Lunar ISRU Energy Storage and Electricity Generation

The survival of the astronauts and their equipment is the priority for any long-term exploration mission to the Moon. The provision of energy during the long lunar nights is a critical part of these missions. Several approaches have recently been considered to store and provide energy on the Moon by means of ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilisation). We present a review of the energy requirements for a long mission scenario, and a trade-off analysis of the potentially suitable technologies for an ISRU-based system able to store heat and generate electricity. The most promising combinations of technologies are presented.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Stochastic modelling of a neuron with the Hodgkin-Huxley model and its equivalent Markov description

Neurons are excitable cells which display fundamentally stochastic dynamics. In this work, we provide insights into their behavior and the role of stochasticity in their functioning. Starting from a conductance-based model, namely the Hodgkin-Huxley model, we first describe and simulate the action potential and then introduce external noise to the neurons as a Gaussian variable. Then, we move on to a Markov chain model to describe the dynamics of the ionic channels in a more accurate way and identify the intrinsic noise of the neurons with the stochasticity of the aforementionned channels2022/202

Developing an interface for weighing sensor

Outgoin

Laser-induced forward transfer of conductive screen-printing inks

Laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT), unlike inkjet printing, presents few constrains concerning ink viscosity or loading particle size. This is clearly favorable for printed electronics applications, since high solid content inks, such those of screen printing, can be thus transferred in a digital fashion. In this work we propose a study of the transfer mechanisms during the LIFT of a commercially-available silver screen printing ink. The printing of single voxels on glass through the variation of pulse energy and donor-receiver gap reveals a linear dependence of voxel volume respect pulse energy for low energies and small gaps. The analysis of the transfer dynamics demonstrates that for the entire range of analyzed conditions the deposit takes place through bubble contact with the receiver. The printing of lines through variation of the overlap between successive voxels reveals that under none of the analyzed conditions we obtain uniform continuous lines through single scan: the lines always show scalloping, bulging, or discontinuities. These defects are a consequence of the modification of the donor film morphology induced by previous pulses in the line, which makes the transfer dynamics unstable. A final multiple scan approach proves the feasibility of the technique for printing uniform stable lines

Transparent and conductive silver nanowires networks printed by laser-induced forward transfer

Networks of silver nanowires (Ag-NWs) can be electrically conductive and optically transparent at the same time. Thus, Ag-NWs are promising candidates for substituting transparent and conductive oxides like indium-tin-oxide. Direct-write methods for printing patterns are suitable in order to reduce the amount of material used with respect to actual deposition methods on large areas that require post-processing steps. In this work, we study the laser induced forward transfer of Ag-NWs with the aim of printing conductive patterns that appear invisible at naked eye. A Nd:YAG laser system delivering 150 ns pulses at 1064 nm wavelength was coupled with a scan head for printing the Ag-NWs at different pulse energies (0.20-0.45 mJ). It has been found that the area coverage of Ag-NWs, which is directly related with the optical an electrical properties of the patterns, increases as the laser pulse energy increases. A sheet resistance of 140 Ω/sq is reached when printing at the highest pulse energy tested. As a proof-of-concept, we printed simple circuits with a pair of invisible electrodes connecting an LED on glass with a transmittance of 98.8 %, a haze of 0.5 %, a reflectance below 0.1 % and a sheet resistance of 340 Ω/sq

Novel ligands for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases

Programa de doctorat: Doctorat en Polímers i Biopolímer

Progress in the study of genome size evolution in Asteraceae: analysis of the last update

The Genome Size in Asteraceae database (GSAD, http://www.asteraceaegenomesize.com) has been recently updated, with data from papers published or in press until July 2018. This constitutes the third release of GSAD, currently containing 4350 data entries for 1496 species, which represent a growth of 22.52% in the number of species with available genome size data compared with the previous release, and a growth of 57.72% in terms of entries. Approximately 6% of Asteraceae species are covered in terms of known genome sizes. The number of source papers included in this release (198) means a 48.87% increase with respect to release 2.0. The significant data increase was exploited to study the genome size evolution in the family from a phylogenetic perspective. Our results suggest that the role of chromosome number in genome size diversity within Asteraceae is basically associated to polyploidy, while dysploidy would only cause minor variation in the DNA amount along the family. Among diploid taxa, we found that the evolution of genome size shows a strong phylogenetic signal. However, this trait does not seem to evolve evenly across the phylogeny, but there could be significant scale and clade-dependent patterns. Our analyses indicate that the phylogenetic signal is stronger at low taxonomic levels, with certain tribes standing out as hotspots of autocorrelation between genome size and phylogeny. Finally, we also observe meaningful associations among nuclear DNA content on Asteraceae species and other phenotypical and ecological traits (i.e. plant habit and invasion ability). Overall, this study emphasizes the need to continue generating and analyzing genome size data in order to puzzle out the evolution of this parameter and its many biological correlates

Wnt signaling alterations in the human spinal cord of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases: spotlight on Fz2 and Wnt5a

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with no cure, and elucidation of the mechanisms mediating neuronal death in this neuropathology is crucial to develop effective treatments. It has recently been demonstrated in animal models that the Wnt family of proteins is involved in this neuropathology, although its potential involvement in case of humans is almost unknown. We analyzed the expression of Wnt signaling components in healthy and ALS human spinal cords by quantitative RT-PCR, and we found that most Wnt ligands, modulators, receptors, and co-receptors were expressed in healthy controls. Moreover, we observed clear alterations in the mRNA expression of different components of this family of proteins in human spinal cord tissue from ALS cases. Specifically, we detected a significant increase in the mRNA levels of Wnt3, Wnt4, Fz2, and Fz8, together with several non-significant increases in the mRNA expression of other genes such as Wnt2b, Wnt5a, Fz3, Lrp5, and sFRP3. Based on these observations and on previous reports of studies performed in animal models, we evaluated with immunohistochemistry the protein expression patterns of Fz2 and Fz5 receptors and their main ligand Wnt5a in control samples and ALS cases. No substantial changes were observed in Fz5 protein expression pattern in ALS samples. However, we detected an increase in the amount of Fz2+ astrocytes in the borderline between gray and white matter at the ventral horn in ALS samples. Finally, Wnt5a expression was observed in neurons and astrocytes in both control and ALS samples, although Wnt5a immunolabeling in astroglial cells was significantly increased in ALS spinal cords in the same region where changes in Fz2 were observed. Altogether, these observations strongly suggest that the Wnt family of proteins, and more specifically Fz2 and Wnt5a, might be involved in human ALS pathology

Cognitive-behavioural therapy with acceptance and commitment components in an obssesive-compulsive disorder case

[ES] Descripción del tratamiento de un caso de TOC con terapia cognitivo conductual y de aceptación y compromiso para la compulsión más resistente

Terapia cognitivo-conductual con componentes de aceptación y compromiso en un caso de trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo.

El objetivo del presente trabajo es la descripción del tratamiento y la presentación de resultados del caso clínico de una mujer de 33 años con trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo (TOC), de 2 años de evolución, con gran interferencia tanto en sus relaciones sociales y familiares como en su proceso vital y su rutina diaria. Se utilizó el modelo de Terapia Cognitivo-Conductual (TCC) y el de Aceptación y Compromiso (ACT) para la compulsión más resistente. La intervención tuvo lugar durante 8 sesiones de tratamiento con una periodicidad semanal, en primer lugar, y espaciándose éstas en el tiempo en función de la evolución sintomática para conseguir la autonomía de la paciente y la finalización del proceso terapéutico. Se realizaron dos sesiones de seguimiento: a los 3 meses y medio y 6 meses después. Los resultados se evaluaron a partir de los autorregistros de la paciente, manteniéndose ésta asintomática en los seguimientos y habiendo recuperado sus relaciones sociales y familiares y su nivel de actividad previo. Al inicio de la terapia, la paciente llevaba dos meses con tratamiento farmacológico, que se fue retirando a lo largo del proces