Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Valuing Australian Botanic Collections: A Combined Travel‐Cost and Contingent Valuation Study

Economic values of biological collections in three Australian botanic gardens in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney were estimated using the travel-cost method (TCM) and the contingent valuation method (CVM). The TCM component of the study produced average per-trip consumer surplus (CS) values of $39 and $18 for single- and multiplesite visitors, respectively, for each botanic garden, resulting in an estimate of approximately $194 million for the total social welfare generated by trips to the three sites. Marginal willingness to pay (WTP) for access to botanic gardens was also investigated through payment vehicles of entry fees or higher parking charges using the CVM component. The analysis revealed a positive mean WTP of between $3 and $5 per trip per person. The difference between the CVM and TCM results reflect the different underlying concepts of value under investigation: average CS per visit for the TCM and the utility arising from a marginal visit for the CVM. Marginal changes in CS from the TCM were derived. The confidence intervals from the TCM marginal values overlap the WTP estimates from the CVM. These findings will be useful for resource management decisions in the botanic gardens collection in Australia.
Neurofeedback as a neurorehabilitation tool for memory deficits : a phase 0 clinical trial

Although underexplored, the idea of using brain computer interfaces (BCI) for behavioral and cognitive rehabilitation is based on recent evidence suggesting that not only self-regulated brain signals, but also involuntary brain signals may provide useful information about the BCI user. The aim is to promote the recruitment of neural networks involved in specific brain functions and to facilitate Central Nervous System (CNS) plasticity. Critically, CNS plasticity has been observed in early-stages of dementia, thus constituting a great challenge for the development of "cognitive BCIs" focused on the rehabilitation of brain functions in neurological patients. The main goal of this project is to promote CNS plasticity, and therefore cognitive reserve, through neurofeedback training in subjects with Subjective Memory Complaints (SMC) related to attentional deficits. It is a Phase 0 clinical trial
Medical Magnetic Resonance Image Denoising by Adjusted Non-Local Means Algorithm

Medical images represent a very important class of digital imeges because they faciliate significant improvements in diagnostics, which is a cornerstone of any medical treatment. Magnetic resonance images are one of the latest and most powerful ways of looking into the human body and differentiating various tissues and organs. Like any physical system, magnetic resonance imaging is prone to interferences and imperfections which appear in the resulting images as different types of noise. Hence, magnetic resonance images are a very important class of medical images and their enhancement is very significant for the quality of diagnostic process. In this paper we presented an algorithm for improving magnetic resonance images of the brain. We tested our proposed adjusted non-local means filter for removing random noise in the magnetic resonance images of the brain on several standard benchmark images. Several evolution metrics were used to prove the quality of the proposed method. Key–Words: Magnetic resonance images, magnetic resonance noise, non-local means filter, magnetic resonance images denoising
MODELS AND METHODS OF PROCESSING OF INFORMATION ON LOADS OF ACOUSTIC SIGNALS IN TECHNICAL DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS

The paper presents one-dimensional discrete-continuous model of power spectrum estimation of the acoustic emission signal, that allows filtering the oscillating components of the acoustic emission signals. The mathematical formalism describing the environment was discussed, initiating the signals of acoustic emission. The problem of spectral analysis and synthesis of acoustic emission signals was solved with the help of Fourier transform. The dependence of acoustic vibrations spectra on the size of the medium parameters and microstructure has been discussed, as well.
Isolation and characterization of feather degrading bacteria from Mauritian soil

This study is aimed at isolating and characterizing new culturable feather degrading bacteria from soils of the University of Mauritius Farm. Bacteria that were isolated were tested for their capability to grow on feather meal agar (FMA). Proteolytic bacteria were tested for feather degradation and were further identified according to their morphological and biochemical characteristics. All of the three isolates were from the Bacillus genus. Maximum enzyme activity was obtained from isolate DF1a. Maximum keratinolytic activity of 128 U/ml and maximum proteolytic activity of 373 U/ml were obtained. The optimal conditions for the keratinolytic activity of this strain were determined to be pH 8.0 and temperature of 70°C. In addition, this isolate was able to completely degrade a whole chicken feather within a period of 14 days at room temperature (28±2°C). These three Bacillus strains (DF1a, DF2b and DF3) are therefore promising strains for the management of chicken feather waste through biotechnological processes.
Evaluating Factors Influencing Consumer Satisfaction towards Online Shopping in Viet Nam

Online shopping has become new type of retail shopping. It has now been adopted all over the world including Vietnam. This shopping method is still not as well known or accepted as in many other countries, and though the knowledge of online shopping in Vietnam is now beginning to increase rapidly. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that may influence Vietnam customers’ online shopping satisfaction from the perspective of total online shopping experience. The model was assessed based on the data collected from 216 participants using a survey questionnaire. Finally regression analysis was used on data in order to test hypothesizes of study. This study can be considered as an applied research from purpose perspective and descriptive-survey with regard to the nature and method. Findings of this research will provide a yardstick to customer satisfaction and online shopping based on various issues such as Merchandise attribute, Payment method, security, privacy, customer service etc.
Optomechanical measurement of a millimeter-sized mechanical oscillator approaching the quantum ground state

Cavity optomechanics is a tool to study the interaction between light and micromechanical motion. Here we observe optomechanical physics in a truly macroscopic oscillator close to the quantum ground state. As the mechanical system, we use a mm-sized piezoelectric quartz disk oscillator. Its motion is coupled to a charge qubit which translates the piezo-induced charge into an effective radiation–pressure interaction between the disk and a microwave cavity. We measure the thermal motion of the lowest mechanical shear mode at 7 MHz down to 30 mK, corresponding to roughly 102 quanta in a 20 mg oscillator. We estimate that with realistic parameters, it is possible to utilize the back-action cooling by the qubit in order to control macroscopic motion by a single Cooper pair. The work opens up opportunities for macroscopic quantum experiments.
5‐Aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide ribonucleotide prevents fat gain following the cessation of voluntary physical activity

What is the central question of this study? We investigated whether 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide‐1‐beta‐D‐ribofuranoside (AICAR) could prevent acute increases in body fat and changes in omental and subcutaneous adipose tissue following the sudden transition from physical activity to physical inactivity. What is the main finding and its importance? AICAR prevented fat gains following the transition from physical activity to inactivity to levels comparable to rats that remained physically active. AICAR and continuous physical activity produced depot‐specific changes in cyclin A1 mRNA and protein that were associated with the prevention of fat gain. These findings suggest that targeting AMP‐activated protein kinase signalling could oppose rapid adipose mass growth.
A dual mesh multigrid preconditioner for the efficient solution of hydraulically driven fracture problems

We present a novel multigrid (MG) procedure for the efficient solution of the large non‐symmetric system of algebraic equations used to model the evolution of a hydraulically driven fracture in a multi‐layered elastic medium. The governing equations involve a highly non‐linear coupled system of integro‐partial differential equations along with the fracture front free boundary problem. The conditioning of the algebraic equations typically degrades as O(N3). A number of characteristics of this problem present significant new challenges for designing an effective MG strategy. Large changes in the coefficients of the PDE are dealt with by taking the appropriate harmonic averages of the discrete coefficients. Coarse level Green's functions for multiple elastic layers are constructed using a single dual mesh and superposition. Coarse grids that are sub‐sets of the finest grid are used to treat mixed variable problems associated with ‘pinch points. ’ Localized approximations to the Jacobian at each MG level are used to devise efficient Gauss–Seidel smoothers and preferential line iterations are used to eliminate grid anisotropy caused by large aspect ratio elements. The performance of the MG preconditioner is demonstrated in a number of numerical experiments. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
StrokeNet : 3 D Local Refinement Network for Ischemic Stroke Lesion Segmentation

We present a StrokeNet an efficient yet conceptually simple 3D residual framework for automatic ischemic stroke lesion segmentation. Our model is able to directly predict dense voxel segmentation of stroke regions in 3D brain CT scans. The contributions of this report are three-fold: (i) we propose a novel multi-level 3D refinement module that automatically aggregates both local details and spatial-temporal context information within 3D convolutional layers, leading to clear performance boost; (ii) we incorporate recent Focal loss into our framework, enabling our model to naturally cope with data imbalance that previously attempted in dense training and sampling; (iii) a new training strategy is introduced by leveraging curriculum learning, where we design the curriculum by incorporating data augmentation and the Focal loss. These technical developments are integrated seamlessly into a single 3D segmentation model, resulting in a highly-compacted and end-to-end trainable model that can run at about 0.5s per MRIs about 50 times faster than previous approaches. The proposed StrokeNet is evaluated on Ischemic Stroke Lesion Segmentation (ISLES) Challenge 2018, where we report preliminary results on the training set. Methods. We present a new StrokeNet which is a 3D segmentation network built on deep residual architecture. Our model is able to directly outputs dense voxel-level segmentation results of stroke or non-stroke regions from 3D brain CT scans, without any post-processing. First, we propose a new 3D refinement module capable of aggregating rich fine-scale spatio-temporal features over multiple 3D convolutional layers. This allows it to explore both local detailed features and high-level context information in both spatial and temporal domain, which is critically important to achieving accurate segmentation. Second, we introduce a new training strategy that incorporates curriculum learning and recent Focal loss into our 3D segmentation networks. This allows our model to learn more efficiently with the designed curriculum, where the issue of dense training and class imbalance are handled effectively and naturally. Third, we integrate these technical improvements into a single model which allows for a direct prediction of dense voxel-level segmentation in a single shot. This results in a highly efficient model running at about 0.5s per MRIs allowing for real-world application of StrokeNet. Results. StrokeNet was evaluated on the training set of ISLES Challenge 2018. We report preliminary results by computing mean values over 5-fold crossvalidations on the training set. StrokeNet obtains a mean Dice score of 52.26%, with a recall and a precision of 55.50% and 58.84%, respectively.
Directed Evolution of Cytochrome P 450 CYP 102 A 2 from Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis flavocytochrome CYP102A2 is a high activity fatty acid hydroxylase that has evolved from fusion of a eukaryotic-like NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) to a P450 in a single polypeptide chain. In the present work we report the directed evolution of CYP102A2 from B. subtilis with a focus on its substrate specificity. The highly active CYP102A2 was subjected to error-prone PCR (epPCR) to generate enzyme variants with altered substrate specificity. The library of CYP102A2 mutants was expressed in BL21(DE3) Escherichia coli cells and screened for their ability to oxidize several substrates (sodium dodecyl sulphate, lauric acid, 1,4-naphthaquinoline, 2-hydroxy-1,6-naphthoquinone and -amino-n-caproic acid) by means of an activity assay. After a single round of epPCR, the variant Pro15Ser/Phe160Leu was isolated which exhibited altered substrate specificity towards naphthoquinones. Molecular modeling of CYP102A2 monooxygenase domain suggests that Phe160 is located at the end of -helix-6 and is involved in van der Waals interactions with residues positioned at the -helix-10 which are involved partly in the formation of the substrate binding pocket. Therefore Phe160 seems to affect substrate binding and catalysis indirectly. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Recognizing handwritten Arabic words using optimized character shape models and new features 1

In this paper, we propose a segmentation-free word recognition system based on Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) where 48 features are computed on a fixed-length sliding window, some of them are never used in literature for the recognition task. The literature has proved the difficulty of Arabic text recognition systems to recognize all character shapes which are more than 170 shapes derived from 28 basic letters. To make training and recognition of characters more efficient, we used optimized character shape models to represent the different handwritten Arabic characters. Several experiments have been performed using the IFN/ENIT database of handwritten Arabic words. The results reveal the robustness and the effectiveness of our system. Keywords-Arabic text recognition; Hidden Markov Model; character shape models; profile based features; sliding window; IFN/ENIT database
Feature – Based Implicit Function Shaping with Isocontour Embedded Curves

Implicit functions are used for many applications, including shape modeling, shape editing, and character rigging. However, techniques for shaping implicit functions are primarily restricted to applying mathematical operations to primitive shapes. This report describes an investigation into an alternate methodology for shaping implicit functions. Users embed features into the implicit function domain, which alter the shape of the implicit function such that it has spatial features orthogonal to the function’s local gradient. To facilitate this embedding, features are embedded into extracted isosurfaces. Such features can potentially take the form of points, curves, and surfaces. In this report, we focus on the design of curve based features. Implicit surface modeling is used as a demonstration application for visualization purposes, although the technique is amenable to other implicit function applications.
Choriocapillaris Regeneration in the Rabbit Ulrmsrrucrure of New Endorhelial Tube Formorion

After experimental destruction of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) by intravenous injection of sodium iodate, the rabbit choriocapillaris (CC) atrophies. This report studies the subsequent regeneration of the CC with the goal of identifying sources of new CC and mechanisms by which new endothelial tube is formed. Light and transmission electron microscopic methods were used. The CC appeared to regenerate from three sources: choroidal venules, remnant CC and newly produced cells. Whatever the source, new endothelial tube was formed by extensions of the endothelium that sealed off new lumenal space by junctional complexes. This process was always confined to the tissue space within remnant sleeves of basement membrane left behind by initial atrophy, and which served as a substrate for endothelial movement. The endothelium of new endothelial tube was initially thick and unfenestrated. It became thinner and fenestrated by a process of cavitation, in which cavities continuous with the lumen pushed into the thick endothelial cytoplasm towards its abluminal side. At this site new fenestrae were formed. Fenestrae were initially scattered about the endothelial tube, but with its maturation became localized on the side facing the regenerated RPE. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:1938-1950,1989
The Secondary Analysis of Archived Qualitative Data by Louise Corti and

Archived qualitative data are a rich and unique, yet too often unexploited, source of research material. They offer information that can be reanalysed, reworked, and compared with contemporary data. In time, too, archived research materials can prove to be a significant part of our cultural heritage and become resources for historical as well as contemporary research. In this chapter we explore the methodological, ethical and theoretical considerations relating to the secondary analysis of such qualitative data.
The orders of solutions of the Kummer system of congruences

A new method concerning solutions of the Kummer system of congruences {K) (modulo an odd prime /) is developed. This method is based on the notion of the Stickelberger ideal. By means of this method a new proof of Pollaczek's and Morishima's assertion on solutions of (K) of orders 3, 6 and 4 mod / is given. It is also shown that in case there is a solution of (K) ^ 0, ±1 (mod /), then for the index of irregularity i(/) of the prime / we have i(/) > [#7/2].
SIMULATIONS OF THE ATOMIC STRUCTURE, ENERGETICS, AND CROSS SLIP OF SCREW DISLOCATIONS IN COPPER

Using nanoscale atomistic simulations it has been possible to address the problem of cross slip of a dissociated screw dislocation in an fcc metal (cid:126) Cu (cid:33) by a method not suffering from the limitations imposed by elasticity theory. The focus has been on different dislocation conﬁgurations relevant for cross slip via the Friedel-Escaig (cid:126) FE (cid:33) cross-slip mechanism. The stress free cross-slip activation energy and activation length for this mechanism are determined. We show that the two constrictions necessary for cross slip in the FE cross-slip mechanism are not equivalent and that a dislocation conﬁguration with just one of these constrictions is energetically favored over two parallel Shockley partials. The effect of having the dislocation perpendicular to a free surface is investigated. The results are in qualitative agreement with transmission electron microscopy experiments and predictions from linear elasticity theory showing recombination or repulsion of the partials near the free surface. Such recombination at the free surface might be important in the context of cross slip because it allows the creation of the above-mentioned energetically favorable constriction alone. In addition we observe a strong preference for the partials to be in a glide plane parallel to the surface step. We have performed simulations of two screw dislocations of opposite signs, one simulation showing surface nucleated cross slip leading to subsequent annihilation of the two dislocations. It was possible to monitor the annihilation
TOPoS - III. An ultra iron-poor multiple CEMP system

Aims. One of the primary objectives of the TOPoS survey is to search for the most metal-poor stars. Our search has led to the discovery of one of the most iron-poor objects known, SDSS J092912.32+023817.0. This object is a multiple system, in which two components are clearly detected in the spectrum. Methods. We have analysed 16 high-resolution spectra obtained using the UVES spectrograph at the ESO 8.2 m VLT telescope to measure radial velocities and determine the chemical composition of the system. Results. Cross correlation of the spectra with a synthetic template yields a double-peaked cross-correlation function (CCF) for eight spectra, and in one case there is evidence for the presence of a third peak. Chemical analysis of the spectrum obtained by averaging all the spectra for which the CCF showed a single peak found that the iron abundance is [Fe/H] = −4.97. The system is also carbon enhanced with [C/Fe] = +3.91 ( A (C) = 7.44). From the permitted oxygen triplet we determined an upper limit for oxygen of [O/Fe] 1.3. We are also able to provide more stringent upper limits on the Sr and Ba abundances ([Sr/Fe] < +0.70, and [Ba/Fe] < +1.46, respectively).
Validation of indentation tests on porcine pericardium against uniaxial tensile tests

Heart valve tissue engineering offers a promising alternative for current treatment and replacement strategies. Detailed knowledge of the tissue’s mechanical properties during in vitro mechanical conditioning is important for better understanding and control of the remodeling processes. The nonlinear, anisotropic and inhomogeneous mechanical behavior of heart valve tissue demands a mechanical characterization method that is capable of dealing with these complexities. Indentation tests in combination with finite element models are capable to locally characterize nonlinear soft anisotropic tissue properties. This numerical-experimental approach was successfully validated against uniaxial tensile tests on isotropic PDMS rubbers. In the current study this approach is further validated against uniaxial tensile tests on soft biological tissues. A suitable material for this validation is pericardium, because the anisotropic in plane mechanical behaviour has been well described. Indentation tests as well as uniaxial tensile tests are applied to the same samples of porcine pericardium. Finite element models are used to simulate the uniaxial tensile tests with the data obtained from the indentation tests.
Fiscal redistribution and public support for European integration

This article contributes to existing debates on public opinion toward European integration by examining when and why fiscal transfers and public support are systematically related. Drawing on economic and identity-related theories, we develop and test hypotheses about the links between European Union fiscal transfers among countries and subnational jurisdictions, and citizens’ support for European integration. Using a three-level analysis of residents in 143 regions in 16 European Union member states, we find a positive effect of European Union transfers among both countries and subnational jurisdictions on support for European integration among those with a European communal identity. We also find that this effect increases the more politically aware individuals are. The article sketches the broader implications of our findings for public opinion research on regional integration beyond the European Union.