Facile bioactive transformation of magnesium alloy surfaces for surgical implant applications.

The market for orthopedic implant alloys has seen significant growth in recent years, and efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of medical treatment (i.e., green medicine) have prompted extensive research on biodegradable magnesium-based alloys.

Biocompatibile nanofiber based membranes for high-efficiency filtration of nano-aerosols with low air resistance.

Particulate matter (PMs) from combustion emissions (traffic, power plant, and industries) and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have recently enhanced the development of personal protective equipment against airborne pathogens to protect humans' respiratory system. However, most commercial face masks still cannot simultaneously achieve breathability and high filtration of PMs, bacteria, and viruses. This study used the electrospinning method with polyimide (PI) and polyethersulfone (PES) solutions to form a nanofiber membrane with low-pressure loss and high biocompatibility for high-efficiency bacteria, viruses, and nano-aerosol removal.

Carbon Dioxide Tornado-Type Atmospheric-Pressure-Plasma-Jet-Processed rGO-SnO Nanocomposites for Symmetric Supercapacitors.

Pastes containing reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and SnCl solution were screen printed on carbon cloth and then calcined using a CO tornado-type atmospheric-pressure plasma jet (APPJ). The tornado circulation of the plasma gas enhances the mixing of the reactive plasma species and thus ensures better reaction uniformity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were performed to characterize the synthesized rGO-SnO nanocomposites on carbon cloth.

Effects of field scale in situ biochar incorporation on soil environment in a tropical highly weathered soil.

Biochar has been proven as a soil amendment to improve soil environment. However, mechanistic understanding of biochar on soil physical properties and microbial community remains unclear. In this study, a wood biochar (WB), was incorporated into a highly weathered tropical soil, and after 1 year the in situ changes in soil properties and microbial community were evaluated.

Dual RGD-immobilized poly(L-lactic acid) by atmospheric pressure plasma jet for bone tissue engineering.

Surface treatment on PLA substrates by atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) for polymerization of dual RGD-peptides were investigated. Peptide-modified surfaces have been highlighted as the most promising approach to improve the integration of implants into surrounding bones. By varying the RF power, PLA substrates treated by APPJ process have a tendency to form a hydrophobic surface.

Fluoride at waste oyster shell surfaces - Role of magnesium.

Reaction of fluoride with waste oyster shell was studied. To enhance the stability and adsorption capacity, oyster shell was coated with Al(OH) and the adsorption behaviors were compared with the uncoated one. When at low fluoride concentration (<30 mg/L), fluoride removal efficiency decreased with increasing pH, and the adsorption could be modeled by Langmuir isotherm.

Electric arc furnace dust as an alternative low-cost oxygen carrier for chemical looping combustion.

The relative abundance and low cost of electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) make it a viable oxygen carrier for chemical looping combustion (CLC) system. Under a reducing agent, zinc ferrite (ZnFeO) phase in EAFD releases zinc vapor in a complex gas-solid reaction. In an effort to suppress the emission of zinc vapor, the reaction mechanism of ZnFeO prepared as an oxygen carrier in a redox cycling test is primarily discussed, as well as the issue of coupling with an inert AlO support.

Ascorbic Acid-Assisted Synthesis of Mesoporous Sodium Vanadium Phosphate Nanoparticles with Highly sp(2) -Coordinated Carbon Coatings as Efficient Cathode Materials for Rechargeable Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Herein, mesoporous sodium vanadium phosphate nanoparticles with highly sp(2) -coordinated carbon coatings (meso-Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 /C) were successfully synthesized as efficient cathode material for rechargeable sodium-ion batteries by using ascorbic acid as both the reductant and carbon source, followed by calcination at 750 °C in an argon atmosphere. Their crystalline structure, morphology, surface area, chemical composition, carbon nature and amount were systematically explored. Following electrochemical measurements, the resultant meso-Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 /C not only delivered good reversible capacity (98 mAh g(-1) at 0.

Alginate/Poly(γ-glutamic Acid) Base Biocompatible Gel for Bone Tissue Engineering.

A technique for synthesizing biocompatible hydrogels by cross-linking calcium-form poly(γ-glutamic acid), alginate sodium, and Pluronic F-127 was created, in which alginate can be cross-linked by Ca(2+) from Ca-γ-PGA directly and γ-PGA molecules introduced into the alginate matrix to provide pH sensitivity and hemostasis. Mechanical properties, swelling behavior, and blood compatibility were investigated for each hydrogel compared with alginate and for γ-PGA hydrogel with the sodium form only. Adding F-127 improves mechanical properties efficiently and influences the temperature-sensitive swelling of the hydrogels but also has a minor effect on pH-sensitive swelling and promotes anticoagulation.

A facile synthesis of high quality nanostructured CeO2 and Gd2O3-doped CeO2 solid electrolytes for improved electrochemical performance.

This study describes the use of a composite nitrate salt solution as a precursor to synthesize CeO2 and Gd2O3-doped CeO2 (GDC) nanoparticles (NPs) using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ). The microstructures of CeO2 and GDC NPs were found to be cubical and spherical shaped nanocrystallites with average particle sizes of 10.5 and 6.

Effect of surfactant and budesonide on the pulmonary distribution of fluorescent dye in mice.

Background: Surfactant is a useful vehicle for the intratracheal delivery of medicine to the distal lung. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of intratracheal surfactant and budesonide instillation on the pulmonary distribution of fluorescent dye in mice.

Methods: Male athymic nude mice were assigned randomly as controls, fluorescent dye, fluorescent dye + surfactant (50 mg/kg), fluorescent dye + budesonide (0.

Preparation of platinum- and silver-incorporated TiO2 coatings in thin-film photoreactor for the photocatalytic decomposition of o-cresol.

Platinum-incorporated TiO2 (Pt-TiO2) and silver-incorporated TiO2 (Ag-TiO2) coatings on sapphire tubes of a thin-film photoreactor were prepared using a photoreduction process. Results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that the Ag-TiO2 coatings consisted of a mixture of Ag2O, Ag and TiO2 particles, owing to the partial oxidization of silver particles on the TiO2 coatings, while the Pt-TiO2 coating contained a mixture of Pt and TiO2 particles. Diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectra (DRS) showed that metal particles (Ag or Pt) incorporated into the TiO2 coatings promoted optical absorption in the visible region and made it possible for the coatings to be excited by visible light.

A study of parameter setting and characterization of visible-light driven nitrogen-modified commercial TiO2 photocatalysts.

An optimal condition applied to the Taguchi method with an L(9) orthogonal array for preparing a visible-light driven nitrogen-modified TiO(2) (N-TiO(2)) photocatalyst by a simple hydrolysis method has been examined for material characteristics and a photodecolorization test of methyl blue (MB) under various visible light source (fluorescent and blue LED lamps) irradiations. Results of the material characterization showed that the absorption of prepared N-TiO(2) powder exhibited a significant extension into visible light regimes with an optical bandgap (Eg) of around 2.96 eV, which subsequently improved the visible-light photocatalytic activity of N-TiO(2) samples.

Mineralization of reactive Black 5 in aqueous solution by ozone/H2O2 in the presence of a magnetic catalyst.

Particles are often too small to be separated from a reaction system and recycled, especially in wastewater treatment via a catalytic ozonation process. Thus, the objective of this study was to prepare a magnetic catalyst (SiO(2)/Fe(3)O(4)) that can be recycled by using an external magnetic field. The effects of the characteristics of the magnetic catalyst, pH values, catalyst dosage, and initial concentration of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) on mineralization efficiency of the magnetic catalyst/H(2)O(2)/O(3) process were also investigated.

Reactions of Tp(NH[double bond, length as m-dash]CPh(2))(PPh(3))Ru-Cl with HC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CPh in the presence of H(2)O: insertion/hydration products.

The reaction of benzophenone imine complex (NH[double bond, length as m-dash]CPh(2))[Ru]Cl {[Ru] = Tp(PPh(3))Ru; Tp = HB(pz)(3), pz = pyrazolyl} with HC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CPh in the presence of H(2)O afforded the cis-alkynyl(vinylidene) complex [Ru](C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CPh)([double bond, length as m-dash]C[double bond, length as m-dash]CHPh) , as well as two alkenyl ketone regioisomers [Ru]C(CH(2)Ph)[double bond, length as m-dash]CHC(O)Ph and [Ru]C(Ph)[double bond, length as m-dash]CHC(O)CH(2)Ph . The combination of insertion and hydration process resulted in the unprecedented formation of the alkenyl ketone complexes.

Erratum: (Benzonitrile-κN)chlorido[hydrido-tris(pyrazol-1-yl-κN)borato](triphenyl-phosphine-κP)ruthenium(II) ethanol solvate. Corrigendum.

The author list in the paper by Tong, Hung, Wang, Lin & Lo [Acta Cryst. (2009), E65, m438] is corrected.[This corrects the article DOI: 10.

Effect of Pt/TiO2 characteristics on temporal behavior of o-cresol decomposition by visible light-induced photocatalysis.

Platinum deposited TiO(2) films were prepared on quartz substrates by dip-coating process for the photodecomposition of o-cresol. The characteristics of Pt/TiO(2) and the temporal behavior of o-cresol decomposition by Pt/TiO(2) photocatalysis under visible light irradiation were investigated. Platinum deposited on TiO(2) photocatalysts was characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurement, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectra (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra.