Utilization of waste beverages for achieving carbon-based core-shell nanostructures of high visible light photocatalytic performance.

Waste beverages are utilized as resources in various valuable, albeit energy-consuming, waste-to-energy processes. There is a growing need for alternative cost-effective methods to harness their potential. This study explored the feasibility of employing waste beverages as feedstock for the counterpart component of a TiO-based composite photocatalyst.

Performance and stability improvement of perovskite solar cells using a nanopillar conductive polymer formed electropolymerisation.

BF-doped poly(3-methylthiophene) (P3MT) was formed using electropolymerisation as a hole transport material for inverted perovskite solar cells. The controlled nanopillar morphology of P3MT enables void-less uniform perovskite formation and exhibits conversion efficiency of 11.11%.

Development of a high-speed bioaerosol elimination system for treatment of indoor air.

We developed a high-speed filterless airflow multistage photocatalytic elbow aerosol removal system for the treatment of bioaerosols such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Human-generated bioaerosols that diffuse into indoor spaces are 1-10 μm in size, and their selective and rapid treatment can reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A high-speed airflow is necessary to treat large volumes of indoor air over a short period.

Aqueous mechano-bactericidal action of acicular aragonite crystals.

Nanoneedle structures on dragonfly and cicada wing surfaces or black silicon nanoneedles demonstrate antibacterial phenomena, namely mechano-bactericidal action. These air-exposed, mechano-bactericidal surfaces serve to destroy adherent bacteria, but their bactericidal action in the water is no precedent to report. Calcium carbonate easily accumulates on solid surfaces during long-term exposure to hard water.

Effect of dissolved silica on photocatalytic water purification with a TiO ceramic catalyst.

If photocatalytic water purification technologies will find practical applications, the impact of total dissolved solids in the source water on the activity of the photocatalyst must be evaluated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of SiO in water on a TiO ceramic photocatalyst; specifically, we determined the effects of SiO on the rate of photocatalytic degradation of formic acid (as a model contaminant) and on the rate of photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli in an aqueous solution. Both the rate of formic acid degradation and the sterilization rate decreased with increasing SiO concentration.

Physicochemical Evaluation of Micellar Solution and Lyotropic Phases Formed by Self-Assembled Aggregates of Morpholinium Geminis.

The micellar solution and the lyotropic liquid crystalline phases formed by gemini surfactants containing morpholinium headgroups are investigated for their self-aggregation and physicochemical properties in water. These gemini surfactants demonstrated good surface activity because they are able to undergo micellization at lower concentration and form nanosized micellar aggregates in dilute aqueous solution. The binary mixture of the morpholinium gemini surfactant-water system is investigated over a wide range of concentrations.

Self-aggregation and liquid crystalline behavior of new ester-functionalized quinuclidinolium surfactants.

A new type of ester-based cationic surfactant having a quinuclidinolium headgroup has been synthesized starting from linear fatty alcohols and has been characterized using spectroscopic techniques. The self-aggregation and thermodynamic properties of these surfactants have been investigated by pendant-drop surface tensiometry and conductivity measurements. The liquid crystalline behaviors of these surfactants were investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique.

[Effectiveness of oral vitamin B12 therapy for pernicious anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency anemia].

We investigated the efficacy of oral vitamin B12 (B12) therapy in patients with B12-deficiency anemia. Between June 1994 and June 2000, 17 patients, who were diagnosed as having B12-deficiency anemia and gave their informed consent, were enrolled in this study. Of these patients, 7 were further treated with a maintenance dose of methylcobalamin (1,500 micrograms daily for 7 days every 1-3 months).