MRI Investigation of Computer Users With and Without Chronic Wrist Pain

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a link between repetitive work and upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSD), but the issue of causality remains controversial. Studies have shown an association between restricted wrist range of motion (ROM) and UEMSD in computer users. These restrictions were attributed to increased antagonist muscle tension. The first objective of this thesis was to compare wrist flexion ROM in computer users with UEMSD versus asymptomatic individuals with minimal computer exposure. The UEMSD group exhibited significantly reduced wrist flexion compared to controls. Measures of flexion with a supine forearm posture reduced wrist flexion in both groups, but the reduction was approximately 100% greater in the UEMSD group. The effect of a supine forearm posture on wrist flexion is consistent with known biomechanical changes in the distal extensor carpi ulnaris tendon. We infer from these results that wrist extensor muscle tension may be elevated in UEMSD subjects compared to controls. Increased antagonist muscle tension would alter the dynamics of the wrist joint and may alter carpal kinematics. The second objective of this thesis was to compare wrist flexion ROM and carpal flexion kinematics between UEMSD and asymptomatic computer users. The UEMSD group exhibited significantly reduced wrist flexion compared to controls. In both groups, maximum active wrist flexion decreased at the supine forearm posture compared to the prone posture. However, there was no significant difference in carpal flexion kinematics between groups. Abnormalities were tentatively identified in the kinematics MRI of 7 symptomatic wrists, and subsequent clinical imaging confirmed presumably post-traumatic injuries in 3 wrists and 12 intraosseous ganglia in 3 wrists. The etiology of intraosseous ganglia is controversial, but several theories implicates chronic ligament stress. The prevalence of abnormalities in the symptomatic wrists suggests that MRI may be useful in detecting wrist abnormalities related to UEMSD symptoms. The third objective of this thesis was to compare wrist flexion range of motion and the prevalence of MRI-identified abnormalities between UEMSD and asymptomatic computer users. The UEMSD group exhibited significantly reduced dominant wrist flexion compared to controls. There was no significant loss of flexion between the prone and supine forearm postures in either group, which may be related to the frequent finding of subluxation or dislocation of the distal extensor carpi ulnaris tendon. Extraosseous ganglia were common in both symptomatic and asymptomatic wrists, and there was no significant difference in their size. Intraosseous ganglia were more frequent and significantly larger in the symptomatic wrists. The symptoms associated with intraosseous ganglia may be related to their size, and symptoms were often well-localized to the sites of the larger intraosseous ganglia. The results of this study suggest that increased antagonist muscle tension in symptomatic computer users may increase ligament stress. To the best of our knowledge this is the first MRI study comparing the prevalence of wrist abnormalities between symptomatic and asymptomatic computer users

Instances and connectors : issues for a second generation process language

This work is supported by UK EPSRC grants GR/L34433 and GR/L32699Over the past decade a variety of process languages have been defined, used and evaluated. It is now possible to consider second generation languages based on this experience. Rather than develop a second generation wish list this position paper explores two issues: instances and connectors. Instances relate to the relationship between a process model as a description and the, possibly multiple, enacting instances which are created from it. Connectors refers to the issue of concurrency control and achieving a higher level of abstraction in how parts of a model interact. We believe that these issues are key to developing systems which can effectively support business processes, and that they have not received sufficient attention within the process modelling community. Through exploring these issues we also illustrate our approach to designing a second generation process language.Postprin

Genetic Variants Contributing to Colistin Cytotoxicity: Identification of TGIF1 and HOXD10 Using a Population Genomics Approach

Colistin sulfate (polymixin E) is an antibiotic prescribed with increasing frequency for severe Gram-negative bacterial infections. As nephrotoxicity is a common side effect, the discovery of pharmacogenomic markers associated with toxicity would benefit the utility of this drug. Our objective was to identify genetic markers of colistin cytotoxicity that were also associated with expression of key proteins using an unbiased, whole genome approach and further evaluate the functional significance in renal cell lines. To this end, we employed International HapMap lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) of Yoruban ancestry with known genetic information to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with cellular sensitivity to colistin. Further association studies revealed that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with gene expression and protein expression were significantly enriched in SNPs associated with cytotoxicity (p ≤ 0.001 for gene and p = 0.015 for protein expression). The most highly associated SNP, chr18:3417240 (p = 6.49 × 10−8), was nominally a cis-expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) of the gene TGIF1 (transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-induced factor-1; p = 0.021) and was associated with expression of the protein HOXD10 (homeobox protein D10; p = 7.17 × 10−5). To demonstrate functional relevance in a murine colistin nephrotoxicity model, HOXD10 immunohistochemistry revealed upregulated protein expression independent of mRNA expression in response to colistin administration. Knockdown of TGIF1 resulted in decreased protein expression of HOXD10 and increased resistance to colistin cytotoxicity. Furthermore, knockdown of HOXD10 in renal cells also resulted in increased resistance to colistin cytotoxicity, supporting the physiological relevance of the initial genomic associations

Integrating Spatial Educational Experiences (Isee) – Mapping a New Approach to Teaching and Learning Soil Science

The purpose of the Integrating Spatial Educational Experiences project is to develop the ability of our students to use digital maps: (1) to learn how and why soils and landscapes vary spatially at scales ranging from fields, to counties, states, and globally and (2) to learn how the spatial distribution of soils and landscapes impacts the distributions of land use, and environmental and ecosystem services across various scales. Our immediate audience is undergraduate students in soil, crop, natural resource, and environmental science curricula in colleges and universities, but the products created by this project will have broader uses for outreach to other clientele. Products to support teaching and learning include: (1) a revised and expanded Integrating Spatial Educational Experiences (Isee) web site, (2) maps of soil properties for Indiana, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Texas, (3) a community of practice dedicated to Integrating Spatial Educational Experiences in soil science education on STEMEdhub.org, and (4) lessons, worksheets, exercises, and experiences shared with the Isee community of practice

The decline and rise of neighbourhoods: the importance of neighbourhood governance

There is a substantial literature on the explanation of neighbourhood change. Most of this literature concentrates on identifying factors and developments behind processes of decline. This paper reviews the literature, focusing on the identification of patterns of neighbourhood change, and argues that the concept of neighbourhood governance is a missing link in attempts to explain these patterns. Including neighbourhood governance in the explanations of neighbourhood change and decline will produce better explanatory models and, finally, a better view about what is actually steering neighbourhood change

The Effect of Minimum Wages on Labour Market Flows Evidence from Germany

Using a linked employer-employee data set on the German construction industry, we analyse the effects of the introduction of minimum wages in this sector on labour market dynamics at the establishment level, i.e. turnover and churning flows, as well as accessions and separations and their underlying worker flows. The fact that minimum wages in Germany are sector-specific enables us to apply a between approach using other industries as control groups in a difference-in-differences framework. Furthermore, we use a within approach with high-wage workers as control group. While the within approach shows that the minimum wage reduced worker flows in East Germany, the between approach yields positive effect on labour market dynamics in West Germany. Our results can be explained by differences between East and West Germany with respect to the bite of the minimum wage, as well as the much higher prevalence of posted workers in West Germany. Furthermore, spillover effects to highwage workers are likely to have played a role in East Germany.In dem Papier werden die Auswirkungen der Mindestlohneinführung im deutschen Bauhauptgewerbe auf Arbeitsmarktdynamiken untersucht, wobei die Analyse von Einstellungen und Trennungen sowie der damit zusammenhängenden Arbeitsmarktübergänge auf Betriebsebene erfolgt. Dabei kommt ein einzigartiger Linked Employer-Employee Datensatz zum Einsatz. Da der Mindestlohn zunächst nur im Bauhauptgewerbe eingeführt wurde, können Betriebe einer anderen Branche als Kontrollgruppe in einem Differenz-von-Differenzen-Ansatz genutzt werden (between-Ansatz). Zusätzlich wird ein within-Ansatz verwendet, bei dem Arbeitnehmer mit relativ hohem Lohn innerhalb des Bauhauptgewerbes als Kontrollgruppe dienen. Während der within-Ansatz zeigt, dass der Mindestlohn Arbeiterflüsse in Ostdeutschland reduzierte, bringt der between-Ansatz positive Effekte auf Arbeitsmarktdynamiken in Westdeutschland zutage. Diese Ergebnisse können auf Ost-West-Unterschiede hinsichtlich der Eingriffsintensität des Mindestlohns sowie die deutlich höhere Anzahl entsendeter Arbeitnehmer in Westdeutschland zurückgeführt werden. Zudem sind spillover-Effekte auf Arbeitnehmer mit relativ hohen Löhnen in Ostdeutschland wahrscheinlich

Myosin-I nomenclature

We suggest that the vertebrate myosin-I field adopt a common nomenclature system based on the names adopted by the Human Genome Organization (HUGO). At present, the myosin-I nomenclature is very confusing; not only are several systems in use, but several different genes have been given the same name. Despite their faults, we believe that the names adopted by the HUGO nomenclature group for genome annotation are the best compromise, and we recommend universal adoption

The state of the Martian climate

60°N was +2.0°C, relative to the 1981–2010 average value (Fig. 5.1). This marks a new high for the record. The average annual surface air temperature (SAT) anomaly for 2016 for land stations north of starting in 1900, and is a significant increase over the previous highest value of +1.2°C, which was observed in 2007, 2011, and 2015. Average global annual temperatures also showed record values in 2015 and 2016. Currently, the Arctic is warming at more than twice the rate of lower latitudes

The effect of forearm posture on wrist flexion in computer workers with chronic upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Occupational computer use has been associated with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs), but the etiology and pathophysiology of some of these disorders are poorly understood. Various theories attribute the symptoms to biomechanical and/or psychosocial stressors. The results of several clinical studies suggest that elevated antagonist muscle tension may be a biomechanical stress factor. Affected computer users often exhibit limited wrist range of motion, particularly wrist flexion, which has been attributed to increased extensor muscle tension, rather than to pain symptoms. Recreational or domestic activities requiring extremes of wrist flexion may produce injurious stress on the wrist joint and muscles, the symptoms of which are then exacerbated by computer use. As these activities may involve a variety of forearm postures, we examined whether changes in forearm posture have an effect on pain reports during wrist flexion, or whether pain would have a limiting effect on flexion angle.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We measured maximum active wrist flexion using a goniometer with the forearm supported in the prone, neutral, and supine postures. Data was obtained from 5 subjects with UEMSDs attributed to computer use and from 13 control subjects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The UEMSD group exhibited significantly restricted wrist flexion compared to the control group in both wrists at all forearm postures with the exception of the non-dominant wrist with the forearm prone. In both groups, maximum active wrist flexion decreased at the supine forearm posture compared to the prone posture. No UEMSD subjects reported an increase in pain symptoms during testing.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The UEMSD group exhibited reduced wrist flexion compared to controls that did not appear to be pain related. A supine forearm posture reduced wrist flexion in both groups, but the reduction was approximately 100% greater in the UEMSD group. The effect of a supine forearm posture on wrist flexion is consistent with known biomechanical changes in the distal extensor carpi ulnaris tendon that occur with forearm supination. We infer from these results that wrist extensor muscle passive tension may be elevated in UEMSD subjects compared to controls, particularly in the extensor carpi ulnaris muscle. Measuring wrist flexion at the supine forearm posture may highlight flexion restrictions that are not otherwise apparent.</p