Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Oncology Workload: A Provincial Review

(1) Background: Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, with significant resource limitation impacting the delivery of cancer care nationwide. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced additional resource restriction and diversion, further impacting care delivery. Our intention is to analyze the impact COVID-19 on a provincial medical oncology workload and bring attention to the limitations of the current workload metric for oncologists. (2) Methods: All medical oncology patient encounters were extracted and compared, collected by year and encounter type, from April 2014 through March 2022. (3) Results: There was an increase in all patient encounters by an average of 9.5% per year, including during the strictest COVID-19 restrictions. There was an increase in virtual care encounters from 37.9% to 52.1%. (4) Conclusions: Medical Oncology workloads have increased over time and estimates suggest growing demand. Little data exist to inform workforce requirements and actual workload is not captured by the current metric. Though volume of new consults continues to increase, COVID-19 has highlighted additional changes in the delivery of care, likely with lasting impact, little of which are included in the current workload metric.
The North American Monsoon GPS Transect Experiment 2013

AbstractNorthwestern Mexico experiences large variations in water vapor on seasonal time scales in association with the North American monsoon, as well as during the monsoon associated with upper-tropospheric troughs, mesoscale convective systems, tropical easterly waves, and tropical cyclones. Together these events provide more than half of the annual rainfall to the region. A sufficient density of meteorological observations is required to properly observe, understand, and forecast the important processes contributing to the development of organized convection over northwestern Mexico. The stability of observations over long time periods is also of interest to monitor seasonal and longer-time-scale variability in the water cycle. For more than a decade, the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) has been used to obtain tropospheric precipitable water vapor (PWV) for applications in the atmospheric sciences. There is particular interest in establishing these systems where conventional operational meteorolo.
Investigating how Users Imagine their Personal Privacy Assistant

Personal Privacy Assistants (PPAs) can support users in managing their privacy. Conducting a user study, we provide qualitative and quantitative insights into how users imagine their PPA and how PPAs designs can appear for different user groups. We highlight five aspects derived from the literature that are essential when designing a PPA: What features should the PPA have? How should the PPA learn the users’ preferences? What level of user involvement in its decisions should the PPAs have? Which vendor should offer the PPA? What data are users willing to disclose to their PPA? Our results provide a holistic view of user perceptions of PPAs. We identify two user groups that differ in their characteristics, such as technology affinity and privacy concerns, and have different ideas of a PPA in terms of automation level and provider, for example. We discuss our results in relation to the literature and derive recommendations for designing PPAs to fulfill user needs.
Observation of thermal transfer across a Pt thin film at a low temperature using a femtosecond light pulse thermoreflectance method

We report the first systematic temperature responses of thermal energy transfer across a 90 nm Pt thin film at low temperature using a rear-heating front-detection-type (RF-type) femtosecond thermoreflectance measurement system. Thermal energy transfer across the thin film became faster as the temperature decreased from 273 K to 15 K. The obtained thermoreflectance curves showed two thermal energy transfer processes: a fast thermal energy transfer within the initial few picoseconds and a slow thermal energy transfer after a few picoseconds. The classical heat diffusion curves were fitted well to the slow temperature increase after a few picoseconds by introducing a ‘characteristic length’ that characterizes the thermal energy penetration depth at the ‘initial’ incident time instead of the given optical penetration depth. The obtained thermal diffusivities from 100 K to 273 K were consistent with the electrical resistivity of the film measured with the van der Pauw method. The characteristic lengths calculated from this analysis increased with the decrease of the temperature, and were larger than the optical penetration depth. The thermoreflectance signal over the initial several picoseconds is considered to be a non-diffusive process. The new RF-type system can not only give the classical thermal diffusivity of thin films at low temperature, but also new information related to the non-thermal energy transfer process.
Comparative analysis of the whole life carbon of three construction methods of a UK-based supermarket

The built environment has been a significant contributor to global carbon emissions. It, therefore, has a vital role to play in the reduction efforts of future climate change. While the design of buildings may determine future energy use for cooling, heating, and lighting during the operational stage of the building, this study aims to observe the effect of the building design on the operational as well as the whole-life carbon emissions. Past studies have focused on either the operational carbon or the embodied carbon of a building. Using a cradle-to-grave assessment of a typical UK supermarket, this study explores the relationship between embodied carbon and operational carbon. Additionally, it examines the effects of the variables between three approved construction methods of the same design on the whole life of carbon. These methods are a steel structural frame and cladding panel external wall, steel frame and poroton walls, precast concrete and glulam frame and precast concrete walls. The findings of this research will contribute to mitigation strategies for the environmental impacts of supermarket building construction whilst providing a framework for future assessment of the whole-life carbon of supermarket buildings. Practical Application Employing the life cycle assessment methodology, this paper examines the potential of minimising both embodied and operational carbon by observing the whole life carbon. Highlighting the influence of the GHG emission contributing factors in each stage on each other. Additionally, the recommended methodology for the supermarket building types of this case study, could be adapted for other types of buildings. The findings could also augment carbon emission research and guide the development of supermarket buildings to low carbon intensive. Furthermore, collaboration with the industry in carrying out this research aids in adopting the findings as practical and theoretical guides for engineers and designers in reducing the building sector’s harmful environmental impact.
Determination of carrier mobility in phenylamine by time-of-flight, dark-injection, and thin film transistor techniques

The hole transport property of a phenylamine-based compound, 4, 4′,4″-tris(n- (2-naphthyl)-n-phenyl-amino)-triphenylamine, was independently studied by time-of-flight (TOF), dark-injection space-charged-limited-current (DI-SCLC), and thin film transistor (TFT) techniques. With UV-ozone treated gold as the injecting anode, clear DI-SCLC transient peaks were observed over a wide range of electric fields. The hole mobilities evaluated by DI-SCLC experiment were in excellent agreement with the mobilities obtained from the TOF technique. The injection contact was demonstrated to be Ohmic by an independent current-voltage (J-V) experiment. However, with the same injecting electrode, the mobility deduced from the TFT method was found to be 9.8×10−7 cm2/V s, which was about one order of magnitude smaller than the TOF mobility (∼1.2 ×10−5 cm2/V s). The origin of the discrepancy is discussed.
Low resistance electrical contacts to few-layered MoS2 by local pressurization

The performance of electronic and optoelectronic devices is dominated by charge carrier injection through the metal–semiconductor contacts. Therefore, creating low-resistance electrical contacts is one of the most critical challenges in the development of devices based on new materials, particularly in the case of two-dimensional semiconductors. Herein, we report a strategy to reduce the contact resistance of MoS2 via local pressurization. We fabricated electrical contacts using an atomic force microscopy tip and applied variable pressure ranging from 0 to 25 GPa. By measuring the transverse electronic transport properties, we show that MoS2 undergoes a reversible semiconducting-metallic transition under pressure. Planar devices in field effect configuration with electrical contacts performed at pressures above ∼15 GPa show up to 30-fold reduced contact resistance and up to 25-fold improved field-effect mobility when compared to those measured at low pressure. Theoretical simulations show that this enhanced performance is due to improved charge injection to the MoS2 semiconductor channel through the metallic MoS2 phase obtained by pressurization. Our results suggest a novel strategy for realizing improved contacts to MoS2 devices by local pressurization and for exploring emergent phenomena under mechano-electric modulation.
Asymptotic Effect of Misspecification in the Random Part of the Multilevel Model

The authors examine the asymptotic effect of omitting a random coefficient in the multilevel model and derive expressions for the change in (a) the variance components estimator and (b) the estimated variance of the fixed effects estimator. They apply the method of moments, which yields a closed form expression for the omission effect. In practice, the model parameters are estimated by maximum likelihood; however, since the moment estimator and the maximum likelihood estimator are both consistent, the presented expression for the change in the variance components estimator asymptotically holds for the maximum likelihood estimator as well. The results are illustrated with an analysis of mathematics performance data.
Exploring Multiple Functions of Choe 3 做 and its Interaction with Constructional Meanings in Taiwanese Southern Min

Choe^3 做 as a polysemous word in Taiwanese Southern Min (TSM) has multiple functions manifested most clearly in the constructions in which it occurs. As a lexeme or a content word it can be used as a verb. As a grammatical morpheme or a function word it serves as both a preposition and a conjunction. Choe^3 做 can be monotransitive, intensive, ditransitive, or intransitive in its capacity as a verb participating in a host of grammatical constructions. In terms of semantic distinction, it can function as a 'make' verb, a 'do' verb, a 'be' verb, and a 'give' verb, as well as a prefix-like element in forming adverbs. In sum, one can never fail to see the coexistence of a range of functions of choe^3 做, both lexical and grammatical, as a result of its interaction with constructions.
Distribution and Speciation of Heavy Metal(loid)s in Soils under Multiple Preservative-Treated Wooden Trestles

The widespread use of wood preservatives, such as chromated copper arsenate (CCA), alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ), and copper azole (CA), may cause environmental pollution problems. Comparative studies on the effect of CCA-, ACQ-, and CA-treated wood on soil contamination are rarely reported, and the behavior of soil metal(loid) speciation affected by preservatives has been poorly understood. Soils under the CCA-, ACQ-, and CA-treated boardwalks were collected to investigate metal(loid) distribution and speciation at the Jiuzhaigou World Natural Heritage site. The results showed that the maximum mean concentrations of Cr, As, and Cu were found in soils under the CCA, CCA, and CCA plus CA treatments and reached 133.60, 314.90, and 266.35 mg/kg, respectively. The Cr, As, and Cu contamination in soils within a depth of above 10 cm was high for all types of boardwalks and limited in the horizontal direction, not exceeding 0.5 m. Cr, As, and Cu in soils were mainly present as residual fractions in all profiles and increased with depth. The proportion of non-residual As in soil profiles under CCA- and CCA plus CA-treatment and exchangeable Cu in CA- and CCA plus CA-treatment were significantly higher than those in the profiles under the other preservative treatments. The distribution and migration of Cr, As, and Cu within soils were influenced by the preservative treatment of trestles, in-service time of trestles, soil properties (e.g., organic matter content), geological disasters (e.g., debris flow), and elemental geochemical behavior. With the CCA treatment for trestles successively replaced by ACQ and CA treatments, the types of contaminants were reduced from a complex of Cr, As, and Cu to a single type of Cu, achieving a reduction in total metal content, toxicity, mobility, and biological effectiveness, thus reducing environmental risks.
Meeting European exporting certification standards as a sustainable marketing choice among mango farmers in Ghana

Abstract Amidst the prevalence of certification and pursuit of global markets, there is a dearth of studies on compliance with EU certification standards and market outlet preference among mango farmers in Ghana. Therefore, this study sought to determine factors influencing mango farmers to produce to meet European standards and certification, and the marketing outlet choice of mango farmers in the Bono and Bono East regions of Ghana. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 300 mango farmers. Data gathered were analysed using multinomial and binary probit regressions. Empirical results show that gender, age, farming experience, and access to the ready market are significant predictors of a farmer’s choice of the local market. On the other hand, farming experience, ready market, the quantity of harvest, fruit quality, market assurance, and good agronomic practices (GAP) significantly predict farmers’ preference for retail. The level of education, farm size, GAP, annual farm income, ready market, training, and access to credit are essential determinants of a farmer’s decision to practise EU standards and certification. Given the findings, it is recommended that farmers who sell and are likely to sell to processors should be targeted for pieces of training on EU market export as they are more likely to be convinced and already involved in relevant practices for such exports
Equations related to derivations on prime rings

In this paper we prove the following result. Let m ≥ 0 and n ≥ 0 be integers with m + n 6= 0 and let R be a prime ring with char(R) = 0 or m+ n+ 1 ≤ char(R) 6= 2. Suppose there exists a nonzero additive mapping D : R → R satisfying the relation D(xm+n+1) = (m + n + 1)xmD(x)xn for all x ∈ R. In this case D is a derivation and R is commutative. Throughout this paper R will represent an associative ring with center Z(R). Given an integer n > 1, a ring R is said to be n-torsion free if for x ∈ R, nx = 0 implies x = 0. As usual the commutator xy − yx will be denoted by [x, y] . Recall that a ring R is prime if aRb = (0) implies that either a = 0 or b = 0, and is semiprime if aRa = (0) implies a = 0. An additive mapping D : R → R is called a derivation if D(xy) = D(x)y+xD(y) holds for all pairs x, y ∈ R. A mapping F of a ring R into itself is called commuting on R in case [F (x), x] = 0 holds for all x ∈ R. A classical result of Posner ([10]) states that the existence of a nonzero commuting derivation D : R → R, where R is a prime ring, forces the ring to be commutative. Let us start with the following result. Proposition 1. Let R be a noncommutative prime ring with char(R) 6= 2 and let D : R → R be a nonzero additive mapping satisfying the relation D(x) = 2xD(x), (1) for all x ∈ R. In this case D = 0. 2010 Mathematics Subject Classification. 16N60, 39B05.
The effect of mix on capsule yields as a function of shell thickness and gas fill

An investigation of direct drive capsules with different shell thicknesses and gas fills was conducted to examine the amount of shock induced (Richtmyer-Meshkov) mix versus Rayleigh-Taylor mix from deceleration of the implosion. The RAGE (Eulerian) code with a turbulent mix model was used to model these capsules for neutron yields along with time-dependent mix amounts. The amount of Richtmyer-Meshkov induced mix from the shock breaking out of the shell is about 0.1 μg (0.15 μm of shell material), while the Rayleigh-Taylor mix is of order 1 μg and determines the mixed simulation yield. The simulations were able to calculate a yield over mix (YOM) ratio (experiment/mix simulation) between 0.5 and 1.0 for capsules with shell thicknesses ranging from 7.5 to 20 μm and with gas fills between 3.8 and 20 atm of D2 or DT. The simulated burn averaged Tion values typically lie with 0.5 keV of the data, which is within the measurement error. For capsules with shell thicknesses >25 μm, the YOM values drop to 0.10 ± 0.
HELIOSPHERIC ASYMMETRIES AND 2–3 kHz RADIO EMISSION UNDER STRONG INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELD CONDITIONS

We discuss the asymmetry of the major heliospheric discontinuities obtained from the analysis of three-dimensional modeling of the solar wind interaction with the local interstellar medium (LISM). The flow of charged particles is governed by the ideal MHD equations and the transport of neutral particles is described by the Boltzmann equation. The emphasis is on the asymmetries of the termination shock (TS) and the heliopause under the combined action of the interstellar and interplanetary magnetic fields (ISMF and IMF) in the presence of neutral hydrogen atoms. It is shown that an ISMF of a strength greater than 4 μG can account for the 10 AU difference in the TS heliocentric distances observed by the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft. We analyze the deflection of neutral hydrogen flow from its original direction in the unperturbed LISM and conclude that it remains within the range measured in the SOHO SWAN experiment. The impact is analyzed of a strong ISMF on the 2–3 kHz radio emission observed by the Voyager spacecraft, using new estimates of the radio emission conditions.
The rheology of charge stabilized silica suspensions

The flow properties of aqueous suspensions of silica particles with diameters ranging from 117 to 780 nm were measured as a function of volume fraction, ionic strength, and continuous phase composition. Dense, aqueous suspensions of all sizes displayed similar behavior with a yield stress in the limit of low shear rate, shear thinning as the stress was raised and, above a critical volume fraction, shear thickening. Master flow curves which are weakly dependent on particle size, volume fraction, surface potential, magnitude of the decay length for the electrostatic forces, or particle size distribution are produced when stress is scaled on the suspension’s elastic modulus, G, and shear rate on G/ηc. Here ηc is the continuous phase viscosity. For suspensions which ordered at rest and of sufficiently high volume faction, shear thickening occurred as a discontinuous decrease in shear rate as the stress increased. This behavior was not observed in suspensions altered so that no order occurred at rest. When the.
The modeling of multiaxial necking in polypropylene using a sliplink–crosslink theory

We demonstrate that the model of [Polymer 22, 1010 (1981)] has the property of forming a model of a necking polymer. Numerical models of necked bodies are generated by incorporating the theory into a finite element scheme. Large multiaxial extensions are applied to polypropylene sheets at a high temperature to produce necked specimens. Values of the model parameters are chosen such that the observed necks—in uniaxial, planar, and equibiaxial extension—are predicted realistically. The drawing forces observed are also shown to be consistent with the predictions.
The effects of cold storage on double integrating sphere optical properties measurements of porcine skin and subcutaneous fat

Accurate values of the optical properties of skin and subcutaneous fat are important for a variety of applications, such as optical imaging techniques and computational modeling of possible hazardous laser exposure. Several studies are available in the published literature that report skin optical properties, but the method of tissue preparation and storage in these experiments can be variable. These methods include the application of some form of cold storage, such as refrigeration or freezing, which may in turn affect the optical properties of the tissues compared to the in vivo or freshly excised case. We measured the absorption and scattering coefficients of skin and subcutaneous fat samples prior to and following various methods of cold storage, particularly refrigeration, slow freezing, and flash freezing. Tissues were collected from two subjects in order to capture biological variability. We employed a double integrating sphere setup and the inverse adding-doubling method to determine optical properties. The results of this investigation will help contextualize existing studies on tissue optical properties and enable informed procedural design for future measurements.
LINING-DEFORMATION-INDUCED MODAL COUPLING AS SQUEAL GENERATOR IN A DISTRIBUTED PARAMETER DISC BRAKE MODEL

A distributed-parameter model of a disc brake is developed, which is used for simulation of friction-induced vibrations in the form of high-frequency squeal. The effect of different squeal generation mechanisms is investigated. The comparison of measured and calculated frequencies shows a good agreement and this study indicates that lining-deformation-induced modal coupling can act as a squeal generator in disc brakes.
Pixelated source optimization for optical lithography via particle swarm optimization

Abstract. Source optimization is one of the key techniques for achieving higher resolution without increasing the complexity of mask design. An efficient source optimization approach is proposed on the basis of particle swarm optimization. The pixelated sources are encoded into particles, which are evaluated by using the pattern error as the fitness function. Afterward, the optimization is implemented by updating the velocities and positions of these particles. This approach is demonstrated using three mask patterns, including a periodic array of contact holes, a vertical line/space design, and a complicated pattern. The pattern errors are reduced by 69.6%, 51.5%, and 40.3%, respectively. Compared with the source optimization approach via genetic algorithm, the proposed approach leads to faster convergence while improving the image quality at the same time. Compared with the source optimization approach via gradient descent method, the proposed approach does not need the calculation of gradients, and it has a strong adaptation to various lithographic models, fitness functions, and resist models. The robustness of the proposed approach to initial sources is also verified.