New single-source precursor for bismuth sulfide and its use as low-cost counter electrode material for dye-sensitized solar cells

One new homoleptic Bi(dtc)(3)] (1) (dtc = 4-hydroxypiperdine dithiocarbamate) has been synthesized and characterized by microanalysis, IR, UV-Vis, H-1 and C-13 spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The photoluminescence spectrum for the compound in DMSO solution was recorded. The crystal structure of 1 displayed distorted octahedral geometry around the Bi(III) center bonded through sulfur atoms of the dithiocarbamate ligands. TGA indicates that the compound decomposes to a Bi and Bi-S phase system. The Bi and Bi-S obtained from decomposition of the compound have been characterized by pXRD, EDAX and SEM. Solvothermal decomposition of 1 in the absence and presence of two different capping agents yielded three morphologically different Bi2S3 systems which were deployed as counter-electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Robust, metallic Pd17Se15 and Pd7Se4 phases from a single source precursor and their use as counter electrodes in dye sensitized solar cells

Thin films of conducting palladium selenide phases (Pd17Se15 and Pd7Se4) are prepared using a single source molecular precursor by thermolysis. Varying the mole ratios of palladium and selenium precursors results in palladium organo-selenolate complexes which on thermolysis at different temperatures yield Pd17Se15 and Pd7Se4 phases that are very stable and adherent to the substrate. The organo-selenolate complexes are characterized using small angle XRD, Se-77 NMR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The palladium selenide films are characterized by various techniques such as XRD, XPS, TEM and SEM. Electrical conductivities of the films are determined using the four probe method. The strong adherence of the films to glass substrates coupled with high corrosion resistant behavior towards strong acid and alkaline environments render them to be very effective as electrocatalysts. The catalytic activity towards the I-3(-)/I- redox couple, which is an important reaction in the regeneration of the dye in a dye-sensitized solar cell, is studied. Between the two phases, the Pd17Se15 film shows superior activity as the counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells with a photocurrent conversion efficiency of 7.45%.

A Novel Counter Sheet-Flow Sandwich Cell Culture Device For Mammalian Cell Growth In Space

Cell culture and growth in space is crucial to understand the cellular responses under microgravity. The effects of microgravity were coupled with such environment restrictions as medium perfusion, in which the underlying mechanism has been poorly understood. In the present work, a customer-made counter sheet-flow sandwich cell culture device was developed upon a biomechanical concept from fish gill breathing. The sandwich culture unit consists of two side chambers where the medium flow is counter-directional, a central chamber where the cells are cultured, and two porous polycarbonate membranes between side and central chambers. Flow dynamics analysis revealed the symmetrical velocity profile and uniform low shear rate distribution of flowing medium inside the central culture chamber, which promotes sufficient mass transport and nutrient supply for mammalian cell growth. An on-orbit experiment performed on a recovery satellite was used to validate the availability of the device.

Efecto de counter diez g (Terbufos) y fertilizante (N-P) sobre los nemátodos asociados a café en vivero

El café (coffea arábiga L.) representa uno de los cultivos de mayor importancia en Nicaragua Este cultivo se ve afectado por nematodos fitoparasito de los géneros Meloidogyne Spp. Pratylenchus spp0, y Rotylenchulus spp. Se probó el efecto de combinaciones del nematicida counter 10 G y fertilizante N-P sobre los nematodos fitoparasito con un ensayo en el Centro Experimental del Café Mauricio López Munguía”, Masatepe entre los meses de abril y Octubre de 1986. El diseña utilizado fue en bifactorial en bloques completos al azar con cuatro repeticiones. Los tratamientos fueron al nematicida counter 10 G (terbufos) en dosis de 0; 017: 0.25 y 0, 32 gr de la planta; el fertilizante N-P de la fórmula 18-46 o en dosis de 0.5 y 10 gr/planta, aplicados sobre y en combinación lo que se Hizo un total de 12 tratamientos. la aplicación del nematicida se hizo una sola vez y el fertilizante en dos ocasiones d. A los 55 y 100 DDA se midió el numero de nematodos en el suelo (Meloidogyne spp., Rotylenchulus spp, y pratylenchus spp) nematodos en las raíces (Meloidogyne spp), altura de planta, Numero de hojas y peso de raíz. Los resultados de este ensayo demostraron qué el nematicida tuvo efecto sobre Rotylenchulus spp y Rotylenchulus spp. Pero no sobre Meloidogyne spp en el suelo y en la raíz: No se encontró ningún defecto del fertilizant4e sobre las poblaciones de nematodos. Las combinaciones de nematicida-fertilizante tuvieron un efecto de amplia variabilidad sobre las poblaciones de nematodos lo que dificulto la recomendación de una determinada combinación: La dosis de fertilizantes que resulto con los mejores promedios sobre las variables altura de la planta, Número de hojas y peso de raíz fue la de 5gr, /planta Se encontró una correlaciona negativa significativa entre el género Meloidogyne spp y la altura de la plata a los 55 DDA, no observándose estos mismos resultados a los 100 DDA: también se encontró una correlación positiva significativa entre el número de Meloidogyne spp, del suelo y de la raíz a los 55 y 100 DDA; entre pratylenchus y rotylenchulus a los 55 DDA y entere el número de Nódulos causados por Meloidogyne a los 55 DDA y el peso de la Raíz a los 100 DDA.

Terrorism and the World Economy

Published as an article in: European Economic Review, 2008, vol. 52, issue 1, pages 1-27.

INTERPOL's surveillance network in curbing transnational terrorism

This paper investigates the role that INTERPOL surveillance – the Mobile INTERPOL Network Database (MIND) and the Fixed INTERPOL Network Database (FIND) – played in the War on Terror since its inception in 2005. MIND/FIND surveillance allows countries to screen people and documents systematically at border crossings against INTERPOL databases on terrorists, fugitives, and stolen and lost travel documents. Such documents have been used in the past by terrorists to transit borders. By applying methods developed in the treatment-effects literature, this paper establishes that countries adopting MIND/FIND experienced fewer transnational terrorist attacks than had they not adopted MIND/FIND. Our estimates indicate that, on average, during 2008–2011, adopting and using MIND/FIND results in 1.23 fewer transnational terrorist incidents each year per 100 million people. Thus, a country like France with a population just above 64 million people in 2008 would have 0.79 fewer transnational terrorist incidents per year owing to its use of INTERPOL surveillance. For most treatment countries, this amounts to a sizeable proportional reduction of about 60 per cent.

Field validation of the 'Logie' fish counter at Forge weir on the River Lune, 1992

The stock assessment task group report (1991) mentions that fish counters could play a key role in providing data on the size of the adult stock, and in particular the migratory salmonid stock. This report assesses the performance of the 'logie' fish counter at Forge Weir on the River Lune. Using video surveillance, a total of 1137 hours time lapse and 15 hours real time were used for validation purposes. This report looks at materials and methods, counting accuracy, sizing ability and environmental conditions, performance across the electrode array and salmonid swimming speed.

Validation of the performance of the Aquantic 2100A fish counter

This report looks at the validation of the performance of the Logie 2100A fish counter which was carried out at Forge Weir (River Lune) and Gunnislake Fish Pass (River Tamar), using a video recording system.

Description of NRA tracking studies: tracking techniques and fish counter technology

The study began on the 7th January 1991 and was completed in June 1991. Two reports have been produced. This report published as R&D Note 33 describes NRA tracking studies, tracking techniques and fish counter technology. The second report published as R&D Note 34 evaluates NRA tracking studies and recommends future research. The latter will be used solely for NRA management purposes. This report briefly outlines the programme of the NRA, placing the Fisheries programme in the context of the work of the NRA as a whole, and viewing the tracking work against the broader requirements of the NRA Fisheries research programme. Two techniques currently exist for studying the detailed timing and extent of movements of adult salmon: tracking of individually identifiable fish, and counting the numbers of fish moving past a fixed point in the river. Further details of these techniques and their development are given in Sections 2 and 3. Section 4 summarises and assesses completed and current NRA tracking Studies. Complete project descriptions for the studies are contained in Appendix A. Section 5 discusses the scientific content of these studies in relation to similar work carried out elsewhere in the UK. Section 6 details the future development of tracking techniques. Tracking work on migratory salmonids has tended to concentrate largely upon the movements of adult salmon. Much of this report will therefore be concerned with salmon tracking studies. NRA studies involving sea trout are referred to where appropriate. The methodological problems of sea trout tracking studies are summarised in Section 2.1.3.

Gunnislake Fish Counter. Annual Report 1999

This is the Gunnislake Fish Counter, Annual Report 1999 produced by the Environment Agency South West Region on March 2000. The report presents the daily upstream counts of migratory salmonids recorded at Gunnislake Weir fish counting station (SX 435 713) situated on the River Tamar in 1999. The counter data contained within this report covers the period of the commercial migratory salmonid net buy-back scheme and the implementation of the National Spring Salmon Byelaws. The fish counter at Gunnislake is a resistivity based system (Logie 2100A – Aquantic limited) and is installed in the fish pass on the Cornish bank of the River Tamar at the head of the tide. The minimum salmon count for 1999 was 2691. The run pattern observed for salmon and sea trout in 1999 was generally consistent with that of previous years. However, the total combined annual count of salmon and sea trout migrating upstream on the River Tamar in 1999 was 25% higher than the 5 year average (1994 - 1998).