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Developmental trajectory inference is the task of estimating the paths followed by cells over time as they develop (divide, die and differentiate) in a biological population. In this work we consider the problem of inferring developmental trajectories at single-cell resolution from time courses of dynamic populations which contain observations of cell developmental state, as such gene expression from single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and shared ancestry through lineage tracing. We focus on the setting in which shared ancestry data is obtained from static DNA barcodes, such as those inserted via lentiviral vectors, observed over multiple time points. DNA barcode data allows us to cluster cells across the time course into clones (cells with a common ancestor at some earlier time), and hence they are referred to as multi-time clonal barcodes. Our research reveals that in populations with heterogeneous growth rates, sampling can induce a bias in the cell type proportions represented in the multi-time clonal barcodes. We prove the existence of this effect by simple analysis of probabilities, and validate our arguments with proportions from simulations. Furthermore, we show using simulated data that it is possible for this bias to impact fate probability predictions from state-of-the-art methods for trajectory inference which incorporate multi-time clonal barcode information and cell state. There is only one current method in the literature, CoSpar [1], of this type. However in our research we have also developed an extension of another method, LineageOT [2], which uses only cell state and clonal barcode information from single time points, adapting the method to use both single- and multi-time clonal barcode data. Though this extension improves the performance of the original method, evaluated on simulated data, we find that the performance gains may be impacted by the bias effect we have uncovered. Given the potential for application of trajectory inference results to biomedical technologies and treatments, understanding and improving the accuracy of these methods is crucial. Our goal for these contributions is to inform researchers of this bias and stimulate the development of methods related to reducing its impact on trajectory inference.

BackgroundMany pregnant people find no bridge to ongoing specialty or primary care after giving birth, even when clinical and social complications of pregnancy signal need. Black, indigenous, and all other women of color are especially harmed by fragmented care and access disparities, coupled with impacts of racism over the life course and in health care.MethodsWe launched the initiative "Bridging the Chasm between Pregnancy and Health across the Life Course" in 2018, bringing together patients, advocates, providers, researchers, policymakers, and systems innovators to create a National Agenda for Research and Action. We held a 2-day conference that blended storytelling, evidence analysis, and consensus building to identify key themes related to gaps in care and root causes of inequities. In 2019, more than 70 stakeholders joined six working groups to reach consensus on strategic priorities based on equity, innovation, effectiveness, and feasibility.FindingsWorking groups identified six key strategic areas for bridging the chasm. These include: 1) progress toward eliminating institutional and interpersonal racism and bias as a requirement for accreditation of health care institutions, 2) infrastructure support for community-based organizations, 3) extension of holistic team-based care to the postpartum year and beyond, with integration of doulas and community health workers on the team, 4) extension of Medicaid coverage and new quality and pay-for-performance metrics to link maternity care and primary care, 5) systems to preserve maternal narratives and data across providers, and 6) alignment of research with women's lived experiences.ConclusionsThe resulting agenda presents a path forward to remedy the structural chasms in women's health care, with key roles for advocates, policymakers, researchers, health care leaders, educators, and the media.

This thesis applies feminist perspectives to explore girls’ engagement with Maker technologies in schools not as a politically neutral endeavour but rather a socio-political exercise. To improve girls' access to STEM-related pathways, several feminist interventions are proposed to disrupt fixed understandings of gender operating inside school structures and schooling practices.

Sustainable practices meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Applying these concepts to food and feed production, nutritional sustainability is the ability of a food system to provide sufficient energy and essential nutrients required to maintain good health in a population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their nutritional needs. Ecological, social, and economic aspects must be balanced to support the sustainability of the overall food system. The nutritional sustainability of a food system can be influenced by several factors, including the ingredient selection, nutrient composition, digestibility, and consumption rates of a diet. Carbon and water footprints vary greatly among plant- and animal-based ingredients, production strategy, and geographical location. Because the pet food industry is based largely on by-products and is tightly interlinked with livestock production and the human food system, however, it is quite unique with regard to sustainability. Often based on consumer demand rather than nutritional requirements, many commercial pet foods are formulated to provide nutrients in excess of current minimum recommendations, use ingredients that compete directly with the human food system, or are overconsumed by pets, resulting in food wastage and obesity. Pet food professionals have the opportunity to address these challenges and influence the sustainability of pet ownership through product design, manufacturing processes, public education, and policy change. A coordinated effort across the industry that includes ingredient buyers, formulators, and nutritionists may result in a more sustainable pet food system.

This study investigates the 10-year course and impact of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)-related helping (AAH), step-work, and meeting attendance on long-term outcomes. Data were derived from 226 treatment-seeking alcoholics recruited from an outpatient site in Project MATCH and followed for 10 years post treatment. Alcohol consumption, AA participation, and other-oriented behavior were assessed at baseline, end of the 3-month treatment period, and 1, 3, and 10 years post treatment. Controlling for explanatory baseline and time-varying variables, results showed significant direct effects of AAH and meeting attendance on reduced alcohol outcomes and a direct effect of AAH on improved other-oriented interest.

Electric vehicle (EV) user trials have been performed by a major UK electricity utility in cooperation with an automobile manufacture in order to determine the impact of domestic user charging on the regional power distribution system. Charging facilities are made available within the users’ homes; delay timers are included and a dual electricity tariff is offered. User charging behaviour must be seen in the context of the wider household activity and has a significant influence on the EV charging demand. Unconstrained charging behaviours have been examined for two types of EV and two different associated charge rates. LV network models have been constructed in OpenDSS to assist in the determination of potential future impacts of EV charging demand. This paper presents the key finds of the LV network impact analysis, including peak power demand and voltage deviation.

The present studies were conducted to determine the effects of obesity on insulin resistance, inflammatory state and risk for laminitis, and the effectiveness of exercise training to reduce obesity and insulin resistance in equids. Practical methods of assessing adiposity were developed and verified, including a condition scoring system for neck crest adiposity and morphometric measurements for generalized (girth:height) and localized (neck circumference:height) adiposity. Evaluation of 74 and 57 pony mares in March of two consecutive years resulted in the identification of predictive tests for incipient pasture-associated laminitis, including hyperinsulinemia (> 32 mU/L), hyperleptinemia (> 7.3 ng/mL), and generalized (body condition score ≥ 7) and localized (cresty neck score ≥ 4) obesity. Induction of obesity in 13 Arabian geldings by 4 months of overfeeding resulted in compensated insulin resistance (minimal model analysis) with hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia. Although lipid concentrations (nonesterified fatty acids and triglyceride) decreased on a high concentrate diet, they did not differ before and after weight gain. The resulting obesity-induced insulin resistance was accompanied by an increase in chemokine (monocyte chemoattractant protein [MCP]-1, MCP-2, interleukin [IL]-8) but not inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]α, IL-1β, IL-6) mRNA expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Additionally, there was a decrease in plasma TNFα protein concentration with weight gain. By using 12 of the obese, insulin resistant Arabian geldings (8 exercised, 4 control) it was demonstrated that 8 weeks of moderate intensity exercise training reduced adiposity (4% reduction in body weight, 35% reduction in fat mass) without affecting glucose and insulin dynamics or plasma hormone and lipid concentrations. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the impact obesity has on metabolism and risk for laminitis in equids, and that exercise training may provide an effective countermeasure for the reduction of obesity. Ph. D.

The objective of these studies was to contribute to the understanding and assessment of thyroid function in horses. The first study evaluated methods of assessing thyroid function in horses, including validation of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for measuring equine thyroid hormones and development and assessment of a thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) response test. Our data indicated that EIA is an acceptable method for the measurement of total (T) and free (F) thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in equine plasma. Its measurements are not equivalent to values obtained by radioimmunoassay (RIA), but they can be calibrated to predict corresponding RIA values. A protocol was developed for TRH response tests involving administration of 1 mg TRH intravenously, with blood sample collection immediately before, 2.5, 5.0, and 24 h after administration. Analysis of plasma TT4, FT4, TT3, and FT3 revealed that the magnitude of hormone response was best approximated by the area under the curve of hormone plotted against time and by the absolute change in thyroid hormone concentration. Baseline concentrations, peak concentrations, and percent of baseline values were not as well able to predict the magnitude of hormone response. The second study assessed the effects of exercise and feed composition on thyroid status. Thirteen mature Arabian geldings, adapted to either a high sugar and starch (SS) or high fat and fiber (FF) feed, underwent 15 wk of exercise training followed by a treadmill exercise test. The TRH response tests performed before training, after training, and the morning after the exercise test revealed that the exercise test decreased the TT4 and FT4 response, whereas feeding of high levels of sugars and starches increased the response of TT3 and FT3. During the first four weeks of training, increased TT4 and FT4 concentrations occurred simultaneously with increased nonesterified fatty acid concentrations, decreased triglyceride concentrations, and increased insulin sensitivity. The increase in TT4 and FT4 may have provided the cellular signaling necessary for increased lipolysis and insulin sensitivity. These metabolic changes facilitate the increases in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism that are needed to fulfill the additional energy requirements of regular exercise. The third study assessed thyroid status in ponies with different laminitic histories. Total T4, FT4, TT3, and FT3 were measured during March and May 2004 in 126 ponies that were categorized as either previously laminitic (PL; n = 54) or never laminitic (NL; n = 72) and evaluated for current laminitis in May (CL; n = 13). Decreased concentrations of TT4 and FT4 were found in PL ponies when compared to NL ponies in March (P = 0.018, 0.020) and May (P = 0.018, 0.001). However, TT4 and FT4 concentrations in CL ponies were not different than concentrations in NL ponies in May (P = 0.82, 0.72), and when retrospectively separated out in March, were not different than NL ponies (P = 0.90, 0.84). Therefore, basal thyroid hormone concentrations are not useful as a predictor or hormonal characteristic of pasture-associated laminitis. The decreased TT4 and FT4 in PL ponies may be an indication of a response or compensation to laminitis and may facilitate the metabolic changes necessary to cope with the disease. Master of Science

troduction This paper is intended to provide update on dissertation research currently underway. Overall, my research focuses on the relationships between the growers, distributors, marketers and consumers participating in the commodity chain of a particular product, table grapes, as they are sourced from a single region and marketed throughout the world. Specifically, I am following the path of table grapes from fields near the city of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, through re-packing and distribution centered in the border city of Nogales, Arizona, to their ultimate destination in American supermarkets and homes. I am particularly interested in the role of U.S.-based transnational corporations involved in the global sourcing and marketing of fresh produce, including produce companies such as Dole, Del Monte and Chiquita, as well as supermarket chains including Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway. By focusing on a single region’s production of table grapes, and then examining the local and global implications of this production through a multisited ethnography of a linked series of contexts, my research is intended to shed light on the impacts of globalization on individuals, communities and business institutions.This commodity chain study began with the table grape growers. I have spent the last nine months living in Hermosillo, conducting interviews, analyzing historical and statistical materials, and generally becoming familiar with growers and their world. I have also mapped out who the primary distributors in the area are, made contacts with some of them and gained a greater understanding of their role.At the same time, I have been reading trade publications of the fresh produce industry, such as The Packer and Global Produce, in order to become more familiar with the industry in which my case study is located. I have conducted research via these industry publications and the Internet on specific companies involved with Sonoran table grapes and fresh produce in general, and also reviewed more of the literature on global food system change, particularly as it relates to the fresh produce industry.Through the course of the research thus far, it has become apparent that my original proposal contained several assumptions about the roles and relative power of each link of the commodity chain that have since been proven false, or have at least required some revision. Thus after providing an overview of the Sonoran table grape industry, this paper will examine some of these underlying assumptions, and the factors that contradict them.

A collection of folklore and local history stories from Dúndroma (school) (Dundrum, Co. Tipperary), collected as part of the Schools' Folklore Scheme, 1937-1938 under the supervision of teacher Mrs Ester Jackson., Once upon a time there were two giants. / Carter, Bella -- Hidden Treasure / Jackson, Irene -- Local Place Names / Carter, Bella -- Local History / Jackson, Irene -- Dundrum National School / Jackson, Irene -- Riddles / Johnston, Susie -- Riddles / Carter, Bella -- Riddles / Weston, Betty -- Weather-Lore / Johnston, Susie -- Weather-Lore / Carter, Rebecca -- Weather-Lore / Graves, Joan -- Old Sayings / Carter, Bella -- Old Sayings / Graves, Joan -- Place Names / Weston, Betty -- Place Names / Jackson, Irene -- Place Names / Johnston, Susie -- Mass Path / Johnston, Susie -- Kill Field / Johnston, Susie -- Old Sayings / Carter, Bella -- Weather-Lore / Carter, Tom -- Fairy Sow / Jackson, Irene -- Fairy Stories / Carter, Bella -- Once upon a time there lived a boy and he would not do anything his mother or father told him. / Carter, Bella -- Fairy Stories / Carter, Bella -- Witch / Carter, Rebecca -- Old Fairy Story / Howard, Hilda -- Man and the Rats / Johnston, Susie -- Man in the Moon / Carter, Tom -- Funny Story / Johnston, Susie -- Old Crafts - Rope-Making / Johnston, Susie -- Old Crafts - Making Clogs / Carter, Tom -- Old Crafts - A Walking Stick / Carter, Tom -- Old Crafts - Shoeing Horses / Graves, Robert -- Old Crafts - A Chair / Carter, Tom -- Old Crafts - A Pounder / Maxwell, Phyllis -- Old Crafts - A Bread-Board / Maxwell, Phyllis -- Old Crafts - A Suggan Chair / Maxwell, Phyllis -- Story of Saint Patrick / Carter, Tom -- Fairy Story / Carter, Rebecca -- Fairy Forts / Graves, Joan -- Fairy Forts / Graves, Joan -- Fairy Forts / Graves, Joan -- Fairy Story / Johnston, Susie -- Fort Story / Johnston, Susie -- There is an old fort on Mr English's farm in the townland of Carhue, parish of Donohill. / Maxwell, Phyllis -- Giants / Carter, Bella -- Old Houses / Graves, Joan -- Old Story / Carter, Rebecca -- Story / Johnston, Susie -- Local Heroes / Carter, Bella -- Apparent Lake-Dwelling / Jackson, Irene -- Food in Olden Times / Jackson, Irene -- Bread / Jackson, Irene -- Food in Olden Times / Carter, Rebecca -- Churning / Carter, Bella -- Churning - Local Story / Carter, Bella -- Two Curious Stones / Graves, Joan -- Long ago people used to believe in fairies. / Carter, Bella -- Local Cures / Carter, Bella -- Trance / Carter, Rebecca -- Fireside Game / Maxwell, Phyllis -- Local Games / Carter, Tom -- Fox and Geese / Carter, Bella -- Games I Play - Chip Chop Cherry / Johnston, Susie -- Old Pillar Stones / Graves, Robert -- Old Dundrum Mill / Graves, Robert -- Old Stone / Carter, Tom -- Holy Well / Graves, Robert -- Old Ruined Castle / Howard, Hilda -- Castle of Ballinaclough / Graves, Joan -- Castle of Ballysheeda / Maxwell, Phyllis -- Our Wild Animals / Johnston, Susie -- Our Birds / Carter, Tom -- Rhymes / Jackson, Irene -- Old Stories - A Fairy Story / Howard, Hilda -- Old Stories - The Two Legs / Johnston, Susie -- Old Stories - The Best Land / Johnston, Susie -- Old Stories - Story / Johnston, Susie -- Animal Stories / Johnston, Susie -- Story / Johnston, Susie -- Old Time School / Howard, Hilda -- Our Wild Animals - The Deer / Jackson, Irene -- Deer / Carter, Tom -- Wild Animals / Graves, Bob -- My Home District / Howard, Hilda -- My Home District / Graves, Robert -- Garryduff East / Jackson, Irene -- Old School / Carter, Tom -- Herbs / Carter, Bella -- Local Weeds / Johnston, Susie -- Weeds / Carter, Tom -- Weeds / Maxwell, Phyllis -- Weeds / Graves, Robert -- Farm Animals / Johnston, Susie -- Our Farm Animals / Graves, Robert -- Growing Potatoes / Carter, Tom -- Our Potato Crop / Graves, Bob -- Our Potato Crop / Johnston, Susie -- Old Houses / Carter, Tom -- Our House / Carter, Bella -- Old House / Johnston, Susie -- Old Houses / Graves, Robert -- Local Fairs / Carter, Tom -- Travelling Folk / Jackson, Irene -- Old Graveyards / Carter, Tom -- A very long time ago there was a man and he had to pass through a graveyard to go to his work. / Carter, Bella -- There were two men once. / Carter, Rebecca -- Once upon a time there was a terrible drunkard. / Carter, Bella -- Local Roads / Carter, Tom -- Hill Road / Jackson, Irene -- Local Forge / Carter, Tom -- Local Cures / Jackson, Irene -- Goose / Carter, Bella -- Clever Fox / Carter, Bella -- Things We Make at Home / Howard, Hilda -- Things We Make at Home / Graves, Joan -- Local Cures / Carter, Rebecca -- Long ago the people used not to go (go to) the doctor as often they go now. / Carter, Bella -- Things We Make at Home / Graves, Joan -- Care of the Feet / Jackson, Irene -- Griddle / Carter, Bella -- Bird-Lore / Carter, Rebecca -- Bird-Lore / Carter, Tom -- Bird-Lore / Jackson, Irene -- Bird-Lore / Carter, Bella -- Great Famine / Carter, Bella -- Great Famine / Carter, Tom -- True Ghost Story / Jackson, Irene -- Ours / Johnston, Susie -- Crossing the Sea / Johnston, Susie -- Once upon a time there lived a boy and he would not do anything his father or mother told him. / Carter, Bella -- Ministry / Johnston, Susie -- Story / Carter, Bella -- Leprechauns / Carter, Rebecca -- Once upon a time was a woman, and she used to live in France. / Carter, Bella -- Tramp / Johnston, Susie -- Dentist / Johnston, Susie -- Long ago people used to believe in fairies. / Carter, Bella -- Story / Carter, Tom -- Local Patron Saint / Jackson, Irene -- Story of a Horse / Carter, Tom, Supported by funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Ireland), University College Dublin, and the National Folklore Foundation (Fondúireacht Bhéaloideas Éireann), 2014-2016.