Effects of additional anterior body mass on gait

BACKGROUND: Gradual increases in mass such as during pregnancy are associated with changes in gait at natural velocities. The purpose of this study was to examine how added mass at natural and imposed slow walking velocities would affect gait parameters. METHODS: Eighteen adult females walked at two velocities (natural and 25 % slower than their natural pace) under four mass conditions (initial harness only (1 kg), 4.535 kg added anteriorly, 9.07 kg added anteriorly, and final harness only (1 kg)). We collected gait kinematics (100 Hz) using a motion capture system. RESULTS: Added anterior mass decreased cycle time and stride length. Stride width decreased once the mass was removed (p < .01). Added mass resulted in smaller peak hip extension angles (p < .01). The imposed slow walking velocity increased cycle time, double limb support time and decreased stride length, peak hip extension angles, and peak plantarflexion angles (p < .01). With added anterior mass and an imposed slow walking velocity, participants decreased cycle time when mass was added and increased cycle time once the mass was removed (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Gait adaptations may be commensurate with the magnitude of additional mass when walking at imposed slow versus natural velocities. This study presents a method for understanding how increased mass and imposed speed might affect gait independent of other effects related to pregnancy. Examining how added body mass and speed influence gait is one step in better understanding how women adapt to walking under different conditions.K12 HD055931 - NICHD NIH HHS; K23 AR063235 - NIAMS NIH HH

Determining Cloud Thermodynamic Phase from Micropulse Lidar Network Data

Determining cloud thermodynamic phase is a critical factor in studies of Earth's radiation budget. Here we use observations from the NASA Micro Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET) and thermodynamic profiles from the Goddard Earth Observing System, version 5 (GEOS-5) to distinguish liquid water, mixed-phase, and ice water clouds. The MPLNET provides sparse global, autonomous, and continuous measurements of clouds and aerosols which have been used in a number of scientific investigations to date. The use of a standardized instrument and a common suite of data processing algorithms with thorough uncertainty characterization allows for straightforward comparisons between sites. Lidars with polarization capabilities have recently been incorporated into the MPLNET project which allows, for the first time, the ability to infer a cloud thermodynamic phase. This presentation will look specifically at the occurrence of ice and mixed phase clouds in the temperature region of -10 C to -40 C for different climatological regions and seasons. We compare MPLNET occurrences of mixed-phase clouds to an historical climatology based on observations from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) instrument aboard the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) spacecraft

Daytime Cirrus Cloud Top-of-Atmosphere Radiative Forcing Properties at a Midlatitude Site and their Global Consequence

One year of continuous ground-based lidar observations (2012) is analyzed for single-layer cirrus clouds at the NASA Micro Pulse Lidar Network site at the Goddard Space Flight Center to investigate top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) annual net daytime radiative forcing properties. A slight positive net daytime forcing is estimated (i.e., warming): 0.070.67 W m(exp -2) in sample-relative terms, which reduces to 0.030.27 W m(exp -2) in absolute terms after normalizing to unity based on a 40% midlatitude occurrence frequency rate estimated from satellite data. Results are based on bookend solutions for lidar extinction-to-backscatter (20 and 30 sr) and corresponding retrievals of the 532-nm cloud extinction coefficient. Uncertainties due to cloud under sampling, attenuation effects, sample selection, and lidar multiple scattering are described. A net daytime cooling effect is found from the very thinnest clouds (cloud optical depth of less than or equal to 0.01), which is attributed to relatively high solar zenith angles. A relationship involving positive negative daytime cloud forcing is demonstrated as a function of solar zenith angle and cloud-top temperature. These properties, combined with the influence of varying surface albedos, are used to conceptualize how daytime cloud forcing likely varies with latitude and season, with cirrus clouds exerting less positive forcing and potentially net TOA cooling approaching the summer poles (not ice and snow covered) versus greater warming at the equator. The existence of such a gradient would lead cirrus to induce varying daytime TOA forcing annually and seasonally, making it a far greater challenge than presently believed to constrain the daytime and diurnal cirrus contributions to global radiation budgets

Synthesis of multisubstituted pyrroles by nickel-catalyzed arylative cyclizations of N-tosyl alkynamides

The synthesis of multisubstituted pyrroles by the nickel-catalyzed reaction of N-tosylalkynamides with arylboronic acids is reported. These reactions are triggered by alkyne arylnickelation, followed by cyclization of the resulting alkenylnickel species onto the amide. The reversible E/Z isomerization of the alkenylnickel species is critical for cyclization. This method was applied to the synthesis of pyrroles that are precursors to BODIPY derivatives and a biologically active compound

Medical English: An English Course for Medical Students

Este trabajo de graduación explora un estudio llevado a cabo en el contexto de una práctica de enseñanza, la cual era necesario para la conclusión de el programa de Maestría en Enseñanza del Inglés como Lengua Extranjera en la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR). Este estudio fue realizado también en el marco del contexto del Inglés para Fines Específicos e Inglés para Fines (Académicos) Médicos, y llevado a cabo usando el método de Enseñanza de idiomas basado en tareas. Los investigadores del presente estudio recolectaron y analizaron información de manera que se pudiera medir el grado en que los y las estudiantes alcanzaron los objetivos del curso. Para poder triangular la información recabada acerca del nivel de logro de los objetivos, los investigadores también recolectaron información a través de la administración de auto-evaluaciones, mediante las cuales los y las estudiantes expresaban los niveles de logro que ellos y ellas mismas percibían por medio de la evaluación de sus habilidades para llevar a cabo diferentes actividades relacionadas a los temas vistos en clase mediante la selección de opciones de frecuencia. Aún más triangulación fue lograda por medio de la inclusión de un evaluador externo, el cual valoró los exámenes orales de los y las estudiantes. De esta manera se determinó si la falta de fiabilidad, tanto de los investigadores como de este calificador externo pudo haber influído con las calificaciones dadas. En este estudio se discuten los niveles en los que se alcanzaron los objetivos, métodos para determinar ese alcance y también problemas en el diseño de evaluación. Los resultados de este estudio proporcionan información útil para los profesionales de Inglés para Fines Específicos e Inglés para Fines Médicos, diseñadores de cursos y profesores que deben evaluar la producción oral de los estudiantes en el idioma inglés.This paper examines a study that was carried out in the context of a teaching practicum, which was a necessary component for the completion of a Master’s degree program in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) at the University of Costa Rica (UCR). The study was performed in the setting of an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and English for (Academic) Medical Purposes (EMP) context, and was carried out by means of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT). The researchers in this study collected and analyzed data in order to measure the extent to which the students were able to achieve the goals set for this course. In order to triangulate data related to the students’ levels of goal achievement, the researchers also collected data through the administration of self-assessments, in which the students stated their perceived levels of goal achievement by rating their ability to perform tasks represented by can-do statements through the selection of frequency options. Further triangulation was achieved with the inclusion of an external evaluator, who evaluated the students’ speaking assessments in order to determine if issues of inter-rater reliability had influenced the assessment scores given by the researchers. Levels of goal achievement, methods of determining such achievement, and issues in test design are addressed. The results of this study provide useful insights for practitioners of ESP and EMP, course designers, and teachers of speaking that must evaluate student production.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado::Artes y Letras::Maestría Profesional en Enseñanza del Inglés como Lengua Extranjer

Status of Heavy Quark Physics on the Lattice

The status of lattice calculations of some phenomenology of heavy quarks is presented. Emphasis is on progress made in calculating those quantities relevant to estimating parameters of the quark mixing matrix, namely leptonic decay constants, the bag parameter of neutral $B$ mixing, and semileptonic form factors. New results from studies of quarkonia are highlighted.Comment: LATTICE98(Plenary Review Talk), to be published in Nucl. Phys. Proc. Suppl.; LaTeX, 15 pages, 9 PostScript figures, uses espcrc2.st

Our Collective Tensions:Paradox Research Community’s Response to COVID-19

In this commentary on three articles from dozens of paradox theory scholars on paradox approaches to examining the COVID-19 pandemic and how the COVID-19 pandemic informs paradox theory, the authors involved in coordinating the collection of three papers discuss the process of bringing together scholars from around the world to discuss the pandemic. Four other preeminent paradox theorists offer additional commentaries on the papers in this Collection.</p

Hyaluronic Acid-Functionalized Nanomicelles Enhance SAHA Efficacy in 3D Endometrial Cancer Models

Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes are upregulated in cancer leading to the development of HDAC inhibiting compounds, several of which are currently in clinical trials. Side effects associated with toxicity and non-specific targeting indicate the need for efficient drug delivery approaches and tumor specific targeting to enhance HDAC efficacy in solid tumor cancers. SAHA encapsulation within F127 micelles functionalized with a surface hyaluronic acid moiety, was developed to target endometrial cancer cells expressing elevated levels of CD44. In vitro viability and morphology analyses was conducted in both 2D and 3D models to assess the translational potential of this approach. Encapsulation enhanced SAHA delivery and activity, demonstrating increased cytotoxic efficacy in 2D and 3D endometrial cancer models. High-content imaging showed improved nanoparticle internalization in 2D and CD44 enhanced penetration in 3D models. In addition, the nano-delivery system enhanced spheroid penetration resulting in cell growth suppression, p21 associated cell cycle arrest, as well as overcoming the formation of an EMT associated phenotype observed in free drug treated type II endometrial cancer cells. This study demonstrates that targeted nanoparticle delivery of SAHA could provide the basis for improving its efficacy in endometrial cancer. Using 3D models for endometrial cancer allows the elucidation of nanoparticle performance and CD44 targeting, likely through penetration and retention within the tumor model