bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Support vector machine classification combined with multimodal magnetic resonance imaging in detection of patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Zheng Yunsong , Tong Hangbin , Zhao Teng , Guo Xiaoxia , Xu Hui , Yang Ruwu
Published: May 2020

The brain avatar of schizophrenic patients is different from the normal human brain avatar, and it is difficult to overcome the complex environmental effects of the brain through traditional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In order to improve the accuracy of MRI in detecting brain information in patients with schizophrenia, this study is based on the support vector machine classification algorithm and combined with multimodal MRI detection method to construct a detection model suitable for patients with schizophrenia. In addition, this study combines the existing test cases to divide the brain into regions and design a comparative experiment to study the accuracy of the model proposed in this study. Finally, the study draws the results by sub‐regional comparison. Studies have shown that the algorithm model of this study has certain effects on brain detection in patients with schizophrenia, and can be applied to practice, and can provide theoretical reference for subsequent related research.
KiDS+VIKING-450 and DES-Y1 combined: Cosmology with cosmic shear
Authors: Joudaki S. , Hildebrandt H. , Traykova D. , Chisari N. E. , Heymans C. , Kannawadi A. , Kuijken K. , Wright A. H. , Asgari M. , Erben T. , Hoekstra H. , Joachimi B. , Miller L. , Tröster T. , van den Busch J. L.
Published: May 2020

We present a combined tomographic weak gravitational lensing analysis of the Kilo Degree Survey (KV450) and the Dark Energy Survey (DES-Y1). We homogenize the analysis of these two public cosmic shear datasets by adopting consistent priors and modeling of nonlinear scales, and determine new redshift distributions for DES-Y1 based on deep public spectroscopic surveys. Adopting these revised redshifts results in a 0.8σreduction in the DES-inferred value forS​8, which decreases to a 0.5σreduction when including a systematic redshift calibration error model from mock DES data based on the MICE2 simulation. The combined KV450+DES-Y1 constraint onS8= 0.762−0.024+0.025is in tension with thePlanck2018 constraint from the cosmic microwave background at the level of 2.5σ. This result highlights the importance of developing methods to provide accurate redshift calibration for current and future weak-lensing surveys.
Investigating the Rosetta/RTOF observations of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko using a comet nucleus model: influence of dust mantle and trapped CO
Authors: Hoang M. , Garnier P. , Lasue J. , Rème H. , Capria M. T. , Altwegg K. , Läuter M. , Kramer T. , Rubin M.
Published: May 2020

Context.Cometary outgassing is induced by the sublimation of ices and the ejection of dust originating from the nucleus. Therefore measuring the composition and dynamics of the cometary gas provides information concerning the interior composition of the body. Nevertheless, the bulk composition differs from the coma composition, and numerical models are required to simulate the main physical processes induced by the illumination of the icy body.

Aims.The objectives of this study are to bring new constraints on the interior composition of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (hereafter 67P) by comparing the results of a thermophysical model applied to the nucleus of 67P and the coma measurements made by the Reflectron-type Time-Of-Flight (RTOF) mass spectrometer. This last is one of the three instruments of the Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis (ROSINA), used during the Rosetta mission.

Methods.Using a thermophysical model of the comet nucleus, we studied the evolution of the stratigraphy (position of the sublimation and crystallisation fronts), the temperature of the surface and subsurface, and the dynamics and spatial distribution of the volatiles (H2O, CO2and CO). We compared them with the in situ measurements from ROSINA/RTOF and an inverse coma model.

Results.We observed the evolution of the surface and near surface temperature, and the deepening of sublimation fronts. The thickness of the dust layer covering the surface strongly influences the H2O outgassing but not the more volatiles species. The CO outgassing is highly sensitive to the initial CO/H2O ratio, as well as to the presence of trapped CO in the amorphous ice.

Conclusions.The study of the influence of the initial parameters on the computed volatile fluxes and the comparison with ROSINA/RTOF measurements provide a range of values for an initial dust mantle thickness and a range of values for the volatile ratio. These imply the presence of trapped CO. Nevertheless, further studies are required to reproduce the strong change of behaviour observed in RTOF measurements between September 2014 and February 2015.
Gas and dust cooling along the major axis of M 33 (HerM33es)
Authors: Kramer Carsten , Nikola Thomas , Anderl Sibylle , Bertoldi Frank , Boquien Médéric , Braine Jonathan , Buchbender Christof , Combes Françoise , Henkel Christian , Hermelo Israel , Israel Frank , Relaño Monica , Röllig Markus , Schuster Karl , Tabatabaei Fatemeh , van der Tak Floris , Verley Simon , van der Werf Paul , Wiedner Martina , Xilouris Emmanuel M.
Published: May 2020

Context. M 33 is a gas rich spiral galaxy of the Local Group. Its vicinity allows us to study its interstellar medium (ISM) on linear scales corresponding to the sizes of individual giant molecular clouds.

Aims. We investigate the relationship between the two major gas cooling lines and the total infrared (TIR) dust continuum.

Methods. We mapped the emission of gas and dust in M 33 using the far-infrared lines of [C II] and [O I](63 μm) and the total infrared continuum. The line maps were observed with the PACS spectrometer on board the Herschel Space Observatory. These maps have 50 pc resolution and form a ∼370 pc wide stripe along its major axis covering the sites of bright H II regions, but also more quiescent arm and inter-arm regions from the southern arm at 2 kpc galacto-centric distance to the south out to 5.7 kpc distance to the north. Full-galaxy maps of the continuum emission at 24 μm from Spitzer/MIPS, and at 70 μm, 100 μm, and 160 μm from Herschel/PACS were combined to obtain a map of the TIR.

Results. TIR and [C II] intensities are correlated over more than two orders of magnitude. The range of TIR translates to a range of far ultraviolet (FUV) emission of G0, obs ∼ 2 to 200 in units of the average Galactic radiation field. The binned [C II]/TIR ratio drops with rising TIR, with large, but decreasing scatter. The contribution of the cold neutral medium to the [C II] emission, as estimated from VLA H I data, is on average only 10%. Fits of modified black bodies to the continuum emission were used to estimate dust mass surface densities and total gas column densities. A correction for possible foreground absorption by cold gas was applied to the [O I] data before comparing it with models of photon dominated regions. Most of the ratios of [C II]/[O I] and ([C II]+[O I])/TIR are consistent with two model solutions. The median ratios are consistent with one solution at n ∼ 2 × 102 cm−3, G0 ∼ 60, and a second low-FUV solution at n ∼ 104 cm−3, G0 ∼ 1.5.

Conclusions. The bulk of the gas along the lines-of-sight is represented by a low-density, high-FUV phase with low beam filling factors ∼1. A fraction of the gas may, however, be represented by the second solution.
CLASH-VLT: a full dynamical reconstruction of the mass profile of Abell S1063 from 1 kpc out to the virial radius
Authors: Sartoris B. , Biviano A. , Rosati P. , Mercurio A. , Grillo C. , Ettori S. , Nonino M. , Umetsu K. , Bergamini P. , Caminha G. B. , Girardi M.
Published: May 2020

Context. The shape of the mass density profiles of cosmological halos informs us of the nature of dark matter (DM) and DM-baryons interactions. Previous estimates of the inner slope of the mass density profiles of clusters of galaxies are in opposition to predictions derived from numerical simulations of cold dark matter (CDM).

Aims. We determine the inner slope of the DM density profile of a massive cluster of galaxies, Abell S1063 (RXC J2248.7−4431) at z = 0.35, with a dynamical analysis based on an extensive spectroscopic campaign carried out with the VIMOS and MUSE spectrographs at the ESO VLT. This new data set provides an unprecedented sample of 1234 spectroscopic members, 104 of which are located in the cluster core (R ≲ 200 kpc), extracted from the MUSE integral field spectroscopy. The latter also allows the stellar velocity dispersion profile of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) to be measured out to 40 kpc.

Methods. We used an upgraded version of the MAMPOSSt technique to perform a joint maximum likelihood fit to the velocity dispersion profile of the BCG and to the velocity distribution of cluster member galaxies over a radial range from 1 kpc to the virial radius (r200 ≈ 2.7 Mpc).

Results. We find a value of γDM = 0.99 ± 0.04 for the inner logarithmic slope of the DM density profile after marginalizing over all the other parameters of the mass and velocity anisotropy models. Moreover, the newly determined dynamical mass profile is found to be in excellent agreement with the mass density profiles obtained from the independent X-ray hydrostatic analysis based on deep Chandra data, as well as the strong and weak lensing analyses.

Conclusions. Our value of the inner logarithmic slope of the DM density profile γDM is in very good agreement with predictions from cosmological CDM simulations. We will extend our analysis to more clusters in future works. If confirmed on a larger cluster sample, our result makes this DM model more appealing than alternative models.
First record and DNA barcodes of the invasive blue-coloured spiny-cheek crayfish Faxonius limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) (Decapoda: Cambaridae)
Authors: Maciaszek Rafał , Bonk Maciej , Sosnowski Witold , Jabłońska Aleksandra
Published: May 2020

This contribution presents first record of a blue colour morph of spiny-cheek crayfish, Faxonius limosus (Rafinesque, 1817). Two unusually coloured individuals were caught in Poland, in two different locations, separated from each other by approximately 500 km and belonging to different river catchments (Oder and Vistula), within the range of the species occurrence in Europe. Taxonomic identification of collected crayfish has been confirmed by the standard DNA barcoding procedure. Although blue coloured forms of crayfish have been previously described within the Cambaridae family, collected individuals are the first records of blue colouration within F. limosus. It is recommended to supplement identification keys with a new colour form of the species, which, while characteristic dark red bands are not clear, may cause mistakes in recognition of exotic, aquarium as well as native species.
Predicting Personality Traits by Student Learning Behaviors on Blackboard Systems
Authors: Zheng Yong
Published: May 2020

Personality has been demonstrated as influential factors in technology-enhanced learning. The collection of personality is always a challenge. Human efforts are usually required in the user surveys which is the most common and popular way to collect the personality traits. Predicting personality traits, as a result, becomes one of the research directions. Some researchers consider these personality traits as labels in the classifications, while some others consider them as numeric variables in the regressions. In this paper, we made our attempt to predict the students’ personality traits from their learning behaviors on the Blackboard system. More specifically, we tried both the classification and regression models, and evaluate them based on the same standards. Our initial experimental results discover the insights about these predictive models.
Next-Generation Programming Learning Platform: Architecture and Challenges
Authors: Watanobe Yutaka , Intisar Chowdhury , Cortez Ruth , Vazhenin Alexander
Published: May 2020

With the rapid development of information technology, programming has become a vital skill. An online judge system can be used as a programming education platform, where the daily activities of users and judges are used to generate useful learning objects (e.g., tasks, solution codes, evaluations). Intelligent software agents can utilize such objects to create an ecosystem. To implement such an ecosystem, a generic architecture that covers the whole lifecycle of data on the platform and the functionalities of an e-learning system should take into account the particularities of the online judge system. In this paper, an architecture that implements such an ecosystem based on an online judge system is proposed. The potential benefits and research challenges are discussed.
Cross-Platform Mobile CALL Environment for Pronunciation Teaching and Learning
Authors: Kuznetsov Andrei , Lamtev Anton , Lezhenin Iurii , Zhuikov Artem , Maltsev Mikhail , Boitsova Elena , Bogach Natalia , Pyshkin Evgeny
Published: May 2020

Mobile technologies promote computer-assisted language learning (CALL) while mobile applications, being learner-oriented by design, provide a powerful founding to build individual self-paced environments for language study. Mobile CALL (MALL) tools are able to offer new educational contexts and fix, at least, partially, the problems of previous generations of CALL software. Nonetheless, mobile technologies alone are not able to respond to CALL challenges without cooperation and interaction with language theory and pedagogy. To facilitate and formalize this interaction several criteria sets for CALL software has been worked out in recent years. That is why an approach based on using mobile devices is a natural way to transfer the learning process from teaching-centered classroom to a process, which is oriented to individual learners and groups of learners with better emphasis on supporting individual learning styles, user collaboration and different teaching strategies. Pronunciation teaching technology in one of areas, where the automated speech processing algorithms and corresponding software meet the problems of practical phonology. Computer-assisted prosody teaching (CAPT), a sub-domain of CALL, is a relatively new topic of interest for computer scientists and software developers. Present-day advancement of mobile CAPT tools is supported by evolutionary processes in the theory of language learning and teaching. This paper explores language–technology relations using a case of StudyIntonation – a cross-platform multi-functional mobile CAPT tool based on a digital processing core for speech processing, visualization and estimation developed by the authors. We particularly address the problems of developing CAPT evaluation frameworks. To define the problematic points of the project and understand the directions for future work, we discuss an approach to formalized evaluation using a set of CAPT-specific criteria drawing attention to such evaluation factors as general descriptive information, instructional purposes, functionality, usability, and presentation.
A failure mode and effects analysis of pragmatic errors in learner e-mails
Authors: Nicholas Allan , Blake John
Published: May 2020

E-mailing in the English is an important mode of communication for Japanese learners of computer science both during and after their studies. A key element of effective e-mail communication relates to pragmatic competence—understanding the relationship between social context and language choices and accordingly adapting one’s language in an appropriate manner. Despite this importance, there have been few learner e-mail corpora annotated for pragmatic errors. As part of a larger ongoing study developing online tools for assessing and developing learners’ e-mail writing ability, a failure mode and effects analysis was conducted on a learner corpus of e-mails, manually tagged for pragmatic errors. Tagged errors were ascribed a value between 1-5 in terms of severity, detectability and frequency, with most sever errors assigned a score of 5. Weighted priority scores were calculated, allowing for errors to be prioritized in terms of importance. Preliminary results indicate severe errors are associated with failing to address the face needs of the e-mail recipient, violating pragmatic norms, with potential negative consequences in terms of relationship maintenance. Results allow for the creation of a job queue for the software developer, and usefully inform teaching priorities in the language classroom.
Extending intelligent content delivery in technical communication by semantics: microdocuments and content services
Authors: Ziegler Wolfgang
Published: May 2020

We address and develop a new concept for the dynamic delivery of topic-based content created within the domain of technical communication. Corresponding content management environments introduced within the last decades, focused so far on semantically structured and mostly XML-based information models and, more recently, on semantic metadata using taxonomies leading together to concepts of so-called intelligent content. Latest developments attempt to extend these concepts with additional explicit semantic approaches modelled and implemented, for example, by using ontologies and related technologies. In this article, we propose how content users might benefit from these semantic concepts by the delivery of sets of logically connected topics, which can be described as microdocuments (“microDocs”). This generic approach of topic assemblies might also play a role in the provisioning of content by web-services being integrated into different types of content processing and content delivery applications.
Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Bildgebung bei Stressfrakturen
Authors: Mack Martin G.
Published: May 2020

Stressfrakturen sind keine gewöhnlichen Frakturen. Daher lassen sie sich in den meisten Fällen auch nicht mit einer konventionellen Röntgenaufnahme nachweisen. Andere bildgebende Verfahren sind besser geeignet.
Positionspapier: Empfehlungen zur Behandlung der chronischen Rhinosinusitis während der COVID-19-Pandemie im deutschen Gesundheitssystem – Empfehlungen des Ärzteverbandes Deutscher Allergologen (AeDA) und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für HNO-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie (DGHNO-KHC) – Diese Empfehlungen basieren auf dem EAACI Positionspapier „Treatment of chronic RhinoSinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) in the COVID-19 pandemics – An EAACI Position Paper”, Allergy, 2020 und wurden auf die Situation im deutschen Gesundheitswesen angepasst
Authors: Klimek L. , Becker S. , Buhl R. , Chaker A. M. , Huppertz T. , Hoffmann T. K. , Dazert S. , Deitmer T. , Förster-Ruhrmann U. , Olze H. , Hagemann J. , Plontke S. K. , Wrede H. , Schlenter W. , Welkoborsky H. J. , Wollenberg B. , Beule A. G. , Rudack C. , Strieth S. , Mösges R. , Bachert C. , Stöver T. , Matthias C. , Dietz A.
Published: May 2020

Hintergrund Von der chronischen Rhinosinusitis (CRS) sind weltweit etwa 5–12 % der Allgemeinbevölkerung betroffen. Die CRS gilt als chronische Atemwegserkrankung, die nach den Empfehlungen der WHO ein Risikofaktor für COVID-19-Patienten sein kann. Die entzündlichen Veränderungen der Nasenschleimhäute bei chronischer Rhinosinusitis mit Nasenpolypen (CRSwNP) sind in den meisten Fällen vom Entzündungsendotyp 2 (T2).

Methoden Der aktuelle Wissensstand sowohl zu COVID-19 als auch zu den Behandlungsmöglichkeiten von CRSwNP wurde durch eine Literaturrecherche in Medline, Pubmed, internationalen Leitlinien, der Cochrane Library und im Internet analysiert.

Ergebnisse Auf Grundlage der internationalen Literatur, der aktuellen Empfehlungen der WHO und anderer internationaler Organisationen sowie der bisherigen Erfahrungen gab ein Expertengremium von EAACI und ARIA Empfehlungen für die Behandlung von CRSwNP während der COVID-19-Pandemien.

Schlussfolgerung Intranasale Kortikosteroide stellen die Standardbehandlung für CRS bei Patienten mit einer SARS-CoV-2-Infektion dar. Chirurgische Behandlungen sollten auf ein Minimum reduziert werden und nur bei Patienten mit lokalen Komplikationen und solchen, für die keine anderen Behandlungsmöglichkeiten bestehen, durchgeführt werden. Systemische Kortikosteroide sollten bei COVID-19-Patienten vermieden werden. Die Behandlung mit Biologika kann bei nicht infizierten Patienten unter sorgfältiger Überwachung fortgesetzt werden und sollte während einer SARS-CoV-2-Infektion vorübergehend unterbrochen werden.
Skindex-29 to Determine Quality of Life and Emotional Factors in Dermatological Conditions
Authors: Saimbi Desiree , Raju MSVK , Dubey Vaibhav , Dey Vivek Kumar
Published: May 2020

Though rarely fatal, skin diseases are known to be associated with increased psychiatric morbidity and considerable impairment of quality of life (QoL). Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in skin diseases can be assessed by generic or skin specific instruments. One hundred sixty patients with a range of dermatological diagnoses were studied on a cross sectional observational paradigm. Skindex-29, a skin specific instrument, was used to assess QoL, while anxiety and depression were assessed by Anxiety Status Inventory (ASI) and Depression Status Inventory (DSI), respectively. Sixty two patients (39%) had impaired QoL out of which 37(60%) had severe impairment. 11 patients (7%) had anxiety and 22(14%) had depression in the mild to moderate range. Gender, anxiety, depression and effect on appearance seem to be not related to impaired QoL. Further large scale studies are needed to ascertain the factors impinging on the QoL of dermatologically ill patients.
Glucose - Responsive Smart Insulin
Authors: Krishnamurthy Aishwarya , Goswami Ravinder
Published: May 2020

The discovery of insulin in 1920s revolutionized the management of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. The evolution of insulin over the last nine decades has seen three phases, namely discovery and understanding of the molecule, advances in synthesis of the molecule and advancements in the optimization of insulin structure and delivery. These advances aim to minimize hypoglycemia while simultaneously improving anti-hyperglycemic efﬁcacy. Glucose-responsive insulin (GRI) systems were ﬁrst conceptualized in 1979. These are novel insulin formulations that provide anti hyperglycemic activity appropriate to circulating glucose levels but with a mechanism to avoid hypoglycemia, that often accompanies stringent glycemic control. GRIs are of three major typesalgorithm-based mechanical, polymer-based, molecular GRI analog systems. They differ in the mechanisms of achieving glucose responsiveness. Algorithm-based systems are closed loop insulin pumps that adjust insulin delivery commensurate with blood glucose levels on the basis of predetermined algorithms, that terminate or increase insulin delivery according to blood glucose trends. The second category of GRI includes glucose-responsive polymer-based matrices that house insulin, releasing insulin as needed based on ambient glucose levels. The third approach is to incorporate glucose sensitive motifs in the insulin molecule itself that would decrease or increase insulin availability based on blood glucose levels. The mechanisms behind these novel approaches to insulin delivery and action will be the focus of this review article.
Multiple Myeloma: Front Line Therapy and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Kumar Lalit
Published: May 2020

Prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM) has improved during the past two decades. This has been attributed to the better understanding of the biology of disease leading to introduction of two new classes of molecules, namely immune-modulators (e.g. thalidomide, lenalidomide), and proteasome inhibitors (e.g. bortezomib), use of high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and better supportive care. Current management of myeloma for young patients (≤65 years) includes initial induction therapy followed by consolidation with ASCT followed by maintenance therapy with low dose thalidomide or lenalidomide or bortezomib for 1-2 years.

The choice of initial therapy for patients of MM is based upon their eligibility for ASCT which in turn is based on their age and major co-morbid conditions pertaining to cardiac and renal systems. Patients who are ≤65 years of age (or 65 to 70 years) with no major co-morbid conditions are considered potential candidates for ASCT. Four cycles of induction therapy are administered; a combination of 3 drugs (bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone (BTD) or bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (BLD) or bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (BCD) is associated with higher complete response (CR) (approx. 30-40%) and very good partial response (VGPR) and better progression free survival (PFS). Further consolidation with ASCT results in CR rates of 50%–70%; patients who achieve CR, have improved event-free and overall survival. Our initial experience with 225 ASCT supports these observations.

It is now possible to individualize therapy in a given patient. For example, for patients with renal failure (present in 20-30% of patients at diagnosis) —bortezomib, dexamethasone and/or doxorubicin combination could be an option; for patients with pre-existing peripheral neuropathy—lenalidomide and dexamethasone is preferred; for patients at high risk of venous thrombo-embolism bortezomib- based regimens can be used safely. Treatment with bortezomib or bortezomib + lenalidomide for patients with poor cytogenetics (chromosome deletion t(4;14), t(14;16), 17p–) appears to result in an outcome similar to that in patients without these abnormalities.

In conclusion, from being incurable, myeloma is now a chronic illness. Along with earlier diagnosis, improved treatment and better management of complications have resulted in longer disease control and survival with a better quality of life. Novel agents have provided an opportunity to tailor therapy in an individual patient. Further research is needed to improve outcome for patients who fail to achieve complete response, those with ISS stage III, and extra-medullary disease. Availability of oral proteasome inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies (e.g. IL-6 receptor) are likely to expand choice of agents for maintenance therapy in future.
Medical Education in India
Authors: Sharma Shridhar , Sharma Gautam
Published: May 2020

India, a country with rich cultural and health care heritage has progressed by leaps and bounds since independence. The health indices have improved and mortality and morbidity have come down signiﬁcantly. The health care system of India is a mix of public and private sector. In 2017, there are 479 medical colleges in India with admission capacity of over 60,000 at the undergraduate level. The pattern of modern medical education is modeled after the British system and the ﬁrst few medical schools were established in 19th century. Medical Council of India (MCI), the government-mandated regulatory agency for medical education, was formed in 1934. The Government of India is regularly reviewing the existing medical education policy to give it a new direction so as to make the curriculum relevant and responsive to the national needs. The MCI has also recognized the need to reduce the artiﬁcial compartmentalization of the curriculum into preclinical, para-clinical and clinical disciplines. Horizontal and vertical integration is being promoted but not practiced in most medical colleges. Instruction remains teacher-based and not much emphasis has been laid on self-directed learning. There is a paucity of innovative approaches and lack of adapting the recent technology into most medical schools in India. Skills such as related to communication and managerial domains, and professionalism are not imparted in the current curriculum. While the level of knowledge in the medical sciences is highly unsatisfactory, medical graduates are often found to be lacking in the clinical skills. So far, attempts to introduce innovations in medical education have been limited to certain institutions. Also, there is lack of adequate motivation and opportunities for faculty development. It is strongly felt that there is a need to redeﬁne the goals of medical education in India depending upon the needs of the society. MCI has recently attempted designing a need-based curriculum. At present, medical education in India is at a signiﬁcant juncture with initiatives coming from both external and internal inﬂuences, and the political will to attain the goal of health for all, India hopes to be in a better position to prepare physicians for the 21st century.
Medical Research by the Medical Colleges in India
Authors: Ghosh Kanjaksha , Ghosh Kinjalka
Published: May 2020

Background:

Research conducted in medical colleges in India is often considered to be of poor quality. The study was done to assess the cause for such occurrence.

Materials and Methods:

Papers published in indexed journals between 1985 to 2017 were reviewed and the data was synthesized.

Results:

Poor infrastructure, heavy patient load, restricted number of faculties who had limited exposure to research methodologies, private practice, lack of incentive to do good quality research, poor mentoring, lack of research tradition, research fund, ancillary infrastructures, and copy cat research were found to be some of the reasons.

Discussions and Solutions:

Teachers education, provision of better infrastructure and funding, short term fellowships at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, proper assessment for promotion of teachers, training in research methodology, multicentric research, R & D research bases in medical colleges, looking for solutions for day-to-day challenges through operational and translational mode are some of the solutions. Training from undergraduate levels on elements of research needed to be encouraged.
Favorable Pregnancy Outcome in a Patient with Uncorrected Uni-ventricular Heart - A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Sharma Charu , Yadav Anita , Singh Shiv Shankar
Published: May 2020

Univentricular heart or a heart with a double inlet ventricle is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly that poses a great challenge for the clinicians owing to increased maternal and fetal complications. It may even lead to maternal mortality. We here describe a case that was managed efficiently and successfully in a low resource setting.
Simulation study on nonlinear structures in nonlinear dispersive media
Authors: Aljahdaly Noufe H. , El-Tantawy S. A.
Published: May 2020

In this work, the dynamic mechanism scenario of nonlinear electrostatic structures (unmodulated and modulated waves) that can propagate in multi-ion plasmas with the mixture of sulfur hexafluoride and argon gas is reported. For this purpose, the fluid equations of the multi-ion plasma species are reduced to the evolution (nonplanar Gardner) equation using the reductive perturbation technique. Until now, it has been known that the solution of nonplanar Gardner equation is not possible and for stimulating our data, it will solve numerically. At that point, the present study is divided into two parts: the first one is analyzing planar and nonplanar Gardner equations using the Adomian decomposition method (ADM) for investigating the unmodulated structures such as solitary waves. Moreover, a comparison between the analytical and numerical simulation solutions for the planar Gardner equation is examined, showing how powerful the ADM is in finding solutions in the short domain as well as its fast convergence, i.e., the approximate solution is consistent with the analytical solution for the planar Gardner equation after a few iterations. Second, the modulated envelope structures such as freak waves (FWs) are investigated in the framework of the Gardner equation by transforming this equation to the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE). Again, the ADM is used to solve the NLSE for studying FWs numerically. Furthermore, the effect of physical parameters of the plasma environment (e.g., Ar+−SF5+−F−−SF5− plasma) on the characteristics of the nonlinear pulse profile is elaborated. These results help in a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of fluid physics governing the plasma processes.
A simple locally active memristor and its application in HR neurons
Authors: Tan Yumei , Wang Chunhua
Published: May 2020

This paper proposes a simple locally active memristor whose state equation only consists of linear terms and an easily implementable function and design for its circuit emulator. The effectiveness of the circuit emulator is validated using breadboard experiments and numerical simulations. The proposed circuit emulator has a simple structure, which not only reduces costs but also increases its application value. The power-off plot and DC V-I Loci verify that the memristor is nonvolatile and locally active, respectively. This locally active memristor exhibits low cost, easy physical implementation, and wide locally active region characteristics. Furthermore, a neural model composed of two 2D HR neurons based on the proposed locally active memristor is established. It is found that complicated firing behaviors occur only within the locally active region. A new phenomenon is also discovered that shows coexisting position symmetry for different attractors. The firing pattern transition is then observed via bifurcation analysis. The results of MATLAB simulations are verified from the hardware circuits.
A two-stage method using biogeography-based optimization for simultaneous network reconfiguration and renewable energy integration
Authors: Samman Mohammad Al , Mokhlis Hazlie , Rahman Mir Toufikur , Mansor Nurulafiqah Nadzirah , Alotaibi Majed A.
Published: May 2020

Renewable Energy Resources (RERs) are a promising source of energy with hardly any pollution. Due to the intermittent nature from the output power of the nondispatchable RER and the load variations in the distribution network, it is important to frequently perform Network Reconfiguration (NR) to minimize the power loss and improve the network's voltage profile. Finding the optimal NR while simultaneously considering the dispatchable RER integration is important but challenging because of the complex combinational nature of the problem, and therefore, it is commonly solved by meta-heuristic techniques. However, the conventional meta-heuristic techniques involve random initializations and normally generate many nonfeasible solutions, which obstruct the search process. With the aim of improving the accuracy and consistency of the solution, this study proposes a two-stage method using biogeography-based optimization to attain the NR simultaneously with the RER placement and sizing for the sake of minimizing power loss and voltage deviation. The first stage simplifies the distribution network and then utilizes the simplified form to provide a better set of initial solutions and to maintain the network radiality. Thereafter, the second stage finds the final NR and RER locations and sizes. The simulations are carried out on 33-bus, 69-bus, and 118-bus systems, and the results are compared with previously published methods and some well-known optimization methods. In addition, load variations and RER's uncertainty are also considered. The obtained results show that the proposed method outperforms the existing methods. The results also indicate the significance of the hourly NR in reducing power loss.
Solitary phase waves in a chain of autonomous oscillators
Authors: Rosenau Philip , Pikovsky Arkady
Published: May 2020

In the present paper, we study phase waves of self-sustained oscillators with a nearest-neighbor dispersive coupling on an infinite lattice. To analyze the underlying dynamics, we approximate the lattice with a quasi-continuum (QC). The resulting partial differential model is then further reduced to the Gardner equation, which predicts many properties of the underlying solitary structures. Using an iterative procedure on the original lattice equations, we determine the shapes of solitary waves, kinks, and the flat-like solitons that we refer to as flatons. Direct numerical experiments reveal that the interaction of solitons and flatons on the lattice is notably clean. All in all, we find that both the QC and the Gardner equation predict remarkably well the discrete patterns and their dynamics.
Electron dynamics in low pressure capacitively coupled radio frequency discharges
Authors: Wilczek S. , Schulze J. , Brinkmann R. P. , Donkó Z. , Trieschmann J. , Mussenbrock T.
Published: May 2020

In low temperature plasmas, the interaction of the electrons with the electric field is an important current research topic that is relevant for many applications. Particularly, in the low pressure regime (≤10 Pa), electrons can traverse a distance that may be comparable to the reactor dimensions without any collisions. This causes “nonlocal,” dynamics which results in a complicated space- and time-dependence and a strong anisotropy of the distribution function. Capacitively coupled radio frequency (CCRF) discharges, which operate in this regime, exhibit extremely complex electron dynamics. This is because the electrons interact with the space- and time-dependent electric field, which arises in the plasma boundary sheaths and oscillates at the applied radio frequency. In this tutorial paper, the fundamental physics of electron dynamics in a low pressure electropositive argon discharge is investigated by means of particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collisions simulations. The interplay between the fundamental plasma parameters (densities, fields, currents, and temperatures) is explained by analysis (aided by animations) with respect to the spatial and temporal dynamics. Finally, the rendered picture provides an overview of how electrons gain and lose their energy in CCRF discharges.
ICP argon discharge simulation: The role of ion inertia and additional RF bias
Authors: Kropotkin A. N. , Voloshin D. G.
Published: May 2020

Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) argon discharge with additional RF bias on the electrode is studied numerically and compared with experimental data. The role of ion inertia is shown by comparing the two numerical approaches: drift-diffusion approximation and a separate equation for ion momentum in the model. Two different discharge geometries are studied: simple cylindrical geometry and two chambers geometry with a downstream plasma. The difference in the calculated plasma density is shown for lower pressure values. Two approaches give similar results at a pressure of 100 mTorr. The downstream ICP discharge with an additional 12 MHz bias was calculated for the range of voltage amplitude from 20 to 215 V. The ion energy distribution function at the RF-biased electrode is calculated by the kinetic model. The results are compared with experimentally measured plasma density and ion energy spectra in the two-chamber discharge geometry. A good agreement was obtained between the calculated and experimental data.
Photoluminescence study of non-polar m-plane InGaN and nearly strain-balanced InGaN/AlGaN superlattices
Authors: Cao Yang , Dzuba Brandon , Magill Brenden A. , Senichev Alexander , Nguyen Trang , Diaz Rosa E. , Manfra Michael J. , McGill Stephen , Garcia Carlos , Khodaparast Giti A. , Malis Oana
Published: May 2020

Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy of nonpolar m-plane InGaN thin films with indium composition up to 21% and nearly strain-balanced In0.09Ga0.91N/Al0.19Ga0.81N superlattices grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy was performed as a function of temperature. The experimental transition energies are consistently lower than the calculation based on structural parameters extracted from x-ray diffraction measurements. This indicates the presence of indium composition fluctuations in InGaN and hence local bandgap reduction that produces charge localization centers. The spectral width of the low-temperature PL of our m-plane InGaN/AlGaN superlattices is narrower than previously reported for m-plane InGaN/GaN quantum wells grown by MOCVD. The PL integrated intensity drops rapidly, though, as the temperature is increased to 300 K, indicating strong non-radiative recombination at room temperature. Time-resolved PL at low temperatures was performed to characterize the relaxation time scales in an undoped and a doped superlattice.
Theory of transient networks with a well-defined junction structure
Authors: Ozaki Hiroto , Koga Tsuyoshi
Published: May 2020

The present study constructs a theory of physical gels consisting of bifunctional molecules, f-functional molecules, and solvent. This theory considered the formation of loops (i.e., the smallest cycles). First, the association state in the equilibrium state was investigated. Unlike the previous theory proposed by the authors, the present theory was able to describe the effect of functionality on the association state. Second, the dynamics of gelation was studied. As a result, the authors found two regimes: one where the characteristic time of gelation is governed by the association of associative groups and another where it is governed by the dissociation of them. Finally, theoretical results and the existing experimental results were compared in terms of gelation time and the time development of elasticity. With parameters set reasonably, the theory succeeded in the quantitative description of the experimental results.
Origin of the magnetic properties of Fe-implanted 4H-SiC semiconductor
Authors: Diallo L. , Fnidiki A. , Lechevallier L. , Juraszek J. , Viret M. , Marteau M. , Eyidi D. , Declémy A.
Published: May 2020

p-doped 4H-SiC substrates were implanted with 57Fe ions at energies ranging from 30 to 160 keV and subjected to a rapid thermal annealing in order to produce a homogeneous Fe concentration inside a 100 nm-thick region in the semiconducting SiC material. Using 57Fe Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectrometry and Superconducting Quantum Interference Device magnetometry, we give evidence that the ferromagnetism obtained in SiC implanted with a 57Fe atoms concentration close to 2% is not only due to the formation of some Fe–Si magnetic nanoparticles but also originates from magnetic Fe atoms diluted in the matrix of the semiconductor. So, values of Fe atoms magnetizations contained in nanoparticles and Fe atoms diluted in the matrix and the Curie temperatures associated with the nanoparticles and to the matrix have been determined.
Reducing ion migration in methylammonium lead tri-bromide single crystal via lead sulfate passivation
Authors: Mahapatra Apurba , Parikh Nishi , Kumari Hemant , Pandey Manoj Kumar , Kumar Manoj , Prochowicz Daniel , Kalam Abul , Tavakoli Mohammad Mahdi , Yadav Pankaj
Published: May 2020

Surface passivation of organic–inorganic halide perovskites (OIHPs) is a crucial step to annihilate the surface defects and to control the deteriorated ion migration phenomenon. Here, we study the role of lead sulfate (PbSO4) as an effective passivator in OIHP single crystals (SCs). Using impedance spectroscopy, we evaluate the ion migration and electrical properties of lead sulfate-passivated methylammonium lead tri-bromide (MAPbBr3) SCs. We found that the low-frequency impedance response that is assigned to the ionic motion in the MAPbBr3 SC is strongly affected by the inorganic PbSO4 surface treatment. The activation energy corresponding to the ion migration of MAPbBr3 SC is increased from 0.28 to 0.36 eV after PbSO4 surface treatment. The temperature-dependent I–V hysteresis of the MAPbBr3 SCs upon PbSO4 passivation was also measured. We found that such PbSO4 surface treatment stabilizes the crystal surface and improves the hysteresis properties of the crystals at elevated temperatures.
The non-classical kinetics and the mutual information of polymer loop formation
Authors: Lee Young-Ro , Kwon Seulki , Sung Bong June
Published: May 2020

The loop formation of a single polymer chain has served as a model system for various biological and chemical processes. Theories based on the Smoluchowski equation proposed that the rate constant (kloop) of the loop formation would be inversely proportional to viscosity (η), i.e., kloop ∼ η−1. Experiments and simulations showed, however, that kloop showed the fractional viscosity dependence of kloop ∼ η−β with β < 1 either in glasses or in low-viscosity solutions. The origin of the fractional viscosity dependence remains elusive and has been attributed to phenomenological aspects. In this paper, we illustrate that the well-known failure of classical kinetics of the loop formation results from the breakdown of the local thermal equilibrium (LTE) approximation and that the mutual information can quantify the breakdown of the LTE successfully.
Torus bifurcations of large-scale swarms having range dependent communication delay
Authors: Schwartz Ira B. , Edwards Victoria , Kamimoto Sayomi , Kasraie Klimka , Ani Hsieh M. , Triandaf Ioana , Hindes Jason
Published: May 2020

Dynamical emergent patterns of swarms are now fairly well established in nature and include flocking and rotational states. Recently, there has been great interest in engineering and physics to create artificial self-propelled agents that communicate over a network and operate with simple rules, with the goal of creating emergent self-organizing swarm patterns. In this paper, we show that when communicating networks have range dependent delays, rotational states, which are typically periodic, undergo a bifurcation and create swarm dynamics on a torus. The observed bifurcation yields additional frequencies into the dynamics, which may lead to quasi-periodic behavior of the swarm.
Generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation: Conservation of energy and solitary-wave solutions
Authors: Rego-Monteiro M. A.
Published: May 2020

We show the conservation of momentum and energy of a generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Moreover, we obtain a new traveling-wave solution of this equation with an additional term of the form Γ(ψ(x, t)) = λ1ψ(x, t) + λ2ψ(x,t)q + λ3ψ(x,t)2−2q. We present two cases where the density of energy of the system, for the traveling-wave solution, has a solitary-wave behavior.
Strictly non-adiabatic quantum control of the acetylene dication using an infrared field
Authors: Liekhus-Schmaltz Chelsea , Zhu Xiaolei , McCracken Gregory A. , Cryan James P. , Martinez Todd J. , Bucksbaum Philip H.
Published: May 2020

We demonstrate the existence of a strictly non-adiabatic control pathway in deprotonation of the acetylene dication. This pathway is identified experimentally by measuring a kinetic energy shift in an ion coincidence experiment. We use a time dependent Schrödinger equation simulation to identify which properties most strongly affect our control. We find that resonant control around conical intersections is limited by the speed of non-adiabatic dynamics.
Nature of SrTiO3/TiO2 (anatase) heterostructure from hybrid density functional theory calculations
Authors: Di Liberto Giovanni , Tosoni Sergio , Illas Francesc , Pacchioni Gianfranco
Published: May 2020

In this work, we investigate the structural and electronic properties of the SrTiO3/TiO2 (anatase) heterostructure by means of hybrid density functional theory calculations. The work is motivated by several experiments that pointed to SrTiO3/TiO2 as a good system for photocatalytic applications, due to the small lattice mismatch between these two oxides and their favorable band alignment, leading to a type-II heterojunction, favoring the charge-carrier separation. The present results provide insights into the nature of the contact region and an estimation of the band offsets in the composite system. Our results are also compared with the available experimental values and with previous theoretical reports. The calculated offsets quantitatively agree with experimental measurements. In addition, we found significant interfacial effects that make the band offsets slightly increase with respect to those of the separated components. Last, we also discuss the role of point defects such as oxygen vacancies, finding that they do not remarkably affect the band alignment.