Amateur Paleontological Societies and Fossil Clubs, Interactions with Professional Paleontologists, and Social Paleontology in the United States

Considerable interest exists among lifelong learners in the USA about fossils and the science of paleontology. Unlike some other science-related groups, e.g., astronomy and ornithology, interest in fossils among amateur paleontologists is primarily focused within local clubs and societies with little national coordination. This paper presents the results of formative evaluation of the FOSSIL project, conducted after the project “Kickoff” meeting held at the NAPC (North American Paleontological Convention) in 2014. FOSSIL is developing a national networked community of practice that includes amateur and professional paleontologists. Our research indicates that more than 60 amateur fossil clubs and societies exist in the USA, of which almost 40 have elected to be part of the FOSSIL network. Overarching goals of this program include enhanced collaborations between amateurs and professionals, knowledge-building about paleontology, access to resources for lifelong learning, and development a viable learning community of practice focused on topics of common and societal interest, such as collections (including digitization), evolution, climate change, and K-12 outreach. In addition to more traditional means such as list-serves and newsletters, FOSSIL is developing an online community (myFOSSIL) and using social media (Facebook and Twitter) to foster communication and interactions among stakeholders, and thus promoting the concept of “social paleontology”

EFFECT OF A SIX-WEEK NEUROMUSCULAR TRAINING PROGRAM ON VERTICAL STIFFNESS IN HEALTHY HIGH SCHOOL DISTANCE RUNNERS

Athletes, coaches, and health care teams know that preventing running-related injuries (RRI) and improving running performance are extremely important. Proactive neuromuscular training (NMT) is often included as a complement to running programs for this reason. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of proactive six-week low-intensity NMT focused on proximal hip and thigh muscles on healthy high-school runners’ muscle strength, biomechanical stiffness, peak ground reaction force, cadence, and stride length. The study demonstrates that the NMT increased a runner’s total strength by 10.4% and knee extensor strength by 10.3%, showed no change in stiffness, cadence, or stride length, and showed a decrease in ground reaction force post-program by 1.3%. Results show the multivariable nature of RRI risk, and prompt further, more generalizable, evaluation

Systemic Safety in Ranibizumab-Treated Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Patient-Level Pooled Analysis

Topic This study evaluated the cardiovascular/cerebrovascular safety profile of ranibizumab 0.5 mg versus sham ± verteporfin in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). In addition, comparisons of ranibizumab 0.3 mg with sham and ranibizumab 0.5 mg to 0.3 mg were performed. Clinical Relevance Intravitreal anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents carry potential increased systemic risks, including cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events. Pooled safety analyses allow better interpretation of safety outcomes seen in individual clinical trials, especially for less common events. To our knowledge, this is the largest patient-level pooled analysis of patients with nAMD treated with ranibizumab. Methods Patient-level pooled analysis of data from 7 Genentech- and Novartis-sponsored phase II, III, and IV studies in nAMD that were completed by December 31, 2013. Pairwise comparisons (primary comparison: ranibizumab 0.5 mg [globally approved dose for nAMD] vs. sham or verteporfin) were performed using Cox proportional hazard regression (hazard ratios [HRs], 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) and rates per 100 patient-years. Standardized Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities queries (SMQs) and extended searches were used to identify relevant safety endpoints, including arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke (excluding TIA), vascular deaths, and major vascular events as defined by the Antiplatelet Trialists' Collaboration (APTC). Results The HRs (95% CIs) for the primary comparison of ranibizumab 0.5 mg (n=480) versus sham or verteporfin (n=462) were 1.16 (0.72–1.88) for ATE, 1.33 (0.59–2.97) for MI, 1.43 (0.54–3.77) for stroke excluding TIA, 1.25 (0.61–2.55) for stroke or TIA, 0.57 (0.18–1.78) for vascular death, and 1.12 (0.64–1.98) for APTC events. Hazard ratio 95% CIs included 1, indicating no significant treatment differences, for all endpoints for comparison of ranibizumab 0.5 mg versus sham or verteporfin. Conclusions The rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events were low in these patients with nAMD and not clinically meaningfully different for patients treated with ranibizumab 0.5 mg versus sham or verteporfin, which supports the favorable benefit–risk profile of ranibizumab in the patient population with nAMD. Pooling these studies allows an analysis with higher power and precision compared with individual study analyses

PhD

dissertationSpinal cord injuries result in a loss of control of the muscles and organs innervated by the nerves below the level of the injury and can have a significant impact on the quality of life for the individuals affected. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) techniques have provided a way, via neural prosthetics, to regenerate limited control of the musculoskeletal system for persons with spinal cord injuries. Intrafascicular multielectrode stimulation (IFMS) is a form of functional electrical stimulation which utilizes penetrating electrodes such as the Utah Slanted Electrode Array. This array has 100 electrodes which are inserted into the nerve and provide selective control of muscles innervated by the peripheral nervous system. Before IFMS or FES can be used to restore muscle control for spinal cord injury patients, the muscles which are to be stimulated must be selected and stimulation paradigms must be determined. By using a musculoskeletal model in conjunction with numerical simulations, muscle activation paradigms can be determined for a given behavior. Additionally, muscle subsets (which can be selectively stimulated instead of the full set of available muscles) can be explored parametrically

Erratum to The Influence of Modeling Separate Neuromuscular Compartments on the Force and Moment Generating Capacities of Muscles of the Feline Hindlimb.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has the capacity to regenerate motion for individuals with spinal cord injuries. However, it is not straightforward to determine the stimulation parameters to generate a coordinated movement. Musculoskeletal models can provide a noninvasive simulation environment to estimate muscle force and activation timing sequences for a variety of tasks. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a musculoskeletal model of the feline hindlimb for simulations to determine stimulation parameters for intrafascicular multielectrode stimulation (a method of FES). Additionally, we aimed to explore the differences in modeling neuromuscular compartments compared with representing these muscles as a single line of action. When comparing the modeled neuromuscular compartments of biceps femoris, sartorius, and semimembranosus to representations of these muscles as a single line of action, we observed that modeling the neuromuscular compartments of these three muscles generated different force and moment generating capacities when compared with single muscle representations. Differences as large as 4 N m (∼400% in biceps femoris) were computed between the summed moments of the neuromuscular compartments and the single muscle representations. Therefore, modeling neuromuscular compartments may be necessary to represent physiologically reasonable force and moment generating capacities of the feline hindlimb.</p

The influence of modeling separate neuromuscular compartments on the force and moment generating capacities of muscles of the feline hindlimb

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has the capacity to regenerate motion for individuals with spinal cord injuries. However, it is not straightforward to determine the stimulation parameters to generate a coordinated movement. Musculoskeletal models can provide a noninvasive simulation environment to estimate muscle force and activation timing sequences for a variety of tasks. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a musculoskeletal model of the feline hindlimb for simulations to determine stimulation parameters for intrafascicular multielectrode stimulation (a method of FES). Additionally, we aimed to explore the differences in modeling neuromuscular compartments compared with representing these muscles as a single line of action. When comparing the modeled neuromuscular compartments of biceps femoris, sartorius, and semimembranosus to representations of these muscles as a single line of action, we observed that modeling the neuromuscular compartments of these three muscles generated different force and moment generating capacities when compared with single muscle representations. Differences as large as 4 N m (∼400% in biceps femoris) were computed between the summed moments of the neuromuscular compartments and the single muscle representations. Therefore, modeling neuromuscular compartments may be necessary to represent physiologically reasonable force and moment generating capacities of the feline hindlimb.</p

Biarticular hip extensor and knee flexor muscle moment arms of the feline hindlimb

Moment arms are important for understanding muscular behavior and for calculating internal muscle forces in musculoskeletal simulations. Biarticular muscles cross two joints and have moment arms that depend on the angle of both joints the muscles cross. The tendon excursion method was used to measure the joint angle-dependence of hamstring (biceps femoris, semimembranosus and semitendinosus) moment arm magnitudes of the feline hindlimb at the knee and hip joints. Knee angle influenced hamstring moment arm magnitudes at the hip joint; compared to a flexed knee joint, the moment arm for semimembranosus posterior at the hip was at most 7.4 mm (25%) larger when the knee was extended. On average, hamstring moment arms at the hip increased by 4.9 mm when the knee was more extended. In contrast, moment arm magnitudes at the knee varied by less than 2.8 mm (mean = 1.6 mm) for all hamstring muscles at the two hip joint angles tested. Thus, hamstring moment arms at the hip were dependent on knee position, while hamstring moment arms at the knee were not as strongly associated with relative hip position. Additionally, the feline hamstring muscle group had a larger mechanical advantage at the hip than at the knee joint.</p

Validated Predictions of Metabolic Energy Consumption for Submaximal Effort Movement

<div><p>Physical performance emerges from complex interactions among many physiological systems that are largely driven by the metabolic energy demanded. Quantifying metabolic demand is an essential step for revealing the many mechanisms of physical performance decrement, but accurate predictive models do not exist. The goal of this study was to investigate if a recently developed model of muscle energetics and force could be extended to reproduce the kinematics, kinetics, and metabolic demand of submaximal effort movement. Upright dynamic knee extension against various levels of ergometer load was simulated. Task energetics were estimated by combining the model of muscle contraction with validated models of lower limb musculotendon paths and segment dynamics. A genetic algorithm was used to compute the muscle excitations that reproduced the movement with the lowest energetic cost, which was determined to be an appropriate criterion for this task. Model predictions of oxygen uptake rate (VO₂) were well within experimental variability for the range over which the model parameters were confidently known. The model's accurate estimates of metabolic demand make it useful for assessing the likelihood and severity of physical performance decrement for a given task as well as investigating underlying physiologic mechanisms.</p></div