No Difference in Transverse Abdominis Activation Ratio between Healthy and Asymptomatic Low Back Pain Patients during Therapeutic Exercise

Dysfunction of the transverse abdominis (TrA) has been associated with LBP. Several therapeutic exercises are prescribed to help target the TrA. Rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) is used to capture activation of the TrA during exercise. The purpose was to examine TrA activation during the ADIM and quadruped exercises between healthy and nonsymptomatic LBP patients. We instructed the subjects how to perform the exercises and measured muscle thickness of the TrA at rest and during the exercises using RUSI. This allowed us to calculate TrA activation ratio during these exercises. We found no significant differences between activation ratios of the two groups during either exercise; however TrA activation during the ADIM was higher than the quadruped exercise. These exercises were capable of activating the TrA, which may be in part due to the verbal instruction they received. These exercises could be used during prevention or rehabilitation programs, since the TrA is activated

The seasonal evolution of subglacial drainage pathways beneath a soft-bedded glacier

Subglacial hydrology is a key element in glacier response to climate change, but investigations of this environment are logistically difficult. Most models are based on summer data from glaciers resting on rigid bedrocks. However a significant number of glaciers rest on soft (unconsolidated sedimentary) beds. Here we present a unique multi-year instrumented record of the development of seasonal subglacial behavior associated with an Icelandic temperate glacier resting on a deformable sediment layer. We observe a distinct annual pattern in the subglacial hydrology based on self-organizing anastomosing braided channels. Water is stored within the subglacial system itself (till, braided system and ‘ponds’), allowing the rapid access of water to enable glacier speed-up events to occur throughout the year, particularly in winter.publishedVersio

Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes is caused by islet loss and inflammation

Cystic fibrosis-related (CF-related) diabetes (CFRD) is an increasingly common and devastating comorbidity of CF, affecting approximately 35% of adults with CF. However, the underlying causes of CFRD are unclear. Here, we examined cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) islet expression and whether the CFTR participates in islet endocrine cell function using murine models of beta cell CFTR deletion and normal and CF human pancreas and islets. Specific deletion of CFTR from murine beta cells did not affect beta cell function. In human islets, CFTR mRNA was minimally expressed, and CFTR protein and electrical activity were not detected. Isolated CF/CFRD islets demonstrated appropriate insulin and glucagon secretion, with few changes in key islet-regulatory transcripts. Furthermore, approximately 65% of beta cell area was lost in CF donors, compounded by pancreatic remodeling and immune infiltration of the islet. These results indicate that CFRD is caused by beta cell loss and intraislet inflammation in the setting of a complex pleiotropic disease and not by intrinsic islet dysfunction from CFTR mutation

Applying Memory Science to the Classroom: Effects of Reading Questions and Answer Keys on Test Scores

Instructors and students are constantly searching for effective ways to increase reading comprehension. Cognitive science would suggest that both additional assessment as described by the testing effect and timely feedback would increase comprehension. Our study investigated the effect of assigning reading questions on the quiz scores of undergraduate students. We also examined the effect of giving students an answer key versus verbal feedback on final quiz scores. Prior to the intervention, students completed a reading and then were given a pre-test group activity and post-test during class. Researchers selected certain class sections to complete ungraded questions prior to class as well as selecting sections to receive answer keys during the group activity. We found that students who completed reading questions had significantly higher initial quiz scores than those who did not complete reading questions. Results also showed that students who had an answer key during their class activity scored significantly higher on their final quiz than those who reviewed the answers with an instructor. This research provides insight into maximizing student tests scores and improving reading comprehension. This technique can be applied to fields outside of an educational setting to increase initial understanding of material

Hunter-Gatherer Residential Mobility and the Marginal Value of Rainforest Patches

The residential mobility patterns of modern hunter-gatherers broadly reflect local resource availability, but the proximate ecological and social forces that determine the timing of camp movements are poorly known. We tested the hypothesis that the timing of such moves maximizes foraging efficiency as hunter-gatherers move across the landscape. The marginal value theorem predicts when a group should depart a camp and its associated foraging area and move to another based on declining marginal return rates. This influential model has yet to be directly applied in a population of hunter-gatherers, primarily because the shape of gain curves (cumulative resource acquisition through time) and travel times between patches have been difficult to estimate in ethnographic settings. We tested the predictions of the marginal value theorem in the context of hunter-gatherer residential mobility using historical foraging data from nomadic, socially egalitarian Batek hunter-gatherers (n = 93 d across 11 residential camps) living in the tropical rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia. We characterized the gain functions for all resources acquired by the Batek at daily timescales and examined how patterns of individual foraging related to the emergent property of residential movements. Patterns of camp residence times conformed well with the predictions of the marginal value theorem, indicating that communal perceptions of resource depletion are closely linked to collective movement decisions. Despite (and perhaps because of) a protracted process of deliberation and argument about when to depart camps, Batek residential mobility seems to maximize group-level foraging efficiency

Age-dependent human beta cell proliferation induced by glucagon-like peptide 1 and calcineurin signaling

Inadequate pancreatic beta cell function underlies type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Strategies to expand functional cells have focused on discovering and controlling mechanisms that limit the proliferation of human beta cells. Here, we developed an engraftment strategy to examine age-associated human islet cell replication competence and reveal mechanisms underlying age-dependent decline of beta cell proliferation in human islets. We found that exendin-4 (Ex-4), an agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R), stimulates human beta cell proliferation in juvenile but not adult islets. This age-dependent responsiveness does not reflect loss of GLP-1R signaling in adult islets, since Ex-4 treatment stimulated insulin secretion by both juvenile and adult human beta cells. We show that the mitogenic effect of Ex-4 requires calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling. In juvenile islets, Ex-4 induced expression of calcineurin/NFAT signaling components as well as target genes for proliferation-promoting factors, including NFATC1, FOXM1, and CCNA1. By contrast, expression of these factors in adult islet beta cells was not affected by Ex-4 exposure. These studies reveal age-dependent signaling mechanisms regulating human beta cell proliferation, and identify elements that could be adapted for therapeutic expansion of human beta cells

Численный анализ распространения и усиления волн цунами на северо-западном шельфе Черного моря

Выполнен численный анализ распространения длинных волн в северо-западной части Черного моря. Рассмотрено 10 возможных зон сейсмической генерации цунами. Расчеты выполнены на сетке с шагом 500 м. Показано, что положение очага цунами существенно влияет на распределение высот волн вдоль побережья. Как правило, наиболее интенсивные волны формируются у ближайшего участка берега. Землетрясения в Южнобережной сейсмической зоне не могут привести к цунамиопасности в западной части моря. Только сильные землетрясения в северо-западной части способны вызывать заметные колебания уровня Черного моря. Период цунами в районе Одессы составляет около 1 ч и зависит от магнитуды землетрясения, в районе Севастополя он в 2 – 3 раза меньше. В большинстве пунктов побережья экстремальные подъемы и понижения уровня моря не превышают по абсолютной величине начального смещения поверхности моря в очаге цунами. Для отдельных участков побережья Румынии и западного побережья Крыма наблюдается некоторое усиление волн, излученных из зон генерации, расположенных в более глубоководной части исследуемого района. С ростом магнитуды землетрясения усиление волн у берега становится более значительным.Виконаний чисельний аналіз розповсюдження довгих хвиль у північно-західній частині Чорного моря. Розглянуто 10 можливих зон сейсмічної генерації цунамі. Розрахунки виконані на сітці з кроком 500 м. Показано, що положення осередку цунамі суттєво впливає на розподіл висот хвиль уздовж побережжя. Як правило, найінтенсивніші хвилі формуються близько найближчої ділянки берега. Землетруси в південнобережній сейсмічній зоні не можуть призвести до цунамонебезпеки в західній частині моря. Лише сильні землетруси в північнозахідній частині здатні викликати помітні коливання рівня Чорного моря. Період цунамі в районі Одеси складає близько 1 години і залежить від магнітуди землетрусу, в районі Севастополя він в 2 – 3 рази менший. У більшості пунктів побережжя екстремальні підйоми і пониження рівня моря не перевищують за абсолютною величиною початкового зсуву поверхні моря в осередку цунамі. Для окремих ділянок побережжя Румунії і західного побережжя Криму спостерігається деяке посилення хвиль, які випромінюють із зон генерації, розташованих в більш глибоководній частині досліджуваного району. Із зростанням магнітуди землетрусу посилення хвиль біля берега стає значнішим.Numerical analysis of long wave propagation in the Black Sea northwestern part is carried out. Ten possible zones of tsunami seismic generation are considered. The calculation are performed on the grid with a step 500 m. It is shown that location of tsunami source effects essentially the distribution of waves’ heights along the coast. As a rule, the most intensive waves are formed in the part closest to the coast. Earthquakes in the South coast seismic zone can not result in tsunami threat in the western part of the sea. Only strong earthquakes in the Black Sea northwestern part can generate noticeable sea level oscillations. Tsunami period near Odessa is about one hour and it depends on the earthquake magnitude. In the Sevastopol region it is 2 – 3 times lower. In the majority of coastal points extreme rises and falls of the sea level do not exceed the absolute value of the initial sea surface elevation in the tsunami source. Some intensification of the waves generated in deeper regions of the area under study is possible in certain parts of the Romanian coast and the Crimean western coast. The wave intensification near the coast grows with the increase of the earthquake magnitude

The Effectiveness of RNAi in Caenorhabditis elegans Is Maintained during Spaceflight

PublishedJournal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tThis is the final version of the article. Available from Public Library of Science via the DOI in this record.BACKGROUND: Overcoming spaceflight-induced (patho)physiologic adaptations is a major challenge preventing long-term deep space exploration. RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a promising therapeutic for combating diseases on Earth; however the efficacy of RNAi in space is currently unknown. METHODS: Caenorhabditis elegans were prepared in liquid media on Earth using standard techniques and treated acutely with RNAi or a vector control upon arrival in Low Earth Orbit. After culturing during 4 and 8 d spaceflight, experiments were stopped by freezing at -80°C until analysis by mRNA and microRNA array chips, microscopy and Western blot on return to Earth. Ground controls (GC) on Earth were simultaneously grown under identical conditions. RESULTS: After 8 d spaceflight, mRNA expression levels of components of the RNAi machinery were not different from that in GC (e.g., Dicer, Argonaute, Piwi; P>0.05). The expression of 228 microRNAs, of the 232 analysed, were also unaffected during 4 and 8 d spaceflight (P>0.05). In spaceflight, RNAi against green fluorescent protein (gfp) reduced chromosomal gfp expression in gonad tissue, which was not different from GC. RNAi against rbx-1 also induced abnormal chromosome segregation in the gonad during spaceflight as on Earth. Finally, culture in RNAi against lysosomal cathepsins prevented degradation of the muscle-specific α-actin protein in both spaceflight and GC conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with RNAi works as effectively in the space environment as on Earth within multiple tissues, suggesting RNAi may provide an effective tool for combating spaceflight-induced pathologies aboard future long-duration space missions. Furthermore, this is the first demonstration that RNAi can be utilised to block muscle protein degradation, both on Earth and in space.This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and “Ground-Based Research Announcement for Space Utilization” promoted by the Japan Space Forum. TE was supported by the Medical Research Council UK (G0801271). NJS was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH NIAMS ARO54342). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

A Guide to Conscious Editing at Wilson Special Collections Library

This is the final version of The Guide to Conscious Editing for Wilson Special Collections Library. The work was created by the Conscious Editing Steering Committee for the University Libraries of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Between September 2019 and April 2022, more than twenty archivists, librarians, and humanities scholars contributed to the Guide