Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Current State of Educational Debt among Practicing Urologists

Abstract Introduction: Previous studies have shown urology trainees to carry large amounts of educational debt. However, little is known about the educational debt metrics in the urology workforce. Therefore, we set out to characterize educational debt among practicing urologists. Methods: The American Urological Association (AUA) Workforce Workgroup examined the 2019 AUA Census data. Domains pertaining to demographics and educational debt were examined. Results: Of respondents 31.6% never had educational debt, 47.6% have paid off all their debt, 9.9% had ≤$150,000 debt, and 11% had >$150,000. Of the respondents practicing urology for 11–15 years since completing residency 20.2% had ≤$150,000 debt and 6.5% reported >$150,000 compared to 29% and 17.4%, respectively, for those practicing urology 6–10 years since completing residency. Of female urologists 18.6% had ≤$150,000 and 18.4% carried over >$150,000 compared to 9.0% and 10.1%, respectively, among male urologists (p <0.001). Concerning race, 21% of Black respondents carried ≤$150,000 and 30.4% carried >$150,000 compared to 9.4% and 10.9% in whites and 12.5% and 4.2% in Asian respondents. Furthermore, those in academic settings were more likely to have educational debt compared to those in private groups, 13.5% vs 10.7% vs 10.1% ≤$150,000 and 12.5% vs 10.9% vs 10.3% >$150,000, respectively (p=0.01); 23.6% felt their educational debt contributed to burnout Conclusions: A large percentage of practicing urologists carry educational debt for several years after residency. A higher percentage of respondents with Black race and female gender have debt compared to white and Asian race, and male gender. A substantial proportion of those with debt feel the debt contributes to burnout.
Maximizing the latency fairness in UAV‐assisted MEC system

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) assisted edge computing has risen as an assuring technique to accommodate ubiquitous edge computation for resource-limited devices. Thus, this paper proposes an approach to maximize the latency fairness in a UAV-assisted multi-access edge computing (MEC) system. To maximize latency fairness, the authors focus on minimizing the maximum latency experienced among the users. In here, multiple ground users (GUs) ofﬂoad their tasks to MEC UAV in the absence or unavailability of ground servers due to a disaster or heavy trafﬁc where an iterative algorithm is proposed to minimize the maximum latency among the users subject to minimum control link rate and total power constraints. Sequentially, the UAVs’ 3D location, ofﬂoading ratio, GUs’ transmit power and GUs’ computational capacity are optimized. The location of the UAV is optimized by using the novel approach, guided pattern search algorithm while the altitude of the UAV is optimized by analyzing the elevation angle dependant behaviour of the channel gain. A simple approach is utilized for optimizing the ofﬂoading ratio of the users by considering the problem as minimizing the point-wise maximum of two convex functions while the bisection method is used to optimize the power allocation. Numerical simulation results illustrate that the proposed approach outperforms other baseline approaches in convergence, minimizing the maximum latency and maximizing and maintaining the fairness among the GUs. Furthermore, it is proved that the guided pattern search algorithm converges at least 3.5 times better while the proposed combined optimization gives 400% fairness gain, in comparison with the baseline approach.
Fabrication of Thermoelectric Sensor and Cooling Devices Based on Elaborated Bismuth-Telluride Alloy Thin Films

The principal motivation of this work is the development and realization of smart cooling and sensors devices based on the elaborated and characterized semiconducting thermoelectric thin film materials. For the first time, the details design of our sensor and the principal results are published. Fabrication and characterization of Bi/Sb/Te (BST) semiconducting thin films have been successfully investigated. The best values of Seebeck coefficient (α(T)) at room temperature for Bi2Te3, and (Bi1−xSbx)2Te3 with x = 0.77 are found to be −220 µV/K and
Applicability of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet (APPJ) Discharge for the Reduction in Graphene Oxide Films and Synthesis of Carbon Nanomaterials

Atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJ) are widely used in industry for surface cleaning and chemical modification. In the recent past, they have gained more scientific attention especially in the processing of carbon nanomaterials. In this work, a novel power generation technique was applied to realize the stable discharge in N2 (10 vol.% H2) forming gas in ambient conditions. This APPJ was used to reduce solution-processed graphene oxide (GO) thin films and the result was compared with an established and optimized reduction process in a low–pressure capacitively coupled (CCP) radiofrequency (RF) hydrogen (H2) plasma. The reduced GO (rGO) films were investigated by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Effective deoxygenation of GO was observed after a quick 2 s treatment by AAPJ. Further deoxygenation at longer exposure times was found to proceed with the expense of GO–structure integrity. By adding acetylene gas into the same APPJ, carbon nanomaterials on various substrates were synthesized. The carbon materials were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses. Fullerene-like particles and graphitic carbon with short carbon nanotubes were detected on Si and Ag surfaces, respectively. We demonstrate that the APPJ tool has obvious potential for the versatile processing of carbon nanomaterials.
Co-evolving real-time strategy game players

I aim to develop superior real-time strategy (RTS) game players. Most existing Artificially Intelligent (AI) players for RTS games use a variety of hand-coded approaches including expert systems, scripts and decision trees to play the game. These traditional approaches suffer from the knowledge acquisition bottleneck common to many AI systems. To improve on this, I investigate the use of genetic algorithms to co-evolve AI players for real-time strategy games, overcoming the knowledge acquisition bottleneck while allowing for more complicated players. I tackle four significant problems. First, existing commercial RTS games are not suitable for research, therefore I develop a new real-time strategy game as a platform for my work. LagoonCraft, the game I developed, consists of many interoperating systems making up over 300,000 lines of code. Second, I formulate the problem of playing an RTS game as solving a sequence of spatially resolved resource allocation problems. Third, I create a new representation that takes advantage of this problem formulation in order to provide an encoding of RTS game-playing strategy amiable to evolution. Last, I develop a new method based on co-evolution that generates competent RTS game-playing strategies that routinely beat human opponents.
Theoretical studies of the reactions of 1,2-Ethanediol with triplet oxygen and hydrogen atoms

An direct kinetics study of the (CH2OH)2 + O(3P) and (CH2OH)2 + H reactions was performed over the temperature range of 300–1500 K. The geometries of all stationary points were optimised at the M06-2X/cc-pVQZ level of theory. The electronic energies were refined by CCSD(T)/CBS and QCISD(T)/cc-pVTZ methods. The rate coefficients were calculated using canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) with small-curvature tunneling (SCT) correction. The results showed that the channels of hydrogen abstraction from the CH2 group were most kinetically favourable at the temperature less than 1300 K and have positive temperature dependence. The OH-transfer channels were ignorable. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
P‐58: Accelerating Phase Shifting Technique in Quantitative Differential Interference Contrast System for Critical Dimension Measurement of TFT Substrate

Abstract: A quantitative differential interference contrast (DIC) technique is proposed to measure the step height of TFT substrate, which is widely applied in display devices. Theoretical comparisons between different phase shifting techniques of DIC are given. Not only series of simulations are conducted but also the preliminary experiments of TFT dimension measurement are presented. The proposed accelerating phase shifting DIC technique might be adopted to topography measurement of optical components in industry.
Spectral analysis of speech by linear prediction

The autocorrelation method of linear prediction is formulated in the time, autocorrelation, and spectral domains. The analysis is shown to be that of approximating the short-time signal power spectrum by an all-pole spectrum. The method is compared with other methods of spectral analysis such as analysis-by-synthesis and cepstral smoothing. It is shown that this method can be regarded as another method of analysis-by-synthesis where a number of poles is specified, with the advantages of noniterative computation and an error measure which leads to a better spectral envelope fit for an all-pole spectrum. Compared to spectral analysis by cepstral smoothing in conjunction with the chirp z transform (CZT), this method is expected to give a better spectral envelope fit (for an all-pole spectrum) and to be less sensitive to the effects of high pitch on the spectrum. The normalized minimum error is defined and its possible usefulness as a voicing detector is discussed.
Mobility Benchmarking in Ad-hoc Networks

†† † This paper addresses the problem of using unrealistic mobility scenarios for simulation of adhoc routing protocols. We present CAD-HOC, a cousin tool to Network Simulator (ns), which allows ad-hoc networking experimentation to be performed under visually realistic scenarios such as an airport or a bus terminal, buildings, highways and other facilities. CAD-HOC focuses on capturing the visual scenario and transforming it into mobility and connection benchmarks, which are subsequently fed to ns to drive simulation experiments. Generation of mobility and connection benchmarks is facilitated by allowing the users to choose from Brownian, Column, Pursue, and Nomadic models, or to specify user-defined movements. The tool also provides on-line analyses on ad-hoc mobility, ad-hoc connectivity and message complexity, which give an estimate of the overall ns simulation complexity, as the mobility scenario is built. Comparative simulation based on CAD-HOC generated scenarios raise several questions about the reliability of ns simulation results of ad-hoc routing protocols based on random, non-realistic scenarios.
Nitrogen leaching in a typical agricultural extensively cropped catchment, China: experiments and modelling

Protecting water resources from nitrogen (N) contamination is an important public‐health concern and a major national environmental issue in China. Loss of N in soils due to leaching is not only one of the most important problems in agriculture farming, but is also the main factor causing N pollution in aquatic environments. The study area selected is in a typical agricultural extensively cropped land, Fuxianhu Lake catchment in Yunnan Province, China. Three sets of soil columns laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the migration dynamics and leaching loss of N under different artificial rainfall intensities. One groundwater observation well in agricultural extensively cropped land was built to investigate the groundwater pollution caused by agriculture N loss. Based on the laboratory experiment and field monitoring results, the migration dynamics of ammonia‐nitrogen (NH4‐N) and nitrate‐nitrogen (NO3‐N) were analysed in detail. The LEACHMN model was used to test against the laboratory and field data to evaluate the drainage water and N leaching loss from the soil. The results indicate that the LEACHMN model is useful to carry out a numerical simulation of the water and N transport both in a laboratory experiment and in field monitoring. The findings of this paper help to demonstrate the distribution and migration of N in agricultural lands, as well as to explore the mechanism of groundwater contamination resulting from agricultural activities. The work presented in this paper is also believed to be useful in formulating management strategies for an extensively cropped catchment to reduce diffusive pollution from agricultural activities.
Ship Motion Planning for MASS Based on a Multi-Objective Optimization HA* Algorithm in Complex Navigation Conditions

Ship motion planning constitutes the most critical part in the autonomous navigation systems of marine autonomous surface ships (MASS). Weather and ocean conditions can significantly affect their navigation, but there are relatively few studies on the influence of wind and current on motion planning. This study investigates the motion planning problem for USV, wherein the goal is to obtain an optimal path under the interference of the navigation environment (wind and current), and control the USV in order to avoid obstacles and arrive at its destination without collision. In this process, the influences of search efficiency, navigation safety and energy consumption on motion planning are taken into consideration. Firstly, the navigation environment is constructed by integrating information, including the electronic navigational chart, wind and current field. Based on the environmental interference factors, the three-degree-of-freedom kinematic model of USVs is created, and the multi-objective optimization and complex constraints are reasonably expressed to establish the corresponding optimization model. A multi-objective optimization algorithm based on HA* is proposed after considering the constraints of motion and dynamic and optimization objectives. Simulation verifies the effectiveness of the algorithm, where an efficient, safe and economical path is obtained and is more in line with the needs of practical application.
Location Based Services Acceptance and Adoption Evaluation: An Investigation on Mobile Phone Users’ Response to Awareness and Utilization of LBS Technology in Nairobi Kenya

Location Based Navigation System (LBNS) is a specific Location Based Service (LBS) purely for navigational purpose. These systems resolve position of a user by using GNSS/GPS positioning technologies, to which supplementary information on goods and services are tagged. The navigation services have become popular and can be installed on mobile phones to provide route information, location of points of interest and user’s current location. LBS has continued to face challenges which include “communication” process towards user reference. Location Based Service System conveys suitable information through a mobile device for effective decision making and reaction within a given time span. This research was geared at understanding the state of LBS technology acceptance and adoption by users in Nairobi Kenya. To do this a quantitative study was carried out through a questionnaire, to investigate mobile phone users’ response on awareness and use of LBS technology. Testing the growth of this technology in this region compared to predictions in previous studies using Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), it is evident that many users may be aware of GPS functionality in mobile phones but are certainly yet to fully embrace the technology as they rarely use it. This points to some underlying challenges towards this technology within this part of the World, thereby recommending for deliberate monitoring and evaluation of LBS technology for sustenance growth based on user satisfaction and acceptance for improved usability.
Students’ perspectives of group work: the case of Trinidad and Tobago

ABSTRACT Educators at Institutes of Higher Education (IHE) continuously employ group work pedagogy within their teaching and assessment regimes; however, students often voice their displeasure at its usage. In spite of these competing positions, research on students’ perceptions of group work at IHE in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is generally lacking. With this in mind, the current effort was conducted to: (1) garner the perspectives of university students regarding group work, (2) evaluate students’ experiences and satisfaction with participation in groups, and (3) garner students’ viewpoints of learning in group settings. To achieve the study’s objectives, quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted on data gathered from students via a focus group discussion with 12 students (n = 12) and standardised questionnaires from 124 students (n = 124) at an IHE in Trinidad and Tobago. The results indicate the immense value of group work in sharing workloads, the development of a wider breadth of knowledge through discussion, clarification of ideas and learning from others. On the other hand, free-loading students, unfair-grade allocation and preference for working alone were identified as challenges associated with group work. Other key findings are also discussed.
Least mean sixth control approach for three-phase three-wire grid-integrated PV system

This work proposes an adaptive filter based on a new least mean sixth control approach with incremental conductance method of MPP for 3-phase grid-incorporated photovoltaic (PV) system. The proposed system comprises a PV array, 3-phase DC to AC converter, maximum power point tracker (MPPT), three-phase electronic load, and a 3-phase grid. The combination of solar PV array and the voltage source converter (VSC) supplies power to the grid. The 3-phase inverter as a distribution static synchronous compensator (D-STATCOM) improves the quality of the system performance in case of zero solar irradiation. D-STATCOM also reduces total harmonic distortion (THD) in grid currents, improves power factor, and maintainsa constant voltage at the point of common coupling (PCC). The system modelling and simulation is achieved on MATLAB/Simulink. The proposed system performance has been found satisfactory and conform to IEEE-519 standards.
TPV Power generation prototype using composite selective emitters

Research in the field of thermophotovoltaics at Auburn University’s Space Power Institute has been conducted since 1992. One of the main focus points of the research has been centered on emitter structures. The composite emitter structure, which was developed at the Space Power Institute, incorporates fibrous rare earth oxides held in a structural material fiber matrix and has been implemented into a breadboard prototype TPV system. Various aspects of the prototype system will be evaluated. The system consists of a diffusion type burner which uses propane and forced air as the inlet fuels. This will heat a cylindrical geometry composite emitter which illuminates 0.75 eV InGaAs lattice-matched to InP photovoltaic cells. The combustion products flow through the highly porous (over 90%) composite emitter structure. This results in more efficient coupling to the combustion flame. Quartz tubes prevent the combustion products from interacting with the cell array. Thermal losses will be due to end and quartz hea.
Effect of CH4‐H2 mixture on the combustion characteristics in a stabilized swirl burner

This article presents a numerical study of hydrogen enriched natural gas swirl flames. This later is of great importance nowadays considering its role as a combustion enhancer, when mixed in appropriate amounts; it improves the reactivity of gas, increases the flammability range, and thus results in more stable combustion. Moreover, it tends to decrease the emissions of CO. The predictions of turbulent isothermal and reacting swirling flows have been simulated using the Reynolds Averaged Navier‐stokes (RANS) method. To model the turbulence‐chemistry interaction, the finite‐rate eddy dissipation (FR‐ED) model has been used. The hydrogen percentage in the mixture varied from 0% to 100%. The numerical solutions are validated by comparison with corresponding experimental data (Combustion Laboratory, University of Milan). The results obtained show a good agreement between numerical and experimental results, and demonstrated that the RNG k‐ɛ turbulence model presents a good prediction. In general, the velocity profile is well represented by our model. The RNG k‐ɛ model consistently demonstrated superiority. In the combustion regime, the Re‐Normalisation Group (RNG) k‐ɛ model results demonstrate strong agreement with experimental measurements.
CCPE: Methodology for a Combined Evaluation of Cognitive and Physical Ergonomics in the Interaction between Human and Machine

Evaluation methods of today often focus on cognitive ergonomics (such as mental workload or usability) or physical ergonomics (such as physical workload or body posture). This article describes an analytical methodology of a joint systematic search for potential deficiencies in the human–machine interaction; such as high physical and mental workload, use errors, usability problems, and physical ergonomic errors. The purpose with the joint search is to achieve a more holistic evaluation approach and make the evaluation cost more effective than when using separate evaluation methods for cognitive and physical ergonomic aspects. The methodology is task‐based, which makes it possible to use both with focus on the device design, as in development projects; as well as with focus on the procedure, in the operative organization. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Factors affecting the internal audit effectiveness in local government institutions in Ghana

The paper examines the factors that affect the effectiveness of internal auditing in local government institutions in Ghana. Questionnaires were administered to the Internal Audit staff and Audit Committee members of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly in the Greater Accra region. Factor analyses were used to answer the closed-ended questions whilst the open-ended type was analysed based on recurring themes. It was found that the internal auditors do have the requisite educational and professional capacity to execute their mandate and were accorded the requisite support. Yet lack of management support through IT skills training, failure to discuss and timely implement audit recommendations are rendering the auditors ineffective. This research helps to awaken the awareness of policy-makers and researchers on issues that could hamper internal auditors’ contributions to good governance strategies in local government institutions by calling on relevant stakeholders to address the thieving challenges. However, the current study covers only the perception of internal auditors and audit committee members. Future research may consider the views of stakeholders in other local government institutions in Ghana and other parts of the world to deepen the generalisation of the current findings. Nonetheless, lack of management support through IT skills training and timely implementation of audit recommendations have rendered the internal auditors as “dogs which can only bark but cannot bite”. Keywords: Accountability, audit committee, Ghana, internal audit effectiveness, local government institutions.