Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flight Characteristic Verification of the Variable Camber Compliant Wing

Morphing wing technology gives aircraft the ability to fly various missions in one flight. Morphing technology changes the wing shape to act as the controls of the aircraft. AFIT, AFRL, and USU Aero Lab collaborated to design and test the variable camber compliant wing (VCCW). VCCW has a non-stretch, continuous skin that slides during shape changes and has the ability to eliminate ailerons and flaps. Flight testing demonstrates the capabilities of the VCCW in roll and yaw controls. The wing has four modes to change the deflection of the trailing edge symmetrically and/or anti-symmetrically. Flight testing provides data collections on how well the VCCW controls work. The data is also incorporated in the simulation refinement. USU Aero Lab developed a simulation that uses MachUp software to simulate the VCCW in flight. This research focuses on making the simulation performance as close to the actual flight test data. The flight test data has to be filtered and converted to be compatible with the simulation. Once compatible, tuning the simulation involves analyzing control bias and testing thrust models. This thesis provides a simulation that performs closer to actual flight test data. Simulations help improve situational awareness of the aircraft and decreases human error operation. This research provides a tool to reduce time and cost for flight testing for future wing development.
An interaction map of transcription factors controlling gynoecium development in Arabidopsis

Flowers are composed of different organs, whose identity is defined at the molecular by the combinatorial activity of transcription factors (TFs). MADS-box TFs interact forming complexes that have been schematized in the quartet model. The gynoecium is the female reproductive part in the flower, crucial for plant reproduction, and fruit and seed production. Once carpel identity is established, a gynoecium containing many tissues arises. Several TFs have been identified as regulators of gynoecium development, and some of these TFs form complexes. However, broad knowledge about the interactions among these TFs is still scarce. In this work, we used a systems biology approach to understand the formation of a complex reproductive unit as the gynoecium by mapping binary interactions between well-characterized TFs. We analyzed over 3500 combinations and detected more than 200 protein-protein interactions (PPIs), resulting in a process specific interaction map. Topological analyses suggest hidden functions and novel roles for many TFs. Furthermore, a relationship between TFs involved in auxin and cytokinin signaling pathways and other TFs was observed. We analyzed the network by combining PPI data, expression and genetic data, allowing us to dissect it into several dynamic spatio-temporal sub-networks related to gynoecium development subprocesses.
The spatiotemporal control of signalling and trafficking of the GLP-1R

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor responds to the peptide (GLP-1), mediating a range of physiological processes, including insulin secretion, that make it a key therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetes. However, due to its short half-life in vivo GLP-1 cannot be administered therapeutically and more stable peptide mimetics of GLP-1 are used clinically. However, results from clinical studies reveal that these mimetics have different physiological outcomes than GLP-1. The results of this thesis suggest that these differences may be due to the peptides differentially altering the specific localisation of the receptor and key signalling molecules in pancreatic cells.
Effects of a complex mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on steroidogenesis in H295R cells under 10 μM forskolin stimulation - results from a pilot study

This study describes the utilization of an LC-MS/MS based H295R assay to assess an environmentally relevant mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). H295R cells were exposed to the POP mixture in two conditions stimulated with 10 μM forskolin and unstimulated. Most importantly, the unstimulated cells responded to the low concentration of the mixture with a significant down-regulation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). This response was not observed in forskolin-stimulated cells. In stimulated H295R cells, exposure to the highest concentration showed a trend towards induced production of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids, although this was not significant. On the other hand, in the same exposure concentration and condition, estrogen and androgen production tended to be down-regulated. In addition to these patterns of responses being different in the stimulated vs unstimulated condition, four steroids were not detectable in the unstimulated condition.
Agreement between 18F-Florbetapir PET imaging and cerebrospinal fluid Aβ1-42, Aβ1-40, tTau and pTau measured on the LUMIPULSE G fully automated platform

INTRODUCTION The development of fully automated immunoassay platforms has improved the technical reliability of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease. METHODS We quantified Aβ1-42, Aβ1-40, tTau and pTau levels using the Lumipulse G System in 94 CSF samples from participants of the SPIN cohort with available 18F-Florbetapir imaging. Amyloid scans were assessed visually and through automated quantification. We determined the cutoffs of CSF biomarkers that optimized their agreement with 18F-Florbetapir PET and evaluated concordance between markers of the amyloid category. RESULTS Aβ1-42, tTau and pTau (but not Aβ1-40) and the ratios with Aβ1-42 had good diagnostic agreement with 18F-Florbetapir PET. As a marker of amyloid pathology, the Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 ratio had higher agreement and better correlation with amyloid PET than Aβ1-42 alone. DISCUSSION CSF biomarkers measured with the Lumipulse G System show good agreement with amyloid imaging. Combination of Aβ1-42 with Aβ1-40 increases the agreement between markers of amyloid pathology.
EFFECT OF GENOTYPES, TANNIN LEVEL AND PROCESSING METHODS ON THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL, NUTRITIONAL AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FABA BEAN GROWN IN WESTERN CANADA

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iv TABLE OF CONTENTS . v LIST OF TABLES . x LIST OF FIGURES . xiv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS . xvi 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION . 1 2. LITERATURE REVIEW . 4 2.1. Global and local production of legumes and faba bean . 4 2.2. General background . 5 2.2.1. History . 5 2.2.2. Plant and seed characteristics . 6 2.2.3. Growing conditions and characteristics . 7 2.2.4. Nutritional and genetic features . 8 2.2.5. Condensed Tannins . 8 2.2.5.1. Effects of tannin content on animal performance . 10 2.3. Main genotypes grown in western Canada . 11 2.3. 1. General background . 11 2.3. 2. Variety/line description . 11 2.4. Faba bean used as animal feed . 13 2.4. 1. Main use in monogastric animals . 13 2.4. 2. Main use in cattle . 14 2.5. Feed processing methods . 14 2.5.1. General information . 14 2.5. 2. Processing of legumes . 15 2.5. 3. Heat treatments . 15 2.6. Conventional feed evaluation methods . 18 2.6. 1. Determination of condensed tannins . 18 2.6. 2. Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System . 18 2.6. 3. Energy value estimation in feed ingredients . 20 2.6. 4. In situ technique for estimation of rumen degradation kinetics of feed nutrients . 21
Expanding the bioluminescence reporter toolkit for plant chronobiology with NanoLUC

Bioluminescence has been an important tool for gathering circadian data with the main reporter gene exploited firefly luciferase (LUC). In some circumstances the rapid inactivation of LUC could be disadvantageous, e.g. reporting total protein levels through reporter translational fusions. In the latter scenario the commercially available Nano luciferase (NanoLUC) might offer and advantage, however no data in plant has been provided so far. We tested NanoLUC under different research scenarios were LUC has been used, for example enzyme purification, expression in transient plant systems and in stable transgenic lines. We show that NanoLUC is active in these experimental scenarios. We also created a set of NanoLUC variants for example MBP-NanoLUC-3xFlag-10xHis version of NanoLUC can be easily purified and stable for several days (half-life 37.2 at 4°C) and can be used for generating calibration curves for quantifying protein as the signal is linear over a large dynamic range. In addition, we show that NanoLUC can report in-planta protein levels on circadian time scale thanks to the stability of furimazine. Therefore, opening the possibility of using NanoLUC for reporting protein dynamics in seedlings. With this new technology, we explored the dynamics of protein BROTHER OF LUX ARRHYTHMO (BOA), which has been suggested in mathematical models to be a rhythmic protein from RNA data. Using an automatic plate-reader, we were able to track BOAp:BOA-NL for an extended period of time by just adding a mix of furimazine with Triton X-100, as it is done with LUC-reporter lines. In our experimental context BOA protein does not present strong oscillatory dynamics similar to what has been reported for Phytocrhome B for which rhythmic accumulation of transcript can be observed while total protein levels remain constant under diurnal conditions. Our results support the use NanoLUC for studying the dynamics of plant proteins for extended period of time under different circumstances.
Vertical niche definition of test-bearing protists (Rhizaria) into the twilight zone revealed by in situ imaging

The Rhizaria is a super-group of ameoboid protists with ubiquitous distributions, from the euphotic zone to the twilight zone and beyond. While rhizarians have been recently described as important contributors to both silica and carbon fluxes, we lack the most basic information about their ecological preferences. Here, using the in situ imaging (Underwater Vision Profiler 5), we characterize the vertical ecological niches of different test-bearing rhizarian taxa in the southern California Current Ecosystem. We define three vertical layers between 0-500 m occupied, respectively, by 1) surface dwelling and mostly symbiont-bearing rhizarians (Acantharia and Collodaria), 2) flux-feeding phaeodarians in the lower epipelagic (100-200 m), and 3) Foraminifera and Phaeodaria populations adjacent to the Oxygen Minimum Zone. We then use Generalized Additive Models to analyze the response of each rhizarian category to a suite of environmental variables. The models explain between 13 and 93% of the total variance observed for the different groups. While temperature and the depth of the deep chlorophyll maximum, appear as the main factors influencing populations in the upper 200 m, silicic acid concentration is the most important variable related to the abundance of mesopelagic phaeodarians. The relative importance of biotic interactions (e.g., predation, parasitism) is still to be considered, in order to fully incorporate the dynamics of test-bearing pelagic rhizarians in ecological and biogeochemical models.
Descripción de índices ecocardiográficos de la Arteria Pulmonar y Ventrículo Derecho en Caninos saludables a nivel del mar y en un ambiente hipobárico natural (2600msnm).

La Hipertension Pulmonar (HTP) esta definida como un aumento de la presion diastolica o sistolica de la arteria pulmonar que puede llevar a hipertrofia concentrica o excentrica del ventriculo derecho, aumento de tamano del atrio derecho y falla cardiaca derecha. A nivel del mar la presion barometrica o atmosferica, entendida como la fuerza que ejerce el aire sobre la tierra es de 760 mmHg, a medida que aumenta la distancia sobre el nivel del mar esta presion es menor y a su vez disminuye la presion parcial de oxigeno. Esta disminucion en la presion barometrica es la causa principal de todos los problemas relacionados con la hipoxia en la fisiologia de las alturas. Al igual que en humanos, la HTP secundaria a hipoxia hipobarica tambien ocurre en perros. Especificamente se han encontrado casos de HTP leve en caninos a 2300 msnm asociados a cambios de altura, sin embargo son escasos los estudios que evaluen los efectos cardiovasculares de la hipoxia hipobarica en perros adultos saludables y se correlacionen con un ambiente sobre el nivel del mar. El objetivo de este estudio es describir por medio de ecocardiografia las caracteristicas funcionales de la arteria pulmonar y el ventriculo derecho en caninos adultos saludables a nivel del mar (Barranquilla, Colombia) y a 2600 msnm (Bogota, Colombia) con el fin de identificar posibles diferencias entre estas. Se escogieron 30 caninos en Bogota y 30 caninos en Barranquilla. Debian ser dolicocefalicos, sanos, del mismo grupo etario (3 - 7 anos de edad), de entre 10 y 20 kg de peso, sin distincion de sexo que hubiesen permanecido toda su vida en su cuidad actual de residencia. Se realizo un estudio ecocardiografico completo en el cual se evaluaron 13 indices que evaluaban la funcion de la arteria pulmonar y el ventriculo derecho. Como una muestra de adaptacion a la hipoxia hipobarica de la altitud se demostro que los indices hematimetricos en Bogota fueron significativamente mayores a los encontrados a nivel del mar contribuyendo a la premisa de que los ajustes eritropoyeticos son un componente fundamental del sistema de transporte de oxigeno y la adaptacion a la altitud. Entre los resultados se destaco la presencia de insuficiencias tricuspideas en un 30% de los caninos saludables tanto a nivel del mar como a 2600msnm. No Hubo diferencias significativas entre las caracteristicas funcionales de la arteria pulmonar y el ventriculo derecho en los caninos evaluados en este estudio. Se espera que este estudio contribuya a mejorar el conocimiento del comportamiento funcional del corazon derecho y arteria pulmonar en la situacion particular de la adaptacion fisiologica de los caninos a la altura. Sin embargo se necesitan mas estudios para tipificar las respuestas adaptativas o patologicas en condiciones de caninos en la altitud.
In-vitro Prebiotic Activity of Grape Seed Flour Highly Rich in Flavonoid and Dietary Fiber

Interactions between lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and dietary polyphenols are not fully understood. This study determined the prebiotic effects of grape seed flour (GSF, a byproduct of wine making) and their polyphenol extracts (GSE) on the growth of 10 strains of probiotic LAB recently isolated from the kefir and pathogenic Clostridium perfringens. Growth rate of the LAB, Leuconostoc mesenteroides DH 1608, was the highest among 10 strains of LAB when cultivated with GSF. GSE, containing an equivalent amount of polyphenol in GSF, also promoted the growth of L. mesenteroides DH 1608 but at a lower rate compared to GSF. Growth of C. perfringens decreased significantly at 10 mg/mL of GSF, but GSE did not affect the growth. In conclusion, GSF may be a useful prebiotic dietary supplement due to its selective antimicrobial capacity via stimulation of probiotic bacteria and inhibition of pathogenic bacteria. A symbiotic combination of selected lactic acid bacteria and GSF may improve gut health.
Progression of Autoantibodies Anti-Gad and Anti-IA2 in Type 1A Diabetics Aged of 5 to 21 Years in Côte D’ivoire

Background Diabetes autoantibodies are indispensable markers of diabetes classification. Objective to research autoantibodies anti-GAD and anti-IA2 in type 1A diabetics (T1D) aged 5 to 21 years, and to follow the progression of these autoantibodies in T1D patients, in Côte d’Ivoire. Methods The study population composed of 28 T1D patients, aged 5 to 21 years. T1D were followed up in two diabetes care centers in Abidjan district, Endocrinology departments of U.H. C of Yopougon and Treichville. Anti-GAD and anti-IA2 autoantibodies were researched by ELISA. Results anti-GAD and anti-IA2 were present in T1D and their siblings. After 2 years of diabetes, the titer of the anti-GAD autoantibodies increased to the mean value of 677.10 ± 353.20 IU / ml. Then, a fall of the anti-GAD autoantibodies until the cancellation was observed from the 8th to the 9th with values of 117 IU / ml to 10.14 IU / ml. Anti-IA2 autoantibodies fall at 9th year of diabetes with a value of 55.10 IU / ml. Conclusion anti-GAD and anti-IA2 autoantibodies persist after 9 years of diabetes, causing total destruction over time of the pancreatic β-cell mass in patients from Côte d’Ivoire, leading them to the death.
Effects of Odorant-environment Complexity on Behavioral and Neural Plasticity at Different Time Scales

In ants, bees, and other social Hymenoptera alarm pheromones are widely employed to coordinate colony nest defense. In that context, alarm pheromones elicit innate speciesspecific defensive behaviors. Therefore, in terms of classical conditioning, an alarm pheromone could act as an unconditioned stimulus (US). Here we test this hypothesis by establishing whether repeated exposure to alarm pheromone in different testing contexts modifies the alarm response. We evaluate colony level alarm responses in the stingless bee, Tetragonisca angustula, which has a morphologically distinct guard caste. First, we describe the overall topology of defense behaviors in the presence of an alarm pheromone. Second, we show that repeated, regular exposure to synthetic alarm pheromone reduces different components of the alarm response, and memory of that exposure decays over time. This observed decrease followed by recovery occurs over different time frames and is consistent with behavioral habituation. We further tested whether the alarm pheromone can act as a US to classically condition guards to modify their defense behaviors in the presence of a novel (conditioned) stimulus (CS). We found no consistent changes in the response to the CS. Our study demonstrates the possibility that colony-level alarm responses can be adaptively modified by experience in response to changing environmental threats. Further studies are now needed to reveal the extent of these habituation-like responses in regard to other pheromones, the potential mechanisms
Hydrochemical characteristics and quality evaluation of groundwater in terms of health risks in Luohe aquifer in Wuqi County of the Chinese Loess Plateau, northwest China

Abstract Groundwater is the main source of water for domestic and agricultural purposes in Wuqi County on the Loess Plateau. The present study was carried out to assess the hydrochemical characteristics and quality of groundwater in the Luohe aquifer, which is a crucial aquifer for water supply. For this study, 22 groundwater samples and 6 surface water samples were collected for analysis. Hydrochemistry and hydrochemical facies of groundwater were analyzed using statistical analysis and Tri-linear diagram. Gibbs diagram, correlation analysis and bivariate plots were used to investigate the natural evolution mechanisms of groundwater and surface water. Potential health risks of nitrate and Cr6+ through drinking water ingestion for adults and children were estimated. The results show that the major hydrochemical facies is Cl·SO4-Na, mixed Cl·SO4·HCO3-Na and SO4·Cl-Mg·Na types, and high concentration of Na+ is a remarkable feature of groundwater in the study area. Groundwater chemistry evolution is affected by rock weathering and evaporation. The high concentrations of Na+, SO42- and TDS suggest that groundwater is not suitable for irrigation purposes. According to WQI values, above 80% of the groundwater samples are fair quality water. It is also found that the groundwater of the study area is contaminated with nitrate and Cr6+. Children are at higher health risk than adults. Multiple measures such as establishing new centralized water supply sources and inter-basin water transfer projects have also been proposed in this study to guarantee the safety of sustainable groundwater supply.
Diseño de producto de turismo comunitario para la parroquia Jijón y Caamaño del cantón Mira provincia de Carchi.

El presente trabajo se realizo en la parroquia Jijon y Caamano en la provincia del Carchi, su objetivo principal disenar el producto de turismo comunitario mediante un diagnostico del sistema turistico comunitario, desarrollar una investigacion de mercado con el fin de determinar la demanda actual y potencial de la comunidad. La metodologia empleada en la investigacion esta encaminada a la revision de informacion para establecer variables con las cuales se estructuraron encuestas para el levantamiento de informacion primaria, el analisis de estos datos se los analizo con el software SPSS para la consecucion del primer y segundo objetivo y para la consecucion del tercer objetivo se uso una matriz de impactos cruzados y analizo con el software del mismo nombre MIC MAC. En terminos de resultados tenemos que de los emprendimientos diagnosticados en la parroquia la mayoria ofertan ser vicios de recreacion y alojamiento siendo escasa y casi nula la oferta de alojamiento, en el estudio de mercado para establecer la demanda tenemos que considerando el potencial turistico de la parroquia se estima una demanda creciente reflejada en datos del emprendimiento turistico Guanabana Republic, en lo referente de producto Turistico de la zona se elaboraron tres rutas turisticas y un cluster para integrar toda la gestion turistica de la zona.
Musashi expression in intestinal stem cells attenuates radiation-induced decline in intestinal homeostasis and survival in Drosophila

Exposure to genotoxic stress by environmental agents or treatments, such as radiation therapy, can diminish health span and accelerate aging. We have developed a Drosophila melanogaster model to study the molecular effects of radiation-induced damage and repair. Utilizing a quantitative intestinal permeability assay, we performed an unbiased GWAS screen (using ∼150 strains from the DGRP reference panel) to search for natural genetic variants that regulate radiation-induced gut permeability. From this screen, we identified the RNA binding protein, Musashi (msi). Msi overexpression promoted intestinal stem cell proliferation, which increased survival after irradiation and rescued radiation-induced gut permeability. We identified that a novel role of Msi in ISC proliferation a novel role for Msi in enhancing ISC function following radiation-induced gut damage, which identifies Msi as a potential therapeutic target.