Effects of photon reabsorption phenomena in confocal micro-photoluminescence measurements in crystalline silicon

Confocal micro-photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy has become a powerful characterization technique for studying novel photovoltaic (PV) materials and structures at the micrometer level. In this work, we present a comprehensive study about the effects and implications of photon reabsorption phenomena on confocal micro-PL measurements in crystalline silicon (c-Si), the workhorse material of the PV industry. First, supported by theoretical calculations, we show that the level of reabsorption is intrinsically linked to the selected experimental parameters, i.e., focusing lens, pinhole aperture, and excitation wavelength, as they define the spatial extension of the confocal detection volume, and therefore, the effective photon traveling distance before collection. Second, we also show that certain sample properties such as the reflectance and/or the surface recombination velocity can also have a relevant impact on reabsorption. Due to the direct relationship between the reabsorption level and the spectral line shape of the resulting PL emission signal, reabsorption phenomena play a paramount role in certain types of micro-PL measurements. This is demonstrated by means of two practical and current examples studied using confocal PL, namely, the estimation of doping densities in c-Si and the study of back-surface and/or back-contacted Si devices such as interdigitated back contact solar cells, where reabsorption processes should be taken into account for the proper interpretation and quantification of the obtained PL data.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Polimorfismos del gen BoLA-DRB3.2* en ganado criollo colombiano

Objetivo Caracterizar el polimorfismo del gen BoLA-DRB3.2* en las razas bovinas criollas y colombianas. Materiales y métodos En 360 muestras de ADN de ocho razas bovinas criollas (Blanco Orejinegro, Casanareño, Costeño con Cuernos, Chino Santandereano, Caqueteño, Hartón del Valle, Romosinuano y San Martinero), dos razas sintéticas Colombianas (Lucerna y Velásquez) y dos razas foráneas (Brahman y Holstein) se evaluó el polimorfismo del gen BoLA-DRB3.2 mediante técnicas moleculares (PCR-RFLP); se calculó el número promedio de alelos (NPA), las frecuencias, la heterocigocidad esperada (He) y observada (Ho), el equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg, la estructura genética y los valores de FST y FIS. Resultados El NPA fue 14.6 ± 3.8 siendo Caqueteño la raza con mayor NPA (25) y el menor el Chino Santandereano (10). Se encontraron 41 alelos BoLA-DRB3.2* los más frecuentes fueron *28, *37, *24, *23, *20, *27, *8, *16, *39 (0.17, 0.11, 0.10, 0.09, 0.09, 0.07, 0.07 y 0.06 respectivamente). Se encontró alta diversidad genética (He = 0.878) con mayor valor en Caqueteño (0.96) y menor en San Martinero (0.81). Todas las razas se encontraron en equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg, se encontraron valores altamente significativos de diferenciación genética (FST= 0.044) y de coeficiente de endogamia (FIS = 0.249). Conclusiones El ganado criollo colombiano posee alto polimorfismo del gen BoLA-DRB3.2* representado en los altos valores de NPA y diversidad genética.Objective To characterize BoLA-DRB3.2*gen polymorphism in Colombian Creole breeds. Materials and methods. Using 360 DNA samples from eight Creole bovine breeds (Blanco Orejinegro, Casanareño, Costeño con Cuernos, Chino Santandereano, Caqueteño, Hartón del Valle, Romosinuano and San Martinero), two synthetic Colombian breeds (Lucerna and Velásquez) and two introduced breeds (Brahmán and Holstein), polymorphism of BoLA-DRB3.2* was evaluated using molecular techniques (PCR-RFLP). Allele average number (AAN), expected (He) and observed (Ho) allele frequencies, heterozygosity, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HW), genetic structure and FST and FIS values were estimated. Results. AAN was 14.6 ± 3.8, Caqueteño breed displayed the highest AAN value (25) and Chino Santandereano the lowest (10). 41 alleles of BoLA-DRB3.2* were detected. The most frequent were *28, *37, *24, *23, *20, *27, *8, *16 and *39 (0.17, 0.11, 0.10, 0.09, 0.09, 0.07, 0.07 and 0.06 respectively). High genetic diversity was found (He=0.878) with the highest value for Caqueteño (0.96) and lowest for San Martinero (0.81). All breeds were in HW, and highly significant values of genetic differentiation (FST=0.044) and inbreeding coefficient (FIS=0.249) were found. Conclusions The Colombian Creole breeds have a high BoLA-DRB3.2*gen polymorphism represented by the high AAN and genetic diversity valuesInstituto de Genética Veterinari

Critical Behavior of Three-Dimensional Disordered Potts Models with Many States

We study the 3D Disordered Potts Model with p=5 and p=6. Our numerical simulations (that severely slow down for increasing p) detect a very clear spin glass phase transition. We evaluate the critical exponents and the critical value of the temperature, and we use known results at lower $p$ values to discuss how they evolve for increasing p. We do not find any sign of the presence of a transition to a ferromagnetic regime.Comment: 9 pages and 9 Postscript figures. Final version published in J. Stat. Mec

Measurement of soft-drop jet observables in pp collisions with the ATLAS detector √ s = 13 TeV

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si le hubiere, y los autores pertenecientes a la UA

Estudio de pre-factibilidad técnica y económica de la implementación de una biorrefinería para la conversión de residuos de cáscara de naranja

Orange peel is an abundant organic waste in Ecuador that can be used and transformed into products of high added value. Therefore, this work analyzes the technical-economic pre-feasibility of a biorefinery from orange peel to obtain essential oil, pectin and / or bioethanol. First, several scenarios were compared around the combination of products to be obtained, and it was established that the most convenient one would be obtaining essential oil and pectin, with an annual production of 8.7 and 44.4 tons, respectively. Next, a process was designed for this biorefinery that consists of 3 sections: the pretreatment of raw material, extraction of the oil, and the extraction of pectin. Material and energy balances of the process were carried out, and later, the equipment was selected and sized according to specific methodologies. The process considered the recovery and recirculation of ethanol used in the pectin extraction section to reduce production costs. Finally, an economic analysis was carried out based on the theoretical cost estimates and a catalog cost analysis. It was found that the project is profitable, and that the payback time for the investment would be between 5 and 6 years. Therefore, the implementation of the biorefinery would generate a positive economic, environmental and social impact in the country.La cáscara de naranja es un residuo orgánico abundante en el Ecuador que puede ser aprovechado y transformado en productos de alto valor agregado. Por ello, el presente artículo analiza la pre-factibilidad técnico-económica de una biorrefinería a partir de cáscara de naranja para la obtención de aceite esencial, pectina y/o bioetanol. Primero, se compararon varios escenarios alrededor de la combinación de productos a ser obtenidos, y se estableció que el más conveniente sería la obtención de aceite esencial y pectina, con una producción anual de 8,7 y 44,4 toneladas, respectivamente. A continuación, se diseñó un proceso para esta biorrefinería que consiste en 3 secciones: el pretratamiento de la materia prima, la extracción del aceite, y la extracción de la pectina. Se realizaron los balances de materia y energía del proceso, y posteriormente, se seleccionaron y dimensionaron los equipos de acuerdo a metodologías específicas. El proceso consideró la recuperación y recirculación de etanol empleado en la sección de extracción de pectina para reducir los costos de producción. Finalmente, se realizó un análisis económico a partir de las estimaciones de costos teóricos y un análisis de costos de catálogo. Se encontró que el proyecto es rentable y que el tiempo de recuperación de la inversión estaría entre 5 y 6 años. Por lo tanto, la implementación de la biorrefinería generaría un impacto positivo a nivel económico, ambiental y social en el país

Effectiveness of individualized inhaler technique training on low adherence (LowAd) in ambulatory patients with COPD and asthma

© 2022. This document is made available under the CC-BY 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by /4.0/ This document is the published version of a published work that appeared in final form in npj primary care respiratory medicineTo analyze whether there is improvement in adherence to inhaled treatment in patients with COPD and asthma after an educational intervention based on the teach-to-goal method. This is a prospective, non-randomized, single-group study, with intervention and before-after evaluation. The study population included 120 patients (67 females and 53 males) diagnosed with asthma (70.8%) and COPD (29.1%). The level of adherence (low and optimal) and the noncompliance behavior pattern (erratic, deliberate and unwitting) were determined by the Test of the adherence to Inhalers (TAI). This questionnaire allows you to determine the level of adherence and the types of noncompliance. Low Adherence (LowAd) was defined as a score less than 49 points. All patients received individualized educational inhaler technique intervention (IEITI). Before the IEITI, 67.5% of the patients had LowAd. Following IEITI, on week 24, LowAd was 55% (p = 0.024). Each patient can present one or more types of noncompliance. The most frequent type was forgetting to use the inhaler (erratic), 65.8%. The other types were deliberate: 43.3%, and unwitting: 57.5%. All of them had decreased on the final visit: 51.7% (p = 0.009), 25.8% (p = 0.002), 39.2% (p = 0.002). There were no significant differences in adherence between asthma and COPD patients at the start of the study. The only predicting factor of LowAd was the female gender. An individualized educational intervention, in ambulatory patients with COPD and asthma, in real-world clinical practice conditions, improves adherence to the inhaled treatment

ATLAS data quality operations and performance for 2015-2018 data-taking

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, los autores pertenecientes a la UAM y el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si lo hubiereThe ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider reads out particle collision data from over 100 million electronic channels at a rate of approximately 100 kHz, with a recording rate for physics events of approximately 1 kHz. Before being certified for physics analysis at computer centres worldwide, the data must be scrutinised to ensure they are clean from any hardware or software related issues that may compromise their integrity. Prompt identification of these issues permits fast action to investigate, correct and potentially prevent future such problems that could render the data unusable. This is achieved through the monitoring of detector-level quantities and reconstructed collision event characteristics at key stages of the data processing chain. This paper presents the monitoring and assessment procedures in place at ATLAS during 2015-2018 data-taking. Through the continuous improvement of operational procedures, ATLAS achieved a high data quality efficiency, with 95.6% of the recorded proton-proton collision data collected at s=13 TeV certified for physics analysi

Janus II: a new generation application-driven computer for spin-system simulations

This paper describes the architecture, the development and the implementation of Janus II, a new generation application-driven number cruncher optimized for Monte Carlo simulations of spin systems (mainly spin glasses). This domain of computational physics is a recognized grand challenge of high-performance computing: the resources necessary to study in detail theoretical models that can make contact with experimental data are by far beyond those available using commodity computer systems. On the other hand, several specific features of the associated algorithms suggest that unconventional computer architectures, which can be implemented with available electronics technologies, may lead to order of magnitude increases in performance, reducing to acceptable values on human scales the time needed to carry out simulation campaigns that would take centuries on commercially available machines. Janus II is one such machine, recently developed and commissioned, that builds upon and improves on the successful JANUS machine, which has been used for physics since 2008 and is still in operation today. This paper describes in detail the motivations behind the project, the computational requirements, the architecture and the implementation of this new machine and compares its expected performances with those of currently available commercial systems.Comment: 28 pages, 6 figure

CorE from Myxococcus xanthus Is a Copper-Dependent RNA Polymerase Sigma Factor

The dual toxicity/essentiality of copper forces cells to maintain a tightly regulated homeostasis for this metal in all living organisms, from bacteria to humans. Consequently, many genes have previously been reported to participate in copper detoxification in bacteria. Myxococcus xanthus, a prokaryote, encodes many proteins involved in copper homeostasis that are differentially regulated by this metal. A σ factor of the ECF (extracytoplasmic function) family, CorE, has been found to regulate the expression of the multicopper oxidase cuoB, the P1B-type ATPases copA and copB, and a gene encoding a protein with a heavy-metal-associated domain. Characterization of CorE has revealed that it requires copper to bind DNA in vitro. Genes regulated by CorE exhibit a characteristic expression profile, with a peak at 2 h after copper addition. Expression rapidly decreases thereafter to basal levels, although the metal is still present in the medium, indicating that the activity of CorE is modulated by a process of activation and inactivation. The use of monovalent and divalent metals to mimic Cu(I) and Cu(II), respectively, and of additives that favor the formation of the two redox states of this metal, has revealed that CorE is activated by Cu(II) and inactivated by Cu(I). The activation/inactivation properties of CorE reside in a Cys-rich domain located at the C terminus of the protein. Point mutations at these residues have allowed the identification of several Cys involved in the activation and inactivation of CorE. Based on these data, along with comparative genomic studies, a new group of ECF σ factors is proposed, which not only clearly differs mechanistically from the other σ factors so far characterized, but also from other metal regulators