Forelimb Research Articles

Injured giraffes are at higher risk of dying

Animals in the wild can suffer from diseases that can then affect their ability to move. Wildlife is also directly impacted by humans hunting animals for food. In particular, scientists have reported that skin diseases and injuries caused by wire snares, set by people to trap animals in the wild for bush meat, can affect giraffes and their ability to move normally. Most previous research has only been done on captive animals in zoos and with giraffes that suffer from a skin disease that affects their mobility. Recently, an international collaboration between researchers based at universities and zoos in the USA and Namibia recorded videos of giraffes in the wild in Uganda with skin diseases and/or wounds from wire snares.But first, Laura Bernstein-Kurtycz and colleagues collected video of four Masai giraffes (Giraffa tippelskirchi) walking at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and used it to quantify the movements of healthy giraffes by measuring how long their stride was, the footfall timing between the back limb and the front limb, how fast the animals were walking, and low long each foot remained in contact with the ground. Additionally, they measured the giraffe's neck movements, up and down as well as back and forth during each stride. After completing their pilot study at the zoo, Michael Brown (Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, USA) and J. Evenhuis (Case Western Reserve University, USA) filmed 52 male Nubian giraffes (G. camelopardalis camelopardalis) in the Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda, for more than a year. Bernstein-Kurtycz and colleagues then classified the 52 giraffes into a healthy group, a group with skin disease, a group with wounds from wire snares and a group that had both skin disease and wounds from snares, and analysed their walking movements from the movies.They discovered that skin disease found on the Nubian giraffes did not affect their walking. This might be partially because the disease was found only around the neck region. In contrast, the giraffes that had wounds caused by wire traps had a shorter stride length and slower walking speeds, the limb that was wounded spent less time in contact with the ground bearing weight, and they tended to keep both limbs on the same side of the body in contact with the ground almost simultaneously, possibly to spare the wounded limb from bearing too much weight. In contrast, there were no meaningful differences in the neck movements between the healthy group and any of the groups that had incurred wounds from snares and those that had the skin disease.Traps set by humans have a damaging effect on animals, even if they are not the intended targets. Bernstein-Kurtycz and colleagues have demonstrated that the injuries to these majestic animals caused by wire traps force the giraffes to walk more slowly and unevenly, leaving them vulnerable to attack and predation by lions. Such injuries can also affect their ability to migrate efficiently, locate and compete for mates, and dominant males that are wounded may be unable to protect their mates from males competing to mate with them. Describing how a colleague reported that 257 live giraffes were freed from wire snares in the Murchison Falls National Park between February 2019 and December 2021, the team state that the risk posed by human activity to this endangered population is clearly significant, and conclude that ‘identifying and quantifying potential threats to this population is of global consequence for their conservation’.

Phenotype and genotype of Boerka goats raised in Bali.

Boerka goats are the new breed in Bali targeted at meeting the increasing demand for lamb. They are meat-type goats created by crossing male Boer and female Kacang breeds. This new breed is expected to have good adaptation in a poor environment, such as Kacang goats and produce good quality lamb as Boer goats. Therefore, this study aimed to examine phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Boerka goats raised in Bali. A total of 16 female Boerka goats at 2 years old collected from a group of livestock farmers in Sanda Village were used as samples. This observational study began with observations of qualitative characteristics and morphometric measurements of goats, followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the growth hormone (GH) gene using GH5F and GH5R primers. Polymerase chain reaction products were then sequenced and analyzed with the MEGA 11 program. The results showed that all Boerka goats had stuck-down ears, the heads were predominantly brown in color (62.5%), the body color pattern tends to be white (87.50%), and the tail color pattern was also dominated by white (62.5%). In morphometric terms, the samples were close to Kacang goats based on the body weight, head length, head width, chest width, depth, and circumference, left front leg circumference, ear length, ear width, tail length, tail width, and flank height except for head height, body length, horn length, and shoulder height. Analysis of the GH gene showed that Boerka goats had a nucleotide composition dominated by the purine base guanine (26.5%) and pyrimidine cytosine (31.8%). Furthermore, they formed a separate cluster with a genetic distance of 14.1% to the Anhui White breed from China, the Tibetan breed, and the Swiss Saanen breed. Boerka goats raised in Bali have phenotypes, including qualitative characteristics and morphometric measurements close to Kacang goats. As meat-type goats, they also form a separate cluster distinct from similar types worldwide.

37 Short-term effects of a single pulsed electromagnetic field therapy session on lameness, gait quality, and stress in moderately exercising horses

Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is applied to equids for a variety of preexisting conditions; however, research with its usage to enhance performance in the horse is limited. To test the hypothesis that a single PEMF therapy session improved stress, performance, and lameness parameters, 14 horses (11 ± 4.1 years) underwent a single 30-min whole body PEMF therapy session at 5 Hz and a single sham therapy session where horses were randomly assigned to a treatment order. A 2-week washout period was given between treatments. Resting heart rate, salivary cortisol, stride length, quality of movement, and lameness evaluation (fore limb vector sum, hip height difference, forehand stride rate, hind stride rate) on crushed gravel and loose sand surfaces were evaluated at 8 different time points: immediately before and after treatment, and at 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h post treatment. Videos were assessed for stride length and were assessed by 3 blinded, carded judges for quality of movement. Mixed model analysis for crossover design with repeated measures was used to determine the effect of treatment, time, period, and all interactions. At 7.5 h post treatment, horses were subjected to a 30 min lunge to simulate a moderate exercise session. Post hoc multiple comparisons were performed with Tukey's adjustment (mean ± SE).Heart rate was lowered immediately following PEMF treatment (29 ± 1 BPM, P < 0.0001) when compared with all other sampling time points. For quality of movement (1 = poor, 10 = excellent), judges found walk quality to decrease immediately following PEMF treatment (5.68 ± 0.18) and at 4 h post (5.59 ± 0.16) when compared with 2 h sham (5.98 ± 0.1, P = 0.006) while trot quality did not differ. Walk stride length was affected by time but not treatment, increasing at 8 h (2.49 ± 0.03 m) post treatment when compared with pre-treatment sampling (2.43 ± 0.04 m, P = 0.03) but not the trot. Salivary cortisol concentration was unaffected by treatment but did have an effect of time (P < 0.0001) varying depending on the time of day of the sample. Forehand and hind stride rate were affected by surface (P = 0.004, P = 0.004) with sand having a slower rate than gravel and time (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001) slowing stride rate as the day progressed. No differences were observed with fore limb vector sum and hip height difference. This study shows PEMF therapy has a relaxing effect evidenced by lowered heart rate immediately following treatment; however, more work is needed to determine the full effects of PEMF in performance horses.

Lateral Approach for Distal Articular Fractures of Humerus in Canines-A Review of 4 Cases

Background: Humeral condylar fractures have fracture lines that extend through the joint surface and through one or both epicondyles or epicondylar crests, or into the distal shaft. Addressing the distal articular Humeral fractures in dogs through lateral approach by using positional transcondylar screws. Methods: A total of four cases of dogs with different age groups, breeds and sex with fore limb lameness caused due to trauma were included in the study. Clinical and standard radiological examination of all revealed intercondylar fractures with reduced range of motion where the fracture of the condyle extending from the articular surface. After preoperative evaluation all the animals were subjected to surgical reduction by lateral approach under general anaesthesia using positional transcondylar screws (n=2) with or without K-wires in cross fashion (n=2). This approach avoided the necessity of olecranon osteotomy and triceps tenotomy with their associated complications. Result: Excellent limb utility was obtained during postoperative period by clinical and radiographical grading system. To conclude, the use of fully threaded cortical screws was found effective for surgical management of distal humeral condylar fractures in dogs via lateral exposure.

Locomotion and Biomechanical Adaptations in Hind Limb Muscles of Three Mexican Anuran Species

Anurans are anatomically built for jumping, requiring the muscles to contract to generate sufficient mechanical force to launch their bodies. A lot of energy is needed in the hind limbs, where the majority of the force is produced, whereas the front legs and both girdles serve mainly to support the frog's weight at rest as well as to absorb the shock of landing. Different species of anurans have different locomotion mechanisms, evidenced by comparing the mechanical contractile properties of hind limb muscles. In this study, we compared two muscles in arboreal (Agalychnis dacnicolor), terrestrial (Incilius marmoreus), and aquatic (Lithobates sierramadrensis) species of Mexican anurans. We performed low frequency in situ stimulations of the muscles and found that A. dacnicolor showed higher stresses than L. sierramadrensis and I. marmoreus in the two studied muscles, the cruralis and the gastrocnemius. Regarding the cruralis, the stress generated by the aquatic and terrestrial anurans was up to 23% less than that generated by the arboreal anuran. There was also a difference of up to 30% in the ratio of performance between low frequencies and twitch in L. sierramadrensis compared to the other anurans. These differences in muscle physiology suggest adaptive differences among species, although more comprehensive studies are needed to corroborate this hypothesis.

Three-toed sloths walk differently from their cousins

Life is difficult when you live in the canopy, but even more so when you spend much of your day hanging suspended from the branches. Yet, there are a number of animals for which this is common, including tree sloths. Both two-toed and three-toed sloths spend nearly their entire lives hanging from branches and have therefore evolved some remarkable tricks for thriving in this unusual way of life, including their slow movements. But just how these sloths walk on the underside of branches is not fully understood. This led A. J. McKamy and Michael Butcher of Youngstown State University, USA, to ask how does the brown-throated three-toed tree sloth (Bradypus variegatus) move? And does it do so similarly to its previously studied cousin, Linnaeus's two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus)?Working alongside Melody Young and Michael Granatosky from New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, USA, and Angela Mossor and Jesse Young of Kent State University USA, the team travelled to the Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica to meet up with Judy Avey-Arroyo. There, the researchers used a pressure sensor to measure how much force the sloths applied as they traversed a beam made of a local bamboo-like woody grass. They also videoed the movements to see how the sloths were gripping the woody beam and whether they were doing this differently from the two-toed sloths.Interestingly, the researchers found that as the three-toed sloths were walking, they were pulling down on the beam more strongly with their hindlimbs than with their front limbs. This is unique to the three-toed sloths, as their two-toed cousins pull down equally hard with their front and back limbs. This suggests that the three-toed sloths are actually using their back limbs to support more of their body weight than their front limbs, whereas the two-toed sloths spread their weight out evenly. McKamy suggests that this may be because three-toed sloths are very deliberate about where they place their front feet. They are frequently seen reaching out with their front limbs to test the branch for stability while most of their weight is on their hindlimbs.However, the back limbs are doing more than just supporting their body weight. These limbs are also used for slowing down while the animal is moving about, while the front limbs are used to propel the sloths forward. Additionally, the hindlimbs in three-toed sloths press inward on the beam with more pressure than the front limbs do, while their front limbs are pulling the beam out to the side. This pulling motion away from the beam is minimal in the two-toed sloths, but the researchers suggest that this is a result of how three-toed sloths grip tree branches. Instead of just hanging on with their claws from underneath, the three-toed sloths wrap their feet over the top of the branch, further gripping the branch with their claws to keep stable. So, although sloths may look similar and even live life in a similar way, at least two species have come up with different ways of moving in a life spent mostly hanging from the branches.

Eye Painting Ritual, Bull Sacrifice and the Myth of the Eye of Horus in Ancient Egypt

In the predynastic period, the funeral rite included the main rituals: supplying water to the deceased, food in the form of a bull’s front leg and staining the eyelids with green paint. In the protodynastic and early dynastic periods, the idea of ​​a luminous beginning was embodied in the image of a bull. On the ceremonial palettes, the bull and calf act as a sacrificial animal. This gives grounds to analyze the materials on the origins of the convergence and even intersection of the ritual of painting the eyes and the sacrifice of the bull in the written period in the context of their involvement in the myth of the Eye of Horus. The ritualized form of the myth was reflected in the images and motives inherent in a society that was at the stage of state formation − in the scenes of confrontation and battle between the supporters of the supreme ruler — the people of God Horus with enemies. Later, in written sources, this idea, clothed in mythical imagery, was preserved as the core in of the myth about the Eye of deity Horus.

Sparing old-growth maximises conservation outcomes within selectively logged Amazonian rainforest

Timber extraction threatens a vast area of tropical ecosystems, making it vital to design productive harvesting operations that limit biodiversity declines. Contrasting management options span a continuum from less-intensive, land-sharing logging applied over a larger area to land-sparing operations that combine intensive harvesting with the preservation of old-growth forest. Combining company-reported extraction rates with dung beetle surveys along an Amazonian logging gradient, we explore how individual species' abundances, geometric mean population sizes, functional diversity, and trait characteristics vary across simulated logging concessions and production targets. We substantially extend previous studies by evaluating 8000 mixed-harvesting scenarios and by assessing the profitability of contrasting practices. Simply maximising old-growth protection delivers the highest species' abundances and population sizes for species negatively affected by logging. Maximising old-growth also supports communities with a functional trait dissimilarity (FDis, RaoQ) and functional structure of nesting guilds, biomass, pronotum volume, front leg area, and front:back leg ratio traits that closely resembles old-growth forest. Functional evenness (FEve), richness (FRic), and divergence (FDiv) did not vary across logging strategies. Some 3 % of mixed approaches outperform extreme sparing (which maximises old-growth retention through intensive logging) but still involve substantial sparing, enabled by intensified logging elsewhere. However more-extensive business-as-usual harvesting is up to 90 % more profitable than extreme sparing, suggesting active policy mechanisms, standards, or regulations would be needed to make spatially-concentrated logging operations (which benefit biodiversity) more commercially attractive. Old-growth sparing appears key to limiting biodiversity declines within tropical timber concessions, but would require payments to compensate for reduced profits.

Subcutaneous alfaxalone for sedation of the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

BackgroundVeterinary care of the domestic ferret often utilizes chemical restraint for venipuncture, radiographs, and ultrasonography. Common forms of chemical restraint for ferrets include inhalant anesthetics and parenteral sedatives. Disadvantages of these forms of chemical restraint include adverse patient reaction and environmental contamination for inhalant anesthetics while small muscle mass and patient reactivity are challenging for intramuscular injections. Alfaxalone is a unique neurosteroid anesthetic that can be used as an induction agent intravenously and a sedative agent intramuscularly and subcutaneously. Subcutaneous injection appears to be well tolerated in small exotic species due to the increased volume the subcutaneous space can accommodate as well as the ease of administration. MethodsA randomized, blinded, complete crossover study evaluating two doses (10 mg/kg and 12.5 mg/kg) of subcutaneous (SC) alfaxalone alone was performed in 10 clinically healthy ferrets (5 neutered males and 5 spayed females). Once alfaxalone was administered sedation scores (body posture, righting reflex, jaw tone, front limb withdrawal, and toe pinch) and vital parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, SpO2 and blood pressure) were evaluated at regular intervals. ResultsSedation characterized by the loss of righting reflex for more than ten minutes was observed in 90% of ferrets in both groups. The higher dose of alfaxalone (12.5 mg/kg) produced a statistically significant increase in the duration of sedation, as well as in the values of all sedation scores. Temperature significantly decreased over time for both groups, while SpO2 and respiratory rate did not display any significant changes. At both doses, no cardiovascular depression was noted but there were significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure parameters. ConclusionSubcutaneous alfaxalone in ferrets produces adequate sedation characterized by the loss of righting reflex and easy limb manipulation with no significant adverse effects. This type of sedation is appropriate for noninvasive procedures such as a physical exam, ultrasonography, and radiographic positioning without manual restraint. The limitations for SC alfaxalone, as a sole sedative agent, include the variable range in times to onset and variable durations of sedation.

The Dissemination of Metarhizium brunneum Conidia by Females of the Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, Suggests a New Mechanism for Prevention Practices.

Direct contact between the conidia of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and their host is a prerequisite to successful infection; the host can, therefore, be infected by both direct treatment and by transmission of fungal inoculum from infested surfaces. This unique characteristic makes EPF especially relevant for the control of cryptic insects. In the case of the red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, the eggs and larvae are almost inaccessible to direct-contact treatment. The objective of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of conidia transmission from a treated surface to host eggs and larvae. Foam pieces infested with Metarhizium brunneum conidial powder, conidial suspension, or distilled water were used as a laying surface for RPW females. The number of eggs laid was not affected by the EPF treatments and ranged from 2 to 14 eggs per female. However, hatching rate and larval survival were significantly reduced in the conidial powder treatment, resulted in 1.5% hatching and no live larvae. In the conidial suspension treatment, 21% of laid eggs hatched, compared to 72% in the control treatment. In both M. brunneum treatments, females' proboscis, front legs and ovipositor were covered with conidia. The females transferred conidia in both treatments to the laying holes, reaching up to 15 mm in depth. This resulted in reduced egg-hatching rate and significant larval mortality due to fungal infection. The stronger effect on egg and larval survival using dry conidia seemed to result from better conidial adhesion to the female weevil in this formulation. In future studies, this dissemination mechanism will be examined as a prevention strategy in date plantations.

DIETARY LEVELS OF PINEAPPLE PEELS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF WEANER RABBITS

A feeding trial was conducted on weaner rabbit (Oryctolagus cunniculus) to assess the growth, reproductive performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics rabbits fed graded levels of inclusion of dried pineapple peal meal. Thirty-six (36) composite weaned rabbits of mixed sexed and aged between 6 and 8 weeks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments group with nine rabbits per treatments. Each treatment had three replicates with 3 rabbits in the ratio of 2 females and 1 male per replicate. The pineapple peal was included in the diet at varying inclusion levels of 0,5,10 and 15 % (forming diets T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively) T1 was the control diet. The experiment lasted for fourteen (14) weeks. Data were collected on growth parameter (body weight feed intake and conversion ratio.), at the end of the 7 weeks digestibility trial using a total collection method. Reproductive performance trial was also determined and carcass characteristics 8 weeks, 2 rabbits per replicate were slaughtered eviscerated and dressed to obtain carcass information on the carcass, weighted and expressed as percentage live weight. Result revealed non- significant (P&lt;0.05) differences in the values obtained for final weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality. Result of nutrient digestibility revealed a significant different (P&lt;0.05) most of the parameters (CP. CF and Ash). Significant (P&lt;0.05) different were also recorded in the semen characteristics (sperm per ejaculate and % live sperm. Also, carcass characteristics were observed to be significantly (P&lt;0.05) different on head, fore limb and hind limb). Result obtained for the experiments revealed significant differences in most of growth parameters, higher values of total weight gains and feed intake were observed in T2(5%) 508.33level of inclusion level with T4(15 %) 485.33 lower values. Results of carcass characteristics revealed significant difference (P&lt;0.05) in back, hind limbs and fore limbs, respectively, with T2 having higher values of 181.60, 23.76, for organ weight of weaner rabbits the kidney revealed significant effects (P&lt;0.05) with T2 (5%) having a higher value 6.00 and lower value of 5.20 at T4(15%) inclusion level. Also, the result of semen characteristics revealed significant difference (P&lt;0.05) on sperm ejaculate and live sperm % with T3(10%) having the highest value 355.00 and lowest value of 0.275.00 at T1(5%). It can therefore be recommended that 5% (T2) of dry peal pineapple meal can be included in the diet of weaner rabbit for optimum growth performance, nutrient rabbit digestibility and carcass characteristics while T4(15%) inclusion level for reproductive

Stages of Development and Metamorphosis of Tree Frog Rhacophorus Bipunctatus (Amphibia, Anura, Rhacophoridae)

Amphibians are the highest vertebrate group to retain an essentially naked egg and the only vertebrate group which has an aquatic larval stage and a terrestrial adult phase. One of the prominent life history characteristics common to most living amphibians is the presence of an aquatic larval period, which immediately follows the initial embryonic development after fertilization and ends with the completion of metamorphosis. Metamorphosis in anurans involves resorption of the tail, development of the front and hind limbs and large changes in most organ system. Proper staging of the larval period is therefore necessary for accurate comparison of developmental stages in different organisms. Hence, several workers [1-3] have reported on tables of normal stages of development for a number of species. Keeping in view the paucity of information on the development and metamorphosis of tree frogs from Meghalaya, it was decided to study the development and metamorphosis of the tree frog Rhacophorus bipunctatus at Cherrepunjee, Meghalaya. The present study was conducted during the breeding season (April to August). In the present study it was found that, the development and metamorphosis of Rhacophorus bipunctatus was completed in about 59 – 60 days under natural environment as well as in the laboratory condition. This tree frog was observed to be dependent on the rain fed pools at the breeding sites to complete their life cycle.

THE TURUCHAN PIKA (&lt;i&gt;OCHOTONA TURUCHANENSIS&lt;/i&gt; NAUMOV 1934, OCHOTONIDAE, LAGOMORPHA) PLAYING IN THE WILD

The adaptive functions and evolution of animal play remain unclear despite the great interest of researchers to these topics. One reason for this is thought to lie the deficiency of data on animal play in the wild, as well as on certain taxa. The latter include lagomorphs, as there is no information at all about the play in pikas (family Ochotonidae). This report describes some cases of play in the local population of the Turuchan pika on the Primorsky Mountain Ridge in the Irkutsky District of the Irkutsk Region (52.07 N, 105.16 E). During two vegetation seasons (May–September 2020–2021), we observed 14 individually marked pikas (6 males, 6 females, 2 subadults) for more than 150 hours by the ad libitum scoring of the focal animal behavior in the morning and in the evening. All behaviors were continuously recorded with a voice recorder. A total of 15 game episodes were registered in seven animals, of which 8 episodes were video recorded (32 frames per second). A subsequent frame-by-frame analysis of the videos allowed us to describe play behaviors more accurately and to evaluate their time parameters. Following Burghardt, we defined play behaviors as repetitive, but non-stereotypic activities that differed from the common activities and failed to contribute to current survival, initiated spontaneously by non-distressed animals. We found one element that was present in all episodes of an individual play, one we termed “jerk-uplifting”. A “jerk-uplifted” animal rose sharply on outstretched hind legs (sometimes jumps), while the head was thrown back, and the front legs were extended forward. Such a movement took an average of 0.54 ± 0.34 seconds. “Jerk-uplifting " could be accompanied by body twisted around the vertical axis. We analyzed 30 cases of “jerk-uplifting” of seven animals. In six cases, it was a single act; in the other 24 cases, “jerk-uplifting” occurred in a series of 2–4 acts, separated by intervals of several seconds. Of the seven playing pikas, four were adult males, two were adult females, and two were young animals. In 22 cases (73.3%), a “jerk-uplifted” animal had some object in its mouth: most often a bunch of lichens, but sometimes a bunch of grass or a dry stick. Only once after playing did the pika begin to eat lichens with which it was “jerk-uplifted”. “Jerk-uplifting” could alternate or end with sudden jumps and runs. Some motor activity preceded “jerk-uplifting” in all cases. Another form of individual play was noted twice: the animal jumped several times, breaking off the ground with all four paws and bending in the air, then, grabbing a dry branch with its teeth, fell on its back and rolled from side to side. Then, the pika dropped the branch and abruptly jumped up on four paws. Two episodes of social play were recorded. Once, an adult female and a young sexually mature male alternately scampered after each other, then the female hid behind a stone and jumped out at a running male. These actions were repeated several times with a change of the initiator, following which the animals parted in different directions. The second time, the same pikas followed each other with one jumping at the partner. Thus, for the first time, all three types of play (locomotor, object and social) were recorded for Lagomorpha in the wild. This was the first documented evidence of playing pikas that involved different sexes and ages. The play in pikas included elements (jumping, spinning, falling on the back) that were associated with a temporary loss of control.

‘Left, right, left’ – a practical guide for forensic veterinary pathologists on identification of cattle and pig limbextremities

The identification of left and right fore or hind limbs can be very challenging in porcine or bovine cases sent from slaughterhouses for forensic surveys, especially when dissected below the carpal or tarsal joints. This short practical guide should be considered as an aid in the process of documentation and investigation of forensic farm animal cases.

Model of small-focal ischemic cerebral infarction as a basis for the development of new methods of stroke therapy

Background. Among the existing experimental models of cerebral stroke in large animals, there is no possibility to create a focal brain infarction of limited volume, which would provide an opportunity to evaluate both the endogenous potential of neuroregeneration and to establish the effectiveness of new drugs on postischemic brain remodeling.&#x0D; Aim. Development of a method for modeling small-focal ischemic infarction of the cerebral cortex in a mini-pig.&#x0D; Material and methods. The study used mature female mini-pigs of the Vietnamese fold-bellied breed. Two-level occlusion of the great vessels was performed by ligation of the right common carotid artery and subsequent cauterization of the distal branches of the middle cerebral artery. In the postoperative period, the survival rate of animals and neurological deficit were assessed. On the 7th day, the animals were taken out of the experiment, the brain was isolated from the cranial box. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations included analysis of the localization and area of cerebral infarction, as well as morphological changes in the infarcted and peri-infarcted areas of the cerebral cortex.&#x0D; Results. With a 100% survival rate of experimental animals on the 3rd day after the operation, a neurological examination revealed violations of skin sensitivity and muscle tone in the hind and fore limbs, which partially recovered a week after the onset of ischemic stroke. Macroscopic examination of the brain on the 7th day after the operation visually revealed a small-focal ischemic cerebral infarction in the parietal lobe of the left hemisphere. Histological analysis of the cerebral cortex revealed a wedge-shaped necrotic focus of ischemic injury. In the peri-infarction region of the brain, reactive tissue changes with preserved nerve cells, mostly without visible damage, were found.&#x0D; Conclusion. The developed two-level method of stroke modeling in a mini pig induces ischemic cerebral infarction of limited volume in the parietal lobe; non-critical histological changes in the peri-infarct area and a slight neurological deficit suggest the possibility of using this model to develop new methods of stroke therapy.

Bending Moment of Mortise-and-Tenon Joints in a Crossed Chair Base

This paper investigated the bending moment of chair base joints. The ultimate bending moments (maximum moment), calculated on the base of the measured maximum applied loads (maximum force), were compared for the front leg and rear leg joints of a chair base. The joints had different angles between the stretcher and the leg (joint angle) as well different tenon lengths (30 mm and 32 mm). The results of the tests indicated that for different test specimen configurations but the same tenon-and-mortise geometry, the maximum force of joints with a smaller value of joint angle (front leg joints) was higher than the force values of joints with a larger angle (rear leg joints) for all tenon lengths. However, the results showed less difference among the calculated bending moments of the analysed sets of joints. A significant difference was not revealed between the bending moments of joints with a smaller value of joint angle and the bending moments of joints with a larger angle for all tenon lengths. A significant difference between the bending moments for the tenon length of 30 mm and tenon length of 32 mm was determined for rear leg joints but not for front leg joints. The presented approach of joint strength analysis through the testing of specimens with different shapes and dimensions are applicable to research and practice.

Roles of each leg in impulse generation in professional baseball pitchers: preliminary findings uncover the contribution of the back leg towards whole-body rotation

ABSTRACT This study examined the roles of each leg in generating linear and angular impulses during baseball pitching. Professional pitchers (n = 4) pitched from a force plate instrumented mound, and 6–11 successful fastball pitches were used for analyses. We compared linear and angular impulses across the back and front legs. Linear and angular impulses were calculated from ground reaction force (GRF) and moment about each global axis passing through the centre of mass (COM), respectively. Additionally, we analysed measures that control the moment: (1) GRF magnitude, (2) magnitude of the position vector from COM to the centre of pressure and (3) the angle between (1) and (2). We found that the back leg generated forward linear impulse and the front leg generated backward linear impulse for all pitchers. Surprisingly, we found that the back leg generated significantly greater positive angular impulse about a global leftward axis (from the mound towards first base) than did the front leg in all four pitchers. Furthermore, the back leg’s moment about the leftward axis became positive after the magnitude of forward GRF decreased from its maximum, suggesting that the back leg’s role transitioned from generating forward linear momentum to angular momentum.

An Innovative Model of ISS-Based Multiple Fractures and Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Related to c-Kit Protein Expression on Interstitial Cells of Cajal.

Gastrointestinal dysfunction seriously affects the prognosis and quality of life of patients with multiple fractures. However, experimental evidence of this relationship is lacking. Here we describe a newly developed mouse model of postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction after multiple fractures. Trauma severity was assessed using the injury severity score (ISS). Based on the ISS, a multiple fracture model was established in mice as follows: limb fractures with pelvic fractures and multiple rib fractures; limb fractures with multiple rib fractures; closed fracture of both forelegs with pelvic fracture and rib fractures; closed limb fractures; limb fracture with pelvic fracture; spinal fractures; hind leg fractures with pelvic fractures; pelvic fracture with multiple rib fractures; closed fracture of both fore legs with pelvic fracture; and closed fracture of both fore legs with multiple rib fractures. In each model group, gastrointestinal motility was assayed and the histopathology of the small intestine was examined. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses of jejunal tissue were performed to detect c-kit protein expression, the level of which was compared with that of a control group. The results of ANOVA are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. In mice with multiple fractures, food intake was greatly reduced, consistent with histopathological evidence of an injured intestinal epithelium. The jejunal tissue of mice in groups a, c, f, and h was characterized by extensively necrotic and exfoliated intestinal mucosal epithelium and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lamina propria. In the gastrointestinal function assay, gastrointestinal motility was significantly reduced in groups a, b, c, f, and g; these group also had a higher ISS (p< 0.01). The expression of c-kit protein in groups with gastrointestinal dysfunction was significantly up-regulated (p< 0.001) compared with the control group. The close correlation between c-kit expression and the ISS indicated an influence of trauma severity on gastrointestinal motility. Gastrointestinal dysfunction after multiple fractures was successfully reproduced in a mouse model. In these mice, c-kit expression correlated with gastrointestinal tissue dysfunction and might serve as a therapeutic target.

KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF HIP JOINT MODIFICATIONS IN SWITCH LEAP: COMPENSATORY MECHANISMS DUE TO REDUCED MOBILITY IN THIS AREA

ABSTRACT. Artistic gymnastics include a series of artistic elements where the joints’ mobility represents an essential factor for the accuracy of the execution in both beam and floor routines. The reduced mobility is responsible for the occurrence of compensatory movements. This type of repetitive and long-term compensations can damage the joints involved in execution of an accurate switch leap element. The aim of the study was to analyze the compensatory mechanisms due to reduced mobility in the hip joint that can occur during the execution of a switch leap. 6 female gymnasts (8-10 years) from C.S.S.1 Timisoara have been analyzed when they executed switch leap on the floor. The kinematic analysis was carried using inertial sensors for movement tracking technology. The evaluated parameters were: leg separation angle (LSA), lateral pelvic tilt (LPT) and pelvic rotation (PR). The data revealed a LSA of 137.5± 2.239° which corresponds to the second level of penalty (0.30 points). The compensatory movements were revealed by the level of LPT and pelvic rotation. Depending on the front leg, the compensatory tilt, represented by the elevation of the hip joint, was found on the right or left part accordingly. Regarding the pelvic rotation, this is performed in the backward direction on the same part with the tilt. The kinematic analysis of the switch leap element provides supplementary data that can be taken into consideration by the gymnasts and coaches during the training period in order to reduce the risk of injuries and the risk of falling from the beam.

Towards an understanding of the different uses of sheep/goat and hare in Iberian South-Western Bronze Age funerary contexts

Faunal remains associated with human burials are a well-known practice in Southern Portugal during the Middle Bronze Age (end of the third millennium until the first half of the second millennium BC). The funerary architecture is mainly marked by hypogea, where articulated segments of anterior limbs or isolated bones from the front limbs of cattle or sheep/goat are present as grave goods. Along with hypogea, there are also examples of burial contexts in pits with faunal remains associated. This paper presents data on a circular pit from Montinhos 6 (Southern Portugal) with two primary interments, where disarticulated sheep/goat and hare remains are included as grave goods. Some of the bones (both hare and sheep/goat) were included as dry bones, meaning that animal corpses were manipulated earlier. It allows considering the hypothesis that such animal remains have been used in a previous social context. The animal corpses decay, and some bones were chosen, collected, and lastly integrated within the funerary context. This treatment of the bones suggests a well-planned integration of the animals into the funerary rituals. Regarding the meaning of these faunal remains, one may interpret them as “manipulated artefacts” or amulets, invoking graces for hunting and/or herding practices. In addition, sheep/goat front limb bones (humerii and radii) were added as well, probably with fresh tissues attached, suggesting rituals of funerary commensality.