bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Public’s Perception and Satisfaction on the Health Care System in Sultanate of Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Al-Kalbani Humaid , Al-Saadi Tariq , Al-Kumzari Ahmed , Al-Bahrani Hassan 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Objective There are no “gold standard” parameters to measure patient satisfaction regarding the health care system provided by the government. Most of the developed countries have well-structured health care systems, and they depend on patient satisfaction to evaluate and optimize performance and activities of such systems. The study was conducted to evaluate the Omani population’s satisfaction toward public and private health care systems existing in the country.
Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with a predesigned and pretested questionnaire that was sent to all regions of the Sultanate of Oman via an electronic link. The questionnaire included 22 questions divided into two sections: (1) public and private health care systems in Oman, and (2) abroad treatments.
Results The response rate of the 11 Oman’s governorates was 73.9%. There was an association between gender, age, marital status, and the level of education with the preference for local private hospital’s treatment (p < 0.001). Both males (88.1%) and females (83.9%) preferred to be treated by Omani doctors. The association between gender and the preference to be treated by the Omani doctors was statistically significant (p = 0.016). There was a significant relationship between the overall patient satisfaction regarding the treatment that they received and all of the following parameters: well-trained nurses, competency of doctors, professional behavior, and skill level of the staff. On the other hand, 88% of the participants were unhappy about appointment waiting times to be seen in the tertiary-care hospital.
Conclusion The study showed that most of the participants have preferred to be treated by Omani physicians and nurses, however, hospitals need to make operational and working changes in order to decrease the appointment waiting time, as this was found to be one of the most common reasons for population dissatisfaction.
The interrelationship between the face and vocal tract configuration during audiovisual speech
Authors: Scholes Chris , Skipper Jeremy I. , Johnston Alan 
Published: December 2020

SignificanceSpeech perception is improved when we are able to see the person who is speaking, but how visual speech cues are used to improve speech perception is currently unclear. Brain imaging has revealed that regions responsible for motor control are active during the perception of speech, opening up the possibility that visual cues are mapped onto an internal representation of the vocal tract. Here, we show that there is sufficient information in the configuration of the face to recover the vocal tract configuration and that the key areas responsible for driving the correspondence vary in accordance with the articulation required to form the acoustic signal at the appropriate point in a sentence.
Case assignment in Spanish nominalizations
Authors: Leal Tania , Renaud Jeffrey 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Spanish nominalizations, structures in which a
determiner precedes an infinitive (el susurrar de
Mario “Mario’s whispering”), present a syntactic
contradiction in which a verb exists within a Determiner Phrase
(DP). Speakers attest two types: nominalizations co-occurring with
nominal modifiers (e.g., adjectives, genitive case for argument
expression) and those whose modifiers are verbal (adverbs,
nominative/accusative arguments). Absent cartographic approaches
(Cinque, 2002)
predetermining the order of functional heads, the point in the
derivation at which verbal categories transition into nominal ones,
and this transition’s effect on case assignment, are thus far
unanswered empirical questions. Using a self-paced reading task, we
adopt Alexiadou et al.’s
(2011) proposal to experimentally determine the cases
available in each nominalization type. Results show that speakers
process nominal nominalizations as expected but may allow for the
possibility of adverbial adjunction, as suggested by Ramírez (2003). We propose
that this data reveals the value of empirically testing syntactic
proposals.
Dual competence in dual language learners
Authors: Satterfield Teresa 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
This chapter focuses on grammatical variability
in object clitic placement (omission and clitic climbing) and
morphology (gender and number) in child heritage Spanish.
Implementing Wexler’s
(2003) Clitic Acquisition Theory (CAT), original corpus
data from 60 U.S. Spanish heritage speakers (SHS), ages 4–7, are
analyzed and compared to previous research on adult L1/L2/child L1
and bilingual acquisition on clitic expression and acceptability
judgments. Results show SHS at all proficiency levels produce
clitics to some degree; however compared to Wexler (2003) and subsequent CAT studies,
SHS demonstrate ongoing clitic optionality. A high percentage of
this variability is grammatical: for instance, no substantial
difference in SHS frequencies for proclisis or enclisis occurs. In
the spirit of L2 work by Slabakova, Rothman and Kempchinsky (2011), the
Underlying and Surface Competence (Duffield, 2003) is tested as a
generative-based account of variability in more mature child
grammars, complementing CAT. The dual competence model provides a
finer-grained snapshot of ‘adult-like’ Spanish clitic expression in
children.
Double layer from least action principle
Authors: Berezin V A , Dokuchaev V I , Eroshenko Yu N , Smirnov A L 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
We derived the equations for the double layers in quadratic gravity, using solely the least action principle. The advantage of our approach is that, in the process of calculation, the δ′-function does not appear at all, and the δ-functions appear for a moment and are mutually canceled prior to integration. We revealed the peculiar structure of the obtained equations, namely, that the surface energy–momentum tensor of the matter fields (constituents of the thin shells) does not play a role in the determination of the trajectory of the double layer. Also, we suggested that the space-like double layers may provide us with the adequate description of the creation of the Universe from the black hole singularity. The related topics, including the Gauss–Bonnet term and F(R)-theories, are shortly discussed.
Sparsity of Hawking radiation in D + 1 space-time dimensions for massless and massive particles
Authors: Schuster Sebastian 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Hawking radiation from an evaporating black hole has often been compared to black body radiation. However, this comparison misses an important feature of Hawking radiation: its low density of states. This can be captured in an easy to calculate, heuristic, and semi-analytic measure called ‘sparsity’. In this note we shall present both the concept of sparsities and its application to D + 1-dimensional Tangherlini black holes and their evaporation. In particular, we shall also publish for the first time sparsity expressions taking into account in closed form effects of non-zero particle mass. We will also see how this comparatively simple method reproduces results of (massless) Hawking radiation in higher dimensions and how different spins contribute to the total radiation in this context.
Colossal dielectric permittivity and high energy storage efficiency in barium strontium titanate ceramics co-doped with bismuth and lithium
Authors: Alkathy Mahmoud S , Raju K C James , Eiras J A 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The development of energy storage devices in lead-free perovskite materials is critically important in addressing the environmental issues of perovskite lead. In this article, for the first time, lead-free (Ba0.60Sr0.40)(1−x)(Bi,Li)
x
TiO3, abbreviated as (BST6:BLx%); (0%⩽ x ⩽ 8%) ceramics, have been successively synthesized via the conventional solid-state reaction method. The structural evolution, dielectric and energy storage properties, as functions of co-doping levels, were systematically studied by x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, impedance analyzer, and a Radiant Precision Premier II Analyzer. It was found that a small amount of co-dopants induced a colossal permittivity (CP) (over 105) with low loss (<0.1), a maximum energy storage density of 0.3856 J cm−3 with a BDS of ∼100 kV cm−1, and an efficiency of over 90%. The defects and chemical state of the elements contained in the material’s surface were investigated using XPS. In conjunction with the results of XPS and complex impedance studies, the mechanism of massive permittivity was interpreted based on a defect-dipole model. We believe that BST6:BLx% ceramics, as CP and high energy storage efficiency materials, might be considered a promising candidate for high energy storage applications.
Current-driven skyrmion movement in a curved nanotrack
Authors: Cai Na , Liu Yan 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
We report the results of complex studies concerning skyrmion motion in U-shaped and V-shaped nano-tracks simulated with MuMax3. The Thiele equation was used for description of skyrmion velocity components. It was shown that both size and velocity of a skyrmion vary depending on its position in the system, featuring distinct values for the straight and curved branches of the track. The degree of velocity variation can be effectively controlled by geometry of the track (including track width and its curvature radius) as well as the density of the driving current applied to the system.
Tunable edge enhancement by higher-order spiral Fresnel incoherent correlation holography system
Authors: Bu Yuanzhuang , Wang Xi , Li Yu , Du Yanli , Gong Qiaoxia , Zheng Guangchao , Ma Fengying 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Tunable edge enhancement can selectively emphasize the edge features of objects. We demonstrate a higher-order spiral Fresnel incoherent correlation holography system to realize isotropic edge enhancement with tunable width. The spatial light modulator is space-division multiplexed by a conventional lens and a spiral lens with a series of higher-order Laguerre–Gaussian phases. The effects of the radial quantum number p and the angular quantum number l on the spatial filtering are theoretically discussed, as well as confirmed by simulations and experiments. Reconstruction images of resolution target, hairs and label-free onion cells all show obvious tunable edge enhancement effects, which makes the edge information easier to be identified. Furthermore, double-edge enhancement is also detected for the first time.
Decoupling between metal–insulator transition and structural phase transition in an interface-engineered VO2
Authors: Ji Yanda , Cheng Lei , Li Ning , Yuan Ye , Liang Weizheng , Yang Hao 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The coupling between the metal–insulator transition (MIT) and the structural phase transition (SPT) in VO2 has been at the center of discussion for several decades, while the underlying mechanisms of electron–lattice or electron–electron interactions remain an open question. Until recently, the equilibrium state VO2 is believed to be a non-standard Mott–Hubbard system, i.e., both of the two interactions cooperatively work on MIT, indicating the association between MIT and SPT. However, due to the pronounced contribution of strain in strongly correlated systems, it is desirable to explore the correspondence in an interface-engineered VO2. Herein, we investigate the carrier dynamics in the VO2 films with anomalous MIT on the basis of time-resolved transient differential reflectivity measurements. Unexpectedly, MIT is decoupled from SPT, in sharp contrast with the case of strain-free VO2 films: MIT is triggered by bandgap recombination below 75 °C during heating, while intense SPT-induced signal appears separately between 70 °C and 100 °C. The decoupling between MIT and SPT provides insights into the interfacial interactions in VO2 thin films.
Controlling soft vortex matter: edge effects on vortex configurations and partial vortices in a superconducting type-II/type-I bilayer
Authors: Córdoba-Camacho W Y , da Silva R M , Barba-Ortega J , Albino Aguiar J 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
We demonstrate that the presence of edges in a superconducting film made of a type-I/type-II bilayer stabilizes type-II/type-I hybrid (inter-type) flux patterns, as vortex clusters, chains, and gel phase. These patterns are very sensitive to primary parameters such as applied magnetic field, layer coupling, and temperature. Thus, the magnetization versus temperature curves, M(T), for many values of coupling were used to estimate the strength of the layer couplings, and also as a guide for obtaining sequentially the flux patterns. We also show that the effect of the borders on the unrestricted states is to shift them to states of higher density, since they introduce extra compression on the vortex matter. For a low layer coupling regime, we observe an unusual magnetic response where few partial vortices (partial in a sense they miss the contribution of the type I part), repelling each other and bounded to the surfaces, populate one layer leaving the other empty. We expect that the predicted flux configurations can stimulate experimentalists in trying to observe them by direct imaging techniques.
Non-hydrostatic pressure-dependent structural and transport properties of BiCuSeO and BiCuSO single crystals
Authors: Lv Yang-Yang , Zhou Yonghui , Xu Lu , Luo Yecheng , Zhang Yan-Yan , Cao Lin , Zhou Jian , Chen Y B , Yao Shu-Hua , Zhang Shan-Tao , Yang Zhaorong , Chen Yan-Feng 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
High-pressure experiments usually expect a hydrostatic condition, in which the physical properties of materials can be easily understood by theoretical simulations. Unfortunately, non-hydrostatic effect is inevitable in experiments due to the solidification of the pressure transmitting media under high pressure. Resultantly, non-hydrostaticity affects the accuracy of the experimental data and sometimes even leads to false phenomena. Since the non-hydrostatic effect is extrinsic, it is quite hard to analyze quantitatively. Here, we have conducted high pressure experiments on the layered BiCuXO (X = S and Se) single crystals and quantitatively analyzed their pronounced non-hydrostatic effect by high throughput first-principles calculations and experimental Raman spectra. Our experiments find that the BiCuXO single crystals sustain the tetragonal structure up to 55 GPa (maximum pressure in our experiment). However, their pressure-dependent Raman shift and electric resistance show anomalous behaviors. Through optimization of thousands of crystal structures in the high throughput first-principles calculations, we have obtained the evolution of the lattice constants under external pressures, which clearly substantiates the non-hydrostatical pressure exerted in BiCuXO crystals. Our work indicates that the high throughput first-principles calculations could be a handy method to investigate the non-hydrostatic effect on the structural and electronic properties of materials in high pressure experiments.
Spontaneous Raman scattering at trace gas concentrations with a pressurized external multipass cavity
Authors: Velez Juan S Gomez , Muller Andreas 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
A setup is described with which the spontaneous Raman scattering rate from pressurized gas samples is greatly enhanced inside a near-concentric optical cavity. The pump source is a high power multimode semiconductor laser diode that receives optical feedback from the cavity by way of a volume Bragg grating, resulting in a linewidth of 80 pm and circulating power close to 100 W. Under pressurization (up to 8 bar) a limit of detection below 100 parts-per-billion was obtained for gaseous hydrogen, measured in ambient air and in breath. Furthermore, isotopic trace detection is demonstrated by headspace measurements of semiheavy water.
Non-null interferometers for irregular surface measurement with system modeling
Authors: Zang Zhongming , Xu Zhaorui , Peng Shaojing , Zhang Huxiang , Chen Nan , Liu Chong , Yan Tianliang , Liu Dong 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
A design method of non-null interferometers is proposed in this paper for measuring irregular surfaces such as optical aspherics, freeform surfaces and droplet surfaces. With system modeling and raytracing, the improved reverse optimization reconstruction method is employed to correct the retrace error and obtain the accurate shape of the test part with all frequency information. To simplify the model in the raytracing program, an imaging lens images the desired interferogram at a certain plane on the detector and, therefore, only the test arm needs to be modeled. The imaging error of an interferogram, which can be reduced by the partial compensation system (PCS), is analyzed, and the design of the PCS is also demonstrated. Two cases with different optical layouts show the feasibility and the versatility of our method.
Crystallinity and photocatalytic properties of BiVO4/halloysite nanotubes hybrid catalysts for sunlight-driven decomposition of dyes from aqueous solution
Authors: Sun Qing , Zhao Yingjie , Qin Feng , Zhang Jian , Wang Bin , Ye Huijian , Sheng Jiawei 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The BiVO4/HNTs hybrid photocatalysts were synthesized by liquid phase precipitation using natural halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) as supporter and Bi(NO3)·5H2O as resource of Bi. XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy, HRTEM, x-ray photo electron spectroscopy and UV–Vis DRS were used to characterize the samples prepared at different calcination temperatures, and the effects of crystallization, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area and morphological structure on the photoactivity were investigated. Results reveal that increasing calcination temperature can accelerate the transition of BiVO4 from tetragonal to monoclinic and also decrease the surface area of BiVO4/HNTs. The SEM results showed that BiVO4 was successfully coated on HNTs surface with ellipsoid or near rod like morphology, and the obtained BiVO4/HNTs had regular nanotube morphology. HRTEM results showed that, the regular fringe spacing of the lattice planes are about 0.474 and 0.364 nm, which is consistent with the (110) and (200) plane of the monoclinic and tetragonal BiVO4, confirming the exiting of mixed crystal structure in BiVO4/HNTs. BiVO4 with tetragonal phase (80.02%) and monoclinic phase (19.98%) mixed crystal is loaded on the surface of HNTs with calcinations at 400 °C for 2 h. The structure and Si (Al)–O bond of HNTs can be obviously changed over the calcination temperature of 400 °C. The effect of calcination temperature on photocatalytic reactivity of samples was investigated by degradation of dyes (MB, MO and RhB) under simulated solar light. And the sample calcined at 400 °C with the better mixed crystalline structure and larger specific surface area exhibits significant activity with the removal rate of MB and RhB up to 100% within 4 h. The degradation of MB follows the first order kinetic model. BiVO4/HNTs photocatalysts with the band gap of 2.34 eV has higher photocatalytic reaction rate and better sedimentation performance than Degussa P25. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of BiVO4/HNTs for MB was no significant reduction after four times recycles.
Atomic-scale constituting stable interface for improved LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 cathodes of lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Wang Xin , Cai Jiyu , Liu Yongqiang , Han Xiaoxiao , Ren Yang , Li Jianlin , Liu Yuzi , Meng Xiangbo 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Ascribed to their higher capacity and lower cost compared to conventional LiCoO2, the Ni-rich layered LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 (NMC622) is now considered as one promising cathode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, it still suffers from some evident performance degradation, especially under high cutoff voltages (i.e., >4.3 V versus Li/Li+). The performance degradation typically is exhibited as capacity fading and voltage drop, mainly originating from an instable interface between the NMC622 and electrolyte as well as the evolution of the NMC structure. To improve the interfacial and structural stability of NMC cathodes, herein we deposited an ultrathin layer of Al2O3 coatings (<5 nm) conformally over NMC622 composite electrodes directly using atomic layer deposition (ALD). It was found that, under different upper cutoff voltages (4.3, 4.5, and 4.7 V), the ALD Al2O3 coatings enable enhanced performance of NMC622 cathodes with better cyclability and higher capacity. Particularly, the beneficial effects of the ALD Al2O3 coatings are more remarkable at higher upper cutoff voltages (4.5 and 4.7 V). Furthermore, the ALD coatings can significantly improve the rate capability of NMC622. To this end, we utilized a suite of characterization tools and performed a series of electrochemical tests to clarify the effects of the ALD Al2O3 coatings. This study revealed that the beneficial effects of the Al2O3 ALD coatings are multiple: (i) serving as an artificial layer of solid electrolyte interphase to mitigate undesirable interfacial reactions; (ii) acting as a physical barrier to inhibit metal dissolution of NMC; and (iii) forming a reinforced networked overcoating to boost the mechanical integrity of NMC cathodes. This study is favorable for designing high-performance NMC cathodes.
Graphene oxide-grafted plasmonic Au@Ag nanoalloys with improved synergistic effects for promoting hot carrier-driven photocatalysis under visible light irradiation
Authors: Li Shuang , Zhao Jinhua , Liu Guiyuan , Xu Linlin , Tian Yue , Jiao Anxin , Chen Ming 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Plasmonic metallic nanostructure with unique hot carrier-driven photocatalysis has recently emerged as a promising photocatalyst. Herein, we show that the plasmonic photocatalysis can be significantly promoted by supporting bimetallic Au@Ag nanoalloys (NAs) on graphene oxide (GO). The obtained Au3@Ag1/GO (molar ratio of Au to Ag∼3:1) with improved synergistic effects provides a remarkable higher visible-light (>400 nm) photocatalytic activity for a complete degradation (99.36%) of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) molecules within 70 min, while about 61.74% or 62.38% via monometallic Au/GO or Ag/GO. The optimum photocatalytic performance is attributed to the production of high yield hot carriers on NAs with enhanced localized surface plasmon resonance property and the pronounced photoinduced electron-transfer ability of modified GO support by overgrowth of NAs. These findings enable the optimal Au3@Ag1/GO to become an appealing high-performance photocatalyst for promoting diverse photochemical reactions.