Assessing the impacts of land-use change on the hydrology of the tropical Andes

Land-use and land-cover change (LUCC) has been identified as a major driver of change to the hydrological cycle. However, it is still a scientific challenge to quantify these effects. Land surface models are increasingly being used for such hydrological assessment because of their state-of-the-art representation of physical processes and versatility. A physically-based model has the advantage to map the modeller’s knowledge about the hydrological impacts of land-use and land-cover change into physically meaningful parameters. This PhD thesis explores the use of a land surface model (Joint UK Land-Environment Simulator, JULES) in combination with high temporal resolution in-situ data on streamflow, precipitation, and several weather variables, collected by a grassroots hydrological monitoring initiative (called iMHEA) in the tropical Andes. I find that the in-situ data can improve the hydrological simulation substantially, mainly by reducing uncertainty inherent in using large-scale precipitation data. The commonly used soil parameters based on pedotransfer functions lead to an underestimation of the flow. Therefore, I modified the soil parameterisation with experimental data for a more accurate representation of subsurface flow generation. Subsequently, I assessed the potential impacts of watershed interventions (grazing, afforestation, cultivation) using the calibrated soil parameters. A reduction in water yield and water regulation ability under these land use scenarios was identified, which is in line with observed impacts and relevant for water resources managers. In a next step, I implemented an open source land use change model, the lulcc R package, to analyse the regional land cover changes in the Andean region, and to generate predictive land use maps that can be used to drive the JULES model. For this purpose, the JULES model has been implemented at a regional scale using multiple sources of global data. The use of the JULES model allows the effects of LUCC to be assessed using knowledge about physical processes. My results show a further 3.7% of deforestation occurring in the region, which changes the flow by ±17% consequently.Open Acces

Evaluating the Atibaia river hydrology using JULES6.1

Land surface models such as the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) are increasingly used for hydrological assessments because of their state-of-the-art representation of physical processes and versatility. Unlike statistical models and AI models, the JULES model simulates the physical water flux under given meteorological conditions, allowing us to understand and investigate the cause and effect of environmental changes. Here we explore the possibility of this approach using a case study in the Atibaia River basin, which serves as a major water supply for metropolitan regions of Campinas and São Paulo, Brazil. The watershed is suffering increasing hydrological risks, which could be attributed to environmental changes, such as urbanization and agricultural activity. The increasing risks highlight the importance of evaluating the land surface processes of the watershed systematically. We explore the use of local precipitation collection in conjunction with data from a global meteorological reanalysis to simulate the basin hydrology. Our results show that key hydrological fluxes in the basin can be represented by the JULES model simulations

Parameterizing the JULES land surface model for different land covers in the tropical Andes

Physically based hydrological models such as the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) are increasingly used for hydrological assessments because of their state-of-the-art representation of physical processes and versatility. Generating parameter sets for a larger variety of land cover types may be an appropriate approach to simplify setting up JULES for operating simulations beyond the default parameterizations. Here we explore the possibilities of this approach using a case study in the tropical Andes. First, we evaluate to what extent the standard JULES land cover configurations can simulate the hydrological response of dominant soil and land cover types of the region. Next, we adjust the soil water retention parameters on a regional basis using experimental soil data from representative sites. We find that the adjusted parameters result in substantial alteration for the flow partition. Such parameterizations may increase the configurations to implement JULES for a larger variety of land cover types and assess soil disturbance’s potential impact more precisel

Risk factors for subsidence in anterior cervical fusion with stand-alone polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages: a review of 82 cases and 182 levels

INTRODUCTION: To determine risk factors for subsidence in patients treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and stand-alone polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of patients with degenerative spondylosis or traumatic disc herniation resulting in radiculopathy or myelopathy between C2 and C7 who underwent ACDF with stand-alone PEEK cages were retrospectively reviewed. Cages were filled with autogenous cancellous bone harvested from iliac crest or hydroxyapatite. Subsidence was defined as a decrease of 3 mm or more of anterior or posterior disc height from that measured on the postoperative radiograph. Eighty-two patients (32 males, 50 females; 182 treatment levels) were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Most patients had 1–2 treatment levels (62.2 %), and 37.8 % had 3–4 treatment levels. Treatment levels were from C2–7. Of the 82 patients, cage subsidence occurred in 31 patients, and at 39 treatment levels. Multivariable analysis showed that subsidence was more likely to occur in patients with more than two treatment levels, and more likely to occur at treatment levels C5–7 than at levels C2–5. Subsidence was not associated with postoperative alignment change but associated with more disc height change (relatively oversized cage). CONCLUSION: Subsidence is associated with a greater number of treatment levels, treatment at C5–7 and relatively oversized cage use

Comparative global immune-related gene profiling of somatic cells, human pluripotent stem cells and their derivatives: implication for human lymphocyte proliferation.

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced PSCs (iPSCs), represent potentially unlimited cell sources for clinical applications. Previous studies have suggested that hPSCs may benefit from immune privilege and limited immunogenicity, as reflected by the reduced expression of major histocompatibility complex class-related molecules. Here we investigated the global immune-related gene expression profiles of human ESCs, hiPSCs and somatic cells and identified candidate immune-related genes that may alter their immunogenicity. The expression levels of global immune-related genes were determined by comparing undifferentiated and differentiated stem cells and three types of human somatic cells: dermal papilla cells, ovarian granulosa cells and foreskin fibroblast cells. We identified the differentially expressed genes CD24, GATA3, PROM1, THBS2, LY96, IFIT3, CXCR4, IL1R1, FGFR3, IDO1 and KDR, which overlapped with selected immune-related gene lists. In further analyses, mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTOR) signaling was investigated in the differentiated stem cells following treatment with rapamycin and lentiviral transduction with specific short-hairpin RNAs. We found that the inhibition of mTOR signal pathways significantly downregulated the immunogenicity of differentiated stem cells. We also tested the immune responses induced in differentiated stem cells by mixed lymphocyte reactions. We found that CD24- and GATA3-deficient differentiated stem cells including neural lineage cells had limited abilities to activate human lymphocytes. By analyzing the transcriptome signature of immune-related genes, we observed a tendency of the hPSCs to differentiate toward an immune cell phenotype. Taken together, these data identify candidate immune-related genes that might constitute valuable targets for clinical applications

Enhanced Differentiation of Three-Gene-Reprogrammed Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Adipocytes via Adenoviral-Mediated PGC-1α Overexpression

Induced pluripotent stem cells formed by the introduction of only three factors, Oct4/Sox2/Klf4 (3-gene iPSCs), may provide a safer option for stem cell-based therapy than iPSCs conventionally introduced with four-gene iPSCs. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) plays an important role during brown fat development. However, the potential roles of PGC-1α in regulating mitochondrial biogenesis and the differentiation of iPSCs are still unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of adenovirus-mediated PGC-1α overexpression in 3-gene iPSCs. PGC-1α overexpression resulted in increased mitochondrial mass, reactive oxygen species production, and oxygen consumption. Microarray-based bioinformatics showed that the gene expression pattern of PGC-1α-overexpressing 3-gene iPSCs resembled the expression pattern observed in adipocytes. Furthermore, PGC-1α overexpression enhanced adipogenic differentiation and the expression of several brown fat markers, including uncoupling protein-1, cytochrome C, and nuclear respiratory factor-1, whereas it inhibited the expression of the white fat marker uncoupling protein-2. Furthermore, PGC-1α overexpression significantly suppressed osteogenic differentiation. These data demonstrate that PGC-1α directs the differentiation of 3-gene iPSCs into adipocyte-like cells with features of brown fat cells. This may provide a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of mitochondrial disorders and obesity

A Simple Design of Patch Antenna Array With an Optimized Field Distribution in the Near-Zone for RFID Applications

This letter presents the design of a patch antenna array to radiate relatively uniform fields in the near-zone of array aperture for radio frequency identification (RFID) applications. This design allows one to define a target zone for RFID tag detections as interested in the department store management system and reduces the interferences resulted from the scatters outside this target zone. The design procedure is presented with both simulations and experimental measurements examined to validate the concept

Investigation of Management Models in Elite Athlete Injuries

This cross-sectional study investigated management models among elite athletes participating in sports including baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, softball, football, handball, track and field, swimming, judo, tae-kwon-do, gymnastics, archery, and weight lifting at the Tsoying National Sport Training Center. Data were collected by questionnaire. Of the 393 athletes investigated, 56% were male and 44% were female, with an average age of 20.9 years and average length of athletic experience of 9.8 years. At the time of the survey, 74.8% had sporting injuries and were being treated with Chinese and/or Western medicine. Among injured athletes, 14.5% chose Western treatment, 8.1% chose Chinese medicine, and 75.4% received combined treatment. There were various reasons for choosing the management model. Most athletes had ordinary self-recognition of sports injury prevention. Their qualified ability for sports injury prevention was 70%. This ability was significantly correlated with age, education, and sports experience. Within Taiwan's current medical and social environment, elite athletes prefer a combination of Eastern and Western treatments for sports injuries. Each of the medical approaches are widely accepted by elite athletes and their coaches. Doctors trained in Western medicine should learn these alternative treatment methods and apply them effectively in athletes, so that a better medical network can be established

Design a Patch Antenna Array to an Optimum Near Field Distribution in the Near-Zone for RFID Applications

The popularity of RFID in recent years has boomed a variety of potential applica- tions in the commercial uses. Its successful applications rely strongly on the applicable scenario to implement the system, where the radiation from the antenna plays a key factor of successful operation. Good radiation characteristics may help to reduce the interferences from surrounding structures. A scenario of antenna design is thus developed, which makes the antenna to radiate ¯elds with optimum ¯eld distributions in the near-zone of antenna. In particular, the design is based on the optimization of excitation weighting for phased array antennas. The antenna array is realized microstrip patch elements, which have advantages of easy implementation. This array will radiate electromagnetic ¯elds that are relatively uniform in the near-zone of array aperture for RFID applications. To simplify the implementation cost, the array feeding network is simpli¯ed by using equal power dividers in one dimension. In another dimension, an open-end transmis- sion line is used to create standing wave, which in conjunction with feeding microstrips allows one to control the phases and amplitudes of a row array. A prototype has been implemented to demonstrate the validity of this near-¯eld focused array. This design allows one to de¯ne a target zone that can be used as detection area of RFID tags as interested in the department store management system. Antenna design, as well as the design procedure, is presented. Numeri- cal simulations and experimental measurement are conducted and also presented to validate the concept

Childhood otitis media: Relationship with daycare attendance, harsh parenting, and maternal mental health.

Psychological stress has been linked to developmental problems and poor health in children, but it is unclear whether it is also related to otitis media (OM). As part of a long-term study surveying the characteristics of childcare and development in Taiwan, we analyzed the relationship between OM and sources of psychological stress in children, such as poor maternal mental health and harsh parental discipline. We analyzed the data of 1998 children from the "Kids in Taiwan: National Longitudinal Study of Child Development & Care (KIT) Project" at the age of 3 years. Using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models, we tested several risk factors as potential independent predictors of two outcomes: parent-reported incidence of OM and child health. The proportion of children who had developed OM in the first 3 years of their life was 12.5%. Daycare attendance (odds ratio [OR]: 1.475; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.063-2.046), poor maternal mental health (OR: 1.913; 95% CI: 1.315-2.784), and harsh parental discipline (OR: 1.091; 95% CI: 1.025-1.161) correlated with parent-reported occurrence of OM. These findings suggest that providing psychosocial support to both parents and children might be a novel strategy for preventing OM