Use of a Simulator to Objectively Distinguish Behaviors Between Low-Risk and High-Risk Drivers

The objective of this study was to validate behavioral differences between two groups of drivers through the use of a driving simulator. Controlled experiments in a driving simulator were used to gather objective and subjective evidence on how drivers reacted to roadway objects and handled various hazardous situations. Low-risk, more experienced drivers were more aware of the mental demands of having to remember and later recall a list of items when compared to high-risk, less experienced drivers. Outcomes of the study may potentially serve as the foundation for a training program that will aim to transfer risk assessment strategies from low-risk drivers to high-risk drivers

Ancestral variations in the shape and size of the zygoma

The variable development of the zygoma, dictating its shape and size variations among ancestral groups, has important clinical implications and valuable anthropological and evolutionary inferences. The purpose of the study was to review the literature regarding the variations in the zygoma with ancestry. Ancestral variation in the zygoma reflects genetic variations because of genetic drift as well as natural selection and epigenetic changes to adapt to diet and climate variations with possible intensification by isolation. Prominence of the zygoma, zygomaxillary tuberosity, and malar tubercle have been associated with Eastern Asian populations in whom these features intensified. Prominence of the zygoma is also associated with groups from Eastern Europe and the rest of Asia. Diffusion of these traits occurred across the Behring Sea to the Arctic areas and to North and South America. The greatest zygomatic projections are exhibited in Arctic groups as an adaptation to extreme cold conditions, while Native South American groups also present with other features of facial robusticity. Groups from Australia, Malaysia, and Oceania show prominence of the zygoma to a certain extent, possibly because of archaic occupations by undifferentiated Southeast Asian populations. More recent interactions with Chinese groups might explain the prominent cheekbones noted in certain South African groups. Many deductions regarding evolutionary processes and diversifications of early groups have been made. Cognisance of these ancestral variations also have implications for forensic anthropological assessments as well as plastic and reconstructive surgery. More studies are needed to improve accuracy of forensic anthropological identification techniques.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1932-84942018-01-31hb2017Anatom

Gender Identity, Disability, and Unmet Healthcare Needs among Disabled People Living in the Community in the United States

Disabled adults and transgender people in the United States face multiple compounding and marginalizing forces that result in unmet healthcare needs. Yet, gender identity among disabled people has not been explored, especially beyond binary categories of gender. Using cross-sectional survey data, we explored the rates of disability types and the odds of unmet healthcare needs among transgender people with disabilities compared to cisgender people with disabilities. The rates of disability type were similar between transgender and cisgender participants with two significant differences. Fewer transgender participants identified physical or mobility disability as their main disability compared to cisgender participants (12.31%/8 vs. 27.68/581, p < 0.01), and more transgender participants selected developmental disability as their main disability compared to cisgender participants (13.85%/9 vs. 3.67%/77, p < 0.001). After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, the odds of disabled transgender participants reporting an unmet need were higher for every unmet need except for preventative services

Healthâ Related Quality of Life Components in Children With Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy: A Qualitative Study

BackgroundCurrently, no published, validated patientâ reported outcome (PRO) measures of healthâ related quality of life (HRQOL) exist for use with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP). NBPP is a debilitating condition that occurs during the perinatal period, resulting in paralysis/paresis and loss of sensation in the affected arm. Commonly used NBPP measures are not comprehensive and do not fully account for clinically meaningful changes in function or progression of the disorder.ObjectiveTo evaluate important components of HRQOL for children with NBPP and identify where new PRO measures are needed.DesignEleven focus groups comprising children with NBPP (4), family members (6), and professional providers (1) to assess HRQOL.SettingBrachial plexus clinic.ParticipantsChildren with NBPP, their parents, and professional providers.Inclusion CriteriaChildren 7â 17 years old with NBPP; parents/caregivers at least 18 years of age; professionals with â ¥2 years’ experience providing NBPP clinical care; ability to read and speak English fluently.MethodsFocus group sessions were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and deidentified. Qualitative frequency analysis identified different aspects of HRQOL relevant to NBPP. This analysis expands on the groundedâ theory approach to qualitative analysis, including development of a domain framework, open and axial coding, selective coding, and descriptive analysis. The resulting HRQOL domain framework (and frequency analysis) was then compared to the domain framework for existing PRO measures (PROMIS and Neuroâ QoL) to identify components of HRQOL where new PRO measures are needed for NBPP.Main Outcome MeasuresNot applicable.ResultsAlthough many physical, social, and emotional health domains were captured by existing PRO measures, some significant NBPPâ specific topics emerged from qualitative analysisâ functionality, sensory, physical appearance, arm/hand compensation and preference, explaining functionality/appearance to others, and selfâ esteem and body image concerns.ConclusionsDevelopment of sensitive and specific measures capturing arm/hand function and body image would improve the clinical care of patients with NBPP.Level of EvidenceNot applicable.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146831/1/pmr2383.pd

Site-dependent nuclear dynamics in core-excited butadiene

Symmetry breaking and competition between electronic decay and nuclear dynamics are major factors determining whether the memory of the initial core-hole localisation in a molecule is retained long enough to affect fragmentation. We investigate the fate of core holes localised at different sites in the free 1,3 trans butadiene molecule by using synchrotron radiation to selectively excite core electrons from different C 1s sites to π* orbitals. Fragmentation involving bonds localised at the site of the core hole provides clear evidence for preferential bond breaking for a core hole located at the terminal carbon site, while the signature of localisation is weak for a vacancy on the central carbon site. The origin of this difference is attributed to out-of-plane vibrations, and statistical evaporation of protons for vacancies located at the central carbon sites

Repeatability of a morphoscopic sex estimation technique for the mental eminence on micro-focus X-ray computed tomography models

OBJECTIVES : Walker's sex estimation method is based on five morphoscopic features of the human skull. This study aimed at testing the repeatability of one of the five traits, the mental eminence, visually on three-dimensional (3D) models, compared to the traditional, tactile scoring approach on bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS : The sample comprised 105 mandibles from the Pretoria Bone Collection and their respective virtual 3D models, obtained from micro-focus X-ray computed tomography (micro-XCT) scans. Four observers independently scored the bones first, followed by the virtual 3D modality. Intra- and interobserver errors (interOE and intraOE) were performed with Fleiss’ and Cohen's Kappa, respectively. We calculated the intermodality agreement per observer with Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests. RESULTS : The intraOE was moderate on bone (κ=0.448) and substantial on 3D (κ=0.799), while the Fleiss’ Kappa test for the interOE resulted in slight agreement both on bone (κ=0.163) and 3D (κ=0.169) irrespective of level of experience. All Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test P-values were significant. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION : The application of the morphoscopic sex estimation for the mental eminence to micro-XCTs could be a matter of personal affinity as the level of experience did not play a role in the results. The expression of the mental eminence trait being population-specific, the individual's population affinity should be considered when sex is estimated in South African skeletons. It remains unclear whether the slight agreement between observers is due to the unreliability of the trait for sex estimation or whether the modalities are not easily interchangeable.UP Postgraduate Bursary, AESOP Erasmus Mundus program, the University of Pretoria, the National Research Foundation of South Africa, the Bakeng se Afrika funding and Erasmus+ KA2 Capacity Building in Higher Education.https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/forensic-imaginghj2022Anatom

VISTA, a novel mouse Ig superfamily ligand that negatively regulates T cell responses

VISTA suppresses T cell proliferation and cytokine production and can influence autoimmunity and antitumor responses in mice

Evaluating Cognition in Individuals with Huntington Disease: NeuroQoL Cognitive Functioning Measures

PURPOSE: Cognitive functioning impacts health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for individuals with Huntington disease (HD). The Neuro-QoL includes two patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures of cognition-Executive Function (EF) and General Concerns (GC). These measures have not previously been validated for use in HD. The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Neuro-QoL Cognitive Function measures for use in HD. METHODS: Five hundred ten individuals with prodromal or manifest HD completed the Neuro-QoL Cognition measures, two other PRO measures of HRQOL (WHODAS 2.0 and EQ5D), and a depression measure (PROMIS Depression). Measures of functioning The Total Functional Capacity and behavior (Problem Behaviors Assessment) were completed by clinician interview. Objective measures of cognition were obtained using clinician-administered Symbol Digit Modalities Test and the Stroop Test (Word, Color, and Interference). Self-rated, clinician-rated, and objective composite scores were developed. We examined the Neuro-QoL measures for reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and known-groups validity. RESULTS: Excellent reliabilities (Cronbach\u27s alphas ≥ 0.94) were found. Convergent validity was supported, with strong relationships between self-reported measures of cognition. Discriminant validity was supported by less robust correlations between self-reported cognition and other constructs. Prodromal participants reported fewer cognitive problems than manifest groups, and early-stage HD participants reported fewer problems than late-stage HD participants. CONCLUSIONS: The Neuro-QoL Cognition measures provide reliable and valid assessments of self-reported cognitive functioning for individuals with HD. Findings support the utility of these measures for assessing self-reported cognition