How varies optimal welfare pricing with income distribution? The case of the untolled alternative.

In some countries, such as Spain, it is very common that in the same corridor there are two roads with the same origin and destination but with some differences. The most important contrast is that one is a toll highway which offers a better quality than the parallel road in exchange of a price. The users decide if the price of the toll is worth to pay for the advantages offered. This problem is known as the untolled alternative and it has been largely studied in the academic literature, particularly related to economic efficiency and the optimal welfare toll. However, there is a gap in the literature academic regarding how it affects income distribution to the optimal toll. The main objective of the paper is to fill this gap. In this paper a theoretical model in order to obtain the optimal welfare price in a toll highway that competes for capturing the traffic with a conventional road is developed. This model is done for non-usual users who decide over the expectation of free flow conditions. This model is finally applied to the variables we want to focus on: average value of travel time (VTT) which is strongly related with income, dispersion of this VTT and traffic levels, from free flow to congestion. Derived from the results, we conclude that the higher the average VTT the higher the optimal price, the higher the dispersion of this VTT the lower the optimal price and finally, the more the traffic the higher the optimal toll.

Aerial Coverage Path Planning applied to Mapping

In the last decade we have seen how small and light weight aerial platforms - aka, Mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (MUAV) - shipped with heterogeneous sensors have become a 'most wanted' Remote Sensing (RS) tool. Most of the off-the-shelf aerial systems found in the market provide way-point navigation. However, they do not rely on a tool that compute the aerial trajectories considering all the aspects that allow optimizing the aerial missions. One of the most demanded RS applications of MUAV is image surveying. The images acquired are typically used to build a high-resolution image, i.e., a mosaic of the workspace surface. Although, it may be applied to any other application where a sensor-based map must be computed. This thesis provides a study of this application and a set of solutions and methods to address this kind of aerial mission by using a fleet of MUAVs. In particular, a set of algorithms are proposed for map-based sampling, and aerial coverage path planning (ACPP). Regarding to map-based sampling, the approaches proposed consider workspaces with different shapes and surface characteristics. The workspace is sampled considering the sensor characteristics and a set of mission requirements. The algorithm applies different computational geometry approaches, providing a unique way to deal with workspaces with different shape and surface characteristics in order to be surveyed by one or more MUAVs. This feature introduces a previous optimization step before path planning. After that, the ACPP problem is theorized and a set of ACPP algorithms to compute the MUAVs trajectories are proposed. The problem addressed herein is the problem to coverage a wide area by using MUAVs with limited autonomy. Therefore, the mission must be accomplished in the shortest amount of time. The aerial survey is usually subject to a set of workspace restrictions, such as the take-off and landing positions as well as a safety distance between elements of the fleet. Moreover, it has to avoid forbidden zones to y. Three different algorithms have been studied to address this problem. The approaches studied are based on graph searching, heuristic and meta-heuristic approaches, e.g., mimic, evolutionary. Finally, an extended survey of field experiments applying the previous methods, as well as the materials and methods adopted in outdoor missions is presented. The reported outcomes demonstrate that the findings attained from this thesis improve ACPP mission for mapping purpose in an efficient and safe manner.

On a two species chemotaxis model with slow chemical diffucion.

In this paper we consider a system of three parabolic equations modeling the behavior of two biological species moving attracted by a chemical factor. The chemical substance verifies a parabolic equation with slow diffusion. The system contains second order terms in the first two equations modeling the chemotactic effects. We apply an iterative method to obtain the global existence of solutions using that the total mass of the biological species is conserved. The stability of the homogeneous steady states is studied by using an energy method. A final example is presented to illustrate the theoretical results.

Bayesian model selection of structural explanatory models.

In this study we are proposing a Bayesian model selection methodology, where the best model from the list of candidate structural explanatory models is selected. The model structure is based on the Zellner's (1971)explanatory model with autoregressive errors. For the selection technique we are using a parsimonious model, where the model variables are transformed using Box and Cox (1964) class of transformations.

Structures subjected to Human Actions

In this paper we present the tests on a structure designed to be a gymnasium, which has natural frequencies within that range. In these tests the gym slab was instrumented with acceleration sensors and different people jumped on a force plate installed on the floor. The test results have been compared with predictions based on the two existing load modelling alternatives (Sim and SCI Guide) and two new methodologies for modelling jumping loads has been proposed. The results of the force plate trials were analysed in an attempt to better characterize the profile of the jump force and determine how best to approximate it. In the first proposed methodology the study is carried out in the frequency domain using an average power spectral density of the jumps. In the second proposed methodology, the jump force is decomposed into the summation of one peak with a large period and a number of peaks with smaller periods. Utilizing a similar model to that of the Sim model, the approximation will still be comprised of the summation of two quadratic cosine functions.

Analysis of Meshfree Methods for Lagrangian Fluid-Structure Interaction

In this dissertation a new numerical method for solving Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) problems in a Lagrangian framework is developed, where solids of different constitutive laws can suffer very large deformations and fluids are considered to be newtonian and incompressible. For that, we first introduce a meshless discretization based on local maximum-entropy interpolants. This allows to discretize a spatial domain with no need of tessellation, avoiding the mesh limitations. Later, the Stokes flow problem is studied. The Galerkin meshless method based on a max-ent scheme for this problem suffers from instabilities, and therefore stabilization techniques are discussed and analyzed. An unconditionally stable method is finally formulated based on a Douglas-Wang stabilization. Then, a Langrangian expression for fluid mechanics is derived. This allows us to establish a common framework for fluid and solid domains, such that interaction can be naturally accounted. The resulting equations are also in the need of stabilization, what is corrected with an analogous technique as for the Stokes problem. The fully Lagrangian framework for fluid/solid interaction is completed with simple point-to-point and point-to-surface contact algorithms. The method is finally validated, and some numerical examples show the potential scope of applications.

Aerial Coverage Path Planning applied to Mapping

In the last decade we have seen how small and light weight aerial platforms - aka, Mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (MUAV) - shipped with heterogeneous sensors have become a 'most wanted' Remote Sensing (RS) tool. Most of the off-the-shelf aerial systems found in the market provide way-point navigation. However, they do not rely on a tool that compute the aerial trajectories considering all the aspects that allow optimizing the aerial missions. One of the most demanded RS applications of MUAV is image surveying. The images acquired are typically used to build a high-resolution image, i.e., a mosaic of the workspace surface. Although, it may be applied to any other application where a sensor-based map must be computed. This thesis provides a study of this application and a set of solutions and methods to address this kind of aerial mission by using a fleet of MUAVs. In particular, a set of algorithms are proposed for map-based sampling, and aerial coverage path planning (ACPP). Regarding to map-based sampling, the approaches proposed consider workspaces with different shapes and surface characteristics. The workspace is sampled considering the sensor characteristics and a set of mission requirements. The algorithm applies different computational geometry approaches, providing a unique way to deal with workspaces with different shape and surface characteristics in order to be surveyed by one or more MUAVs. This feature introduces a previous optimization step before path planning. After that, the ACPP problem is theorized and a set of ACPP algorithms to compute the MUAVs trajectories are proposed. The problem addressed herein is the problem to coverage a wide area by using MUAVs with limited autonomy. Therefore, the mission must be accomplished in the shortest amount of time. The aerial survey is usually subject to a set of workspace restrictions, such as the take-off and landing positions as well as a safety distance between elements of the fleet. Moreover, it has to avoid forbidden zones to y. Three different algorithms have been studied to address this problem. The approaches studied are based on graph searching, heuristic and meta-heuristic approaches, e.g., mimic, evolutionary. Finally, an extended survey of field experiments applying the previous methods, as well as the materials and methods adopted in outdoor missions is presented. The reported outcomes demonstrate that the findings attained from this thesis improve ACPP mission for mapping purpose in an efficient and safe manner.

Domes of adobe and stone on the rural architecture of centre of Castilla y León (Spain)

In the centre of Castilla y León (extensive zone of Spain) still there are some examples of the old rural buildings linked to the economic activities that have been developed in the agrarian field. These are called chozos and casetas, and they have been erected with domed solutions using the autochthonous materi-als: the mud in the region of Tierra de Campos and the stone in the region of Montes Torozos. The influence of traditional construction techniques of both elements has generated a singular typological range rarely seen in the rest of the Península Ibérica. All different types of domes found in this place will be explained from its construction process, adding its structural capacity and energy bioclimatic qualities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- En el centro de Castilla y León todavía se mantienen algunos ejemplos de antiguas construcciones rurales vinculadas a las actividades económicas que se han desarrollado en el ámbito agrario. Éstas, conocidas como chozos y casetas, han sido ejecutadas con soluciones cupuliformes empleándose los materiales que más a mano se disponen, siendo el barro más característico en la región de Tierra de Campos y la piedra en la comarca de Montes Torozos. La influencia de las técnicas constructivas tradicionales de ambos elementos ha generado un abanico tipológico singular poco visto en el resto de la península. Los diferentes tipos de cúpulas encontrados se explicarán desde su proceso constructivo, añadiendo su capacidad estructural y sus cualidades bioclimáticas.

Agricultural trade and prosperity

In an environment where there is no communication between different social levels and which is suffering an increasing demand in agricultural production, agribusiness and quality, trade, as a regulator of the supply and demand, has a strong impact on the economic and environmental areas as well as on the farmers quality of life. This entails the need to find a sustainable and fair balance between the different parties (farmers and traders). This paper seeks to find this balance through the integration of trade with prosperity, understood not from a purely economic point of view, but as an improvement in life quality. This proposal is framed within Working With People (WWP) as the main conceptual base for achieving concrete actions that will promote a rapprochement between the parties that will lead to the sector?s sustainable resilience. This will be achieved through a exhaustive review of scientific literature in order to analyze and develop the state of the art of the concepts involved. The result is a conceptual proposal presented from the three dimensions of the WWP model: technical-entrepeneurial, ethical-social, political-contextual"

Advanced data acquisition system implementation for the ITER Neutron Diagnostic use case using EPICS and FlexRIO technology on a PXIe platform

In the framework of the ITER Control Breakdown Structure (CBS), Plant System Instrumentation & Control (I&C) defines the hardware and software required to control one or more plant systems [1]. For diagnostics, most of the complex Plant System I&C are to be delivered by ITER Domestic Agencies (DAs). As an example for the DAs, ITER Organization (IO) has developed several use cases for diagnostics Plant System I&C that fully comply with guidelines presented in the Plant Control Design Handbook (PCDH) [2]. One such use case is for neutron diagnostics, specifically the Fission Chamber (FC), which is responsible for delivering time-resolved measurements of neutron source strength and fusion power to aid in assessing the functional performance of ITER [3]. ITER will deploy four Fission Chamber units, each consisting of three individual FC detectors. Two of these detectors contain Uranium 235 for Neutron detection, while a third "dummy" detector will provide gamma and noise detection. The neutron flux from each MFC is measured by the three methods: . Counting Mode: measures the number of individual pulses and their location in the record. Pulse parameters (threshold and width) are user configurable. . Campbelling Mode (Mean Square Voltage): measures the RMS deviation in signal amplitude from its average value. .Current Mode: integrates the signal amplitude over the measurement period

Modelo Híbrido para la Ayuda al Capitán

En esta Tesis se plantea una nueva forma de entender la evacuación apoyándonos en tecnologías existentes y accesibles que nos permitirán ver este proceso como un ente dinámico. Se trata de una metodología que implica no solo el uso de herramientas de análisis que permitan la definición de planes de evacuación en tiempo real, sino que también se apunta hacia la creación de una infraestructura física que permita alimentar con información actualizada al sistema de forma que, según la situación y la evolución de la emergencia, sea posible realizar planes alternativos que se adapten a las nuevas circunstancias. En base a esto, el sistema asimilará toda esa información y aportará soluciones que faciliten la toma de decisiones durante toda la evolución del incidente. Las aportaciones originales de esta Tesis son múltiples y muy variadas, pudiéndolas resumir en los siguientes puntos: 1. Estudio completo del estado del arte: a. Detección y análisis de diferentes proyectos a nivel internacional que de forma parcial tratan algunos aspectos desarrollados en la Tesis. b. Completo estudio a nivel mundial del software desarrollado total o parcialmente para la simulación del comportamiento humano y análisis de procesos de evacuación. Se ha generado una base de datos que cataloga de forma exhaustiva estas aplicaciones, permitiendo realizar un completo análisis y posibilitando la evolución futura de los contenidos de la misma. En la tesis se han analizado casi un centenar de desarrollos, pero el objetivo es seguir completando esta base de datos debido a la gran utilidad y a las importantes posibilidades que ofrece. 2. Desarrollo de un importante capítulo que trata sobre la posibilidad de utilizar entornos virtuales como alternativa intermedia al uso de simuladores y simulacros. En esta sección se divide en dos bloques: a. Ensayos en entornos reales y virtuales. b. Ensayos en entornos virtuales (pruebas realizadas con varios entornos virtuales). 3. Desarrollo de e-Flow net design: paquete de herramientas desarrolladas sobre Rhinoceros para el diseño de la red de evacuación basada en los elementos definidos en la tesis: Nodes, paths, Relations y Areas. 4. Desarrollo de e-Flow Simulator: Conjunto de herramientas que transforman Rhinoceros en un simulador 3D de comportamiento humano. Este simulador, de desarrollo propio, incorpora un novedoso algoritmo de comportamiento a nivel de individuo que incluye aspectos que no se han encontrado en otros simuladores. Esta herramienta permite realizar simulaciones programadas de grupos de individuos cuyo comportamiento se basa en el análisis del entorno y en la presencia de referencias dinámicas. Incluye otras importantes novedades como por ejemplo: herramientas para análisis de la señalización, elementos de señalización dinámica, incorporación sencilla de obstáculos, etc. También se ha creado una herramienta que posibilita la implementación del movimiento del propio escenario simulando la oscilación del mismo, con objeto de reflejar la influencia del movimiento del buque en el desplazamiento de los individuos. 5. En una fase avanzada del desarrollo, se incorporó la posibilidad de generar un vídeo de toda la simulación, momento a partir del cual, se han documentado todas las pruebas (y se continúan documentando) en una base de datos que recoge todas las características de las simulaciones, los problemas detectados, etc. Estas pruebas constituyen, en el momento en que se ha cerrado la redacción de la Tesis, un total de 81 GB de datos. Generación y análisis de rutas en base a la red de evacuación creada con e-Flow Net design y las simulaciones realizadas con e-Flow Net simulator. a. Análisis para la optimización de la configuración de la red en base a los nodos por área existentes. b. Definición de procesos previos al cálculo de rutas posibles. c. Cálculo de rutas: i. Análisis de los diferentes algoritmos que existen en la actualidad para la optimización de rutas. ii. Desarrollo de una nueva familia de algoritmos que he denominado “Minimum Decision Algorithm (MDA)”, siendo los algoritmos que componen esta familia: 1. MDA básico. 2. MDA mínimo. 3. MDA de no interferencia espacial. 4. MDA de expansión. 5. MDA de expansión ordenada para un único origen. 6. MDA de expansión ordenada. iii. Todos estos algoritmos se han implementado en la aplicación e-Flow creada en la Tesis para el análisis de rutas y que constituye el núcleo del Sistema de Ayuda al Capitán. d. Determinación de las alternativas para el plan de evacuación. Tras la definición de las rutas posibles, se describen diferentes procesos existentes de análisis por ponderación en base a criterios, para pasar finalmente a definir el método de desarrollo propio propuesto en esta Tesis y cuyo objetivo es responder en base a la población de rutas posibles obtenidas mediante los algoritmos MDA, qué combinación de rutas constituyen el Plan o Planes más adecuados para cada situación. La metodología creada para la selección de combinaciones de rutas que determinan un Plan completo, se basa en cuatro criterios básicos que tras su aplicación ofrecen las mejores alternativas. En esta fase también se incluye un complejo análisis de evolución temporal que incorpora novedosas definiciones y formulaciones. e. Derivado de la definición de la metodología creada en esta Tesis para la realización de los análisis de evolución temporal, se ha podido definir un nuevo teorema matemático que se ha bautizado como “Familia de cuadriláteros de área constante”. 7. Especificación de la infraestructura física del Sistema de Ayuda al Capitán: parte fundamental de sistema es la infraestructura física sobre la que se sustentaría. Esta infraestructura estaría compuesta por sensores, actuadores, aplicaciones para dispositivos móviles, etc. En este capítulo se analizan los diferentes elementos que la constituirían y las tecnologías implicadas. 8. Especificación de la infraestructura de servicios. 9. Creación del Blog Virtual Environments (http://epcinnova-virtualenvironments.blogspot.com.es/) en el que se han publicado todas las pruebas realizadas en el capítulo que analiza los entornos virtuales como alternativa a los simuladores y a los ensayos en laboratorio o los simulacros, incluyendo en muchos casos la posibilidad de que el visitante del blog pueda realizar la simulación en el entorno virtual. Este blog también incluye otras secciones que se han trabajado durante la Tesis: • Recopilación de diferentes entornos virtuales existentes. • Diagrama que recopila información sobre accidentes tanto en el ámbito marítimo como en el terrestre (en desarrollo). • Esquema propuesto para el acopio de información obtenida a partir de un simulacro. 10. Esta Tesis es la base para el proyecto e-Flow (nombre de una de las aplicaciones que desarrolladas en esta obra), un proyecto en el que el autor de esta Tesis ha trabajado como Project Manager. En el proyecto participa un consorcio de empresas y la UPM, y tiene como objetivo trasladar a la realidad gran parte de los planteamientos e ideas presentadas en esta Tesis. Este proyecto incluye el desarrollo de la infraestructura física y de servicios que permitirán, entre otras cosas, implementar en infraestructuras complejas una plataforma que posibilita la evacuación dinámica y un control ubicuo de los sistemas de monitorización y actuación implementados. En estos momentos se está finalizando el proyecto, cuyo objetivo final es la implementación de un piloto en un Hospital. También destacamos los siguientes avances a nivel de difusión científico-tecnológico: • Ponencia en el “52 congreso de la Ingeniería Naval en España” presentando un artículo “e-Flow- Sistema integral inteligente de soporte a la evacuación”. En este artículo se trata tanto el proyecto e-Flow del que soy Project Manager, como esta Tesis Doctoral, al ser temas estrechamente vinculados. En 2014 se publicó en dos números de la Revista Ingeniería Naval el artículo presentado a estas jornadas. • Co-autor en el artículo “E-Flow: A communication system for user notification in dynamic evacuation scenarios” presentado en el 7th International Conference on Ubicuous Computing & Ambient Intelligence (UCAMI) celebrado en Costa Rica. Por último, una de las aportaciones más interesantes, es la definición de un gran número de líneas de investigación futuras en base a todos los avances realizados en esta Tesis. ABSTRACT With this Thesis a new approach for understanding evacuation process is considered, taking advantage of the existing and open technologies that will allow this process to be interpreted as a dynamic entity. The methodology involves not only tools that allows on.-time evacuation plans, but also creates a physical insfrastructure that makes possible to feed the system with information on real time so, considering in each moment the real situation as well as the specific emergency development it will be feasible to generate alternative plans that responds to the current emergency situation. In this respect, the system will store all this information and will feedback with solutions that will help the decision making along the evacuation process. The innovative and singular contributions of this Thesis are numerous and rich, summarised as follows: 1.- Complete state-of-art study: a. Detection and analysis of different projects on an international level that, although partially, deal with some aspects developed in this Thesis. b. Thorough study at a international level of the developed software - total or partially done - for the simulation of the human behaviour and evacuation processes analysis. A database has been generated that classifies in detail these applications allowing to perform a full analysis and leading to future evolution of its contents. Within the Thesis work, almost a hundred of developments have been analysed but the purpose is to keep up updating this database due to the broad applications and possibilities that it involves. 2. Development of an important chapter that studies the possibility of using virtual scenarios as mid-term alternative for the use of simulations. This section is divided in two blocks: a. Trials in virtual and real scenarios b. Trials in virutal scenarios (trials performed with several ones). 3. E-Flow net design development: Set of tools developed under Rhinoceros for the evacuation net design based on the elements defined in the Thesis: Nodes, Paths, Relations, Areas 4. E-Flow simulator development: Set of tools that uses Rhinoceros as a 3D simulator of human behaviour. This simulator, of my own design, includes a new and original algorithm of human behaviour that involves aspects that are not found in other simulators. This tool allows to perform groups programmed simulations which behaviour is based on their enviroment analysis and presence of dynamic references. It includes other important innovations as for example: tools for signals analysis, dynamic signal elements, easy obstacle adding etc... More over, a tool that allows the own scenario movement implementation has been created by simulating the own oscillation movement, with the purpose of playing the vessel movement's influences in the individuals' displacements. 5. In an advanced stage of the development, the possibility of generating a video recording of all the simulation was also integrated, then from that moment all tests have been filed (and keep on doing so) in a database that collects all simulation characteristics, failures detected, etc. These stored tests amounts to a total of 81 GB at the moment of finishing the Thesis work. Generation and analysis of paths regarding the evacuation net created with E-Flow design and the simulations performed with E-Flow net Simulator. a. Analysis for the optimisation of the network configuration based in the existing nodes per area. b. Definition of the processes previous to the calculation of the feasible paths c. Paths calculation: i. Analysis of the different algorithms on existance nowadays for the routes optimisation. ii. Development of a new family of algorithms that I have called “Minimum Decision Algorithm (MDA)”, being composed of: 1. MDA basic 2. MDA minimum 3. MDA of not spacial interference 4. MDA of expansion (es de extenderse) o enlargement ( es de crecimiento) 5. MDA of organised expansion for a single origin (of organised enlargement for a single origin) 6. MDA of organised expansion (of organised enlargement) iii. All these algorithms have been implemented in the E-Flow application created in the Thesis dfor the routes analysis and it is the core of the Captain's support system. d. Determination of the alternatives for the evacuation plan. After defining all possible paths, different processes of analysis existing for weighing-based criteria are described, thus to end defining the own development method proposed in this Thesis and that aims to respond in an agreggation of possible routes basis obtained by means of the MDA algorithms what is the routes' combination more suitable for the Plan or Plans in every situation. The methodology created fot the selection of the combinations of routes that determine a complete Plan is baesd in four basic criteria that after applying, offer the best alternatives. In this stage a complex analysis of the progress along time is also included, that adds original and innovative defintions and formulations. e. Originated from the methodology created in this Thesis for the perfoming of the analysy of the progress along time, a new mathematic theorem has been defined, that has been called as "Family of quadrilateral of constant area". 7. Specification of the physiscal infrastructure of the Captain's help system: essential part is this physical infrastructure that will support it. This system will be made of sensors, actuators, apps for mobile devices etc... Within this chapter the different elements and technologies that make up this infrastructure will be studied. 8. Specification for the services infrastructure. 9. Start up of the Blog. " Virtual Environments (http://epcinnova-virtualenvironments.blogspot.com.es/)" in which all tests performed have been published in terms of analysis of the virtual enviroments as alternative to the simulators as well as to the laboratory experiments or simulations, including in most of the cases the possibility that the visitor can perform the simulation within the virtual enviroment. This blog also includes other sections that have been worked along and within this Thesis: - Collection of different virtual scenarios existent. - Schema that gathers information concerning accidents for maritime and terrestrial areas (under development) - Schema proposed for the collecting of information obtained from a simulation. 10. This Thesis is the basis of the E-Flow project (name of one of the applications developed in this work), a project in which the Thesis' author has worked in as Project Manager. In the project takes part a consortium of firms as well as the UPM and the aim is to bring to real life most part of the approaches and ideas contained in this Thesis. This project includes the development of the physical infrastructure as well as the services that will allow, among others, implement in complex infrastrucutres a platform that will make possible a dynamic evacuation and a continuous control of the monitoring and acting systems implemented. At the moment the project is getting to an end which goal is the implementation of a pilot project in a Hospital. We also would like to highlight the following advances concerning the scientific-technology divulgation: • Talk in the " 52th Congress of the Naval Engineering in Spain" with the article "E-Flow . Intelligent system integrated for supporting evacuation". This paper is about project E-Flow which I am Project Manager of, as well as this Thesis for the Doctorate, being both closely related. Two papers published In 2014 in the Naval Engineering Magazine. • Co-author in the article “E-Flow: A communication system for user notification in dynamic evacuation scenarios” [17] introduced in the 7th International Conference on Ubicuous Computing & Ambient Intelligence (UCAMI) held in Costa Rica. Last, but not least, one of the more interesting contributions is the defintion of several lines of research in the future, based on the advances made in this Thesis.

High Intensity Low Temperature (HILT) performance of space concentrator GaInP/GaInAs/Ge MJ SCs

In the work, the results of an investigation of GaInP/GaInAs/Ge MJ SCs intended for converting concentrated solar radiation, when operating at low temperatures (down to -190 degrees C) are presented. A kink of the cell I-V characteristic has been observed in the region close to V-oc starting from -20 degrees C at operation under concentrated sunlight. The causes for its occurrence have been analyzed and the reasons for formation of a built-in potential barrier for majority charge carriers at the n-GaInP/n-Ge isotype hetero-interface are discussed. The effect of charge carrier transport in n-GaInP/n-p Ge heterostructures on MJ SC output characteristics at low temperatures has been studied including EL technique.

Depth filtering for auto-stereoscopic mobile devices

In this work we address a scenario where 3D content is transmitted to a mobile terminal with 3D display capabilities. We consider the use of 2D plus depth format to represent the 3D content and focus on the generation of synthetic views in the terminal. We evaluate different types of smoothing filters that are applied to depth maps with the aim of reducing the disoccluded regions. The evaluation takes into account the reduction of holes in the synthetic view as well as the presence of geometrical distortion caused by the smoothing operation. The selected filter has been included within an implemented module for the VideoLan Client (VLC) software in order to render 3D content from the 2D plus depth data format.

Quality-optimization algorithm based on stochastic dynamic programming for MPEG DASH video streaming

In contrast to traditional push-based protocols, adaptive streaming techniques like Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) fix attention on the client, who dynamically requests different-quality portions of the content to cope with a limited and variable bandwidth but aiming at maximizing the quality perceived by the user. Since DASH adaptation logic at the client is not covered by the standard, we propose a solution based on Stochastic Dynamic Programming (SDP) techniques to find the optimal request policies that guarantee the users' Quality of Experience (QoE). Our algorithm is evaluated in a simulated streaming session and is compared with other adaptation approaches. The results show that our proposal outperforms them in terms of QoE, requesting higher qualities on average.

Consideraciones de diseño de adaptación activa para antenas cargadas con circuitos non-Foster

In this paper the use of the NDF is proposed as a general method suitable for analysing any oscillator topology. The most important advantage of this method is that it provides an unique procedure to analyse any oscillator. It also makes possible the phase noise optimization in the linear design phase for any oscillator. An additional advantage of this method is that it does not require any proviso verification as all classic methods need. The use of the NDF method is illustrated with the design of two examples. These two oscillators are manufactured and the simulation results are compared with the measurements showing good agreement. These results confirm the excellent possibilities of the proposed method for low noise oscillators design.