Increasing the Efficiency of Organic Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells over 10.3% Using Locally Ordered Inverse Opal Nanostructures in the Photoelectrode

3D inverse opal (3D‐IO) oxides are very appealing nanostructures to be integrated into the photoelectrodes of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Due to their periodic interconnected pore network with a high pore volume fraction, they facilitate electrolyte infiltration and enhance light scattering. Nonetheless, preparing 3D‐IO structures directly on nonflat DSSC electrodes is challenging. Herein, 3D‐IO TiO₂ structures are prepared by templating with self‐assembled polymethyl methacrylate spheres on glass substrates, impregnation with a mixed TiO₂:SiO₂ precursor and calcination. The specific surface increases from 20.9 to 30.7 m² g^?1 after SiO₂ removal via etching, which leads to the formation of mesopores. The obtained nanostructures are scraped from the substrate, processed as a paste, and deposited on photoelectrodes containing a mesoporous TiO₂ layer. This procedure maintains locally the 3D‐IO order. When sensitized with the novel benzothiadiazole dye YKP‐88, DSSCs containing the modified photoelectrodes exhibit an efficiency of 10.35% versus 9.26% for the same devices with conventional photoelectrodes. Similarly, using the ruthenium dye N719 as sensitizer an efficiency increase from 5.31% to 6.23% is obtained. These improvements originate mainly from an increase in the photocurrent density, which is attributed to an enhanced dye loading obtained with the mesoporous 3D‐IO structures due to SiO₂ removal.     

Evaluation of registration methods on thoracic CT: the EMPIRE10 challenge

EMPIRE10 (Evaluation of Methods for Pulmonary Image REgistration 2010) is a public platform for fair and meaningful comparison of registration algorithms which are applied to a database of intrapatient thoracic CT image pairs. Evaluation of nonrigid registration techniques is a nontrivial task. This is compounded by the fact that researchers typically test only on their own data, which varies widely. For this reason, reliable assessment and comparison of different registration algorithms has been virtually impossible in the past. In this work we present the results of the launch phase of EMPIRE10, which comprised the comprehensive evaluation and comparison of 20 individual algorithms from leading academic and industrial research groups. All algorithms are applied to the same set of 30 thoracic CT pairs. Algorithm settings and parameters are chosen by researchers expert in the configuration of their own method and the evaluation is independent, using the same criteria for all participants. All results are published on the EMPIRE10 website (http://empire10.isi.uu.nl). The challenge remains ongoing and open to new participants. Full results from 24 algorithms have been published at the time of writing. This paper details the organization of the challenge, the data and evaluation methods and the outcome of the initial launch with 20 algorithms. The gain in knowledge and future work are discussed.     

Nanoparticle ordering by dewetting of Co on SiO2

Most metals on SiO₂ have a finite contact angle and are therefore subject to dewetting during thermal processing. The resulting dewetting morphology is determined primarily by nucleation and growth or instabilities. The dewetting mechanism implies a disordered spatial arrangement for homogeneous nucleation, but an ordered one for instabilities such as spinodal decomposition. Here, we show that the morphology of laser-melted ultrathin Co film (4-nm thick) can be attributed to dewetting via an instability. Dewetting leads to breakup of the continuous Co film into nanoparticles with a monomodal size distribution with an average particle diameter of 75 nm±23 nm. These nanoparticles have short-range order (SRO) of 130 nm in their separation. This result has important implications for nanomanufacturing with a robust spacing or size selection of nanoparticles in addition to spatial ordering.     

Diagnosis of learner dropout based on learning styles for online distance learning

The amount of data generated by computer systems in Online Distance Learning (ODL) contains rich information. One example of this information we define as the Learner Learning Trail (LLT), which is the sequence of interactions between the students and the virtual environment. Another example is the Learner Learning Style (LLS), which is associated with the student behavior and choices during the learning process. This information can be used to identify learner behavior and learning style. We perceived, after the study of related literature, that the research field of learner diagnosis for ODL does not apply the conjoint use of LLT and LLS. In this article, we propose a model capable of integrating data generated from the behavior of students in ODL with cognitive aspects of them, such as their Learning Styles, by crossing LLT with LLS. We also propose the CPAD method (Collect, Preprocessing, Analysis, Diagnosis), which is implemented by collecting the raw data regarding learning activities, preprocessing the data into structured time sequences, analyzing the sequences regarding the learning styles and using this analysis to diagnose the learner behavior. We selected the dropout to investigate, once the dropout rate in ODL is a real problem in universities around the world. In addition, the dropout is a student decision which can be associated with previous students behaviors. We performed a study with 202 learners to evaluate if learning styles are capable of explaining aspects of the student behavior. The results suggest that Sequential/Global learning style dimension is more capable of explaining the dropout than the other dimensions. Also, we performed four classification experiments to verify how the dimensions of Felder-Silverman Learning Style Model influence the learner diagnosis. We perceived that the Sequential/Global dimension could provide a higher accuracy average with lower variation independently of the diagnosis technique.     

Effect of the incorporation of interfacial elements on the thermophysical properties of Cu/VGCNFs composites

Vapour grown carbon nanofibres exhibit high mechanical properties and thermal conductivities. Therefore they are potential reinforcements in composites materials for high strength and high thermal conductivity applications. A problem not yet solved is the promotion of an improved copper/carbon interface. Several strategies have been envisaged for the incorporation of alloying elements (Ni, Co, B and Ti) at the interface. These techniques are based on duplex electroless plating coatings (combination of Cu and Ni or Cu and Co), electroless plating of alloys (Cu-B) and addition of metal nanoparticles (Ti) to Cu matrix deposited by electroless plating. The effect of the incorporation of these metallic elements on the microstructure and thermophysical properties is discussed. B and Ti lead to higher interaction at the Cu/C interface over Ni and Co. This allows the reduction of the coefficient of thermal expansion but regarding the thermal conductivity it was not possible to obtain a value higher than that of copper.     

Plant-derived polyphenols attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide and tumour necrosis factor production in murine microglia and macrophages

Lipopolysaccharides released during bacterial infections induce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lead to complications such as neuronal damage in the CNS and septic shock in the periphery. While the initial infection is treated by antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents would be advantageous add-on medications. In order to identify such compounds, we have compared 29 commercially available polyphenol-containing plant extracts and pure compounds for their ability to prevent LPS-induced up-regulation of NO production. Among the botanical extracts, bearberry and grape seed were the most active preparations, exhibiting IC(50) values of around 20 mug/mL. Among the pure compounds, IC(50) values for apigenin, diosmetin and silybin were 15, 19 and 12 muM, in N-11 murine microglia, and 7, 16 and 25 muM, in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages, respectively. In addition, these flavonoids were also able to down-regulate LPS-induced tumour necrosis factor production. Structure-activity relationships of the flavonoids demonstrated three distinct principles: (i) flavonoid-aglycons are more potent than the corresponding glycosides, (ii) flavonoids with a 4'-OH substitution in the B-ring are more potent than those with a 3'-OH-4'-methoxy substitution, (iii) flavonoids of the flavone type (with a C2=C3 double bond) are more potent than those of the flavanone type (with a at C2-C3 single bond).     

Survival of Lactobacillus casei (LC-1) adhered to prebiotic vegetal fibers

This study evaluated the survival of Lactobacillus casei (LC-1) when adhered to four different dehydrated prebiotic fibers. After vacuum drying in oat bran with 9% β-glucan and green banana flour, LC-1 viability was 79% and 76%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed no morphological changes in the cells adhered to these fibers, and the addition of trehalose as a cell protectant had a positive and significant effect on the survival of LC-1. At different storage temperatures, oat bran had the highest stability as well as in simulated gastrointestinal conditions, where LC-1 that adhered to the oat bran had greater viability (7.1 log CFU g^? 1) than in the free form (2.4 log CFU g^? 1). In the sensory evaluation, the probiotic oat bran added to a dairy fruit beverage was well accepted by consumers.Industrial relevanceThe diversification of food products and the growing interest in health life requires from food industry innovations and new products for this. Probiotic cultures into non-dairy products is still an innovation and a challenge to the functional food segment. The development of an oat bran with LC-1 adhered is important for the functional food industries because the probiotic can be viable during dehydration and storage at room temperature. In addition the LC-1 is protected under simulated gastrointestinal conditions without compromising sensory acceptability.     

Invited review: The use of distillers products in dairy cattle diets

Distillers grains with solubles (DGS) is the major coproduct of ethanol production, usually made from corn, which is fed to dairy cattle. It is a good protein (crude protein, CP) source (>30% CP) high in ruminally undegradable protein (∼55% of CP) and is a good energy source (net energy for lactation of approximately 2.25 Mcal/kg of dry matter). The intermediate fat concentration (10% of dry matter) and readily digestible fiber (∼39% neutral detergent fiber) contribute to the high energy content in DGS. Performance was usually similar when animals were fed wet or dried products, although some research results tended to favor the wet products. Diets can contain DGS as partial replacement for both concentrates and forages, but DGS usually replaces concentrates. Adequate effective fiber was needed to avoid milk fat depression when DGS replaced forages in lactating cow diets. Nutritionally balanced diets can be formulated that contain 20% or more of the diet dry matter as DGS. Such diets supported similar or higher milk production compared with when cows were fed traditional feeds. Although DGS can constitute more than 30% of diet dry matter, gut fill may limit dry matter intake and production in diets with more than 20% wet DGS and that also contain other moist feeds. The fiber in DGS, which often replaces high-starch feeds, does not eliminate acidosis but minimizes its problems. Distillers solubles, which are often blended with distillers grains to provide DGS, can be fed separately as condensed corn distillers solubles. Other distillers coproducts besides DGS such as high-protein distillers grains, corn germ, corn bran, and low-fat distillers grains are becoming available.