Increase In Body Length Research Articles

Effects of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on bone health and offspring growth: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BackgroundWhether vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy is beneficial to bone health and offspring growth remains controversial. Moreover, there is no universal agreement regarding the appropriate dose and the time of commencement of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy.ObjectiveWe aimed to systematically review the effects of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on bone development and offspring growth.MethodsA literature search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed in 7 electronic databases to identify relevant studies about the effects of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on bone development and offspring growth from inception to May 22, 2022. A Cochrane Risk Assessment Tool was used for quality assessment. Vitamin D supplementation was compared with placebo or standard supplements. The effects are presented as the mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs. The outcomes include bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), bone area (BA), femur length (FL) and humeral length (HL); measurement indicators of growth, including length, weight and head circumference; and secondary outcome measures, including biochemical indicators of bone health, such as the serum 25(OH)D concentration. Additionally, subgroup analyses were carried out to evaluate the impact of different doses and different initiation times of supplementation with vitamin D.ResultsTwenty-three studies with 5390 participants met our inclusion criteria. Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy was associated with increased humeral length (HL) (MD 0.13, 95% CI 0.06, 0.21, I2 = 0, P = 0.0007) during the fetal period (third trimester). Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy was associated with a significantly increased length at birth (MD 0.14, 95% CI 0.04, 0.24, I2 = 24%, P = 0.005) and was associated with a higher cord blood 25(OH)D concentration (MD 48.74, 95% CI 8.47, 89.01, I2 = 100%, P = 0.02). Additionally, subgroup analysis revealed that birth length was significantly higher in the vitamin D intervention groups of ≤1000 IU/day and ≥4001 IU/day compared with the control group. Prenatal (third trimester) vitamin D supplementation was associated with a significant increase in birth length, while prenatal (second trimester) vitamin D supplementation was associated with a significant increase in birth weight.ConclusionVitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may be associated with increased humeral length (HL) in the uterus, increased body length at birth and higher cord blood 25(OH)D concentration. Evidence of its effect on long-term growth in children is lacking. Additional rigorous high-quality, long-term and larger randomized trials are required to more fully investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy.

Feeding of Fish at the Seamounts of the Whale Ridge (South-Eastern Atlantic Ocean). 2. Splendid alfonsino Beryx splendens (Berycidae)

The feeding characteristics of splendid alfonsino Beryx splendens from the seamounts of the Whale Ridge have been studied. A wide range of food organisms in feeding of splendid alfonsino has been confirmed, comprising meso- and macroplankton of the sound-scattering layers of the mesopelagial. Benthic organisms have not been found in the food spectra of splendid alfonsino. The food spectra of splendid alfonsino differ in populations inhabiting distant groups of the seamounts of the Whale Ridge due to the difference in the composition of the available food items and environmental conditions, fish body size, season, and sampling period. Splendid alfonsino has a pronounced diurnal feeding dynamics: the fish feed most intensively in the evening and at the beginning of the night, when the organisms of the sound-scattering layers migrate to the upper water layers. At this time, maximum feeding and minimum digestion of food are noted. Splendid alfonsino selects organisms of 0.9–130.0 mm (on average, 36.1 mm) in size for feeding. As the body length increases, splendid alfonsino switches to feeding on larger prey, while the ratio of the size of the prey to the size of splendid alfonsino changes little (9.7–11.5%).

Citri Reticulatae Semen Extract Promotes Healthy Aging and Neuroprotection via Autophagy Induction in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Nutrition intervention has emerged as a potential strategy to delay aging and promote healthy longevity. Citri Reticulatae Semen (CRS) has diverse beneficial effects and has been used for thousands of years to treat pain. However, the health benefits of CRS in prolonging health span and improving aging-related diseases and the exact mechanisms remain poorly characterized. In this study, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was used as a model organism to study the antiaging and health span promoting activities of 75% ethanol extract of CRS (CRSE). The results showed that treatment with CRSE at 1 000 μg/mL significantly extended the life span of worms by 18.93% without detriment to health span and fitness, as evidenced by the delayed aging-related phenotypes and increased body length and width, and reproductive output. In addition, CRSE treatment enhanced the ability of resistance to heat, oxidative, and pathogenic bacterial stress. Consistently, heat shock proteins and antioxidant enzyme-related and pathogenesis-related genes were up-regulated by CRSE treatment. Furthermore, CRSE supplementation also improved α-synuclein, 6-OHDA, and polyQ40-induced pathologies in transgenic C. elegans models of Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. The mechanistic study demonstrated that CRSE induced autophagy in worms, while the RNAi knockdown of 4 key autophagy-related genes, including lgg-1, bec-1, vps-34, and unc-51, remarkably abrogated the beneficial effects of CRSE on the extending of life span and health span and neuroprotection, demonstrating that CRSE exerts beneficial effects via autophagy induction in worms. Together, our current findings provide new insights into the practical application of CRS for the prevention of aging and aging-related diseases.

The effect of Centella asiatica ethanolic extract on expression of glucose transporter 1 and osteocalcin on stunting larvae of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Stunting is known as length for age below minus two standard deviations (<-2 SD) of the WHO Child Growth Standard nutritional status. Several causes are identified, including exposure to pesticides (rotenone), which works by inhibiting mitochondrial complex I as an ATP-producing site and generate oxidative stress that affects glucose delivery and bone elongation involving GLUT 1 and osteocalcin. Centella asiatica is a high antioxidant herbal plant with anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Centella asiatica ethanolic extract on the rotenone-induced stunting zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae model through GLUT 1 and osteocalcin expressions. This study found that 12.5 ppb of rotenone can induce about 6 dpf (day post-fertilization) zebrafish larvae into stunting. The effect of Centella asiatica ethanolic extract on increasing body length in stunting zebrafish larvae works by increasing the expression of GLUT 1 and osteocalcin expressions. The correlation test showed a positive and strong relationship between this ethanolic extract level with GLUT 1 and Osteocalcin expression. Thus, the Centella asiatica ethanolic extract effectively promotes the body length by elevating the expression of GLUT 1 and osteocalcin in stunting zebrafish larvae.

Study on prediction in far-field aerodynamic noise of long-marshalling high-speed train.

It is still difficult to conduct numerical calculation of the aerodynamic noise of full-scale, long-marshalling, high-speed trains. Based on the Lighthill acoustic analogy theory, the aerodynamic sound source of the high-speed train is equivalent to countless micro-vibrating sound sources. An acoustic radiation model of the dipole sound source of high-speed trains is established, and a method to predict the aerodynamic noise in the far field of long-marshalling high-speed trains is proposed. By this method, combined with numerical simulation technology, the flow field, noise source, and far-field noise characteristics of high-speed trains with different marshalling numbers are studied. The improved delayed detached eddy simulation method is used for flow field calculation, to obtain aerodynamic noise source information regarding the surface of high-speed trains. The numerical calculation method is verified by wind tunnel testing. The results show that the flow field and noise source characteristics of high-speed trains with different marshalling numbers are similar. The greater the length of the train body, the longer the trailing distance of the train wake, and the stronger of a surface noise source the tail car becomes. The spatial distribution characteristics of aerodynamic noise in the far field of high-speed trains do not change significantly with the length of the train body, but the magnitude of the sound pressure level will increase with the increase in length of the train body. The middle car body parts of high-speed trains with different marshalling numbers have similar noise distributions and sound pressure levels. Based on the noise calculation results of the 3-marshalling high-speed train, the far-field noise of the 5-marshalling and 8-marshalling train models is predicted and found to be in good agreement with the far-field noise of the actual train model. The differences in average sound pressure level are 1.01 dBA and 1.74 dBA, respectively.

The effects of transplanted adipose-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells from mice of different age or from aging donors in combination with melatonin at experimental parkinsonism

The transplantation of adipose-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (ADSCs) in Parkinson’s disease/parkinsonism is a promising area in their therapy. The effects of such cells may be influenced by the age of the donor and biologically active factors. The purpose of the study is to compare the effect of transplanted ADSCs of donor mice of different age on the parameters of behaviour, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in the brain of mice with an experimental model of parkinsonism; to evaluate changes in the effects of cells from older donors under the influence of exogenous hormone melatonin. Materials and methods. The object of the study was adult (5-6 months) and aging (15-17 months) 129/Sv mice. Adult mice were injected once with the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), and after 17 days – ADSCs of adult or aging donor mice at a dose of 700 thousand cells in the tail vein. Some mice received ADSCs of aging donors in combination with melatonin. Behavioural parameters were assessed in open-field, rigidity and rotarod tests; the relative content of macrophages was measured in the brain, malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Results. Under the influence of MPTP, the number of squares, rearings, body length and length is significantly less than in the intact group, and muscle tone is higher; in the brain the content of MDA and macrophages increases and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreases. After the transplantation of adult donor ADSCs, the parameters of body and step length increase significantly, but not to the level of intact mice; the activity of SOD, glutathione reductase (GR) and the proportion of macrophages increase in the brain. After the administration of ADSCs of aging donors, the values of behavioural parameters and the proportion of macrophages in the brain correspond to the control group (only MPTP), and the activity of SOD corresponds to intact animals. In mice treated with ADSCs of aging donors in combination with melatonin, the direction of changes in behavioural parameters, SOD and GR activity, macrophage percentage was similar to that observed after the administration of adult donor ADSCs. Conclusions. The effects of ADSCs transplantation in mice with the MPTP model of parkinsonism depend on the age of the donor and are more pronounced in transplanted cells derived from adult mice. The effects of ADSCs from aging donors in combination with melatonin are consistent with those observed after administration of cells from adult donors.

The effect of ethanol extract of pegagan (Centella asiatica) on bone ossification and osteoclastogenesis on the stunting model of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae induced by rotenone

Stunting, according to the WHO, is defined as body length or body height with respect to the same age that is less than minus two standard deviations (<-2SD) from the median standard of the WHO for children growth. Rotenone is a pesticide that can induce an occurrence of disrupted growth on the larvae of zebrafish. Centella asiatica or pegagan is a plant that has antioxidant effects. Zebrafish embryos were treated with pegagan at concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, and 5 µg/ml. Exposure to treatments began from 2 to 72 hpf and development was monitored until the larval age of 9 dpf. Rotenone at a concentration of 12.5 ppb can induce stunting. There was a decrease in the process of bone ossification and an increase in the expression of RANKL in zebrafish larvae induced by rotenone. Meanwhile, the extract of Centella asiatica at concentrations of 2.5 µg/ml and 5 µg/ml was able to increase body length. Pegagan 5 µg/m shown the most significant effect for the increase in bone ossification (p <0.05). Observations of RANKL expression indicated significant reductions in the Centella asiatica extract treatment groups from the lowest concentration 1.25 µg/ml, up to 2.5 µg/ml and 5 µg/ml. Centella asiatica extract of 2.5 µg/ml and 5 µg/ml concentrations can increase the body length of zebrafish larvae, increase bone ossification, and lower the expression of RANKL, which has an effect on the process of osteoclastogenesis.

The Effectiveness of Baby Massage in Stunting Prevention: Study Based on Body Length Gain in Infants aged 0–3 Months

Baby massage is a gentle massage for infants aged 0-3 months that is believed to improve the baby's body length. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of baby massage on the increase in body length and weight of infants aged 0-3 months. This type of research was quasi-experimental. The samples were mothers and infants 0-3 months, divided into the treatment and control groups. The number of samples for each group was 35 respondents. Baby massage was carried out by the mother twice a day, in the morning and evening after bathing, for one month. The enumerators collected data on length and weight before and after 1 month in both groups and statistically tested by unpaired t-test. The reduction in stunting prevalence in the treatment group was 22.8%, while the control group was 8.6%. The prevalence of underweight in the treatment group did not significantly change (2.9%), while the control group experienced an increase of 11.7%. The increase in body length of the treatment group was 4.49 cm, and the control group was 3.23 cm; the baby massage significantly affected body length for infants 0-3 months (ρ=0.000). The average weight gain of infants in the treatment group was 825.7 g, and the control group was 702.9 g; the baby massage was not significantly affected the body weight (ρ=0.224). Thus, the baby massage can be an alternative in boosting the length and weight of babies aged 0-3 months

Growth effects of lysine in compounded diets for American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis

AbstractNutritional requirements of the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, are largely unknown despite the value of farm‐raised alligator as an aquaculture product. We conducted a 10‐month growth trial to determine effects of graded levels of dietary lysine on alligator growth as measured by increase in body length, body weight gain, and free lysine concentration in blood plasma. One‐hundred‐ninety‐two hatchling alligators were fed 50% crude protein, pelletized diets, composed primarily of practical feed ingredients, with 1.5, 2.25, 3.0, or 3.75% dietary lysine. Diets were fed for 326 days under temperature‐controlled, laboratory conditions. Body lengths and body weights were measured at 60‐day intervals, and blood samples were taken at the final weighing. Increases in body length, body weight gain, and free lysine level in blood plasma indicated that a concentration of at least 2.25% dietary lysine (as fed)—about 4.5% of protein—was adequate for growth of alligator under the conditions of this study. Results suggest that the lysine requirement of American alligator is similar to requirements reported for other aquaculture species, including some fishes, crustaceans, and amphibians.

Effectiveness of Infant Massage on Increasing Baby Weight and Length in Nosarara Community Health Centers during the Covid-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: One indicator of the health of infants and toddlers is an increase in body weight and length/height following age. This fact has attracted the attention of many parties trying to find solutions and innovations, including re-examining the local wisdom of Indonesian culture, which is believed to have been passed down from generation to generation to help increase the baby’s weight and length. AIM: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of baby massage on increasing a baby’s weight and length in the work area of the Nosarara Community Health Center, Palu City. METHODS: This type of research was a quasi-experimental research design with pre- and post-test control group design. The population in this study were all infants aged 0−11 months in the Nosarara Health Center’s working area, involving 60 infants; 30 were the intervention group for a month of massage and 30 were the control group. The sampling technique in this study used the purposive sampling method based on certain considerations. The statistical test used was parametric and the paired t-test. RESULTS: The age of the mother in this study is mostly 28−30 years old, namely, 23.3% with an education level of Senior High School at 63.3% and the mother’s work is Mother’s work, which is 95%. Then, the age of most children aged 4−7 months, namely, 38.3%. There is a difference in children’s weight before and after the intervention where the initial weight is 5.8 kg–6.43 kg after 1 month of intervention. There are differences in the child’s body length before and after the intervention where the initial body length was 56.97 cm–60.03 cm after 1 month of intervention. CONCLUSION: This study showed no significant difference in the increase in body weight and length of infants between the intervention and the control groups. The average increase of massaged infants was 600 g in weight and 3.01 cm in length. Those who were not massaged were 400 g in weight and 1.26 cm in length.

The Mitochondrial Phosphatase PTPMT1 is Required for the Proper Growth Rate in the Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase, mitochondrial 1 (PTPMT1) is a mitochondrial phosphatase that is highly conserved in animals. Functional analyses using knockout animals have revealed a variety of physiological roles of PTPMT1 in vertebrates and insects. However, because of the high lethality of knockout in these animals, the roles of PTPMT1 in the later postembryonic development remain relatively obscure. In the present study, using the RNA interference technique, we analyzed PTPMT1 functions in later larval stages of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. PTPMT1 was expressed in both anterior and posterior parts of the body constitutively without obvious fluctuations from the middle larval instar through pupation. The PTPMT1-knockdown larvae injected with PTPMT1 double-stranded RNA at the middle instar showed a prolonged larval period, which was mainly caused by an extra larval molt. On the other hand, the increase in adult body length was subtle in the PTPMT1-knockdown T. castaneum, and the head capsule width was smaller than that of the control animals at the same larval instar. The expression levels of genes encoded by the mitochondrial genome were reduced in PTPMT1-knockdown larvae, indicating that PTPMT1 plays an important role in mitochondrial function in T. castaneum, like in other species. By contrast, the expression levels of a juvenile hormone (JH)-biosynthetic gene and a JH-signaling gene were rather increased in the PTPMT1-knockdown larvae, which may have been caused indirectly by the reduction of larval growth rate. Altogether, these findings indicate that PTPMT1 is required for the proper growth rate via some mitochondrial physiological role in T. castaneum larvae.

Study of the characteristics of intestinal bacteria of little yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) and big head croaker (Collichthys lucidus) from the Lyusi fishing ground

ABSTRACT Little yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) and big head croaker (Collichthys lucidus) are economically important fishes of the Lyusi fishing ground. The intestinal bacterial communities of L. polyactis and C. lucidus were examined using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology. The Shannon and Chao-1 indices of the small body length group were significantly larger than those of the large body length group, and the Simpson index was the opposite (P < 0.05). Pseudomonas and Photobacterium of L. polyactis were significantly less abundant than those of C. lucidus (P < 0.05), and Clostridium sensu stricto and Acinetobacter were significantly more abundant than those of C. lucidus (P < 0.05). The abundance of Pseudomonas in L. polyactis increased significantly with increasing body length (P < 0.05), and the abundances of Psychrobacter and Acinetobacter decreased significantly with increasing body length (P < 0.05). The abundance of Clostridium sensu stricto in the large body length group was significantly increased compared with that in the small body length group (P < 0.05). The abundance of Vibrio first increased significantly and then decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing body length. The abundances of Pseudomonas and Photobacterium of C. lucidus increased significantly with increasing body length (P < 0.05). The abundance of Psychrobacter in the large body length group was significantly lower than that in the other groups (P < 0.05). Clostridium sensu stricto was significantly more abundant in the small body length group than in the other groups (P < 0.05). Vibrio was significantly more abundant in the small body length group than in the other groups (P < 0.05). Studies have shown that the feeding range of L. polyactis is wider than that of C. lucidus. Compared with C. lucidus, L. polyactis is less carnivorous and more herbivorous. The carnivorous habit of the two fish became more and more obvious with the increase of body length. The Clostridium sensu stricto related to herbivory of the two fishes may be related to the need to degrade indirectly ingested plants. The larval stages of the two fishes had a higher proportion of Vibrio.

First use of gene therapy to treat growth hormone resistant dwarfism in a mouse model

The only treatment tested for growth hormone receptor (GHR) defective Laron Syndrome (LS) is injections of recombinant insulin-like-growth factor 1 (rhIGF1). The response is suboptimal and associated with progressive obesity. In this study, we treated 4–5-week-old Laron dwarf mice (GHR−/−) with an adeno-associated virus expressing murine GHR (AAV-GHR) injection at a dose of 4 × 1010 vector genome per mouse. Serum growth hormone (GH) levels decreased, and GH-responsive IGF1, IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) and acid labile subunit (ALS) increased. There was a significant but limited increase in body weight and length, similar to the response to rhIGF1 treatment in LS patients. All the major organs increased in weight except the brain. Our study is the first to use gene therapy to treat GH-receptor deficiency. We propose that gene therapy with AAV-GHR may eventually be useful for the treatment of human LS.

Shifting Feeding Habits During Settlement Among Small Yellow Croakers (Larimichthys polyactis)

The small yellow croaker, Larimichthys polyactis, is a keystone species in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea, with significant impacts on the regional ecosystem, but has experienced decades of population decline as a result of environmental changes and overfishing. The settlement of post-larval L. polyactis is a period of high mortality, with impacts on population recruitment and survival. This study examines the feeding habits of 49 post-larval and early juvenile L. polyactis in the Yangtze River estuary, in order to reveal diet composition before and after the settlement period. DNA barcoding methods (MiSeq and TA cloning) were used to examine gastrointestinal contents in detail. Both methods revealed that dietary breadth increased with increasing body length, while the dominance of copepods in the diet decreased as the body length increased. Post-larva (body length &amp;lt; 17 mm in this study) primarily fed on copepods. At the beginning of settlement (body length between 17 and 19 mm), L. polyactis began to ingest larger organisms, such as fishes and mysids, along with copepods. Larger early juveniles (body length &amp;gt; 20 mm) demonstrated a much wider dietary breadth, implying that successful settlement had occurred. Diet species richness in the MiSeq group was significantly greater than species richness in the TA cloning group, making the trend more pronounced within the MiSeq group. This indicates that the MiSeq method was more efficient than TA cloning in this study. We recommend that future research to investigate the feeding habits of fish larvae should combine MiSeq and visual examination methods.

The Effect of Probiotic Giving on Body Size Broiler Chicken Aged 2-4 Weeks

The study aimed to determine the effect of giving different probiotics to the growth rate of several body parts of broiler chickens such as chest circumference, femur length, tibia length, and body length at 2-4 weeks of age with 100 MB 202 platinum strain using BP 11 commercial feed, probiotic supplements. Liquid organics, Lacto probiotics, and local probiotics (tape yeast). The research method used a completely randomized design (CRD) then the data obtained were analyzed employing variance (ANOVA) and if there was a significant effect, it was continued with the Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results of the analysis showed that the administration of tape yeast in broiler drinking water showed a significant effect (p&lt;0.05) on the increase in chest circumference, femur length, and body length which was greater than liquid organic probiotics and lacto.

Особенности линейного роста школьников с различным уровнем физического развития

Objective. Determine the options for pubertal spurt in children with different levels of physical development in pre-pubertal age. Patients and methods. The analysis of the annual increase in body length and weight indicators in 645 schoolchildren (331 boys and 314 girls) aged 8 to 16 years was carried out. Depending on the compliance of the child's body length indicator with the WHO Growth Reference 2007 standards at the age of 8, schoolchildren are divided into groups: with average physical development; with physical development above average; with physical development below average. Results. The dynamics of the increase in body length and weight during the pubertal growth spurt has differences in children with different levels of physical development. Acceleration of linear growth in boys with average physical development is of a prolonged and low-amplitude type. The pubertal growth spurt in children with physical development above average is more pronounced in amplitude and limited in time; with physical development below average – has a more pronounced amplitude and lasts a shorter time than peers with average physical development. In girls with all types of physical development, the pubertal leap in linear growth is insignificantly expressed and prolonged in time, especially in schoolgirls with average and above average physical development. Conclusion. The data can be useful as a guide in predicting the course of pubertal spurt in children in the practice of clinical examination of the child population, in determining adequate physical activity in physical education lessons at school and in sports clubs. Key words: puberty growth spurt, children, physical development

Experience of using dry biomass of methanotrophic bacteria in the enrichment of artificial feeds for Siberian sturgeon juveniles of the Ob population

The article discusses the results of a study on the enrichment of artificial feeds with dry biomass of methanotrophic bacteria of 10 and 20% concentration and fatty acids (treatment “Arfit”, linseed oil). The data on the increase in body length and weight, the survival rate of Siberian sturgeon juveniles, depending on the applied preparations introduced, are presented. The best results were obtained when 10% of dry biomass of methanotrophic bacteria and HUFA were added to the feed (acceleration of weight growth by 44%, linear growth by 38%). The presented results are aimed at developing some elements of the technology for enriching artificial feeds with microbiosynthesis products.

The calcium supplementation effect of calcium-binding oligopeptides from bonito (Auxis thazard) hydrolysate in rats

Sixty Ca-deficient male Wistar rats were divided into six groups to investigate the effect of a calcium-binding bonito hydrolysate (PBH-Ca) on calcium bioavailability in rats, including the normal group, the control groups (PBH + CaCO3 group and the CaCO3 group), and three PBH-Ca groups with doses of 2,000 (PBH-Ca-H group), 1,000 (PBH-Ca-M group), and 500 (PBH-Ca-L group) mg/kg body wt/day. Each group was given the corresponding drug by intragastric administration for 4 weeks. The indices measured included the rate of increase in body weight and body length, apparent calcium absorption rate, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, bone volume fraction (BV/TV), bone mineral density (BMD), and trabecular microstructure of the rats scanned by micro-computed tomography. The results showed that PBH-Ca promoted the growth of rats, significantly increased the apparent calcium absorption rate and the number of bone trabeculae, stabilized serum calcium and serum phosphorus content in serum, significantly inhibited ALP activity, decreased the separation of bone trabeculae, accelerated bone growth of rats, and raised the BV/TV and femoral BMD in the rats. These results illustrate that PBH-Ca has promising potential in a high-quality calcium diet.

Macroevolutionary Trade-Offs and Trends in Life History Traits of Cephalopods Through a Comparative Phylogenetic Approach

One of the major mechanisms responsible for the animals’ fitness dynamics is fecundity. Fecundity as a trait does not evolve independently, and rather interacts with other traits such as body and egg size. Here, our aim was to correctly infer the macroevolutionary trade-offs between body length, egg length, and potential fecundity, using cephalopods as study model. The correlated evolution among those traits was inferred by comparative phylogenetic methods. Literature data on biological and reproductive traits (body length, egg length, and potential fecundity) was obtained for 90 cephalopod species, and comparative phylogenetic methods based on a previous molecular phylogeny were used to test the correlated evolution hypothesis. Additionally, we estimated the phylogenetic signal and fitted five different evolutionary models to each trait. All traits showed high phylogenetic signal, and the selected model suggested an evolutionary trend toward increasing body length, egg length, and fecundity in relation to the ancestral state. Evidence of correlated evolution between body length and fecundity was observed, although this relationship was not detected between body length and egg length. The robust inverse relationship between fecundity and egg length indicates that cephalopods evolved a directional selection that favored an increase of fecundity and a reduction of egg length in larger species, or an increase in egg length with the concomitant reduction of fecundity and body length in order to benefit offspring survival. The use of phylogenetic comparative methods allowed us to properly detect macroevolutionary trade-offs.

DEGRADATION OF SOME POLYSTRENE USING BEETLE LARVAE (TENEBRIO MOLITOR L.)

One alternative to waste processing polystyrene is to use Tenebrio molitor larvae. This study aims to determine the increase in body length and weight, rate of degradation, and value of Waste Reduction Index (WRI) of larvae T. molitor. This study used laboratory experimental using completely randomized design experimental design model (CRD) data analysis with control and 4 feed treatments. Each treatment level was repeated 5 times in order to obtain 25 experimental units. Larvae were reared in a plastic container containing 10 larvae. Each larvae were given bran feed for control and polystrene for treatment, each feed as much as 1 gram. The polystyrene used were food packaging, walls, electronic packaging, and ice boxes. Larvae were measured for length and body weight every 3 days for 30 days. Parameters observed were increase in length and weight of larvae, rate of degradation and WRI values.The highest mean value of increase in larval length on the polystrene wall was 1.69 cm. The lowest value was polystyrene food packaging (1.59 cm). The average weight gain of larvae has a uniform value in the control and treatment of 0.07 gr. The highest degradation rate and WRI values were polystyrene wall and electronic packaging at 0.019 and 0.63%. while the lowest values were polystyrene food packaging at 0.11 and 0.37%.