A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy through the catalytic reaction of microorganisms. In this paper, electricity generation was investigated in microbial fuel cells using e-beam deposited Pt electrodes to improve efficiency and minimize Pt loading. We deposited Pt on carbon paper electrodes using an e-beam evaporator and imaged microscopic structures of the Pt deposited electrodes using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Although the e-beam electrode had the least thick Pt layer (1000 Å) among many tested electrode types (Pt-black = 1500 Å and commercial electrode = 2500 Å), it showed excellent coverage and Pt uniformity, resulting in minimal loading of Pt. In MFC testing, the e-beam Pt electrode installed only on the anode (carbon paper electrode on the cathode) produced the highest peak value of 0.42 A/m2 in the current density, which was about 2 times higher than when the Pt-black anode electrode or E-Tek commercial Pt anode electrode was used. After 45 h of microbial fuel cell running with the Pt electrode on the anode, the carbon electrode on the cathode was also replaced with an e-beam electrode. This replacement generated an immediate rise in current density, reaching a second peak of 0.50 A/m2. Considering the mass-specific current density, which represents the current density per unit Pt thickness, the e-beam electrode was the most effective with minimal Pt loading. The mass-specific current density for the e-beam electrodes was 2.5 times higher than that for the E-Tek commercial electrodes. These promising results suggest the high potential of e-beam-deposited Pt electrodes in improving microbial fuel cell efficiency with minimal Pt loading.
The content of a bacterial consortium found on an electron beam (e-beam) Pt-deposited electrode in a mediator-less microbial fuel cell (MFC) using glucose and glutamate as fuel is reported in this paper. The e-beam Pt-deposited electrode and electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) consortium were developed to improve the mediator-less MFC performance. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and 16S rRNA sequencing were used to identify the EAB consortia. Sequencing results showed that clone ASP-31 was predominant and was similar to Aeromonas hydrophila, an Fe(III)-reducing and EAB. The phylogenetic tree analysis disclosed the presence of gamma-proteobacteria groups such as Aeromonas genus, Enterobacter asburiae, and Klebsiella oxytoca. These results suggest that MFC performance of the e-beam Pt-deposited electrode with Aeromonas genus consortia dominated by A. hydrophila was higher than other MFCs within a short period. With the e-beam Pt-deposited electrode and Aeromonas genus consortia in the mediator-less MFC, it is possible to increase the efficiency of electron transfer between the bacteria and the electrode.
Objective. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social skills, and behavior and can present in early childhood. The present study is aimed at investigating the effects of family-centered early intervention on the quality of social interaction and social interaction skills in infants with suspected autism spectrum disorder using a single-subject design. Method. As a single-subject design study, evaluations were conducted at baseline phase A, intervention phase B, baseline phase A′, and follow-up phase. The family-centered early intervention program was implemented during the intervention phase. Family-centered early intervention programs included home environmental modification, play video recording and training, task and feedback, related information training, and question and answer. The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up and Evaluation of Social Interaction was used for evaluation. Result. Three participants completed the study. After applying the family-centered early intervention program, the quality of social interaction and social interaction skills of all participants improved. In addition, the risk of autism spectrum disorder in all participants was reduced. Conclusion. Family-centered early intervention was confirmed to have a positive effect on the improvement of social interaction skills in infants with suspected autism spectrum disorder.
Site-specific single polyaniline nanowires were fabricated through electrophoresis growth with acetone wetting. After growing the nanowires, the post-process of acetone wetting of the nanowires improved morphology, topology, and electrical conductivity with coagulation and substitution in polyaniline. They showed resistance changes of 39.57 ± 11.57% and presented 2.38 × 10 −4 ± 3 × 10 −5 Ω · cm, 133.77 ± 13.82 nm thickness, and 133.17 ± 13.01 nm width in 1 µm to 5.5 µm length. The new combined growth process of electrophoresis and acetone wetting significantly improved reproducibility, reliability, and controllability in the fabrication of single polymer nanowires.
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