Synthesis of gold nanoclusters-loaded lysozyme nanoparticles for ratiometric fluorescent detection of cyanide in tap water, cyanogenic glycoside-containing plants, and soils.

The modification of protein-stabilized gold nanoclusters with fluorophores has been intensively applied for the ratiometric detection of biomolecules, metal ions, and anions. This study developed a straightforward strategy to prepare lysozyme nanoparticle-encapsulated gold nanoclusters (LysNP-AuNCs) as a dual-emission probe for the ratiometric sensing of cyanide through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) without the conjugation of additional fluorophores. The reduction of gold ion precursors with lysozyme generated lysozyme-stabilized AuNCs under an alkaline pH, which were demonstrated to self-assemble into nanoaggregates during the formation of AuNCs.

Dynamic prediction of uneven-aged natural forest for yield of Pinus taiwanensis using joint modelling.

In order to determine the stand age in the uneven-aged natural forest, a dynamic prediction model of stand volume and biomass was established in this study. In the model, the site quality grade was used as the dumb variable and the interval was used as the independent variable. In addition, the parameters of the model were estimated using immune evolutionary algorithm.

Comparison of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions on gasoline- and diesel-dominated routes.

Three diesel-dominated routes (DDRs) and three gasoline-dominated routes (GDRs) were chosen as the study sites. The total number of vehicles on GDRs (47,200) was much higher than that on DDRs (14,500). The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), elemental carbon, organic carbon, and metals from GDR roadsides was higher than that for DDRs.

Removals of fly ash and NO in a fluidized-bed reactor with CuO/activated carbon catalysts.

This study investigates the effects of fly ash compositions (SiO(2) and Al(2)O(3)), particle sizes (4-10 μm and 40 μm), and concentrations on the simultaneous removals of fly ash and NO using a fluidized-bed catalyst reactor. Experimental results show that the removal efficiencies of fly ash and NO at particle concentrations of 968-11,181 mg m(-3) are 71-97% and 42-57%, respectively. SiO(2) particles have more influences than Al(2)O(3) particles on the performances of fluidized-bed CuO/AC catalyst.

Collection of SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3 particles using a gas-solid fluidized bed filter.

The filtration of SiO(2), Al(2)O(3) and Fe(2)O(3) particles with average sizes of 4 and 40 microm using a fluidized bed filter at 40 and 300 degrees C was studied. The collection mechanisms, interparticle forces and bounce-off effect between filtered particles and collectors were analyzed to determine their effect on particle filtration. Experimental results showed that the collection efficiency of 4 microm SiO(2) and Al(2)O(3) particles exceeded that of 40 microm particles.

Characterizing PAH emission concentrations in ambient air during a large-scale joss paper open-burning event.

Large-scale open burning of joss paper is an important ritual practice for deity worshipping during Buddhist and Taoist festivals. Since Buddhism and Taoism are two of the most popular religions in Chinese societies and some Asian countries, the impact of joss paper burning on the air quality needs further investigation. This study explores the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air during one of the most important festivals, in which large-scale burning of joss paper occurs in temples and in people's houses.

Characteristic study of dry deposition, concentration, compositions for particulates mass and ionic species during summer and autumn season at a traffic sampling site.

Aerosol samples for dry deposition and total suspend particulates (TSP) were collected from August to November of 2003 in central Taiwan. Ion chromatography was used to analyze the related water-soluble ionic species (Cl(-), NO(3)(-), SO(4)(2-), Na(+), NH(4)(+), K(+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+)). The results obtained in this study indicated that the ambient air particulate mass concentrations in the daytime period (averaged 975.

Ambient air particulate concentrations and metallic elements principal component analysis at Taichung Harbor (TH) and WuChi Traffic (WT) near Taiwan Strait during 2004-2005.

The purpose of this study is to characterize metallic elements associated with atmospheric particulate matter of total suspended particulate (TSP), fine particle (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter <2.5 microm, PM(2.5)), coarse particle (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter 2.

Characteristic study of ionic species in nano, ultrafine, fine and coarse particle size mode at a traffic sampling site.

A micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) and a nano-MOUDI were used to measure the atmospheric coarse (PM2.5-10), fine (PM2.5), ultrafine (PM0.

Atmospheric pollutants study of particles and metallic elements during high wind speed (wind speed >6 m/s) near Taiwan Strait around central Taiwan.

The purpose of this study was to characterize metallic elements associated with atmospheric particulate matter in total suspended particulate (TSP), fine particles (particle matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <2.5 microm, PM2.5) and coarse particles (particle matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.

Dry deposition, ionic species measured and source interpretation during seasonal cycle at offshore areas near Taiwan Strait.

The characterization for water-soluble species of total suspended particulate (TSP), dry deposition flux, and dry deposition velocity (V(d)) were studied at Taichung Harbor (TH) and Wuchi traffic sampling sites at offshore sampling site near Taiwan Strait of central Taiwan during March 2004-January 2005. The average concentrations of TSP and dry deposition flux at the TH sampling site were higher than at the WT sampling site during the sampling period. The samples collected were analyzed by a ion chromatography (DIONEX-100) for the ionic species (Cl(-), SO(4)(2-), NO(3)(-), NH(4)(+), Na(+), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+)) analysis.

Concentrations of nano and related ambient air pollutants at a traffic sampling site.

A micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) and a nano-MOUDI were used to measure the atmospheric coarse (PM2.5 -10), fine (PM2.5), ultrafine (PM0.

Review of atmospheric water-soluble ionic species in Asia during 1998-2001.

Anthropogenic acid precursor emissions in Asia are increasing at a significant rate and this is expected to continue for the next several years. This paper comprises of studies that included sulfate, nitrate and ammonium around Asian countries (China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan) in recent years. The paper also provides the water-soluble ionic fine and coarse particulate concentrations in these Asian countries in recent years.

Characterization of atmospheric particulate and metallic elements at Taichung Harbor near Taiwan Strait during 2004-2005.

Air aerosol samples for TSP (total suspended particulate), coarse particulate (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter 2.5-10 microm, PM(2.5-10)), fine particulate (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter <2.

Concentrations of ambient air particulates (TSP, PM2.5 and PM2.5-10) and ionic species at offshore areas near Taiwan Strait.

The concentrations of total suspended particulate (TSP), fine particles PM(2.5) (with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 microm), coarse particles PM(2.

Ambient air particulate dry deposition, concentrations and ionic species study at Taichung Harbor near Taiwan Strait.

The characterization for watersoluble species of dry deposition flux, total suspended particulate (TSP), fine particle (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter 2.5 microm, PM2.5), coarse particle (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter 2.

The concentration, dry deposition, composition study of ambient air particulate and metallic pollutants at a traffic sampling site.

Aerosol samples were collected by total suspended particulate (TSP) and dry deposition plate (downward, upward) from August to November in 2003 in central Taiwan. The particulate metallic elements (Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mg and Mn) were also measured in this study during the summer and autumn periods of 2003. The results obtained in this study indicated that the ambient air particulate mass concentrations in the daytime period (averaged 975.

Dry deposition (downward, upward) concentration study of particulates and heavy metals during daytime, nighttime period at the traffic sampling site of Sha-Lu, Taiwan.

Downward, upward dry deposition fluxes and total suspended particulate of particulate heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mg and Mn) were measured in daytime and nighttime period in Sha-Lu, a small city in the central Taiwan during summer period of 2003. The results showed that the total suspended particulate concentrations of particulate mass in the daytime period (averaged 996.2 g/m3) were higher than in nighttime period (averaged 560.

Dry deposition (downward, upward) concentration study of particulates and water-soluble ionic species during daytime, night-time period at the traffic sampling site of Sha-Lu, Taiwan.

Ambient suspended particulate (dry deposition, TSP) was collected in the traffic sites Sha-Lu, central Taiwan. In addition, the related water-soluble ionic species (Cl-, NO3(-), SO4(2-), Na+, NH4(+), K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) were analysed and wind speed, wind direction and temperature were also measured in this study. The downward dry deposition fluxes (averaged 54.