Cost Model Developed in European Project LIMA

[EN] In this paper we show the results of the cost model developed in LIMA project (Seventh Framework Programme, CN: 248909). The LIMA project is entitled "Improve photovoltaic efficiency by applying novel effects at the limits of light to matter interaction". The project started in January 2010 and during this year a cost model of the device developed in the project has been developed to assess the industrial viability of this innovative approach to increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of photovoltaic solar cells. During 2011 the cost model has been actualized and a new scenario has been defined. The LIMA project exploits cutting edge photonic technologies to enhance silicon solar cell efficiencies with new concepts in nanostructured materials. It proposes nanostructured surface layers designed to increase the light absorption in the solar cell while decreasing the surface and interface recombination loss. The integration on a back contact solar cell further reduces these interface losses and avoids shading. The project improves light-matter interaction by the use a surface plasmonic nanoparticle layer. This reduces reflection and efficiently couples incident radiation into the solar cell where it is trapped by internal reflection. Surface and interface recombination are minimized by using silicon quantum dot superlattices in a passivating matrix.This work has been carried out in the framework of the LIMA Project. The European Commission is gratefully acknowledged for financial support under Contract number FP7-248909.Vazquez, M.; Mihailetchi, V.; Connolly, JP.; Cubero García, OJ.; Daly, G.; Halm, A.; Kopecek, R.... (2012). Cost Model Developed in European Project LIMA. Energy Procedia. 27:646-651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2012.07.123S6466512

Spread of a SARS-CoV-2 variant through Europe in the summer of 2020.

Following its emergence in late 2019, the spread of SARS-CoV-21,2 has been tracked by phylogenetic analysis of viral genome sequences in unprecedented detail3–5. Although the virus spread globally in early 2020 before borders closed, intercontinental travel has since been greatly reduced. However, travel within Europe resumed in the summer of 2020. Here we report on a SARS-CoV-2 variant, 20E (EU1), that was identified in Spain in early summer 2020 and subsequently spread across Europe. We find no evidence that this variant has increased transmissibility, but instead demonstrate how rising incidence in Spain, resumption of travel, and lack of effective screening and containment may explain the variant’s success. Despite travel restrictions, we estimate that 20E (EU1) was introduced hundreds of times to European countries by summertime travellers, which is likely to have undermined local efforts to minimize infection with SARS-CoV-2. Our results illustrate how a variant can rapidly become dominant even in the absence of a substantial transmission advantage in favourable epidemiological settings. Genomic surveillance is critical for understanding how travel can affect transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and thus for informing future containment strategies as travel resumes. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited

NUEVAS HERRAMIENTAS MULTIMEDIA DE FORMACIÓN E INFORMACIÓN APLICADAS A LA EDUCACIÓN AMBIENTAL. DOS EJEMPLOS DE BUENAS PRÁCTICAS

La irrupción de Internet ha puesto en crisis, sin que nos demos cuenta, las formas clásicas de trabajo enseñanza-aprendizaje entre el alumno y el profesor. Una de las características de la Red es su carácter de sistema de difusión de información y de comunicación abierta. No hace falta contar con grandes infraestructuras. No es necesario un centro de cálculo como el que tienen nuestras universidades, no hacen falta espacios físicos (aulas) para reunirse. Ahora, en la red, una persona con una formación adecuada, puede subirse a la tarima, cualquiera puede tomar la tiza y utilizar la pizarra para explicar. En la red cualquier estudiante puede encontrar un espacio web para publicar información, cualquiera puede crear un espacio de comunicación (foros, listas de distribución de correos, salas de charlas, etc.). Cualquiera puede conseguir espacios de almacenamiento para depositar apuntes, exámenes, prácticas, etc. Incluso, cualquiera puede acceder a herramientas y le permiten hacer docencia a través de la red

Risk factors and rate of recurrence after Mohs surgery in basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas: a nationwide prospective cohort (REGESMOHS, Spanish Registry of Mohs Surgery)

Randomized studies to assess the efficacy of Mohs micrographic surgery in basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are limited by methodological and ethical issues and a lack of long follow-up periods. This study presents the "real-life" results of a nationwide 7-years cohort on basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma treated with Mohs micrographic surgery. A prospective cohort was conducted in 22 Spanish centres (from July 2013 to February 2020) and a multivariate analysis, including characteristics of patients, tumours, surgeries and follow-up, was performed. A total of 4,402 patients followed up for 12,111 patient-years for basal cell carcinoma, and 371 patients with 915 patient-years of follow-up for squamous cell carcinoma were recruited. Risk factors for recurrence included age, non-primary tumours and more stages or unfinished surgeries for both tumours, and immunosuppression for squamous cell carcinoma. Incidence rates of recurrence were 1.3 per 100 person-years for basal cell carcinoma (95% confidence interval 1.1-1.5) and 4.5 for squamous cell carcinoma (95% confidence interval 3.3-6.1), being constant over time (0-5 years). In conclusion, follow-up strategies should be equally intense for at least the first 5 years, with special attention paid to squamous cell carcinoma (especially in immunosuppressed patients), elderly patients, non-primary tumours, and those procedures requiring more stages, or unfinished surgeries