B.O.G.G.L.E.S.: Boundary Optical GeoGraphic Lidar Environment System

The purpose of this paper is to describe a pseudo X-ray vision system that pairs a Lidar scanner with a visualization device. The system as a whole is referred to as B.O.G.G.L.E.S. There are several key factors that went into the development of this system and the background information and design approach are thoroughly described. B.O.G.G.L.E.S functionality is depicted through the use of design constraints and the analysis of test results. Additionally, many possible developments for B.O.G.G.L.E.S are proposed in the paper. This indicates that there are various avenues of improvement for this project that could be implemented in the future

La reforma política

1 archivo PDF (115 páginas)Se recogen aquí textos publicados por Miguel Ángel Granados Chapa, en las fechas que se indican, en diversos medios informativos, entre 1975 y 1978. Se refieren, casi todos, específicamente a la reforma política, como fue bautizado el proceso de enmiendas constitucionales y legales que establecieron nuevas reglas para la actuación de los partidos y el Congreso y para la celebración de elecciones. Otros textos se incluyen porque su contenido atañe a las materias de dicha reforma política

La importancia del color en la escultura ibérica: el caso del león de Elche (Alicante)

The recognition that the surface of Iberian sculptures was painted dates back to the end of the 19th century, but the poor or non-existent conservation of the pigments and the historical appreciation of white surfaces, led to valuing them almost exclusively for the quality of their carving. The fact is that an important part of the expressiveness of the figures was manifested through color and painted designs, as much as through carving. Ignoring this fact has led to mistakes even in the identification of the figures. This is the case of the lion found at Elche, traditionally considered a lioness due to the apparent absence of the mane that characterizes male animals. However, the application of photographic filters and the detailed study of its surface, has made it possible to recognize that the locks of hair were drawn with red pigment, varying their design on the head and neck. The confirmation of this fact allows to identify the “carnivore”, an undefined representation in Iberian iconography.El reconocimiento de que la superficie de las esculturas ibéricas estaba pintada se remonta a finales del siglo XIX, pero la mala o nula conservación de los pigmentos y el aprecio histórico de las superficies blancas, llevó a valorarlas casi exclusivamente por la calidad de su talla. Lo cierto es que una parte importante de la expresividad de las figuras se manifestaba a través del color y los diseños pintados, así como a través de la labra. Ignorar este hecho ha llevado a errores, incluso en la identificación de las piezas. Es el caso del león de Elche, considerado tradicionalmente una leona debido a la aparente ausencia de la melena que caracteriza a los animales machos. Sin embargo, la aplicación de filtros fotográficos y el estudio en detalle de su superficie, ha permitido reconocer que los mechones de pelo fueron dibujados con pigmento rojo, variando su diseño en la cabeza y el cuello. La constatación de este hecho concreta la personalidad del “carnívoro”, una representación a menudo indefinida en la iconografía ibérica

All-Thin-Film Perovskite/C-Si Four-Terminal Tandems: Interlayer and Intermediate Contacts Optimization

ALTALUZ (Reference PTDC/CTM-ENE/5125/2014). SuperSolar (PTDC/NAN-OPT/28430/2017). TACIT (PTDC/NAN-OPT/28837/2017). FCT-MEC, Grant SERH/BPD/115566/2016.Combined perovskite/crystalline-silicon four-terminal tandem solar cells promise >30% efficiencies. Here we propose all-thin-film double-junction architectures where high-bandgap perovskite top cells are coupled to ultrathin c-Si bottom cells enhanced with light trapping. A complete optoelectronic model of the devices was developed and applied to determine the optimal intermediate layers, which are paramount to maximize the cells' photocurrent. It was ascertained that by replacing the transparent conductive oxides by grid-based metallic contacts in the intermediate positions, the parasitic absorption is lowered by 30%. Overall, a 29.2% efficiency is determined for ∼2 um thick tandems composed of the optimized interlayers and improved with Lambertian light trapping.authorsversionpublishe

Optimum Luminescent Down-Shifting Properties for High Efficiency and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

PTDC/CTM-ENE/5125/2014. PTDC/NAN-OPT/28430/2017. TACIT (PTDC/NAN-OPT/28837/2017). SFRH/BPD/115566/2016. PD/BD/143031/2018 (via AdvaMTech PhD program).In recent years, the discovery of the excellent optical and electrical properties of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) made them a main focus of research in photovoltaics, with efficiency records increasing astonishingly fast since their inception. However, problems associated with the stability of these devices are hindering their market application. UV degradation is one of the most severe issues, chiefly caused by TiO 2 's photogenerated electrons that decompose the perovskite absorber material, coupled with the additional intrinsic degradation of this material under UV exposure. The solution presented here can minimize this effect while boosting the cells' generated photocurrent, by making use of combined light-trapping and luminescent down-shifting effects capable of changing the harmful UV radiation to higher wavelengths that do not affect the stability and can be effectively "trapped" in the cell. This work focuses in the optimization of the photocurrent gains that can be attained by emulating the changed spectrum resulting from applying down-shifting media as encapsulant in photonic-enhanced PSCs, as well as the reduction in the harmful effects of UV radiation on the devices. Such optimized photonic solution allows current enhancement while reducing the harmful UV photocarrier generation both in the TiO 2 (by 1 order of magnitude) and in the perovskite (by 80%) relative to a standard PSC without light management.authorsversionpublishe

Combining Soft with Hard Condensed Matter for Circular Polarized Light Sensing and Logic Operations

ERC-StG-2014, GA 640598The study shows the incorporation of chiral nematic photonic cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films, well known for their adaptive character of selective reflection of circular polarized light (CPL), and silicon-based thin-film photodiodes, thus achieving a light sensor capable of discriminating right- from left-handed CPL. The circular polarization (CP) response is maximum for specific wavelengths in the green-to-red region. When subjected to these wavelengths, they produce photocurrents that are over 50% distinct between the two CP states. Proper signal processing, thus, yields a binary output depending on the handedness of the light. Through the addition of monovalent salt to the initial CNC suspension, a blueshift to the photonic band gap is induced, enabling a larger wavelength gamut and application possibilities. The measured results are then used as a basis for electromagnetic simulations that show remarkable consistency with the experimental results, thus defining a new tool that can be used to efficiently optimize the devices’ response. Fast transient responses to CPL are shown with possible logic operations, as well as humidity sensing. The developed devices are, thus, applicable in areas as diverse as imaging, CPL sensing, optoelectronic counterfeiting, and information processing with logic states that depend solely on the handedness of the incident light.publishersversionpublishe

Self-Cleaned Photonic-Enhanced Solar Cells with Nanostructured Parylene-C

Foundation for Science and Technology. Grant Number: UID/CTM/50025/2019 SuperSolar. Grant Number: PTDC/NAN-OPT/28430/2017 TACIT. Grant Number: PTDC/NAN-OPT/28837/2017 LocalEnergy. Grant Number: PTDC/EAM-PEC/29905/2017 FCT. Grant Number: SFRH/BD/148078/2019Photonic front-coatings with self-cleaning properties are presented as means to enhance the efficiency and outdoor performance of thin-film solar cells, via optical enhancement while simultaneously minimizing soiling-related losses. This is achieved by structuring parylene-C transparent encapsulants using a low-cost and highly-scalable colloidal-lithography methodology. As a result, superhydrophobic surfaces with broadband light-trapping properties are developed. The optimized parylene coatings show remarkably high water contact angles of up to 165.6° and extremely low adhesion, allowing effective surface self-cleaning. The controlled nano/micro-structuring of the surface features also generates strong anti-reflection and light scattering effects, corroborated by numeric electromagnetic modeling, which lead to pronounced photocurrent enhancement along the UV–vis–IR range. The impact of these photonic-structured encapsulants is demonstrated on nanocrystalline silicon solar cells, that show short-circuit current density gains of up to 23.6%, relative to planar reference cells. Furthermore, the improvement of the devices' angular response enables an enhancement of up to 35.2% in the average daily power generation.authorsversionpublishe

QUICKJOB

Desde hace unos años atrás, se observa un incremento de los servicios ofrecidos por internet o plataformas online, originado por la preferencia de los consumidores de recibir dichos servicios a domicilio, con el fin de mantener más horas de descanso u ocio en el hogar; o para cubrir otras necesidades. En lo que va del año 2020 el brote de nuevo coronavirus provocó un aislamiento social, que obligando a la población a recurrir a otros canales para abastecerse y satisfacer sus necesidades. Consecuentemente, los canales digitales fuero los que más se acondicionaron a dicha necesidad. El presente proyecto, QuickJob, nace exactamente para cubrir múltiples necesidades que son básicas y comunes en el hogar, pero ofrecidas desde una misma plataforma, de fácil acceso, segura y calificable por el consumidor. Asimismo, los servicios ofrecidos por terceros generarían ingresos adicionales a los interesados en ofrecerlos. Esta visión de negocio, donde, intereses y necesidades se interrelacionan entre sí, bajo una misma plataforma, capaz de ubicar a proveedores y clientes en una radio de acción cercano a sus hogares, es lo que hace atractivo el negocio; ya que, valora una de las necesidades más prioritarias para las personas, que es el tiempo. Uno de los aspectos que impulsará y fidelizará a los clientes es el servicio de calidad, por el cual se calificará a nuestros proveedores; y así mantener altos niveles de calidad del servicio para ser identificados y recomendados por los mismos clientes; los cuales podrán comentar y valorar cada uno de los servicios que utilizan. QuickJob se presenta como un negocio que va más allá de una simpe plataforma online, ya que generará una inclusión laboral para personas con intereses de ofrecer sus servicios con eficiencia en el trabajo y optimización de recursos.Since a few years ago, there has been an increase in the services offered by the internet or online platforms, because of consumers' preference to receive said services at home, in order to maintain more hours of rest or leisure at home; or to cover other needs. So far in 2020, the outbreak of the new coronavirus caused social isolation, forcing the population to turn to other channels to supply themselves and meet their needs. Consequently, digital channels were the ones that most adapted to this need. This project, QuickJob, was born exactly to cover multiple needs that are basic and common in the home, but offered from the same platform, easily accessible, safe and qualifiable by the consumer. Likewise, the services offered by third parties would generate additional income to those interested in offering them. This business vision where interests and needs are interrelated, under the same platform, capable of locating suppliers and customers in a radius of action close to their homes, is what makes the business attractive; since it values ​​one of the highest priority needs for people, which is time. One of the aspects that will promote and retain customers is the quality service, by which our suppliers will be rated; and thus maintain high levels of quality of service to be identified and recommended by the clients themselves; which will be able to comment and evaluate each one of the services they use.Trabajo de investigació

Unleashing the potential of cell membrane-based nanoparticles for COVID-19 treatment and vaccination

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a particular coronavirus strain responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), accounting for more than 3.1 million deaths worldwide. Several health-related strategies have been successfully developed to contain the rapidly-spreading virus across the globe, toward reduction of both disease burden and infection rates. Particularly, attention has been focused on either the development of novel drugs and vaccines, or by adapting already-existing drugs for COVID-19 treatment, mobilizing huge efforts to block disease progression and to overcome the shortage of effective measures available at this point. Areas covered: This perspective covers the breakthrough of multifunctional biomimetic cell membrane-based nanoparticles as next-generation nanosystems for cutting-edge COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccination, specifically cell membrane-derived nanovesicles and cell membrane-coated nanoparticles, both tailorable cell membrane-based nanosystems enriched with the surface repertoire of native cell membranes, toward maximized biointerfacing, immune evasion, cell targeting and cell-mimicking properties. Expert opinion: Nano-based approaches have received widespread interest regarding enhanced antigen delivery, prolonged blood circulation half-life and controlled release of drugs. Cell membrane-based nanoparticles comprise interesting antiviral multifunctional nanoplatforms for blocking SARS-CoV-2 binding to host cells, reducing inflammation through cytokine neutralization and improving drug delivery toward COVID-19 treatment