Broadband telecom transparency of semiconductor-coated metal nanowires: more transparent than glass

Metallic nanowires (NW) coated with a high permittivity dielectric are proposed as means to strongly reduce the light scattering of the conducting NW, rendering them transparent at infrared wavelengths of interest in telecommunications. Based on a simple, universal law derived from electrostatics arguments, we find appropriate parameters to reduce the scattering efficiency of hybrid metal-dielectric NW by up to three orders of magnitude as compared with the scattering efficiency of the homogeneous metallic NW. We show that metal@dielectric structures are much more robust against fabrication imperfections than analogous dielectric@metal ones. The bandwidth of the transparent region entirely covers the near IR telecommunications range. Although this effect is optimum at normal incidence and for a given polarization, rigorous theoretical and numerical calculations reveal that transparency is robust against changes in polarization and angle of incidence, and also holds for relatively dense periodic or random arrangements. A wealth of applications based on metal-NWs may benefit from such invisibility

Estructuras conceptuales tridimensionales. Auxiliares en el aprendizaje de la química

Hasta ahora, el uso de mapas conceptuales constituye una valiosa experiencia didáctica, pudiéndose aplicar en todas las fases del proceso educativo. En el ámbito del aprendizaje, ha demostrado ser un instrumento eficaz para el logro del conocimiento. Sin embargo, existen algunos problemas a solucionar para lograr el uso correcto de los mapas conceptuales, puesto que muchas construcciones tienden a ser más descriptivas que explicativas. Con el propósito de facilitar el aprendizaje de los estudiantes de Química de la carrera de Ingeniería Química, se diseñaron y construyeron mapas conceptuales tridimensionales que permitiesen superar las deficiencias de conectores inadecuados o exceso de conceptos en un mapa bidimensional. Se presentan las estructuras obtenidas y los comentarios de los estudiantes

Goals scored and received in 5vs4 GK game strategy are constrained by critical moment and situational variables in elite futsal

The aim of this study was to identify the importance and meaning of goals using the goalkeeper as an outfield player in elite futsal according to critical and situational variables. The sample consisted of 11,446 actions corresponding to 1,325 matches from the 1st division Spanish Futsal League during the seasons from 2010 to 2015. Multinomial logistic regression and classification tree multivariate models were used to identify the best predictor variables related to the likelihood of scoring goals, receiving goals, or no goals. Results from Multinomial logistic regression emphasised goals scored in balanced matches and playing with the goalkeeper as an outfield player before the last eight minutes. When the teams were drawing or losing, finished with goals received or without goals. The classification tree results identified a greater likelihood of scoring goals when the teams were winning, in balanced matches, and within the last eight minutes. Conversely, a greater likelihood of suffering goals was observed using the goalkeeper as an outfield player when the teams were losing, in unbalanced matches and in the last eight minutes. The identified trends will allow futsal coaches to recognise the most suitable situations for achieving efficacy when using the goalkeeper as an outfield player strategy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Spray-drying microencapsulation of tea extracts using green starch, alginate or carrageenan as carrier materials

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGTea industry generates many by-products which could be used to produce and incorporate bioactive tea extracts (TE) into nutraceuticals, cosmetics and/or clinical applications. However, sensibility to external factors is a major disadvantage hindering its utilization. This study deals with the implementation and characterization of suitable biopolymer delivery systems based on starch, carrageenan or alginate, as microencapsulation, to stabilize and protect TE through innovative thin-carbohydrate-coated formulations. TE were spray-dried and microencapsulated in recycled carrier materials (alginate, carrageenan or starch). Product yields varied from 55 to 58%. High microencapsulation and loading efficiencies were achieved (60–93% and 65–84%, respectively). Antioxidant capacity varied from 32 to 46 g Trolox/100 g extract, within different carrier-systems; which also showed promising rheological and UV-protective properties when transformed into gels. Total phenolic content, particle-size distribution, HPSEC-analysis, SEM-analysis and FTIR-analysis were also performed. In sum, this paper characterizes and discusses the high potential of these recycled carbohydrate-coated microparticles for future applicationsMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. RYC2018-024454-IXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431F 2020/01Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481B 2018/07

Exact-Diagonalization Studies of Inelastic Light Scattering in Self-Assembled Quantum Dots

We report exact diagonalization studies of inelastic light scattering in few-electron quantum dots under the strong confinement regime characteristic of self-assembled dots. We apply the orthodox (second-order) theory for scattering due to electronic excitations, leaving for the future the consideration of higher-order effects in the formalism (phonons, for example), which seem relevant in the theoretical description of available experiments. Our numerical results stress the dominance of monopole peaks in Raman spectra and the breakdown of selection rules in open-shell dots. The dependence of these spectra on the number of electrons in the dot and the incident photon energy is explicitly shown. Qualitative comparisons are made with recent experimental results.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figure

Análisis de video y clasificación de objetos en una plataforma de vigilancia de código abierto utilizando procesamiento diferido

La inseguridad es un problema que afecta a todas las ciudades del mundo. Las más informatizadas recurren a la videovigilancia para combatirla, montando centros de monitoreo con cientos de cámaras y personal idóneo que realiza las tareas de observación. Sin embargo, este método parece no ser suficiente y los organismos públicos deben atender un reclamo social por mayor transparencia y eficiencia en el accionar ante un delito. Aunque existen soluciones corporativas, estas tienden a centralizar el desarrollo y no es sencillo añadir nuevas funcionalidades. En este contexto es que surge el presente proyecto: una plataforma de administración de cámaras y sensores basada en bibliotecas de código abierto, para apoyar la gestión integral de la seguridad. Esta plataforma complementa técnicas básicas de análisis automatizado de videos, tal como la detección de movimiento y seguimiento de objetos, hasta otras específicas, como la clasificación de objetos o la identificación de patentes. La arquitectura desarrollada es abierta, escalable y permite añadir diferentes tipos de algoritmos a partir de un pipeline de análisis diferido. En este trabajo se presenta la estructura ideada, los algoritmos actualmente utilizados para el seguimiento y clasificación de objetos, y diferentes resultados de análisis y eficiencia de la propuesta.Trabajo presentado por el Laboratorio de Plasmas Densos (PLADEMA

Analysis of both the envelope sequence and the complete genome of a HIV-1 subtype f cluster of rapid expansion in Galicia: coreceptor use prediction and phylogeny

La epidemia por VIH-1 en España, al igual que en el resto de Europa occidental, está dominada por el subtipo B. Sin embargo, recientemente se ha descrito la rápida expansión de un cluster de subsubtipo F1 entre hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres en Galicia. Los objetivos de este trabajo son analizar la secuencia de la envoltura de los virus del mencionado cluster para predicción de utilización de correceptores y presencia de aminoácidos característicos, así como caracterizar secuencias de genomas completos, determinando las relaciones filogenéticas con virus de subtipo F de otros países. Los análisis filogenéticos permitieron determinar relaciones del cluster F con virus de Brasil, Suiza, Bélgica, Francia y Gran Bretaña. Por otra parte, se han encontrado posiciones características del cluster en la región V3, diferentes de otras cepas F1, así como en otras regiones de la envoltura. Aparte, se han identificado mutaciones características asociadas a tropismo X4. El cluster de VIH-1 de subtipo F recientemente expandido en Galicia procede de una variante ampliamente diseminada en Europa occidental. Los virus de dicho cluster presentan aminoácidos característicos en la envoltura, identificándose en algunos de ellos mutaciones asociadas a tropismo X4, de potencial relevancia biológicaThe HIV-1 epidemic in Spain, as in the rest of Western Europe, is dominated by subtype B. However, it has recently been reported that a subsubtype F1 cluster has rapidly expanded among men who have sex with men in Galicia. The objectives of this work are to analyze the virus envelope sequence of the aforementioned cluster to predict the use of coreceptors and to examine the presence of characteristic amino acids, as well as to characterize full-length genome sequences, determining the phylogenetic relations with subtype F viruses from other countries. The phylogenetic analyses allowed to determine the relation of the Galician F cluster with viruses from Brazil, Switzerland, Belgium, France and Great Britain. On the other hand, characteristic amino acid residues were found in the V3 loop of viruses of the cluster, differing from other F1 strains, as well as in other regions of the envelope. Additionally, characteristic mutations associated with X4 tropism were identified. The HIV-1 subtype F cluster recently expanded in Galicia derives from a variant widely disseminated in Western Europe. The viruses of the mentioned cluster show characteristic amino acids in the envelope, with mutations associated with X4 tropism having been identified in some of them, which are of potential biological relevance

Gamification techniques for raising cyber security awareness

Due to the prevalence of online services in modern society, such as internet banking and social media, it is important for users to have an understanding of basic security measures in order to keep themselves safe online. However, users often do not know how to make their online interactions secure, which demonstrates an educational need in this area. Gamification has grown in popularity in recent years and has been used to teach people about a range of subjects. This paper presents an exploratory study investigating the use of gamification techniques to educate average users about password security, with the aim of raising overall security awareness. To explore the impact of such techniques, a role-playing quiz application (RPG) was developed for the Android platform to educate users about password security. Results gained from the work highlightedthat users enjoyed learning via the use of the password application, and felt they benefitted from the inclusion of gamification techniques. Future work seeks to expand the prototype into a full solution, covering a range of security awareness issues