Thermally Induced Phase Separation of the PEDOT:PSS Layer for Highly Efficient Laminated Polymer Light-Emitting Diodes.

Among various conductive polymers, the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) film has been studied as a promising material for use as a transparent electrode and a hole-injecting layer in organic optoelectronic devices. Due to the increasing demand for the low-cost fabrication of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), PEDOT:PSS has been employed as the top electrode by using the coating or lamination method. Herein, a facile method is reported for the fabrication of highly efficient polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) based on a laminated transparent electrode (LTE) consisting of successive PEDOT:PSS and silver-nanowire (AgNW) layers.

Characterizing as a surrogate for wastewater treatment studies and bioaerosol emissions.

This study characterized (BG) as a Sterne (BAS) surrogate for wastewater treatment-related studies of UV inactivation, adsorption onto powdered activated carbon (PAC), and bioaerosol emission. The inactivation of BG was faster than that of BAS in DI water (pseudo first-order rate constants of 0.065 and 0.

The potential to manage releases of Bacillus anthracis using bioretention and a high flow media filter: Results of simulated runoff testing with tracer spores Bacillus globigii.

The threat of bioterrorism has spurred research on the decontamination and containment of different agents. Anthrax [causative agent Bacillus anthracis (Ba)] is a disease that can lead to severe infections within human and animals, particularly when inhaled. This research investigated the use of spore-contaminated simulated runoff events into stormwater control measures (SCMs), which are designed to retain and improve the quality of runoff and may have the potential to filter and contain the spores.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effects of Multi-Strain Synbiotic in Patients with Functional Diarrhea and High Fecal Calprotectin Levels: A Pilot Study.

Synbiotics, including probiotics and prebiotics, are useful for patients with functional bowel disorders. However, which synbiotics are beneficial for patients with which diseases, especially those with functional diarrhea (FDr) with high fecal calprotectin levels, is currently unknown. FDr is an extension of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D).

Azo-Dye-Functionalized Polycarbonate Membranes for Textile Dye and Nitrate Ion Removal.

Challenges exist in the wastewater treatment of dyes produced by the world's growing textiles industry. Common problems facing traditional wastewater treatments include low retention values and breaking the chemical bonds of some dye molecules, which in some cases can release byproducts that can be more harmful than the original dye. This research illustrates that track-etched polycarbonate filtration membranes with 100-nanometer diameter holes can be functionalized with azo dye direct red 80 at 1000 µM, creating a filter that can then be used to remove the entire negatively charged azo dye molecule for a 50 µM solution of the same dye, with a rejection value of 96.

Quantifying surface morphology of manufactured activated carbon and the waste coffee grounds using the Getis-Ord-Gi* statistic and Ripley's K function.

Activated carbon can be manufactured from waste coffee grounds via physical and/or chemical activation processes. However, challenges remain to quantify the differences in surface morphology between manufactured activated carbon granules and the waste coffee grounds. This paper presents a novel quantitative method to determine the quality of the physical and chemical activation processes performed in the presence of intensity inhomogeneity and identify surface characteristics of manufactured activated carbon granules and the waste coffee grounds.

Laboratory results and mathematical modeling of spore surface interactions in stormwater runoff.

Development of numerical models to predict stormwater-mediated transport of pathogenic spores in the environment depends on an understanding of adhesion forces that dictate detachment after rain events. Zeta potential values were measured in the laboratory for Bacillus globigii and Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki, two common surrogates used to represent Bacillus anthracis, in synthetic baseline ultrapure water and laboratory prepared stormwater. Zeta potential curves were also determined for materials representative of urban infrastructure (concrete and asphalt).

Improvement of Pre-Annealed Cu(In, Ga)Se2 Absorbers for High Efficiency.

We used a DC-sputtering method to deposit the precursor (Cu3Ga/In) onto Mo with 1 um thick/soda-lime glass (SLG). We moved it onto a graphite crucible for the pre-annealing process, and the pressure of the process tube was about 10 torr without Ar gas flow. The crucible in quartz tube was heated by halogen lamp to 250 degrees C for 30 min, and then raised to 550 degrees C for 10 min under a selenium atmosphere.

DLVO Approximation Methods for Predicting the Attachment of Silver Nanoparticles to Ceramic Membranes.

This article examines the influence of three common stabilizing agents (citrate, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), and branched poly(ethylenimine) (BPEI)) on the attachment affinity of silver nanoparticles to ceramic water filters. Citrate-stabilized silver nanoparticles were found to have the highest attachment affinity (under conditions in which the surface potential was of opposite sign to the filter). This work demonstrates that the interaction between the electrical double layers plays a critical role in the attachment of nanoparticles to flat surfaces and, in particular, that predictions of double-layer interactions are sensitive to boundary condition assumptions (constant charge vs constant potential).

Comprehensive understanding of nano-sized particle separation processes using nanoparticle tracking analysis.

The understanding of nano-sized particle separation processes has been limited by difficulties of nanoparticle characterization. In this study, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) was deployed to evaluate the absolute particle size distributions in laboratory scale flocculation and filtration experiments with silver nanoparticles. The results from NTA were consistent with standard theories of particle destabilization and transport.