cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Differential executive functioning in the topology of Spirit possession or dissociative disorders: an explorative cultural study
Creators: name: Al-Adawi, Samir
name: Al-Kalbani, Yahya
name: Panchatcharam, Sathiya Murthi
name: Al-Zadjali, Matlooba Ayoub
name: Al-Adawi, Sara S.
name: Essa, Musthafa M.
name: Qoronfleh, M. Walid
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: Clinical sciences

description: Background In Oman, anecdotal and impressionistic observation have helped parse and categorize various manifestations of spirit possession into two broad and distinct categories: intermittent dissociative phenomenon and transitory dissociative phenomenon. The primary aim of the present study was to compare the performance of participants on neuropsychological tests among different grades of possession. Other correlates were also sought. Methods Assessment criteria for the two groups included measures examining executive functioning: controlled oral word association test Verbal Fluency, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (Perseverative error and the number of categories achieved), Trail Making Test and the Tower of London Test (number of correctly solved problems). Sociodemographic variables and the history of trauma were also sought. Result Among 84 participants, one third of them presented the intermittent possession type and two thirds, the transitory possession type. Their mean age was 34.17 ± 11.82 and 56% of them were female. Nearly 35% of them endorsed a history of a traumatic experience. Both the multivariate models showed statistical significance (F (5, 78) = 5.57, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.22), F (5, 78) = 11.38, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.39) with an independent predictor of intermittent dissociative phenomenon (β = − 3.408, p < 0.001), (β = 63.88, p < 0.001) for Verbal Fluency and Trail Making Test, respectively. The history of the traumatic event was also statistically significant with the results of the Trail Making Test (β = − 26.01, p < 0.041. Furthermore, the subtype of Pathogenic Possession turned out to be an independent predictor across all models: Wisconsin Card Sorting Test perseverative error, Wisconsin card sorting test categories achieved and the number of problems solved in the Tower of London Test (OR = 3.70, 95% C.I. 2.97–4.61; p < 0.001), (OR = 0.57, 95% C.I.0.39–0.84; p = 0.004) and (OR = 0.80, 95% C.I. 0.65–0.99; p < 0.037) respectively. Conclusions This study suggests that typology of spirit possession found in Oman tends to differ on indices of executive function. Those with ‘diagnosis’ of intermittent possession showed impairment in many indices of executive functioning. Despite its wide prevalence, spirit possession has not been examined in terms of its neuropsychological functioning. We believe that this study will be instrumental in laying the groundwork for a more robust methodology.Other Information Published in: BMC Psychiatry
 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2358-2
A prospective investigation of oral contraceptive use and breast cancer mortality: findings from the Swedish women’s lifestyle and health cohort
Creators: name: Nur, Ula
name: El Reda, Darline
name: Hashim, Dana
name: Weiderpass, Elisabete
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Oncology and carcinogenesis

description: The association between oral contraceptive (OC) use and long-term mortality remains uncertain and previous studies have reported conflicting findings. We aim to assess the long-term impact of OC use on all-cause and cancer-specific mortality. Out of 49,259 participants, we analysed data on 2120 (4.3%) women diagnosed with first primary breast cancer between 1993 and 2012, in the Swedish Women’s Lifestyle and Health Study. Kaplan–Meier plots were used to graph the hazard of mortality in association with oral contraceptives use, stage of disease and hormone receptors status at diagnosis. Cox proportional hazard model were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) between OC use and all-cause mortality. The same association was studied for breast cancer-specific mortality by modelling the log cumulative mortality risk, adjusting for clinical stage at diagnosis, hormone receptor status, body mass index and smoking. Among 2120 women with breast cancer, 1268 (84%) reported ever use of OC and 254 died within 10 years of diagnosis. The risk of death for OC ever-users relative to never-users was: HR = 1.13 (95% CI: 0.66–1.94) for all-cause mortality and HR = 1.29 (95% CI: 0.53–3.18) for breast cancer-specific mortality. A high percentage of women (42.9%) were diagnosed at early stage disease (stage I). Among women with primary breast cancer, OC ever-users compared to never- users did not have a higher all-cause or breast cancer specific-mortality, after the adjustment of risk factors.Other Information Published in: BMC Cancer
 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12885-019-5985-6
Light-matter interaction of single semiconducting AlGaN nanowire and noble metal Au nanoparticle in the sub-diffraction limit
Creators: name: Sivadasan, A. K.
name: Madapu, Kishore K.
name: Dhara, Sandip
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: The near field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) is not only a tool for imaging of sub-diffraction limited objects but also a prominent characteristic tool for understanding the intrinsic properties of the nanostructures. In order to understand the light-matter interactions in the near field regime using NSOM technique with an excitation of 532 nm (2.33 eV), we selected an isolated single semiconducting AlGaN nanowire (NW) of diameter ~120 nm grown via vapor liquid solid (VLS) mechanism along with metallic Au nanoparticle (NP) catalyst. The role of electronic transitions from different native defect related energy states of AlGaN are discussed in understanding the NSOM images for the semiconducting NW. The effect of strong surface plasmon resonance absorption of excitation laser in the NSOM images for Au NP, involved in the VLS growth mechanism of NWs, is also observed. Keywo
description: 20 pages, 7 figures, Communicated to journal
New results on the XYZ states from Belle experiment
Creators: name: Yuan, Chang-Zheng
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex)
subject: High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We review the results on the XYZ states from the Belle experiment, including the measurement of inclusive hadronic cross sections and exclusive cross sections in e+e- annihilation and the Z_b states in the bottomonium energy region; and the study of the Y states and the Z_c states in charmonium energy region.
description: Plenary talk at Hadron'15
Prevalence of BRCA mutations among hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer patients in Arab countries: systematic review and meta-analysis
Creators: name: Abdulrashid, Khadiga
name: AlHussaini, Nour
name: Ahmed, Wifag
name: Thalib, Lukman
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Oncology and carcinogenesis

description: To systematically assess the prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations in women with Hereditary Breast and/or Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) in Arab countries and to describe the variability in the BRCA gene mutations in different regions of the Arab world. Observational studies reporting prevalence of BRCA mutations from 22 Arab countries were systematically searched in databases including PUBMED, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Two reviewers independently screened the studies and extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. Hoy’s risk of Bias tool was used to assess the biases in individual studies. Due to substantial heterogeneity, pooled weighted estimates were calculated using Quality Effect Models (QEM) that adjust for bias, while the Random Effect Models (REM) estimates served as the sensitivity estimates. Fourteen studies reporting prevalence of BRCA were included. The pooled estimate of BRCA among HBOC was 20% (95% CI: 7–36%). Subgroup analysis including only those with low risk of bias provided an estimate of 11% (95% CI: 1–27%). Levant region had higher prevalence 28% (95% CI: 11–49%) compared to Arabian Gulf region and North Africa but differences are not statistically significant, when tested using Z-test for proportions. Given the pooled estimates vary widely with substantial heterogeneity, larger, well-designed studies are warranted to better understand the frequency and the impact of BRCA gene mutations among Arab women. International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) registration number: CRD42018095905 .Other Information Published in: BMC Cancer
 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12885-019-5463-1
Limiting Efficiency of an Intermediate Band Solar Cell Under Concentrated AM1.5 Spectrum
Creators: name: Bremner, S.P.
name: Dahal, S.N.
name: Honsberg, C.
Publisher: name: WIP-Munich
Year: 2008
Subjects: Advanced Photovoltaics
Fundamental Studies

description: 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 1-5 September 2008, Valencia, Spain; 37-40
description: Theoretical calculations used for optimum band gap design for intermediate band solar cells have focused on the case of the device under a blackbody spectrum. As yet there has been little attention given to the case of the intermediate band solar cell under a terrestrial spectrum. The piece wise continuous nature of the AM1.5 spectrum in contrast to the smooth continuous nature of a blackbody spectrum should see the variation in efficiency being multi-peaked. Using a rapid flux calculation method the detailed balance efficiency of an intermediate band solar cell has been calculated, over a large range of internal band gaps, under the AM1.5 spectrum at concentrations of 1, 100, 1,000 and 10,000 suns. The results show that there are several peaks in the efficiency and that the location of the peak corresponding to the global maximum depends on the level of concentration. At a concentration of 10,000x there are found to be three peaks of similar value suggesting there are several designs possible of roughly the same merit, in terms of limiting efficiency. These results have clear implications for the selection of materials systems for implementing an intermediate band solar cell since the required smaller internal band gap, corresponding to confinement potential in nanostructure approaches, can be < 0.6 eV for high concentration. Some possible candidate materials systems for a quantum dot approach taking into account these results have been identified using a k.p approach to take into account strain. The resulting systems are presented and briefly discussed.
Screening for antenatal depression and its determinants among pregnant women in Qatar: revisiting the biopsychosocial model
Creators: name: Naja, Sarah
name: Al Kubaisi, Noora
name: Singh, Rajvir
name: Abdalla, Hiba
name: Bougmiza, Iheb
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: Reproductive medicine

description: Background Screening for antenatal depression and its determinants is highly recommended. However, there is no consensus on a standard conceptual framework to approach pregnant women in a primary health care setting. The prevalence of antenatal depression and significant determinants are unknown in Qatar, a gap that we propose to fill. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study with a probability sampling technique was employed. Enrolling eight-hundred participants from primary health care centers. The screening was performed through a valid and reliable screening instrument ‘Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale.’ In addition to the proposed Comprehensive Biopsychosocial Model, participants were asked about their predisposing profile, biological risk, and other suggested modifiable variables. Results Twenty-one percent reported minor depressive episodes (n = 167, 20.9%) at a 95% confidence interval [18.2–23.8]. Previous use of mental health medications, fear of giving birth, concern about appearance, low perceived social support, and low resilience level showed to be associated with antenatal depression. The logistic regression analyses revealed that the Comprehensive Biopsychosocial model forecast 89% of antenatal depression predictors provided Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve of 0.89 at a 95% confidence interval [0.85 to 0.92]. Conclusions Antenatal depression is common among pregnant women in Qatar, and preventive interventions must target the determinants revealed. From a clinical perspective, the use of the proposed model may aid in the standardization of the screening process.Other Information Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-03793-7
‘The newest vital sign among pregnant women attending women wellness and research Centre in Qatar: a cross-sectional study’
Creators: name: Naja, Sarah
name: Elyamani, Rowaida
name: Al Ibrahim, Abdullah
name: Al Kubaisi, Noora
name: Itani, Rayan
name: AbdulRouf, Palli
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: Reproductive medicine

description: Background Health literacy is a vital strategy to consider when designing health-promoting programs, and health literacy is a priority in Qatar’s national health agenda. In the context of pregnancy, inadequate health literacy has been linked to several adverse outcomes among pregnant women such as unplanned conception, smoking, and lack of multi-vitamin intake. Given the paucity of data, this study aimed to assess the level of health literacy and its determinants among pregnant women in the State of Qatar. Methods An analytical cross-sectional design was utilized. First, we piloted the measurement tools on 10% of the calculated sample size. Accordingly, the items of the measurement tools were revised. Next, we utilized a structured questionnaire to interview the participants about their socio-demographic characteristics, pregnancy-related factors, and the Newest Vital Sign Tool. A chi-square test was employed to investigate the association level among variables, with significance set to P < 0.05. A logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with a low literacy level. Results We found that almost four in 10 pregnant women (n = 138,45.4%) had inadequate health literacy. Furthermore, the insufficient level of health literacy was significantly associated with low educational background, decreased household income, and primigravida. However, uncontrolled glycaemia was the only significant predictor of inadequate health literacy through logistic regression. The scale was found to be reliable, with a calculated Cronbach’s alpha of 0.8. Conclusions Low health literacy is common among pregnant women in the State of Qatar. Thus, public health officials should focus on delivering tailored health literacy interventions to pregnant women in the country.Other Information Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-03542-w
The Social Profitability of Photovoltaics in Germany
Creators: name: López Prol, J.
name: Steininger, K.W.
Publisher: name: WIP
Year: 2017
Subjects: PV Economics, Markets and Policies
PV-Related Policies, Strategies and Societal Issues

description: 33rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 2827-2836
description: While Germany has led the market in photovoltaic (PV) implementation throughout the last decade, there has been increasing criticism of PV support policies due to their high cost. Although declining, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) from PV is still above the German wholesale electricity price. However, using LCOE as an evaluation yardstick falls short in at least two respects: it neither takes into account integration costs rising with PV penetration (i.e. undervaluing its actual cost), nor avoided externalities of replacing conventional for renewable generation (social cost overvaluation). We thus calculate the social profitability of PV in Germany by including not only private costs and benefits, but also integration costs and avoided externalities, using the internal rate of return and the profitability index as indicators. Our results show that when these factors are considered, PV investments - up to a penetration level of at least 15% - have a social profitability above 10% at the lower bound of the social cost of carbon (150 €/tCO2), and one that is at least positive up to that penetration level if the social cost of carbon were only 50 €/tCO2. Results also show the level of private profitability if all externalities were internalized, and assert that subsidies are justified in order to align private and social profitability. The proposed method could be used as a complementary indicator to private profitability by public institutions, development banks and companies with social responsibility values.
Methylphenidate improves executive functions in patients with traumatic brain injuries: a feasibility trial via the idiographic approach
Creators: name: Al-Adawi, Samir
name: Al-Naamani, Aziz
name: Jaju, Sanjay
name: Al-Farsi, Yahya M.
name: Dorvlo, Atsu S. S.
name: Al-Maashani, Ali
name: Al-Adawi, Sara S. H.
name: Moustafa, Ahmed A.
name: Al-Sibani, Nasser
name: Essa, Musthafa M.
name: Burke, David T.
name: Qoronfleh, M. Walid
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Clinical sciences
subject: Neurosciences
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine

description: Background Road traffic accidents are known to be the main cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is also a leading cause of death and disability. This study, by means of the idiographic approach (single-case experimental designs using multiple-baseline designs), has examined whether methylphenidate (MPH - trade name Ritalin) had a differential effect on cognitive measures among patients with TBI with the sequel of acute and chronic post-concussion syndromes. The effect on gender was also explored. Methods In comparison with healthy controls, patients with TBI (acute and chronic) and accompanying mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were screened for their integrity of executive functioning. Twenty-four patients exhibiting executive dysfunction (ED) were then instituted with the pharmacological intervention methylphenidate (MPH). The methylphenidate was administered using an uncontrolled, open label design. Results The administration of methylphenidate impacted ED in the TBI group but had no effect on mood. Attenuation of ED was more apparent in the chronic phases of TBI. The effect on gender was not statistically significant with regard to the observed changes. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first feasibility trial from the Arabian Gulf to report the performance of a TBI population with mild cognitive impairment according to the IQCODE Arabic version. This investigation confirms anecdotal observations of methylphenidate having the potential to attenuate cognitive impairment; particularly those functions that are critically involved in the integrity of executive functioning. The present feasibility trial should be followed by nomothetic studies such as those that adhere to the protocol of the randomized controlled trial. This evidence-based research is the foundation for intervention and future resource allocation by policy- or public health decision-makers.Other Information Published in: BMC Neurology
 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12883-020-01663-x
Comparison among Models for Lambertian Light Trapping in Textured Si Solar Cells
Creators: name: Abenante, L.
name: Izzi, M.
Publisher: name: WIP
Year: 2019
Subjects: New Materials and Concepts for Photovoltaic Devices
Fundamental Studies

description: 36th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 58-60
description: We compare to each other the two models for Lambertian light trapping available in the literature with respect to their consistency with the Basore electro-optical model for textured Si solar cells and measured data of quantum efficiency, IQE. To this aim, measured IQE-data of two actual devices are used in the Basore model at nearbandgap wavelengths to determine values for internal rear reflectance to be used in the simulation program PC1D to fit the same IQE-data at all wavelengths. In the calculations, the mean optical propagation angles are assigned values calculated with the aforementioned models for Lambertian light trapping. A third optical model is taken into account, which can be simulated in PC1D as well.
Artificial Soiling Testing and Performance Determination of Functional Coatings
Creators: name: Klimm, E.
name: Siess, C.
name: Kaltenbach, T.
name: Heck, M.
Publisher: name: WIP
Year: 2019
Subjects: Photovoltaic Modules and BoS Components
PV Module Design, Manufacture, Performance and Reliability

description: 36th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 1059-1061
description: The accumulation of dust can cause significant performance losses of solar energy systems, unfortunately especially on sites which are most attractive for the use of solar energy. In this paper, we share an evaluation of dirt repellent coatings as a way of mitigating those effects. For that purpose, a set of solar glass samples with different antisoiling coatings has been analyzed and artificially soiled, before exposing it at an outdoor weathering test site in Freiburg for several weeks. It has been found that all of the samples could almost fully recover their initial transmittance after a moderate or strong rain event. Light rain and morning dew, however, seem to further enhance the problem.
A construct modelling approach to characterize chemistry students’ understanding of the nature of light
Creators: name: Balabanoff, Morgan
name: Kaur, Simreen
name: Barbera, Jack
name: Moon, Alena
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Ecology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Inorganic Chemistry
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: Science Policy

description: Across science disciplines, light is a common tool for measuring, characterizing, and catalysing molecules and molecular processes. Despite the ubiquity of light-based tools, little research has been done to investigate how students understand light and light–matter interactions (LMI). This topic is typically first introduced in first-year undergraduate chemistry courses where students initially encounter the quantum nature of light and matter. How students make sense of this content and transition from classical concepts to quantum concepts is relatively unknown. To gain further insight on how students develop quantum-level conceptions about light, we use a construct modelling approach. This approach is best suited to capture progressions in student understanding. In this study, we begin to model students’ understanding of LMI by first developing a model for the nature of light. Two sets of qualitative interviews were conducted about the particulate nature of light and the wave nature of light. Analysis of interviews resulted in four construct maps, which can provide information to instructors and researchers about the variation in student understanding of the nature of light. Findings from this study have implications for how quantum chemistry is introduced at the postsecondary level.
An examination of teacher’s goals for a school crystal growing competition: more than having fun
Creators: name: Martín-García, Jorge
name: Álvarez, María Eugenia Dies
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Pharmacology
subject: Ecology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Science Policy

description: Non-formal science education provides an ever-growing network of different educational opportunities that makes it a valuable instrument to increase scientific education quality and to promote scientific literacy among students. This study analysed teachers’ conceptions about the goals they set prior to participating in a crystal-growing competition named Concurso de Cristalización en la Escuela. A qualitative-interpretative approach was adopted to analyse educators’ answers and a quantitative evaluation of the influence of two main variables (previous participation in the contest and years of teaching experience) was included to complement and deepen the analysis. Descriptive analysis reveals seven main categories that are not mutually exclusive in which teacher’s objectives can be classified. Several different themes can be identified within the majority of the categories which may be labelled as mainly cognitive or mainly affective. This provides a new insight into educators’ conceptions concerning non-formal education. Quantitative evaluation of the responses showed no noticeable influence of the years of experience in the type of objectives declared by teachers, which may indicate that the settled goals are more dependent of personal and contextual variables. In the light of these findings, it can be concluded that educators value the competition not just as an entertaining experience but as in instrument that addressed the didactic need to put the usual processes of science into practice as a basis for the construction of scientific knowledge.
Two-dimensional solitons in conservative and parity-time-symmetric triple-core waveguides with cubic-quintic nonlinearity
Creators: name: Feijoo, David
name: Zezyulin, Dmitry A.
name: Konotop, Vladimir V.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: Optics (physics.optics)
subject: Other Condensed Matter (cond-mat.other)
subject: Pattern Formation and Solitons (nlin.PS)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We analyze a system of three two-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equations coupled by linear terms and with the cubic-quintic (focusing-defocusing) nonlinearity. We consider two versions of the model: conservative and parity-time ($\mathcal{PT}$) symmetric. These models describe triple-core nonlinear optical waveguides, with balanced gain and losses in the $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric case. We obtain families of soliton solutions and discuss their stability. The latter study is performed using a linear stability analysis and checked with direct numerical simulations of the evolutional system of equations. Stable solitons are found in the conservative and $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric cases. Interactions and collisions between the conservative and $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric solitons are briefly investigated, as well.
Epidemiological and genetic characterization of pH1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses circulated in MENA region during 2009–2017
Creators: name: Al Khatib, Hebah A.
name: Al Thani, Asmaa A.
name: Gallouzi, Imed
name: Yassine, Hadi M.
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: Clinical sciences

description: Influenza surveillance is necessary for detection of emerging variants of epidemiologic and clinical significance. This study describes the epidemiology of influenza types A and B, and molecular characteristics of surface glycoproteins (hemagglutinin [HA] and neuraminidase [NA]) of influenza A subtypes: pH1N1 and H3N2 circulated in Arabian Gulf, Levant and North Africa regions during 2009–2017. Analysis of phylogenetics and evolution of HA and NA genes was done using full HA and NA sequences (n = 1229) downloaded from Influenza Research Database (IRD). In total, 130,354 influenza positive cases were reported to WHO during study period. Of these, 50.8% were pH1N1 positive, 15.9% were H3N2 positives and 17.2% were influenza B positive. With few exceptions, all three regions were showing the typical seasonal influenza peak similar to that reported in Northern hemisphere (December–March). However, influenza activity started earlier (October) in both Gulf and North Africa while commenced later during November in Levant countries. The molecular analysis of the HA genes (influenza A subtypes) revealed similar mutations to those reported worldwide. Generally, amino acid substitutions were most frequently found in head domain in H1N1 pandemic viruses, while localized mainly in the stem region in H3N2 viruses. Expectedly, seasons with high pH1N1 influenza activity was associated with a relatively higher number of substitutions in the head domain of the HA in pH1N1 subtype. Furthermore, nucleotide variations were lower at the antigenic sites of pH1N1 viruses compared to H3N2 viruses, which experienced higher variability at the antigenic sites, reflecting the increased immunological pressure because of longer circulation and continuous vaccine changes. Analysis of NA gene of pH1N1 viruses revealed sporadic detections of oseltamivir-resistance mutation, H275Y, in 4% of reported sequences, however, none of NAI resistance mutations were found in the NA of H3N2 viruses. Molecular characterization of H1N1 and H3N2 viruses over 9 years revealed significant differences with regard to position and function of characterized substitutions. While pH1N1 virus substitutions were mainly found in HA head domain, H3N2 virus substitutions were mostly found in HA stem domain. Additionally, more fixed substitutions were encountered in H3N2 virus compared to larger number of non-fixed substitutions in pH1N1.Other Information Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases
 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12879-019-3930-6
General relativistic massive vector field effects in Gamma Ray Burst production
Creators: name: Tamburini, Fabrizio
name: De Laurentis, Mariafelicia
name: Amati, Lorenzo
name: Thidé, Bo
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc)
subject: High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: To explain the extremely high energy release, $>10^{53}$~erg, suggested by the observations of some Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) we propose a new energy extraction mechanism from the rotation energy of a Kerr-Newman black hole (BH) by a massive photon field. Numerical results show that this mechanism is stable with respect to the black hole rotation parameter, $a$, with a clear dependence on the BH mass, $M$, and charge, $Q$, and can extract energies up to $10^{54}$ erg. The controversial "energy crisis" problem of GRBs that does not show evidence for collimated emission may benefit of this energy extraction mechanism. With these results we set a lower bound on the coupling between electromagnetic and gravitational fields.
description: 5 pages, 1 figure
4-Terminal and 2-Terminal Tandem Modules in Bifacial Operation: Model Analysis and Comparison
Creators: name: Geerligs, L.J.
name: Zhang, D.
name: Janssen, G.J.M.
name: Luxembourg, S.L.
Publisher: name: WIP
Year: 2018
Subjects: Silicon Cells
Heterojunction Solar Cells

description: 35th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 676-680
description: This paper models and compares the energy yield to be expected from bifacial 2-terminal (2T) and 4-terminal (4T) hybrid perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem modules. Following the work by Asadpour et al. the comparison includes 2T tandem cells employing a thick perovskite absorber layer with standard band gap, which in monofacial operation have significant mismatch of short circuit currents of top and bottom cell, and therefore low efficiency. The perovskite stack properties are taken from the current Solliance high-performance semi-transparent perovskite cells, and the c-Si model represents current high-efficiency industrial nPERT cells. As shown by Asadpour et al., the combination of thick absorber and standard band gap with bifacial operation is a promising approach for 2T bfiacial tandem modules, resulting in higher performance than the c-Si bottom cells. We find that such a 2T bifacial tandem module should be able to outperform even an optimized 2T module with wide band gap perovskite. Additionally, employing a planar c-Si front side in combination with textured module glass can potentially perform nearly as well as employing a textured c-Si front side. These results support the feasibility of important simplifications for production of 2T tandem modules, as long as these will be operated bifacially. The dependence of energy yield of 2T bifacial tandems on albedo is qualitatively different from that of 4T and single junction c-Si bifacial modules. This reduces the competitiveness of 2T bifacial tandems, compared to 4T and SJ c-Si, with increase of the albedo of the environment.
Optimization of Silicon Heterojunction Cells: A Recipe for More Than 26% Efficiency
Creators: name: Ghannam, M.Y.
Publisher: name: WIP
Year: 2018
Subjects: Silicon Cells
Heterojunction Solar Cells

description: 35th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 681-685
description: Optimum conditions for high efficiency silicon heterojunction solar cells are investigated. It is shown that a
large difference between the work functions of the p-type doped amorphous silicon layer (a-Si:H) and that of the n-type
crystalline silicon substrate is required but subject to constraints imposed by the valence band offset and by doping
concentrations. The optimum cell design when such constraints are taken into consideration should use a-Si:H with a
band-gap in the 1.6-1.63 eV range with an electron affinity in the range 3.85-3.9 eV. The p-type doping concentration in
a-Si:H should be around 1020 cm-3 with a maximum allowed peak dangling bond density half this concentration, and a
substrate doping concentration in the 8x1016 to 1017 cm-3 range with a carrier lifetime in the ms range. With such a
design, the predicted efficiency ranges from 25.6-26% for the full wafer thickness SHJ cell, and with effective light
trapping reaches 26.1-26.4% for the thin 100 m SHJ cell and 26.3-26.9% for the silicon thin film 50 m SHJ cells.
Composition-Dependent Hydrogen Effusion and Diffusion Mechanism within a-SiNx:H
Creators: name: Jafari, S.
name: Chaitanya, C.
name: Dwan, J.
name: Hirsch, J.
name: Bernhard, N.
name: Lausch, D.
Publisher: name: WIP
Year: 2018
Subjects: Silicon Cells
Heterojunction Solar Cells

description: 35th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 686-689
description: The effect of the film structure of SiNx on the hydrogen evolution at elevated temperatures was investigated by an effusion measurement system at constant heat rate. Control of hydrogen diffusion-limited effusion has been achieved by providing three different structures of SiNx: (i) Si-rich (ii) N-rich and (iii) layer with identical content of N and Si. The hydrogen evolution peak shifts to higher temperature up to 900 °C by increasing the N content suggesting that N-rich SiNx is a perfect compact layer for limiting hydrogen effusion due to firing. On the other hand, the Si-rich layer shows good surface passivation with large amount of hydrogen, however the hydrogen was almost effused out at temperatures lower than 800 °C indicating a void-rich structure. The desorption energy of hydrogen has been calculated out of the measurements at high temperature hydrogen evolution peaks and reveals a proportional relation to the N content.
Improvement of Nanocrystalline Doped Layer Properties with Argon and Hydrogen Plasma Treatments
Creators: name: Meddeb, H.
name: Sergeev, O.
name: Cho, H.-J.
name: Vehse, M.
Publisher: name: WIP
Year: 2018
Subjects: Silicon Cells
Heterojunction Solar Cells

description: 35th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 696-699
description: In silicon heterojunction solar cells (SHJ), the collection of charge carriers is commonly achieved by doped silicon layers of a few nanometers, deposited at opposite sides of the crystalline silicon wafer. In this work, we point out the potential application of Hydrogen (HPT) and Argon (APT) plasma treatments for the improvement of n-doped nanocrystalline layer (n-nc-Si:H) to be applied as window layer in SHJ solar cells. Moreover, we conducted a comparative study about the impact of HPT and APT on the structural, optical and electrical properties of n-nc-Si:H. It was found that both APT and HPT are beneficial for the enhancement of doped nc-Si:H layers properties. It was demonstrated that the integration of a combined Argon and Hydrogen treatment (AHPT) in bifacial SHJ, leads to more pronounced improvement, yielding a high value of short-circuit current density Jsc of about 39.23 mA/cm2 with a gain of more than 2 mA/cm2 and pseudo-efficiency up to 24%.
Front/Back Poly-Si/SiO2 Passivated Contact Device with Voc > 720 mV
Creators: name: Young, D.L.
name: LaSalvia, V.
name: Nemeth, B.
name: Theingi, S.
name: Kale, A.
name: Findley, D.
name: Atkins, J.
name: Page, M.
name: Stradins, P.
Publisher: name: WIP
Year: 2018
Subjects: Silicon Cells
Heterojunction Solar Cells

description: 35th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 700-703
description: We report on front/back poly-Si/SiO2 passivated contact solar cells with iVoc > 735 mV and Voc > 720
mV. The devices were grown on n-Cz wafers using PECVD to deposit doped a-Si layers which were then annealed at
850 ˚C. Our best device has an efficiency of 21% which is limited by: (1) low current density from a large grid shadow
loss and parasitic absorption in the front poly-Si:P layer; and (2) high series resistance from a high Al-poly-Si:P contact
resistivity. We discuss the role of high temperature anneals throughout the process flow to preserve and improve the
bulk lifetime of the n-Cz wafers.
A Transition to Thinner Si Wafers at HJT Mass Production: Ahead of ITRPV Schedule
Creators: name: Andronikov, D.
name: Abramov, A.
name: Abolmasov, S.
name: Emtsev, K.
name: Ivanov, G.
name: Nyapshaev, I.
name: Orekhov, D.
name: Semenov, A.V.
name: Shelopin, G.
name: Terukova, E.
name: Terukov, E.I.
name: Belkova, N.
name: Dubrovskiy, A.
name: Ishmuratov, P.
name: Ivanov, A.
name: Saykin, D.
name: Smirnov, A.
name: Saymurzanov, N.
name: Sokolov, E.
name: Tarasov, V.
Publisher: name: WIP
Year: 2018
Subjects: Silicon Cells
Heterojunction Solar Cells

description: 35th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 690-691
description: Si wafer price constitutes ca. 50% of the solar cell production costs resulting in a global trend in Si
solar cell and module industry towards application of thinner as-cut wafers. In this paper, we report a full transition of
Hevel HJT module production to 150 um as-cut wafers 4 years ahead of predicted ITRPV schedule. We also update
the current technological status of Hevel production.
The teacher as street-level bureaucrat: science teacher’s discretionary decision-making in a time of reform
Creators: name: Hall, M.
name: Hampden-Thompson, G.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Cancer
subject: Inorganic Chemistry
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: Science Policy
subject: Mental Health
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: This article explores teacher discretion in the context of the English 2014 science curriculum and assessment reforms. The study positions primary and secondary school science teachers as “street-level bureaucrats” in which they are not just mere implementers of policy but instead pivotal actors with much agency. Through the analysis of questionnaire and interview data drawn from a sample of 26 science teachers in England, this empirical research advances our understanding of teachers’ discretionary decision-making considering policy change and reform. The findings indicate that discretion varied, not simply between the secondary and primary sectors, but within each key stage. With the introduction of the new curriculum, secondary teachers expressed higher levels of autonomy and more discretion teaching key stage 3 than with key stage 4 and key stage 5. Despite this, we argue that it has become more difficult for teachers to circumvent the “rules” associated with the attainment measures in the ways that were previously possible. We conclude that the embodiment of teachers as street-level bureaucrats is not perfect as the boundaries around teacher’s discretion and decision-making are heavily dependent on the school and national policy context, but it remains a useful theory in advancing our understanding of teacher.
Study of Changes in Intrinsic a-Si:H Passivation Layer Induced by the Growth of n-Doped Nanocrystalline Layer
Creators: name: Meddeb, H.
name: Sergeev, O.
name: Cho, H.-J.
name: Werfaly, O.
name: Vehse, M.
Publisher: name: WIP
Year: 2018
Subjects: Silicon Cells
Heterojunction Solar Cells

description: 35th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 692-695
description: In silicon heterojunction solar cells (SHJ), the passivation quality of an intrinsic hydrogenated amorphous silicon (i-a-Si:H) layers can be either harmfully or beneficially affected by the impact of subsequent employed doped layers as back (BSF) or front (FSF) surface field. In this work, we investigated the induced changes of the i-a-Si:H layer properties exposed to nanocrystalline regime plasma conditions with high Hydrogen flow and plasma power. Moreover, we studied the change of the i-a-Si:H passivating layers due to the deposition of n-doped nanocrystalline silicon layers (nc-Si:H) at high rate. It was found that the low pressures deposition regime (Pr < 3 mbar) of nc-Si:H leads to the etching of underlying i-a-Si:H passivation layer inducing lifetime degradation with a loss of about 90%. In contrast, the deposition at high pressures (Pr > 6 mbar) results in the degradation of lifetime due to induced disorder. Thus, moderate working pressures (4-6 mbar) are recommended for the growth of the n-doped nc-Si films on an i-a-Si:H passivation layer, to allow further defects reduction and beneficial field effect passivation, which provide up to 50% gain in terms of effective lifetime absolute value.
Electron Selective Contacts Based on Al2O3/TiO2/ZnO Stacks for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
Creators: name: Zafoschnig, L.A.
name: Ortega, P.
name: Martín, I.
name: Masmitja, G.
name: López, G.
name: Alcubilla González, R.
Publisher: name: WIP
Year: 2018
Subjects: Silicon Cells
Heterojunction Solar Cells

description: 35th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 653-656
description: In the last years, our research group has focused on the development of Interdigitated Back Contacted
(IBC) solar cells based on transition metal oxides. In particular, a very thin Al2O3/TiO2 stack deposited by ALD has
demonstrated excellent results. The point of this work is to try to develop a transparent conductive oxide that could be
inserted in between the passivating layers and the metal contact in order to improve rear reflector properties. As a good
candidate, we focus on Zinc Oxide (ZnO) deposited from DEZ (Ditehylzinc) and water as gas precursors. A deposition
rate of 1.76 A/cycle is found for layers deposited at 125 ºC indicating a self-limited reaction, i.e. atomic layer deposition
process. This film has an optical band gap of 3.26 eV demonstrating good optical properties to work as a back reflector.
Unfortunately, contact quality with these layers is very poor. In order to investigate the origin of such a poor
performance, we measure ZnO workfunction by Scanning Kelvin Probe resulting in 4.85 eV. This value suggests that
the developed ZnO films could work better in a hole selective contact. To demonstrate this point, contacts on MoOx
layers were fabricated leading to reasonable contact resistance values of 43 mcm. Passivation properties of these
contacts will be addressed in the future in order to consider their introduction into the final IBC solar cell.
Transparent MoOx and SiOx Window Layers for Heterojunction Silicon Solar Cells
Creators: name: Menchini, F.
name: Serenelli, L.
name: Martini, L.
name: Izzi, M.
name: Stracci, G.
name: Mangiapane, P.
name: Salza, E.
name: Lombardo, S.
name: Milazzo, R.C.
name: Tucci, M.
Publisher: name: WIP
Year: 2018
Subjects: Silicon Cells
Heterojunction Solar Cells

description: 35th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 639-644
description: Emitter and buffer layers more transparent than amorphous Silicon is one of the improvement needed in amorphous/crystalline silicon heterojunction technology to reach the limit efficiency of silicon based solar cell. Recent studies have demonstrated the suitability of sub-stoichiometric Molybdenum Oxide as hole extracting layer in heterojunction solar cells based on n-type crystalline Silicon. However, up to now it has mainly been used in combination with amorphous Silicon, so limiting its potential as transparent emitter. This work investigates on a hole-selective contact based on the combination of a passivating hydrogenated amorphous Silicon Oxide and Molybdenum Oxide which, with their high band gaps (respectively 1.9 and 3.5 eV), should lead to best cell performances if compared to heterojunction devices based only on amorphous Silicon. Solar cells have been produced and optimized in terms of layers thicknesses. The widely reported problem of s-shape in the light current-voltage characteristics, due to undesired barrier formation against photo-carrier collection, is addressed and solved. The temperature response of the devices is also studied, and the Molybdenum Oxide film stability under thermal treatment up to 130°C is demonstrated when addressing the appropriate thermal treatments sequence.
Nachhaltige Ressourcennutzung: eine sozial-ökologische Perspektive
Creators: name: Helmut, Haberl
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022

description: Invited Plenary
 26. Umweltrechtstage, Institut für Umweltrecht, Johannes Kepler Universität, Linz, 21-22.9.2022
Rear Device Architectures for Evaluating Passivated Organic/Silicon Hybrid Cells
Creators: name: Hack, J.
name: Iyer, A.
name: Chen, M.
name: Opila, R.L.
Publisher: name: WIP
Year: 2018
Subjects: Silicon Cells
Heterojunction Solar Cells

description: 35th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 649-652
description: Hybrid organic-silicon devices were fabricated making use of benzoquinone-methanol passivation of silicon, which provides minority carrier lifetimes of 1500 microseconds at 1015 cm-3 minority carrier density (MCD), and an implied 1 sun Voc of .708V on textured silicon. Initial devices built on this structure show a large deficit between this implied Voc and the voltage of completed devices, indicative of recombination losses. To address these losses, 3 different rearside contact schemes were evaluated. Implementation of a BSF layer yielded a 58mV Voc gain, while making use of an a-Si stack yielded a 128 mV gain. This provides experimental quantification of the extent to which backside structures with differing passivation quality can effect the measurement of novel frontside structures. These tests clearly demonstrate the important role that optimization of rear-side passivation and contact schemes make in the performance of Si-organic hybrid solar cells. Devices constructed show excellent low wavelength quantum efficiency.