Special Issue "Machine Learning Computational Methods"

This special issue aims at hybridizing and comparing the potentials of QSAR and machine learning techniques in material modeling and drug design for specific applications.  The following topics fall within the scope of this special issue

• Investigating the anticancer potentials of probable compounds using QSAR and machine learning computational methods
• Hybridization of machine learning techniques with population-based optimization algorithm for enhancing materials’ properties during drug design
• Performance comparison of QSAR and machine learning computational methods for material modeling
• Molecular docking of the lead compounds with receptors’ active sites
• Pharmacokinetics studies of the lead compounds
• Molecular dynamic simulations of the lead compounds

Specia Issue : Maiden Conference of NSPS

This is proceeding of the Maiden Conference of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences which held in Lafia

Special Issue : "Recent Advances in Applications of Potential Models ... "

Quantum mechanics (QM) is a wide field that has attracted the attention of physicists, chemists, engineers, and mathematicians alike since its invention more than ten decades ago by the German theoretical physicist, Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck.  QM is the basic concept that can efficiently demystify the dynamics of a particle in the micro-physical terrain. Actually, it possesses the mathematical underpinning that gives profound comprehension into the physics of solids, semiconductor and superconductor devices, plasmas, lasers and so on. It incorporates all modern physics disciplines like condensed matter, molecular, atomic, nuclear and particle physics, optics, thermodynamics, statistical physics, etc.

To this end, to carry out studies and applications in quantum mechanics, potential models are employed. Potential models are at the very core of quantum mechanics and physics at large. Strictly speaking, potentials are carefully worked-out demonstration of influences which confine particles of a system in a specific region. Interatomic potentials are mathematical expressions for computing the potential energy of a system of atoms with given position in space. Interatomic potentials are extensively used as the physical basis of molecular dynamics simulations in computational chemistry, computational physics and computational materials science, both to predict quantitative materials properties and qualitative trends.

Potentials have many forms depending upon the interaction of particles within the system such as harmonic oscillator, Coulomb potential, Kratzer potential, screened potential, Deng–Fan potential, etc. and some combinations of these potentials and a lot of research work has been carried out to solve several wave equations (relativistic and non-relativistic), exactly or approximately, for such interactions.

The failure of the harmonic oscillator to describe interatomic interactions in diatomic molecules led to the discovery of the Morse potential. The success of this model need not be overemphasized. Several instances have inspired researchers to propose improved interaction model, e.g. when there was a loophole in the description of the James Chadwick’s atomic model, Hideki Yukawa proposed the screened coulomb potential which includes an exponentially decay term  and an electromagnetic term. The Hellmann potential which is a combination of the well-known Coulomb potential and the Yukawa (screened Coulomb) potential was proposed by Han Hellman. This model was used as an approximation for the simplified description of complex systems. This potential arose in an attempt to replace the tedious effects of the motion of the core (i.e. non-valence) electrons of an atom and its nucleus with an effective potential. 

However, it behoves every physicist and related experts to continuously seek for a better molecular or interaction potential that simulates quasi-perfectly the interactions in a physical system. Several applications of potential models to predict thermodynamic properties, behavior of molecules, etc. with high accuracy have been witnessed for some time now.

Therefore we invite researchers to submit original research articles and reviews to this Special Issue of the Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences (JNSPS) on “Recent Advances in Applications of Potential Models to Study Physical Systems” that aims to identify and review the latest research in this research direction that have demonstrated to have a great impact in the field. Manuscripts can be related to any aspect of the following (but not limited to):

• Relativistic and Non-Relativistic treatments of potential models
• Molecular Modelling of Diatomic and Tri-atomic molecules using potentials
• Quarkonium systems
• Information Theoretic Measures
• Prediction of Thermodynamics properties of Diatomic and tri-atomic molecules
• Molecular Processes in external fields
• Quantum Dots
• Sextic Potentials and applications to physical systems
• Applications of Thermodynamics
• Topological Defects
• Deformed Quantum Mechanics
• Hydrogen Atom in Quantum-Plasma
• Plasma in external fields
• Quantum Optics
• Optical Properties of Quantum Dots.

Manuscript Submission Information

Guidelines for preparation of manuscripts can be found online at https://journal.nsps.org.ng/index.php/jnsps/about/guidelines-for-authors. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. JNSPS is a peer-reviewed journal published quarterly (February, May, August, and November) by the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences.

The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 15,000 Naira (40 USD) as an active member of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences or 25,000 Naira (70 USD) as a non-member/non-active member of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English.