Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expansion and Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Amniotic Fluid Derived Stem Cells

ii Dedication . v Acknowledgments. vi Vita . viii List of Tables . xvii List of Figures . xviii Chapter 1: Introduction and Literature Review . 1 1.1 Cell Culture . 1 1.2 Stem Cells . 2 1.2. 1 Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) . 3 1.2. 2 Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell. 3 1.2. 3 Adult stem cells. 4 1.3 Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells (AFSCs) . 5 1.3. 1 Amniotic fluid (AF) . 5 1.3. 2 Amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs) . 6
The crustal structure of the Arizona Transition Zone and southern Colorado Plateau from multiobservable probabilistic inversion

The Arizona Transition Zone is a narrow band that separates two of the main and most contrasting tectonic provinces in western US, namely the southern Colorado Plateau and the southern Basin and Range provinces. As such, the internal crustal structure and physical state of this transitional zone hold clues for understanding (i) the amalgamation of these provinces, (ii) the partitioning of deformation due to both past and present‐day stress fields, and (iii) the role of thermal versus compositional effects in controlling surface observables. Here we employ and expand a novel multiobservable probabilistic inversion method and jointly invert fundamental mode Rayleigh phase velocities, receiver functions, surface heat flow, geoid height, and absolute elevation to obtain an internally consistent 3‐D model of the temperature, density, Vs, and Vp of the Arizona Transition Zone and the southern portions of the Colorado Plateau and Basin and Range. Our results confirm a significant crustal thickening from ∼28 km in the SW of the Arizona Transition Zone and southern Basin and Range to ∼48 km beneath the southern Colorado Plateau. Inverted temperatures agree well with the location of recent volcanism and indicate that the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary is not deeper than ∼70 km in most of the region. We find that major pre‐Cambrian surface structures and/or shear zones separate crustal domains with distinct bulk properties, suggesting that the juxtaposed crustal blocks still retain, at least in part, their original characteristics. However, widespread intrusions of significant volumes of mafic magmas have affected these blocks at different depths, locally overprinting their original compositions and creating highly heterogeneous crustal sections. A dominant and large‐scale internal crustal pattern of SW dipping planes/structures is evident in our models, coinciding with the orientation of deep faults previously inferred from earthquake focal mechanisms. While we cannot categorically corroborate the presence of melt or aqueous fluids within the crust, our results are compatible with these scenarios beneath some parts of the Basin and Range, the Mogollon‐Datil, and Springerville volcanic fields.
Adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet and its relation with food insecurity and income in a Brazilian population-based sample

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the relation of adherence to the planetary diet with food and nutrition security status and per capita household income in a study with a representative sample of the Brazilian population. Among the data from the 2017-2018 Brazilian Household Budgets Survey (POF), the inequality indicators selected for the analysis were data on per capita household income and food and nutrition security. We also considered data on the individual food consumption of 46,164 Brazilians aged ≥ 10 years, obtained through 24-hour dietary recalls, in the National Food Survey, conducted with the POF 2017-2018. The Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) was used to measure adherence to the planetary diet. Sociodemographic data were expressed as frequency (%), with analysis of the mean and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of the PHDI score. The relation of food and nutrition security and income with the PHDI score was tested in multiple linear regression models. The calculations were performed in the Stata software, adopting a 5% significance. Lower PHDI means were observed among food insecure individuals, male, < 20 years old, mixed-race and indigenous, with income < 0.5 minimum wage, residing in rural areas and in the North and Northeast regions. In the multiple linear regression, food insecurity was inversely related to PHDI score (ꞵ = -0.56; 95%CI: -1.06; -0.06), with the lowest scores associated with severe food insecurity (β = -1.31; 95%CI: -2.19; -0.55). Income categories were not independently associated to PHDI score (p-trend = 0.900). Therefore, food insecurity has been shown to negatively affect Brazilians’ adherence to the planetary diet.
Trends in overweight and obesity in children under 24 months of age in Mexico (2012-2020): analysis of four national health surveys

Abstract: The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased rapidly in Mexico, with significant consequences for the population’s health in the future. Little is known about the prevalence of obesity in children under two years of age, even though this life stage is fundamental to prevent this condition. This study aims to determine the magnitude, distribution, and trends of overweight and obesity in children under 24 months of age using the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Surveys (ENSANUT) conducted in the last 10 years. The data presented here are derived from four ENSANUTs, carried out in Mexico in 2012, 2016, 2018, and 2020. They include 6,719 infants under 24 months with complete anthropometric data (weight/height) by age, gender, Indigeneity, area of residence, and socioeconomic status. The risk of overweight levels and overweight + obesity rates were calculated according to World Health Organization guidelines. We identified that infants < 12 months currently have a higher prevalence of overweight + obesity (10.3%) and that those aged 12 to 23 months are generally at a higher risk of overweight (26.1%). The most relevant findings of this study, linking weight trends to sex, region, socioeconomic status, and indigeneity, show that overweight and obesity prevalences vary across the Mexican population, without presenting a specific behavior. There is a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among Mexican infants and a slight trend toward increased obesity in infants < 12 months. Weight monitoring and obesity prevention interventions focused on the first 1,000 days of life are essential.
Developing a knowledge-reuse tool for automatic tolerancing in product design

Some activities in the Product Development Process (PDP) are repetitive and time consuming, worsen productivity. Time and cost reduction are achievable through increasing the automation level of such activities, e.g., through knowledge reuse acquired on previous projects. Tolerancing is among these activities where the lack of a systematized, automatic process, leads to rework and productivity loss; there is a need to improve the efficiency of this process, based on knowledge from previous projects. Research has been performed with this objective, but normally resulting in sophisticated processes and tools, hard to implement in less developed industries. This research proposes to fill this gap, by developing a tool to support designers during the tolerancing activity, by automatically indicating tolerances for the dimensions the designer wishes to determine, in the context of an industry that designs and produces laundry machines. This challenge was approached following Knowledge-based Engineering and Case Based Reasoning principles. The evaluation phase revealed that the usage of the tool by the designers resulted in a decrease of activity time of execution and improved the performance of tolerance definition.
Electrospinography for non-invasively recording spinal sensorimotor networks in humans

Objective. Currently, few non-invasive measures exist for directly measuring spinal sensorimotor networks. Electrospinography (ESG) is one non-invasive method but is primarily used to measure evoked responses or for monitoring the spinal cord during surgery. Our objectives were to evaluate the feasibility of ESG to measure spinal sensorimotor networks by determining spatiotemporal and functional connectivity changes during single-joint movements at the spinal and cortical levels. Approach. We synchronously recorded electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography, and ESG in ten neurologically intact adults while performing one of three lower-limb tasks (no movement, plantar-flexion and knee flexion) in the prone position. A multi-pronged approach was applied for removing artifacts using H∞ filtering, artifact subspace reconstruction and independent component (IC) analysis. Next, data were segmented by task and ICs of EEG were clustered across participants. Within-participant analysis of ICs and ESG data was conducted, and ESG was characterized in the time and frequency domains. Generalized partial directed coherence analysis was performed within ICs and between ICs and ESG data by participant and task. Results. K-means clustering resulted in five clusters of ICs at Brodmann areas (BAs) 9, BA 8, BA 39, BA 4, and BA 22. Areas associated with motor planning, working memory, visual processing, movement, and attention, respectively. Time-frequency analysis of ESG data found localized changes during movement execution when compared to no movement. Lastly, we found bi-directional changes in functional connectivity (p < 0.05, adjusted for multiple comparisons) within IC’s and between IC’s and ESG sensors during movement when compared to the no movement condition. Significance. To our knowledge this is the first report using high density ESG for characterizing single joint lower limb movements. Our findings provide support that ESG contains information about efferent and afferent signaling in neurologically intact adults and suggests that we can utilize ESG to directly study the spinal cord.
On the rise: Development of a multi‐tiered, indoor duckweed cultivation system

Duckweed species (Lemnaceae) are suitable for remediation and valorization of agri‐feed industry wastewaters and therefore can contribute to a more sustainable, circular economy where waste is a resource. Industrial applications will, however, require space efficient cultivation methods that are not affected by prevailing weather conditions. Here, the development and operation of a multi‐tiered duckweed bioreactor is described. The developed prototype bioreactor depicted in this paper is composed of four cultivation layers (1 m2 each) with integrated LED lighting (generating up to 150 μmol m−2 s−1), a system of pumps and valves to manage the recirculatory flow (2.5 L min−1) of wastewater, and an automatic harvesting system. Using a nutrient poor medium, good growth of the duckweed species Lemna minor was achieved in the bioreactor, and this was matched by strong nutrient depletion from the medium, especially for phosphorus (45‐mg total phosphorus [TP] removed per m−2 day−1). A fully automatic harvesting arm reliably captured similar amounts of duckweed biomass across multiple harvesting cycles, revealing a future scenario whereby labor and interventions by human operators are minimized. Further developments to advance the system towards fully automated operation will include, for example, the use of specific nutrient sensors to monitor and control medium composition. It is envisaged that multi‐tiered, indoor bioreactors can be employed in the agri‐feed industry where wastewaters are, in many cases, continuously generated throughout the year and need remediating immediately to avoid costly storage. Given the extensive use of automation technology in conventional wastewater treatment plants, multi‐tiered duckweed bioreactors can be realistically integrated within the operating environment of such treatment plants.
Blanchissement et mortalité des scléractinaires sur les récifs de Moorea (archipel de la société) en 1991

Un phenomene de blanchissement des coraux (perte des zooxanthelles symbiotiques) est apparu sur les recifs des iles de l'archipel de la Societe en mars 1991. Il a ete quantitativement suivi sur la pente externe de Moorea. Les proportions de colonies saines, blanches (stressees) et mortes ont ete etablies avant le debut du phenomene ainsi que deux et quatre mois apres.
Discovery of mutations in Chenopodium quinoa Willd through EMS mutagenesis and mutation screening using pre-selection phenotypic data and next-generation sequencing

Abstract Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) is a dicotyledonous annual species belonging to the family Amaranthaceae, which is nutritionally well balanced in terms of its oil, protein and carbohydrate content. Targeting-induced local lesions in genomes (the TILLING strategy) was employed to find mutations in acetolactate synthase (AHAS) genes in a mutant quinoa population. The AHAS genes were targeted because they are common enzyme target sites for five herbicide groups. Ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) was used to induce mutations in the AHAS genes; it was found that 2% EMS allowed a mutation frequency of one mutation every 203 kilobases to be established. In the mutant population created, a screening strategy using pre-selection phenotypic data and next-generation sequencing (NGS) allowed identification of a mutation that alters the amino acid composition of this species (nucleotide 1231 codon GTT→ATT, Val→Ile); however, this mutation did not result in herbicide resistance. The current work shows that TILLING combined with the high-throughput of NGS technologies and an overlapping pool design provides an efficient and economical method for detecting induced mutations in pools of individuals.
Decreased long‐range temporal correlations in the resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging blood‐oxygen‐level‐dependent signal reflect motor sequence learning up to 2 weeks following training

Abstract Decreased long‐range temporal correlations (LRTC) in brain signals can be used to measure cognitive effort during task execution. Here, we examined how learning a motor sequence affects long‐range temporal memory within resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging signal. Using the Hurst exponent (HE), we estimated voxel‐wise LRTC and assessed changes over 5 consecutive days of training, followed by a retention scan 12 days later. The experimental group learned a complex visuomotor sequence while a complementary control group performed tightly matched movements. An interaction analysis revealed that HE decreases were specific to the complex sequence and occurred in well‐known motor sequence learning associated regions including left supplementary motor area, left premotor cortex, left M1, left pars opercularis, bilateral thalamus, and right striatum. Five regions exhibited moderate to strong negative correlations with overall behavioral performance improvements. Following learning, HE values returned to pretraining levels in some regions, whereas in others, they remained decreased even 2 weeks after training. Our study presents new evidence of HE's possible relevance for functional plasticity during the resting‐state and suggests that a cortical subset of sequence‐specific regions may continue to represent a functional signature of learning reflected in decreased long‐range temporal dependence after a period of inactivity.
Towards a set of agrosystem-specific cropland mapping methods to address the global cropland diversity

ABSTRACT Accurate cropland information is of paramount importance for crop monitoring. This study compares five existing cropland mapping methodologies over five contrasting Joint Experiment for Crop Assessment and Monitoring (JECAM) sites of medium to large average field size using the time series of 7-day 250 m Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) mean composites (red and near-infrared channels). Different strategies were devised to assess the accuracy of the classification methods: confusion matrices and derived accuracy indicators with and without equalizing class proportions, assessing the pairwise difference error rates and accounting for the spatial resolution bias. The robustness of the accuracy with respect to a reduction of the quantity of calibration data available was also assessed by a bootstrap approach in which the amount of training data was systematically reduced. Methods reached overall accuracies ranging from 85% to 95%, which demonstrates the ability of 250 m imagery to resolve fields down to 20 ha. Despite significantly different error rates, the site effect was found to persistently dominate the method effect. This was confirmed even after removing the share of the classification due to the spatial resolution of the satellite data (from 10% to 30%). This underlines the effect of other agrosystems characteristics such as cloudiness, crop diversity, and calendar on the ability to perform accurately. All methods have potential for large area cropland mapping as they provided accurate results with 20% of the calibration data, e.g. 2% of the study area in Ukraine. To better address the global cropland diversity, results advocate movement towards a set of cropland classification methods that could be applied regionally according to their respective performance in specific landscapes.
Rapid Finite Fault Inversion for Megathrust Earthquakes

The largest earthquakes take place at subduction zones, and their devastating impact in populated regions is often exacerbated by their ability to excite powerful tsunamis. Today, we understand that large subduction earthquakes, known as megathrust events, are caused by the sudden release of elastic strain energy stored at the plate boundaries where a localized, previously locked, section of the megathrust ruptures. The rupture process can propagate over hundreds of kilometres and slip on the fault can be tens of meters. Using ground motion data to image the spatio-temporal spread of slip over the fault surface is known as finite fault inversion (FFI). Over the past decade FFI has become almost routine, so that results produced by different groups are available within several days or even hours after a large event. However, these results typically require manual processing of the data, and are not accompanied by appraisals of uncertainty. My PhD research has focused on obtaining slip models for such events in near real time. I divided my analysis into three main projects that are discussed in this thesis. First, I evaluated the performance of a long period seismic wave, the W-phase, which arrives between P and S waves, in a classic FFI scheme for the Maule (2010, Mw = 8.8) and Tohoku (2011, Mw = 9.1) events. I found that, despite its long period, the W-phase can resolve first order features of the rupture for both events. Since the W-phase is not very sensitive to 3D structure, the processing of data for the W-phase is generally simpler than it is for the body and surface waves that are commonly used for FFI. In addition, the W-phase is fast and can be obtained soon after the arrival of the P-wave. Second, I improve the classic inversion scheme to increase robustness and rigour for rapid inversions. The most remarkable aspects of this inversion approach are that the faulting surface is constrained to follow the 3D subducting slab geometry and that the smoothness of the rupture is objectively determined. I used this approach for the recent Illapel event (2015, Mw = 8.3) and showed that a meaningful preliminary model can be obtained within 25 minutes from rupture onset. A refined solution can be obtained 1 hour from the origin time, which is still useful for the management of the disaster.
Precocious infant fecal microbiome promotes enterocyte barrier dysfuction, altered neuroendocrine signaling and associates with increased childhood obesity risk

ABSTRACT Early life gut microbiome composition has been correlated with childhood obesity, though microbial functional contributions to disease origins remain unclear. Here, using an infant birth cohort (n = 349) we identify a distinct fecal microbiota composition in 1-month-old infants with the lowest rate of exclusive breastfeeding, that relates with higher relative risk for obesity and overweight phenotypes at two years. Higher-risk infant fecal microbiomes exhibited accelerated taxonomic and functional maturation and broad-ranging metabolic reprogramming, including reduced concentrations of neuro-endocrine signals. In vitro, exposure of enterocytes to fecal extracts from higher-risk infants led to upregulation of genes associated with obesity and with expansion of nutrient sensing enteroendocrine progenitor cells. Fecal extracts from higher-risk infants also promoted enterocyte barrier dysfunction. These data implicate dysregulation of infant microbiome functional development, and more specifically promotion of enteroendocrine signaling and epithelial barrier impairment in the early-life developmental origins of childhood obesity.
Changing trends in health orientation among older adults: A scoping review

Older people's health condition is not uniform, and the components of their health are interrelated. Concepts regarding the health of older people have emerged and changed over time. However, the transition of concepts and influencing factors are not well examined through research. We have conducted a scoping review of the changes over time in the concept of health for older people and the factors influencing these changes. The public websites of international organizations and academic societies related to older people's health and research paper database were searched, and the extracted data were summarized in a chronological table. Consequently, this study revealed changing trends in health orientation after health had been defined by WHO, namely, successful aging, productive aging, active aging, and healthy aging, and their components, not the concept of health. The emergence and changes of health orientation among older people may have accompanied proposals and measures of international organizations and academic societies developed in response to changes in the demographic structure, and changes in how society perceives and supports older people. With the changing eras that bring about advances in health technology, prolongation of life expectancy, and changes in lifestyles, the needs of older people, society's perceptions of aging and older people, and how to support them will also change. Our findings may provide a valuable basis for understanding aging and older people, reconsidering their health orientation based on the health issues of older people and their significance, and formulating policies for older people in the future. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 5–17.
Fecal Coliform Management Using a Coupled Hydrodynamics and Water Quality Model for the River Ravi in Pakistan

A Fecal Coliform (FC) management framework is developed incorporating segmentation of river reaches, hydrodynamic and water quality models and FC management under critical winter low flow conditions for a highly polluted River Ravi. FC die-off rate in the river is determined from a field survey of a selected river reach. The travel time calculated with the help of a hydrodynamic model is 0.25 days in the selected reach. FC die-off rate (Kb) was found to be 1.2 day-1 at 20oC. Model calibration with monitoring data set reveals reasonable agreement of the simulation results with the measured field values under low flow conditions. Presently, the river is receiving raw wastewater and the simulation results shows very high fecal coliform levels up to 100x106 MPN/100mL in the river water. These levels are much higher than the required recreation and irrigation standards. Simulations are carried out to assess water quality for the future fecal pollution loads in year 2025 and the results reveal that up to 6 log reduction in FC is required at the wastewater outfalls, whereas, 5 log reduction would be sufficient for surface drains to meet desired FC standards under low flow conditions.