cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Relationship between pharmaceutical pricing strategies with price, availability, and affordability of cardiovascular disease medicines: surveys in Qatar and Lebanon
Creators: name: Abdel Rida, N.
name: Mohamed Ibrahim, M. I.
name: Babar, Z. U. D.
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: Policy and administration

description: Background Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Lebanon and Qatar. When lifestyle modifications prove insufficient, medication becomes a cornerstone in controlling such diseases and saving lives. Price, availability, and affordability hinder the equitable access to medicines. The study aimed to assess prices, availability, and affordability of essential cardiovascular disease medicines in relation to pricing strategies in Qatar and Lebanon. Methods A cross-sectional survey using a variant of the World Health Organization and Health Action International (WHO/HAI) methodology as outlined in “Measuring medicine prices, availability, affordability and price components” (2008), second edition, was adopted. Prices and availability of 27 cardiovascular medicines were collected from public and private dispensing outlets. For international comparison, prices were adjusted to purchasing power parity. Data was analyzed across multiple sectors, within and across countries. Results A total of 15 public and private outlets were surveyed in each country. Prices were more uniform in Qatar than in Lebanon. In the public sector, medicines were free-of-charge in Lebanon and priced lower than the international reference prices in Qatar. The ratio of medicine unit price to international reference price in the private sectors surveyed are significantly higher than the acceptable threshold of 4. This ratio of originator brands and lowest priced generics in Qatar were up to two and five times those in Lebanon, respectively, even after adjusting for purchasing power parity. However, prices of lowest priced generics in the private sector were at least 35% cheaper in Qatar and 65% cheaper in Lebanon than their comparative originator brands. Medicines were more available in the private sector in Lebanon than in Qatar, but only the originator brand availability in the public sector in Qatar exceeded the WHO target of more than 80%. While affordable in the public sector in Qatar, four out of thirteen medicines exceeded the threshold in all private sectors covered. Hence, only the public sector in Qatar had a satisfying level of availability and affordability. Conclusions Except for the Qatari public sector, medicine prices, availability, and affordability are falling short from targets. Key policy decisions should be implemented to improve access to medicines.Other Information Published in: BMC Health Services Research
 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4828-0
The use of technology in tracking soccer players’ health performance: a scoping review
Creators: name: Almulla, Jassim
name: Takiddin, Abdulrahman
name: Househ, Mowafa
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: Health services and systems

description: Background Quantifying soccer players’ performance using different types of technologies helps coaches in making tactical decisions and maintaining players’ health. Little is known about the relation between the performance measuring technologies and the metrics they measure. The aim of this study is to identify and group the different types of technologies that are used to track the health-related performance metrics of soccer players. Methods We conducted a systematic search for articles using IEEE Xplore, PubMed, ACM DL, and papers from the Sports Medicine Journal. The papers were screened and extracted by two reviewers. The included papers had to fall under several criteria, including being about soccer, measuring health-related performance, and using technology to measure players’ performance. A total of 1,113 papers were reviewed and 1,069 papers were excluded through the selection process. Results We reviewed 44 papers and grouped them based on the technology used and health-related metrics tracked. In terms of technology, we categorized the used technologies into wearable technologies (N=27/44) and in-field technologies (N=14/44). We categorized the tracked health-related metrics into physiological metrics (N=16/44) and physical metrics (N=44/44). We found out that wearable technologies are mainly used to track physical metrics (N=27/27) and are also used to track physiological metrics (N=14/27). In-field technologies are only used to track physical metrics (N=24/24). Conclusion Understanding how technology is related to players’ performance and how it is used leads to an improvement in the monitoring process and performance outcomes of the players.Other Information Published in: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
 License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12911-020-01156-4
Interpreting patient-Specific risk prediction using contextual decomposition of BiLSTMs: application to children with asthma
Creators: name: AlSaad, Rawan
name: Malluhi, Qutaibah
name: Janahi, Ibrahim
name: Boughorbel, Sabri
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: Health services and systems

description: Background Predictive modeling with longitudinal electronic health record (EHR) data offers great promise for accelerating personalized medicine and better informs clinical decision-making. Recently, deep learning models have achieved state-of-the-art performance for many healthcare prediction tasks. However, deep models lack interpretability, which is integral to successful decision-making and can lead to better patient care. In this paper, we build upon the contextual decomposition (CD) method, an algorithm for producing importance scores from long short-term memory networks (LSTMs). We extend the method to bidirectional LSTMs (BiLSTMs) and use it in the context of predicting future clinical outcomes using patients’ EHR historical visits. Methods We use a real EHR dataset comprising 11071 patients, to evaluate and compare CD interpretations from LSTM and BiLSTM models. First, we train LSTM and BiLSTM models for the task of predicting which pre-school children with respiratory system-related complications will have asthma at school-age. After that, we conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis to evaluate the CD interpretations produced by the contextual decomposition of the trained models. In addition, we develop an interactive visualization to demonstrate the utility of CD scores in explaining predicted outcomes. Results Our experimental evaluation demonstrate that whenever a clear visit-level pattern exists, the models learn that pattern and the contextual decomposition can appropriately attribute the prediction to the correct pattern. In addition, the results confirm that the CD scores agree to a large extent with the importance scores generated using logistic regression coefficients. Our main insight was that rather than interpreting the attribution of individual visits to the predicted outcome, we could instead attribute a model’s prediction to a group of visits. Conclusion We presented a quantitative and qualitative evidence that CD interpretations can explain patient-specific predictions using CD attributions of individual visits or a group of visits.Other Information Published in: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
 License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12911-019-0951-4
Remediation of learners struggling with communication skills: a systematic review
Creators: name: Al-Sheikhly, Deema
name: Östlundh, Linda
name: Arayssi, Thurayya
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: Education systems

description: Background Communication skills is a core area of competency for healthcare practitioners. However, trainees deficient in those skills are not identified early enough to address the deficiency. Furthermore, faculty often struggle to identify effective remediation strategies for those who fail to meet expectations. We undertook a systematic review to determine which assessment methods are appropriate to identify learners that struggle with communication skills and the strategies used to remediate them. Methods The literature was searched from January 1998 through to May 2019 using academic databases and grey literature. Trainees were defined as healthcare practitioners in undergraduate, graduate and continuing education. Characteristics of studies, assessment and intervention strategies and outcomes were synthesized qualitatively and summarized in tables. Results From an initial 1636 records, 16 (1%) studies met the review criteria. Majority of the learners were medical students. A few studies (44%) included students from other disciplines, residents and physicians in practice. The remediation programs, in the studies, ranged from 1 week to 1 year. Around half of the studies focused solely on learners struggling with communication skills. The majority of studies used a format of a clinical OSCE to identify struggling learners. None of the studies had a single intervention strategy with the majority including an experiential component with feedback. Conclusions A few studies collectively described the diagnosis, remediation intervention and the assessment of the outcomes of remediation of communication skills. For a remediation strategy to be successful it is important to ensure: (i) early identification and diagnosis, (ii) the development of an individualized plan and (iii) providing reassessment with feedback to the learner.Other Information Published in: BMC Medical Education
 License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02074-9
Study of the Electrical Properties of Si QD Heteroface and p-i-n Junction Devices on Crystalline Silicon Substrate
Creators: name: Park, S.
name: Cho, E.-C.
name: Hao, X.J.
name: Conibeer, G.
name: Green, M.A.
Publisher: name: WIP-Munich
Year: 2008
Subjects: Advanced Photovoltaics
New Types of Cells and Modules

description: 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 1-5 September 2008, Valencia, Spain; 189-192
description: Silicon quantum dot and crystalline silicon heteroface structure and p-i-n silicon quantum dot homojunction devices are fabricated and investigated with different size of silicon quantum dot: 3 nm, 4 nm, 5 nm and 8 nm. The quantum confinement causes its effective bandgap to increase if the dimensions of silicon are less than Bohr radius of bulk crystalline silicon (~ 5 nm). The electrical properties of heteroface structure and p-i-n homojunction are investigated. Conduction mechanisms were determined by analyzing the temperature dependence of the current-voltage characteristics. The results show that the devices are dominated by recombination in the depletion region at low forward bias (V<0.5 V). We have experimentally investigated on material properties of silicon (Si) quantum dot (Si QD) superlattices and fabricated the device as a first step towards a silicon based tandem cell. This study indicates the silicon quantum dots can be a good candidate for all-silicon tandem solar cells.
Pharmacy academics’ perspectives toward interprofessional Education prior to its implementation in Qatar: a qualitative study
Creators: name: El-Awaisi, Alla
name: Joseph, Sundari
name: El Hajj, Maguy Saffouh
name: Diack, Lesley
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: Education systems
Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences

description: The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of faculty members and academic administrators, at Qatar University College of Pharmacy, towards interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative practice by identifying enablers, barriers and resources needed to implement IPE within the pharmacy curriculum. A qualitative methodology was employed using focus groups discussions. Two focus groups were conducted, one focus group with faculty members (n = 5) and another focus group with academic administrators (n = 5) at Qatar University College of Pharmacy. Focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim by an independent experienced transcriber and validated by the study principal researcher. Thematic analysis was undertaken to generate key themes and subthemes. The study participants highlighted a number of enablers and challenges encountered as a result of the initial IPE events, for integrating IPE into the pharmacy curriculum. Many provided recommendations and suggestions for effective implementation of IPE. Analysis of the results focused on three main categories: enablers, barriers and recommendations. Overall, seven major themes were identified: 1) intrinsic enabling factors (initial IPE experiences, cross-appointed faculty, accreditation); 2) extrinsic enabling factors (national policy & legislation and advances in pharmacists’ role); 3) student related benefits (roles & responsibilities and agents for change); 4) student hindering factors (student engagement, perceptions & attitudes and gender issues); 5) partnering academic institutions (logistical issues, familiarity with other curricula and commitment); 6) practice environment (hierarchy, healthcare professionals’ attitude and lack of collaborative practice) and 7) IPE delivery (dedicated structure, IPE curriculum and extrinsic support). Pharmacy academics had positive perceptions towards IPE suggesting a high level of support and readiness to pursue IPE and an opportunity for pharmacy academics to drive the IPE agenda forward in Qatar. However, a number of challenges were reported. These are important to consider to ensure the development of effective strategies for the integration and enhancement of IPE and collaborative practice.Other Information Published in: BMC Medical Education
 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-019-1689-5
Evaluation of heat tolerance in Thai lowland indigenous rice germplasm in seedling and grain filling stages
Creators: name: Christnapaul Therdkitcharoen, Sompong Chankaew
Publisher: name: Faculty of Agriculture
Year: 2023
Subjects: high temperature
rice screening
Oryza sativa L.
filled seed number
seed partitioning

description: Khon Kaen Agriculture Journal, 51, 5, 975-993
Go-ICP: A Globally Optimal Solution to 3D ICP Point-Set Registration
Creators: name: Yang, Jiaolong
name: Li, Hongdong
name: Campbell, Dylan
name: Jia, Yunde
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (cs.CV)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: The Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm is one of the most widely used methods for point-set registration. However, being based on local iterative optimization, ICP is known to be susceptible to local minima. Its performance critically relies on the quality of the initialization and only local optimality is guaranteed. This paper presents the first globally optimal algorithm, named Go-ICP, for Euclidean (rigid) registration of two 3D point-sets under the L2 error metric defined in ICP. The Go-ICP method is based on a branch-and-bound (BnB) scheme that searches the entire 3D motion space SE(3). By exploiting the special structure of SE(3) geometry, we derive novel upper and lower bounds for the registration error function. Local ICP is integrated into the BnB scheme, which speeds up the new method while guaranteeing global optimality. We also discuss extensions, addressing the issue of outlier robustness. The evaluation demonstrates that the proposed method is able to produce reliable registration results regardless of the initialization. Go-ICP can be applied in scenarios where an optimal solution is desirable or where a good initialization is not always available.
description: to appear in T-PAMI 2016 (IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence)
Does faculty development influence the quality of in-training evaluation reports in pharmacy?
Creators: name: Wilbur, Kerry
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: Education systems
Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences

description: In-training evaluation reports (ITERs) of student workplace-based learning are completed by clinical supervisors across various health disciplines. However, outside of medicine, the quality of submitted workplace-based assessments is largely uninvestigated. This study assessed the quality of ITERs in pharmacy and whether clinical supervisors could be trained to complete higher quality reports. A random sample of ITERs submitted in a pharmacy program during 2013–2014 was evaluated. These ITERs served as a historical control (control group 1) for comparison with ITERs submitted in 2015–2016 by clinical supervisors who participated in an interactive faculty development workshop (intervention group) and those who did not (control group 2). Two trained independent raters scored the ITERs using a previously validated nine-item scale assessing report quality, the Completed Clinical Evaluation Report Rating (CCERR). The scoring scale for each item is anchored at 1 (“not at all”) and 5 (“exemplary”), with 3 categorized as “acceptable”. Mean CCERR score for reports completed after the workshop (22.9 ± 3.39) did not significantly improve when compared to prospective control group 2 (22.7 ± 3.63, p = 0.84) and were worse than historical control group 1 (37.9 ± 8.21, p = 0.001). Mean item scores for individual CCERR items were below acceptable thresholds for 5 of the 9 domains in control group 1, including supervisor documented evidence of specific examples to clearly explain weaknesses and concrete recommendations for student improvement. Mean item scores for individual CCERR items were below acceptable thresholds for 6 and 7 of the 9 domains in control group 2 and the intervention group, respectively. This study is the first using CCERR to evaluate ITER quality outside of medicine. Findings demonstrate low baseline CCERR scores in a pharmacy program not demonstrably changed by a faculty development workshop, but strategies are identified to augment future rater training.Other Information Published in: BMC Medical Education
 License: In Copyright
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-017-1054-5
Premontreia Cappetta 1992
Creators: name: Malyshkina, Tatiana
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2006
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Elasmobranchii
Carcharhiniformes
Scyliorhinidae
Premontreia

description: Genus Premontreia Cappetta, 1992
 Type species: Premontreia degremonti Cappetta, 1992.
 Remarks.—The genus includes scyliorhinid sharks with fairly large teeth. The lingual face of the crown is convex and smooth, the labial face is less convex and slightly overhangs the root. There are vertical enamel folds at the base of the labial face. One or two pairs of cusplets may be present. The root extends behind the crown, its basal surface is flat with a wide nutritive groove. The central foramen is lingually placed.
 In the palaeontological record several species of Premontreia are known. Two species were recorded from Morocco: Danian–early Ypresian P. subulidens (Arambourg, 1952) and Thanetian P. peypouqueti Noubhani and Cappetta, 1997. The type species, P. degremonti Cappetta, 1992, was described from the late Ypresian of the Paris Basin. Kent (1999) recorded Premontreia degremonti Cappetta, 1992 in the early Ypresian of North America. P. dachiardi (Lawley, 1876) is known from the Oligocene up to the Pliocene of Europe (Baut 1993; Genault 1993; Reinecke et al. 2001). P. gilberti (Casier, 1946) was described from the Eocene of France and Belgium; it is also known from the Thanetian of northern France (Moreau and Mathis 2000) and probably from the Ypresian of the USA (Kent 1999).
 This paper provides the first record of Premontreia from the West−Siberian Basin.
 Noubhani and Cappetta (1997) divided Premontreia into two subgenera: Premontreia (Premontreia) with the type species Premontreia degremonti Cappetta, 1992, and Premontreia (Oxyscyllium) with the type species Premontreia subulidens (Arambourg, 1952). The former, Premontreia (Premontreia), has a convex crown labial face with short vertical, parallel, more or less flexuous folds, that never rise from the very base of the crown. The labial base of the crown does not form a border. There is one pair of cusplets, widely united with the main cusp, smooth, wide at the base. In some cases the cusplets are absent and the crown is indivisible in the labial view.
 The latter, Premontreia (Oxyscyllium), is distinguished by well developed and sharp cusplets, quite deviated and sometimes divergent. The labial face of the crown is smooth with the straight pleats, sometimes forming a more or less prominent bulge in the base of the crown.
 The morphological characters of the new species described below correspond to the subgenus Premontreia.
description: Published as part of Malyshkina, Tatiana, 2006, Late Eocene scyliorhinid sharks from the Trans-Urals, Russia, pp. 465-475 in Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 51 (3) on pages 467-468, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13651136
Annual Energy Yield of the Fluorescent Solar Concentrator
Creators: name: Van Sark, W.G.J.H.M.
name: Hellenbrand, G.F.M.G.
name: Bende, E.
name: Burgers, A.R.
name: Slooff, L.H.
Publisher: name: WIP-Munich
Year: 2008
Subjects: Advanced Photovoltaics
New Types of Cells and Modules

description: 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 1-5 September 2008, Valencia, Spain; 198-202
description: Fluorescent solar concentrators are but one candidate for lowering the costs of photovoltaic technology. Stateof- the-art device conversion efficiencies are around 4%, and the device configuration can be optimized in terms of Euro per Watt. This paper aims to estimate the annual energy yield of such an optimized device configuration, using a detailed minutely spectral irradiance data set, describing a full year in the Netherlands, in combination with a ray-tracing model of the fluorescent solar concentrator. The spectral dataset is modeled using experimentally determined global, direct, and diffuse irradiation data on a minutely basis. Performance variations during the day for a number of typical days are investigated, i.e., for a clear summer day, a cloudy summer day, a clear winter day, and a cloudy winter day, using a ray-trace model of the fluorescent solar concentrator. Also, monthly aggregated spectra are used, as well as an annually aggregated spectrum to determine monthly and annual energy yields, respectively. As a result of a cost-per-unit-of-power optimization study, an optimum size of 23×23x0.1 cm3 was used, and an annual energy yield of 41.3 kWh/m2 could be estimated; this is 4.7 times lower than the annual energy yield of a state-of-the-art silicon solar cell.
Environmental Metrics for Solar Energy
Creators: name: Reich-Weiser, C.
name: Horne, S.
name: Dornfeld, D.A.
Publisher: name: WIP-Munich
Year: 2008
Subjects: Advanced Photovoltaics
Terrestrial Concentrator Systems

description: 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 1-5 September 2008, Valencia, Spain; 151-152
description: Two metrics are discussed that exploit the greenhouse gas emission and water use advantages of solar energy technology. Furthermore, these metrics are generalized to be used for any environmental, cost or renewable resource consumption decision making. Future work is required on appropriate metrics for non-renewable resources.
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory efficacy of N-acetyl cysteine in endodontic treatment: a scoping review
Creators: name: Abdulrab, Saleem
name: Mostafa, Nawras
name: Al-Maweri, Sadeq Ali
name: Abada, Hisham
name: Halboub, Esam
name: Alhadainy, Hatem A.
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Dentistry
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine

description: Background This scoping review systematically summarized the available evidence about the efficacy of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) as an intracanal antibacterial and/or anti-inflammatory. Methods PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google scholar search engines/databases were searched up to February 2022 to retrieve relevant studies. The studies were evaluated for eligibility criteria, and identifying relevant studies. Results Out of 193 studies, 15 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were processed for data extraction. Thirteen in vitro studies assessed antibacterial/antibiofilm efficacy of NAC, and reported good and promising efficacy: NAC was found as efficacious as the comparators (chlorhexidine, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hydroxide), or even showed higher efficacy. Regarding the anti-inflammatory efficacy of NAC, one in vitro study found it equivalent to, while one clinical trial revealed it more efficacious than calcium hydroxide. Conclusions There is accumulating evidence on the anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory efficacy of NAC in context of endodontics. However, further clinical trials with robust methodology and objective and reliable clinical, biological and microbial outcomes are warranted to translate its use for clinical practice on humans.Other Information Published in: BMC Oral Health
 License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12903-022-02433-6
Association of vitamin D2 and D3 with type 2 diabetes complications
Creators: name: Ahmed, Lina H. M.
name: Butler, Alexandra E.
name: Dargham, Soha R.
name: Latif, Aishah
name: Robay, Amal
name: Chidiac, Omar M.
name: Jayyousi, Amin
name: Al Suwaidi, Jassim
name: Crystal, Ronald G.
name: Atkin, Stephen L.
name: Abi Khalil, Charbel
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: Clinical sciences
Medical biochemistry and metabolomics

description: Aims Vitamin D measurement is a composite of vitamin D2 (25(OH)D2) and D3 (25(OH)D3) levels, and its deficiency is associated with the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and diabetic complications; vitamin D deficiency may be treated with vitamin D2 supplements. This study was undertaken to determine if vitamin D2 and D3 levels differed between those with and without T2DM in this Middle Eastern population, and the relationship between diabetic microvascular complications and vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 levels in subjects with T2DM. Methods Four hundred ninety-six Qatari subjects, 274 with and 222 without T2DM participated in the study. Plasma levels of total vitamin D2 and D3 were measured by LC-MS/MS analysis. Results All subjects were taking vitamin D2 and none were taking D3 supplements. Vitamin D2 levels were higher in diabetics, particularly in females, and higher levels were associated with hypertension and dyslipidemia in the diabetic subjects (p < 0.001), but were not related to diabetic retinopathy or nephropathy. Vitamin D3 levels measured in the same subjects were lower in diabetics, particularly in females (p < 0.001), were unrelated to dyslipidemia or hypertension, but were associated with retinopathy (p < 0.014). Neither vitamin D2 nor vitamin D3 were associated with neuropathy. For those subjects with hypertension, dyslipidemia, retinopathy or neuropathy, comparison of highest with lowest tertiles for vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 showed no difference. Conclusions In this Qatari cohort, vitamin D2 was associated with hypertension and dyslipidemia, whilst vitamin D3 levels were associated with diabetic retinopathy. Vitamin D2 levels were higher, whilst vitamin D3 were lower in diabetics and females, likely due to ingestion of vitamin D2 supplements.Other Information Published in: BMC Endocrine Disorders
 License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12902-020-00549-w
Thin Film Solar Cells Based on Single Crystalline Silicon Nanowires
Creators: name: Andrä, G.
name: Pietsch, M.
name: Sivakov, V.
name: Stelzner, T.
name: Gawlik, A.
name: Christiansen, S.
name: Falk, F.
Publisher: name: WIP-Munich
Year: 2008
Subjects: Advanced Photovoltaics
New Types of Cells and Modules

description: 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 1-5 September 2008, Valencia, Spain; 163-167
description: Silicon nanowire thin film solar cells with axial pn-junctions on glass substrates were prepared by two methods. In a bottom up approach the nanowires were grown by the VLS method on a silicon thin film on glass using Au nanotemplates. In a top down method silicon thin films with an appropriate doping profile were etched in a selforganized way so that nanowires form. For comparison cells were prepared by both methods on Si wafers. Resulting I-V-curves of the solar cells are discussed. The highest achieved Voc under AM1.5 illumination was 400 mV in a cell etched into a silicon thin film.
Determination of the Transverse Momentum of W Bosons in Hadronic Collisions via Forward Folding Techniques
Creators: name: Cuth, Jakub
name: Merkotan, Kyrylo
name: Schott, Matthias
name: Webb, Samuel
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: The measurement of the transverse momentum of W bosons in hadron collisions provides not only an important test of QCD calculations, but also is an important input for the precision measurement of the W boson mass. While the measurement of the Z boson transverse momentum is experimentally well under control, the available unfolding techniques for the W boson final states lead generically to relatively large uncertainties. In this paper, we present a new methodology to estimate the W boson transverse momentum spectrum, significantly improving the systematic uncertainties of current approaches.
description: 15 pages, 12 figures
Dual Multiple-Quantum-Well Solar Cells
Creators: name: Browne, B.
name: Ekins-Daukes, N.J.
name: Ioannides, A.
name: Connolly, J.P.
name: Ballard, I.M.
name: Barnham, K.
name: Tibbits, T.
name: Pate, M.
name: Geen, M.
name: Roberts, J.
name: Hill, G.
name: Calder, C.
name: Airey, R.
name: Smekens, G.
name: Van Begin, J.
Publisher: name: WIP-Munich
Year: 2008
Subjects: Advanced Photovoltaics
New Types of Cells and Modules

description: 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 1-5 September 2008, Valencia, Spain; 168-172
description: Bulk GaAs and InGaP cells in two and three junction tandem solar cells possess higher than optimum bandgaps; strain balanced quantum wells in the intrinsic region can lower these band-gaps without introducing dislocations to the crystal structure. We present radiatively efficient GaAs quantum well solar cells, absorbing out to 1030nm and grown on a disorder promoting substrate suitable for the growth of high quality top cells. These are used as the bottom cell of the first reported tandem in which quantum wells contribute to the photocurrent of more than one junction. Finally, we predict enhanced efficiencies and annual energy yield under varying climatic conditions: a device containing quantum wells in the bottom cell outperforms the control cell whilst the dual-junction quantum well device performs best of all.
Why does the adverse effect of inappropriate MRI for LBP vary by geographic location? An exploratory analysis
Creators: name: Shraim, Mujahed
name: Cifuentes, Manuel
name: Willetts, Joanna L.
name: Marucci-Wellman, Helen R.
name: Pransky, Glenn
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: Clinical sciences

description: Background Early magnetic resonance imaging (eMRI) for nonspecific low back pain (LBP) not adherent to clinical guidelines is linked with prolonged work disability. Although the prevalence of eMRI for occupational LBP varies substantially among states, it is unknown whether the risk of prolonged disability associated with eMRI varies according to individual and area-level characteristics. The aim was to explore whether the known risk of increased length of disability (LOD) associated with eMRI scanning not adherent to guidelines for occupational LBP varies according to patient and area-level characteristics, and the potential reasons for any observed variations. Methods A retrospective cohort of 59,360 LBP cases from 49 states, filed between 2002 and 2008, and examined LOD as the outcome. LBP cases with at least 1 day of work disability were identified by reviewing indemnity service records and medical bills using a comprehensive list of codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition (ICD-9) indicating LBP or nonspecific back pain, excluding medically complicated cases. Results We found significant between-state variations in the negative impact of eMRI on LOD ranging from 3.4 days in Tennessee to 14.8 days in New Hampshire. Higher negative impact of eMRI on LOD was mainly associated with female gender, state workers’ compensation (WC) policy not limiting initial treating provider choice, higher state orthopedic surgeon density, and lower state MRI facility density. Conclusion State WC policies regulating selection of healthcare provider and structural factors affecting quality of medical care modify the impact of eMRI not adherent to guidelines. Targeted healthcare and work disability prevention interventions may improve work disability outcomes in patients with occupational LBP.Other Information Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2964-7
Bayesian Inference on the Isotopic Building Blocks of Mars and Earth
Creators: name: Dauphas, Nicolas
name: Hopp, Timo
name: Nesvorny, David
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP)
subject: Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Isotopic anomalies provide a means of probing the materials responsible for the formation of terrestrial planets. By analyzing new iron isotopic anomaly data from Martian meteorites and drawing insights from published data for O, Ca, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni, Sr, Zr, Mo, Ru, and Si, we scrutinize potential changes in the isotopic composition of the material accreted by Mars and Earth during their formation. A Principal Component Analysis of isotopic anomalies in meteorites identifies three main clusters (forming the three parts of the isotopic trichotomy): CI, CC=CM+CO+CV+CR, and NC=EH+EL+H+L+LL. Our results suggest that Earth is primarily an isotopic mixture of ~92% E, 6 % CI, and <2% COCV and O. Mars, on the other hand, appears to be a mixture of ~65% E, 33% O, and <2% CI and COCV. We establish that Earth's CI contribution substantially increased during the latter half of its accretion. Mars began accreting a mix of O and E but predominantly accreted E later. Mars' changing isotopic makeup during accretion can be explained if it underwent gas-driven type I migration from its origin near the O - E boundary to a location well within the E region during the first few million years of solar system history. Earth's later increased CI contribution may be attributed to the stochastic impact of an interloper carbonaceous embryo that moved inside the inner solar system region while nebular gas was still present, and subsequently participated in the stage of chaotic growth. The recent findings of Si isotopic anomalies in enstatite chondrites when compared to terrestrial rocks likely stems from insufficient correction for high-temperature equilibrium isotopic fractionation. With appropriate adjustments for this influence, both the silicate Earth and enstatite chondrites exhibit comparable Si isotopic anomalies, reaffirming a genetic link between them.
description: In press, Icarus
Advances in the Performance of Inverted Metamorphic Multi-Junction (IMM) Solar Cells
Creators: name: Cornfeld, A.
name: Cho, B.
name: Díaz, J.
name: Korostyshevsky, A.
name: Ley, V.
name: Sharps, P.
name: Stan, M.
name: Varghese, T.
Publisher: name: WIP-Munich
Year: 2008
Subjects: Advanced Photovoltaics
Solar Cells, Modules and PV Systems for Space Applications

description: 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 1-5 September 2008, Valencia, Spain; 110-113
description: The inverted metamorphic multi-junction (IMM) solar cell has demonstrated the highest AM0 efficiency of any photovoltaic device. Data is presented on the state-of-the-art lattice-matched GaInP2/GaAs/Ge device, which is capable of achieving an average lot efficiency of 30% under AM0 conditions. The IMM approach
provides a pathway to higher efficiencies. Devices in the IMM configuration have achieved efficiencies greater than 33%. The architecture and processing of the IMM approach are discussed. In addition to power conversion improvements, the IMM architecture allows for a much higher specific power. Because of the removal of the growth substrate, thin, low weight solar cells can be fabricated. Several options exist for incorporating the IMM device into higher levels of integration. The cell can be attached to a coverglass and used in a “traditional” rigid panel configuration, or it can be encapsulated between films and used in novel satellite applications such as flexible arrays.
Risk of wheezing and asthma exacerbation in children treated with paracetamol versus ibuprofen: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Creators: name: Sherbash, Mohamed
name: Furuya-Kanamori, Luis
name: Nader, Joanne Daghfal
name: Thalib, Lukman
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2022
Subjects: Cardiovascular medicine and haematology

description: Background Paracetamol and ibuprofen are the most commonly used medications for fever and pain management in children. While the efficacy appears similar with both drugs, there are contradictory findings related to adverse events. In particular, incidence of wheezing and asthma among children taking paracetamol compared to ibuprofen, remain unsettled. Methods We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared wheezing and asthma exacerbations in children taking paracetamol versus ibuprofen. A comprehensive search was conducted in five databases. RCTs reporting on cases of wheezing or asthma exacerbations in infants or children after the administration of paracetamol or ibuprofen were included. The pooled effect size was estimated using the Peto’s odds ratio. Results Five RCTs with 85,095 children were included in the analysis. The pooled estimate (OR 1.05; 95%CI 0.76–1.46) revealed no difference in the odds of developing asthma or presenting an exacerbation of asthma in children who received paracetamol compared to ibuprofen. When the analysis was restricted to RCTs that examined the incidence of asthma exacerbation or wheezing, the pooled estimate remained similar (OR 1.01; 95%CI 0.63–1.64). Additional bias adjusted quality effect sensitivity model yielded similar results (RR 1.03; 95%CI 0.84–1.28). Conclusion Although, Ibuprofen and paracetamol appear to have similar tolerance and safety profiles in terms of incidence of asthma exacerbations in children, we suggest high quality trials with clear definition of asthma outcomes after receiving ibuprofen or paracetamol at varying doses with longer follow-up are warranted for any conclusive finding.Other Information Published in: BMC Pulmonary Medicine
 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12890-020-1102-5
Active galactic nuclei at z~1.5: II. Black Hole Mass estimation by means of broad emission lines
Creators: name: Mejía-Restrepo, Julián E.
name: Trakhtenbrot, Benny
name: Lira, Paulina
name: Netzer, Hagai
name: Capellupo, Daniel M.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA)
subject: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: This is the second in a series of papers aiming to test how the mass ($M_{\rm BH}$), accretion rate ($\dot{M}$) and spin ($a_{*}$) of super massive black holes (SMBHs) determine the observed properties of type-I active galactic nuclei (AGN). Our project utilizes a sample of 39 unobscured AGN at $z\simeq1.55$ observed by VLT/X-shooter, selected to map a large range in $M_{\rm BH}$ and $L/L_{\rm edd}$ and covers the most prominent UV-optical (broad) emission lines, including H$α$, H$β$, MgII, and CIV. This paper focuses on single-epoch, "virial" $M_{\rm BH}$ determinations from broad emission lines and examines the implications of different continuum modeling approaches in line width measurements. We find that using a "local" power-law continuum instead of a physically-motivated thin disk continuum leads to only slight underestimation of the FWHM of the lines and the associated $M_{\rm BH}\left({\rm FWHM}\right)$. However, the line dispersion $σ_{\rm line}$ and associated $M_{\rm BH}\left(σ_{\rm line}\right)$ are strongly affected by the continuum placement and provides less reliable mass estimates than FWHM-based methods. Our analysis shows that H$α$, H$β$ and MgII can be safely used for virial $M_{\rm BH}$ estimation. The CIV line, on the other hand, is not reliable in the majority of the cases, this may indicate that the gas emitting this line is not virialized. While H$α$ and H$β$ show very similar line widths, the mean ${\rm FWHM\left(MgII\right)}$ is about 30% narrower than ${\rm FWHM\left(Hβ\right)}$. We confirm several recent suggestions to improve the accuracy in CIV-based mass estimates, relying on other UV emission lines. Such improvements do not reduce the scatter between CIV-based and Balmer-line-based mass estimates.
description: 26 Pages, 15 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRAS
High Efficiency GaAs Triple Junction Cells for MIO-SAT Solar Array
Creators: name: Caccivio, M.
name: Contini, R.
name: Ferrando, E.
name: Riva, S.
name: Romani, R.
name: Zanella, P.
name: Campesato, R.
name: Casale, M.C.
name: Gabetta, G.
Publisher: name: WIP-Munich
Year: 2008
Subjects: Advanced Photovoltaics
Solar Cells, Modules and PV Systems for Space Applications

description: 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 1-5 September 2008, Valencia, Spain; 99-103
description: The purpose of this work, supported by the Italian Space Agency, was to develop and qualify 28% efficiency class GaAs on Ge triple junction solar cells suitable to be used as power generating elements on board of the MIO Sat platform. The complete solar array was designed and qualified in cooperation with Rheinmetall that is responsible for the structural part of the subsystem. CESI Triple Junction solar cells (named CTJ) were developed and manufactured using an InGaP/InGaAs/Ge epitaxial structure. The CTJ cell is mutuated from the 26% class efficiency device previously developed in the frame of an ESA technological research program. The solar cell optimisation was obtained using an iterative process model/manufacturing/characterisation. The solar cell electrical performances exceeded the expectation with best efficiency values higher than 29%. The qualification results are presented in this paper.
The dynamics of Andromeda's dwarf galaxies and stellar streams
Creators: name: Collins, Michelle L. M.
name: Rich, R. Michael
name: Ibata, Rodrigo A.
name: Martin, Nicolas F.
name: Preston, Janet
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: As part of the Z-PAndAS Keck II DEIMOS survey of resolved stars in our neighboring galaxy, Andromeda (M31), we have built up a unique data set of measured velocities and chemistries for thousands of stars in the Andromeda stellar halo, particularly probing its rich and complex substructure. In this contribution, we will discuss the structural, dynamical and chemical properties of Andromeda's dwarf spheroidal galaxies, and how there is no observational evidence for a difference in the evolutionary histories of those found on and off M31's vast plane of satellites. We will also discuss a possible extension to the most significant merger event in M31 - the Giant Southern Stream - and how we can use this feature to refine our understanding of M31's mass profile, and its complex evolution.
description: Proceedings of IAU Symposium 321, "Formation and evolution of galaxy outskirts", Eds. A. Gil de Paz, J. C. Lee & J. H. Knapen, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Spatially Resolved Luminescence Spectroscopy on Multicrystalline Silicon
Creators: name: Schubert, M.C.
name: Gundel, P.
name: The, M.
name: Warta, W.
name: Romero, M.J.
name: Ostapenko, S.
name: Arguirov, T.
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; 17-23
description: Luminescence spectroscopy is applied to multicrystalline p-type silicon. Photoluminescence spectroscopy, cathodoluminescence spectrum imaging, and defect luminescence imaging are used for the characterisation at temperatures from 21 K to 300 K. A defect line, persistent up to ambient temperature, was found in the photoluminescence spectrum of highly defective areas of the silicon samples under test. The line was associated with the dislocation characteristic emission and identified as the D2’ band. Temperature dependent analysis of the peak position and peak intensity together with the application of a theoretical description of the thermal deactivation process of the luminescence transitions are used to estimate the energy positions of the involved defects.
Optimisation of Simulations of Stochastic Processes by Removal of Opposing Reactions
Creators: name: Spill, Fabian
name: Maini, Philip K.
name: Byrne, Helen
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: Biological Physics (physics.bio-ph)
subject: Chemical Physics (physics.chem-ph)
subject: Computational Physics (physics.comp-ph)
subject: Quantitative Methods (q-bio.QM)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences
subject: FOS: Biological sciences

description: Models invoking the chemical master equation are used in many areas of science, and, hence, their simulation is of interest to many researchers. The complexity of the problems at hand often requires considerable computational power, so a large number of algorithms have been developed to speed up simulations. However, a drawback of many of these algorithms is that their implementation is more complicated than, for instance, the Gillespie algorithm, which is widely used to simulate the chemical master equation, and can be implemented with a few lines of code. Here, we present an algorithm which does not modify the way in which the master equation is solved, but instead modifies the transition rates, and can thus be implemented with a few lines of code. It works for all models in which reversible reactions occur by replacing such reversible reactions with effective net reactions. Examples of such systems include reaction-diffusion systems, in which diffusion is modelled by a random walk. The random movement of particles between neighbouring sites is then replaced with a net random flux. Furthermore, as we modify the transition rates of the model, rather than its implementation on a computer, our method can be combined with existing algorithms that were designed to speed up simulations of the stochastic master equation. By focusing on some specific models, we show how our algorithm can significantly speed up model simulations while maintaining essential features of the original model.
description: 23 pages, 7 pages supplementary information, 8 figures, 8 supplementary figures, accepted for publication in The Journal of Chemical Physics