Mo2C/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity and Biocompatibility for Microbial Fuel Cells

A simple, cost-effective strategy was developed to effectively improve the electron transfer efficiency as well as the power output of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) by decorating the commercial carbon paper (CP) anode with an advanced Mo₂C/reduced graphene oxide (Mo₂C/RGO) composite. Benefiting from the synergistic effects of the superior electrocatalytic activity of Mo₂C, the high surface area, and prominent conductivity of RGO, the MFC equipped with this Mo₂C/RGO composite yielded a remarkable output power density of 1747±37.6 mW m⁻², which was considerably higher than that of CP-MFC (926.8±6.3 mW m⁻²). Importantly, the composite also facilitated the formation of 3D hybrid biofilm and could effectively improve the bacteria–electrode interaction. These features resulted in an enhanced coulombic efficiency up 13.2 %, nearly one order of magnitude higher than that of the CP (1.2 %).     

Chiral separation and molecular simulation study of six antihistamine agents on a coated cellulose tri-(3,5-dimethylphenycarbamate) column (Chiralcel OD-RH) and its recognition mechanisms

Enantiomeric separation of six antihistamine agents was first systematically investigated on a cellulose-based chiral stationary phase (CSP), that is, cellulose tris-(3,5-dimethyl phenyl carbamate) (Chiralcel OD-RH), under the reversed-phase mode. Orphenadrine, meclizine, terfenadine, dioxopromethazine, and carbinoxamine enantiomers were completely separated under the optimized mobile phase conditions with resolutions of 5.02, 1.93, 1.68, 1.67, and 1.54, respectively. Mequitazine was partially separated with a resolution of 0.77. The influences of type and concentration of buffer salt, the pH of buffer solution, and the type and ratio of organic modifier on the chiral separation were evaluated and optimized. For a better insight into the enantiorecognition mechanisms, molecular docking was carried out via the Autodock software. The lowest binding energy and the optimal conformations of the analytes/CSP complexes were supplied, and the mechanisms of chiral recognition were determined. According to the results, the key interactions for the chiral recognition of these six analytes on CDMPC were π–π interactions, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bond interactions, and some special interactions.     

Controlled release of acetochlor from poly (butyl methacrylate-diacetone acrylamide) based formulation prepared by nanoemulsion polymerisation method and evaluation of the efficacy

Acetochlor is an important herbicide for gramineous weeds and some small seed broadleaf weeds. Controlled-release formulations of herbicide are highly desirable not only for attaining the most effective utilisation of the weed control, but also for reducing environmental pollution. Acetochlor was incorporated in poly (butyl methacrylate-diacetone acrylamide) based formulation to obtain controlled release properties. The acetochlor nanocapsules were characterised by size distribution, infrared spectroscopy (IR) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and factors related to loading efficiency, swelling behaviour of the formulation were investigated. For this controlled-release formulation, the loading efficiency could reach about 50% (w/w). n, the diffusion parameter was indicative of the transport mechanism, and the values for ‘n’ were in the range of 0.28–0.61, which indicated that the release of acetochlor was diffusion-controlled. The time taken for 50% of the active ingredient to be released into water, t₅₀, was also calculated for the comparison of formulations in different conditions. The formulation with higher temperature and more diacetone acrylamide had lower value of t₅₀, which means a quicker release of the active ingredient. This study highlighted some pieces of evidence that improved herbicide incorporation and slower release were linked to potential interactions between the herbicide and the polymer.     

In vivo metabolism study of bergenin in rats by HPLC‐QTOF mass spectrometry

Bergenin is the major component of Ardisia creanta sims and Rodgersia sambucifolia hemsl with many biological activities. Although bergenin has been used to treat human diseases in China for man years, there is no report regarding its metabolism. This is the first report to separate and identify the metabolites of bergenin in vivo. In the study, HPLC/Q‐TOF‐MS/MS was used to investigate the metabolites of bergenin in vivo by analyzing the rat body fluid and feces samples. Three metabolites of bergenin were finally identified by the TIC chromatograms, and the structures were also confirmed by their MS² spectra. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of antazoline hydrochloride in rat plasma and excreta by reversed‐phase ion‐pair chromatography and its application to pharmacokinetics

A reversed‐phase ion pair chromatography method with liquid–liquid extraction analytical method was developed and validated for the determination of antazoline hydrochloride in plasma and excreta of rat. The aim of our study was to characterize the preclinical pharmacokinetics and excretion profiles of antazoline hydrochloride in rats after intravenous injection at the dose of 10 mg/kg. Plasma and excreta samples were extracted with ethyl acetate, and phenacetin was used as the internal standard. The result showed that the method is suitable for the quantification of antazoline hydrochloride in plasma and excreta samples. Analysis of accuracy (90.89–112.33%), imprecision (<7.1%) and recovery (>82.5%) showed adequate values. After a single intravenous administration at 10 mg/kg to rats, plasma concentration profile showed a relative fast elimination proceeding with a terminal elimination half‐life of 3.53 h. Approximately 61.8 and 14.2% of the administered dose were recovered in urine and bile after 72 and 24 h post‐dosing respectively; 5.9% of the administered dose was recovered in feces after 72 h post‐dosing. The above results show that the major elimination route is urinary excretion. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On algebraic Riccati equations associated with M-matrices

We consider the algebraic Riccati equation for which the four coefficient matrices form an M-matrix K. When K is a nonsingular M-matrix or an irreducible singular M-matrix, the Riccati equation is known to have a minimal nonnegative solution and several efficient methods are available to find this solution. In this paper we are mainly interested in the case where K is a reducible singular M-matrix. Under a regularity assumption on the M-matrix K, we show that the Riccati equation still has a minimal nonnegative solution. We also study the properties of this particular solution and explain how the solution can be found by existing methods.