Determination of the Spatial Distribution of Air Pollutants in Bucheon, Republic of Korea, in Winter Using a GIS-Based Mobile Laboratory.

Driven by industrialization and urbanization, urban air pollution can increase respiratory, heart, and cerebrovascular diseases, and thus mortality rates; as such, it is necessary to improve air quality through the consideration of individual pollutants and emission sources. In Republic of Korea, national and local governments have installed urban and roadside air quality monitoring systems. However, stations are lacking outside metropolitan regions, and roadside stations are sparsely distributed, limiting comparisons of pollutant concentrations with vehicle traffic and floating population levels.

Solid Oxygen-Purifying (SOP) Filters: A Self-Disinfecting Filters to Inactivate Aerosolized Viruses.

Normal heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems typically use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which can filter dust, various pollutants, and even bacteria and viruses from indoor air. However, since HEPA filters cannot not clean themselves and due to the nature of these microbes which can survive for long periods of time, changing these filters improperly could transmit pathogenic bacteria or viruses, and could even lead to new infections. This study indicated that these manufactured Solid Oxygen-purifying (SOP) filters have the potential to self-disinfect, filter, and inactivate aerosolized viruses.

A Novel Photocatalyst Composite of Magnesium Aminoclay and TiO₂ Immobilized into Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) Matrix for Pollutant Removal.

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a semiconductor photocatalyst widely applied in numerous fields due to possessing prominent photocatalytic properties. However, its practical applications in the form of nanoparticles or powders still have remained several limitations. Recently, novel photocatalytic porous composites have been discovered to be potential alternative approaches.

Biochip Performances of Agarose, Poly(Oligo(Ethylene Glycol) Methacrylate), and Poly(2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate) Film on Glass Surfaces.

We demonstrate the biochip efficacies of three different polymer films (agarose, poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (OEGMA), and poly(2-hydroxyethyl metacharylate) (HEMA) on microscopic glass surfaces. As a result, the non-biofouling performances increased in this order: agarose < OEGMA < HEMA, and the binding capabilities increased in this order: HEMA < OEGMA < agarose.

Reduction of Using Metal Plates with the Influenced of Applied Low Current and Physical Barrier of Filter Layers.

Although metal contact is known to reduce bacterial growth, the effects of physical barriers and electricity need further investigation. This study examined the bacteria-reducing properties of copper and stainless-steel metal plates with an added electrical current and up to three filter layers on the growth of (bacteria) and MS2 bacteriophages (virus). When used with a stainless-steel plate, electricity increased bacteria reduction by 39.

Surface Functionalization of Plastic Surfaces with Non-Biofouling Agarose Film to Develop a Chip-Based Platform.

We chemically functionalized several plastic surfaces using an agarose film for applying a protein chip. The chip performance was affected by the surface energy of each plastic after oxygen-plasma cleaning; as a result, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate showed a higher signal-to-noise ratio than did polypropylene. We envision that this study will help to develop a way to build biochips.

Oxidation-Mediated, Zwitterionic Polydopamine Coatings for Marine Antifouling Applications.

We synthesized a zwitterionic dopamine derivative ( ZW-DOPA) containing both catechol and amine groups, and we demonstrated an excellent marine antifouling surface by controlling the oxidation of ZW-DOPA. The oxidation was mediated by the deprotonation of catechol or the addition of an oxidant (ammonium persulfate (AP) or sodium periodate (NaIO)). The oxidation and subsequent molecular transformation of ZW-DOPA was investigated over time by UV-vis spectroscopy.

Multipurpose Antifouling Coating of Solid Surfaces with the Marine-Derived Polymer Fucoidan.

The control of biofouling, which is the unwanted adsorption of biomolecules and organisms on solid surfaces, is a prerequisite for wider applicability of the functional materials that are currently being used in biomedical industries. One of the frequently used methods for controlling biofouling is the use of surface coatings with antifouling materials. Herein, fucoidan, which is a marine-derived polysaccharide, is reported as a new type of antifouling material that is safe and broadly applicable.

Emission Characteristics of Particulate Matter, Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements from the Combustion of Coals in Mongolia.

This study characterized emissions of particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, and anions from Mongolian bituminous coals in a controlled heating experiment. Three coal samples from Alag Tolgoi (coal 1), Baganuur (coal 2), and Nalaikh (coal 3) were combusted at a constant heat flux of 50 kW/m² using a dual-cone calorimeter. The coal samples were commonly used in ger district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Immobilization of Antibody on a Cyclic Olefin Copolymer Surface with Functionalizable, Non-Biofouling Poly[Oligo(Ethylene Glycol) Methacrylate].

We report a perfluoroaryl azide-based photoreaction for synthesizing functionalizable and nonbiofouling poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] (pOEGMA) films on a chemically inert COC substrate, and an estimation of a surface coverage of the antibody immobilized onto the surface with the immuno-gold nanoparticles. The processes were confirmed by water contact angle measurement, FT-IR spectroscopy, and FE-SEM. The strategy demonstrated in this work could be applied to functionalizations of other polymeric materials and determination of the binding capacity of analytes in biosensors and microfluidic devices.

Direct patterning and biofunctionalization of a large-area pristine graphene sheet.

Direct patterning of streptavidin and NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells was successfully achieved over a large-area pristine graphene sheet on Si/SiO2 by aryl azide-based photografting with the conventional UV lithographic technique and surface-initiated, atom transfer radical polymerization of oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate.

Binding behaviors of protein on spatially controlled poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] brushes grafted from mixed self-assembled monolayers on gold.

Binding behaviors of streptavidin were investigated with different lateral packing densities of biotin-functionalized, non-biofouling pOEGMA brushes, synthesized by surface-initiated polymerization from mixed SAMs with different mole fractions of the polymerization initiator on gold surfaces.

Controlled conjugated backbone twisting for an increased open-circuit voltage while having a high short-circuit current in poly(hexylthiophene) derivatives.

Conjugated polymers with nearly planar backbones have been the most commonly investigated materials for organic-based electronic devices. More twisted polymer backbones have been shown to achieve larger open-circuit voltages in solar cells, though with decreased short-circuit current densities. We systematically impose twists within a family of poly(hexylthiophene)s and examine their influence on the performance of polymer:fullerene bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells.

In situ hetero end-functionalized polythiophene and subsequent "click" chemistry with DNA.

It is demonstrated that bifunctionalized polythiophenes involving thiol and azide end-functional groups can be synthesized by chain-growth Suzuki-Miyaura type polymerization. The bifunctionalized polythiophenes are successfully characterized by 1H NMR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF). Furthermore, the azide end-group reacts with DNA via "click chemistry" to form a polythiophene/DNA hybrid structure, which is characterized by ESI-MS.

3,4-Disubstituted polyalkylthiophenes for high-performance thin-film transistors and photovoltaics.

We demonstrate that poly(3,4-dialkylterthiophenes) (P34ATs) have comparable transistor mobilities (0.17 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)) and greater environmental stability (less degradation of on/off ratio) than regioregular poly(3-alkylthiophenes) (P3ATs). Unlike poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), P34ATs do not show a strong and distinct π-π stacking in X-ray diffraction.

Synthesis of BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ blue phosphor by electro-spray aerosol flame deposition.

Spherical and nano-sized BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ (BAM) phosphor particles for plasma display panel (PDP) application were synthesized by Aerosol Flame Deposition (AFD) and subsequent heat treatment at 1250 degrees C for 4 h under reducing atmosphere. The effects of various atomization methods, precursor solution and various deposition position along flame axis were investigated in order to control the morphology and size of the phosphor. Characteristics of BAM phosphor were investigated for products prepared under various condition and they were compared with those of the commercial BAM.

Ruthenium-catalyzed Heck-type olefination and Suzuki coupling reactions: studies on the nature of catalytic species.

Ruthenium-catalyzed Heck olefination and Suzuki cross coupling reactions have been developed. When starting with a ruthenium complex [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) as a homogeneous catalyst precursor, induction periods were observed and ruthenium colloids of zero oxidation state were generated under catalytic conditions. Isolated ruthenium colloids carried out the olefination, implying that active catalytic species are ruthenium nanoclusters.

Ru-catalyzed hydroamidation of alkenes and cooperative aminocarboxylation procedure with chelating formamide.

[reaction: see text] A strategy of chelation-assisted activation of formamide was employed to achieve hydroamidation of alkenes to generate one-carbon-elongated amides in moderate to good selectivity and yields. Also reported is the two-metal-catalyzed cooperative aminocarboxylation of aryl iodides, in which Ru is presumed to catalyze decarbonylation of formamide to release carbon monoxide and amine for the subsequent Pd-catalyzed aminocarboxylation routes, thus enabling the net transformation to be performed in the absence of external CO pressure.

Chelation-accelerated sequential decarbonylation of formate and alkoxycarbonylation of aryl halides using a combined Ru and Pd catalyst.

An efficient cooperative catalyst system for the coupling of a wide range of organic electrophiles with chelated formate is reported to afford aryl and alkenyl esters by the simultaneous employment of Ru and Pd catalyst, in which ruthenium first promotes chelation-accelerated decarbonylation of formate to release CO and carbinol that are presumed to be transferred, still chelated to Ru, into Pd catalyst, which catalyzes alkoxycarbonylation of the organic electrophiles.

A novel chelation-assisted hydroesterification of alkenes via ruthenium catalysis.

An efficient and catalytic protocol of hydroesterification of alkenes has been developed without a need for CO atmosphere. With the introduction of the 2-pyridyl moiety as a chelating group in formate, Ru3(CO)12-catalyzed activation of the formyl C-H bond of formate and subsequent addition of the intermediate to alkenes proceeded with almost complete suppression of decarbonylation. Stereoselectivity of the produced one-carbon elongated esters was good to excellent for the formation of the linear adduct depending on the bulkiness of the alkenes used.