A microfluidic glucose biofuel cell to generate micropower from enzymes at ambient temperature

A Y-shaped microfluidic channel is applied for the first time to the construction of a glucose/O₂ biofuel cell, based on both laminar flow and biological enzyme strategies. During operation, the fuel and oxidant streams flow parallel at gold electrode surfaces without convective mixing. At the anode, the glucose oxidation is performed by the enzyme glucose oxidase whereas at the cathode, the oxygen is reduced by the enzyme laccase, in the presence of specific redox mediators. Such cell design protects the anode from an interfering parasite reaction of O₂ at the anode and offers the advantage of using different streams of oxidant and fuel for optimal performance of the enzymes. Electrochemical characterizations of the device show the influence of the flow rate on the output potential and current density. The maximum power density delivered by the assembled biofuel cell reached 110 μW cm^?2 at 0.3 V with 10 mM glucose at 23 °C. The microfluidic approach reported here demonstrates the feasibility of advanced microfabrication techniques to build an efficient microfluidic glucose/O₂ biofuel cell device.     

Synthetic models for the zinc sites in the methionine synthases

The syntheses and molecular structures of a series of tetrahedral zinc complexes designed to model the active sites in Escherichia coli methionine synthases are reported. [PhTttBu]ZnBr (PhTttBu = phenyltris((tert-butylthio)-methyl)borate) was prepared and characterized crystallographically to provide entry into [S3]ZnX complexes. Metathesis with KSPh yielded the phenylthiolato complex, [PhTttBu]Zn(SPh), which represents a structural mimic of the homocysteine ligated form of the enzyme. Alternatively, [S2N]ZnX (X = Br, CH3, SPh) species were prepared using the new mixed-donor ligands, [Ph(pz)BttBu] (phenyl(pyrazolyl)bis((tert-butylthio)methyl)borate) and [Ph(pztBu)BttBu] (phenyl(3-tert-butylpyrazolyl)bis((tert- butylthio)methyl)borate). Protonolysis of [Ph(pztBu)-BttBu]Zn(CH3) by PhSH in toluene yielded [Ph(pztBu)BttBu]Zn(SPh), a synthetic analogue of the homocysteine ligated form of cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (Met E). The average Zn-S bond distance in [Ph-(pztBu)BttBu]Zn(SPh) of 2.37 A compares well with the EXAFS-derived distance of 2.31 A found in the homocysteine-bound form of Met E.     

Performance comparison with different methods for ethanol/O2 biofuel cell based on NAD+ cofactor immobilized and activated by two types of carbon nanoparticles

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Biofuel cells are an attractive alternative to conventional fuel cells, because they use biological catalysts. We report in this article the construction...     

Analysis of the influence of polymer viscosity on the dispersion of magnesium hydroxide in a polyolefin matrix

The dispersion of Mg(OH)₂ agglomerates at low concentration in a polymer melt was investigated in a transparent counter-rotating shear cell. The influence of the viscosity of the matrix, the initial agglomerate size and the infiltration of the matrix was evaluated. Mg(OH)₂ agglomerates have a low cohesion and a fractal structure. Two dispersive mechanisms already mentioned in the literature were identified: erosion and rupture. Critical conditions for rupture were measured and particle size analysis was performed in order to determine the kinetics of erosion. The infiltration of the matrix, which depends on the viscosity, was found to play a key role on dispersion mechanisms. In contrast to previous works, infiltration is more important with the high viscosity matrix. In infiltrated matrix, rupture was found to occur firstly through plastic deformation of the infiltrated agglomerate, and then the agglomerates split into small fragments. In the low viscosity matrix, fragments produced either by rupture or erosion are small aggregates.     

Antimicrobial activities of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-trichloroacetyl-pyrazolone: Experimental,DFT studies,and molecular docking investigation

The rate of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is faster than the rate of discovery of new antibiotic classes. However, development of novel compounds with similar behavior but with a better therapeutic action has posed a serious challenge to researchers. Therefore, discovering of new novel drugs is of great importance in combating health problems and improving the quality of human life. In this research, first principle density functional theory (DFT) along with molecular docking approach were utilized for the investigation of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-trichloroacetyl-pyrazolone-5 (HTcP) to address some factors that are linked to this phenomenon. The theoretical computations were carried out utilizing the Becke-3-Parameter-hybrid model of Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP) with the 6-31+G (d, p) basis set. The most active site of the studied compound was studied within the framework of molecular electrostatic potential (ESP) meanwhile the strength and nature of the bond was studied using quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM). The antibacterial activities of the title structure was tested in this study using three proteins, 4YNT, 4YNU, and 5UZ9, with the help of Bio – via discovery studio and Auto dock vina tool via molecular docking simulations. The compound had a higher binding energy with the 4YNT and 4YNU proteins (?7.7 kcal/mol). Also controlled model was used in the docking analysis which shows no much significant different between the modelled structure and the commercial drug Kanamycin. In addition, a computer simulation was used to predict the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity profiles of the compound under investigation (ADMET). The result obtained from the ADMET studies indicated that the structure under study has moderate antibacterial activities.     

Nonlinear instability of a viscous liquid jet

We investigate the weakly nonlinear temporal instability of an axisymmetric Newtonian liquid jet. Early nonlinear studies on the capillary instability of inviscid liquid jets were carried up to the third order contributions to the jet deformation and showed the nonlinear interaction between different modes. A recent study on the weakly nonlinear instability of planar Newtonian liquid sheets revealed the role of the liquid viscosity in the sheet stability behavior and showed a complicated influence [1]. Here, the instability of a liquid jet is examined as the axisymmetric counterpart of the sheet, in search for corresponding insight into the role of the liquid viscosity in the jet instability mechanism. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Identification of aerosol particle sources in semi‐rural area of Kwabenya,near Accra,Ghana, by EDXRF techniques

Small aerosol particles have for a long time been known to be harmful to humans, and are today regarded to cause a larger number of deaths than traffic accidents globally. Energy dispersive x‐ray fluorescence (EDXRF) is a well known method that has been used for identification of toxic as well as non‐toxic elements in the particles. The combination of elements will together with other information help to identify the sources and predict the effects of particles on environment and human health. The present work was conducted in Kwabenya, a suburb of the capital Accra of Ghana, which is frequently exposed to Harmattan dust from the Sahara–Sahel region. In total 171 filters each of PM2.5 and PM(2.5–10) were collected during 1 year. Levels of elements, black carbon (BC) and mass, were determined for both particle sizes. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the datasets from Harmattan and non‐Harmattan periods. The daily average of PM10 was very high, 179 µg m^?3 and the BC contents were 4 µg m^?3. The presence of crustal elements was large in PM(2.5–10) as well as in PM2.5, and had a more than tenfold increase in PM(2.5–10) during the Harmattan period. Major characteristic elements for different sources were identified from correlation coefficients and regression analysis of the data. Sahara sand aerosol was the major source in both study periods, but influence from biomass burning, sea‐spray and metal industries was also observed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Travelling Wave Solutions and Conservation Laws of the (2+1)-dimensional Broer-Kaup-Kupershmidt Equatio

The travelling wave solutions and conservation laws of the (2+1)-dimensional Broer-Kaup-Kupershmidt (BKK) equation are considered in this paper. Under the travelling wave frame, the BKK equation is transformed to a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) with two dependent variables. Therefore, it happens that one dependent variable $u$ can be decoupled into a second order ODE that corresponds to a Hamiltonian planar dynamical system involving three arbitrary constants. By using the bifurcation analysis, we obtain the bounded travelling wave solutions $u$, which include the kink, anti-kink and periodic wave solutions. Finally, the conservation laws of the BBK equation are derived by employing the multiplier approach.     

Applicability of Alginate Film Entrapped Yeast for Microbial Fuel Cell

New strategies are proposed for modification of the anode of a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC). Immobilization of yeast cells as electrogenic microorganism in MFC was reported using alginate. Yeast cells entrapment within alginate matrices was done through films deposited at the surface of a carbon felt electrode and the resulting anodes were characterized by chronoamperometry. Yeast entrapped within alginate films on carbon felt oxidized glucose and generates a current by direct and mediated electrons transfer from yeast cells to the carbon electrode. The result substantiated that immobilization of yeast for MFC could be a promising method to product green electricity.