Pipeline-Based Power Reduction in FPGA Applications

This paper shows how temporal parallelism has an important role in the power dissipation reduction in the FPGA field. Glitches propagation is blocked by the flip-flops or registers in the pipeline. Several multiplication structures are implemented over modern FPGAs, StratixII and Virtex4, comparing their results with and without pipeline and hardware duplication

The development of a wind tunnel DAQ system by using Labview tools

This paper presents the experimental three-year learning activity developed by a group of teachers in a wind tunnel facility. The authors, leading a team of students, carried out a project consisting of the design, assembly and testing of a wind tunnel. The project included all stages of the process from its initial specifications to its final quality flow assessments, going through the calculation of each element, and the building of the whole wind tunnel. The group of (final year) students was responsible for the whole wind tunnel project as a part of their bachelor degree project. The paper focuses on the development of wind tunnel data acquisition software. This automatic tool is essential to improve the automation of the data acquisition of the wind tunnel facility systems, in particular for a 6DOF multi-axis force/torque sensor. This work can be considered as a typical example of real engineering practice: a set of specifications that has to be modified due to the constraints imposed throughout the project, in order to obtain the final resul

Gibberellins Regulate Ovule Integument Development by Interfering with the Transcription Factor ATS

[EN] Gibberellins (GAs) are plant hormones that regulate most plant life cycle aspects, including flowering and fruit development. Here, we demonstrate the implication of GAs in ovule development. DELLA proteins, negative GA response regulators, act as positive factors for ovule integument development in a mechanism that involves transcription factor ABERRANT TESTA SHAPE (ATS). The seeds of the della global mutant, a complete loss-of-function of DELLA, and the ats-1 mutant are remarkably similar, with a round shape, a disorganized testa, and viviparism. These defects are the result of an alteration in integuments that fail to fully develop and are shorter than in wild-type plants. ats-1 also shows some GA-related phenotypes, for example, higher germination rates and early flowering. In fact, ats-1 has elevated GA levels due to the activation of GA biosynthesis genes, which indicates that ATS inhibits GA biosynthesis. Moreover, DELLAs and ATS proteins interact, which suggests the formation of a transcriptional complex that regulates the expression of genes involved in integument growth. Therefore, the repression of GA biosynthesis by ATS would result in the stabilization of DELLAs to ensure correct ATS-DELLA complex formation. The requirement of both activities to coordinate proper ovule development strongly argues that the ATS-DELLA complex acts as a key molecular factor. This work provides the first evidence for a role of GAs in ovule and seed development.This work was supported by grants BIO2011-26302 and BIO2014-55946 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, respectively, and ACOMP/2013/048 and ACOMP/2014/106 from the Generalitat Valenciana to M.A.P.-A. R.S. received a PhD fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.Gómez Jiménez, MD.; Ventimilla-Llora, D.; Sacristán Tarrazó, R.; Perez Amador, MA. (2016). Gibberellins Regulate Ovule Integument Development by Interfering with the Transcription Factor ATS. Plant Physiology. 172(4):2403-2415. doi:10.1104/pp.16.01231S24032415172

Influence of Large Periods of DC Current Injection in c-Si Photovoltaic Panels

Nowadays, electroluminescence imaging (Eli) appears as an emerging technique in the maintenance of photovoltaic (PV) plants. There is a concern about how the current injection needed in ELi measurements can affect the PV modules service life, and how these periodical inspections can affect the long term life of the modules. In order to give a practical answer to this problem, a series of tests consisting of long periods of current injection on several monocrystalline silicon modules has been carried out. The modules tested had already fulfilled their useful life and present multiple defects. In order to analyze how the current injection affects the state of the module, images of infrared thermography (IRT) and ELi were acquired during the current injection period. The subsequent analysis of these images shows only a small effect during the heating period in the EL intensity results at the beginning of each test, not affecting the module performance.Proyecto de Investigación ENE2017-89561-C4-3-R (MCIN)Proyecto de Investigación RTC-2017-6712-3 (MCIN)Proyecto de Investigación VA283P18 (Junta de Castilla y León

New Biocomposites for Innovative Construction Facades and Interior Partitions

Osirys is a European Research Project where a holistic solution for façades and interior partitions ready to be applied in building retrofitting and new construction has been developed. The project uses biocomposites as the base material to define different products: a multilayer façade, a curtain wall, a window, and an interior partition. The biocomposites developed have different functionalities able to meet the strictest requisites of the European Building Codes in relation to fire and structural performance, improve indoor air quality through the elimination of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and microorganisms, increase thermal insulation, and increase the durability of construction elements. The new systems are lighter than traditional ones, leading to reductions in overall weight, thereby reducing implementation costs during both manufacturing and assembly processes, thanks to an industrialised concept that utilises modular elements. The project was developed with the collaboration of 18 European partners (5 research centres, 9 SMEs, 2 large industries, and 2 public bodies). The main activities were devoted to the establishment of requirements, the development of materials, the design of products, the integration of materials into products, the verification of properties by simulation and testing according to EU standards, the integration of products into real buildings, and economic and environmental assessment. The scope of this paper is to provide a general overview of the entire project work and results to demonstrate the feasibility of using biocomposites in envelope solutions with the aim of solving some of the main problems that exist in façade traditional solutions. The project finishes with the implementation of the developments in real buildings as prototypes; further research is required before industrial scale manufacturing of the systems can be launched into the market.This work was supported by the EU under the 7th Framework programme of research, technological development, and demonstration project titled: “Forest based composites for façades and interior partitions to improve indoor air quality in new builds and restoration” under grant agreement nº 609067. The development of this article and of this project would not have been possible without the collaboration of all consortium partners: Fundación Tecnalia, Acciona Infraestructuras, Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung EV, Research Association of Plastic and Related Materials (AIMPLAS), IVL Svenska Miljoeinstitutet AB, Tartu Stad, Tecnaro Gesellschaft zur Industriellen Anwendung Nachwachsender Rohstoffe MBH, Netcomposites Limited, Omikron-Dokk Muanyagiparo kft, Conenor Oy, Van Berkel & Bos UN STUDIO B.V., Amorim Cork Composites SA, ENAR Envolventes arquitectónicas, Bergamo Tecnologie Spzoo, VISESA, SICC GMBH and Collanti Concorde SRL

Defects-Recognition, Imaging and Physics in Semiconductors (DRIP) XVIII

- The electrical activity of the extended defects is greatly influenced by the presence of metallic impurities. - The activity of GBs depends on the background metallic impurities, as [M] decreases the GBs loss its electrical activity. - Instead, the sub-grain boundaries present a higher electrical activity, even if [M] is reduced. - The measure of the diffusion length in the presence of high concentrations of metallic impurities can be misleading.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Proyecto de Investigación ENE2017-89561-C4-3-R)Junta de Castilla y León (Proyecto de Investigación VA283P18

Defects-Recognition, Imaging and Physics in Semiconductors (DRIP) XVIII

Comparativa entre imágenes de EL y PL diurnaMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación (Proyecto de Investigación ENE2017-89561-C4-3-R)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Proyecto de Investigación RTC-2017-6712-3 )Junta de Castilla y León (Proyecto de Investigación VA283P18

37th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EUPVSEC)

Medidas de EL utilizando largos periodos de inyección de corriente. No se observa ningún tipo de daño en los módulos fotovoltaicos.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Proyecto de Investigación ENE2017-89561-C4-3-R)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Proyecto de Investigación RTC-2017-6712-3)Junta de Castilla y León (Proyecto de Investigación VA283P18