Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving the accuracy in localisation microscopy for samples that consist of straight lines using prior knowledge

We have investigated the possibility of using prior knowledge about a sample in order to improve the image quality of localisation microscopy. We assumed that all fluorescent molecules were aligned on one, or two parallel line segments and used this assumption to develop an estimator for the emitter locations and the line parameters. Using simulation we have shown that the Maximum-Likelihood estimator we defined is able to reduce the Root Mean Square localisation error up to maximum factor of 1? 2 compared to ordinary computational methods that do not use any prior knowledge.
Unprecedented evolution and transcriptional reprogramming of CYP81E subfamily in Carthamus tinctorius during flavonoid biosynthesis

Cytochrome P450s are widely known as an important class of enzymes involved in multi-dimensional metabolic reactions which facilitate both primary and secondary metabolism in plants. Recent advances in genome sequencing of new plant species have greatly influenced our knowledge of the evolution of gene families. Herein, we present the extensive genome-wide identification study and early experimental groundwork of CtCYP81E subfamily extracted from safflower genome. The evolutionary divergence and several other molecular aspects of CtCYP81E enzymes were described with the help of phylogenetic reconstruction and robust in silico analysis. A total of 15 CtCYP81E candidate enzymes were identified and clustered together with A-type CYP71 clan of the model plant. The detail overview of their gene structures organization, conserved signatures motif, cis regulatory elements, Go functional categorization and protein-protein interaction network, respectively suggested novel insights for physiological and biosynthetic implications. Following multiple recombinant DNA approaches combined with the development of GPF fusion, heterologous expression, and transcriptional regulation network of CtCYP81E8 under normal and fluctuating environments, further functional validation was performed. The transient expression system using onion epidermal cells revealed the candidate protein's subcellular position to cell membrane. Similarly, the biochemical assay of recombinant CtCYP81E8 protein, effectively produced during heterologous expression, verified 2,4-dimethylphenol activity over different time periods. Moreover, the results of RNA-transcriptomic data and qRT-PCR analysis of 15 CtCYP81Es at different flowering stages indicated a differential expression levels defining their potential roles during safflower metabolite biosynthesis.Consequently, the transcriptional regulation of CtCYP81E exploited with various stress conditions indicated considerable susceptibility against these environmental drifts. Furthermore, the correlation analysis of CtCYP81E8 transcription and metabolite accumulation pattern in wild and mutant safflower lines also suggested positive outcomes during flower development. Although presumably, these results may be helpful in determining the fundamental idea of transcriptional regulation channels that strategically turn on the secondary metabolic pool of plant system in response cute environmental falls.
Coherent diffraction imaging using structured phase modulation

Coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) is a kind of computational technique seeking to reconstruct a complex wavefront from the measured intensity. To solve the phase retrieval problem, phase modulation is introduced to be a physical constraint. In this work, the alternative structured phase modulation (ASPM) and orbital angular momentum (OAM) are used to be the physical constraints. The ASPM can act as the phase grating. The modulated intensities are concentrated, which can be captured with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). OAM is recently employed as a type of reliable modulation. The topological charge is robust during propagating in the atmosphere. The maximum value of the spectrum intensity is reduced by a factor of 170 under OAM modulation when topological charge is 50. The stagnation can be avoided using multiple ASPM and OAM modulations. The complex wavefront can be robustly reconstructed from redundant measurements without a priori knowledge.
Influence of body stiffness on vehicle dynamics characteristics

Body stiffness is one of is one of the characteristics of a passenger car affecting the handling, steering and ride comfort characteristics of the vehicle, but so far only limited aspects of mainly steering and handling has been analyzed. In this paper an extensive and detailed analysis of the influence of body stiffness on steering, handling and ride comfort is performed using a combination of laboratory and track testing of a physical prototype as well as sub-system and full vehicle multi-body simulation and finite element analysis. In this study it is found that the on-center, frequency response and primary ride are mostly affected by changes in body stiffness. For example, the torsional stiffness should be increased in order to improve roll balance in ride maneuvers. It is also found that the front and rear lateral stiffness should be raised in order to reduce dead band and steering wheel angle to yaw rate phase lags. Furthermore, maneuvers that combine handling and ride effects are proven to be particularly useful for defining body stiffness targets related to vehicle dynamics effects and one such maneuver is developed and evaluated in this paper. Finally, it is found that the difference between a rigid and flexibly vehicle model can be up to 13% for certain metrics, meaning that assuming a rigid body can be a significant oversimplification.
ePortfolios in music and creative arts education: Innovating to inspire learning

Through explanations of case studies of ePortfolio use in four Australian universities, this paper reports on work being undertaken to introduce and evaluate ePortfolios for their benefits to the learning and teaching of music and other creative arts. The examples presented raise a number of issues, demonstrating how ePortfolios are being used in different contexts for different purposes. They allow discussion of the uses of ePortfolios in individual subject areas and across whole degree programs; their relationships to information technology and development of IT-related skills; their significance as a site for realization of and exploration of students' multiple identities; and their role in students' control of their own learning.
S100A8 in development

S100A8 in development SlOO proteins are a family of binding EF-hand proteins. S100A8 is a cytosolic protein expressed in myeloid cells and epithelia where it forms a stable heterodimer with another SlOO protein family member, S100A9. The S100A9 null mouse is viable and has no gross defect whereas the S100A8 null mouse is embryonic lethal. It was originally proposed that the S100A8 null mouse is lethal at E 9.0 in development due to lack of expression at E 6.5 in ectoplacental cone cells. This thesis shows that the S100A8 null phenotype is more complex than originally thought. S100A8 has a role in preimplantation development, which is previously unstudied. A small number of S100A8 null embryos survive to blastocyst but none survive implantation showing fatal compromise of S100A8 null embryos early in development. This thesis presents evidence that this lethality presents between fertilisation and E 2.5 of development. S100A8 also has a role in the murine decidua after implantation possibly key to normal murine development. S100A8 mRNA is highly expressed in maternal decidua yet S100A8 protein is not highly expressed. Foetal yolk sac cells do not express S100A8 mRNA yet they do stain positively for S100A8 protein. This thesis proposes that S100A8 protein is generated in the murine decidua and exported to the foetus where haematopoietic cells present the protein. The S100A8 protein has been shown to be expressed and stable independently of its myeloid partner, S100A9. These observations explain the discrepancy between the two SlOO null mouse phenotypes and add new insight to the S100A8 null phenotype.
“Portrait” of patients with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension depending on comorbid status: current and prognosis features

Changing the "portrait" of patients with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (IPH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTPH) over the past decade suggests the need to develop models of phenotypes in patients with this cohort.The purpose of the study was to estimate the nature of the disease course and prognosis of patients with IPH and inoperable CTPH based on the formation of phenotypic groups depending on the comorbid status.Materials and Methods. Patients with IPH (n = 88) and inoperable CTPH (n = 38) aged 38.5 [28.5; 51] and 53.5 [41; 58] years respectively were enrolled in the study. 6-minute step test (6-MST) and spiroveloergometry, transthoracic echocardiography (EchoCG), catheterization of the right side of the heart was performed at the moment of diagnosis verification and in 13 [12; 20] months. All patients were divided into 5 groups according to comorbid status: Group 1 (n = 29) – patients with IPH/CTPH without comorbid pathology; Group 2 (n = 23) with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 ; Group 3 (n = 27) – with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and dyslipidemia; Group 4 (n = 30) with hypertension, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and dyslipidemia; Group 5 (n = 17) with the listed comorbid pathologies and carbohydrate metabolic disorders.Results. Initially more severe functional status was observed in patients of the 4th and 5th groups as compared to those in the 1st and 3rd groups. According to the data of the 3-dimensional EchoCG, in patients of the 4th and 5th groups a reliably more expressed increase in the volume of the right ventricle was revealed in comparison with such values in the 1st and 3rd groups. In IPH groups 1 and 3, the positive results of the vasoreactivity test (34.5% and 48.2%) were significantly more frequent in comparison with groups 4 (6.7%) and 5 (5.9%). The period from the diagnosis verification to adding the 2nd specific drug was significantly shorter in patients with IPH/CTPH of the 5th group compared to patients of the 3rd group. a high risk of lethal outcome after 13 [12; 30] months of treatment was significantly less frequently observed with IPH in Groups 1 and 3 as compared to Group 5.Conclusion. The combination of BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, dyslipidemia, hypertension, as well as the additional presence of carbohydrate metabolism disorders is associated with a less favorable course of the disease in patients with IPH and inoperable CTPH.
Optimal Sensor Placement for Structural Parameter Estimation Using Genetic Algorithm

In the health monitoring of civil engineering structures, the optimal sensor placement has a major influence on the quality of the results. This paper considers the problem of locating sensors with the aim of maximizing the data information so that structural parameters or damage of structures can be assessed. An proposed technique using a genetic algorithm is introduced to find the optimal placement of sensors. The sensitivity on modal vectors by structural parameters and the orthogonality of modal vectors have been taken as the fitness function of the genetic algorithm. A simple tower structure is used for example analyses to investigate the feasibility and applicability of the proposed approach. The example analyses show the way how the modal sensitivity and the modal orthogonality in the fitness function have influence on the optimal sensor placement. It is shown that the present method using the proposed fitness function can provide the reliable results.
Tertiary Opera Training in Australia and UK: Ethnographic Perspective

iii Acknowledgements . iv List of figures . viii Introduction . 1 Why opera field research is rare . 1 Ethnography as process of participant observation . 4 Limitations of ethnography . 5 Lack of holistic approach to opera training research . 7 Singer, tailor, dancer, spy . 8 Singers are late bloomers . 9 Teaching opera in the space-­‐age . 11 I’ve graduated, what now? 12 Opera outreach programs . 15 What do we know so far? 16 Access shapes the study . 17 Investigation design . 20 Sampling . 20 Confidentiality . 22 Data collection methods . 24 Data analysis . 24 Time frame . 25 Observer and the ethnographic account . 26 Emergent themes . 28 CASE STUDY I: Australian opera program . 28 The staff . 30 The students . 33 The training . 38 What makes an accomplished opera singer? 46 Maria Briggs (née Okunev) Tertiary Opera Training in Australia & UK: Ethnographic Perspective vii CASE STUDY II: UK opera program . 47 The staff . 50 The students . 55 The training . 58 What makes an accomplished opera singer? 68 CASE STUDY III: Australian opera company . 70 The singers – professional artist development . 71 Lack of dialogue with academia . 74 Cover work . 76 Chorus work . 78 Principal work . 81 Voice types . 82 The lifestyle . 86 Professional Opera Rehearsals . 93 What makes an accomplished opera singer? 96 IMPORTANT TRENDS: Opera production rehearsals . 98 The hierarchy . 98 Opera rehearsal process . 103 EPILOGUE: future directions . 105 About the researcher . 108 Bibliography . 110 Appendices . 115 Appendix A: Ethics approval letter . 115 Appendix B: Participant information statements for private lessons, observations and interviews. 117 Appendix C: Participant consent forms for private lessons, observations and interviews. 123 Maria Briggs (née Okunev) Tertiary Opera Training in Australia & UK: Ethnographic Perspective viii List of figures Figure 1: Data analysis . 24 Figure 2: Australian opera school data sample . 29 Figure 3: Student progress cycle . 35 Figure 4: Australian opera school top themes . 46 Figure 5: Accomplished singer perception: Australian opera school . 47 Figure 6: UK opera program data sample . 50 Figure 7: UK school teaching strategies . 54 Figure 8: Opera students early career perception . 58 Figure 9: UK vocal school top themes . 68 Figure 10: Accomplished singer perception: UK school . 70 Figure 11: Australian opera company data sample . 71 Figure 12: Some factors affecting opera singer's musical identity and fulfilment . 86 Figure 13: Opera singer performance process . 91 Figure 14: Opera singer lifestyle challenges . 93 Figure 15: Accomplished singer perception: opera company . 97 Figure 16: Opera production rehearsals . 100 Figure 17: Opera production rehearsal hierarchy . 101 Figure 18: Opera performance hierarchy . 103 Figure 19: Opera rehearsal process “stop and start” . 105 Maria Briggs (née Okunev) Tertiary Opera Training in Australia & UK: Ethnographic Perspective
The 2kW Mini-BRU Electrical Controls Concept and Transient Performance

The proposed Jupiter Icy Moon Orbiter, JIMO, mission selected a Brayton power conversion system as its electrical power generator. Although the JIMO mission power conversion system was expected to produce in the order of 100 kW, an available 2 kW Brayton system was used to develop control system strategies for the JIMO mission. This report describes the shunt loading voltage/speed regulation control concept developed for the 2 kW system, and the transient performance of controls. The 2 kW alternator is a permanent magnet alternator as proposed for the JIMO mission, and operates at a similar speed and internal impedance, allowing it to be used as an accurate model for performance of the larger system. The JIMO mission was cancelled in September 2005.
A wireless sensor network for in-crop sensing

This project looks at the operation of wireless sensor nodes in rapeseed using antennas located close to the ground, through both measurements of the propagation loss with test equipment and through building and operating an experimental wireless sensor network. Rapeseed is a technically challenging crop in which to operate a wireless sensor network, due to its dense foliage from ground level up to the canopy. To facilitate these activities two measurement systems have been devised and constructed. One measurement system was designed to allow the measurement of propagation loss in and around the crop. The other was designed to allow the power profile of sensor nodes to be measured. Both of these systems provided information to guide the design of the experimental wireless sensor network. The measurements with the propagation measurement system along with the received signal strength and message loss results from the deployment provide information on the distances over which communication is likely to be feasible with antennas located close to the ground.Sensor nodes and a base station to collect the data from them were designed based on Microchip's PIC18F45J20 microcontroller, MRF24J40 transceiver chip and MiWi software stack with customisations for power management and to record the received signal strength of packets arriving at the base station.Initial propagation loss measurements in a rapeseed crop were made at Rothamsted Experimental Station in 2011. Further propagation loss measurements and a deployment of the sensor nodes in a rapeseed crop were made at Tatton Dale Farm in 2012.
The relationship between healthcare expenditure, CO2 emissions and natural resources: evidence from developing countries

ABSTRACT The paper examines the association between health expenditure, carbon emission, economic growth, natural resources, and population in developing countries for 2000–2018. It further explores the relationship between these variables over the same period. The study applied Pooled mean group (PMG) and Dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) estimations to explore the long and short-term impact of environmental pollution, economic growth, and natural resources on health expenditure. PMG and the DOLS results show that economic growth and environmental pollution, and natural resources increase health expenditure at the panel level. However, improved sanitation reduces health spending. The findings for the individual country level from the FMOLS confirmed similar results for some countries. Furthermore, there is bidirectional causality between health spending and economic growth. Developing nations should implement strategic environment management policies that enhanced clean and healthy air to decrease the pressure on health care expenses.
C

The origin of the Fermi bubbles recently detected by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope in the inner Galaxy is mysterious. In the companion paper Guo & Mathews (Paper I), we use hydrodynamic simulations to show that they could be produced by a recent powerful active galactic nucleus (AGN) jet event. Here, we further explore this scenario to study the potential roles of shear viscosity and cosmic-ray (CR) diffusion on the morphology and CR distribution of the bubbles. We show that even a relatively low level of viscosity (μvisc 3 g cm−1 s−1, or ∼0.1%–1% of Braginskii viscosity in this context) could effectively suppress the development of Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities at the bubble surface, resulting in smooth bubble edges as observed. Furthermore, viscosity reduces circulating motions within the bubbles, which would otherwise mix the CR-carrying jet backflow near bubble edges with the bubble interior. Thus viscosity naturally produces an edge-favored CR distribution, an important ingredient to produce the observed flat gamma-ray surface brightness distribution. Generically, such a CR distribution often produces a limb-brightened gamma-ray intensity distribution. However, we show that by incorporating CR diffusion that is strongly suppressed across the bubble surface (as inferred from sharp bubble edges) but is close to canonical values in the bubble interior, we obtain a reasonably flat gamma-ray intensity profile. The similarity of the resulting CR bubble with the observed Fermi bubbles strengthens our previous result in Paper I that the Fermi bubbles were produced by a recent AGN jet event. Studies of the nearby Fermi bubbles may provide a unique opportunity to study the potential roles of plasma viscosity and CR diffusion on the evolution of AGN jets and bubbles.
PLAIN GALVANIZED STEEL DRAINAGE PIPE DURABILITY ESTIMATION WITH A MODIFIED CALIFORNIA CHART

A method for estimation of plain galvanized steel pipe service life based on the use of a modified California Chart has been developed. Certain limitations in the California Chart with respect to pipe waterside corrosion have been addressed. The method, based on results of field studies in the United States and South America, is amenable to use in different climates.
Quality of life and its affecting factors among patients with multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional study in northwest Iran

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the most important diseases due to its adverse clinical, social and economic consequences for affected people. Objectives: This study tried to assess the quality of life of the patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis in East Azerbaijan. Methods: This cross-sectional study used the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54) questionnaire for interviewing 300 randomly selected MS patients in East Azarbaijan province, Iran. The independent T-test, ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test were used to examine the relationship between demographic variables and quality of life, and all analyses were performed using SPSS19. Results: The quality of life score among the MS patients is 48.22. The "life satisfaction" is the best and "physical role limitation" is the worst quality of life aspect. There were significant relationships between marital status, education level, employment status, age of symptoms onset and years of illness with quality of life (P<0.05). Conclusion: The quality of life of the MS patients in East Azarbaijan province is lower than other parts of Iran and much lower than OECD countries.
An Incentivization Mechanism with Validator Voting Profile in Proof-of-Stake-Based Blockchain

SUMMARY The Proof of Stake (PoS) protocol is one of the consensus algorithms for blockchain, in which the integrity of a new block is validated according to voting by nodes called validators. However, due to validator-oriented voting, voting results are likely to be false when the number of validators with wrong votes increases. In the PoS protocol, validators are motivated to vote correctly by reward and penalty mechanisms. With such mechanisms, validators who contribute to correct consensuses are rewarded, while those who vote incorrectly are penalized. In this paper, we consider an incentivization mechanism based on the voting proﬁle of a validator, which is estimated from the voting history of the validator. In this mechanism, the stake collected due to the penalties are redistributed to validators who vote correctly, improving the incentive of validators to contribute to the system. We evaluate the performance of the proposed mechanism by computer simulations, investigating the impacts of system parametersontheestimationaccuracyofthevalidatorproﬁleandtheamountofvalidator’sstake.Numericalresultsshowthattheproposedmechanism canestimatethevotingproﬁleofavalidatoraccuratelyevenwhenthevotingproﬁledynamicallychanges. Itisalsoshownthattheproposedmechanism givesmorerewardtovalidatorswhovotecorrectlywithhighvotingproﬁle.