University of Waterloo

A systematic review of the effects of educational interventions on health literacy knowledge and communication techniques among healthcare professionals

Abstract Background Low health literacy (HL) undermines patient safety and health outcomes by hindering effective communication. This systematic review aggregated evidence on the impact of educational interventions on healthcare professionals’ (HCPs’) HL competency, specifically...

Investigating Nonlinear Optical and Thermal Properties in Sr2SiSe4 through Noncentrosymmetric Crystal Structure Comparison with Sr2SnSe4

Abstract An isovalent anion substitution approach allowed for the discovery of two noncentrosymmetric ternary selenides, Sr2SiSe4 and Sr2SnSe4. Sr2SiSe4 crystallizes in the α-Eu2GeS4 type, monoclinic space group P21, with lattice parameters a = 6.8866(19) Å, b = 7.0062(19) Å, c =...

The Number-Average Lifetime of Nonexponential Fluorescence Decays Is a Most Reliable Parameter

Abstract This study challenges the 40 year-old consensus that no quantitative information can be retrieved by fitting a nonexponential fluorescence decay (NEFD) with a sum of exponentials (SoE) due to the well-accepted understanding that such analyses are unreliable. This challen...

A Zero-Inflated Mixed-Effects Spatial Point Process for Grouped Storm Loss Data

The increasing granularity of third-party weather and exposure information can allow insurers to more effectively predict weather-related losses. However, loss outcomes are often reported in spatially grouped observations, such as at the county level, so higher resolution predict...

Anomalous Sub‐Band Gap Emission at Room Temperature in Mixed‐Dimensional WS 2 /Cu 2 O Heterostructures

ABSTRACT Practical implementation of two‐dimensional (2D) transition‐metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) in novel optoelectronics requires a fundamental understanding of carrier dynamics and interfacial states at 2D/3D heterostructures. Herein, a mixed‐dimensional p‐n junction based on...

Use of cannabidiol products in Canada, United States, Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, United Kingdom and Germany: products, sources and reasons for use

Background Cannabidiol (CBD) has attracted scientific, clinical, and public interest due to its perceived therapeutic benefits and favourable safety profile. However, a gap remains in understanding how different CBD-only regulatory frameworks shape consumers interaction with the...

Comparing different manual controllers in an Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft simulator under different wind conditions

The growing interest in electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, supported by advances in aviation and automation technologies, presents new opportunities for urban air mobility. This study examined the effectiveness of three manual control interfaces for eVTOL op...

Single-Particle Visualization of Water Uptake of Organic–Inorganic Aerosols with In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy

Abstract Atmospheric aerosol water uptake properties influence cloud formation and precipitation, atmospheric chemistry, and global climate. Atmospheric aerosols often contain organic acids and inorganic hygroscopic salts, and their internal mixing influences water uptake propert...

Beyond ideal membranes: Multiphysics modelling of vacuum-driven graphene oxide dehumidification systems

Space cooling accounts for a growing share of global electricity demand, with latent loads dominating in humid climates. Idealized models predict membrane dehumidification can raise moisture removal efficiency from roughly 5 to 55 kg kWh −1 relative to vapor compression, but assu...

Learnings From a Developmental Evaluation of a Dynamic, Arts-Based Death and Grief Awareness Initiative: The Reflection Room Project

Linear approaches to project design and evaluation work well when problems are understood and the solutions to the problem are defined within specific boundaries. If projects contain some degree of uncertainty in the goals, outcomes, or context, evaluations based on standardizati...

Conceptualizations of compassion in the context of dementia caregiving: A scoping review protocol

Background Compassion is widely recognized as a vital component of dementia caregiving, yet its conceptualization, definition, and operationalization remain inconsistent across contexts. In dementia caregiving, compassion is often conflated with empathy, emotional labor, and rela...

The atmospheric-surface Nexus in a hyper-arid coastal metropolis: Compound heat and pollution risk across Doha's urban morphologies (2018–2025)

Rapid urbanization in hyper-arid coastal cities can generate compound environmental risks through interacting surface heat, biometeorological stress, and atmospheric pollution. This study characterizes the Atmospheric–Surface Nexus in Doha, Qatar, by integrating seven satellite-d...

A Finite-Difference Summation-by-Parts Conditionally Stable Partitioned Algorithm for Conjugate Heat Transfer Problems

Abstract In this work, we design and analyze a novel, provably conditionally stable weakly coupled partitioned scheme to solve the conjugate heat transfer (CHT) problem. We consider a model CHT problem consisting of linear advection–diffusion and heat equations, coupled at an int...

An Efficient Pile‐Soil Interaction Model for Thermo‐Mechanical Response of Energy Piles in Sand

ABSTRACT Energy piles are analyzed using the load‐transfer method or numerical methods. While the equivalent soil spring‐based load‐transfer method is fast and easy to use, the equivalent soil spring constants often incorporate empiricism in the analysis. In contrast, numerical m...

Under-water ignition and combustion of PDMS processed Al/CuO nanoparticle composite

This study investigates the fabrication and performance of hydrophobic nanothermite powders prepared by combining liquid polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) prepolymers with thermite powders in a dispersion medium. The resulting composite remained dry when submerged underwater and could...

Vortex-induced vibrations of a circular cylinder in unsteady freestream conditions

The transient response of an elastically-mounted rigid cylinder subjected to unsteady incoming flow conditions is experimentally examined through simultaneous displacement, force, and two-component velocity field measurements. The incoming flow was varied at two distinct freestre...

Real-World Shelf Life of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors in Canada: Implications for Renewal Frequency and Patient Burden

Although patients in Canada at risk of anaphylaxis are recommended to maintain access to two in-date epinephrine auto-injectors (EAIs) at all times, underuse during emergencies remains common. Multiple factors contribute to this gap, but the impact of real-world shelf life has be...

Thermoreversible Natural Rubber Covalent Adaptable Networks via Diels–Alder Chemistry

Abstract Recycling sulfur-cross-linked natural rubber (NR) to enhance its sustainability and reduce waste remains challenging due to its permanent network and existing devulcanization approaches that are energy-intensive and inconsistent and risk backbone degradation. Here, we in...

Effective theory of quantum phases in the dipolar planar rotor chain

In this work, we develop a theoretical description of the collective behavior of interacting dipolar planar rotors by using time independent perturbation theory and a small angle quadratic approximation. The ground state properties of both the ordered and disordered quantum phase...

Queen domination by SAT solving

The queen domination problem asks for the minimum number of queens required to attack all squares on an nxn chessboard. Once this optimal number is known, determining the number of distinct solutions up to isomorphism has also attracted considerable attention. Previous work has i...