Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improvement to the Implementation of the QUEST Algorithm

The QUEST algorithm 2 has been the most widely and most frequently implemented algorithm for batch three-axis attitude estimation. It is also an important component of many attitude Kalman filters, where it serves as a preprocessor of star-tracker data. The QUEST algorithm was first implemented for the Magsat Mission in 1979. The FORTRAN code for the QUEST algorithm written by the second author of this Note has gone through very few changes. The only change has been a rearrangement of terms by F. Landis Markley of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (unpublished and only affecting the computer code) to improve numerical significance. The FORTRAN code for the QUEST algorithm has been made available at the home site of the second author of this Note. QUEST has supported hundreds of missions, both in Earth orbit and at the far reaches of the solar system, without an anomaly. Recently, however, a robustness issue of QUEST was raised. Specifically, it was shown that the Newton-Raphson iteration employed by the QUEST algorithm to solve the characteristic equation for the maximum eigenvalue of the Davenport matrix K did not converge in an extreme case. It should be pointed out that the issue was about the implementation detail of the characteristic polynomial, not the mathematical procedure of the algorithm. In Refs. [1] and [2], where the QUEST algorithm was first presented, the characteristic polynomial was given by
High-Power Piezoelectric Characteristics of Nontextured Bismuth Layer-Structured Ferroelectric Ceramics

High-power piezoelectric characteristics under continuous driving were studied on some bismuth layer-structured ferroelectric ceramics, i.e., Sr0.25Bi2. 75Ti0.75Ta1. 25O9 (SBTT, m = 2), Bi4Ti2.98V0. 02O12 (BITV, m = 3), Bi4Ti3O12–SrBi4Ti4O15 + MnCO3 0.2 wt % (BIT–SBTi, m = 3, 4), and (Sr0.7Ca0.3)2Bi4Ti5O18 + MnCO3 0.2 wt % (SCBT, m = 5). The vibration velocities, v0–p, of SBTT, BIT–SBTi, and SCBT ceramics were above 2.0 m/s at 5 V/mm. Also, we observed that the resonance frequency changes and temperatures on the sample surfaces for SBTT, BIT–SBTi, and SCBT ceramics were less than 1.0% and 50 °C at a v0–p of 2.0 m/s, respectively. The high-power characteristics of the ceramics were superior to those of BITV and hard Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (abbreviated as PZT) at a vibration velocity v0–p > 0.6 m/s. Therefore, SBTT, BIT–SBTi and SCBT ceramics are promising candidates for lead-free high-power applications requiring high vibration velocity and frequency stability.
The RNA-binding protein QKI governs a muscle-specific alternative splicing program that shapes the contractile function of cardiomyocytes

Abstract Aims In the heart, splicing factors orchestrate the functional properties of cardiomyocytes by regulating the alternative splicing of multiple genes. Work in embryonic stem cells has shown that the splicing factor Quaking (QKI) regulates alternative splicing during cardiomyocyte differentiation. However, the relevance and function of QKI in adult cardiomyocytes remains unknown. In this study, we aim to identify the in vivo function of QKI in the adult mouse heart. Methods and results We generated mice with conditional deletion of QKI in cardiomyocytes by the Cre-Lox system. Mice with cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of QKI died during the foetal period (E14.5), without obvious anatomical abnormalities of the heart. Adult mice with tamoxifen-inducible QKI deletion rapidly developed heart failure associated with severe disruption of sarcomeres, already 7 days after knocking out QKI. RNA sequencing revealed that QKI regulates the alternative splicing of more than 1000 genes, including sarcomere and cytoskeletal components, calcium-handling genes, and (post-)transcriptional regulators. Many of these splicing changes corresponded to the loss of muscle-specific isoforms in the heart. Forced overexpression of QKI in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes directed these splicing events in the opposite direction and enhanced contractility of cardiomyocytes. Conclusion Altogether, our findings show that QKI is an important regulator of the muscle-specific alternative splicing program that builds the contractile apparatus of cardiomyocytes.
Conditional Hazard Maps for Secondary Intensity Measures

Abstract Vector-valued ground-motion intensity measures (IMs) have been the focus of a significant deal of research recently. Proposed measures are mainly functions of spectral ordinates, which have been shown to be useful in the assessment of structural response. This is especially appropriate in the case of structures following modern earthquake-resistant design principles, in which structural damage is mainly caused by peak displacements experienced during nonlinear dynamics. On the other hand, there may be cases in which the cumulative damage potential of the earthquake is also of concern, even if it is generally believed that integral ground-motion IMs, associated with duration, are less important with respect to peak parameters of the record. For these IMs, it seems appropriate to develop conditional hazard maps, that is, maps of percentiles of a secondary IM (e.g., duration-related) given the occurrence or exceedance of a primary parameter (e.g., peak acceleration), for which a design hazard map is often already available. In this paper, this concept is illustrated, and conditional hazard is developed for a parameter, which may account for the cumulative damage potential of ground motion, the so-called Cosenza and Manfredi index ( I D ), given peak ground acceleration (PGA). To this aim, a ground-motion prediction relationship was derived for I D first. Subsequently, the residuals of PGA and I D were tested for correlation and for joint normality. Finally, the study obtained analytical distributions of I D conditional on PGA and on the corresponding design earthquake in terms of magnitude and distance from hazard disaggregation. As shown by the application to the Campania region (southern Italy), I D maps conditional on the code design values of PGA may be useful, for example, for a more refined ground-motion record selection as an input for nonlinear dynamic analysis of structures.
Efficiency enhancement in a light-emitting diode with a two-dimensional surface grating photonic crystal

We demonstrate a light-emitting diode exhibiting 1.7–2.7-fold enhancement in light extraction efficiency compared with that for a planer device. It has a two-dimensional surface grating photonic crystal, which diffracts internal light with a large solid angle into the escape light cone. Due to its shallow grating separated from the active layer and micron order lattice constant, the fabrication process is simple, applicable to arbitrary semiconductor devices, and free from process-induced nonradiative recombinations.
Enhancing the performance of boundary footing of a renovated building using micropiles: Numerical and Site Visual Assessment

Reconstruction and building extensions have become popular trends, even being recognized as one of the most appropriate options for homes, especially in high population density areas or crowded cities. Due to the changes in the size of buildings (by applying additional loads), the existing foundations themselves are incapable of resisting extra stresses. Therefore, it is imperative to increase the bearing capacity as well as the overall stability of existing foundations. The paper aims to present a numerical case study on the use of micropile elements for enhancing the performance of the boundary footing of a renovated building in terms of bearing capacity and stability. Moreover, the effect of cohesionless soil types on the bearing capacity of boundary foundations was presented. Numerically calculated results show that the stability of the boundary footing, presented in terms of the safety factor, was increased as strengthened by micropiles. The bearing capacity ratio (BCR) of the boundary footing was significantly improved when the relative distance (S) between the micropile and the boundary footing decreased, and the length of micropiles (L) increased; however, the BCR rose as the micropile’s angle (() with respect to the vertical increase. In other words, the performance of the foundation underneath the boundary footing was significantly affected by some micropile parameters, including length, inclination, and the distance between the micropile and the boundary footing. These crucial factors must be carefully examined during the design of the micropiles’ configuration for strengthening the boundary footing. Lastly, the load-carrying capacity improvement of the loose sand using micropiles was found to be more significant than that of denser ones.
Pedagogical challenges in making mathematics relevant for Indigenous Australians

After the invasion and occupation of their land by Europeans, Indigenous Australians were expected to benefit from a Western education system based on that of the dominant Europeans. Gradually educators realized that Aboriginal children learn differently and that Indigenous culture and pedagogy has validity and strength. Of course, educators also need to be acutely aware of the diversity of Indigenous cultures in Australia and that there is not a monolithic sense of Aboriginal identity or Aboriginal pedagogy. Dispossession and alienation, poor health and few employment opportunities must also affect educational interest, attendance, application and performance. In this paper the characteristics of Indigenous learners are examined and pedagogical strategies to assist in both students' learning and teachers' delivery are explored. The message conveyed in this paper has particular relevance for teaching mathematics to Aboriginal learners. It is also of considerable value in teaching mathematics to nonAboriginal students, in Australia and elsewhere.
Galactic Clusters with Associated Cepheid Variables. VI. Anonymous van den Bergh (C0634+031) and CV Monocerotis

A photometric UBVIKC study, based upon a compilation of new and previously published photometry, is presented for the cluster surrounding the 5.38 day Cepheid CV Mon. Photoelectric, photographic, and CCD observations are presented for 200 stars lying within ∼8′ of CV Mon, and the data are used with spectroscopic observations for stars near the Cepheid to investigate the reddening and distance of cluster members. The reddening law for the cluster field is described by the relation EU - B/EB - V = 0.77, and the ratio of total to selective extinction for the dust clouds obscuring cluster stars is characterized by R = AV/EB - V = 3.20 ± 0.04 s.e. The foreground dust complex is located at a distance of ∼900–1100 pc, whereas the cluster itself is 1.65 ± 0.03 kpc distant (⟨V0 - MV⟩ = 11.08 ± 0.03 s.e.). CV Mon shares not only a spatial coincidence with cluster stars—a feature confirmed by star counts—but also a similar radial velocity and estimated age. Its derived luminosity as a cluster member is ⟨MV⟩ = -3.37 ± 0.08 s.e. , and its derived space reddening is EB - V = 0.75 ± 0.02 [EB - V(B0) = 0.80 ± 0.02]. There is evidence for the presence of two background groups in the field, one lying immediately beyond the cluster (d = 1.86 ± 0.03 kpc) and a more distant group (d = 3.02 ± 0.08 kpc). The cluster itself exhibits photometric properties—upper–main-sequence dispersion and main-sequence gaps—consistent with rapid rotation for hot cluster members. Such features are common in Cepheid-age clusters.
On Non-Geostrophic Baroclinic Stability: Part III. The Momentum and Heat Transports

Abstract The results of Parts I and II are used to calculate the transports of heat and momentum that accompany growing baroclinic instabilities in Eady's model. The transports are calculated for both the conventional (“geostrophic”) kind of baroclinic instability and for symmetric instability, without any restriction on the stratification, as measured by the Richardson number. The transports are calculated consistently to second order in the amplitude expansion of stability theory, so that the transports are the sum of an eddy transport term and a mean transport term. The results show that both kinds of instability always transport heat upward and poleward, and always transport zonal momentum downward. Under geostrophic conditions the horizontal transport of zonal momentum depends on the horizontal shear of the basic flow. This shear is neglected in Eady's model so the horizontal momentum transports calculated here only contain the non-geostrophic contribution to the transport. The results show that this.
Phenomena in Romance verb paradigms: Syncretism, order of inflectional morphemes and thematic vowel

This article aims to propose a treatment of the internal morphological organization of words, based on the idea that morphology is part of syntactic computation. We disagree with Distributed Morphology model, whereby morphology is identified with a post-syntactic component conveying an information ‘separated from the original locus of that information in the phrase marker’ (Embick and Noyer 2001: 557) by rules manipulating syntactic nodes. We also consider inadequate the costly and complex syntactic structures that cartographic approach maps into inflectional strings. We pursue a different conceptualization assuming that morphology is governed by the same rules and principles of syntax. Sub-word elements, including inflections, thematic exponents and clitics, are fully interpretable and enter (pair-)merge operations (in the sense of Chomsky 2020a,b, 2021) according to their content, giving rise to complex words.
Characterization and implications of host‐cell protein aggregates in biopharmaceutical processing

In the production of biopharmaceuticals such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and vaccines, the residual amounts of host‐cell proteins (HCPs) are among the critical quality attributes. In addition to overall HCP levels, individual HCPs may elude purification, potentially causing issues in product stability or patient safety. Such HCP persistence has been attributed mainly to biophysical interactions between individual HCPs and the product, resin media, or residual chromatin particles. Based on measurements on process streams from seven mAb processes, we have found that HCPs in aggregates, not necessarily chromatin‐derived, may play a significant role in the persistence of many HCPs. Such aggregates may also hinder accurate detection of HCPs using existing proteomics methods. The findings also highlight that certain HCPs may be difficult to remove because of their functional complementarity to the product; specifically, chaperones and other proteins involved in the unfolded protein response (UPR) are disproportionately present in the aggregates. The methods and findings described here expand our understanding of the origins and potential behavior of HCPs in cell‐based biopharmaceutical processes and may be instrumental in improving existing techniques for HCP detection and clearance.
The Pattern and Timing of Biotic Recovery from the End-Permian Extinction on the Great Bank of Guizhou, Guizhou Province, China

Abstract Microfacies analysis and point counts of thin sections from 608 hand samples were used to track changes in the abundance and diversity of fossil grains through the extended recovery interval following end-Permian mass extinction on the Great Bank of Guizhou (GBG)—an isolated Late Permian to Late Triassic carbonate platform in south China. Exposure of a two-dimensional cross-section of the platform permits the comparison of faunal patterns along an environmental gradient from shallow to deep water. The diverse Late Permian biota was dominated by calcareous sponges, crinoids, articulate brachiopods, foraminifera, and calcareous algae. In contrast, Early Triassic communities were dominated by mollusks, with increasing abundance of crinoids beginning in the Spathian. Increase in the diversity and abundance of fossils on the GBG was confined to a brief interval near the Spathian–Anisian boundary and concentrated along the platform margin. Later Middle Triassic diversification, the return of calcareous algae and calcareous sponges, and the appearance of scleractinian corals did not substantially alter the mollusk-crinoid-Tubiphytes assemblage before the end of the Middle Triassic. The low abundance of skeletal grains in Lower Triassic strata implies: (1) similarities in the relative contributions of micrite, microbialites, and oolites to Neoproterozoic carbonates result, at least in part, from the temporary removal of skeletal sinks for calcium carbonate; and (2) animals with hard skeletons remained at low abundance from the time of the end-Permian extinction through much of the Early Triassic.
Application of Multi-Scale Convolution Neural Network Optimization Image Defogging Algorithm in Image Processing

— To improve the ability to detect and identify smog images in complex road traffic scenes, smog images need to be defogged, and an optimized image defogging algorithm on the basis of multi-scale convolutional neural network (MCNN) is proposed. The physical model of road traffic scene smog scattering is constructed, and the image is divided sky area, road surface area and road sky boundary area. The road sky boundary line is the boundary line between road surface and sky area. The dark channel of traffic scene smog image is established by Canny edge detection and MCNN optimization, and the smog image is subjected to detail compensation and gray enhancement processing through prior knowledge. After substituting the atmospheric light value and transmittance map into the atmospheric scattering model (ACM), the MCNN learning model is combined to realize the filtering processing and defogging optimization of smog images in complex road traffic scenes. The color saturation, defogging degree, peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), texture effect as well as other aspects of the image are taken as test indexes for the simulation experiment. The simulation results show that the color saturation, defogging degree and image definition of the defogged haze images in complex road traffic scenes are higher by using this method, which improves the output PSNR of the defogged haze images in complex road traffic scenes, and has a good application value in image defogging.
Response of growth, flowering, nutrient uptake and essential oil of German chamomile to organic nutrition

An experimental field was conducted during 2019/2020 and 2021/2021 seasons to evaluate the effects of different rates of humic acid (H.A) and liquid compost (L.C) on quantitative and qualitative yield of German chamomile ( Matericaria recutita L .). Rates of both organic materials were 2000 and 4000 ppm, beside control were applied as a soil drench method and performed five times, two weeks intervals through growing seasons starting 45 days from sowing. Vegetative growth, flowering characters, nutritional state, physiological traits, and essential oil yield and its components were studied. Results indicated that all H.A and L.C treatments improved growth parameters (plant height, number of branches per plant, fresh and dry weights of herb and roots), flowering characteristics (number of flower-heads per plant, flower diameter, and fresh and dry weights of flower yield) as compared to control. However, L.C at 4000 ppm was the most effective treatment resulting in significant increases as compared to other treatments. The vigorous growth of superior treatment was closely associated with higher uptake of nutrient elements (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) than control which produced the worst growth with the lowest uptake of minerals. A positive relationship was found between the adequate nutrients uptake and the highest leaf contents of chlorophyll “a”, carotenoids, carbohydrates and protein. Treatment of L.C at 4000 ppm showed considerable increases in essential oil percentage, oil yield and the major constituent in chamomile oil of chamazulene. So, we can recommend to apply this best treatment for organic German chamomile with clearly, safety, health quality and free contaminate chemicals.
Flipped classroom in accounting courses: A systematic review

Flipped classroom (FC) is one of the learning approaches that are currently being implemented in various fields of study in higher education because it has several advantages over traditional methods. However, the implementation of FC in accounting courses is still limited. This review aimed to investigate the FC implementation in accounting courses in higher education, particularly the reasons for implementing FC, the strategy and its impacts. The 15 articles reviewed were selected using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flow diagram. The results indicated that the application of FC is motivated by problems that occur in accounting courses, the weaknesses of the method used, the desire to increase student learning experiences, and the potential offered by FC to improve accounting learning. The strategies used in implementing FC varied. FC had a positive impact on accounting learning and most students prefer this approach. FC is a recommended approach for accounting as an application-oriented course. Keywords: Accounting courses, flipped classroom, flipped learning, higher education, systematic review;
Effects of grain size and boundary structure on the dynamic tensile response of copper

Plate impact experiments have been carried out to examine the influence of grain boundary characteristics on the dynamic tensile response of Cu samples with grain sizes of 30, 60, 100, and 200 μm. The peak compressive stress is ∼1.50 GPa for all experiments, low enough to cause an early stage of incipient spall damage that is correlated to the surrounding microstructure in metallographic analysis. The experimental configuration used in this work permits real-time measurements of the sample free surface velocity histories, soft-recovery, and postimpact examination of the damaged microstructure. The resulting tensile damage in the recovered samples is examined using optical and electron microscopy along with micro x-ray tomography. The free surface velocity measurements are used to calculate spall strength values and show no significant effect of the grain size. However, differences are observed in the free surface velocity behavior after the pull-back minima, when reacceleration occurs. The magnitude of th.