Auditing the Representation of Female Athletes in Sports Medicine Research: Fifth-Metatarsal Fractures

A grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the author's publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.Background: Female representation within athletics has increased as a result of Title IX, rising popularity, demand for equal compensation, and greater participation in multiple sports. Despite this, gender disparities in sports medicine research are apparent. This project serves to review the literature available on fifth-metatarsal fractures and assess the representation of female athletes in current literature. Methods: We used a standardized protocol to audit the representation of female athletes in sports science and sports medicine research for fifth-metatarsal fractures. Primary factors included population, athletic caliber, menstrual status, research theme, sample of males and females, journal impact factor, and Altmetric score. Results: Thirty articles met the inclusion criteria. A total of 472 fifth-metatarsal fractures were identified, with 373 of 472 fractures (79%) occurring in males and 99 of 472 (21%) in females. The majority of studies (18/30, 60%) were mixed cohort, followed by 10 male only (33.33%), 1 female only (3.33%), and 1 male vs female (3.33%). Out of 831 total patients in the 18 mixed-cohort studies, 605 of 831 patients (72.8%) were male and 226 of 831 patients (27%) were female. All 18 mixed-sex cohorts investigated health outcomes. Male-only studies evaluated health outcomes and performance metrics. No studies investigated female performance. The one female-only study investigated health outcomes and was the only study to account for menstrual status. There was a single metatarsal fracture in this study population. Conclusion: Females are underrepresented in research regarding sports science and sports medicine research for fifth-metatarsal fractures. Research focused on female-only fifth-metatarsal fracture studies exploring the potential impact of female sex–specific factors such as menstrual status in study design are needed

A Cognitive Computational Approach to Social and Collective Decision-Making

Collective dynamics play a key role in everyday decision-making. Whether social influence promotes the spread of accurate information and ultimately results in adaptive behavior or leads to false information cascades and maladaptive social contagion strongly depends on the cognitive mechanisms underlying social interactions. Here we argue that cognitive modeling, in tandem with experiments that allow collective dynamics to emerge, can mechanistically link cognitive processes at the individual and collective levels. We illustrate the strength of this cognitive computational approach with two highly successful cognitive models that have been applied to interactive group experiments: evidence-accumulation and reinforcement-learning models. We show how these approaches make it possible to simultaneously study (a) how individual cognition drives social systems, (b) how social systems drive individual cognition, and (c) the dynamic feedback processes between the two layers

The Moderation Effect of Approach Motivation Between Schizotypy and Creative Ideational Behavior

Introduction The schizotypy-creativity link has been studied from different perspectives over the past few decades, yet the results of this relationship are inconsistent in the literature. Previous studies have suggested that two basic motivational systems—Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS, avoidance motivation) and Behavioral Activation System (BAS, approach motivation)—underlie the relationship between schizotypy and creativity. Few empirical studies, however, have examined how the relationship interacts with other variables. This study fills these gaps and explores the role of the approach and avoidance motivation assessed by trait behavioral activation and inhibition in the link between schizotypy as a dimensional personality trait and creative ideational behavior as a measure of creativity. Method Undergraduate students (N = 388) completed questionnaires including the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) measuring 3 dimensions of schizotypy, Runco Ideational Behavior Scale (RIBS) measuring creative ideational behavior, and BIS/BAS Scales measuring trait behavioral motivation. Bivariate Pearson correlation was computed, and hierarchical linear regression was performed to explore the effects of schizotypy, BIS/BAS, and their interaction on creative ideational behavior. The conditional effect of schizotypy based on different levels of the moderator was further tested. Results The total score, positive dimension and disorganized dimension of SPQ were all positively correlated with RIBS, BAS, and BIS. Negative dimension of SPQ was not significantly correlated with the RIBS score but was positively correlated with BIS. Additionally, after controlling gender and age, BAS significantly moderated the relationship between the positive and disorganized dimensions of schizotypy and creative ideational behavior measured by RIBS. However, BIS was not a significant moderator. Discussion The findings of this study regarding the relationships between different dimensions of schizotypy, two motivational systems, and creative ideational behavior were mostly consistent with previous findings. The significant moderated effect of BAS on the relationship between two dimensions of schizotypy and creative ideational behavior made significant contributions to the understanding of the relationship between schizotypy and creativity

Prevalence of Pathogenic Microbes within the Endometrium in Normal Weight vs. Obese Women with Infertility

A grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the author's publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.This study investigates the association between body mass index (BMI) and the composition of the endometrial microbiota in infertile women of childbearing age. This is a retrospective clinical study comparing the endometrial microbiota across body weight in 132 patients presenting for care at an infertility clinic. The reason for infertility was recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) or implantation failure with a prior IVF cycle. Microbe analysis was completed by Igenomix Laboratory (Valencia, Spain) using two comprehensive panels. Patients were separated into three groups based on their results: normal, dysbiotic, and pathogenic. Prevalence of these groups was compared across BMI categories and statistical analysis was used to determine significance. Of the 132 endometrial samples collected, 80 (60.6%) were normal, 16 (12.1%) were dysbiotic, and 36 (27.3%) were pathogenic. Patients with a BMI ≥ 30 showed a statistically significant increase in pathogenic endometrium compared to normal weight controls (p = 0.029). Our conclusion is that the prevalence of pathogenic endometrium was significantly higher in the obese group compared with normal weight controls. There is a possible association between obesity and the endometrial microbiome. Keywords: microbiome; obesity; BMI; Lactobacillus; infertility; endometriu

Modern Antitrust Meets Modern Rulemaking: Evaluating the Potential of FTC Competition Rulemaking

In January 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) proposed its first discretionary competition rule in fifty-seven years and its second such rule ever. In light of the proposed Non-Compete Clause Rule, this Article explores complexities and nuances surrounding the FTC’s move toward competition rulemaking. We examine historical context and recent policy developments that have shaped the FTC’s increased interest in rulemaking. In the context of administrative and regulatory mechanisms that could safeguard rulemaking, this Article posits that the FTC should proceed with rulemaking, but with caution. Highlighting the challenges specific to antitrust rulemaking, we advocate for nuanced rulemaking that incorporates presumptive rules, non-binding guidelines, and specific exceptions. This Article also advocates for the FTC’s use of modern rulemaking strategies such as experimental rulemaking, retrospective review, and Cost-Benefit Analysis. We propose how rulemaking analysis may consider non-consumer-welfare concerns, such as distributional and political effects, alongside the traditional assessment of consumer welfare. Examples are discussed, including exclusionary conduct and mergers

Electric field-enhanced backscatter interferometry detection for capillary electrophoresis

Backscatter interferometry (BSI) is a refractive index (RI) detection method that is easily integrated with capillary electrophoresis (CE) and is capable of detecting species ranging from inorganic ions to proteins without additional labels or contrast agents. The BSI signal changes linearly with the square of the separation voltage which has been used to quantify sample injection, but has not been explored as a potential signal enhancement mechanism in CE. Here we develop a mathematical model that predicts a signal enhancement at high field strengths, where the BSI signal is dominated by the voltage dependent mechanism. This is confirmed in both simulation and experiment, which show that the analyte peak area grows linearly with separation voltage at high field strengths. This effect can be exploited by adjusting the background electrolyte (BGE) to increase the conductivity difference between the BGE and analyte zones, which is shown to improve BSI performance. We also show that this approach has utility in small bore capillaries where larger separation fields can be applied before excess Joule heating degrades the separation. Unlike other optical detection methods that generally degrade as the optical pathlength is reduced, the BSI signal-to-noise can improve in small bore capillaries as the larger separation fields enhance the signal

Land-cover change in Cuba and implications for the area of distribution of a specialist's host-plant

Changes in land cover directly affect biodiversity. Here, we assessed land-cover change in Cuba in the past 35 years and analyzed how this change may affect the distribution of plants and moths. We analyzed the vegetation cover of the Cuban archipelago for 1985 and 2020. We used Google Earth Engine to classify two satellite image compositions into seven cover types: forest and shrubs, mangrove, soil without vegetation cover, wetlands, pine forest, agriculture, and water bodies. We considered four different areas for quantifications of land-cover change: (1) Cuban archipelago, (2) protected areas, (3) areas of potential distribution of , and (4) areas of potential distribution of the plant within the protected areas. We found that "forest and shrubs", which is cover type in which populations have been reported, has increased significantly in Cuba in the past 35 years, and that most of the gained forest and shrub areas were agricultural land in the past. This same pattern was observed in the areas of potential distribution of ; whereas almost all cover types were mostly stable inside the protected areas. The transformation of agricultural areas into forest and shrubs could represent an interesting opportunity for biodiversity conservation in Cuba. Other detailed studies about biodiversity composition in areas of forest and shrubs gain would greatly benefit our understanding of the value of such areas for conservation

One Hundred and Fifty Years of Change on the Great Plains

This book presents pairs of photographs from across the Great Plains, taken in 1873-1874 and in 2021-2023. It has been presented as an open-access ebook, and is also available in hard-copy format on a print-on-demand basis at https://www.lulu.com/shop/a-townsend-peterson/one-hundred-and-fifty-years-of-change-on-the-great-plains/hardcover/product-gjg74wm.html Note: This ebook is best viewed in two-page spreads, so you can compare the old and new photographs side-by-side.Robert Benecke (1835-1903) was a St. Louis photographer who was hired by the Kansas Pacific Railroad to take promotional photographs along the entire length of the Railroad. Benecke traveled from Kansas City to Denver in the early 1870s, creating a rich legacy of views of the Great Plains at a very early date. In this book, Benecke's landscape photographs are paired with new photographs of the same views. Comparing the old and new photographs, the reader can appreciate how the region has changed in terms of its landscape, vegetation, and human and natural systems over the 150 year time span

Familial Alzheimer mutations stabilize synaptotoxic γ-secretase-substrate complexes

A grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the author's publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.Mutations that cause familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) are found in amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin, the catalytic component of γ-secretase, that together produce amyloid β-peptide (Aβ). Nevertheless, whether Aβ is the primary disease driver remains controversial. We report here that FAD mutations disrupt initial proteolytic events in the multistep processing of APP substrate C99 by γ-secretase. Cryoelectron microscopy reveals that a substrate mimetic traps γ-secretase during the transition state, and this structure aligns with activated enzyme-substrate complex captured by molecular dynamics simulations. In silico simulations and in cellulo fluorescence microscopy support stabilization of enzyme-substrate complexes by FAD mutations. Neuronal expression of C99 and/or presenilin-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans leads to synaptic loss only with FAD-mutant transgenes. Designed mutations that stabilize the enzyme-substrate complex and block Aβ production likewise led to synaptic loss. Collectively, these findings implicate the stalled process—not the products—of γ-secretase cleavage of substrates in FAD pathogenesis

Fixed-Stress Systems

Slavic languages are noted for their historical preservation of elements of a pitch-accent system that was characteristic of Proto-Slavic and is closely related to an analogous system in Baltic, which are characterized by lexically determined paradigmatic-stress patterns, each with distinct distributions of pitch and stress placement. In subsets of the modern Slavic languages, systems with fixed stress have developed, most notably in West Slavic (Czech, Slovak, Polish, Kashubian, and Upper and Lower Sorbian) and South Slavic (Macedonian). The entry treats the synchronic distribution of such systems, variations found in regional varieties, and partially fixed systems. A sketch of views on historical motivations for and processes leading to fixed systems is also presented