Preparation of nanostructured TiO2 photoelectrode for flexible dye-sensitized solar cell applications

Nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin film was successfully prepared by simple electrodeposition method from alkaline aqueous solution containing potassium titanium oxalate and hydroxylamine. Surface characterization of the electrodeposited films indicates the formation of crystalline TiO2. The dye solar cell constructed from dye-modified electrodeposited TiO2 film achieved an overall light-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 2.1 % under 1 sun illumination, indicating its high potential as a photoelectrode material for the DSCs

Thermo-mechanical properties of coconut shell powder reinforced plastic composites

Abstract: The coconut shell powder reinforced polypropylene (CS-PP) composite was prepared. The thermogravimetric analysis of the coconut shell powder (CS), polypropylene (PP) and CS-PP composites was carried out. The mechanical properties of coconut shell reinforced polypropylene composite have been investigated to establish the feasibility of using it as a new potential raw material for various engineering related applications. CS-PP composite was prepared by compounding polypropylene matrix with 20% -60 % volume fraction of coconut shell powder. The effect of the CS powder loading on thermal and mechanical properties of the obtained CS-PP plastic composite was also investigated. The 20% weight ratio of CS powder reinforced CS-PP plastic composite shows the superior mechanical properties

Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 (S1P1) is expressed by lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and endothelium and modulated during inflammatory bowel disease

The sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 (S1P1) agonist ozanimod ameliorates ulcerative colitis, yet its mechanism of action is unknown. Here, we examine the cell subsets that express S1P1 in intestine using S1P1-eGFP mice, the regulation of S1P1 expression in lymphocytes after administration of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), after colitis induced by transfer of CD4+CD45RBhi cells, and by crossing a mouse with TNF-driven ileitis with S1P1-eGFP mice. We then assayed the expression of enzymes that regulate intestinal S1P levels, and the effect of FTY720 on lymphocyte behavior and S1P1 expression. We found that not only T and B cells express S1P1, but also dendritic (DC) and endothelial cells. Furthermore, chronic but not acute inflammatory signals increased S1P1 expression, while the enzymes that control tissue S1P levels in mice and humans with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were uniformly dysregulated, favoring synthesis over degradation. Finally, we observed that FTY720 reduced T-cell velocity and induced S1P1 degradation and retention of Naïve but not effector T cells. Our data demonstrate that chronic inflammation modulates S1P1 expression and tissue S1P levels and suggests that the anti-inflammatory properties of S1PR agonists might not be solely due to their lymphopenic effects, but also due to potential effects on DC migration and vascular barrier function

EVALUACIÓN DE VARIOS PARÁMETROS DEL NATTADAVU EN BHARATANATYAM UTILIZANDO UN SENSOR BASADO EN RASPBERRY Pi

The Bharatanatyam dance requires excellent coherency and precision from the performer. In order to calibrate and gauge the physical moments of the performer, we propose a Raspberry Pi based sensor. Using the data obtained from the prototype, the classical Bharatanatyam dance movements of a performer have been sensed and analyzed. Based on the results, suggestions to improve the performance of Bharatanatyam are reported.La danza Bharatanatyam requiere una excelente coherencia y precisión por parte del intérprete. Para calibrar y medir los momentos físicos del intérprete, proponemos un sensor basado en Raspberry Pi. Utilizando los datos obtenidos del prototipo, se han detectado y analizado los movimientos de la danza clásica Bharatanatyam de un intérprete. Basándose en los resultados, se presentan sugerencias para mejorar el desempeño en el Bharatanatyam