Progressive distillation diffusion for raw music generation

This paper aims to apply a new deep learning approach to the task of generating raw audio files. It is based on diffusion models, a recent type of deep generative model. This new type of method has recently shown outstanding results with image generation. A lot of focus has been given to those models by the computer vision community. On the other hand, really few have been given for other types of applications such as music generation in waveform domain. In this paper the model for unconditional generating applied to music is implemented: Progressive distillation diffusion with 1D U-Net. Then, a comparison of different parameters of diffusion and their value in a full result is presented. One big advantage of the methods implemented through this work is the fact that the model is able to deal with progressing audio processing and generating , using transformation from 1-channel 128 x 384 to 3-channel 128 x 128 mel-spectrograms and looped generation. The empirical comparisons are realized across different self-collected datasets.Comment: 9 page

Spectroscopic characterization of the oxo-transfer reaction from a bis(µ-oxo)dicopper(III) complex to triphenylphosphine

The oxygen-atom transfer reaction from the bis(µ-oxo)dicopper(III) complex [CuIII2(µ-O)2(L)2]2+1, where L =N,N,N,N -tetraethylethylenediamine, to PPh3 has been studied by UV-vis, EPR, 1H NMR and Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy in parallel at low temperatures (193 K) and above. Under aerobic conditions (excess dioxygen), 1 reacted with PPh3, giving OPPh3 and a diamagnetic species that has been assigned to an oxo-bridged dicopper(II) complex on the basis of EPR and Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopic data. Isotope-labeling experiments (18O2) established that the oxygen atom incorporated into the triphenylphosphine oxide came from both complex 1 and exogenous dioxygen. Detailed kinetic studies revealed that the process is a third-order reaction; the rate law is first order in both complex 1 and triphenylphosphine, as well as in dioxygen. At temperatures above 233 K, reaction of 1 with PPh3 was accompanied by ligand degradation, leading to oxidative N-dealkylation of one of the ethyl groups. By contrast, when the reaction was performed in the absence of excess dioxygen, negligible substrate (PPh3) oxidation was observed. Instead, highly symmetrical copper complexes with a characteristic isotropic EPR signal at g= 2.11 were formed. These results are discussed in terms of parallel reaction channels that are activated under various conditions of temperature and dioxygen

RADIATING PATHOLOGY IN AGRICULTURAL ANIMALS WITH A DISEASED THYROID GLAND

Radioactive iodine is present in atmospheric fallout during the first hours of accidental emissions at nuclear power plants. It causes damage to the thyroid gland of varying severity. As a result of lesions with radioactive iodine, pathological changes develop in the thyroid gland, which can affect the productive indicators and reproduction of farm animals. Physiological changes are also diagnosed in animals that do not receive a sufficient amount of iodine compound with food or water. This can lead to pathology of the thyroid gland. Studies of the pathology of the thyroid gland should be carried out on the basis of structural modeling methods and data obtained experimentally. Analysis of the comparison of pathological effects allows to systematize information and use it in scientific and practical purposes. Depending on the intensity and duration of external and internal radiation exposure in farm animals acute or chronic radiation diseases can be diagnosed. Farm animals with or without signs of radiation disease of mild severity are left in farms and used for its intended purpose. Long-term effects of radiation can be manifested as temporary or permanent sterility, metabolic and endocrine status disorders, immunodeficiency, increased sensitivity to infectious diseases, the emergence of tumors. Monitoring of the radiological situation on the territory of the livestock complex is of particular importance, as its products are transported to different regions. Livestock products must meet regulatory requirements. Timely and full implementation of general and specific rules in the field of radiation safety is aimed at ensuring the safety of animals and preserving the quality of animal products

PROTEIN ENGINEERING APPROACHES TO IMPROVING DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CANDIDA ALBICANS INFECTIONS

Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause infections that range from mild rashes to life-threatening bloodstream infections. The antifungal drug resistance of some Candida strains and the deficiencies in the current methods used to identify infection-causing species call for improvements in treatment and diagnosis of Candida infections. Towards improving therapeutics, the antimicrobial peptide histatin 5 (Hst-5) was studied. Hst-5 is a salivary peptide with strong antifungal activity against C. albicans. However, the pathogen produces a family of secreted aspartic proteases (Saps), some of which can degrade and inactivate Hst-5. Of the family, Sap2 and Sap9 have been previously shown to degrade Hst-5. Variants of Hst-5 with one or two amino acid substitutions were designed and tested to evaluate the effect on the proteolysis of the peptide by the Saps. The results showed that even a single amino acid substitution results in a significant reduction or enhancement of proteolysis by Saps. The K17R and K17L modifications led to significantly enhanced resistance to proteolysis to both Saps. The substitutions also had site-, residue-, and Sap-dependent effects and the proteases have preferences for certain amino acids at the substitution sites, such as leucine at the 13th residue by Sap9. The substitutions affect not only the cleavage at the substitution sites but also the degradation of the peptide as a whole. Some of the modifications (K11R, E16R, E16L) also led to enhanced antifungal activity. Furthermore, combination of two modifications (K11R-K17R) resulted in a peptide with both enhanced proteolytic resistance to Saps and enhanced antifungal activity, demonstrating its potential as an alternative therapeutic. Towards improving diagnostics, a purification-free method to immobilize single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies was developed. Two biotinylation tags—the biotin carboxyl carrier protein or the AviTag minimal sequence—were genetically fused to scFvs to allow for in vivo, site-specific biotinylation by endogenous Escherichia coli biotin ligases during protein expression. scFvs with different frameworks and antigens were all successfully immobilized directly from cell lysates onto streptavidin-coated plates, and the immobilized scFvs maintained their functionality for over 100 days at 4 °C. The simplicity and robustness of this method make it a suitable approach to create diagnostic arrays and could be used to capture and identify Candida infections

ROLE OF INFORMAL ASSESSMENT IN IMPROVING STUDENTS` REFLECTION

Purpose. The article is devoted to various methods of informal assessment and their potential for developing students’ reflective skills. The authors analyze different theories and approaches to reflective learning in order to design tools for enhancing students’ reflective abilities. Methodology. The data obtained through the research are evaluated and interpreted on the basis of the descriptive approach. The authors also adopt the reflective-activity approach for designing a set of reflective statements. Results. The authors study the main features of informal assessment, compare and contrast them with the forms of formal assessment pointing out that new approaches to assessment such as Learning Oriented Assessment (LOA) should be adopted in order to promote learning, motivate students and encourage their autonomy. Special attention is given to feedback as an LOA component, which correlates with the concept of reflective learning. The authors analyze various theories of reflective learning and design a system of reflective statement, which could be used as a means of practical development of students’ reflective abilities. Practical implications. The results of the research can be applied in teaching practice of various disciplines at higher educational establishments

2-Hydroxy­imino-N′-[1-(2-pyrid­yl)ethyl­idene]propanohydrazide

The title compound, C10H12N4O2, features an intra­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bond formed between the imine NH and oxime N atoms. The oxime group and the amide C=O bond are anti to each other. In the crystal, mol­ecules are connected by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into supra­molecular zigzag chains along the c axis

Innovative concept of synergetic air traffic management under polyconflicts

A new concept of the synthesis of a synergetic regulator for the control of difficult multidimensional aircraft in polyconflict conditions is offered in the article. The basic idea of control synthesis is the use of self-organization properties of real physical systems for the formation of algorithms for the synergetic regulator operation. This approach allows solving the problem of the high dimensionality of the regulator for aircraft in polyconflict conditions and provides aircraft control in real time. The synergetic approach offered by the authors allows minimising the expenditure of energy for conflict avoidance between aircraft and supports the guaranteed safety level of their motion

(2E)-2-Hydroxy­imino-N′-[(E)-2-pyridyl­methyl­ene]propanohydrazide

In the title compound, C9H10N4O2, the pyridine ring is twisted by 16.5 (1)° from the mean plane defined by the remaining non-H atoms. An intra­molecular N—H⋯N inter­action is present. In the crystal, inter­molecular O—H⋯N and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link mol­ecules into layers parallel to the bc plane. The crystal packing exhibits π–π inter­actions indicated by the short distance of 3.649 (1) Å between the centroids of the pyridine rings of neighbouring mol­ecules

Possibilities of 3D printer Rapidshape D30 for manufacturing of cubic samples

The purpose of the present paper is to establish experimentally the possibilities of the 3D printer Rapidshape D30 for the manufacturing of standard cubic samples from different types of monomers and to evaluate their geometrical accuracy and roughness.Standard cubic samples with dimensions 5mm х 5mm х 5mm were printed from all the materials, given by the producer, in two ways of dimensional orientation according to the base – horizontally and inclined at 45о. They were manufactured with 3D printer Rapidshape D30, working on a stereolithography principle with LED light.It was established that:❖❖ The samples, made of NextDent Surgical Guide, have the highest dimensional accuracy and the lowest deviation interval in both ways of placement. This polymer is characterized with the highest thickness of the polymerization layer – 0.100 mm, but it is transparent, thus ensuring the entire polymerization throughout the depth of the whole layer. NextDent C+B, intended for manufacturing of temporary crowns and bridges, occupies a middle position in comparison to the other 6 materials.❖❖ Nearly in all the materials the surface roughness of the cube with horizontal placement is lower than that of the cube printed inclined (average values of Ra 0.46-2.69μm and Ra 1.74-2.77, respectively).❖❖ In 3D printing the surface roughness depends on the thickness of the polymerization layer and the inclination to the printing direction. The thicker the polymerization layer and the larger the slope, the higher the surface roughness