A Two-Method Comparison of Muscle Testing the Serratus Anterior: Daniels and Worthingham vs. Kendall and Mccreary

The purpose of this study was to compare the amount of force produced by the left serratus anterior muscle when using two methods of muscle testing. Thirty subjects (5 men, 25 women) participated in this study. A manual muscle test was performed with each subject properly positioned for testing a good to normal muscle grade using the Daniels and Worthingham and Kendall and McCreary methods of muscle testing. A practice test of each method was performed and a rest period of one and a half minutes was allowed between tests. A hand-held dynamometer, the Dynatron II, measured objective data. Strength was recorded in pounds of force. Results reveal a significant difference in force produced by the left serratus anterior muscle when using two methods of muscle testing. The Daniels and Worthingham method of muscle testing revealed a larger production of force with a mean value of 41.37 pounds of force. The mean value of force produced with the Kendall and McCreary method of muscle testing was 27.39 pounds of force. This is statistically significant at the .0001 criterion level. There is, however, a strong positive correlation between the two methods of muscle testing

The Impact of Generational Perceptions of Interactional Justice on Workplace Citizenship Behavior

This study is rooted in the concepts of social exchange theory and psychological contracts. It seeks to determine: (i) the effect of interactional justice on organizational citizenship behavior and (ii) if there is a generational impact on the effect of interactional justice on the dimensions of organizational citizenship behavior. The results show that interactional justice influences organizational behavior for the dimensions of altruism, conscientiousness, courtesy and civic virtue. There was also support for a generational relationship. Contrary to the hypothesized relationship, it was found that the connection between interactional justice and organizational citizenship behavior was stronger for members of Gen X, as compared to the Millennial generation

Breaking Barriers: Strategies for Fostering Inclusivity in The Workplace

This paper focuses on promoting inclusivity in the workplace, particularly addressing equality and inequality issues. Its objective is to provide practical tips and advice to managers on fostering an inclusive workplace culture, recognizing the significance of inclusion for employee well-being and organizational success. The researchers define and discuss various forms of workplace inequality, examine root causes, and then present a comprehensive range of tactics managers can use to encourage diversity. The paper explores creating an inclusive work culture, implementing diversity and inclusion policies, ensuring fair hiring processes, addressing bias and discrimination, promoting diversity training, and providing equal chances for career growth. Furthermore, the paper delves into the obstacles that hinder the attainment of inclusivity, including resistance to change, unintentional prejudices, ignorance, and structural barriers. It supplements these discussions with best practices, illustrating successful examples of organizations that have effectively promoted inclusivity in the workplace. The methodology to be employed involves a qualitative research approach. The paper underscores the importance of promoting inclusivity and urges managers to address equality and inequality issues actively. By implementing these strategies, managers can cultivate a culture of equality where all employees can thrive and contribute to the company's success.This article is published as Garrick, A., Johnson, W. D., & Arendt, S. W. (2024). Breaking Barriers: Strategies for Fostering Inclusivity in The Workplace. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(2), 128–152. http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i2/20799. Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s

A proactive blueprint to demonstrate on-farm animal welfare

Farm animal welfare has become an increasing area of consumer and customer interest globally and this has resulted in dramatic changes related to on-farm accountability. Some markets are demanding an-on farm, transparent and accountable animal welfare program. Knowing what key elements are required is critical. Key elements range from (a) caretaker qualities; (b) record keeping and standard operating procedures (SOP) (c) animal- and resource based measures (d) communication and (e) caretaker empowerment. The ultimate on-farm welfare program goal is to provide the highest animal care. This review paper will provide context to these key elements that in turn can be used to create or improve an-farm animal welfare program

Pharmacometabolomics reveals racial differences in response to atenolol treatment.

Antihypertensive drugs are among the most commonly prescribed drugs for chronic disease worldwide. The response to antihypertensive drugs varies substantially between individuals and important factors such as race that contribute to this heterogeneity are poorly understood. In this study we use metabolomics, a global biochemical approach to investigate biochemical changes induced by the beta-adrenergic receptor blocker atenolol in Caucasians and African Americans. Plasma from individuals treated with atenolol was collected at baseline (untreated) and after a 9 week treatment period and analyzed using a GC-TOF metabolomics platform. The metabolomic signature of atenolol exposure included saturated (palmitic), monounsaturated (oleic, palmitoleic) and polyunsaturated (arachidonic, linoleic) free fatty acids, which decreased in Caucasians after treatment but were not different in African Americans (p<0.0005, q<0.03). Similarly, the ketone body 3-hydroxybutyrate was significantly decreased in Caucasians by 33% (p<0.0001, q<0.0001) but was unchanged in African Americans. The contribution of genetic variation in genes that encode lipases to the racial differences in atenolol-induced changes in fatty acids was examined. SNP rs9652472 in LIPC was found to be associated with the change in oleic acid in Caucasians (p<0.0005) but not African Americans, whereas the PLA2G4C SNP rs7250148 associated with oleic acid change in African Americans (p<0.0001) but not Caucasians. Together, these data indicate that atenolol-induced changes in the metabolome are dependent on race and genotype. This study represents a first step of a pharmacometabolomic approach to phenotype patients with hypertension and gain mechanistic insights into racial variability in changes that occur with atenolol treatment, which may influence response to the drug

Renal structure and hypertension in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Renal structure and hypertension in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Hypertension has been reported to occur in 50 to 75 percent of subjects with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) prior to the onset of marked renal insufficiency but concurrent with cystic deformation of the renal parenchyma. The present study was undertaken to examine whether the renal structural abnormalities are greater in hypertensive (HBP) versus normotensive (NBP) male and female patients with ADPKD who were matched within gender groups for age, body surface area, serum creatinine concentration (males HBP 1.2 ± 0.02 vs. NBP 1.1 ± 0.03 mg/dl, NS; females HBP 0.9 ± 0.03 vs. NBP 0.9 ± 0.02 mg/dl, NS) and creatinine clearance (males HBP 100 ± 3 vs. NBP 108 ± 3 ml/min/1.73 m2, NS; females HBP 97 ± 3 vs. NBP 96 ± 2 ml/min/1.73 m2, NS). Renal volume was significantly greater in the HBP compared to the NBP group (males HBP 624 ± 47 vs. NBP 390 ± 43 cm3, P < 0.0005; females HBP 466 ± 32 vs. NBP 338 ± 24 cm3, P < 0.002). Since increased renal volume is due to increased cysts, the results indicate that the early high incidence of hypertension in ADPKD correlates with the renal structural abnormalities in this disorder

Lessons Learned Study Final Report for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate

This report is the final product of a 90-day study performed for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. The study was to assemble lessons NASA has learned from previous programs that could help the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate pursue the Exploration vision. It focuses on those lessons that should have the greatest significance to the Directorate during the formulation of program and mission plans. The study team reviewed a large number of lessons learned reports and data bases, including the Columbia Accident Investigation Board and Rogers Commission reports on the Shuttle accidents, accident reports from robotic space flight systems, and a number of management reviews by the Defense Sciences Board, Government Accountability Office, and others. The consistency of the lessons, findings, and recommendations validate the adequacy of the data set. In addition to reviewing existing databases, a series of workshops was held at each of the NASA centers and headquarters that included senior managers from the current workforce as well as retirees. The full text of the workshop reports is included in Appendix A. A lessons learned website was opened up to permit current and retired NASA personnel and on-site contractors to input additional lessons as they arise. These new lessons, when of appropriate quality and relevance, will be brought to the attention of managers. The report consists of four parts: Part 1 provides a small set of lessons, called the Executive Lessons Learned, that represent critical lessons that the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate should act on immediately. This set of Executive Lessons and their supporting rationale have been reviewed at length and fully endorsed by a team of distinguished NASA alumni; Part 2 contains a larger set of lessons, called the Selected Lessons Learned, which have been chosen from the lessons database and center workshop reports on the basis of their specific significance and relevance to the near-term work of the Exploration Directorate. These lessons frequently support the Executive lessons but are more general in nature; Part 3 consists of the reports of the center workshops that were conducted as part of this activity. These reports are included in their entirety (approximately 200 pages) in Appendix G and have significance for specific managers; Part 4 consists of the remainder of the lessons that have been selected by this effort and assembled into a database for the use of the Explorations Directorate. The database is archived and hosted in the Lessons Learned Knowledge Network, which provides a flexible search capability using a wide variety of search terms. Finally, a spreadsheet lists databases searched and a bibliography identifies reports that have been reviewed as sources of lessons for this task. NASA has been presented with many learning opportunities. We have conducted numerous programs, some extremely successful and others total failures. Most have been documented with a formal lessons learned activity, but we have not always incorporated these learning opportunities into our normal modes of business. For example, the Robbins Report of 2001 clearly indicates that many project failures of the past two decades were the result of violating well documented best practices, often in direct violation of management instructions and directives. An overarching lesson emerges: that disciplined execution in accordance with proven best practices is the greatest single contributor to a successful program. The Lessons Learned task team offers a sincere hope that the lessons presented herein will be helpful to the Exploration Systems Directorate in charting and executing their course. The success of the Directorate and of NASA in general depends on our collective ability to move forward without having to relearn the lessons of those who have gone before

Springtime high surface ozone events over the western United States: Quantifying the role of stratospheric intrusions

The published literature debates the extent to which naturally occurring stratospheric ozone intrusions reach the surface and contribute to exceedances of the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone (75 ppbv implemented in 2008). Analysis of ozonesondes, lidar, and surface measurements over the western U.S. from April to June 2010 show that a global high-resolution (∼50 × 50 km2) chemistry-climate model (GFDL AM3) captures the observed layered features and sharp ozone gradients of deep stratospheric intrusions, representing a major improvement over previous chemical transport models. Thirteen intrusions enhanced total daily maximum 8-h average (MDA8) ozone to ∼70–86 ppbv at surface sites. With a stratospheric ozone tracer defined relative to a dynamically varying tropopause, we find that stratospheric intrusions can episodically increase surface MDA8 ozone by 20–40 ppbv (all model estimates are bias corrected), including on days when observed ozone exceeds the NAAQS threshold. These stratospheric intrusions elevated background ozone concentrations (estimated by turning off North American anthropogenic emissions in the model) to MDA8 values of 60–75 ppbv. At high-elevation western U.S. sites, the 25th–75th percentile of the stratospheric contribution is 15–25 ppbv when observed MDA8 ozone is 60–70 ppbv, and increases to ∼17–40 ppbv for the 70–85 ppbv range. These estimates, up to 2–3 times greater than previously reported, indicate a major role for stratospheric intrusions in contributing to springtime high-O3events over the high-altitude western U.S., posing a challenge for staying below the ozone NAAQS threshold, particularly if a value in the 60–70 ppbv range were to be adopted

Single-Dose Zoliflodacin (ETX0914) for Treatment of Urogenital Gonorrhea

BACKGROUND Antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae has prompted the development of new therapies. Zoliflodacin is a new antibiotic that inhibits DNA biosynthesis. In this multicenter, phase 2 trial, zoliflodacin was evaluated for the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea. METHODS We randomly assigned eligible men and women who had signs or symptoms of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea or untreated urogenital gonorrhea or who had had sexual contact in the preceding 14 days with a person who had gonorrhea to receive a single oral dose of zoliflodacin (2 g or 3 g) or a single 500-mg intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone in a ratio of approximately 70:70:40. A test of cure occurred within 6±2 days after treatment, followed by a safety visit 31±2 days after treatment. The primary efficacy outcome measure was the proportion of urogenital microbiologic cure in the microbiologic intention-to-treat (micro-ITT) population. RESULTS From November 2014 through December 2015, a total of 179 participants (167 men and 12 women) were enrolled. Among the 141 participants in the micro-ITT population who could be evaluated, microbiologic cure at urogenital sites was documented in 55 of 57 (96%) who received 2 g of zoliflodacin, 54 of 56 (96%) who received 3 g of zoliflodacin, and 28 of 28 (100%) who received ceftriaxone. All rectal infections were cured in all 5 participants who received 2 g of zoliflodacin and all 7 who received 3 g, and in all 3 participants in the group that received ceftriaxone. Pharyngeal infections were cured in 4 of 8 participants (50%), 9 of 11 participants (82%), and 4 of 4 participants (100%) in the groups that received 2 g of zoliflodacin, 3 g of zoliflodacin, and ceftriaxone, respectively. A total of 84 adverse events were reported: 24 in the group that received 2 g of zoliflodacin, 37 in the group that received 3 g of zoliflodacin, and 23 in the group that received ceftriaxone. According to investigators, a total of 21 adverse events were thought to be related to zoliflodacin, and most such events were gastrointestinal. CONCLUSIONS The majority of uncomplicated urogenital and rectal gonococcal infections were successfully treated with oral zoliflodacin, but this agent was less efficacious in the treatment of pharyngeal infections