Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expanding Embedded 3D Bioprinting Capability for Engineering Complex Organs with Freeform Vascular Networks

Creating functional tissues and organs in vitro on demand is a major goal in biofabrication, but the ability to replicate the external geometry of specific organs and their internal structures such as blood vessels simultaneously remains one of the greatest impediments. Here, this limitation is addressed by developing a generalizable bioprinting strategy of sequential printing in a reversible ink template (SPIRIT). It is demonstrated that this microgel‐based biphasic (MB) bioink can be used as both an excellent bioink and a suspension medium that supports embedded 3D printing due to its shear‐thinning and self‐healing behavior. When encapsulating human‐induced pluripotent stem cells, the MB bioink is 3D printed to generate cardiac tissues and organoids by extensive stem cell proliferation and cardiac differentiation. By incorporating MB bioink, the SPIRIT strategy enables the effective printing of a ventricle model with a perfusable vascular network, which is not possible to fabricate using extant 3D printing strategies. This SPIRIT technique offers an unparalleled bioprinting capability to replicate the complex organ geometry and internal structure in a faster manner, which will accelerate the biofabrication and therapeutic applications of tissue and organ constructs.
Mechanical development and functional mechanosensitivity during early cardiogenesis

This thesis addresses the questions of when and how mechanical stiffness arises during embryonic heart development and how mechanics affects early cardiomyocyte and myocardium contractile function and cytoskeletal organization. Previous studies addressing how mechanics influence the contractile and electrochemical capacity of mature cardiomyocytes on compliant substrates are reviewed in light of theory explaining how contractile striated fibers might optimally align on intermediate substrates. Embryonic heart and brain tissue stiffness through early development are measured by micropipette aspiration, and the earliest functional heart is found to be three-fold stiffer than early embryonic tissue while brain remains soft. Contraction strain in intact embryonic day 4 (E4) heart tubes shows an optimum relative to hearts with softened or stiffened extracellular matrices. Contraction wave velocity, however, goes linearly with softening or stiffening of tissue, consistent with a theory. Isolated E4 cardiomyocytes cultured on collagen-coated substrates of various stiffnesses show optimal contraction on substrates that match the stiffness of E4 tissue. Sarcomere organization shows optimal organization in intact tissue relative to soft and on intermediate substrates relative to soft or very stiff. The feedback between matrix stiffness and contractile capacity of cardiomyocytes in developing heart tissue is modeled and extended to include interactions with nuclear structural proteins, Lamins. A method for perturbing and imaging nuclear lamina in vivo is discussed and preliminary measurements indicate that the nucleus could act as a measure for intracellular stresses. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Physics & Astronomy First Advisor Dennis E. Discher
Evaluation and Calibration of CBCT Reconstruction Models

Purpose This study proposes a method for improving the accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) models generated through cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods A 3D cuboid model fitted with a ¼-scale dentition on its top surface was constructed to simulate an alveolar bone with teeth. A physical specimen of the model was printed and the distance between its opposite sides was measured using a vernier caliper. The physical model was light-scanned, and the surface data of the generated 3D model were corrected by calibrating the distance between opposite sides against the vernier caliper measurements. The physical model was also scanned using CBCT to reconstruct a second 3D model. The overall deviation between the two models and the distance deviation in each direction of the cuboid and dentition were quantified and statistically analyzed. Results The overall deviation between the reconstructed CBCT model and the calibrated structured light-scanned model was 0.098 ± 0.001 mm. Following calibration, the overall deviation was 0.010 ± 0.006 mm. A one-way variance analysis suggested that the overall deviations' differences were not statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion This study lays a solid foundation for accurate dental implantation.
Like the belly of a bird breathing: On Winnicott’s “Mind and its Relation to the Psyche-soma”

ABSTRACT In “Mind and its relation to the psyche-soma,” Winnicott reinvents the concept of psyche-soma by viewing it as a set of experiences located neither in the body nor in the brain, and in fact, not located anywhere. Psyche, in health, is understood to be the imaginative functioning of mental processes, and soma is understood to be the experience of physical realness and aliveness. Winnicott offers a clinical illustration of work with a patient who feels unreal to herself. He describes a juncture in the analysis in which the patient's somatic functioning is everything, while Winnicott, by feeling his own breathing and watching the patient breathe, knows that she is alive. This is the beginning of her becoming able to experience her breathing (soma) and imagining (psyche) as real, alive, and her own. Among the concepts Winnicott alludes to, and that I develop, are (1) the idea that in his clinical work Winnicott not only lives an experience with the patient, he also brings an unspoken structure of meaning to the experience, and the two are inseparable; and (2) the idea that Winnicott introduces a set of terms and a way of thinking that is independent of the differentiation of conscious and unconscious mind (Freud's topographic model). These ideas include aliveness and deadness, realness and unrealness, being and disruption of being.
High gradient magnetic filtration of steel mill process and waste waters

High gradient magnetic separation used in the kaolin industry to separate fine, weakly magnetic particles is applicable to the treatment of a variety of waste and process waters in steel mills. High efficiency and low space requirements make high gradient magnetic filtration capable of removing almost all suspended solids found in these waters. High gradient magnetic filtration devices operate much like automatic backflushing filters. The recovery of magnetic particles in these devices depends on the ratio of magnetic to hydrodynamic drag forces which is large for typical particles found in these waters. The cost and performance of high gradient magnetic filters depend on the magnetic field strength and the flow velocity used. Reduction in suspended solids contents of treated waste waters is typically greater than 90% and often exceeds 99%. A full scale treatment plant for basic oxygen furnace waters has been designed and would require a tenth of the land area of that used in a conventional treatment system.
Chinese Small Telescope ARray (CSTAR) for Antarctic Dome A

Chinese first arrived in Antarctic Dome A in Jan. 2005 where is widely predicted to be a better astronomical site than Dome C where have a median seeing of 0.27arcsec above 30m from the ground. This paper introduces the first Chinese Antarctic telescope for Dome A (CSTAR) which is composed of four identical telescopes, with entrance pupil 145 mm, 20 square degree FOV and four different filters g, r, i and open band. CSTAR is mainly used for variable stars detection, measurement of atmosphere extinction, sky background and cloud coverage. Now CSTAR has been successfully deployed on Antarctic Dome A by the 24th Chinese expedition team in Jan. 2008. It has started automatic observation since March 20, 2008 and will continuously observe the south area for the whole winter time. The limited magnitude observed is about 16.5m with 20 seconds exposure time. CSTARS's success is a treasurable experience and we can benefit a lot for our big telescope plans, including our three ongoing 500mm Antarctic Schmidt telescopes (AST3).
A Combination of Chaos and Blind Source Separation for Image Encryption

We propose a new perspective on image encryption using chaotic signal and blind source separation. The original image is permuted by the chaotic signal and then mixed with key images. In the receiver, blind source separation technique is used to separate the components of the original image from the ciphertexts. Then chaotic signal is again used to restore the pixels to recover the original image. The experimental results demonstrate that the key space is large enough to resist the brute force attack and the distribution of gray values of the encrypted image has a random-like behavior.
Foundation species canopies affect understory beta diversity differently depending on species mobility.

Beta diversity measures the spatial variation in species composition. As it influences several community attributes, studies are increasingly investigating its drivers. Spatial environmental heterogeneity is a major determinant of beta diversity, but canopy-forming foundation species can locally modify environmental properties. We used intertidal communities dominated by the canopy-forming alga Mazzaella laminarioides as a model system to examine how a foundation species affects spatial environmental heterogeneity and the resulting beta diversity. As canopies were found to reduce the spatial variation of temperature and desiccation during low tides, we hypothesized that canopies would decrease understory beta diversity, which we tested through a field experiment that contrasted canopy removal vs. presence treatments over 32 months. The beta diversity of sessile species was always lower under canopies, but canopies never affected the beta diversity of mobile species. The observed responses for sessile species may result from their abundance being more dependent on spatial abiotic variation than for mobile species, which can occur in stressful areas while temporarily foraging or in transit to other areas. These responses may likely apply to other systems exhibiting canopy-forming foundation species hosting sessile and mobile species assemblages. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Multifunctional microcontrollable interface module

This paper reports the development of a complete eyeglass- mounted computer interface system including display, camera and audio subsystems. The display system provides an SVGA image with a 20 degree horizontal field of view. The camera system has been optimized for face recognition and provides a 19 degree horizontal field of view. A microphone and built-in pre-amp optimized for voice recognition and a speaker on an articulated arm are included for audio. An important feature of the system is a high degree of adjustability and reconfigurability. The system has been developed for testing by the Military Police, in a complete system comprising the eyeglass-mounted interface, a wearable computer, and an RF link. Details of the design, construction, and performance of the eyeglass-based system are discussed.
The Impact of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Ethnic Discrimination, and Nativity on Nicotine Dependence among Female Hispanic Survivors of Physical Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract Background: Nicotine dependence (ND) is an understudied public health problem among Hispanic women experiencing physical intimate partner violence (PIPV). Despite multiple calls for such studies, little is known about the associations of PTSD, ethnic discrimination, and nativity with ND among female Hispanic survivors of PIPV. Objectives: This study aimed to do the following: 1) replicate the PTSD-ND association in a sample of female Hispanic survivors of PIPV, and 2) examine the impact of ethnic discrimination and nativity on ND among 378 female Hispanic survivors of PIPV. We hypothesized that past-year PTSD and ethnic discrimination would be associated with greater odds of past-year ND (PY-ND) and being born outside the U.S. would be associated with lower odds of PY-ND. Data was used from 378 participants in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions Wave 2 who were female, Hispanic, and experienced PIPV. Logistic regression was used to test the impacts of past-year PTSD, ethnic discrimination and nativity on PY-ND while controlling for past-year major depressive episode, age, and personal income. Results: Results supported our hypotheses. Specifically, past-year PTSD was associated with greater odds of PY-ND, AOR = 1.91, 95% CI [1.43–2.56], and past-year ethnic discrimination was associated with greater odds of PY-ND, AOR = 2.31, 95% CI [1.82–2.93], whereas being born outside the U.S. was associated with lower odds of PY-ND, AOR = 0.33, 95% CI [0.26–0.41]. Conclusions: Findings suggest the need for additional studies to understand how ethnic discrimination and nativity affect ND among Hispanic female survivors of PIPV.
Biomechanical Properties of Bionic Collum Femoris Preserving Hip Prosthesis: A Finite Element Analysis

Compared with total hip replacement, conventional collum femoris preserving prosthesis has a better bone retention effect. However, damage to the trabecular bone of the proximal femur leads to inevitable abnormal stress distribution, which leads to increased risks of femoral neck bone absorption, periprosthetic fracture, prosthesis loosening, rotation, and sinking. Thus, we compare the biomechanical properties of collum femoris preserving (CFP) and bionic collum femoris preserving (BCFP) hip prostheses.
A general algorithm for computing the bidimensional spectral Green's dyad in multilayered complex bianisotropic media: the equivalent boundary method

A systematic method to obtain the bidimensional spectral dyadic Green's function of stratified planar structures with arbitrary complex bianisotropic layers is developed. The method is based on the uniqueness and equivalence electromagnetic theorems. A first-order partial differential formulation for the electromagnetic field inside each layer is used. An explicit algorithm makes it possible to go from the single-layer formulas to the general multilayer matrix formulation. The perturbative nature of the method provides good numerical efficiency and straightforward determination of asymptotic behavior. >
Nonlinear dynamics analysis of heart rate variability signal based on entropies in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients

This work presents the analysis of Pattern, Shannon and Renyi entropies of the heart rate and RTend interval signals of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with high and low risk of sudden cardiac death (group A and B). The results were compared with a group of healthy subjects (group C). Four-hour ECG data segments from the night were analyzed. Entropies were calculated in the four frequency bands: LF (0-0.07 Hz), MF (0.07-0.15 Hz), HF (0.15-0.45 Hz), and in the total frequency band (Tot). An exhaustive study of the parameters that characterize the entropies was done. The results for the Rtend signal show that significant differences between group A and groups B and C, are done to the components of the LF band (p(AB)=0.005 and p(AC)=0.002). As well, the statistical differences in group C compared with group B were present in the HF band of the RR signal (p(BC)=0.009).
Childhood Social Isolation as a Predictor of Retinal Neuronal Thickness in Middle Age: A Lifecourse Birth Cohort Study

ABSTRACT Objective We investigated whether childhood social isolation was associated with retinal neural layer changes in adulthood, and whether this association was independent of other childhood or adulthood risk factors, including adult social isolation. Methods Participants were members of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, a longitudinal population-based birth cohort from Aotearoa New Zealand (n = 1037), born 1972 to 1973 and followed until age 45 years, with 94% of the living cohort still participating. Social isolation was recorded prospectively at ages 5, 7, 9, and 11 years, from teacher and parent report. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer thicknesses were measured via optical coherence tomography at age 45 years. Results Childhood social isolation was associated with thinner average RNFL (B = −0.739, p = .02), nasal RNFL (B = −1.118, p = .005), and inferior RNFL (B = −1.524, p = .007), although only nasal RNFL remained significant after adjustment. These associations were not fully explained by other psychosocial or physical health risk factors in childhood or adulthood, nor were they mediated by adult loneliness or social support. Conclusions Childhood social isolation was an independent predictor of RNFL thickness in middle age. Highlighting prospective links between childhood psychosocial adversity and retinal neuronal measures will help to inform future research into the utility of retinal neuronal thickness as a biomarker for neurodegeneration.
TENDON SLACK LENGTH AND ITS EFFECT ON MUSCLE FORCE-GENERATION CHARACTERISTICS

Based on the force transfer relationship from muscle to tendon, a chart determining a normalized tendon force is developed. A sensitivity analysis verifies that the tendon slack length is the most critical parameter affecting the tendon force. Therefore, it may be claimed that the variation of this parameter from Delp's reference data will noticeably change the musculotendon characteristics of a subject. The effect of tendon slack length change on this characteristic was analyzed theoretically and checked by numerical results. An optimization algorithm was introduced, which searches the tendon slack lengths of quadriceps by minimizing the differences of calculated knee extension moment from experimental data.
UV photovoltaic cells based on conjugated ZnO quantum dot/multiwalled carbon nanotube heterostructures

In situ growth of ZnO quantum dots (QDs) on the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was realized via a mild solution-process method, which resulted in an improvement in photoinduced charge separation and transport of carriers to the collecting electrode. The charge transfer efficiency was significantly increased by more than 90% due to the conjugation of ZnO QDs with MWCNTs, as confirmed by photoluminescence measurements. Ultraviolet photovoltaic cells based on the charge transfer at the ZnO QD-MWCNT heterostructures were fabricated, and their power conversion efficiency was measured to be above 1%.
Uniformity for weak order convergence of Riesz space-valued measures

The purpose of the paper is to show that weak order convergence of a net of Dedekind complete Riesz space-valued σ-measures is uniform over uniformly bounded, uniformly equicontinuous classes of functions. The paper ends with generalizing Ulam's theorem for tightness of positive, finite Borel measures to Riesz space-valued σ-measures.
Interpreting Concentrations Sampled in Long‐Screened Wells with Borehole Flow: An Inverse Modeling Approach

New approaches are needed to assess contaminant mass based on samples from long‐screened wells and open boreholes (LSW&OB). The interpretation of concentration samples collected in LSW&OB is complicated in the presence of vertical flow within the well. In the absence of pumping (i.e., ambient conditions), the well provides a conduit for flow to occur between aquifer layers or fractures as a result of head differences. Under pumping conditions, vertical borehole flow may vary with depth depending on far‐field heads and hydraulic conductivity; furthermore, if pumping fails to overcome ambient gradients, outflow from the well to the aquifer may occur. Concentration samples thus represent flow‐weighted averages of formation concentrations, but the averaging process is commonly unknown or difficult to identify. Recognition of the importance of borehole flow has motivated the use of multi‐level wells, packers, and well liners; however, LSW&OB remain common for numerous reasons, including cost, multi‐purpose design requirements (e.g., pump‐and‐treat, water supply), logging, and installation of instrumentation. Here, we present a simple analytical model for flow and transport within a well and interaction with the surrounding aquifer. We formulate an inverse problem to estimate formation concentration based on sampled concentrations and data from flowmeter logs. The approach is demonstrated using synthetic examples. Our results (1) underscore the importance of interpreting sampled concentrations within the context of hydraulic conditions and aquifer/well exchange; (2) demonstrate the value of flowmeter measurements for this purpose; and (3) point to the potential of the new inverse approach to better interpret results from samples collected in LSW&OB.
An adaptive flow-based dynamic search algorithm for block motion estimation

In this paper, a novel adaptive flow-based dynamic search algorithm (AFDS) is presented for fast block motion estimation. The rationale of the AFDS is to make a judicious choice of search points by fully adapting to the local characteristics of the images. To achieve this, the new search points in each iteration depend on the "flow" of the block which can be determined by the distribution of the minima computed in the previous iteration. Additionally, a dynamic jump search scheme is addressed which not only reduces the number of candidate points, but also refrains the search from being trapped into the local minima. Simulation results show that the AFDS provides viable performance with reduced computational complexity when compared with previous works. Moreover, two subblock schemes have been addressed as well for further reduction of computational complexity.
Across‐model spread and shrinking in predicting peatland carbon dynamics under global change

Large across‐model spread in simulating land carbon (C) dynamics has been ubiquitously demonstrated in model intercomparison projects (MIPs), and became a major impediment in advancing climate change prediction. Thus, it is imperative to identify underlying sources of the spread. Here, we used a novel matrix approach to analytically pin down the sources of across‐model spread in transient peatland C dynamics in response to a factorial combination of two atmospheric CO2 levels and five temperature levels. We developed a matrix‐based MIP by converting the C cycle module of eight land models (i.e., TEM, CENTURY4, DALEC2, TECO, FBDC, CASA, CLM4.5 and ORCHIDEE) into eight matrix models. While the model average of ecosystem C storage was comparable to the measurement, the simulation differed largely among models, mainly due to inter‐model difference in baseline C residence time. Models generally overestimated net ecosystem production (NEP), with a large spread that was mainly attributed to inter‐model difference in environmental scalar. Based on the sources of spreads identified, we sequentially standardized model parameters to shrink simulated ecosystem C storage and NEP to almost none. Models generally captured the observed negative response of NEP to warming, but differed largely in the magnitude of response, due to differences in baseline C residence time and temperature sensitivity of decomposition. While there was a lack of response of NEP to elevated CO2 (eCO2) concentrations in the measurements, simulated NEP responded positively to eCO2 concentrations in most models, due to the positive responses of simulated net primary production. Our study used one case study in Minnesota peatland to demonstrate that the sources of across‐model spreads in simulating transient C dynamics can be precisely traced to model structures and parameters, regardless of their complexity, given the protocol that all the matrix models were driven by the same gross primary production and environmental variables.