Computational human body models (HBMs) provide the ability to explore numerous candidate injury metrics ranging from local strain based criteria to global combined criteria such as the Tibia Index. Despite these efforts, there have been relatively few studies that focus on determining predicted injury risk from HBMs based on observed postmortem human subjects (PMHS) injury data. Additionally, HBMs provide an opportunity to construct risk curves using measures that are difficult or impossible to obtain experimentally. The Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) M50-O v 6.0 lower extremity was simulated in 181 different loading conditions based on previous PMHS tests in the underbody blast (UBB) environment and 43 different biomechanical metrics were output. The Brier Metric Score were used to determine the most appropriate metric for injury risk curve development. Using survival analysis, three different injury risk curves (IRC) were developed: "any injury," "calcaneus injury," and "tibia injury." For each injury risk curve, the top three metrics selected using the Brier Metric Score were tested for significant covariates including boot use and posture. The best performing metric for the "any injury," "calcaneus injury" and "tibia injury" cases were calcaneus strain, calcaneus force, and lower tibia force, respectively. For the six different injury risk curves where covariates were considered, the presence of the boot was found to be a significant covariate reducing injury risk in five out of six cases. Posture was significant for only one curve. The injury risk curves developed from this study can serve as a baseline for model injury prediction, personal protective equipment (PPE) evaluation, and can aid in larger scale testing and experimental protocols.

Following the third Sustainable Grand Bahama Conference held in 2022 under the theme Diversifying and Expanding Our Economy, this contribution seeks to reinforce the importance of a national development framework for The Bahamas that considers the country’s historical, social, cultural, institutional, and political influences. It is argued here that qualitative policy intervention ought to be an important positive force within the context of transnationalism, financialization, and imperfect competition, as socioeconomic advancement is a continuous work in progress for countries at all levels of development. The methodological approach utilised in the article is based on a distinctively Bahamian developmental state perspective alongside aspects of international political economy. The main focus of this contribution is to sketch out the policy framework that might be advisable to develop and diversify Bahamian production lines—given the country’s excessive reliance on tourism and financial services—while helping the country move to the next level of socio-economic progress. A developmental state with Bahamian characteristics is proposed here as a necessary policy framework for the support of selected industries of high potential and achievability while leaving space for further social and political advancement.

Lower cardiorespiratory fitness and obesity may accelerate aging processes. The degree to which changes in fitness and body mass index (BMI) may alter the rate of aging may be important for planning treatment. We assessed cross-sectional and longitudinal associations that cardiorespiratory fitness and BMI had with a deficit accumulation frailty index (FI). Fitness, based on standardized graded exercise tests, and weight to calculate BMI at baseline and year 4 were collected from 3944 participants aged 45-76 yr in the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) randomized controlled clinical trial. A validated 38-item deficit accumulation FI was used as a marker of aging. Associations between baseline and changes in fitness and BMI with changes in FI were assessed using linear models. Both baseline and 4-yr changes in fitness and BMI were independently associated with 4-yr changes in frailty (all P < 0.001). Mean (95% confidence interval) changes in FI ranged from -0.019 (-0.024, -0.013) for participants in the group with the greatest fitness increase and BMI loss to 0.029 (0.024, 0.034) for participants in the group with the greatest fitness loss and BMI gain. Associations of 4-yr changes in fitness and BMI with FI changes were similar across subgroups based on age, sex, baseline BMI, diabetes duration, and cardiovascular disease history. Increased fitness across 4 yr was associated with less FI accumulation independent of baseline fitness. Adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity may slow aging processes captured by an FI by increasing their cardiorespiratory fitness and losing weight.

Underrepresented faculty have higher burnout rates and lower grant attainment rates when compared with their non-minority counterparts. Many in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) disciplines, including underrepresented individuals, often have difficulty dedicating time to the writing process, with trainees often being relegated to laboratory tasks in their training years, resulting in a lack of practice in academic writing. Notably, past studies have shown that grant attainment rates of underrepresented individuals are lower than their majority counterparts. Here, we sought to consider a mechanism targeted to underrepresented individuals, although applicable to everyone, to help overcome traditional barriers to writing in STEMM. The authors have hosted a writing accountability group (WAG) that uniquely provides a format focused on physical activity and different forms of writing to strengthen both career development and award/funding attainment. Our objectives were to evaluate this unique format, thus creating a resource for individuals and institutions to learn about WAGs and expand upon the framework to formulate their own WAG. To do this, we performed a small pilot study (n = 21) to investigate attitudes towards the WAG. We present the results of a survey conducted among underrepresented WAG participants, which spanned different career stages and was highly diverse demographically. Our results show that following attendance of our WAG, individuals did not note a significant change in scales pertaining to John Henryism (high-effort coping), resilience, sense of belonging, or grit. However, significant increases were noted in the self-perceived ability to handle stress, confidence in applying for awards, appreciation for mentoring, and satisfaction of WAGs. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that our unique WAG format can have some positive results as a career and writing development opportunity and may be able to support underrepresented individuals in attaining funding at higher education institutions.

We would like to thank Dr. Fallon and coauthors1for their thoughtful comments on our review,2and we completely agree with all the points made. We regret our omission of the important work the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance, the Arthritis Foundation, and others perform on a daily basis to ease the burden of osteoarthritis (OA) for the millions of adults with this chronic long-term disease.

A broad range of information and communication technology (ICT) tools and services, including mobile applications (apps), are being deployed for on-demand learning in developed societies like the United States of America (USA). Some of the apps found to be in use for learning in one university in the USA were Quizlett, Mathway, SAT Prep, and Blackboard. The old concept of teacher-led learning classrooms has changed. The teacher is no longer the “know it all” provider of information to “blank slates” (students) but rather, the literature informs us of the teacher as coach and facilitator of instruction in technologically equipped classrooms. The literature points to the fact that mobile technologies are being used in classrooms in developed world regions such as the USA, but we know very little about developing world regions, including Nigeria. The study reported in this chapter helps to address the need and it investigated students' use of smart phones and applications (apps) to support their learning goals.

Information and communication technology (ICT) tools and services are revolutionizing the healthcare fields in many ways. One of such ways has been the sharing of information about vaccines to encourage their acceptance and adoption. The COVID-19 Vaccines Hesitancy Project (hereafter called the Project) was completed at one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States of America (USA). The researchers investigated through literature and secondary data the issues that continue to cause inequities and fuel vaccine hesitancies among different populations, particularly minority populations as well as the use of various ICT tools and services to better educate society for acceptance and adoption.

Digital technologies can allow for more proactive and engaged learning for students. The study analyzed recent publications related to technology use at all levels in Nigerian classrooms. The PRISMA Guideline was followed to analyze 25 quantitative studies published between 2015 to 2023. Five thematic areas related to ICT implementation in schools were explored. The review showed that there was some adoption of technology, but the level of adoption would increase with the provision of hardware for faculty, a steady supply of electricity, and professional development for teachers.

Kinesiology programs seeking to prepare an inclusive workforce are committed to recruiting and retaining graduate students who represent the demographic diversity of our country, communities, and undergraduate universities. Plans for enhancing diversity, including partnerships between historically Black undergraduate institutions and graduate programs located on predominantly White campuses, must incorporate equity-focused strategies. In this article, four Black women with various experiences as students and faculty at predominantly White institutions and historically Black colleges and universities offer their advice on equity-focused approaches to graduate student recruitment and retention. This article is meant to provide nuanced understandings of the benefits and challenges of such approaches for students and faculty of color.