Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uniformity of N‐fertiliser spreading and risk of ground water contamination

The uniformity of fertiliser spreading mainly depends on the evenness of the transversal distribution. During the last few years, more than 300 fertiliser spreaders have been tested on farms. The results have shown big differences between machines (coefficient of variation, CV, between 5 and more than 50%). The spreading homogeneity is linked to spreader features, fertiliser characteristics and user skills.
Effects of /spl gamma/-rays on JFET devices and circuits fabricated in a detector-compatible Process

This work is concerned with the effects of /spl gamma/-rays on the static, signal and noise characteristics of JFET-based circuits belonging to a fabrication technology made available by the Istituto per la Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica (ITC-IRST), Trento, Italy. Such a process has been tuned with the aim of monolithically integrating the readout electronics on the same highly resistive substrate as multielectrode silicon detectors. The radiation tolerance of some test structures, including single devices and charge sensitive amplifiers, was studied in view of low-noise applications in industrial and medical imaging, X- and /spl gamma/-ray astronomy and high energy physics experiments. This paper intends to fill the gap in the study of gamma radiation effects on JFET devices and circuits belonging to detector-compatible technologies.
Linear, Low Noise Microwave Photonic Systems using Phase and Frequency Modulation

Photonic systems that transmit and process microwave-frequency analog signals have traditionally been encumbered by relatively large signal distortion and noise. Optical phase modulation (PM) and frequency modulation (FM) are promising techniques that can improve system performance. In this dissertation, I discuss an optical filtering approach to demodulation of PM and FM signals, which does not rely on high frequency electronics, and which scales in linearity with increasing photonic integration. I present an analytical model, filter designs and simulations, and experimental results using planar lightwave circuit (PLC) filters and FM distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers. The linearity of the PM and FM photonic links exceed that of the current state-of-the-art.
A prototype coded aperture detector for small animal SPECT

In a previous simulation study, we demonstrated the feasibility of using coded apertures together with pixelated detectors for high resolution, high sensitivity small animal SPECT. We further explore the potential of this approach with a prototype detector and simulated multi-pinhole apertures. We also investigated the effect of multiplexing due to overlapped projections on convergence properties, image signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spatial resolution. The detector comprises a 48/spl times/44 array of NaI(Tl) crystals, each 1 mm/spl times/1 mm/spl times/5 mm on a 1.25 mm pitch. The crystal array is directly coupled to a Hamamatsu R3941 8 cm PS-PMT. Multi-pinhole apertures were simulated by performing repeated SPECT acquisitions of the same object with a single tungsten pinhole translated to different positions in the aperture plane. Image reconstruction is based on a 3D ray driven projector which is an extension of a method described for single pinhole SPECT with a displaced centre of rotation. Image estimates are updated using the MLEM algorithm. The effect of multiplexing was to slow convergence and reduce the achievable SNR by approximately 15% compared with non-multiplexed data (but the result may be achieved in 1/N/sup th/ the time). The reconstructed resolution obtained with a resolution phantom was 1.5 mm full width at half maximum and there was no appreciable difference between the resolution of multiplexed and non-multiplexed data. These results encourage us to develop a prototype coded aperture system for high sensitivity, high resolution small animal SPECT.
A high-resolution, compact, and low-power ADC suitable for array implementation in standard CMOS

An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit is proposed that utilizes the linearity of the single-bit first-order sigma-delta in a first mode technique. In a second mode, successive approximation is used to convert the remaining voltage from the first conversion to increase the resolution without significantly increasing the conversion time. Both operations can be made in the same hardware, and only a counter is needed as decimation filter so that the converter becomes both area and power efficient. A channel of the ADC implemented in standard CMOS occupies an area of 40/spl times/1640 /spl mu/m/sup 2/. The control logic and reference voltage generation circuits, common for the ADC array, occupy a similar area. Estimated power consumption per ADC channel is about 0.5 mW including reference voltage generation. The conversion speed per ADC channel is 12.8 ksamples/s at a clock rate of 3.4 MHz. The ADC concept is suitable whenever a high resolution at a moderate speed is needed.
Occupational Health and Safety on Australian Farms: 2. Improved Management and the Driving Forces for Practice Change

A subset of data from a broader, longitudinal study of 335 farm enterprises throughout New South Wales, Australia, was examined focusing on the changes farmers were making to farm health and safety and the motivating drivers behind those changes. The most frequently reported changes to health and safety by participating farm enterprises were shearing shed safety improvements, improved chemical safety and handling, purchasing new equipment or upgrading existing equipment, greater provision and access to personal protective equipment and improving safety of stockyards and procedures. When the drivers behind the changes to farm practice were assessed, occupational health and safety requirements or legislation were the most frequently reported by participating farm enterprises, followed by increased safety awareness or consciousness, a general desire to improve safety and standards on their farm, the realisation or identification of a risk or hazard and to gain improved efficiency or cost savings. The research has questioned some preconceived ideas relating to farmers' perceptions, attitudes and practices in relation to farm safety and has identified potential new approaches for increasing adoption and implementation of farm safety recommendations.
Temperature-dependent characteristics of polysilicon and diffused resistors

The temperature-dependent characteristics of polysilicon and diffused resistors have been studied. By using 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS technology, a cobalt salicide process is employed and silicide is formed at the ends of resistors. Based on a simple and useful model, some important parameters of resistors including bulk sheet resistance (R/sub bulk/) and interface resistance (R/sub interface/) are obtained at different temperature. For diffused resistors, the R/sub bulk/ and R/sub interface/ values increase and decrease with increase of temperature, respectively. Positive values of temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) are observed. Furthermore, TCR values decrease with decreasing resistor size. For polysilicon resistors, the R/sub interface/ values decrease with increase of temperature. In addition, negative and positive TCR values of R/sub bulk/ are found in n/sup +/ and p/sup +/ polysilicon resistors, respectively. In conclusion, by comparing the studied diffused and polysilicon resistors, negative trends of TCR are observed when the resistor size decreases.
Dual-mode helical resonators

High performance and compact size are the most important criteria in filter-based products for satellite communication systems. Succeeding the superconducting and dielectric resonators, the conventional single-mode helical resonator ranks favorably on its high unloaded-Q per volume. Improvement of the performance has been demonstrated by operating the helical resonator at a higher order (n>0) mode. In addition, these resonators can also be fabricated onto a high dielectric-constant material to further reduce the size of the filter structure. Detailed design considerations of the dual-mode wire-wound helical resonator filter, as well as implementation of the dual-mode dielectrically loaded helical resonator filter structure, are presented in this paper.
Factors That Influence Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Multicenter Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection has a high mortality rate and continues to be a global threat, which warrants the identification of all mortality risk factors in critically ill patients. Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter cohort study conducted in five hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We enrolled patients with confirmed SARS-COV-2 infection admitted to any of the intensive care units from the five hospitals between March 2020 and July 2020, corresponding to the peak of recorded COVID-19 cases in the KSA. Results: In total, 229 critically ill patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included in the study. The presenting symptoms and signs of patients who died during hospitalization were not significantly different from those observed among patients who survived. The baseline comorbidities that were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality were diabetes (62% vs. 48% among patients who died and survived (p = 0.046)), underlying cardiac disease (38% vs. 19% (p = 0.001)), and underlying kidney disease (32% vs. 12% (p < 0.001)). Conclusion: In our cohort, the baseline comorbidities that were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality were diabetes, underlying cardiac disease, and underlying kidney disease. Additionally, the factors that independently influenced mortality among critically ill COVID-19 patients were high Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT )and international normalization ratio (INR), acidosis, and high ferritin.
Preferences for income redistribution: a new survey item and experimental evidence

This paper introduces a new survey item to measure preferences for income redistribution. Respondents construct their preferred distribution of after-tax income by changing the tax rates of the bottom four income quintiles. Taxes for the top income quintile update automatically to keep government revenues fixed and take into account the costs of redistribution. Dutch data indicate that around 50-60% prefer more equality. Only 5% opt for more inequality, but not beyond a flat-tax. We investigate the formation of redistributive preferences. Information about efficiency costs of taxation and the use of social insurance among low incomes shifts preferences towards greater inequality.
What's Playing in Your Waiting Room? Patient and Provider Stress and the Impact of Waiting Room Media

Patients enter the healthcare space shouldering a lot of personal stress. Concurrently, health care providers and staff are managing their own personalstressors as well as workplace stressors. As stress can negatively affect the patient–provider experience and cognitive function of both individuals, it is imperative to try to uplift the health care environment for all. Part of the healthcare environmental psychology strategy to reduce stress often includes televisions in waiting rooms, cafeterias, and elsewhere, with the intent to distract the viewer and make waiting easier. Although well-intentioned, many select programming which can induce stress (eg, news). In contrast, as positive media can induce desirable changes in mood, it is possible to use it to decrease stress and uplift viewers, including staff. Positive media includes both nature media, which can relax and calm viewers and kindness media, which uplifts viewers, induces calm, and promotes interpersonal connection and generosity. Careful consideration of waiting room media can affect the patient–provider experience.
Student Satisfaction in Using a Learning Management System (LMS) for Blended Learning Courses for Tertiary Education

Abstract: This study aims to investigate factors associated with students’ satisfaction with using LMS - UNIEC Virtual in blended learning courses in UNITAR International University, Kelana Jaya. Three factors; perceived ease of use (PEOU), facilitating conditions, and interaction are selected as independent variables in this study. This research was designed using a quantitative method with 17 closed-ended items questions with a 5-Likert scale and one open-ended question. The questionnaire was developed and modified from a published instrument and previous literature. 70 students were selected from Semester 3, Faculty of Education and Humanities by using cluster sampling. From the data analysis using Spearman Coefficients, there is a statistically significant correlation between facilitating conditions, perceived ease of use, and interaction on student satisfaction on using LMS. Results showed that in perceived ease of use (PEOU), participants agreed that they can easily access UNIEC Virtual features without any training and were confident of their computer skills to perform the task on UNIEC Virtual. As for the facilitating conditions, results showed that the students were able to navigate through the items on the website interface without difficulty. On the other hand, students suggested having a tutorial on how to use UNIEC integrated features, such as Office365 mail. Regarding the facilitating conditions, the students feel that course notes, forums, and assignments on UNIEC Virtual helped them to achieve a better learning outcome. They enjoyed participating in the discussion forum as well as creating ways to interact with the course mates and lecturers. Keywords: UNIEC Virtual, Learning Management System (LMS), blended learning, perceived ease of use (PEOU), facilitating conditions and interaction.
Relationship between Treatment Plan Dosimetry, Toxicity, and Survival following Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy, with or without Chemotherapy, for Stage III Inoperable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Simple Summary Various radiotherapy treatment methods are available for patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A multidisciplinary tumor board review is recommended to determine the best treatment strategy. In fit patients with inoperable tumors, concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT) is preferred over sequential CRT (sCRT), due to better survival. Nonetheless, the use of cCRT in stage III NSCLC varies significantly, with concerns about treatment toxicity being a contributory factor. Many reports describing the relationship between overall survival, toxicity, and dosimetry in patients with locally advanced NSCLC are based on clinical trials, with strict criteria for patient selection, including good performance status, pulmonary function, etc. These trials have not always mandated the use of IMRT/VMAT. We therefore performed an institutional analysis to study the relationship between dosimetric parameters and overall survival and toxicity in patients with stage III NSCLC treated with IMRT/VMAT-based techniques in routine clinical practice. Abstract Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT) is the preferred treatment for stage III NSCLC because surgery containing multimodality treatment is often not appropriate. Alternatives, often for less fit patients, include sequential CRT and RT alone. Many reports describing the relationship between overall survival (OS), toxicity, and dosimetry are based on clinical trials, with strict criteria for patient selection. We performed an institutional analysis to study the relationship between dosimetric parameters, toxicity, and OS in inoperable patients with stage III NSCLC treated with (hybrid) IMRT/VMAT-based techniques in routine clinical practice. Eligible patients had undergone treatment with radical intent using cCRT, sCRT, or RT alone, planned to a total dose ≥ 50 Gy delivered in ≥15 fractions. All analyses were performed for two patient groups, (1) cCRT (n = 64) and (2) sCRT/RT (n = 65). The toxicity rate differences between the two groups were not significant, and OS was 29 and 17 months, respectively. For sCRT/RT, no dosimetric factors were associated with OS, whereas for cCRT, PTV-volume, esophagus V50 Gy, and contralateral lung V5 Gy were associated. cCRT OS was significantly lower in patients with esophagitis ≥ G2. The overall rate of ≥G3 pneumonitis was low (3%), and the rate of high-grade esophagitis the OS in this real-world patient population was comparable to those reported in clinical trials. Based on this hypothesis-generating data, more aggressive esophageal sparing merits consideration. Institutional auditing and benchmarking of the planning strategy, dosimetry, and outcome have an important role to play in the continuous quality improvement process.
Impact of Service Encounter Elements on Experiential Value and Customer Loyalty: An Empirical Investigation in the Coffee Shop Context

The unprecedented dynamism in marketing has led to the transition of economy from service economy to experience economy. Modern age consumers give more emphasis to the hedonic attributes of offerings than to functional attributes. Consequently, the present study aims to provide a deeper understanding of experiential value, its antecedents, and consequences in the context of coffee shops. More specifically, this study examines the effect of service encounter elements on experiential value and the consequent effect of experiential value on customer loyalty. Using purposive sampling, data were collected from 387 customers of coffee shops using a questionnaire survey which was later analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. The results reveal positive linkages between service encounter, experiential value, and customer loyalty. Positive cognition of service encounters have positive effects on experiential value and customer loyalty. Besides, experiential value also has a positive effect on customer loyalty. Lastly, experiential value partially mediates the relationship between service encounters and customer loyalty.
The Six-Item Version of the Internet Addiction Test: Its Development, Psychometric Properties, and Measurement Invariance among Women with Eating Disorders and Healthy School and University Students

Internet addiction (IA) is widespread, comorbid with other conditions, and commonly undetected, which may impede recovery. The Internet Addiction Test (IAT) is widely used to evaluate IA among healthy respondents, with less agreement on its dimensional structure. This study investigated the factor structure, invariance, predictive validity, criterion validity, and reliability of the IAT among Spanish women with eating disorders (EDs, N = 123), Chinese school children (N = 1072), and Malay/Chinese university students (N = 1119). In school children, four factors with eigen values > 1 explained 50.2% of the variance, with several items cross-loading on more than two factors and three items failing to load on any factor. Among 19 tested models, CFA revealed excellent fit of a unidimensional six-item IAT among ED women and university students (χ2(7) = 8.695, 35.038; p = 0.275, 0.001; CFI = 0.998, 981; TLI = 0.996, 0.960; RMSEA = 0.045, 0.060; SRMR = 0.0096, 0.0241). It was perfectly invariant across genders, academic grades, majors, internet use activities, nationalities (Malay vs. Chinese), and Malay/Chinese female university students vs. Spanish women with anorexia nervosa, albeit it was variant at the scalar level in tests involving other EDs, signifying increased tendency for IA in pathological overeating. The six-item IAT correlated with the effects of internet use on academic performance at a greater level than the original IAT (r = −0.106, p < 0.01 vs. r = −0.78, p < 0.05), indicating superior criterion validity. The six-item IAT is a robust and brief measure of IA in healthy and diseased individuals from different cultures.
The Near Field of an Insulated Dipole in a Dissipative Dielectric Medium (Short Paper)

The near field of uninsulated dipole antenna in a dissipative dielectric medium is important in microwave hyperthermia and geophysical applications. In this paper, the electric field near an insulated dipole has been calculated by the direct numerical evaluation of a surface integral over the insulation. The computed results are compared with those previously obtained by an approximate numerical calculation.
Ozone and Bioactive Compounds in Grapes and Wine

Ozone is widely used in the agri-food and food processing industries mainly as a sanitizing agent. However, it has recently become clear that ozone exposition leads to another important benefit: in living tissues, the induced-oxidative stress triggers the antioxidant response, and, therefore, it enhances the production of antioxidant and stress-related secondary metabolites. As such, ozone can be considered an abiotic elicitor. The goal of the present review was to critically summarize knowledge about the possibility of improving bioactive compounds and, consequently, the health-related properties of grapes and wine, by using ozone. The greatest interest has been given not only to the pre- and post-harvest treatment of table and wine grapes, but also to the explanation of the mechanisms involved in the ozone-related response and the main secondary metabolites biosynthetic pathways. From the literature available, it is clear that the effect of ozone treatment on health-related properties and secondary metabolites accumulation depends on many factors, such as the cultivar, but also the form (water or gaseous), doses, and application method of ozone. Most of the published papers report an increase in antioxidant compounds (e.g., polyphenols) and stress-related volatiles, confirming the hypothesis that ozone could be used to improve berry and wine compositional and sensory quality.
Non-sustained disruptive discharges: test experiences, standardization status and network consequences

In the test practice of KEMA, more than 30% of the vacuum circuit breakers, offered for testing in 1999 have shown nonsustained disruptive discharges (NSDD), mostly within 300 ms after interruption. Although the vast majority of the observed NSDDs occurred after high current arcing, several cases of NSDD after small current were observed. It is demonstrated from short-circuit current test data, that during the occurrence of NSDD, a much larger part of the circuit is contributing to transient phenomena than just the 'local' parasitics in the immediate vicinity of the breaker. This is derived from the measured duration of the conducting period during NSDD. The new standard IEC 60056 for circuit breakers makes no distinction between: (a) capacitive restrike (late breakdown leading to polarity reversal of the load capacitor); and (b) NSDD in the case of a vacuum switching device breaking down more than half a power frequency cycle after capacitive current interruption. It is demonstrated that system overvoltages that accompany such 'capacitive NSDDs' can not always be neglected.