no uniform training curriculum. The purpose of this study was to describe the results of our novel TORS curriculum training program in which we introduce ex vivo dissection models for radical tonsillectomy and base of tongue (BOT) resections.MethodsProspective blinded data collection and objective assessment of a novel training curriculum. Trainee performance was evaluated on objective structured assessments of technical skills (OSATS) metrics, measured resection time, and margin analysis. Additionally, 4 expert TORS surgeons completed the ex vivo dissections.ResultsTrainees achieved OSATS scores similar to those of experts in both the BOT resection and radical tonsillectomy models. Peripheral and deep surgical margin measurements in the BOT model were significantly improved after training and were comparable to experts.ConclusionThis graduated curriculum provides a realistic training experience to develop competency with oropharyngeal resections before transition to the operating room. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: First–1563, 2016
Design of Minimum Cost Earthen Channels Having Side Slopes Riveted With Different Types of Riprap Stones and Unlined Bed by Using Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Gupta S.K. , Mishra Umank , Singh Vijay p. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractSeveral design alternatives for a trapezoidal earthen channel whose side slopes are riveted with riprap stones and bottom is unlined were analysed to compare the performance of different types of stones (round, sub‐round and sub‐angular, and angular) for minimum cost and performance effectiveness. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was implemented to determine the minimum cost channel in contrast with earlier alternatives relating to the most hydraulically efficient sections. Both clear water and sediment‐laden flow conditions were applied to investigate the effect of flowing water characteristics on optimality, which is not available in the literature. Optimal design of channels incorporating land acquisition cost is scanty; therefore, land cost was also included in the objective function. In addition to the design of a channel without freeboard, different freeboard scenarios, including depth‐dependent equations, were applied to assess the impact of freeboard provision methodologies on optimal channel dimensions and cost. It was found that the channels having angular riprap revetment for sediment‐laden flow conditions offered the minimum cost of construction, with sub‐round and sub‐angular, and round stones coming next in sequence, and the freeboard provisions also impacted the channel shape, dimensions and cost. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of Carbon Quantum Dots Nanoparticles by Cyclic Voltammetry and Its Application as Methanol Tolerant Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalyst
Authors: Kakaei Karim , Javan Hakimeh , Mohammadi Hadi Beyg 
Published: May 2016

AbstractCarbon quantum dot (CQD) nanoparticles are synthesized by one‐step electrochemical method, cyclic voltammetry (CV), at different potentials using graphite rods and NaOH/EtOH as electrolyte. The electro‐chemically manufactured CQD is characterized by Transmission electron microscopy, Ultra violet absorption, X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The morphology and microstructure methods confirm the formation of high quality CQD. Finally, we design a new gas diffusion electrode (GDE) based on CQD pasted on carbon paper for the oxygen reduction reaction at cathode side as methanol tolerance in direct methanol fuel cell and compared it with standard Pt‐C catalysts using cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry. The ORR results in presence of methanol indicate that the GDE prepared from CQD exhibits methanol tolerance compared to the GDE prepared from Pt/C (Electrochem).
Environment‐sensitive Fluorescent Turn‐on Chemical Probe for the Specific Detection of O‐Methylguanine‐DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT) in Living Cells
Authors: Lai Wan‐Yi , Tan Kui‐Thong 
Published: May 2016

AbstractMGMT protein, which has been associated with resistance to antitumor alkylation drugs for many patients, is a very useful prognostic marker to provide a guide for therapeutic decisions. Considering the large number of cellular samples that have to be handled daily at the hospitals, it is thus important to develop a rapid and simple analytical method to distinguish MGMT activity in different types of cells. In this paper, we describe a MGMT‐activated fluorescence turn‐on probe for the rapid no‐wash imaging of MGMT in living cells. The probe consists of a specific MGMT suicide pseudosubstrate, O6‐benzyl‐guanine and an environment‐sensitive fluorophore, SBD. In the presence of MGMT, the enzyme transfers SBD to the protein active site where the hydrophobic surrounding causes the fluorophore to exhibit more than 50‐fold fluorescence enhancement. With this probe, bright fluorescence was observed for MGMT‐positive, Hela S3 and MCF‐7 cells, while MGMT‐deficient CHO cells displayed no fluorescence. We believe that this fluorescence activation probe design can also be extended to detect other transferases, for which there are still no effective methods to image them in living cells.