Improving light harvesting in polymer photodetector devices through nanoindented metal mask films

To enhance light harvesting in organic photovoltaic devices, we propose the incorporation of a metal (aluminum) mask film in the system’s usual layout. We fabricate devices in a sandwich geometry, where the mask (nanoindented with a periodic array of holes of sizes d and spacing s) is added between the transparent electrode and the active layer formed by a blend of the semiconducting polymer P3HT and substituted fullerene. Its function is to promote trapping of the incident light into the device’s cavity (the region corresponding to the active layer). For d, we set a value that allows light diffraction through the holes in the relevant absorption range of the polymer. To optimize the mask structure, we consider a very simple model to determine the s leading to trapped fields that are relatively intense and homogeneous within the device. From measurements of the action spectra, we show that, indeed, such architecture can considerably improve the resulting photocurrent efficiencies—one order of magnitude in the best situation studied.

Human case of West Nile neuroinvasive disease in Portugal, summer 2015

A case of West Nile virus (WNV) infection was reported in the Algarve region, Portugal, in the first week of September 2015. WNV is known to circulate in Portugal, with occasional reports in horses and birds (2004 to 2011) and very sporadically human cases (in 2004 and in 2010). Here we present the clinical and laboratory aspects related to the first human case of West Nile neuroinvasive disease reported in Portugal

General approach for studying first-order phase transitions at low temperatures

By combining different ideas, a general and efficient protocol to deal with discontinuous phase transitions at low temperatures is proposed. For small $T$'s, it is possible to derive a generic analytic expression for appropriate order parameters, whose coefficients are obtained from simple simulations. Once in such regimes simulations by standard algorithms are not reliable, an enhanced tempering method, the parallel tempering -- accurate for small and intermediate system sizes with rather low computational cost -- is used. Finally, from finite size analysis, one can obtain the thermodynamic limit. The procedure is illustrated for four distinct models, demonstrating its power, e.g., to locate coexistence lines and the phases density at the coexistence.Comment: 5 page

Coasting cosmologies with time dependent cosmological constant

The effect of a time dependent cosmological constant is considered in a family of scalar tensor theories. Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmological models for vacumm and perfect fluid matter are found. They have a linear expansion factor, the so called coasting cosmology, the gravitational "constant" decreace inversely with time; this model satisfy the Dirac hipotesis. The cosmological "constant" decreace inversely with the square of time, therefore we can have a very small value for it at present time.Comment: 7 pages, latex file (ijmpal macro), accepted for publication in Int. Mod. Phys.

A Simple and Precise Way to Determine Electrical Resistivity of Isotropic Conductors: Simplifying the Four-Probe Method

COMSOL Multiphysics software is used to describe the behavior of the electrical resistivity of several samples with rectangular shape typically used in the Montgomery method. The simulation data obtained using four isotropic conductors allowed us to understand in detail the behavior of the electric potential and electric field of the samples. The results provide an analytical method which can substitute the four-probe method with much more simplicity and precision.Comment: 5pags, 7 figures, Keywords: Electrical resistivity; Montgomery method; Four-probe method; COMSO

Partial Papillary Muscle Rupture after Myocardial Infarction and Early Severe Obstructive Bioprosthetic Valve Thrombosis: an Unusual Combination

Mechanical complications after myocardial infarction (MI) have become uncommon since the introduction of primary angioplasty. They can lead to a rapid clinical deterioration and a fatal outcome, with patient’s survival being dependent on their prompt recognition and intervention. We describe a case of two rare mechanical complications: a partial papillary muscle rupture after MI, followed by an early severe obstructive thrombosis of the implanted bioprosthetic valve.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio