Biotic Cathode of Graphite Fibre Brush for Improved Application in Microbial Fuel Cells

The biocathode in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) system is a promising and a cheap alternative method to improve cathode reaction performance. This study aims to identify the effect of the electrode combination between non-chemical modified stainless steel (SS) and graphite fibre brush (GFB) for constructing bio-electrodes in an MFC. In this study, the MFC had two chambers, separated by a cation exchange membrane, and underwent a total of four different treatments with different electrode arrangements (anodeǁcathode)—SSǁSS (control), GFBǁSS, GFBǁGFB and SSǁGFB. Both electrodes were heat-treated to improve surface oxidation. On the 20th day of the operation, the GFBǁGFB arrangement generated the highest power density, up to 3.03 W/m³ (177 A/m³), followed by the SSǁGFB (0.0106 W/m³, 0.412 A/m³), the GFBǁSS (0.0283 W/m³, 17.1 A/m³), and the SSǁSS arrangements (0.0069 W/m⁻³, 1.64 A/m³). The GFBǁGFB had the lowest internal resistance (0.2 kΩ), corresponding to the highest power output. The other electrode arrangements, SSǁGFB, GFBǁSS, and SSǁSS, showed very high internal resistance (82 kΩ, 2.1 kΩ and 18 kΩ, respectively) due to the low proton and electron movement activity in the MFC systems. The results show that GFB materials can be used as anode and cathode in a fully biotic MFC system.     

Interaction of trip decisions and traffic systems dynamics

A major difficulty in the study of large-scale complex systems involving human decision-making with non-linear collective effects is that of obtaining pertinent data at the desired level of detail. A controlled experiment involving real commuters in a hypothetical computer simulated traffic system is described as an alternative approach of conducting observational studies to support the modelling of such complex dynamic interactive decision systems. An overview of the principal characteristics of the traffic system's evolution obtained in this experiment is presented. Also illustrated are the features of a proposed behavioral framework where users are viewed as boundedly rational seekers of a satisfactory choice outcome.     

Polyformylation of copper(II) porphyrins

Vilsmeier formylation of copper(II) octaethylporphyrin (1) is shown to yield the copper(II) complexes of meso-monoformyloctaethylporphyrin, meso-α,β- and meso-α,γ-diformyloctaethylporphyrins, meso-α,β,γ-triformyloctaethylporphyrin, and meso-α,β,γ,δ-tetraformyloctaethylporphyrin. There is therefore no difference in regioselectivity of meso-diformylation between the octaethylporphyrin and etioporphyrin-I series.     

Carbon-13 NMR spectra of some pentacyclic triterpenoids with the olean-12-ene and 18α-olean-12-ene skeleton

The ¹³C NMR spectra of some pentacyclic triterpenoids, 3β-acetoxy-11-oxo-olean-12-ene-30-oic acid methyl ester, 3β-acetoxy-11-oxo-olean-12-ene-29-oic acid methyl ester, the corresponding 11-desoxo methyl esters, 3β-acetoxy-11-oxo-18α-olean-12-en-30-oic acid methyl ester and 3β-acetoxy-11-oxo-18α-olean-12-en-29-oic acid methyl ester are discussed. The shielding data are interpreted in term of the different orientation of the carbomethoxy group and of the change in configuration at the D/E ring junction and are diagnostically valuable for the differentiation of the mentioned compounds.     

Synthesis of some furochromonesulfonamide derivatives with potential pharmacological activity

A number of visnagin-9-sulfonamides 1-3 have been prepared. In two instances side-products have been isolated in which the γ-pyrone ring is opened. All compounds were characterized by high-field ¹H and ¹³C nmr and mass spectra.     

MR Imaging of metastatic pancreatic VIPoma

The MR findings in a 32-year-old man with pancreatic VIPoma and liver metastases are described. A 2-cm mass was present in the region of the tail of the pancreas that was best shown on T₁-weighted fat-suppressed images as a low-signal intensity mass. Multiple liver metastases were present that showed intense peripheral ring enhancement on immediate post gadolinium spoiled gradient echo images.     

System optimal and user equilibrium time-dependent traffic assignment in congested networks

This paper formulates two dynamic network traffic assignment models in which O-D desires for the planning horizon are assumed known a priori: the system optimal (SO) and the user equilibrium (UE) time-dependent traffic assignment formulations. Solution algorithms developed and implemented for these models incorporate a traffic simulation model within an overall iterative search framework. Experiments conducted on a test network provide the basis for a comparative analysis of system performance under the SO and UE models.