Children of Casas Grandes: A Molecular Examination of Subadults at Convento and Paquimé

Bioarchaeological research has played a significant role in understanding the Casas Grandes region in northern Mexico. Excavations at the archaeological sites of Convento and Paquimé in Chihuahua, Mexico recovered at least 652 burials dating to AD 700-1450, providing a robust skeletal population for investigations, including research on population demographics, patterns of violence, and social stratification. While there is extensive literature on these individuals, research focusing solely on subadults is nonexistent. This study employs genetic sex-typing using real-time PCR followed by high-resolution melting analysis, as well as strontium isotopic analysis on subadult remains from both Convento and Paquimé to provide estimations of biological sex and migration status. The resulting information is used to address key issues of mobility and social organization. The integration of research of subadults with those of adults is necessary for a better understanding of past societies, and aids particularly in understanding the pre-Hispanic Casas Grandes perception of childhood, violence, and social stratification

The Ionization Profile Monitors in the Recycler Ring

The ionization profile monitors (IPMs) are used to measure the beam size in synchrotrons. Both the Fermilab Recycler and Main Injector (MI) machines have IPMs. However, they were not well understood enough to provide confidence in their measurements. Accurately measuring beam size through the IPMs was crucial to recognize the loss mechanisms for accelerators and to keep the beam loss to a minimum. Thus, performing measurements with different parameters using the IPMs led to a better analysis on how changes in conditions affect the beam size. The IPM measurements are compared with that of multi-wires in the upstream transfer line after applying corrections. The results were compared with other diagnostics and the change in the beam size for different parameters are presented in this paper.Comment: 14th International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC'23

THE EFFECTS OF A UNIFORMLY WEIGHTED EXERCISE SUIT ON BIOMARKERS OF BONE TURNOVER IN RESPONSE TO AEROBIC EXERCISE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH LOW BONE DENSITY

Current options for maintaining or slowing aging-related bone mineral density (BMD) loss in postmenopausal women primarily include pharmaceutical agents. More recently, physical activity and exercise have been suggested as highly effective, low cost alternatives. Weighted aerobic exercise, utilizing load carriage systems (LCS), is known to increase the gravitational forces impacting bone, creating a higher osteogenic stimulus than standard aerobic exercise. In response to the positive research on aerobic exercise with well-designed LCS, Dr. Lawrence Petrakis, MD, developed a unique 5.44 kg uniformly weighted exercise suit. This study aimed to examine the effects of the uniformly weighted exercise suit on serum biochemical markers of bone formation (Amino- Propeptide of Type 1 Collagen [P1NP]; Carboxy-Terminal Propeptide of Type 1 Collagen [P1CP] and resorption (Carboxy-Terminal Telopeptide of Type 1 Collagen [CTX]) in response to submaximal aerobic exercise in postmenopausal women with low bone density. Nine volunteer, sedentary to lightly active, healthy postmenopausal women (Age: 58.7±1.1 years, BMI: 28.2±1.0, BMD T-score: -1.2±0.5) participated in this within-subjects study, wherein each participant exercised under two counterbalanced conditions (aerobic exercise with [ES] or without [NS] the exercise suit). During each condition, participants walked on a treadmill at 65%-75% of their age-predicted maximum heart rate until they reached their goal caloric expenditure (400kcal). There was a seven-day washout period between sessions. Serum was processed using ELISA protocols to investigate the change in biomarker at 24 and 72 hours post exercise, relative to baseline. The results indicated, when compared to the NS condition, the ES condition elicited a greater positive change in P1CP at 24 hours (Phours following exercise (P0.05). There was no effect of condition on P1NP at any time point (P\u3e0.05). In sum, submaximal aerobic exercise while wearing the uniformly weighted exercise suit elicited an antiresorptive effect on bone collagen resorption with a simultaneous increase in bone collagen formation 24 hours post exercise

Long-term mental wellbeing and functioning after surgery for cauda equina syndrome

INTRODUCTION: Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) can cause persisting life-changing dysfunction. There is scarce literature regarding the long-term assessment of CES symptoms, and rarer still is the impact of these symptoms on mental wellbeing investigated. This study assessed the long-term patient reported mental wellbeing outcomes of post-operative CES patients. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery for CES between August 2013 and November 2014 were identified using an ethically approved database. They then completed validated questionnaires over the telephone assessing their mental and physical functioning (Short-Form 12 Questionnaire), generating the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS). Bladder, bowel and sexual function were also assessed using validated questionnaires. MCS scores were compared to both the Scottish mean and previously published cut-offs indicating patients at risk of depression. Correlations of MCS with bladder, bowel, sexual and physical dysfunction were examined and multifactorial regression to predict MCS from these variables analysed. Independent t-tests assessed the mean difference in MCS between patients presenting with incomplete CES (CES-I) and CES with retention (CES-R) and between those with radiologically confirmed and impending CES. RESULTS: Forty-six participants with a mean follow-up time of 43 months completed the study. The mean (±SD) MCS was 49 (±11.8) with 22% demonstrating poor mental health related quality of life in comparison to the Scottish mean. Overall, 37% had scores consistent with being at risk for depression with in the last 30 days, and 45% within the last 12 months. MCS was significantly correlated with Urinary Symptoms Profile (USP) score (-0.608), NBDS score (-0.556), ASEX score (-0.349) and PCS score (0.413) with worse bladder, bowel, sexual and physical dysfunction associated with worse MCS score. Multifactorial regression analysis demonstrated both urinary (USP score p = 0.031) and bowel function (NBDS score p = 0.009) to be significant predictive variables of mental health related quality of life. There were no significant mean differences in MCS between those presenting with CES-I and CES-R or those with radiologically complete and impending CES. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates a high frequency of being at risk for depression in patients with CES and identifies outcome measures (physical, sexual and more so bladder and bowel dysfunction) associated with poorer mental wellbeing. Our large cohort and long follow-up highlight that CES patients should be considered at risk of depression, and the need to consider mental health outcomes following CES surgery

Inverse Dynamics Analysis of Youth Pitching Arm Kinetics Using Body Composition Imaging

This study’s objectives were to: (1) assess whether dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-mass inverse dynamics (ID) alters predictions of youth pitching arm kinetics and (2) investigate correlations between kinetics and body composition. Eighteen 10- to 11-year-olds pitched 10 fastballs. DXA scans were conducted to obtain participant-specific upper arm, forearm, and hand masses. Pitching arm segment masses and kinetics calculated with scaled and DXA masses were compared with paired t-tests and correlations were investigated with linear regression. Hand (p \u3c 0.001) and upper arm (p \u3c 0.001) DXA masses were greater, while forearm (p \u3c 0.001) DXA masses were lesser, than their scaled masses. Shoulder compressive force (p \u3c 0.001), internal rotation torque (p \u3c 0.001), and horizontal adduction torque (p = 0.002) increased when using DXA masses. Shoulder compressive force correlated with body mass (p \u3c 0.001) and body mass index (BMI; p = 0.002) and elbow varus torque correlated with body mass (p \u3c 0.05). The main conclusions were that (1) using participant-specific mass ratios leads to different predictions of injury-related pitching arm kinetics and, thus, may improve our understanding of injury risk factors; and (2) pitching arm kinetics were correlated with body composition measures and a relatively high total body mass and/or BMI may increase shoulder and/or elbow injury risk

Earthquake risk: Including Uncertainties in the Ground Motion Calculations

Earthquake risk models used by the insurance industry for estimating the damage caused by an event typically use the mean of the ground motion intensity to predict the damage to a particular building. On the other hand, the ground motion intensity can be modelled as a ran- dom variable. Literature related to ground-motion predictive equation derivation includes, as a rule, the estimate of the standard deviation associated with the distribution of the intensity. The Study Group was asked to find a way to include the uncertainty associated with the predic- tion of the ground motion intensity contained in the standard deviation into the damage calculation, in a way in which the computational effort is not increased significantly The Study Group proposed a way forward based on Bayes’ theorem for the marginal distribution of damage and found an analytical expression for the damage distribution function. However, the expression is an in- tegral that needs to be evaluated numerically and the Gaussian-Hermite quadrature was proposed to carry out the calculations. The approach seems plausible to be included in the existing models and the additional computational load is estimated as to be marginal relating to the current computational demands

Development of a human knee joint finite element model to investigate cartilage stress during walking in obese and normal weight adults

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative condition characterized by the breakdown and loss of joint articular cartilage. While the cause of OA is not precisely known, obesity is a known risk factor [1]. Particular effort has gone towards understanding the relationship between obesity and knee OA because obesity is more strongly linked to OA at the knee than at any other lower extremity joint [2]. Although the relationship between obesity and knee OA is well established, the mechanism of pathogenesis is less understood. Excess body weight generates greater joint contact forces at the knee. However, obese individuals alter their gait, resulting in increased joint contact forces that are not proportional to body mass [3]. In this study, a partially validated knee joint finite element (FE) model was developed to predict cartilage loading during walking across individuals of varying adiposity. The model was used with kinematic and kinetic gait data to address the following hypotheses: 1) increased loading due to obesity will produce greater cartilage stress compared to the normal weight control; and 2) altered gait kinematics of obese individuals will alter the distribution of stress on the surface of the tibial cartilage

Quantifying microsatellite mutation rates from intestinal stem cell dynamics in Msh2-deficient murine epithelium

Microsatellite sequences have an enhanced susceptibility to mutation and can act as sentinels indicating elevated mutation rates and increased risk of cancer. The probability of mutant fixation within the intestinal epithelium is dictated by a combination of stem cell dynamics and mutation rate. Here we exploit this relationship to infer microsatellite mutation rates. First a sensitive, multiplexed and quantitative method for detecting somatic changes in microsatellite length was developed that allowed the parallel detection of mutant [CA]n sequences from hundreds of low-input tissue samples at up to 14 loci. The method was applied to colonic crypts in Mus musculus and enabled detection of mutant subclones down to 20% of the cellularity of the crypt (around 50 of 250 cells). By quantifying age-related increases in clone frequencies for multiple loci, microsatellite mutation rates in wild-type and Msh2- deficient epithelium were established. An average 388-fold increase in mutation per mitosis rate was observed in Msh2-deficient epithelium (2.4 x10-2) compared to wild- type epithelium (6.2 x10-5)

Human knee joint finite element model using a two bundle anterior cruciate ligament: Validation and gait analysis

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient individuals are at a much higher risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA) compared to those with intact ACLs, likely due to altered biomechanical loading [1]. Research indicates the ACL is comprised of two “bundles”, the anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) bundles [2]. Although the function of both bundles is to restrain anterior tibial translation (ATT), each bundle has their own distinct range of knee flexion where they are most effective [3]. Articular cartilage contact stress measurements are difficult to measure in vivo. An alternative approach is to use knee joint finite element models (FEMs) to predict soft tissue stresses and strains throughout the knee. Initial and boundary conditions for these FEMs may be determined from knee joint kinematics estimated from motion analysis experiments. However, there is a lack of knee joint FEMs which include both AM and PL bundles to predict changes to articular cartilage contact pressures resulting from ACL injuries. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a knee joint FEM using both AM and PL bundles and subsequently perform a gait analysis of varying ACL injuries