A legal perspective of carbon rights and benefit sharing under REDD+: A conceptual framework and examples from Cambodia and Kenya

This article discusses two key issues in REDD+ design and implementation at the national level – carbon rights, and benefit sharing. Both carbon rights and benefit sharing can be understood as new legal concepts (although they build on existing law), and as legal concepts they offer a framework for addressing related areas of REDD+ policy. Many countries are currently considering how to manage carbon rights and benefit sharing issues, including Cambodia and Kenya. Both of these countries host existing forest carbon projects and are also in the process of designing national REDD+ programmes. This article uses a conceptual framework for carbon rights and benefit sharing derived from legal analysis to consider the cases of both Cambodia and Kenya, and also includes a general discussion of the challenges countries might encounter when considering how to manage carbon rights and benefit sharing in the context of REDD+ implementation.

MnOx/carbon nanotube/reduced graphene oxide nanohybrids as high-performance supercapacitor electrodes

Nanohybrids consisting of both carbon and pseudocapacitive metal oxides are promising as high-performance electrodes to meet the key energy and power requirements of supercapacitors. However, the development of high-performance nanohybrids with controllable size, density, composition and morphology remains a formidable challenge. Here, we present a simple and robust approach to integrating manganese oxide (MnOx) nanoparticles onto flexible graphite paper using an ultrathin carbon nanotube/reduced graphene oxide (CNT/RGO) supporting layer. Supercapacitor electrodes employing the MnOx/CNT/RGO nanohybrids without any conductive additives or binders yield a specific capacitance of 1070 F g−1 at 10 mV s−1, which is among the highest values reported for a range of hybrid structures and is close to the theoretical capacity of MnOx. Moreover, atmospheric-pressure plasmas are used to functionalize the CNT/RGO supporting layer to improve the adhesion of MnOx nanoparticles, which results in theimproved cycling stability of the nanohybrid electrodes. These results provide information for the utilization of nanohybrids and plasma-related effects to synergistically enhance the performance of supercapacitors and may create new opportunities in areas such as catalysts, photosynthesis and electrochemical sensors

Biological application of carbon nanotubes and graphene

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene are two representative nanomaterials comprised of purely element carbon [1,2]. Graphene is the two-dimensional, hexagonal sp2-carbon ring networks with one atomic layer thickness, while CNTs can be envisaged as one or several graphene sheets concentrically rolled up into a one-dimensional cylindrical structure, so-called singlewalled (SW) or multi-walled (MW) CNTs, respectively. Figure 12.1 shows the schematic diagram of structures of graphene, SWCNT and MWCNT. Owing to their exceptional mechanical, electrical, optical and thermal properties, CNTs and graphene have been widely considered as a new type of materials with great potentials to revolutionalize many of the biological and medical fields [3–5].

Ortho-Dihydroxyl-9,10-anthraquinone dyes as visible-light sensitizers that exhibit a high turnover number for hydrogen evolution

Pt/TiO2 sensitized by the cheap and organic ortho-dihydroxyl-9,10-anthraquinone dyes, such as Alizarin and Alizarin Red, achieved a TON of approximately 10 000 (TOF > 250 h−1 for the first ten hours) during >80 hours of visible light irradiation (>420 nm) for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution when triethanolamine was used as the sacrificial donor. The stability and activity enhancements can be attributed to the two highly serviceable redox reactions involving the 9,10-dicarbonyl and ortho-dihydroxyl groups of the anthracene ring, respectively

Single-walled carbon nanotube-based polymer monoliths for the enantioselective nano-liquid chromatographic separation of racemic pharmaceuticals

Many protocols have been used for extraction of DNA from Thraustochytrids. These generally involve the use of CTAB, phenol/chloroform and ethanol. They also feature mechanical grinding, sonication, N2 freezing or bead beating. However, the resulting chemical and physical damage to extracted DNA reduces its quality. The methods are also unsuitable for large numbers of samples. Commercially-available DNA extraction kits give better quality and yields but are expensive. Therefore, an optimized DNA extraction protocol was developed which is suitable for Thraustochytrids to both minimise expensive and time-consuming steps prior to DNA extraction and also to improve the yield. The most effective method is a combination of single bead in TissueLyser (Qiagen) and Proteinase K. Results were conclusive: both the quality and the yield of extracted DNA were higher than with any other method giving an average yield of 8.5 µg/100 mg biomass.

Pre-lithiation of onion-like carbon/MoS2 nano-urchin anodes for high-performance rechargeable lithium ion batteries

Hybrid urchin-like nanostructures composed of a spherical onion-like carbon (OLC) core and MoS2 nanoleaves were synthesized by a simple solvothermal method followed by thermal annealing treatment. Compared to commercial MoS2 powder, MoS2/OLC nanocomposites exhibit enhanced electrochemical performance as anode materials of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with a specific capacity of 853 mA h g−1 at a current density of 50 mA g−1 after 60 cycles, and a moderate initial coulombic efficiency of 71.1%. Furthermore, a simple pre-lithiation method based on direct contact of lithium foil with MoS2/OLC nano-urchins was used to achieve a very high coulombic efficiency of 97.6% in the first discharge/charge cycle, which is at least 26% higher compared to that of pristine MoS2/OLC nano-urchins. This pre-lithiation method can be generalized to develop other carbon-metal sulfide nanohybrids for LIB anode materials. These results may open up a new avenue for the development of the next-generation high-performance LIBs.

Long, vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes from plasmas: Morpho-kinetic and alignment controls

The enhanced large-scale model and numerical simulations are used to clarify the growth mechanism and the differences between the plasma- and neutral gas-grown carbon nanotubes, and to reveal the underlying physics and the key growth parameters. The results show that the nanotubes grown by plasma can be longer due to the effects of hydrocarbon ions with velocities aligned with the nanotubes. We show that the low-temperature growth is possible when the hydrocarbon ion flux dominates over fluxes of other species. We have also analysed the dependencies of the nanotube growth rates on nanotube and process parameters. The results are verified by a direct comparison with the experimental data. The model is generic and can be used for other types of carbon nanostructures such as carbon nanowalls, vertical graphenes, etc.

Carbon nanotubes on nanoporous alumina: From surface mats to conformal pore filling

Control over nucleation and growth of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the nanochannels of porous alumina membranes by several combinations of posttreatments, namely exposing the membrane top surface to atmospheric plasma jet and application of standard S1813 photoresist as an additional carbon precursor, is demonstrated. The nanotubes grown after plasma treatment nucleated inside the channels and did not form fibrous mats on the surface. Thus, the nanotube growth mode can be controlled by surface treatment and application of additional precursor, and complex nanotube-based structures can be produced for various applications. A plausible mechanism of nanotube nucleation and growth in the channels is proposed, based on the estimated depth of ion flux penetration into the channels.

Plasma-enabled carbon nanostructures for early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases

Carbon nanostructures (CNs) are amongst the most promising biorecognition nanomaterials due to their unprecedented optical, electrical and structural properties. As such, CNs may be harnessed to tackle the detrimental public health and socio-economic adversities associated with neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). In particular, CNs may be tailored for a specific determination of biomarkers indicative of NDs. However, the realization of such a biosensor represents a significant technological challenge in the uniform fabrication of CNs with outstanding qualities in order to facilitate a highly-sensitive detection of biomarkers suspended in complex biological environments. Notably, the versatility of plasma-based techniques for the synthesis and surface modification of CNs may be embraced to optimize the biorecognition performance and capabilities. This review surveys the recent advances in CN-based biosensors, and highlights the benefits of plasma-processing techniques to enable, enhance, and tailor the performance and optimize the fabrication of CNs, towards the construction of biosensors with unparalleled performance for the early diagnosis of NDs, via a plethora of energy-efficient, environmentally-benign, and inexpensive approaches.

Electrochemical mechanism of eugenol at a Cu doped gold nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode and its analytical application in food samples

A simple one-step electrodeposition method was used to construct a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), which has been modified with Cu doped gold nanoparticles (GNPs), i.e. a Cu@AuNPs/GCE. This electrode was characterized with the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The eugenol was electrocatalytically oxidized at the Cu@AuNPs/GCE. At this electrode, in comparison with the behavior at the GCE alone, the corresponding oxidation peak current was enhanced and the shift of the oxidation potentials to lower values was observed. Electrochemical behavior of eugenol at the Cu@AuNPs/GCE was investigated with the use of the cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique, and additionally, in order to confirm the electrochemical reaction mechanism for o-methoxy phenols, CVs for catechol, guaiacol and vanillin were investigated consecutively. Based on this work, an electrochemical reaction mechanism for o-methoxy phenols was suggested, and in addition, the above Cu@AuNPs/GCE was successfully employed for the analysis of eugenol in food samples.

Analysis of focal adhesion turnover: A quantitative live-cell imaging example

Recent advances in optical and fluorescent protein technology have rapidly raised expectations in cell biology, allowing quantitative insights into dynamic intracellular processes like never before. However, quantitative live-cell imaging comes with many challenges including how best to translate dynamic microscopy data into numerical outputs that can be used to make meaningful comparisons rather than relying on representative data sets. Here, we use analysis of focal adhesion turnover dynamics as a straightforward specific example on how to image, measure, and analyze intracellular protein dynamics, but we believe this outlines a thought process and can provide guidance on how to understand dynamic microcopy data of other intracellular structures.

Synergistic fusion of vertical graphene nanosheets and carbon nanotubes for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes

Graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are attractive electrode materials for supercapacitors. However, challenges such as the substrate-limited growth of CNTs, nanotube bundling in liquid electrolytes, under-utilized basal planes, and stacking of graphene sheets have so far impeded their widespread application. Here we present a hybrid structure formed by the direct growth of CNTs onto vertical graphene nanosheets (VGNS). VGNS are fabricated by a green plasma-assisted method to break down and reconstruct a natural precursor into an ordered graphitic structure. The synergistic combination of CNTs and VGNS overcomes the challenges intrinsic to both materials. The resulting VGNS/CNTs hybrids show a high specific capacitance with good cycling stability. The charge storage is based mainly on the non-Faradaic mechanism. In addition, a series of optimization experiments were conducted to reveal the critical factors that are required to achieve the demonstrated high supercapacitor performance.

Multipurpose nanoporous alumina-carbon nanowall bi-dimensional nano-hybrid platform via catalyzed and catalyst-free plasma CVD

Simple, rapid, plasma-assisted synthesis of large-area arrays of vertically-aligned carbon nanowalls on highly-porous, transparent bare and gold-coated alumina membranes with the two pore sizes is reported. It is demonstrated that the complex patterns of vertically aligned nanowalls can nucleate and form different morphologies in the low-temperature plasmas. The process is stable, and the twofold change in the gas flow (10 and 20 sccm) does not noticeably influence the morphology of the nanowall pattern. Application of a thin (5 nm) gold layer to nanoporous membrane prior to the nanowall growth allows controlling the network morphology.

Risedronate in adults with osteogenesis imperfecta type I: Increased bone mineral density and decreased bone turnover, but high fracture rate persists

Summary Bisphosphonates can increase bone mineral density (BMD) in children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). In this study of adults with OI type I, risedronate increased BMD at lumbar spine (but not total hip) and decreased bone turnover. However, the fracture rate in these patients remained high. Introduction Intravenous bisphosphonates given to children with OI can increase BMD and reduce fracture incidence. Oral and/or intravenous bisphosphonates may have similar effects in adults with OI. We completed an observational study of the effect of risedronate in adults with OI type I. Methods Thirty-two adults (mean age, 39 years) with OI type I were treated with risedronate (total dose, 35 mg weekly) for 24 months. Primary outcome measures were BMD changes at lumbar spine (LS) and total hip (TH). Secondary outcome measures were fracture incidence, bone pain, and change in bone turnover markers (serum procollagen type I aminopropeptide (P1NP) and bone ALP). A meta-analysis of published studies of oral bisphosphonates in adults and children with OI was performed. Results Twenty-seven participants (ten males and seventeen females) completed the study. BMD increased at LS by 3.9% (0.815 vs. 0.846 g/cm 2, p=0.007; mean Z-score, -1.93 vs. -1.58, p=0.002), with no significant change at TH. P1NP fell by 37% (p=0.00041), with no significant change in bone ALP (p=0.15). Bone pain did not change significantly (p=0.6). Fracture incidence remained high, with 25 clinical fractures and 10 major fractures in fourteen participants (0.18 major fractures per person per year), with historical data of 0.12 fractures per person per year. The meta-analysis did not demonstrate a significant difference in fracture incidence in patients with OI treated with oral bisphosphonates. Conclusions Risedronate in adults with OI type I results in modest but significant increases in BMD at LS, and decreased bone turnover. However, this may be insufficient to make a clinically significant difference to fracture incidence.

Genetic control of bone density and turnover: Role of the collagen 1α1, estrogen receptor, and vitamin D receptor genes

Genetic factors are known to influence both the peak bone mass and probably the rate of change in bone density. A range of regulatory and structural genes has been proposed to be involved including collagen 1α1 (COL1A1), the estrogen receptor (ER), and the vitamin D receptor (VDR), but the actual genes involved are uncertain. We therefore studied the role of the COL1A1 and VDR loci in control of bone density by linkage in 45 dizygotic twin pairs and 29 nuclear families comprising 120 individuals. The influences on bone density of polymorphisms of COL1A1, VDR, and ER were studied by association both cross-sectionally and longitudinally in 193 elderly postmenopausal women (average age, 69 years) over a mean follow-up time of 6.3 years. Weak linkage of the COL1A1 locus with bone density was observed in both twins and families (p = 0.02 in both data sets), confirming previous observations of linkage of this locus with bone density. Association between the MscI polymorphism of COL1A1 and rate of lumbar spine bone loss was observed with significant gene-environment interaction related to dietary calcium intake (p = 0.0006). In the lowest tertile of dietary calcium intake, carriers of "s" alleles lost more bone than "SS" homozygotes (p = 0.01), whereas the opposite was observed in the highest dietary calcium intake (p = 0.003). Association also was observed between rate of bone loss at both the femoral neck and the lumbar spine and the TaqI VDR polymorphism (p = 0.03). This association was strongest in those in the lowest tertile of calcium intake, also suggesting the presence of gene-environment interaction involving dietary calcium and VDR, influencing bone turnover. No significant association was observed between the PvuII ER polymorphism alone or in combination with VDR or COL1A1 genotypes, with either bone density or its rate of change. These data support the involvement of COL1A1 in determination of bone density and the interaction of both COL1A1 and VDR with calcium intake in regulation of change of bone density over time.