Dynamic balance of experienced and novice rock climbers

Climbing requires heavy use of the upper body muscles in the torso and arms to pull the body vertically or traverse horizontally. The upper body profile of climbers has been characterized, however there is little research that has examined the lower body and its contribution to climbing performance. There are studies that have examined postural control while climbing, but no study has evaluated the dynamic balance of the lower extremities in climbers. For this study, lower body dynamic balance was measured using normalized reach distances of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). Eighteen adult, indoor climbers (n=12) and non-climbers (n=6) participated in this study. Climbers were designated either Experienced (n=7) or Novice (n=5) based on their reported redpoint ability. Experienced climbers had significantly greater reaches than Novices for the POSTM and MED excursions (p=.045, .002), and significantly greater reaches than Controls for COMP, POST, POSTM, and MED excursions (p=.022, .014, .018, Pp=.023), and in the POSTL and ANTM excursions compared to Controls (p=.027, .011). Novices had smaller symmetry-differences compared to Experienced climbers for COMP and ANTL scores (p=.044, .021). The purpose of this study was to determine lower body dynamic balance in rock climbers with different ability levels. Results of this study partially supported the alternate hypothesis in that Experienced climbers had greater distance in reaches of the SEBT compared to Novices, but only in the POSTM and MED directions

Feasibility of Focused Cardiac Ultrasound in Pre-participation Screening

Objective: Current American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for pre-participation athletic screening recommend a 12-point history and exam to minimize the risk of sudden cardiac death. We tested the hypothesis that focused cardiac ultrasound (FCU) performed and simultaneously interpreted by a cardiologist using a handheld ultrasound device would be a feasible addition. Methods: We performed pre-participation screening according to AHA recommendations on high school athletes in a multi-purpose room at their school. In addition to the standard 12-point assessment, a cardiologist simultaneously performed and interpreted a FCU on each athlete using a handheld ultrasound. Results: The mean age of the athletes was 16.6 ± 3.4 years; 68% were male. No evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, bicuspid aortic valve, or aortopathy was identified. Coronary ostia could not be visualized. Echocardiography added 1.35 ± 0.51 minutes to the standard exam. Conclusion: This feasibility study suggests that the addition of handheld echocardiography with real-time interpretation performed by a cardiologist to a standard AHA pre-participation screening adds less than two minutes of time to the assessment. While the study is not as comprehensive as an office based echocardiogram, it can provide valuable information which may be useful in ruling out some of the most common causes of sudden cardiac death in the young athlete or in selecting those who would benefit from further testing

Fetal MRI in management of complicated meconium ileus: Prenatal and surgical imaging

Objective To review fetal MRI cases surgically proven to have meconium ileus (MI) and obstruction, describe the common fetal MRI findings that distinguish cases of complicated MI, and to compare these findings with surgical images and perinatal outcomes. Method We performed a retrospective review of all fetal MRI examinations and the corresponding medical record from our tertiary care children's hospital over an 18‐month period. Postnatal management and outcomes were reviewed for these patients, and those patients with surgical or postmortem diagnosis of complicated MI were included in the study. Results Our analysis revealed 7 cases. In this cohort, 3 imaging features of the fetal bowel were repeatedly seen: gradient appearance of intraluminal bowel contents, abnormally localized meconium signal, and collapsed appearance of the colon on MRI. Surgical diagnoses confirmed MI. All live‐born infants underwent surgical repair. Conclusion Fetal MRI should be included in the diagnostic algorithm of any pregnancy where fetal bowel obstruction is suspected to better risk stratify patients

The Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA Survey: III. HI Source Catalog of the Northern Virgo Cluster Region

We present the first installment of HI sources extracted from the Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA (ALFALFA) extragalactic survey, initiated in 2005. Sources have been extracted from 3-D spectral data cubes and then examined interactively to yield global HI parameters. A total of 730 HI detections are catalogued within the solid angle 11h44m < R.A.(J2000) < 14h00m and +12deg < Dec.(J2000) < +16deg, and redshift range -1600 \kms < cz < 18000 \kms. In comparison, the HI Parkes All-Sky Survey (HIPASS) detected 40 HI signals in the same region. Optical counterparts are assigned via examination of digital optical imaging databases. ALFALFA HI detections are reported for three distinct classes of signals: (a) detections, typically with S/N > 6.5; (b) high velocity clouds in the Milky Way or its periphery; and (c) signals of lower S/N (to ~ 4.5) which coincide spatially with an optical object of known similar redshift. Although this region of the sky has been heavily surveyed by previous targeted observations based on optical flux-- or size-- limited samples, 69% of the extracted sources are newly reported HI detections. The resultant positional accuracy of HI sources is 20" (median). The median redshift of the sample is ~7000 \kms and its distribution reflects the known local large scale structure including the Virgo cluster. Several extended HI features are found in the vicinity of the Virgo cluster. A small percentage (6%) of HI detections have no identifiable optical counterpart, more than half of which are high velocity clouds in the Milky Way vicinity; the remaining 17 objects do not appear connected to or associated with any known galaxy.Comment: Astronomical Journal, in pres

The Journal of Microelectronic Research 2008

https://scholarworks.rit.edu/meec_archive/1016/thumbnail.jp

Biomaterial Scaffolds as Pre‐metastatic Niche Mimics Systemically Alter the Primary Tumor and Tumor Microenvironment

Primary tumor (PT) immune cells and pre‐metastatic niche (PMN) sites are critical to metastasis. Recently, synthetic biomaterial scaffolds used as PMN mimics are shown to capture both immune and metastatic tumor cells. Herein, studies are performed to investigate whether the scaffold‐mediated redirection of immune and tumor cells would alter the primary tumor microenvironment (TME). Transcriptomic analysis of PT cells from scaffold‐implanted and mock‐surgery mice identifies differentially regulated pathways relevant to invasion and metastasis progression. Transcriptomic differences are hypothesized to result from scaffold‐mediated modulations of immune cell trafficking and phenotype in the TME. Culturing tumor cells with conditioned media generated from PT immune cells of scaffold‐implanted mice decrease invasion in vitro more than two‐fold relative to mock surgery controls and reduce activity of invasion‐promoting transcription factors. Secretomic characterization of the conditioned media delineates interactions between immune cells in the TME and tumor cells, showing an increase in the pan‐metastasis inhibitor decorin and a concomitant decrease in invasion‐promoting chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) in scaffold‐implanted mice. Flow cytometric and transcriptomic profiling of PT immune cells identify phenotypically distinct tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) in scaffold‐implanted mice, which may contribute to an invasion‐suppressive TME. Taken together, this study demonstrates biomaterial scaffolds systemically influence metastatic progression through manipulation of the TME.Biomaterial implants that mimic the pre‐metastatic niche are shown to redirect immune and tumor cell populations in vivo. However, the systemic effects of pre‐metastatic niche mimics on metastasis progression have yet to be characterized. In this work, synthetic biomaterial implants were shown to systemically alter the primary tumor and the tumor microenvironment to promote an invasion‐suppressive phenotype.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144244/1/adhm201700903-sup-0001-S1.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144244/2/adhm201700903_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144244/3/adhm201700903.pd

Identification of the Regulatory Logic Controlling Salmonella Pathoadaptation by the SsrA-SsrB Two-Component System

Sequence data from the past decade has laid bare the significance of horizontal gene transfer in creating genetic diversity in the bacterial world. Regulatory evolution, in which non-coding DNA is mutated to create new regulatory nodes, also contributes to this diversity to allow niche adaptation and the evolution of pathogenesis. To survive in the host environment, Salmonella enterica uses a type III secretion system and effector proteins, which are activated by the SsrA-SsrB two-component system in response to the host environment. To better understand the phenomenon of regulatory evolution in S. enterica, we defined the SsrB regulon and asked how this transcription factor interacts with the cis-regulatory region of target genes. Using ChIP-on-chip, cDNA hybridization, and comparative genomics analyses, we describe the SsrB-dependent regulon of ancestral and horizontally acquired genes. Further, we used a genetic screen and computational analyses integrating experimental data from S. enterica and sequence data from an orthologous regulatory system in the insect endosymbiont, Sodalis glossinidius, to identify the conserved yet flexible palindrome sequence that defines DNA recognition by SsrB. Mutational analysis of a representative promoter validated this palindrome as the minimal architecture needed for regulatory input by SsrB. These data provide a high-resolution map of a regulatory network and the underlying logic enabling pathogen adaptation to a host

Effects of an evidence service on health-system policy makers' use of research evidence: A protocol for a randomised controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Health-system policy makers need timely access to synthesised research evidence to inform the policy-making process. No efforts to address this need have been evaluated using an experimental quantitative design. We developed an evidence service that draws inputs from Health Systems Evidence, which is a database of policy-relevant systematic reviews. The reviews have been (a) categorised by topic and type of review; (b) coded by the last year searches for studies were conducted and by the countries in which included studies were conducted; (c) rated for quality; and (d) linked to available user-friendly summaries, scientific abstracts, and full-text reports. Our goal is to evaluate whether a "full-serve" evidence service increases the use of synthesized research evidence by policy analysts and advisors in the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) as compared to a "self-serve" evidence service.</p> <p>Methods/design</p> <p>We will conduct a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT), along with a follow-up qualitative process study in order to explore the findings in greater depth. For the RCT, all policy analysts and policy advisors (n = 168) in a single division of the MOHLTC will be invited to participate. Using a stratified randomized design, participants will be randomized to receive either the "full-serve" evidence service (database access, monthly e-mail alerts, and full-text article availability) or the "self-serve" evidence service (database access only). The trial duration will be ten months (two-month baseline period, six-month intervention period, and two month cross-over period). The primary outcome will be the mean number of site visits/month/user between baseline and the end of the intervention period. The secondary outcome will be participants' intention to use research evidence. For the qualitative study, 15 participants from each trial arm (n = 30) will be purposively sampled. One-on-one semi-structured interviews will be conducted by telephone on their views about and their experiences with the evidence service they received, how helpful it was in their work, why it was helpful (or not helpful), what aspects were most and least helpful and why, and recommendations for next steps.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>To our knowledge, this will be the first RCT to evaluate the effects of an evidence service specifically designed to support health-system policy makers in finding and using research evidence.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov: <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01307228">NCT01307228</a></p