Factorial Analysis Of Variance Design Research Articles

Effect of Substitution of Beef and Broiler Meat with Tuna Meat on Chemical and Sensory Quality of Meatballs.

Tuna meat is rich in protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), but low in cholesterol and fat, which makes it an excellent candidate for replacing beef and broiler chicken to produce higher quality meatballs. The aim of this study is to determine how substituting beef and broiler meat with tuna meat affects the chemical and sensory characteristics of meatballs. In this study, 1000 g of meatballs were prepared from 60 % of beef or broiler chicken. Each meat was replaced with tuna meat at mass fractions of 0, 20 and 40 %. The meat was finely ground and mixed with mass fractions (in %) of: tapioca flour 20, garlic 1.2, salt 2, ground pepper 0.5, egg white 0.3 and ice cubes 16. The tested variables included the chemical quality (moisture, protein, fat, ash, cholesterol and fatty acids) and sensory quality (colour, aroma, elasticity, texture and taste) of the meatballs. The data obtained were statistically analysed using a completely randomised factorial design analysis of variance. The results show that increasing the mass fraction of tuna as a substitute for beef and broiler meat significantly increased (p<0.01) the moisture, protein and PUFA mass fractions and colour, but decreased (p<0.01) the cholesterol and fat mass fraction of the meatballs. A significant interaction (p<0.01) was observed between the tuna mass fraction and the type of meat, which affected the mass fractions of moisture, protein, cholesterol and fat as well as colour of the meatballs. In particular, increasing the tuna mass fraction to 40 % significantly increased (p<0.01) the moisture mass fraction of the beef meatballs, as well as the protein mass fraction and colour of the beef and chicken meatballs. However, the moisture mass fraction of chicken meatballs and the fat and cholesterol mass fraction of beef and chicken meatballs decreased significantly (p<0.01). In conclusion, replacing 40 % of beef and chicken meatballs with tuna can improve protein content and colour, and reduce fat and cholesterol content. These results suggest that tuna can be used as a substitute for beef and chicken to produce higher quality meatballs that are rich in protein but low in cholesterol and fat. This approach can also be applied to other processed meat products such as sausages and nuggets to improve their nutritional quality.

Effects of High-Velocity Versus Low-Velocity Resistance Training on Muscle Echo Intensity in Healthy Young Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Improving muscle quality to prevent and treat muscle dysfunction is critical. However, effective measures to improve muscle quality remain poorly understood. We investigated the effects of high- and low-velocity resistance training (RT) on muscle quality, mass, and function before and after an 8-week intervention. High-velocity RT would improve muscle quality more effectively than low-velocity RT. Randomized controlled trial. Level 1. A total of 33 healthy young women (23.1 ± 2.2 years) were assigned randomly to high-velocity (n = 16) or low-velocity (n = 17) groups. Both groups underwent concentric knee extension RT with a 60% 1-repetition maximum (1RM) load, performing 10 repetitions of 4 sets, 3 times per week for 8 weeks. The high-velocity group was instructed to complete each repetition as quickly as possible (mean repetition duration of 0.5 seconds), while the low-velocity group was required to execute each repetition in 3 seconds. Before and after the 8-week intervention, quadriceps femoris echo intensity (EI), muscle thickness (MT), isokinetic peak torque (60 and 300 deg/s), rate of velocity development (RVD) at 300 deg/s, and 1RM were assessed. Split-plot factorial design analysis of variance was used to compare the group × time interaction. A group×time interaction was observed for EI (P < 0.01). Only the high-velocity group showed a significant reduction in EI after the intervention. MT revealed a main effect of time (P < 0.01), with both groups significantly increasing MT. RVD showed a group × time interaction (P < 0.05), with significant increase only in the high-velocity group. Isokinetic peak torque and 1RM showed main effects of time (P < 0.01), with significant increases in both groups. High-velocity RT may be superior to low-velocity RT in enhancing muscle quality and RVD. These results emphasize the importance of RT velocity for muscle quality improvement.

Effects of dragon fruits and moringa oleifera extracts, mineral mix variations on soft milk candy

Calcium is the most micronutrient found in dragon fruit reaching 8.5 mg/100 grams. Other sources of calcium in humans’ diet as milk, and moringa oleifera leaf can be used alternated to accept a daily intake of 1000 mg per day to support the formation of bones and teeth. The purpose of the study was to determine of calcium content from dragon fruits and moringa oleifera extracts, mineral mix variation on milk soft candy. This study is early to make milk soft candy with a completely randomized design (CRD) as P1 (12:1:50:8); P2 (14:2:50:9) and P3 (16:3:50:10) of dragon fruit extract: moringa oleifera leaf extract: mineral mix, with two replication. All treatments are tested of calcium content using An atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), and analyzed using a factorial design analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. The result showed the difference in calcium levels between treatments was significant (p: 0,000). The highest calcium content obtained on P1 treatment (12:1:50,8 dragon fruit extract : moringa Oleifera leaf extract : mineral mix) was 1,593 mg/100g100g.

Influence of family with sequence similarity 134, member B-mediated reticulophagy on lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis of mouse dendritic cells

Influence of family with sequence similarity 134, member B-mediated reticulophagy on lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis of mouse dendritic cells

Effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway on migration ability of HaCaT cells and full-thickness skin defects in mice

Effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway on migration ability of HaCaT cells and full-thickness skin defects in mice

Staging Liver Fibrosis: Comparison of Native T1 Mapping, T2 Mapping, and T1ρ: An Experimental Study in Rats With Bile Duct Ligation and Carbon Tetrachloride at 11.7T MRI.

T1, T2, and T1ρ might be potential biomarkers for assessing liver fibrosis. However, few studies reported the value of them in different animal models. To investigate and compare the performances of T1, T2, and T1ρ for noninvasively staging liver fibrosis in bile duct ligation (BDL) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) model. Prospective animal model. Liver fibrosis was induced by BDL or injection of CCl4 in 120 rats. 11.7T, T1 mapping with 10 repetition times, T2 mapping with 32 echo times, and T1ρ with 10 spin-lock times. T1, T2, and T1ρ were measured and correlated with liver fibrosis stages, as well as the degree of inflammation, steatosis, iron deposition, and the expression of cytokeratin 19. The discriminative performance of T1, T2, and T1ρ for staging liver fibrosis was compared. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Spearman's correlation analysis, factorial design ANOVA, and receiver operating characteristic curves (P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant). T1, T2, and T1ρ (BDL: rho=0.73, 0.85, 0.68; CCl4 : rho=0.80, 0.29, 0.61) were significantly correlated with liver fibrosis stages, while there was no significant difference in T2 among stage F0-F4 in the CCl4 model (P=0.204). The area under the curves (AUCs) range of T1, T2, and T1ρ for predicting ≥F1, ≥F2, ≥F3, and F4 were 0.76-0.95, 0.89-0.98, and 0.80-0.94 in the CCl4 model. For the CCl4 model, the AUCs range of T1, T2, and T1ρ for predicting ≥F1, ≥F2, ≥F3, and F4 were 0.83-0.95, 0.61-0.74, and 0.73-0.89, respectively. T2 had significantly higher AUC in the BDL model than CCl4 model for diagnosing liver fibrosis. The most sensitive and accurate method for staging liver fibrosis appeared to be T1 in our animal models followed by T1ρ. T2 may not be suitable for evaluating liver fibrosis. 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 2.

P2Y1 Purinergic Receptor Contributes to Remifentanil-Induced Cold Hyperalgesia via Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 8-Dependent Regulation of N-methyl-d-aspartate Receptor Phosphorylation in Dorsal Root Ganglion.

Remifentanil can induce postinfusion cold hyperalgesia. N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activation and upregulation of transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) membrane trafficking in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) are critical to cold hyperalgesia derived from neuropathic pain, and TRPM8 activation causes NMDAR-dependent cold response. Contribution of P2Y1 purinergic receptor (P2Y1R) activation in DRG to cold pain hypersensitivity and NMDAR activation induced by P2Y1R upregulation in neurons are also unraveled. This study explores whether P2Y1R contributes to remifentanil-induced cold hyperalgesia via TRPM8-dependent regulation of NMDAR phosphorylation in DRG. Rats with remifentanil-induced cold hyperalgesia were injected with TRPM8 antagonist or P2Y1R antagonist at 10 minutes before remifentanil infusion. Cold hyperalgesia (paw lift number and withdrawal duration on cold plate) was measured at -24, 2, 6, 24, and 48 hours following remifentanil infusion. After the last behavioral test, P2Y1R expression, TRPM8 expression and membrane trafficking, and NMDAR subunit (NR1 and NR2B) expression and phosphorylation in DRG were detected by western blot, and colocalization of P2Y1R with TRPM8 was determined by double-labeling immunofluorescence. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) or 2 × 2 factorial design ANOVA with repeated measures was used to analyze behavioral data of cold hyperalgesia. One-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc comparisons was used to analyze the data in western blot and immunofluorescence. Remifentanil infusion (1 μg·kg-1·min-1 for 60 minutes) induced cold hyperalgesia (hyperalgesia versus control, paw lift number and withdrawal duration on cold plate at 2-48 hours, P < .0001) with upregulated NR1 (hyperalgesia versus naive, 48 hours, mean ± standard deviation [SD], 114.00% ± 12.48% vs 41.75% ± 5.20%, P < .005) and NR2B subunits expression (104.13% ± 8.37% vs 24.63% ± 4.87%, P < .005), NR1 phosphorylation at Ser896 (91.88% ± 7.08% vs 52.00% ± 7.31%, P < .005) and NR2B phosphorylation at Tyr1472 (115.75% ± 8.68% vs 59.75% ± 7.78%, P < .005), TRPM8 expression (115.38% ± 9.27% vs 40.50% ± 4.07%, P < .005) and membrane trafficking (112.88% ± 5.62% vs 48.88% ± 6.49%, P < .005), and P2Y1R expression (128.25% ± 14.86% vs 45.13% ± 7.97%, P < .005) in DRG. Both TRPM8 and P2Y1R antagonists attenuated remifentanil-induced cold hyperalgesia and downregulated increased NR1 and NR2B expression and phosphorylation induced by remifentanil (remifentanil + RQ-00203078 versus remifentanil + saline, NR1 phosphorylation, 69.38% ± 3.66% vs 92.13% ± 4.85%; NR2B phosphorylation, 72.25% ± 6.43% vs 111.75% ± 11.00%, P < .0001). NMDAR activation abolished inhibition of TRPM8 and P2Y1R antagonists on remifentanil-induced cold hyperalgesia. P2Y1R antagonist inhibited remifentanil-evoked elevations in TRPM8 expression and membrane trafficking and P2Y1R-TRPM8 coexpression (remifentanil + 2'-deoxy-N6-methyl adenosine 3',5'-diphosphate [MRS2179] versus remifentanil + saline, coexpression, 8.33% ± 1.33% vs 22.19% ± 2.15%, P < .0001). Attenuation of remifentanil-induced cold hyperalgesia by P2Y1R inhibition is attributed to downregulations in NMDAR expression and phosphorylation via diminishing TRPM8 expression and membrane trafficking in DRG.

Simulation-Based Power Analysis for Factorial Analysis of Variance Designs

Researchers often rely on analysis of variance (ANOVA) when they report results of experiments. To ensure that a study is adequately powered to yield informative results with an ANOVA, researchers can perform an a priori power analysis. However, power analysis for factorial ANOVA designs is often a challenge. Current software solutions do not allow power analyses for complex designs with several within-participants factors. Moreover, power analyses often need [Formula: see text] or Cohen’s f as input, but these effect sizes are not intuitive and do not generalize to different experimental designs. We have created the R package Superpower and online Shiny apps to enable researchers without extensive programming experience to perform simulation-based power analysis for ANOVA designs of up to three within- or between-participants factors. Predicted effects are entered by specifying means, standard deviations, and, for within-participants factors, the correlations. The simulation provides the statistical power for all ANOVA main effects, interactions, and individual comparisons. The software can plot power across a range of sample sizes, can control for multiple comparisons, and can compute power when the homogeneity or sphericity assumption is violated. This Tutorial demonstrates how to perform a priori power analysis to design informative studies for main effects, interactions, and individual comparisons and highlights important factors that determine the statistical power for factorial ANOVA designs.

Nutrient content and digestibility of different batches of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles for laying hens

ABSTRACT1. Four batches of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) produced by a single production plant were used to investigate variation in digestible energy (DE) and nutrient digestibility for laying hens.2. A total of 144 Hy-Line Brown laying hens were allocated to eight treatment groups in replicates of six. Experimental diets were prepared by replacing the basal feed with either 150 g/kg or 300 g/kg of each batch of DDGS.3. Chemical analysis of the DDGS showed variation between the different batches. Largest coefficients of variation were observed for starch (0.546) and total soluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP; 0.276).4. Digestible energy and the nutrient digestibility of each diet was measured using the ileal collection technique. Data were statistically analysed as a blocked 2 × 4 factorial design analysis of variance (ANOVA).5. Variability between the different diets were observed for digestible energy and the digestibility of certain nutrients (P < 0.05).6. The observed differences in energy utilisation and nutrient digestibility in laying hens suggested that the feeding quality of diets containing different wheat DDGS batches produced by a single production plant may still have large variation.

Neural Activity During Mental Rotation in Deaf Signers: The Influence of Long-Term Sign Language Experience.

Mental rotation is the brain's visuospatial understanding of what objects are and where they belong. Previous research indicated that deaf signers showed behavioral enhancement for nonlinguistic visual tasks, including mental rotation. In this study, we investigated the neural difference of mental rotation processing between deaf signers and hearing nonsigners using blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The participants performed a block-designed experiment, consisting of alternating blocks of comparison and rotation periods, separated by a baseline or fixation period. Mental rotation tasks were performed using three-dimensional figures. fMRI images were acquired during the entire experiment, and the fMRI data were analyzed with Analysis of Functional NeuroImages. A factorial design analysis of variance was designed for fMRI analyses. The differences of activation were analyzed for the main effects of group and task, as well as for the interaction of group by task. The study showed differences in activated areas between deaf signers and hearing nonsigners on the mental rotation of three-dimensional figures. Subtracting activations of fixation from activations of rotation, both groups showed consistent activation in bilateral occipital lobe, bilateral parietal lobe, and bilateral posterior temporal lobe. There were different main effects of task (rotation versus comparison) with significant activation clusters in the bilateral precuneus, the right middle frontal gyrus, the bilateral medial frontal gyrus, the right interior frontal gyrus, the right superior frontal gyrus, the right anterior cingulate, and the bilateral posterior cingulate. There were significant interaction effects of group by task in the bilateral anterior cingulate, the right inferior frontal gyrus, the left superior frontal gyrus, the left posterior cingulate, the left middle temporal gyrus, and the right inferior parietal lobe. In simple effects of deaf and hearing groups with rotation minus comparison, deaf signers mainly showed activity in the right hemisphere, while hearing nonsigners showed bilateral activity. In the simple effects of rotation task, decreased activities were shown for deaf signers compared with hearing nonsigners throughout several regions, including the bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, the left posterior cingulate cortex, the right anterior cingulate cortex, and the right inferior parietal lobe. Decreased activations in several brain regions of deaf signers when compared to hearing nonsigners reflected increased neural efficiency and a precise functional circuitry, which was generated through long-term experience with sign language processing. In addition, we inferred tentatively that there may be a lateralization pattern to the right hemisphere for deaf signers when performing mental rotation tasks.

Correlation analysis between the expression of cathepsin D and the accumulation of advanced glycation end products in skin tissues

Objective To determine the expression of cathepsin D and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in skin tissues from patients of different ages or skin tissues with different degrees of sun exposure, to evaluate their correlation, and to preliminarily investigate the role of cathepsin D in the degradation and accumulation of AGEs in photoaged skin. Methods Skin tissues were collected from sun-exposed and sun-protected body sites in patients aged 15 - 20 years, 35 - 40 years, 55 - 60 years or 75 - 80 years. These skin tissues were divided into 8 groups according to age of patients and degrees of sun exposure, and there were 6 specimens in each group. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent methods were used to measure the expression of cathepsin D and AGEs in the skin tissues. Statistical analysis was carried out by factorial design analysis of variance, Wilcoxon rank sum test and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test for analyzing associations of the expression of cathepsin D and AGEs with age and sun exposure, as well as by Pearson correlation analysis for assessing the correlation between cathepsin D expression and AGEs expression. Results Immunohistochemical study showed that the expression of cathepsin D markedly decreased along with the increase of age, but the accumulation of AGEs gradually increased along with the increase of age. In the same age group, the cathepsin D expression was lower in the sun-exposed skin tissues than in the sun-protected skin tissues, while the accumulation of AGEs was more in the sun-exposed skin tissues than in the sun-protected skin tissues. Factorial design analysis of variance showed that sun exposure could decrease the expression of cathepsin D (F = 58.70, P < 0.001) , but increase the accumulation of AGEs (F = 158.18, P < 0.001) . Moreover, the increase of age could lead to decreased expression of cathepsin D (F = 79.49, P < 0.001) , and increased expression of AGEs (F = 106.06, P < 0.001) . Compared with the sun-protected skin tissues, the sun-exposed skin tissues in all the age groups showed significantly lower absorbance value of cathepsin D (35 - 40 years: 0.020 ± 0.005 vs. 0.032 ± 0.005; 55 - 60 years: 0.012 ± 0.004 vs. 0.026 ± 0.002; 75 - 80 years: 0.002 ± 0.001 vs. 0.013 ± 0.004; all P < 0.001) , but higher absorbance value of AGEs (35 - 40 years: 0.030 ± 0.008 vs. 0.010 ± 0.003; 55 - 60 years: 0.066 ± 0.010 vs. 0.021 ± 0.004; 75 - 80 years: 0.085 ± 0.015 vs. 0.035 ± 0.009; all P < 0.001) except the age group of 15 - 20 years. No matter whether the skin tissues were sun-exposed or sun-protected, there were significant differences in the expression of cathepsin D and AGEs among different age groups (all P < 0.001) . The results of double immunofluorescence staining were similar to those of immunohistochemical study. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the expression of cathepsin D in the sun-exposed skin tissues was highly negatively correlated with the accumulation of AGEs (r = -0.915, P < 0.05) , while they were moderately negatively correlated in the sun-protected skin tissues (r = -0.730, P < 0.05) . Conclusions Along with the increase of age, the expression of cathepsin D in skin tissues decreased, but the expression of AGEs increased. In the sun-protected skin tissues, the expression of cathepsin D was moderately negatively correlated with the expression of AGEs, while they were highly negatively correlated in the sun-exposed skin tissues, suggesting that cathepsin D may play an important role in the degradation and accumulation of AGEs in photoaged skin. Key words: Skin aging; Cathepsin D; Glycosylation end products, advanced; Age factors; Sunlight

Influence of Learning Model Using Laboratory and Numeric Ability to Student Learning Result on Thermochemical Material

This study aims to determine the influence of learning models and numerical ability of students’ chemistry learning outcomes on Thermochemical materials, as well as the interaction between learning models through the use of laboratory and numerical ability. The study was conducted on the students of grade XI IPA SMA N 1 Stabat consisting of 9 classes and 2 classes as samples taken by purposive sampling. Experimental research with factorial 2 × 2 factorial ANOVA design. Learning result data obtained from result of thermochemical learning result and student numerical ability data obtained through numerical ability test which have all been validated. The data analysis technique used two way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result of the research shows that the influence of the learning model using the laboratory on the students’ learning outcomes on thermochemical materials with Fcount&gt; Ftable is 4.015&gt; 3.99, there is the effect of high numerical ability and low numerical ability to the chemistry learning result on thermochemical material with Fcount&gt; Ftable value is 23.717 &gt; 3.99 and there is interaction between learning model using laboratory with numerical ability to result of thermochemical learning with value Fcount&gt;Ftable that is 11.142&gt;3.99.

Auditory orienting of attention: Effects of cues and verbal workload with children and adults

The use of tone cues has an improving effect on the auditory orienting of attention for children as for adults. Verbal cues, on the contrary, do not seem to orient attention as efficiently before the age of 9 years. However, several studies have reported inconsistent effects of orienting attention on ear asymmetries. Multiple factors are questioned, such as the role of verbal workload. Indeed, the semantic nature of the dichotic pairs and their load of processing may explain orienting of attention performance. Thus, by controlling for the role of verbal workload, the present experiment aimed to evaluate the development of capacities for the auditory orienting of attention. Right-handed, 6- to 12-year-olds and adults were recruited to complete either a tone cue or a verbal cue dichotic listening task in the identification of familiar words or nonsense words. A factorial design analysis of variance showed a significant right-ear advantage for all the participants and for all the types of stimuli. A major developmental effect was observed in which verbal cues played an important role: they allowed the 6- to 8-year-olds to improve their performance of identification in the left ear. These effects were taken as evidence of the implication of top-down processes in cognitive flexibility across development.

Acute Ischemic Stroke Brainwave Classification Using Relative Power Ratio Cluster Analysis

This study proposed the application of cluster analysis to classify the brainwaves of stroke level based on the Relative Power Ratio (RPR) techniques. RPR was performed to determine the brainwave characteristics due to group of stroke level. In this research, we determined seventy four stroke patients brainwave activity with open eyes (OE) session. Then group them into Advance Group (AG), Intermediate Group (IG) and Early Group (EG). Simultaneously, their Electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded from which the EEG dataset will be calculated using the RPR formula. Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta Power Spectrum Density (PSD) are used as input for RPR. The results show that by implementing RPR technique, the pattern of group stroke level, especially in the cognitive or thinking abilities can be clearly observed. Then cluster analysis using a factorial ANOVA (analysis of variance) design with factors Group will be deployed to cluster RPR towards the corresponding group of stroke level. It can be concluded that the AG are higher in the cluster 1 for RPR Beta (RPRB) while IG and EG were grouped together because they do not differ from each other in cluster 2. For RPR Alpha (RPRA), EG are higher in the cluster 2 while AG and IG were grouped together in cluster 1. AG was found in both clusters for RPR Theta (RPRT) and AG are lower in cluster 1 for RPR Delta (RPRD). This indicates that the group stroke level can discriminate due to the brainwaves characteristics.

Exploring the Effects of Sex and Mode of Presentation in Perceptions of Dating Goals in Video-Dating

The study examines how sex and mode of presentation influence perceptions of dating goals (Mongeau, Serewicz, & Therrien, 2004) in a video-dating context. We examine sex differences in perceived dating goals by exploring explanations for these differences involving perceptual thresholds and cue usage (i.e., access to flirting cues). We employ a 2 (Sex: Male or Female) × 3 (Mode of Presentation: Transcript, Audio, Audio-Visual) factorial analysis of variance design to compare these different potential causal mechanisms. Error management theory, cognitive valence theory, and male insensitivity to behavioral cues are invoked as overarching theoretical frameworks.

The in vitro and in vivo experimental study of long-circulating superparamagnetic iron oxide liposome nanoparticles as novel MR contrast agent

Objective To evaluate pharmacodynamics of prepared long-circulating superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) liposomes. Methods Control and experimental groups were established after adding SPIO or long-circulating SPIO liposomes as agents. (1)Macrophages experiment in vitro: the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell strains were recovered, cultured and seeded in the culture plate at a density of 2.5×105 cells/well until they reached 80%-90% confluence. The intracellular Fe uptake of control and experimental group cells were quantified by Ferrozine assay after incubation with different concentrations of drugs. Factorial design analysis of variance was used as statistics method. Prussian blue staining method was used to detect staining of experimental cells.(2)Drug biodistribution in mice: C57BL/6J(n=6) were classified into blank control group (n=2), control group(n=2) and experimental group(n=2).Saline, SPIO and long circulating SPIO were injected via the tail vein in the blank control group, control group and experimental group respectively. Then distribution of drugs in the body was observed by pathological examination.(3) MR imaging of tumor-bearing nude mice: 20 BALB/c nude mice bearing lung cancer models were established and classified into control group and experimental group. After administration of drugs, all animals underwent MR scanning. Signal intensities of livers and tumors were measured, SNR-time dynamic curves were drew. Covariance analysis was used to compare post-enhanced SNR at the 12th hour. (4)Cytotoxicity studies (MTT): cytotoxicity of both drugs on human liver cell line HL-7702 was studied, and statistically analyzed using factorial design analysis of variance. Results (1) Macrophages experiment in vitro: The nanoparticle uptake by macrophage cells evaluated by ferrozine assay showed the uptake of blank SPIO was higher than long-circulating SPIO liposomes. Compared with the blank control group, there was strong blue staining in the macrophages with Prussian staining in the control group and little blue staining in the experimental group. (2) Drug biodistribution in mice: for blue stained cells composed of iron particles, the amounts in the liver, spleen, lung, kidney of the control group were more than those in the experimental group. (3) MR imaging of tumor-bearing nude mice: the non-enhanced SNR of livers and tumors in the control group and experimental group were 31.47 ± 0.56, 30.89 ± 1.41, 58.41 ± 0.61, 58.44 ± 1.08, respectively. After injecting of contrast agents, SNR of livers and tumors in the control group and experimental group were 17.00 ± 0.96, 22.29 ± 0.73, 58.50 ± 0.63, 52.47 ± 1.18, respectively. The covariance analysis showed that SNR of the livers in the control group after 12 hours was significantly lower than the experimental group (F=167.022, P=0.000); while the SNR of the tumors in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (F=266.106, P=0.000).(4) Cytotoxicity of nanoparticles by MTT method: the viability of HL-7702 cells tend to decrease with the increase of Fe concentration. Cytotoxicity in the long-circulating SPIO liposomes was lower than the SPIO(F=2256.204,P=0.000). Conclusions Long-circulating SPIO liposomes we prepared reveal suitable sizes, even distribution, and good anti-macrophage ability in vitro and in vivo. They have long circulation characteristic and T2 negative enhancement effect in the transplanted lung cancers, while they still maintain low cytotoxicity. Key words: Contrast media; Nanotechnology; Magnetic resonance imaging; Animals,laboratory

Cryopreservation of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) sperm in large-volume straws: applications for commercial production and gene banking

In our study, we used a full factorial analysis of variance design to examine the effects of diluent [Mounib's sucrose-based diluent+hen's egg yolk (EY) and Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS)+EY], freezing rate (−2.5, −5.0 and −7.5 °C min−1) and thawing rate (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 °C min−1) on motility and velocity of Atlantic cod sperm cryopreserved in 2.5 mL cryogenic straws. We found that post-thaw sperm performance was strongly influenced by the presence of higher-order interactions of the factors we tested. For all models broken down by diluent, the 2.5 °C min−1 thawing rate had the lowest sperm motility recovery index. Mounib's sucrose-based diluent+EY had the highest motility recovery index at all thawing rates. Mean per cent motility for fresh sperm (87.7±2.9%) was not significantly different than of sperm cryopreserved using Mounib's sucrose-based diluent+EY, frozen at −2.5 °C min−1 and thawed at 5.0 °C min−1 (77.1±2.9%). For Mounib's sucrose-based diluent+EY, velocity was significantly higher with sperm thawed at 7.5 °C min−1, than sperm thawed at 2.5 °C min−1, while thawing rate had no effect for HBSS+EY. Our findings have implications for cod mariculture and aiding in conservation efforts for a dominant marine fish species.

Blood Sugar Lowering Effect ofCoccinia grandis(L.) J. Voigt: Path for a New Drug for Diabetes Mellitus

Background. Role of herbs in the management and control of diabetes has emerged fast over the years. We assessed the efficacy of Coccinia grandis (locally known as Ken, Kovakka) leaves as a hypoglycemic agent. Methods. Double-blind phase I clinical trial was conducted at the general hospital and a private hospital in Matara in August 2009. All the participants were given a common meal for dinner, and they maintained a 10-hour fasting period. Sixty-one healthy volunteers were given a meal containing 20 g of leaves of Coccinia grandis which was mixed with a measured amount of scraped coconut and table salt for breakfast, and other 61 were given the placebo meal which also contained scraped coconut and salt. Glucose tolerance test was performed blindly for the two groups. Mixed factorial design analysis of variance and student's t-test were applied. Results. Overall blood sugar levels of the experimental group were also significantly lower than those of the control group (F(1,117) 5.56, P < 0.05). Increase in the blood sugar levels from fasting to one hour (F(1,117) 6.77, P < 0.05) and two hours (F(1,117) 5.28, P < 0.05) postprandially was statistically significant for participants who were in the control group than those of in the experimental group. The mean difference of postprandial blood sugar levels (mg/dL) after one hour (20.2, 95% confidence interval, 4.81 to 35.5) and two hours (11.46, 95% confidence interval; 1.03 to 21.9) was statistically significant between the two groups. Conclusions. Coccinia grandis has a blood sugar lowering effect. However further studies are needed to validate our findings.

The Combined Effects of Forest Tent Caterpillar Defoliation and Timber Stand Improvement Activity on Epicormic Sprouting of Sugar Maple and Black Cherry

Abstract A 2 × 2 factorial analysis of variance design assessed the combined effects of severe defoliation by the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria (Hub.), from 1991 through 1993 and concurrent timber stand improvement (TSI) treatments on the occurrence of epicormic sproutingfor both sugar maple (SM), Acer saccharum (Marsh.) and black cherry (BC), Prunus serotina (Ehrh.) in the Tug Hill region of New York State. The potential economic effects of epicormic sprouting by dominant and codominant (DC) SM after defoliation and TSI were statistically significantbut negligible. TSI treatments alone and defoliation alone, however, promoted sprouting in intermediate SM, which may result in future grade reduction. The combination of defoliation and TSI treatment resulted in prolific epicormic sprouting by DC BC. These two disturbances have the potential to cause significant standwide value losses in this species.

Does Attentional Cueing Affect Dichotic Listening Performance in Children?

This study addresses the effects of verbal versus nonverbal (tone) shifts of attention on dichotic listening (DL) performance with children. Theoretically, a tonal cue may be more effective in increasing attention than a verbal cue following instruction. The inconsistency of studies reporting substantial effects of attention on ear asymmetries in children with or without learning disabilities (LDs) may be due to a developmental difference in their ability to use verbal or tone cues to select stimuli for recall. Participants included 30 right-handed children (15 control, 15 with LDs) with a mean age of 10.8 years. Each participant received 60 trials of a monaural tone cue task, 60 trials of a binaural verbal cue task, and 60 trials of a monaural verbal cue task, to direct attention to either the left or right ear before the presentation of consonant–vowel syllable pairs in a DL task. A factorial design analysis of variance yielded a significant right-ear advantage for both groups. More important, the Group × Task interaction was found to be significant, indicating that group performance on ear scores was dependent on type of cueing condition. Whereas all 3 cue conditions were effective in orienting attention for control participants, larger shifts were apparent under both binaural and monaural verbal instructional cue conditions. In contrast, participants with LD showed larger shifts of attention under the tonal cue condition. These results show that control participants have greater ability to focus attention with the use of a verbal cue, whereas participants with LD show greater ability to orient attention with the use of a tone cue in reducing error rates in DL performance.