Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electrical Conduction Mechanism in Ultrathin, Evaporated Metal Films

The electrical conduction mechanism in the film plane of ultrathin, evaporated metal films was investigated. These films consist of a planar array of many small discrete islands. The conduction process consists of, first, charge carrier creation which is thermally activated and involves charge transfer between initially neutral particles, and, second, the drift velocity of these charges in an applied field. Charge transfer between particles occurs by tunneling. The following features were predicted and can be verified experimentally: the conductivity depends exponentially on reciprocal temperature, and it should be independent of field at low fields. Deviations from the exponential temperature dependence can be understood in terms of a spectrum of activation energies, while deviations from Ohm's law at high fields can be explained readily in terms of a field dependent activation energy.
Is targeting the solution? Evidence from an experiment on radon risk communication

Abstract While prolonged exposure to radon is one of the most significant risk factors for lung cancer, public awareness and willingness to mitigate the risk are typically low, even in regions with high radon concentrations. Given this, it has been voiced that health protection agencies should follow a more targeted risk communication approach (Perko & Turcanu, 2020). While targeted and tailored risk communication approaches have been shown to be successful, especially regarding so-called lifestyle risks (smoking, unhealthy diet, etc.), the effects of targeted radon risk communication from a health protection agency perspective have not been analyzed thus far. To this end, we conducted an online experiment. Four web pages were created targeting four stakeholder groups: (1) tenants and (2) house owners in municipalities with high radon concentrations, (3) tenants and (4) house owners in areas adjacent to municipalities with high radon concentrations. The content of the web pages was designed based on the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection’s (BfS) materials. Participants (n = 293 valid cases) were randomly assigned either to the experimental or control group. We assessed differences between the stakeholder groups regarding information comprehension, risk perception, behavioral intention, perceived efficacy of measures against radon, and (personal) uncertainty regarding radon. In a MANOVA including all five dependent variables, the null hypothesis that there are no differences regarding these variables between the stakeholder groups could not be rejected (Wilk’s Λ = 0.9980, p = .99). Given an achieved statistical power of 1-β = . 93 for effects of medium size according to Cohen, it is quite unlikely that medium or large effects can be achieved by targeting risk communication to the stakeholder groups described above, given our data. As the statistical power to detect small effects was low (1-β = .21), these cannot be precluded. Potential reasons for this finding and implications for risk communication practice are discussed.
A New Two-Dimensional Analytical Model for Short-Channel Symmetrical Dual-Material Double-Gate Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors

Based on resultant solution of a two-dimensional (2D) Poisson's equation in the silicon region, a new analytical model for short-channel fully depleted, symmetrical dual-material double-gate (SDMDG) metal–oxide–semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) has been developed. The SDMDG MOSFET exhibits significantly reduced short-channel effects (SCEs) when compared with the symmetrical double-gate (SDG) MOSFET due to the step potential profile at the interface between different gate materials. It is found that the threshold voltage roll-off can be effectively reduced using both the thin Si film and thin gate oxide. A considerable portion of the large workfunction of metal gate 1 (M1) when laterally merged with the small workfunction of metal gate 2 (M2) can efficiently suppress drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) and maintain the low threshold voltage degradation. In this work, not only a precise 2D analytical model of the surface potential and threshold voltage is presented, but also the minimum surface potential in M1 of the shorter channel device that brings about subthreshold swing degradation for the SDMDG MOSFET is discussed. The new model is verified to be in good agreement with numerical simulation results over a wide range of device parameters.
Geography Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge: A Systematic Review

Abstract Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) is the knowledge teachers use to teach a specific subject to a specific audience. The importance of PCK to quality teaching is widely recognized. However, an overview of research about geography teachers’ PCK is missing. To fill this gap, we conducted a systematic review. We analyzed 43 empirical studies, but only 9 used PCK as a framework. Most studies addressed instructional strategies or teaching orientations. The studies were too diverse to draw conclusions on geography teachers’ PCK in general. But portraits of 16 geography teachers emphasized the necessity of geographical knowledge and teaching experience for PCK-quality.
Effective radius of curvature of partially coherent Hermite–Gaussian beams propagating through atmospheric turbulence

The closed-form expression for the effective radius of curvature of partially coherent Hermite–Gaussian (HG) beams propagating through atmospheric turbulence is derived by using the Wigner distribution function (WDF). It is shown that turbulence results in a decrease of the effective radius of curvature. However, the effective radius of curvature of partially coherent HG beams with smaller beam coherence parameters and larger beam order is less sensitive to turbulence. In addition, when the beam coherence parameter increases, the effective radius of curvature increases or decreases, depending on the strength of turbulence.
A NON-LINEAR DYNAMIC MODEL FOR CABLES AND ITS APPLICATION TO A CABLE-STRUCTURE SYSTEM

Abstract A set of governing equations for dynamic transverse motions of a cable with small sag is firstly obtained where effects of finite motions of the cable and small support motions are included. Cable motions are separated into two parts; quasi-static motions and modal motions. The quasi-static motions are the displacements of the cable which moves as an elastic tendon due to the support movements. The modal motions are expressed as a combination of the linear undamped modes of a cable with fixed ends. By Lagrange's equations of motion, the governing equations of the non-linear cable motions are obtained, where quadratic as well as cubic non-linear couplings appear. The cable model developed is next applied to a cable–structure system. A global/local mode approach is employed; the total motions are expressed in terms of global and local motions. The local motions are the modal motions of the cable, while the global motions are 3-D motions of the structure which include quasi-static motions of the cables only. The global are expressed as a combination of the eigenmodes computed by 3-D FEM in which cables are treated as tendons. By using Lagrange's formulation, algebraic governing equations are finally obtained in which global–local interaction appears as linear and quadratic couplings. The model for the system is modified to include the actuator motions at the cable supports; the actuator motions are in the cable axis direction. The study shows many possibilities for the control of global and/or local modes.
Impact of In-Soil Ageing Effect on PLA Printed Parts Tensile Properties

Material extrusion (MEX), more commonly known as fused deposition modelling (FDM/FFF), is one of the most widely used techniques in polymeric Additive Manufacturing (AM). This technology is increasingly present in fields such as engineering and medicine with polymeric materials, including additives of many types. Polylactic acid polymer (PLA) is one of the most widely used materials currently on the market for MEX technology. In addition to its ease of printing, it is a plastic of natural origin, biodegradable and supplants petroleum derivatives in many applications. However, the effect of ageing on the mechanical properties of PLA are still to be evaluated and understood. The main objective of this work is to investigate the effects of ageing of PLA samples on the tensile properties. To investigate the effect of ageing, the samples were tested periodically after exposure to fertilized soil for a period up to 6 months. In addition, some of the samples were chemically pre-treated to improve the surface quality, and the effect of ageing on the treated and untreated samples was also evaluated. This study showed that ultimate strength decreased with ageing from 46 to 36 MPa (22%), and it increased with treatment time in high percentages (even 40%) depending on the time of immersion in the solvent. However, this effect of the chemical treatment gradually disappeared, with the exception of the surface improvement obtained.
Electrically conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly(styrene sulfonate)/polyacrylonitrile fabrics for humidity sensors

Humidity sensors based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT–PSS)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber fabric were fabricated by a dip coating of nonwoven PAN nanofiber mat, which was prepared via an electrospinning method, in PEDOT–PSS solution. The influence of PAN solution concentration on their responsiveness to humidity on dynamic testing was monitored as the device was exposed to humidity. With the relative humidity (RH) changing from 0 to 100%, a resistance device response over 110% was achieved, and the curve of the resistance response with RH is of high linearity at the humidity working range of 0–100% RH. The high device reproducibility was demonstrated by carrying out vapor adsorption–desorption dynamic cycles, and the response and recovery times were determined to be of the order of 2–46 and 7–34 s, respectively. These hybrid polymer sensors can be used as disposable handheld instruments due to low cost and light weight.
An Observational Study of Tropical–Midlatitude Interaction on Intraseasonal Time Scales during Winter

Abstract Eight Northern Hemisphere winters of five- and ten-day average midlatitude 500 mb heights and tropical outgoing IR are used in a correlative study of tropical-midlatitude interaction. The seasonal cycle and interannual variability are removed so that only intraseasonal variability remains. Results indicate that energy predominantly propagates from midlatitudes to the tropics for both five- and ten-day averaged data, although the propagation is more apparent in five-day averaged data. This is evidenced by the fact that the largest tropical IR patterns are southeastward of the 500 mb point with which the IR field is correlated. The result is interpreted in terms of a quasi-stationary Rossby wave which has an eastward component of group velocity. The southwest-northeast tilt of the 500 mb height correlation patterns, indicating poleward momentum transport or equatorward wave propagation, also supports the hypothesis that midlatitude flow drives the tropics. Lead and lag correlations show that when 5.
Changes in Student’s Breakfast and Snack Consumption during the Second COVID-19 Lockdown in Portugal: A Five-Wave Study

The circumstances of the COVID-19 lockdown affected many students’ life spheres, including their feeding patterns and snack intake. The main goals of the present study were to: (a) analyze the changes in students’ breakfast and snacking consumption during lockdown, and (b) analyze changes in the content of the students’ snacks using the Healthy Eating Index. This study analyzed data from a sample of 726 students from 36 classes from the late elementary (i.e., fifth grade) through high school (i.e., twelfth grade) from two public schools in the north of Portugal. Data were collected in five moments during the 2020/2021 school year, pre-, during, and post-second lockdown moments. Throughout the five moments, almost 90% of the students ate breakfast, and the majority brought snacks from home to eat in school. Surprisingly, there was an increase in the quality of the snacks consumed during lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown moments (e.g., consumption of more whole and total fruits and less consumption of food with added sugar, saturated fats, refined grains, and fatty acids). Suggestions for healthy behavior promotion will be discussed, such as improving the school food environment and teaching children to prepare healthy lunch boxes.
The complete sample of 1 Jansky BL Lacertae objects. I - Summary properties

The first well-defined, homogeneous radio sample of 34 BL Lac objects selected from a large-area survey of sources brighter than 1 Jy at 5 GHz is presented. Extensive optical spectroscopy reveals weak emission lines in roughly 3/4 of the 34 BL Lac objects in the sample. Optical imaging reveals that the nearby BL Lac objects are not stellar, and that the surface brightness distribution of the surrounding fuzz is consistent with the host galaxies being bright ellipticals. The results suggest that gravitational lensing may affect three of the 17 high-redshift BL Lac objects in the sample. The observations do not support a microlensing scenario for the low-redshift objects. 92 refs.
Combined random rough surface and volume scattering based on Monte Carlo simulations of solutions of Maxwell's equations

The scattering of electromagnetic plane waves by one-dimensional lossy dielectric random rough surfaces containing densely distributed two-dimensional dielectric scatterers is studied. The finite element formulation for random rough surface scattering is extended to include random volume scattering in the lower half-space. An advantage of this method is that the scattering by the discrete scatterers below the dielectric rough surface can be taken into account with only a small increase in computational complexity. The Monte Carlo simulation results show that the presence of volume scattering can have significant effects on the backscattering intensity and bistatic scattering cross section depending on the statistics of the rough surface, the permittivity of the lower half-space, and properties of the discrete scatterers such as sizes, permittivities, and concentrations.
Role of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Clinical Trials in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Scoping Review

Simple Summary Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) provide reports from patients on their own health, quality of life, or functional status associated with their disease, and the care they have received. In treating metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), it is important to obtain information about the impact of a treatment on various aspects of patients’ lives besides overall survival. We performed a review on the use of PROMs in phase III clinical trials started between 2010 and 2021, evaluating systemic therapy in patients with metastatic CRC. We demonstrate that the quality of reporting on PROMs has increased over the last decade, but is still not optimal. Moreover, PROM results are underreported in studies on metastatic CRC, impeding the optimal incorporation of trial and PROM results into daily clinical practice. Abstract Purpose: To perform a scoping review on the use of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in randomized trials on systemic therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) between 2010 and 2021. Methods: First, a search on clinicaltrials.gov was performed, looking for randomized trials in mCRC. The use of PROMs was analyzed quantitatively. Subsequently, we assessed the completeness of PROM reporting based on the CONSORT PRO extension in publications related to the selected trials acquired using Embase and PubMed. Results: A total of 46/176 trials were registered on clinicaltrials.gov used PROMs. All these trials used validated PROM instruments. The EORTC QLQ-C30 was most frequently used (37 times), followed by the EQ-5D (21 times) and the EORTC QLQ-CR29 (six times). A total of 56/176 registered trials were published. In 35% (n = 20), the results of the PROMs were available. Overall, 7/20 (35%) trials documented all items of the CONSORT PRO extension and quality of reporting according to the CONSORT PRO extension was higher than in the period 2004–2012. In 3/20 (15%) of the published trials, the results of PROMs were not discussed nor included in the positioning of the new treatment compared to the reference treatment. Conclusion: When PROMs are used, the quality of reporting on patient-reported outcomes is improving, but this must continue in order to optimize the translation of trial results to individual patient values.
Shock observations with the Explorer 12 magnetometer

Evidence that the earth's bow shock is traversed is found in magnetometer data taken on three orbits. On each of these orbits the magnetospheric boundary is crossed between 7.8 and 8.9 RE (earth radii) near the earth-sun line, and several shock traversais are seen between here and apogee of over 13 RE. Several shock thicknesses could be defined from the data. The time interval between the point the magnetic field is first observed to deviate from its interplanetary level, and the point its quiescent level first reaches the shocked value varies between 30 seconds and the minimum resolving time of the measurements (less than 2 seconds). Most of the data are consistent with the interpretation that this region consists of a much thinner shock plus several waves. A third characteristic time interval of several tens of seconds is often associated with one or more large oscillations near the shock front. These time intervals could be converted into characteristic lengths if the relative velocity between the satellite and shock front were known. The average relative velocity is determined to be about 10 km/sec, but no measurement of the actual velocity during any one traversal can be obtained. The available magnetometer measurements are consistent with several theories, and means of distinguishing between these theories are discussed.
Automatic Detection, Classification, and Grading of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Using an Artificial Neural Network Model

Background and Objectives: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common cause of symptomatic axial low back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently the standard for the investigation and diagnosis of IDD. Deep learning artificial intelligence models represent a potential tool for rapidly and automatically detecting and visualizing IDD. This study investigated the use of deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for the detection, classification, and grading of IDD. Methods: Sagittal images of 1000 IDD T2-weighted MRI images from 515 adult patients with symptomatic low back pain were separated into 800 MRI images using annotation techniques to create a training dataset (80%) and 200 MRI images to create a test dataset (20%). The training dataset was cleaned, labeled, and annotated by a radiologist. All lumbar discs were classified for disc degeneration based on the Pfirrmann grading system. The deep learning CNN model was used for training in detecting and grading IDD. The results of the training with the CNN model were verified by testing the grading of the dataset using an automatic model. Results: The training dataset of the sagittal intervertebral disc lumbar MRI images found 220 IDDs of grade I, 530 of grade II, 170 of grade III, 160 of grade IV, and 20 of grade V. The deep CNN model was able to detect and classify lumbar IDD with an accuracy of more than 95%. Conclusion: The deep CNN model can reliably automatically grade routine T2-weighted MRIs using the Pfirrmann grading system, providing a quick and efficient method for lumbar IDD classification.
Sensitivity to stimulus distribution characteristics in auditory categorization

Several experiments were performed to examine the ability of humans to categorize sounds as a function of training distribution characteristics. Participants were presented non‐speech sounds randomly sampled from two overlapping distributions. The sounds consisted of 25 narrow‐band noise bursts varying in center frequency from 1000–1360 Hz. Two conditions were created by varying the ratio of stimuli in each category (i.e., prior probabilities of each category), resulting in different ideal boundaries (maximizing accuracy). Participants were asked to categorize the sounds as either A or B and feedback was provided. In one experiment, prior probabilities were altered mid‐session without alerting the subjects. Performance was tracked by plotting identification functions and noting boundary placement for each individual block. After only six blocks of training (∼35 min), most subjects had established optimal or near‐optimal boundaries. Identification function slopes were calculated and found to be steeper tha.
Therapeutic Treatment with Pycnogenol® Attenuates Ischemic Brain Injury in Gerbils Focusing on Cognitive Impairment, Neuronal Death, BBB Leakage and Neuroinflammation in the Hippocampus.

BACKGROUND A gerbil model of ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury in the forebrain has been developed for studies on mechanisms, prevention and therapeutic strategies of IR injury in the forebrain. Pycnogenol® (PYC), a standardized extract of French maritime pine tree (Pinus pinaster Aiton) has been exploited as an additive for dietary supplement. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of post-treatment with PYC and its therapeutic mechanisms in gerbils. METHODS The gerbils were given sham and IR operation and intraperitoneally injected with vehicle and Pycnogenol® (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively) immediately, at 24 hours and 48 hours after sham and IR operation. Through 8-arm radial maze test and passive avoidance test, each spatial memory and short-term memory function was assessed. To examine the neuroprotection of Pycnogenol®, we conducted cresyl violet staining, immunohistochemistry for neuronal nuclei, and Fluoro-Jade B histofluorescence. Moreover, we carried out immunohistochemistry for immunoglobulin G (IgG) to investigate blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) to examine change in pro-inflammatory cytokine. RESULTS We found that IR-induced memory deficits were significantly ameliorated when 100 mg/kg Pycnogenol® was treated. In addition, treatment with 100 mg/kg Pycnogenol®, not 25 mg/kg nor 50 mg/kg, conferred neuroprotective effect against IR injury. For its mechanisms, we found that 100 mg/kg Pycnogenol® significantly reduced BBB leakage and inhibited the expression of IL-1β. CONCLUSIONS Therapeutic treatment (post-treatment) with Pycnogenol® after IR effectively attenuated ischemic brain injury in gerbils. Based on these results, we suggest that PYC can be employed as an important material for ischemic drugs.