Narrow Results

Initial discovery of Cosmic Rays (CRs) dates back to a century ago (1912). Their identification as particles rather than radiation dates to about 20 years later and in 20 more years also the first suggestion that they were associated with SNRs was in place. The basic mechanism behind their acceleration was suggested almost 40 years ago. Much work has been done since then with regard to the aim of proving that both the acceleration mechanism and site are well-understood, but no definite proof has been obtained: in spite of impressive progress of both theory and observations, the evidence in support of the commonly accepted interpretation is only circumstantial. In the following, I will try to make the point on where we stand in terms of how our theories confront with data. I will review recent progress on the subject and try pointing the avenues to pursue in order to gather new proofs, if not a smoking gun evidence of the origin of Galactic CRs.

In this study, we explore the gravitational instability in baryonic-dark matter systems using kinetic theory. We investigate whether the differences in the velocity distribution function for baryonic matter and dark matter affect the instability analysis. Our findings reveal that the dissimilarity in velocity distribution function can affect on the growth rate and the critical wave number of the instability. Our studied system has more stability than baryonic-dark matter system with Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution. However, it is more unstable than a system with a Tsallis distribution function for dark and baryonic matter. Furthermore, we examined the effect of collisions in a simplified manner. By solving the collisional Boltzmann equation using the relaxation time approximation (or Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook operator), we found that collision effects can decrease both the instability growth rate and the critical wave number of instability, depending on the ratio of collisional time to free fall time (${\omega }_r^{\ast }$). These results are applicable for analyzing the nonextensivity of self-gravitating systems and self-gravitating gaseous dynamical systems.

For the accuracy of network security management, an ISM-based analysis method on the influencing factors of network security situation (NSS) is proposed. The 17 factors of NSS were constructed first, the ISM of NSS influencing factors was established, and Matlab2019 was used for simulation. The results showed that the offensive and defensive game factors, such as attack method, attack tool, attack path, and defense strategy, are the direct influencing factors of NSS; the internal environmental factors such as operating system, application service, network bandwidth, network security device, user security awareness, and network topology are the necessary influencing factors; the external environmental factors such as legal environment, institutional environment, technical environment and business importance (economic environment) are the indirect influencing factors; the vulnerability factors such as asset value, vulnerability and open port are the fundamental influencing factors. The corresponding advice for management was put forward at the end of the paper.

Phosphorus mononitride (PN) shows some interesting chemistry due to its low dissociation energy (compared to N₂) and small dipole moment (zero dipole moment for N₂). In this work, a reaction between HSi ($X{}^2\mathrm{\Pi }$) and PN ($X{}^1{\mathrm{\Sigma }}^{+}$) has been studied using various computational methods. Analysis of the doublet surface of the $\mathrm{\text{HSi}}+\mathrm{\text{PN}}$ reaction indicates that the reaction is exothermic in nature leading to the formation of various products. In view of the barrierless association of the reactants and exothermic nature for the product formation, it is suggested that species like HPNSi, cyclic-SiN(H)P (these two most stable isomers have phosphazo linkage) and HSiNP (third most stable isomer has phosphdiazo linkage) can possibly be detected in the interstellar medium. In view of the potential applications of phosphazo compounds in amide synthesis and pervasive nature of amide linkages in the nature, possible interstellar prebiotic applications can be advocated for these compounds.

Organisations are being aware that it is essential to utilise knowledge to maintain a position in the competitive market. Many significant factors create hindrances to knowledge flow in the supply chain. These factors are known as Supply Chain Knowledge Flow Barriers (SCKFBs). Therefore, most organisations wish to understand how different SCKFBs affect supply chain progress. This research aims to suggest a hybrid three-stage framework of Fuzzy Delphi (FD)–Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM)–Fuzzy Matrice d’Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée á un Classement (FMICMAC) methodology, combine abbreviated as the fuzzy DEISMI for investigating SCKFBs. This research identifies 26 SCKFBs through literature search and opinion from the experts. FD is used to finalise 15 significant barriers to knowledge flow in the supply chain. Further, ISM methodology helps to develop contextual relationships and a hierarchical model between these significant barriers. The evolved hierarchical model presents interrelationships and interdependencies among the identified SCKFBs. The FMICMAC is applied to identify the driving power and dependence power among SCKFBs. This study shows SCKFBs who have high value of driving power and low value of dependence power have strategic importance in supply chain development. These barriers are at the base of the hierarchical model, and policymakers should give significant consideration towards these SCKFBs.

In order to explore new approaches of training postgraduates of taught postgraduate programs, this paper proposed an analysis method to discuss the supply-side influencing factors of “vocational master of education” using the interpretative structural model (ISM). The research results showed that the quality of postgraduates, recruitment plan and the number of graduated students are the direct influencing factors of the supply side of “vocational master of education”. Teaching with practices, dissertation, postgraduate management, employment policy and the actual recruitment are the necessary influencing factors. Training program and courses, faculty, basic environment, entrance examination, program promotion, professional direction and planned enrolment are the indirect influencing factors. The strategic environment, the profession of secondary vocational schools and the demand of teachers in these schools are the fundamental influencing factors. Therefore, when studying the supply side of “vocational master of education”, we analysed top-down with specific emphasis on its hierarchy to strengthen the synergy effect of the subject.

Low-carbon supply chain management (LCSCM) strategies are required in the Indian manufacturing industries due to rapidly growing energy usage for financial and environmental reasons. LCSCM technologies face several challenges that limit their adoption. Eleven hurdles were selected from the literature and the recommendations of one business expert and one academic expert. These barriers are defined by several factors, including a lack of information, financial worries, environmental concerns, and governmental limits, among others. In addition, efforts are being made to quantify the most optimal relevant barriers using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques such as interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL). The MICMAC analysis estimates the sensitivity and priority of barriers based on dependency and driving power. One of these barriers is a needed factor; three are driving elements; four barriers are linked factors; and three are self-sufficient factors. The findings of this study can help academic specialists, industry representatives, and practitioners in their ongoing attempts to adopt “LCSCM techniques” in Indian manufacturing industries. The model is appropriately explained and applies the link between the barriers. The objective of this paper is to evaluate and select the most influential barriers to adopting LCSCM in the Indian manufacturing sector that are interrelated.

Total Quality Management (TQM) implementation in an organization is a complex process that involves certain principles focusing on the constructs crucial to the business of an organization. Some of these principles are found to have a direct relationship with human behavior and thus can be said to be crucial for quality culture in an organization. This study recognizes 12 TQM principles from the literature review and expert consultation that are critical to TQM and a structural model of TQM is built with the help of Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). Further, the relative influential strength of the identified TQM principles along with their categorization in cause and effect is carried out using the Decision-Making Trial And Evaluation Laboratory Technique (DEMATEL) approach. In the ISM-DEMATEL-based hybrid approach, Policy Management (PM), Daily Work Management (DWM), Cross-Functional Management (CFM), and Human Resource Management (HRM) have emerged as the “Cause”. Among these, PM tops the rank in relative influential strength with a value of 5.362, followed by DWM, CFM, and HRM with values of 5.173, 5.122, and 4.551. The other TQM principles like Quality Management (QM), Cost Management (CM), Delivery Management (DM), New Product Development (NPD), Supplier Management (SUM), Manufacturing Management (MM), Dealer Management (DEM), and Customer Management (CUM) were emerged as “Effect”. The principles that emerged as “Cause” were found to have a great impact on the principles that emerged as “Effect” and are essential to have successful implementation of TQM in an organization.

The Pulsar Wind Nebula (PWN) HESS J1825-137 is one of the most extended TeV PWN and its morphology is influenced by the molecular gas located north of the TeV sources. In order to refine the composition and dynamics of the cloud, we have used the telescope Mopra in the 7 and 12 mm bands. Our results highlight dense regions and also perturbations in the southern part of the dense cloud.

Healthcare 4.0 (H4.0) is the term corresponding to Industry 4.0 (I4.0). Like other industries, the healthcare industry has also gone through several technological changes and got nourished with them. The health care system of many countries is not mature enough to swiftly transform from its current state to the H4.0 state. Even the matured healthcare systems are facing several challenges while adopting H4.0 practices. The implementation of H4.0 has many challenges (or barriers) to be overcome. This paper has attempted to understand and analyze the challenges that the current Indian hospital management system faces while implementing H4.0. This study uses an integrated approach to the decision-making process to understand the importance of these barriers from the perspective of the Indian health care system. With the help of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis, the paper has mapped the importance of barriers which need to be overcome for to make implementation of H4.0 possible.

The prime motive of this research study is to identify the barriers of ISO 9001 in manufacturing organizations in order to institute the appropriate associations and classify them into different categories based on their driving power ($\widetilde{DRP}$) and dependence power ($\widetilde{DEP}$). For this purpose, 20 barriers influencing the ISO 9001 implementation has been identified through existing literature works. Afterwards, interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach has been applied to develop the relationship hierarchy and fuzzy cross-impact matrix multiplication applies to classification (MICMAC) analysis has been carried out to form the category groups. The frameworks developed in this paper will serve as an information bank in order to identify the significant barriers in ISO 9001 implementation path and develop suitable strategies or steps in order to eliminate them.

Atomic, molecular, and optical processes play fundamental roles in regulating the evolution of star-forming regions in galaxies, and of accreting black holes in galaxy nuclei. I present a discussion of the essential physics and chemistry of interstellar photon-dominated regions (PDRs) and X-ray dominated regions (XDRs). In such regions, intense radiation fields determine the atomic and molecular compositions of dense interstellar gas, and control the resulting observable spectroscopic emissions and absorptions.

The declining birthrate has caused many impacts and influences in Taiwan society. The declining birthrate has also prompted the government to face more severe challenges in caring for the elderly living alone. Therefore, finding the main objectives of social security, and designing a good social security system as the main goals, we can effectively solve the plight of Taiwan’s social security system. ISM( Interpretative structural modeling) was applied as a research method to analyze complex and confusing social security concerns, decomposing them into the elements of several subsystems, using people’s care experience, knowledge and computer assistance to construct an associated structural hierarchial graph. The purpose is to explore the relationship between various issues of social security, and to summarize the main topics and the main objectives of social security in order to provide the government with effective social care design and direction. Based on this study, we found that the main topics of social security in Taiwan are the process of caring and the ability to care. The secondary social security topic is the drug problem. The main objective of social security in Taiwan is to give the hope and courage to people with disabilities (including disadvantaged groups) and elderly people living alone (including those who need to be cared for long term).

We model the propagation of pulsars through the inhomogeneous ISM using nonrelativistic axisymmetric magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulations. We take into account the wind from the star, which carries predominantly azimuthal magnetic field, and investigate the PWN at different levels of magnetization (the ratio of magnetic to matter energy-densities) in the wind. We consider the interaction of PWN with large-scale and small-scale imhomogeneities in the ISM at different values of magnetization. We conclude that the inhomogeneities in the ISM can change the shapes of the bow shocks and magnetotails at different values of the magnetization.

Many neutron stars propagate through the interstellar medium with supersonic velocities, and their magnetospheres interact with the interstellar medium (ISM), forming bow shocks and magnetotails. Using numerical MHD simulations, we investigated the propagation of a magnetized neutron stars through a non-uniform ISM, the interaction of the magnetospheres with the ISM and the influence of ISM density on the shape of the magnetosphere tail. We consider the interaction of magnetized neutron stars with small-scale and large-scale inhomogeneities in the ISM. We conclude that the inhomogeneities in the ISM can change the shapes of the bow shocks and magnetotails at different values of the magnetization.

This study addresses abrupt global warming and a slowdown thereafter that happened in recent decades. It separated the role of anthropogenic CO2 led linear trend to that from natural factors (volcano and the sun). It segregates a period 1976–1996 where two explosive volcanic eruptions occurred in active phases of strong solar cycles and also the period covers two whole solar cycles. That same period coincided with abrupt global warming. This study suggests that domination of a particular type of ENSO, the Central Pacific (CP) type ENSO and related feedback from water vapour played a crucial role. A plausible mechanism was proposed that could be triggered by explosive volcanos via a preferential North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) phase. It modulates the CP ENSO via extratropical Rossby wave and affects the Aleutian Low. From that angle, it is possible to explain the disruption of ENSO and Indian Summer Monsoon teleconnection during the abrupt warming period and how it recovered subsequently afterward. Interestingly, individual models and also the CMIP5 model ensemble fails to agree with the observation. This study further explores important contributions due to natural drivers those are missed by models.

Using numerical MHD simulations, we investigated the motion of a magnetized neutron star through a non-uniform interstellar medium (ISM), the interaction of the magnetosphere with the ISM and the influence of ISM density on the shape of the magnetosphere tail.

Spectroscopic studies of GRB host galaxies can provide us with information about the environment of the GRB and allow to study high-redshift galaxies otherwise inaccessible for a closer investigation. Emission line measurements of low redshift hosts seem to confirm the picture that GRBs only occur in metal-poor dwarf galaxies or at least metal-poor regions of larger galaxies and metallicity seems to be an important ingredient for the collapsar-model to work. Afterglow spectra of high-redshift hosts, however, show a generally higher metallicity, a higher density of neutral hydrogen and different properties of metal absorption lines compared to e.g. QSO absorbers. Distance indicators lead to the conclusion that most of the absorbing material observed is far away from the GRB site tracing the normal ISM in the host galaxies.