Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Light-trapping nanostructures in ultrathin GaAs solar cells : towards a record efficiency

Producing electrical power with photovoltaic solar panels is very attractive as the sun constitutes an inexhaustible source of clean energy. However, in order to make it a better alternative to other energy sources, its drawbacks must be addressed. In particular, scientific research is very active to find technologies that increase the efficiency of the solar cells, or decrease their cost. Reducing the thickness of thin-film solar cells would serve this second objective by reducing the amount of material needed. It also paves the way towards third-generation solar cells, e.g. nanowire solar cells, because the effective lighttrapping techniques that are developed and implemented will be needed in those future devices. This master’s thesis aims at implementing a theory of multi-resonant absorption to ultrathin GaAs solar cells. The absorption is based on resonant photonic and plasmonic modes, excited via a periodically nanostructured mirror at the rear side of the cell. A process for the fabrication of solar cells implementing such a nanostructured mirror was developed, and solar cells with simpler designs have already been made, with a 200 nm thick absorber. They have been characterized and exhibit quite high Fill-Factor (82 %) and open-circuit voltage (1.03 V) that are not degraded after transfer on another substrate, which is promising for the final cell. The short-circuit current exhibited a value of 16.1 mA.cm-2 without anti-reflection coating, and with only a flat mirror at the rear side. Based on numerical simulations it is supposed to increase by 8.5 mA.cm-2 with the addition of an Anti-Reflection Coating (ARC) and with the nanostructured mirror. Taking this contribution into account, we expect a short-circuit current of 24.6 mA.cm-2 and an efficiency of 21 %, that have never been reached for such thin solar cells (200 nm). The process development is still ongoing for this final design, and we look forward to complete the fabrication of a device.
A novel biomimetic material duplicating the structure and mechanics of natural nacre

Nacre from mollusk shell is a high-performance natural composite composed of microscopic mineral tablets bonded by a tough biopolymer. Under tensile stress, the tablets slide on one another in a highly controlled fashion, which makes nacre 3000 times tougher than the mineral it is made of. Significant efforts have led to nacre-like materials, but none can yet match this amount of toughness amplification. This article presents the first synthetic material that successfully duplicates the mechanism of tablet sliding observed in nacre. Made of millimeter-size wavy poly-methyl-methacrylate tablets held by fasteners, this “model material” undergoes massive tablet sliding under tensile loading, accompanied by strain hardening. Analytical and finite element models successfully captured the salient deformation mechanisms in this material, enabling further design refinements and optimization. In addition, two new mechanisms were identified: the effect of free surfaces and “unzipping. ” Both mechanisms may be relevant to natural materials such as nacre or bone.
Collective cancer cell invasion induced by coordinated contractile stresses

The physical underpinnings of fibrosarcoma cell dissemination from a tumor in a surrounding collagen-rich matrix are poorly understood. Here we show that a tumor spheroid embedded in a 3D collagen matrix exerts large contractile forces on the matrix before invasion. Cell invasion is accompanied by complex spatially and temporally dependent patterns of cell migration within and at the surface of the spheroids that are fundamentally different from migratory patterns of individual fibrosarcoma cells homogeneously distributed in the same type of matrix. Cells display a continuous transition from a round morphology at the spheroid core, to highly aligned elongated morphology at the spheroid periphery, which depends on both β1-integrin-based cell-matrix adhesion and myosin II/ROCK-based cell contractility. This isotropic-to-anisotropic transition corresponds to a shift in migration, from a slow and unpolarized movement at the core, to a fast, polarized and persistent one at the periphery. Our results also show that the ensuing collective invasion of fibrosarcoma cells is induced by anisotropic contractile stresses exerted on the surrounding matrix.
Clustering students ’ based on previous academic performance

Educational data mining is very popular research area for studying the behavior of students based upon their past performance. As Education is very basic need, which must be given to all, the study of student behavior plays a vital role. Grouping students on the basis of their performance, we can make a good team for any competitions to represent from institute or university. Also we can make some more focus on the students who are having bad performance by giving some extra lectures and motivating them for better study. In this paper, we will cluster the similar behavior students based upon their past academic performance. We are using Similarity measure as Canberra Distance for clustering same type of students. We will use VIT university data for analyzing performance.
UE's trajectory assisted beam adjustment in 5G mmWave cellular network

The upcoming 5G will be the combination of many technologies, including ultra-dense network (UDN), beamforming, and millimeter wave. Some original network operations, such as how to cover the area, may not be the best choice when these technologies appear together. The normal full-cover method in UDN faces with the interference problem when they are transmitting at full power. In this article, we want to find a way to reduce the interference caused by the dense deployment of eNB. Therefore, we propose a beam adjustment algorithm to assist the core network to cover UE. This algorithm use UE's trajectory information in the next time slot to find the proper beam to attach. The selected beam would adjust its parameters (beam width, orientation and transmitting power) to provide required receiving power to this UE. In this way, the transmitting power increase gradually and do not cause too much interference to the UEs that under other eNB's coverage. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm could improve the UE's SINR and reduce the total power consumption compared to the normal network without beam adjustment.
COLORIMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF COCOA BEANS (Theobroma cacao)

A series of studies have been carried out to develop a simple, easy to use, and affordable device to measure the colour of cocoa beans. The present paper reports the development of the device based on colorimetric principles. An electronic device which enables cocoa smallholders to give an objective “onefigure” indication of the quality of their cocoa beans was described. A sensor was constructed which contained a red light emitting diode (LED) illuminating the target and a silicon photodiode detecting the reflected light. Because of the considerable difference in colour between dried unfermented and fermented cocoa beans, the differences in diffuse reflection of red light (660 nm) could be about 20 and very easy to measure. The method was checked with a spectrophotometer in the fixed mode at 660 nm, which revealed a high correlation coefficient. The sensor was combined with a microprocessor controlled electronic device for fast measurement of cocoa beans without any calculations which automatically counts the number of measured beans and gives the resulting average reflection value.
Spectral response modelling and analysis of heterojunction bipolar phototransistors

The optoelectronics industry continues to demand improved materials, devices and systems for the generation, transmission, detection, amplification and processing of optical signals. Heterojunction phototransistors (HPTs), in recent years, have attracted considerable interest for optical detection due to their intrinsic gain, low noise performance, high-frequency operation and process and the device layer compatibility with heterojunction bipolar transistors for high-speed optoelectronic monolithic microwave/millimetre-wave integrated circuit (OEMMIC) photoreceivers. A key performance parameter of HPTs is their spectral response (SR) which is critical in their usage in optical applications. The SR depends on several inherent factors including material absorption coefficient, refractive index, device structure, doping and temperature of operation along with the external factors such as bias voltage and the energy of incident radiation. The spectral response and optical characteristics of GaAs-based and InP-based sHPTs have been successfully predicted for the first time through an advanced absorption theoretical model. The model is based on the accurate prediction of photocarriers in the active layers of the phototransistor which, when related to the base current of the transistor in forward active mode, enables the prediction of optical characteristics. The importance of collection efficiency in accurate SR modelling is highlighted and the layer dependence of the optical flux absorption profile at near-band gap wavelengths is also investigated and its generalisation as a single-exponential has been refuted for GaAs-based HPTs. Analytical modelling of the spectral response has also been developed from the resolution of continuity equations that govern the excess optically generated minority carrier variation in the active layers of the HPT, taking into account the related physical parameters. Realistic boundary conditions have been considered for efficient device operation and a detailed optical flux absorption profile is constructed for accurate device modelling. This analytical model provides insight into the direct influence of various parameters (such as base width and carrier concentration) on the device performance, thus, providing a valuable optimization tool for the future design of HPTs in optical receivers. The measured results at 635 nm, 780 nm 808 nm and 850 nm for AlGaAs/GaAs HPTs and 980 nm, 1310 nm and 1550 nm for InP/InGaAs HPTs show good agreement with the predicted data, validating the proposed theoretical model. Finally, a detailed absorption model and photoresponse of double heterojunction phototransistors in a top/surface-illuminated orientation has been analyzed with a modified small-signal model. The effect of incident optical illumination on intrinsic small-signal parameters such as resistances and capacitances has been discussed and analyzed for photoresponse modelling.
Analysing the role of entanglement in the three-qubit Vaidman's game

We analyse the role of degree of entanglement for Vaidman's game in a setting where the players share a set of partially entangled three-qubit states. Our results show that the entangled states combined with quantum strategies may not be always helpful in winning a game as opposed to the classical strategies. We further find the conditions under which quantum strategies are always helpful in achieving higher winning probability in the game in comparison to classical strategies. Moreover, we show that a special class of W states can always be used to win the game using quantum strategies irrespective of the degree of entanglement between the three qubits. Our analysis also helps us in comparing the Vaidman's game with the secret sharing protocol. Furthermore, we propose a new Vaidman-type game where the rule maker itself is entangled with the other two players and acts as a facilitator to share a secret key with the two players.
Egg Load Decreases Mobility and Increases Predation Risk in Female Black-Horned Tree Crickets (Oecanthus nigricornis)

Female-biased predation is an uncommon phenomenon in nature since males of many species take on riskier behaviours to gain more mates. Several species of sphecid wasps have been observed taking more female than male prey, and it is not fully understood why. The solitary sphecid Isodontia mexicana catches more adult female tree cricket (Oecanthus nigricornis) prey. Previous work has shown that, although female tree crickets are larger and thus likely to be more valuable as prey than males, body size alone cannot fully explain why wasps take more females. We tested the hypothesis that wasps catch adult female tree crickets more often because bearing eggs impedes a female’s ability to escape predation. We compared female survivors to prey of I. mexicana, and found that females carrying more eggs were significantly more likely to be caught by wasps, regardless of their body size and jumping leg mass. We also conducted laboratory experiments where females’ jumping responses to a simulated attack were measured and compared to her egg load and morphology. We found a significant negative relationship between egg load and jumping ability, and a positive relationship between body size and jumping ability. These findings support the hypothesis that ovarian eggs are a physical handicap that contributes to female-biased predation in this system. Predation on the most fecund females may have ecological-evolutionary consequences such as collapse of prey populations or selection for alternate life history strategies and behaviours.
BINARY SILICATE GLASSES IN THE STUDY OF ALKALI-AGGREGATE REACTION

BINARY GLASSES OF THE OXIDES OF SODIUM, POTASSIUM, LITHIUM AND LEAD WITH SILICA WERE TESTED AS REACTIVE AGGREGATES WITH HIGH- AND LOW-ALKALI CEMENTS AND WITH HIGH-ALUMINA CEMENT AND PRESSURE-CALCINED GYPSUM PLASTER. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SODIUM- AND POTASSIUM-SILICATE GLASSES ACTED AS REACTIVE AGGREGATES, WHILE THE LITHIUM- AND LEAD-SILICATE GLASSES DID NOT. THE EXPANSIVE REACTION OF THE SODIUM-SILICATE GLASS COULD BE INHIBITED BY SUBSTITUTING POZZOLAN (FINELY GROUND OPAL) FOR RELATIVELY LARGE PORTIONS OF THE CEMENT. /AUTHOR/
Nontuberculous mycobacterial empyema in an immunocompetent child

Nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) species are mycobacterial species other than those belonging to the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis complex and Mycobacterium leprae. There are very few reports of NTM in immunocompetent children causing empyema. In this article, we report a 9-year-old immunocompetent girl who presented with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare empyema.
High-Intensity Interval Training in Heart Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Heart transplantation (HTx) is considered an efficient and gold-standard procedure for patients with end-stage heart failure. After surgery, patients have lower aerobic power (VO2max) and compensatory hemodynamic responses. The aim of the present study was to assess through a systematic review with meta-analysis whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can provide benefits for those parameters. This is a systematic review with meta-analysis, which searched the databases and data portals PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct and Wiley until December 2016 (pairs). The following terms and descriptors were used: “heart recipient” OR “heart transplant recipient” OR ”heart transplant” OR “cardiac transplant” OR “heart graft”. Descriptors via DeCS and Mesh were: “heart transplantation’’ OR “cardiac transplantation”. The words used in combination (AND) were: “exercise training” OR “interval training” OR “high intensity interval training” OR “high intensity training” OR “anaerobic training” OR “intermittent training” OR “sprint training”. The initial search identified 1064 studies. Then, only those studies assessing the influence of HIIT on the post-HTx period were added, resulting in three studies analyzed. The significance level adopted was 0.05. Heart transplant recipients showed significant improvement in VO2peak, heart rate and peak blood pressure in 8 to 12 weeks of intervention.
Online Optimization of Teaching Sequences with Multi-Armed Bandits

We present an approach to Intelligent Tutoring Systems which adaptively personalizes sequences of learning activities to maximize skills acquired by each student, taking into account limited time and motivational resources. At a given point in time, the system tries to propose to the student the activity which makes him progress best. We introduce two algorithms that rely on the empirical estimation of the learning progress, one that uses information about the difficulty of each exercise RiARiT and another that does not use any knowledge about the problem ZPDES.
Energy Consumption, Co2 Emission and Economic Growth: A Revisit of the Evidence from India

We examined the causality in both static and dynamic framework between energy consumption, C02 emission and economic growth in India using Granger approach in VAR framework. We found from the VAR analysis that energy consumption, capital and population Granger-cause economic growth not the vice versa. IRFs and VDs analysis results indicate that CO2 emission has positive impact on energy use and capital but negative impact on population and GDP. Energy consumption has positive impact on CO2 emission and GDP but its impact is negative on capital and population. This implies that, in the framework of production function, capital and population/labour has been rapidly substituted by energy use in the production process. We argue that since energy consumption generates GDP, therefore, reduction in the energy consumption will have negative impact on the economic growth and Indian economy may standstill to developing economy only. We suggest to the policy makers and Industrialists of India that since energy consumption increases CO2 emission too therefore, to the best energy consumption which is generated through the use of fossil fuels and other nonrenewable resources should be reduced and there should be an effort to exploit the renewable sources of energy for consumption and production purposes, which would economies the use of these natural resources in the economy and so economic growth will not be retarded and CO2 emission will be less.
Rivaroxaban: A New Treatment Paradigm in the Setting of Vascular Protection?

Abstract The pathophysiology of atherosclerosis involves a diseased endothelium, lipid accumulation and low-grade inflammation. In later stages of coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), plaque rupture may induce atherothrombosis caused by fibrin formation and platelet activation, leading to vessel occlusion with subsequent organ damage such as myocardial infarction, stroke or limb ischaemia. Because of the high disease burden associated with CAD and PAD, there is a need for continuous vascular protection beyond currently available treatments including antiplatelet agents. Due to its central role in the coagulation cascade, inhibition of factor Xa, with the subsequent reduced thrombin formation that impacts not only fibrin but also platelets, may provide additional benefit over using antiplatelets alone. Evidence from Anti-Xa Therapy to Lower Cardiovascular Events in Addition to Standard Therapy in Subjects with Acute Coronary Syndrome-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction-51 (ATLAS-ACS 2-TIMI 51) supports the use of the direct, oral, factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice-daily [bid] and 5 mg bid) in reducing mortality and morbidity in patients with acute coronary syndrome, when combined with antiplatelets. Here, we review the role of rivaroxaban in three clinical trials of CAD and/or PAD: Cardiovascular OutcoMes for People using Anticoagulation StrategieS (COMPASS), Vascular Outcomes studY of ASA alonG with rivaroxaban in Endovascular or surgical limb Revascularization for PAD (VOYAGER PAD) and Cardiovascular Outcome Modification, Measurement AND Evaluation of Rivaroxaban in patients with Heart Failure (COMMANDER HF).
A Life Put on Pause: An Exploration of the Health-Related Quality of Life Issues Relevant to Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer.

PURPOSE In recent years, the assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been recognized as particularly informative to healthcare providers. For adolescents and young adults (AYAs), the impact of a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment is likely to be distinct from other age groups given the unique and complex physical and psychosocial challenges of this developmental phase. The objective of this study was to capture the HRQoL issues described by AYAs with cancer using thematic analysis. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 45 AYAs aged 14-25 years from six countries. RESULTS The most prevalent cancers presented were leukemia (n = 12) and lymphoma (n = 8). AYAs' descriptive accounts were analyzed and 12 categories identified: Symptoms (i.e., pain, nausea, vomiting) (84% AYAs); activity limitations (education, leisure time activities) (87%); disrupted life plans (29%); social (loss of friends, family life) (91%); emotional (depression, anxiety) (64%); body image (conscious of changed appearance) (36%); self-appraisals (greater maturity, braver) (47%); outlook on life (altered priorities, increased motivation to achieve) (33%); lifestyle (restricted diet, avoidance of infections) (18%), treatment-related (absence of age-appropriate information, treatment burden) (31%); fertility (24%); and financial concerns (13%). CONCLUSIONS A wide spectrum of both negative and positive issues were described. Several of these issues, such as disrupted life plans and difficulty establishing romantic relationships, are likely to be more common to AYAs with cancer and might not be captured by existing HRQoL measures. Recognition of these issues and finding ways of addressing them should be seen as an essential component of AYA-tailored cancer care.
Mutual interaction effects between discomfort and cognitive task performance in clothing systems

Abstract The focus of this study was to establish a relationship between physical discomfort and performance. Eleven healthy male subjects participated in this pilot study. The subjects performed a 2-h protocol without and with significant thermal and mechanical discomfort. Various cognitive tasks were executed repeatedly during the protocol to evaluate cognitive performance on memory, tracking, and vigilance tasks. Prior and after each task, subjective comfort scores were asked and objective task performance was measured. Mechanical and/or thermal discomfort only minimally influenced the overall scores for comfort. The only significant change in objective performance was a 2% increase in percentage missed stimuli during thermal discomfort. The type of task did influence the change in comfort scores, increasing the scores during the attention and memory task and decreasing during the vigilance and tracking task and fine motor tasks. Surprisingly, not discomfort, but the type of task mainly influenced the changes in comfort, discomfort became worse (increased) during easy, less challenging tasks.