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Black Murmur
No full textBackground: Noise is often treated as unwanted in sound studies. In Schafer’s World Soundscape Project (1977), the composer contrasts ‘natural’ Hi-Fi with noisy Lo-Fi soundscapes. But Augoyard and Torgue (2005) challenge this view and remind us, other cultures may not see noise as disturbance. The project framework asks, what happens when a society is stripped of its sounds, its voices, rituals, and daily noise. Does a society still speak? When expression fades, does silence take over—or does something else begin to resonate? Questions of socio-cultural heritage and modernisation rise in the process. Contribution: Black Murmur, a sound installation outcome developed as part of my PhD research project More-Than-Noise, explores how meaning emerges not through clarity or signal, but through vibration, affect, and shared presence (Nancy 2007). It was created from a field recording session under a suspended motorway bridge in the jungle, where I played electric guitar and listened to the surrounding birds' response, passing motorbikes, the echo of the unfinished infrastructure. The work doesn’t separate human expression from environmental sound or treat noise as just disruption. It suggests that listening isn’t only about hearing the sounds around us more presently, but the way we attune to them. Blending sound art and acoustic ecology, this practice responds to Vietnam’s rapidly changing sonic environments. Through field recording, live performance, and environmental interaction, the work doesn’t just document the sonic—it engages with it directly through noise poetics. Significance: The creative work explores how a simple, situated act—playing open space for listening differently. The project invites the audience to think about sound as more than just what is heard, but as a way to connect with place, ecology, and cultural presence. Its significance lies in how it repositions environmental noise as something more-than-unwanted, creating space for a more open and inclusive way of listening. </p
Genome language modeling (GLM): a beginner’s cheat sheet
No full textIntegrating genomics with diverse data modalities has the potential to revolutionize personalized medicine. However, this integration poses significant challenges due to the fundamental differences in data types and structures. The vast size of the genome necessitates transformation into a condensed representation containing key biomarkers and relevant features to ensure interoperability with other modalities. This commentary explores both conventional and state-of-the-art approaches to genome language modeling (GLM), with a focus on representing and extracting meaningful features from genomic sequences. We focus on the latest trends of applying language modeling techniques on genomics sequence data, treating it as a text modality. Effective feature extraction is essential in enabling machine learning models to effectively analyze large genomic datasets, particularly within multimodal frameworks. We first provide a step-by-step guide to various genomic sequence preprocessing and tokenization techniques. Then we explore feature extraction methods for the transformation of tokens using frequency, embedding, and neural network-based approaches. In the end, we discuss machine learning (ML) applications in genomics, focusing on classification, regression, language processing algorithms, and multimodal integration. Additionally, we explore the role of GLM in functional annotation, emphasizing how advanced ML models, such as Bidirectional encoder representations from transformers, enhance the interpretation of genomic data. To the best of our knowledge, we compile the first end-to-end analytic guide to convert complex genomic data into biologically interpretable information using GLM, thereby facilitating the development of novel data-driven hypotheses.</p
The Other City
No full textBackgroundMotorbike travel is central to the experience of Ho Chi Minh City. It is more than a mode of transport; it is a fundamental part of the city's pulse, shaping how people interact with their environment. Typically, a passenger on a motorbike looks forward, their gaze framed by the edges of the driver’s helmet. The Other City shifts focus to an alternative view: the peripheral vision, the overlooked side glances that capture fleeting yet telling moments of urban life. This embodied filmmaking process aligns with my practice led research methodology, that has been developed through the river cities project. The film ‘Dust and Metal’ by Ester Johnson celebrates the motorbike as having liberated rural communities and women in particular, and in doing so reveals the importance of the motorbike in the culture of Vietnam.ContributionThis film foregrounds the peripheral view, positioning it as the central subject of exploration. In doing so, it acknowledges the ephemeral and often intangible qualities that define urban experience. Filming HCMC in this way, establishes an important set of relations that are formed through the unique temporal and spatial relationship between the motorbike and the city spaces. On a motorbike you are exposed to the shifting qualities of space, in the city, and you become part of the atmospheric experience. This film uses post-production as a tool to reveal the experiential in the sequences, revealing a sensory experience for the audience.SignificanceThis film, emerged through a project that is looking at the Te canal as a lens to explore different sensorial properties of the HCMC. By filming a motorbike journey over the canal and around the neighborhood, this film contributes to a body of knowledge on the this part of the city. Through the process of post-production the films reframe the peripheral vision as a primary mode of understanding the city, and builds on the ephemeral and intangible as important mediums of understanding the city.</p
On-ground slabs using carpet fibre-reinforced Concrete: Comparative life cycle environmental and cost assessment with recycling pathways
No full textCarpet fibre reinforced concrete (CFRC) presents an environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional concrete by integrating post-consumer carpet waste, diverting material from landfills while enhancing mechanical performance—particularly by reducing shrinkage cracking and improving durability. Despite this promise, limited research has explored the life cycle environmental and economic performance of CFRC. This study conducts a comprehensive cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with open-loop recycling and Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) for CFRC in on-ground slab applications under Australian conditions, benchmarked against control concrete and steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC). Using a consistent functional unit and system boundary, the results reveal that CFRC has the lowest environmental impact across all midpoint impact categories, including an 8.6 % reduction in Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared to SFRC. Parallel cost analysis shows CFRC also offers the lowest life cycle cost—26.5 % lower than control concrete and 13.2 % lower than SFRC. Although the initial production cost is slightly higher than normal concrete, long-term savings are primarily driven by reduced maintenance needs. The financial feasibility analysis further confirms CFRC's economic potential, with a Net Present Value (NPV) of A$4.01 million and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 87.8 %. While CFRC shows only modest environmental differences from the control mix, it delivers downstream cost savings and diverts carpet waste from landfill. This study presents the first combined LCA and LCCA of CFRC under Australian conditions, demonstrating that even small environmental gains, when coupled with substantial economic benefits, can support the adoption of waste-based concrete. Overall, the results highlight CFRC as a financially attractive option for manufacturers. Advantages stemming largely from reduced maintenance requirements over the service life.</p
Culinary Narratives and Emotional Landscapes: Food as a Metaphor for Human Relationships in Tran Anh Hung’s Cinema
No full textThis paper explores the intricate relationship between culinary narratives and emotional landscapes in the films of Tran Anh Hung, focusing on how food serves as a powerful metaphor for human relationships. By analyzing six of his films—The Scent of Green Papaya (Tran, 1993), Cyclo (Tran, 1995), The Vertical Ray of the Sun (Tran, 2000), Norwegian</p
800 Series
No full text800 series is a collection of 18 sequences capturing details in HCMC street market.</p
Designs for Computer Experiments: Constructions and Properties
No full textComputer experiments have become an indispensable tool in modern scientific research, providing a flexible, cost-effective, and safe alternative to physical experimentation. They allow researchers to investigate complex systems, assess multiple factors simultaneously, and explore scenarios that may be impractical or unsafe to replicate in real life. In contrast, physical experiments often require substantial time and financial resources and can be limited by practical or ethical restrictions. The efficiency, repeatability, and broad applicability of computer experiments make them an increasingly attractive choice in fields such as engineering, applied sciences, and data analysis. Within this context, we develop new design constructions that advance the field of computer experiments.This thesis is guided by three research objectives: (1) to propose novel Orthogonal Designs for Computer Experiments (ODCEs), (2) to develop new Sliced Orthogonal Designs for Computer Experiments (SODCEs), and (3) to compare these newly constructed designs with existing methods in the literature. Together, these objectives capture the novelty of our contributions to the design of computer experiments.The first chapter introduces the fundamental concepts of the Design of Experiments (DoE), defining key terms such as factors, levels, treatments, and responses, and explaining the core principles, including randomization, replication, and blocking. The chapter highlights the distinction between physical and computer experiments, underlining the advantages of the latter in terms of cost, flexibility, and scalability. The scope and significance of the research are also described, outlining how this work contributes to the creation of more effective and practical designs for computer experiments.The second chapter reviews the background and development of various experimental designs. It begins with traditional approaches such as one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT), factorial, fractional factorial, Latin square, and Graeco–Latin square designs. The focus then shifts to designs for computer experiments, particularly Latin hypercube designs (LHDs) and sliced Latin hypercube designs (SLHDs), discussing their construction methods, strengths, and limitations. The chapter also examines other designs that have been adapted or specifically developed to enhance the accuracy and practicality of computer-based studies.The third chapter lays the technical foundation for the proposed constructions. It discusses the polynomial regression models and their relationship to design matrices, then explores mathematical tools such as autocorrelation functions (periodic and non-periodic), circulant matrices, and structured arrays such as Goethals-Seidel and Kharaghani arrays. A major emphasis is placed on sequence families with zero autocorrelation, T-sequences, Base sequences, Golay sequences, and disjoint amicable sequences, which are central to generating efficient and highly structured experimental designs. The fold-over technique is also discussed as a means of enhancing symmetry and orthogonality in the resulting designs.In the fourth chapter, we develop our new design, called "Orthogonal Designs for Computer Experiments (ODCEs). This part of the research has been published in Applied Numerical Mathematics(see Appendix A). The method combines T-sequences(and other sequences converted to T-sequences) with circulant matrices, Goethals–Seidel arrays, and the fold-over technique to create designs with strong structural properties. The resulting ODCEs achieve full orthogonality not only between main effects and second-order terms but also between odd- and even-order interaction effects. This improves clarity and reduces confounding in model estimation. The approach supports a wide range of run sizes and factor combinations, while avoiding exhaustive search procedures and the reliance on rare sequence types. The designs are easy to generate, efficient to use, and adaptable to various experimental needs. The proposed ODCE is also evaluated and compared with selected existing designs from the literature to highlight its performance and advantages.In the fifth chapter, we contribute to the field of computer experiments by developing the first infinite families of Sliced Orthogonal Designs for Computer Experiments (SODCEs). Our newly constructed designs are presented here for the first time. These designs extend and generalize the concept of Sliced Latin Hypercube Designs (SLHDs). This new design ensures that orthogonality is maintained throughout the full design and within every slice. Each slice is a smaller ODCE, making the designs suitable for step-by-step experimentation and multi-stage studies. The construction uses T-sequences, Golay sequences, and disjoint amicable sequences, allowing flexible parameter choices and broad applicability in scientific and engineering studies. The proposed SODCE is evaluated and compared with existing sliced designs from the literature to demonstrate its effectiveness and practical benefits.The final chapter provides a concluding review of the thesis. It summarizes the work presented in each chapter and highlights the main contributions of the new constructions ODCE and SODCE. It shows their practical strengths and applicability in computer experiments. It also outlines some future work in the areas covered in this thesis.</p
Understanding Chemoresistance in High-Grade Serous Carcinoma
No full textHigh-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), accounting for approximately 90% of all epithelial ovarian cancer cases, is the most lethal gynaecological malignancy due to the lack of early diagnosis and acquired drug resistance. HGSC primarily spreads through the peritoneal cavity partly via cancer spheroids, which derive from cellular aggregates of tumor cells that have detached from the primary sites and became suspended the in peritoneal fluid (ascites); these cancer spheroids are known to also play important roles in HGSC chemoresistance, but the molecular mechanisms are not well understood. High expression of podocalyxin (PODXL), a large transmembrane protein, has been associated with a significant decrease in disease-free survival in HGSC patients, however, the underlying reasons remain unclear. Recent studies by our laboratory and others have discovered an important intrinsic function of PODXL in safeguarding barrier functions in epithelial and endothelial cells. It was thus hypothesized that the barrier protecting function of PODXL may play an important role in enabling HGSC cells to form robust and compact cancer spheroids that are able to evade chemotherapy and immune surveillance. Therefore, removing/lowering PODXL may sensitize these spheroids to chemotherapy drugs and immune cells. This thesis aimed to provide experimental evidence to support or refute these hypotheses. The first aim of this thesis, Chapter 2, investigated the functional importance of PODXL in promoting chemoresistance of HGSC spheroids. The study first confirmed PODXL expression in HGSC patient tissues (n=17) and various ovarian cancer cell lines (a total of 28 different lines). Next, Kuramochi cells, a HGSC cell line expressing the highest level of PODXL among HGSC cancer cell lines, were used as a model and spheroid characteristics were investigated by knockout (KO) of PODXL via CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing; key features observed here were then examined in primary cancer cells derived from ascites of HGSC patients. No or low PODXL expression impacted spheroid characteristics by significantly reducing their compactness while increasing fragility; importantly these spheroids were more sensitive to the chemotherapy drug carboplatin, resulting in fewer live and proliferating cells following exposure to carboplatin, whereas spheroids with high PODXL showed greater survival against carboplatin. These data thus provided in vitro evidence that PODXL promotes the formation of compact and chemoresistant HGSC spheroids. The second aim of this thesis, Chapter 3, investigated whether PODXL may also influence HGSC spheroid susceptibility to NK cell infiltration and cytotoxicity, using control/PODXL-KO Kuramochi cells as well as ascites-derived primary HGSC cells. HGSC spheroids were co-cultured with primary NK cells isolated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the impact on the spheroids were assessed over time. Following co-culture with NK cells, spheroids expressing no or lower levels of PODXL endured more NK cell infiltration and cytotoxicity, while spheroids with higher PODXL were more resistant to NK cell infiltration and showed higher proliferation. These data suggest that PODXL may also play an important role in aiding immune evasion of HGSC spheroids, at least partly by conferring resistance to NK cell infiltration and the related cytotoxicity. The third aim of this thesis, Chapter 4, explored clinically applicable approaches that may down-regulate PODXL to sensitize HGSC spheroids to carboplatin and NK cell infiltration. Progesterone, a steroid hormone widely used as a medication in women’s health, was recently reported to down-regulate PODXL in endometrial epithelial cells. This study thus utilized the Kuramochi cell line (wildtype only) as a HGSC model and examined whether progesterone could lower PODXL to make Kuramochi spheroids more vulnerable to chemotherapy drugs and infiltration by NK cells. Progesterone was found to be able to significantly reduce PODXL in Kuramochi cells, and Kuramochi spheroids that were pre-treated with progesterone were more sensitive to carboplatin. Furthermore, progesterone-treated spheroids also exhibited higher NK cell infiltration and worse cytotoxicity than control spheroids. These in vitro data thus advocate the potential utility of progesterone as an adjunct treatment to improve clinical outcomes of HGSC expressing high levels of PODXL. Lastly, the fourth aim, Chapter 5, initiated studies towards understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning the above observed role of PODXL in HGSC by RNAseq analysis of control and PODXL-KO Kuramochi cells. Preliminary analysis of the RNAseq data indicated several differently expressed genes that are involved in cell-cell junction, cell proliferation and drug resistance which may partly explain the spheroid characteristics observed throughout the studies of this thesis, but further research is needed to complete this line of enquiry. In summary, this thesis provides new evidence that high PODXL expression in HGSC correlates with the formation of compact and hardy cancer spheroids, and that removal/lowering of PODXL can increase HGSC spheroid sensitivity to carboplatin and NK cells. Furthermore, using Kuramochi cell line as a model, the study indicates that progesterone may lower PODXL levels in HGSC to render cancer spheroids more vulnerable to carboplatin and NK cells, suggesting the potential benefit of progesterone as an adjunct medication to improve clinical outcomes of some HGSC patients.</p
Examining the Impact of Duration in Short- and Medium-Term Study Abroad: A Mixed-Methods Study
No full textUniversities are increasingly enhancing their study abroad programmes to boost students’ employability skill development. Study abroad is vital for fostering leadership, management, and life skills through strategically crafted international education experiences. Despite its popularity, there is limited understanding of how duration affects the development of employability skills, such as adaptability on study abroad. This study helps to addresses this gap by assessing the socio-cultural and psychological adaptability of students before and after participating in short- or medium-term study abroad at two different international destinations. A mixed-methods approach was utilised to explore both quantitative and qualitative student response data that was collected pre- and post-study abroad experience over a 4-year period. The findings reveal that study abroad destination, duration, and the type of in-country learning significantly shape the development of students’ adaptability skills. The results also highlight notable differences in learning outcomes between short- and medium-term study abroad, offering valuable insights in curricular refinement. These insights aid in making informed decisions regarding the incorporation of relevant and suitable learning activities that are tailored to the unique impacts of duration on study abroad. The findings from this study are particularly pertinent given the ongoing disruptions and impacts on internationalising curricular, further complicated by rising travel costs, accommodation expenses, perceived, potential, and actual risks. These challenges highlight the importance of understanding the affects of duration on study abroad for short- and medium-term programmes, namely adaptability.</p
Adenovirus-Based Single-Dose Vaccines for SARS-CoV-2: A Review
No full textThe severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak has many unexpected implications, but the scientific community remains optimistic about overcoming these obstacles. Adenoviruses (Ad) are considered the most suitable vectors for transferring specific antigens to mammalian cells since they can induce both innate and adaptive immune responses. Ad-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). vaccines were granted emergency use authorization in the COVID-19 pandemic. Many features of the Ad vector render it an appealing vaccine carrier for contagious diseases, including high titer, ease of processing, high effectiveness, low immunogenicity in clinical trials, and consistency in pharmaceutical packaging and shipment processes. Ad-based vaccines are generally effective and have few side effects since Ad induces minor infections in humans, and genetic modifications can block viral replication. These single-dose vaccines are effective not only in young individuals but also in adults. Clinical trials of these single-dose vaccines are commendable and have shown excellent safety and efficacy profiles. This review provides a summary of the development of single-dose vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.</p