Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancing meniscus repair through biomaterial design

The knee meniscus is prone to damage, which leads to pain and inhibits mobility in the joint long term. Due to the minimal vascularity, low cellularity and large mechanical forces imparted on the meniscus with normal use, endogenous repair is limited. Resection of the damaged region of the tissue (meniscectomy) remains the most common treatment for a torn meniscus, but this procedure results in cartilage degradation and other adverse changes in the knee joint. Given the prevalence of meniscus damage, there is thus a pressing need for novel approaches to meniscus repair. To address this issue, this thesis developed in vitro techniques to analyze the time-varying properties of the aging meniscus, and to address how the meniscus repair interface might be modulated through the use of growth factors. Further, electrospun scaffolds were designed to replicate key architectures of the native tissue while providing controlled release of biologic factors. Our findings demonstrated marked biological, biochemical, and structural changes in meniscus with age. These findings pointed to key factors that could play a role in meniscus integration (ie repair) capacity after meniscus injury; these factors were evaluated in the context of meniscus repair using a mechanical in vitro model. To address situations where substantial meniscus tissue would be removed, we tested the integration capacity of electrospun scaffolds with native tissue and maturation of these scaffolds in response to growth factor regimens, as well as how changes in scaffold characteristics (i.e. porosity and organization) and cell seeding techniques influence integration potential. Finally, we developed novel techniques to deliver bioactive growth factors and other molecules from components of electrospun scaffolds, including entrapped microspheres, with distinct release profiles. These novel, bioactive scaffolds were utilized to orchestrate complex regenerative signaling cascades from the scaffolds, with demonstration of efficacy via improved vascular density in an in vivo model. This work provides new approaches for the treatment of meniscus tears using novel electrospun materials, bringing us one step closer to new clinical options for meniscus repair. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Bioengineering First Advisor Dr. Robert Mauck Second Advisor Dr. Jason Burdick Third Advisor Dr. Brian Sennett This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn. edu/edissertations/436
Differences in Dietary Patterns among the Polish Elderly: A Challenge for Public Health

The aim of the study was to assess the diversity of dietary patterns within the elderly, in relation to the region of residence, household structure, and socioeconomic status. The questionnaire was conducted in a group of 427 Polish adults aged 60 and older from June to September 2019. The sample was selected by means of the snowball method in two regions. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to extract and identify three dietary patterns (factors) from the frequency of eating 32 groups of foods. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the identified dietary patterns (DPs), region, household status, and socioeconomic index (SES). Adherence to the identified DPs, i.e., traditional, prudent, and adverse, was associated with socioeconomic status (SES) and living environment, i.e., living alone, with partner, or with family, while the region did not differentiate them. Less people living with their family were characterized by the frequent consumption of traditional food (the upper tertile of this DP), while more of them often consumed food that was typical for both prudent and adverse DPs (the upper tertiles of these DPs). The presence of a partner when living with family did not differentiate the adherence to DPs. A high SES decreased the chances of adhering to the upper tertiles of the “prudent” and “traditional” DPs, while living with family increased the chances of adhering to both the upper and middle tertiles of the “prudent” DP. Identifying the dietary patterns of the elderly contributes to a better understanding of the food intake of the senior citizens living in different social situations, in order to support public policies and nutritional counseling among this age group.
A Prototype BEA/BLS Industry-Level Production Account for the United States

N RECENT YEARS, structural changes at the indus­ try level in the United States and their implications for competitiveness have emerged as important eco­ nomic issues. The most recent business cycle and sub­ sequent recovery in particular led to heightened interest in understanding the sources of economic growth, including output, input, and multifactor pro­ ductivity (MFP) growth across all industries in the U.S. economy. To better understand the sources of economic growth, productivity statistics integrated with gross domestic product (GDP) statistics have long been sought as a rich source of information for policy mak­ ers, business analysts, and economists. The usefulness of such integrated statistics on the sources of growth within the framework of the U.S. national income and product accounts (NIPAs) was first presented by Jor­ genson and Landefeld (2006) in A New Architecture for the U.S. National Accounts. In that same volume, Frau­ meni, Harper, Powers, and Yuskavage (2006) estab­ lished the groundwork for a collaboration by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to create a production account. Since 2010, the two agencies have been working to­ ward creating a prototype production account. This Research Spotlight summarizes a lengthier, more de­ tailed report on the prototype integrated production account that was recently published on the BEA Web site. The initial results of the prototype account show the following:
Quantification of constant stiffness force-shortening model parameters for vehicles tested under United States side impact protocols

Abstract This study presents a methodology for deriving all coefficients of the constant stiffness force-shortening model for the sides of vehicles tested under the United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 214 dynamic and high-speed lateral New Car Assessment Program tests. The method utilizes the a priori known moving deformable barrier configuration and velocity vector at impact as a constraint for the momentum transfer that occurs between the collision partners. The zonal force balance method is then used to reduce the global momentum exchange relationships to solve for the damage onset speed for the geometrically reduced and structurally homogenized two-dimensional model for the test vehicle. The calculated damage onset speed is then used in conjunction with the dimensional properties, inertial properties and the shortening profiles of the collision partners in conjunction with the known model coefficients for the moving deformable barrier in order to solve for the Campbell linear stiffness and the CRASH3 stiffness coefficients.
Cultivating the Niche: A Study of the Origins and Consequences of Standards-Based Certification Organizations in the U.S. Organic Food Industry - Executive Summary

This three-paper dissertation examines the origins of standards-based certification organizations (SBCOs), their impact on regulatory structure, and their influence on market entry and exit rates in the U.S. organic food industry.The first paper develops a typology of SBCOs and then quantitatively assesses what conditions led to the founding of distinctive SBCO forms in U.S. states. Findings from this paper suggest that standards initially served as a "fence" that established a boundary around the concept of organic but which subsequently served as a "gate" by which industry outsiders entered the organic industry, significantly altering the trajectory of the market.The second paper examines how different SBCO forms influence variation and evolution in the content of industry law. The results of this paper provide answers to questions of when and under what conditions private governance organizations influence variation and evolution of industry regulation.The third paper examines how SBCOs influence patterns of market entry and exit of organic producers. Findings from this paper show that SBCOs stimulate entry into the market and that the certification they provide to individual firms inhibits market exit and moderates the competitive effects of increasing form density.
FAKTOR INTERNAL DAN EKSTERNAL TERHADAP KEPUTUSAN PEMBELIAN TELEPON SELULAR MERK NOKIA

Abstract: This study aims to identify and analyze how big the influence of internal factors (perceptions, attitudes, lifestyle, personality) and external factors (cultural, social, reference, situation) on consumer purchasing decisions. This research is analytic research is research that uses inferential statistics to test hypotheses. Analysis tools using a statistical method of multiple linear regression analysis. Data obtained from respondents as many as 223 students. Results of that study, all independent variables were studied simultaneously and has a partial influence on purchasing decisions on mobile phones. Purchasing decisions, internal factors and external factors affect by 27.2%, while the remaining 72.8% were not influenced by other Key words : internal factors, external factors, purchasing decisions
High-resolution modeling of glacier mass balance and surface runoff in western Norway driven by bias-corrected climate forcing

Abstract. Western Norway hosts many glacierized drainage basins with complex terrain and local climate. These drainage basins face challenges related to long-term planning of hydropower production and flood risk mitigation under global warming. To enable forward vision of such efforts, bias-corrected outputs from state-of-the-art regional climate models and reanalysis provide climatic forcing for impact simulations. We utilize a distributed, process-based snow evolution model with a daily temporal and 100 m × 100 m spatial resolution to investigate the applicability of different bias-corrected climate forcing data for multidecadal reconstructions of glacier surface mass balance and surface runoff regimes in western Norway. These simulations are driven by climatic forcing from the bias-corrected NORA10 hindcast in 2000–2014, which has been produced specifically for western Norway and treated as a benchmark dataset, as well as ten bias-corrected and uncorrected CORDEX outputs under different Representative Concentration Pathway scenarios in 2000–2020. Downscaled drainage basin-wide air temperature, precipitation and glacier-wide surface mass balance are then validated against observations. The variables mentioned above produced by the benchmark simulation match available observations well. The mean annual surface mass balance of glaciers in most glacierized basins is negative in 2001–2014, and its evolution is mainly correlated with trends in annual snowfall. There is a general negative west to east gradient in seasonal and annual unit area runoff, which peaks between 2005 and 2008 in most drainage basins. Snow meltwater is the largest contributor to both seasonal and annual runoff in all drainage basins except for two of the westernmost ones. Drainage basins with denser glacier coverage turn out to have a later peak runoff discharge date. The correction applied to the CORDEX forcing reversed the cold bias in the original datasets, while the agreement between bias-corrected and observed precipitation rates varies strongly from basin to basin. As a result, simulations driven by bias-corrected CORDEX datasets produce lower annual surface mass balance in the most and least glacierized drainage basins, i.e., Basin 1 and 17, respectively. They all produce more unit area runoff in Basin 1 and less in Basin 17 both seasonally and annually, with only a few exceptions. We conclude that the identified errors will likely be inherited by the results of the future projections, casting doubts on the applicability of bias-corrected CORDEX forcing to directly drive local scale projections and the modeled outputs in developing climate change adaptation strategies.
An analytical probabilistic approach to sizing flood control detention facilities

Flood control detention facilities have been traditionally designed using the design storm approach. Because of the deficiencies associated with the design storm approach, continuous simulation using long‐term historical rainfall data has been recommended for the planning and design of these facilities in order to examine the performance of the system under a wide range of meteorological and hydrological conditions. An analytical probabilistic approach is presented as a computationally efficient alternative to continuous simulation. In this approach the probability distribution of the peak outflow rate from a detention facility servicing an urban catchment is derived from the probability distribution of the rainfall event characteristics that generate the runoff received by the detention facility. These derived mathematical expressions are used to determine analytically the storage‐discharge relationship required for a detention facility to achieve the desired level of flood control. Comparison with long‐term continuous simulation modeling demonstrates that the closed‐form mathematical expressions of the analytical probabilistic approach provide reasonable approximation of the continuous simulation results. The analytical probabilistic approach overcomes some of the conceptual problems of the design storm approach and is therefore proposed for the planning and design of flood control detention facilities.
Characterization of the hydrodynamic structure of a 3D acoustic fluidized bed

xi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Motivation . 1 1.2 Objectives . 3 1.3 Overview . 3 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW . 5 2.1 Fluidization . 5 2.1.1 Fluidized Beds . 5 2.1.2 Fluidization Regimes . 8 2.1.3 Fluidized Bed Hydrodynamics. 10 2.1.3.1 Minimum Fluidization Velocity . 10 2.1.3.2 Gas Holdup . 13 2.1.3.3 Jetting Phenomena . 14 2.1. 4 Vibration Effects on Fluidized Bed Hydrodynamics . 16 2.1. 4.1 Mechanical Vibrations . 17 2.1. 4.2 Acoustic Vibrations . 18 2.2 Fluidized Bed Hydrodynamics: Measurement Techniques . 21 2.2.1 Noninvasive Measurement Techniques . 21 2.2.2.1 X-Ray Computed Tomography. 23 2.3 Summary . 27 CHAPTER 3: EXPERIMENTAL SETUP . 28 3.1 Equipment . 28
The Impact of Corporate Governance on the Capital Structure of Companies from the Energy Industry. The Case of Poland

The energy sector is expected to face fundamental challenges in the near future. On the one hand, it is experiencing a rapidly increasing demand for energy. At the same time, it is subject to the pressure of the climate policy due to environmental issues. For the same reason, the energy sector is forced to undertake costly investments to transform production from black to green energy. The issue of financing has become one of the key problems of the energy sector, especially in those countries in which energy production traditionally is based on fossil fuels, i.e., coal. The paper aims to investigate the impact of corporate governance on the capital structure of companies from the energy industry. We use three proxies of corporate governance quality: institutional investors, the board size, and state ownership and investigate their impact on capital structure. Our findings suggest that the latter two negatively impact debt levels. In our model, we control for financial factors and CEO personal characteristics. We use a Polish setting since transformational problems of the energy sector in Poland are especially visible. At the same time, energy companies in Poland are subject to the strict EU climate policy.
Acute mild gallstone pancreatitis: timing of cholecystectomy

Background: Cholecystectomy is essential to prevent recurrent attacks of mild acute gallstone pancreatitis, but the precise timing of cholecystectomy remains a subject of ongoing debate. The aim of this study is to address the optimal timing of cholecystectomy in patients with mild acute gallstone pancreatitis.Methods: From September 2013 to September 2018, patients with mild acute gallstone pancreatitis were prospectively randomized to either an early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) versus a delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC) group. Recurrent biliary complications, success and failure rate, difficulty of cholecystectomy, operative time, cholecystectomy related complications, length of admission between the two groups were evaluated.Results: A total of 80 patients were randomized to the ELC (41 patients) and to the DLC group (39 patients). There were a statistically significant differences in the total length of hospital stay and recurrent biliary events (4.5±1.1 vs. 7.4±2.6 days, p<0.01 and 4.9% vs. 41%, p<0.001; respectively). There were no differences regarding success and failure rate, difficulty of cholecystectomy, operative time, cholecystectomy related complications, and length of index admission between both groups.Conclusions: In mild gallstone pancreatitis, ELC results in a shorter overall hospital stay with a significant reduction in the recurrent biliary events with no apparent impact on the safety and technical difficulty of the procedure or perioperative complication rate.
Top-Down and Bottom-Up Processes in Driver Behavior at Roundabouts and Crossroads

This paper is a response by the original authors to issues raised in commentaries on their earlier article, "Car drivers' adjustments to cyclists at roundabouts," also in this journal. In the original article, the authors focused on the safety aspects of the design of roundabouts (traffic circles) and concluded the article with design recommendations. The general theoretical aspects of driver behavior and visual search, although implicit in the background throughout the article, were given a secondary role, and a comprehensive model was not the goal. The commentaries collectively suggested that the original authors outline a more explicit model of driver behavior at bicycle crossings while responding to certain controversial interpretations put forth. These points form the basis of the content of this reply piece.
Biomass, community structure and phosphorus uptake of ectomycorrhizal fungi in response to phosphorus limitation and nitrogen deposition

High levels of nitrogen (N) deposition might result in a transition from N to phosphorus (P) limitation in high latitude forests. Thiscould have fundamental consequences for forest production, nutrient acquisition and nutrient leaching.I studied a Norway spruce forest in a region of high N deposition in southwest Sweden and added N, P or N+P to force thesystem to N or P limitation. I studied tree growth and foliar nutrient concentration. Also, using ingrowth meshbags, I followedectomycorrhizal (EMF) production, foraging for N and P patches (urea and apatite) and community composition.I found that tree production was limited by P. Furthermore, P fertilization reduced EMF production indicating that EMF biomassproduction was stimulated by P-limiting conditions. Apatite had a positive effect on EMF production when the system was Plimited.P fertilization reduced foraging for nutrients by EMF, also for N rich urea. P had a stronger effect on the composition ofEMF communities than N, suggesting that P nutrition had a larger impact on belowground carbon (C) allocation than N in thisecosystem. Furthermore, certain EMF species responded positively to apatite under P limiting conditions, which might haveincreased mobilization of P from this source.To enhance my understanding of P mobilization from different P compounds by EMF, I studied one species, Paxillus involutus,under more controlled conditions in the laboratory. P. involutus is adapted to high N deposition levels and has a documentedcapability to take up P from poorly soluble sources. I found that P. involutus was able to take up P from apatite, P bound togoethite and from phytic acid. Moreover, I found that iron-reducing activity was produced when these sources were providedbut not when the fungus was provided with soluble P (phosphate). One possible interpretation to this result was that iron (Fe)reduction is a way for the fungus to prevent that newly liberated phosphate ions are captured by Fe3+ and became unavailablefor uptake.In conclusion, the high production of EMF found in P-limited forest decline when P is added, probably due to reducedbelowground C allocation when less foraging for P is needed. EMF communities are strongly regulated by P in these forestsand species better adapted for P foraging are probably selected for under these conditions.
Assessing consequences of nuclear material transport sabotage per use of armour piercing weapon

Abstract In order to predict the consequences of a sabotage act directed against a transport of nuclear material, the present paper is an attempt to put together some components of an approach dedicated to the assessment of the release produced when using a perforating or cutting device to spill out the content of the cask. The category of threat studied here is defined especially with regard to its objective: the objective of sabotage is to instantaneously create a radioactive source term capable of polluting a more or less important area including the vicinity of the target. This definition makes the difference with theft or diversion threats where the material is stolen and taken away from where it has been removed. The work accomplished and reported in this paper is in keeping with the general pattern of the multiyear programme of IRSN where the resistances of various casks to various threats are studied. This paper is structured in two parts. In the first part, the authors summarise as a whole the question of estimating the release after perforation and give a short review of past studies on the subject. All this work has motivated the development of an approach. The approach developed and used at IRSN is introduced by the statement of a generic problem. Then the authors identify all the influent parameters which need to be addressed. The most seducing aspect of the approach is the fact that it relies on only five parameters: the five parameters relate to the energy sources capable of moving the material from the inside to the outside, the cask resistance and the release mechanisms and physics. The authors have not included any numerical example in this paper due to the evident sensitivity of such material.
A Theory of Fun for Game Design

Now in full color, the 10th anniversary edition of this classic book takes you deep into the influences that underlie modern video games, and examines the elements they share with traditional games such as checkers. At the heart of his exploration, veteran game designer Raph Koster takes a close look at the concept of fun and why its the most vital element in any game. Why do some games become boring quickly, while others remain fun for years? How do games serve as fundamental and powerful learning tools? Whether youre a game developer, dedicated gamer, or curious observer, this illustrated, fully updated edition helps you understand what drives this major cultural force, and inspires you to take it further. Youll discover that: Games play into our innate ability to seek patterns and solve puzzles Most successful games are built upon the same elements Slightly more females than males now play games Many games still teach primitive survival skills Fictional dressing for modern games is more developed than the conceptual elements Truly creative designers seldom use other games for inspiration Games are beginning to evolve beyond their prehistoric origins