Amphiphilic Magnetic Particles Dispersed in Water and Oil for the Removal of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Microplastics.

The study explores the synthesis and versatile properties of amphiphilic magnetic particles (AMPs) achieved through sequential coatings. Modulating the hydrophobic content in the synthesis process allows for the formation of hydrophilic, amphiphilic, and hydrophobic magnetic particles, with stable AMPs synthesis achieved at a ratio of hydrophilic to hydrophobic portions of approximately 71 to 29%. These AMPs exhibited outstanding dispersion in both oil and water within an oil/water mixture.

Physical Properties of Paste Synthesized from Wet- and Dry-Processed Silver Powders.

This study compares the characteristics and low-temperature curing properties of pastes prepared from silver (Ag) powders synthesized by either wet powder (WP) or dry powder (DP) processing. The WP synthesis of electrode particles has the advantage of controlling the average particle size and particle size distribution but the disadvantage of producing low-purity, crystalline particles because they are synthesized through chemical reduction at less than 100 °C. Conversely, the DP synthesis of electrode particles has the advantage of producing pure, highly crystalline particles (due to synthesis at high temperatures) but the disadvantage of a high processing cost.

Solar-Driven Unmanned Hazardous and Noxious Substance Trapping Devices Equipped with Reverse Piloti Structures and Cooling Systems.

A solar-driven unmanned hazardous and noxious substance (HNS) trapping device that can absorb, evaporate, condense, and collect HNSs was prepared. The HNS trapping device was composed of three parts: a reverse piloti structure (RPS) for absorption and evaporation of HNSs, Al mirrors with optimized angles for focusing light, and a cooling line system for the condensation of HNSs. The RPS was fabricated by assembling a lower rectangle structure and an upper hollow column.

Hybrid Bead Air Filters with Low Pressure Drops at a High Flow Rate for the Removal of Particulate Matter and HCHO.

A tower air filtration system was designed in which bead air filters (BAFs) were actively rotated by a fan motor to remove particulate matter (PM) or HCHO gas. Three types of BAF, hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and hybrid, were prepared and compared for the removal of PM and HCHO gas. A tower air filtration system loaded with hybrid BAFs purified 3.

An Active Absorbent for Cleanup of High-Concentration Strong Acid and Base Solutions.

There is significant interest in developing novel absorbents for hazardous material cleanup. Iron oxide-coated melamine formaldehyde sponge (MFS/IO) absorbents with various IO layer thicknesses were synthesized. Various other absorbents were also synthesized and compared to evaluate the absorption capability of the MFS/IO absorbents for strong acid (15%, v/v) and base (50%, m/m) solutions.

Remote-Controlled Magnetic Sponge Balls and Threads for Oil/Water Separation in a Confined Space and Anaerobic Reactions.

Magnetic sponges (MSs) and magnetic threads with hydrophilic and hydrophobic characteristics that can perform remote-controlled oil/water separation in a confined space and anaerobic reactions were prepared. For large amounts of water or oil, trainlike hydrophilic or hydrophobic MSs composed of more than three sponge balls moved as a group and quickly absorbed the water or oil droplets in oil or water by magnetic manipulation from outside of the tube. For the removal of heavy oils below the water in three-liquid multiphase solutions, the hydrophobic MS balls were moved to the heavy oil below the water, absorbed some of the heavy oil, and returned to the light oil layer to deliver the heavy oil by means of an external magnetic field.

NiCoS Nanotrees Directly Grown on the Nickel NP-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxides for Efficient Supercapacitors.

In this work, we report a feasible fabrication of NiCoS nanotree-like structures grown from the Ni nanoparticle (NP)-doped reduced graphene oxides (Ni-rGO) by a simple hydrothermal method. It is found that the presence of Ni NPs on the surface of the rGOs initiates growth of the NiCoS nanotree flocks with enhanced interfacial compatibility, providing excellent cyclic stability and rate performance. The resulting NiCoS/Ni-rGO nanocomposites exhibit a superior rate performance, demonstrating 91.

Characterization of Bi-Te -Type Thermoelectric Materials Produced by Uniaxial and Hydrostatic Sintering Technologies.

The anisotropic structure of Bi₂Te₃-type thermoelectric materials makes them prone to mechanical vulnerabilities and inconsistent electrical and thermal properties according to microstructural orientation. In this study, sintered BiSbTe bodies were synthesized by spark plasma sintering (SPS), hot pressing (HP), and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) using -type thermoelectric powders produced through oxide reduction. Changes in the microstructure and thermoelectric properties were investigated according to the sintering process.

Effect of Potassium Ions on the Formation of Mixed-Valence Manganese Oxide/Graphene Nanocomposites.

One-pot synthesis of mixed-valence manganese oxide (MnO)/potassium ion-doped reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites for efficient electrochemical supercapacitors is introduced. Using manganese nitrate and potassium permanganate as co-precursors for the MnO and by directly annealing the rGO without tedious purification steps, as described herein, MnO/rGO composites with a high specific capacitance of 1955.6 F g at a current density of 1 A g are achieved.

Surface Design of Separators for Oil/Water Separation with High Separation Capacity and Mechanical Stability.

A convection heat treatment that can replace existing chemical oxidation methods was developed for the preparation of hierarchically oxidized Cu meshes with various surface morphologies, representing a very simple and green route that does not involve toxic chemicals. Three types of Cu meshes [bumpy-like (BL) and short and long needle-like (NL) structures] exhibited similar separation efficiencies of 95-99% over 20 separation cycles, as indicated by their similar water contact angles (WCAs; 147-150°). However, these Cu meshes exhibited different flux behaviors.

Simultaneous Nitrogen Doping and Pore Generation in Thermo-Insulating Graphene Films via Colloidal Templating.

We report a simple method for preparing highly efficient thermoelectric materials through the fabrication of nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (GO) with a porous structure. The samples were produced by thermal annealing of GO/nitrogen-rich polystyrene (N-PS) particle composite films using a colloidal templating method. N-PS particles served as a nitrogen dopant source for the nitrogen-doped thermally reduced graphene oxide (TrGO) as well as sacrificial particles for the porous structure.

Analgesic efficacy of ropivacaine wound infusion after laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Purpose: Local anesthetic wound infusion has been previously investigated in postoperative pain management. However, a limited number of studies have evaluated its use in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. This study aims to evaluate whether ropivacaine wound infusion is effective for postoperative pain management after laparoscopic surgery in patients with colorectal cancer.

A remote-controlled generation of gold@polydopamine (core@shell) nanoparticles via physical-chemical stimuli of polydopamine/gold composites.

We present the synthesis of polydopamine particle-gold composites (PdopP-Au) and unique release of Au@Pdop core@shell nanoparticles (NPs) from the PdopP-Au upon external stimuli. The PdopP-Au was prepared by controlled synthesis of AuNPs on the Pdop particles. Upon near infrared (NIR) irradiation or NaBH4 treatment on the PdopP-Au, the synthesized AuNPs within the PdopPs could be burst-released as a form of Au@Pdop NPs.

Hierarchical porous carbon by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis yields stable cycling in lithium-sulfur battery.

Utilizing the unparalleled theoretical capacity of sulfur reaching 1675 mAh/g, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have been counted as promising enablers of future lithium ion battery (LIB) applications requiring high energy densities. Nevertheless, most sulfur electrodes suffer from insufficient cycle lives originating from dissolution of lithium polysulfides. As a fundamental solution to this chronic shortcoming, herein, we introduce a hierarchical porous carbon structure in which meso- and macropores are surrounded by outer micropores.

Investigation of clinical manifestations in korean colorectal cancer patients.

Purpose: Early diagnostic work-up in patients with clinical symptoms of colorectal cancer (CRC) is important to achieve good treatment results. In this study, we investigated clinical symptoms when a diagnosis of CRC was made in patients who had a surgical resection, especially focusing on the relevance of constipation to CRC.

Methods: The clinical symptoms of 17,415 CRC patients who had curative surgery from January 2010 to December 2012 were collected from 24 training hospitals of surgery.

Defect healing of reduced graphene oxide via intramolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling.

A chemical defect healing of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was carried out via intramolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling (ICDC) with FeCl3 at room temperature. The Raman intensity ratio of the G-band to the D-band, the IG/ID ratio, of the RGO was increased from 0.77 to 1.

Graphene-based multifunctional iron oxide nanosheets with tunable properties.

We report the synthesis of graphenes with tunable properties due to the growth of needlelike iron oxide (IO) nanoparticles on their surfaces. The electrical conductivity, flexibility, and magnetic properties of graphene nanosheets (GNSs) could be tuned on demand by fine controlling both the surface coverage and the length of the IO nanoneedles. The degree of coverage of the IO nanoparticles on the surface of the GNSs made it possible to control the resulting properties of the IO/GNSs on demand.

Synthesis of nano-sized biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics with spherical shape by flame spray pyrolysis.

Nanometer size biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) powders with various Ca/P molar ratios satisfied with appropriate phase ratios of HA/beta-TCP were prepared by high temperature flame spray pyrolysis process. The BCP powders had spherical shapes and narrow size distributions irrespective of the ratios of Ca/P. The mean size of the BCP powders measured from the TEM image was 38 nm.

Facile fabrication of core-in-shell particles by the slow removal of the core and its use in the encapsulation of metal nanoparticles.

Core-in-shell particles with controllable core size have been fabricated from core-shell particles by means of the controlled core-dissolution method. These cores in inorganic shells were employed as scaffolds for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles. After dissolution of the cores, metal nanoparticles embedded in cores were encapsulated into the interior of shell, without any damage or change.

Doped colloidal photonic crystal structure with refractive index chirping to the [111] crystallographic axis.

A three-dimensionally ordered array of close-packed colloidal spheres, a photonic crystal structure in which the refractive index of the medium interstitial lattice in a colloidal crystal spatially changes in the [111] crystallographic axis, is demonstrated. The colloidal photonic crystal structure with refractive index chirping was produced by infiltration of a monomer and organic dopants with a high refractive index into a silica opal, followed by interfacial gel polymerization. The resulting photonic crystal structure has a gradually varying stop band at each different (111) plane in the face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure at a normal incidence.

Synthesis of two types of nanoparticles in polyelectrolyte capsule nanoreactors and their dual functionality.

Polyelectrolyte multilayer capsule reactors (PEMCRs) for the synthesis of two types of nanoparticles were prepared. The tunable PEMCRs containing two different functional groups that can be used to synthesize two types of nanoparticles simultaneously and to control the composition of two types of nanoparticles within the shell of PEMCs. These PEMCRs enabled the composition as well as the amount of the loaded two types of nanoparticles within the shell of PEMCs to be controlled by the copolymer ratio and the number of reaction cycles.

CancerB increases production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in peritoneal macrophages.

Background: CancerB (CCB, IMSF-5), herbal combination, may be able to stimulate potential toxic mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in isolated mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Methods: NO production was determined by Griess method, and TNF-alpha production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Amounts of proteins were observed by Western blotting.