Physiology Laboratory Research Articles

The birth and development of clinical physiology in Finland.

The specialty of clinical physiology was established in Finland about 20 years later than in Sweden. In the early 1960s, six physicians working mainly in preclinical departments of physiology were certified as specialists in clinical physiology. Many of the first specialists working in hospitals received specialist training in Sweden. The first hospital laboratories of clinical physiology were established in Tampere Central Hospital and Turku University Hospital in 1968. Thereafter, laboratories of clinical physiology were also established in Helsinki University Hospital and in Kuopio University Hospital and later also in most central hospitals. After clinical physiology laboratories were set up in hospitals and the number of specialists increased, the specialty gradually had more impact in clinical work. In the 1999 reform, nuclear medicine, which had previously been a subspecialty, was combined with clinical physiology. Arto Uusitalo was nominated the first professor of clinical physiology in Tampere University in 1984. The first professor in Helsinki University was Anssi Sovijärvi (1994), in Kuopio University Esko Länsimies (1998), and in Turku University Jaakko Hartiala (2003). Today, at four universities professors of clinical physiology and nuclear medicine lead research and medical education in this specialty. The hospital laboratories have modern equipment, which promotes multidisciplinary research with clinicians in fruitful collaboration. The Finnish Society of Clinical Physiology was founded in 1975. Today, it has about 160 members, about half of whom are specialists in the field. On its 40th anniversary, the Society decided to publish the history of clinical physiology in Finland.

Boron-mediated aluminium stress tolerance under aluminium toxicity at germination and early seedling stages of wheat

Aluminium stress is one of the major problems of wheat production that significantly reduces the growth and development. Al toxicity can be recovered by exogenous application of different growth inducing nutrient elements. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the ameliaration effect of B under Al toxicity. Therefore, a petri dish and hydroponic culture experiment of wheat was conducted at Crop Physiology Laboratory, Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from January 2016 to February 2017 to investigate the effect of boron on amelioration of aluminium toxicity in germination and seedling stage. Both the experiments were designed in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The experiments were comprised of four levels of boron and aluminium concentrations viz., 0 µM B + 0 µM Al (control), 0 µM Al + 40 µM B, 200 µM Al + 40 µM B and 0 µM B + 200 µM Al and five wheat varieties viz; BARI Gom-23, BARI Gom-24, BARI Gom-28, BARI Gom-27 and BARI Gom-30. Results indicated that germination percentage, radicle and plumule length, root and shoot length, leaf length, fresh and dry mass plant-1 were greater in 0 µM Al + 40 µM B treated plants than 0 µM B + 200 µM Al induced conditions. It indicates that wheat seedlings are susceptible to aluminium and boron can ameliorate aluminium toxicity. However, among the studied varieties, the reduction of dry mass under aluminium stress was minimum in BARI Gom-28 followed by BARI Gom-23 indicating BARI Gom-28 was more tolerant to aluminium stress than the other varieties. On the contrary, the varieties, BARI Gom-27 and BARI Gom-24 were more susceptible to aluminium stress. So it indicates that aluminium stress severely affects the growth and developments especially in the sensitive varieties and tolerant varieties have the self-ability to grow and develop even under aluminium stress condition.
 Progressive Agriculture 32 (2): 127-139, 2021

Symmetries of Touch: Reconsidering Tactility in the Age of Ubiquitous Computing

Engaging with the specific ways current media technologies interact with, or directly access the human body, we suggest developing a ‘symmetrical’ theory of touch. Critically referring to Bruno Latour’s invocation of ‘symmetrical anthropology’, we reconsider tactile agency as ‘technological agency’, arguing that the concept of touch – traditionally viewed as an exclusively human ability – should be extended to non-human actors and analysed in view of the cultural logic of capitalism. Its systematic focus, then, is on the productive intersections and contact zones between biology and technology: from phenomena of non-human touch in industrial production (lathing, printing, etc.) to the material touching taking place in the instrumental grasp on the living in the 19th-century physiological laboratories and the invisible operations of tracing, tracking and sensing taking place in the technological milieus of today’s (media) environments. In highlighting the tactile dimension of digital modernity and its economic genealogies, this article aims to advance a combined concept of human and non-human touch which provides a crucial angle for reconsidering bodies and technologies in the age of ubiquitous computing.

Smartphone-based augmented reality physiology and anatomy laboratories.

Smartphone-based augmented reality physiology and anatomy laboratories.

Effect of Biostimulant Formulation of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. Crude Terpenoid Extract with Addition of Micronutrients on the Growth and Yield of Upland Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Aims: To analyze the effect of biostimulant formulation of Centella asiatica terpenoid extract with the addition of micronutrients on the growth and yield of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.).
 Study Design: Experimental design.
 Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Department of Biology, Andalas University, in agricultural land, Limau Manis, Padang City, Indonesia from January until April 2021
 Methodology: The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design having nine treatments and replicated thrice. The first factor was the concentration of the terpenoid extract: a0 (0 mg/L); a1 (0.25 mg/L); a2 (0.5 mg/L). The second factor is the composition of the solution of micronutrients: b0 (without micronutrients); b1 (FeSO4 0,01875%, MnSO4 0,01562%, ZnSO4 0,01562%, CuSO4 0,00312%, H3BO3 0,00937%); b2 (FeSO4 0,0375%, MnSO4 0,03125%, ZnSO4 0,03125%, CuSO4 0,00625%, H3BO3 0,01875%).
 Results: The results showed that the biostimulant formulation of terpenoid extract with the addition of micronutrients affected some parameters of growth and yield of upland rice. The highest average number of tillers was 23.00, it was obtained in treatment a2b2. Treatment a1b2 gave a high average dry weight of 100 grains, namely 2.47g. The dry weight of 100 grains was positively correlated (r = 0.702) with the number of tillers, plant height and chlorophyll b with respectively contributions of 9.36%, 7.35% and 3.82%.
 Conclusion: The biostimulant formulation of C. asiatica crude terpenoid extract with addition of micronutrients was able to increase the number of tillers and dry weight of 100 grains of upland rice.

Laboratory Atmospheric Levels of Formaldehyde in Selected Laboratories used by Medical Students in a Tertiary Institution in Edo State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to measure the laboratory atmospheric levels of formaldehyde in selected laboratories used by medical students in a tertiary institution in Edo state, Nigeria during the course of their medical training using a formaldehyde gas meter (EXTECH FM 200) ensuring that the laboratories served as the test groups while the lecture theatre served as the control. Data obtained from this study shows that medical students are exposed to various levels of formaldehyde in the different laboratories (Anatomy laboratory 1.71±0.11ppm; Histopathology laboratory 1.96±0.02ppm; Medical Biochemistry laboratory 0.07±0.003ppm and Physiology laboratory 0.05±0.002ppm) and these values are above the recommended limit prescribed by standard organizations. Hence, it was therefore concluded that measures should be taken to ensure reduction of formaldehyde air levels in the Anatomy and Histopathology laboratories in order to protect the medical students from the harmful effect of formaldehyde.

ITRAQ-based comparative proteomic analysis of the Lithobates catesbeianus bullfrog spleen following challenge with Citrobacter freundii

As a common aquaculture pathogen, Citrobacter freundii has resulted in inconceivable economic losses in aquaculture. In this study, we investigated the spleen immune response of Lithobates catesbeianus to C. freundii infection at the protein level. A comparative proteomic analysis of spleens from C. freundii-infected L. catesbeianus was performed by using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) approaches. A total of 2400 proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS spectra and sequencing data. In addition, 316 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified, of which 154 were significantly upregulated and 162 were significantly downregulated. Seven DEPs that are immune related including Kelch-like protein 22 (KLHL 22), saxiphilin (Sax), integrin beta-3 (ITGB3), retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I), laboratory of genetics and physiology 2 (LGP2), E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase TRIM39-like (TRIM39L), and phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1) were selected for further study. The expression profile of these genes in the spleen at 48 h post-C. freundii-infection showed a similar trend as the iTRAQ data. Altogether, the current study is the first to report the spleen proteome of bullfrogs (L. catesbeianus), providing insight into the immune response to C. freundii infection.

Normative Data on Heart Rate Variability Time and Frequency Domain Indices in a Healthy Central Indian Population Undergoing Treadmill Exercise.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is becoming one of the most valuable tools for assessing a healthy heart's complex and constantly changing oscillations. This study was a pioneering attempt to establish normative data on HRV during treadmill exercise for monitoring the cardiovascular health of the central Indian population. This was a cross-sectional study in the Sports Physiology Laboratory of the Department of Physiology in a Rural Medical College in central India. One hundred and twenty healthy subjects in the age range 17-40 years were recruited. Short-term HRV (5 min) was extracted from ECG recordings obtained using the Power lab system, AD Instruments, Australia. Time domain indices for males were - Standard deviation of N-N interval (SDNN): 162.61±162.11; Square root of mean squared difference of N-N intervals (RMSSD): 355.79±798.27; the percentage of adjacent NN intervals that differ from each other by more than 50 ms (pNN50): 23.10±27.87. Frequency domain indices in males were- LF power (%)- 535.74±3625.96; HF power (%) - 33.15±24.31, LF nu: 33.12± 16.06; HF nu: 57.22±14.89; LF/HF:0.77±0.74. Time-domain indices for females were SDNN as168.49±130.09; RMSSD: 182.41±154.85; pNN50:32.33±26.59. Frequency domain indices in females were LF power (%)-19.85±6.13; HF power (%) 43.03±16.39, LF nu-30.53±9.88; HF nu -60.95±8.70; LF/HF:0.54±0.27. Baseline normative values for HRV spectral and time-domain analysis have been established for their clinical use in comparing the HRV of a healthy individual to that of a deceased individual or an athlete.

QUALITY ENHANCEMENT OF TOMATOES (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) USING GIBBERELLIC ACID (GA) FROM VARIOUS PLANT MATERIALS

Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) is a fruit with many benefits. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) prove effective in improving the quality and production of tomatoes. Gibberellic Acid/GA is a PGR that stimulates the process of flowering, parthenocarpy, and carbohydrate mobilization during germination and influences other plant physiological aspects. However, because synthetic GA is costly, numerous natural ingredients have been proposed as its source, for example, bamboo shoots, vegetable ferns, corns, and shallots that can improve the quality of tomatoes. This study aimed to determine the role of natural GA from various plant extracts on the quality of tomatoes, providing recommendations for the best extract to improve the quality of tomatoes. It was conducted in the experimental garden at the Agronomy and Horticulture Laboratory, Physiology Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, and Food Analysis Laboratory of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Udayana University. This research was compiled using a Randomized Group Design consisting of one factor, i.e., the type of natural extract with five settings and four repetitions. The tomato plant treatments were E0 = no extract sprayed, BE = sprayed with bamboo shoot extract, VE = vegetable fern extract, OE = onion extract, and CE = corn extract. The results showed that gibberellins from natural ingredients significantly affected fruit diameter, fruit thickness, and total sugar content of tomatoes. The best tomatoes were obtained by applying onion extract as a source of natural gibberellins.

Metabolite Activity of Endophy Fungi Isolated from Betle Leaf (Piper betle) Against Candida Albicans

Betle (Piper betle) is a type of plant producing antimicrobial substances and secondary metabolites that are potentially used for the production of new drugs. Candidiasis is a disease caused by Candida albicans and causes diseases of the mucosa of the mouth, digestive tract, and vagina. The study aimed to isolate the betle leaf endophyte fungus (Piper betle L.) and find out the activity of its metabolites against Candida albicans. The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mataram. The research method used was descriptive observation. The purpose of this study was to isolate endophytic fungi and their activity against Candida albicans from beetle leaves. The yield of endophytic fungal secondary metabolites was obtained by fermentation method, and the activity of Candida albicans was detected by diffusion method. Isolation test obtained from R&D hospital NTB Province. The research results obtained the endophytic fungi isolated from beetle leaves (Piper betle L.) and obtained the identification results of the fungus Cephalosporium.

Pengaruh konsentrasi ekstrak bawang merah (Allium cepa L.) terhadap pertumbuhan setek nilam (Pogostemon cablin Benth.)

This study aims to determine the response to the use of varieties and concentrations of shallot extract and the interaction of these two factors on the variables of patchouli cuttings. This research has been carried out at the Experimental Garden of the Faculty of Agriculture and the Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh. The research design used was a 2 x 5 factorial randomized block design (RAK). There were two factors studied, the patchouli variety (Tapak Tuan and Lhokseumawe) and the concentration of shallot extract with 5 levels (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 ml L-1). The data was analysed using ANOVA and followed by Tukey’s HSD test (Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference Test) at the level 0.05%. The results showed that the variety affected the number of leaves at 60 and 75 DAP, stem diameter at 75 and 90 DAP, number of shoots at 15, 45, 60 and 90 DAP and shoot height at 15 DAP. The best treatment was the Lhokseumawe variety at a concentration of 60 ml L-1 shallot extract. There was no interaction between the use of the two varieties and the concentration of shallot extract at all parameters of patchouli cuttings observed.

In Memoriam of the Ichthyologist Saulius Stakėnas

‘In Memoriam of Ichthyologist and Scientist Saulius Stakėnas’ presents a scientific biography of the ichthyologist Saulius Stakėnas, doctor of biomedical sciences. Dr Saulius Stakėnas was born in Vilnius on 6 November 1971. He studied biology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Vilnius University and pursued his scientific career at the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University (presently the Nature Research Centre). In 2002, Saulius successfully defended his doctoral dissertation ‘Habitat Selection Strategy of 0+ Fish in the Rivers of Lithuania’. In 2004–2005, he was building his career as a researcher at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) in the United Kingdom (under the EU programme Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions). After traineeship, Saulius took the position of a senior researcher at the Laboratory of Ecology and Physiology of Hydrobionts, Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, and later the position of a senior researcher at the Nature Research Centre. Dr Saulius Stakėnas deserves to be named the pioneer in the application of the telemetry method for fish migration in Lithuania and an expert of the management and restoration of the stocks of European eel, Atlantic salmon, sea trout, and Atlantic sturgeon in the country. His scientific career encompassed a broad range of activities, including scientific supervision of master and doctoral students and participation in multiple national and international projects; he authored or co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed research articles and wrote multiple popular science publications. The community of the Nature Research Centre lost their colleague Dr Saulius Stakėnas on 16 November 2021.

Comparison of the Cardiovascular Effects of Extreme Psychological and Physical Stress Tests in Male Soccer Players.

Background: The purpose of our study was to compare the physiological effects of extreme physical and psychological stress tests in male soccer players, since these two types of stress apply to athletes with high performance requirements. Methods: A total of 63 healthy male soccer players participated in this study, all of whom underwent both of the tests. A physical stress test was carried out in an exercise physiology laboratory, where subjects completed an incremental treadmill running test to full exhaustion, and a psychological test was performed in a military tactical room, where subjects met a street offence situation. Heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure (BP) were recorded directly before, immediately after, and 30 min after the stress tests. Results: The majority of HRV indices changed significantly in both stress protocols. Inverse, significant changes (positive for the physical test, negative for the psychological test, p < 0.001) were found when comparing the alterations of HRV indices between the tests. Significant differences were found in the changes in systolic (p = 0.003) and diastolic (p < 0.001) BP between the test protocols, and also between the baseline and post-test measurements (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Both HRV and BP are sensitive physiological parameters to measure the impact of extreme physical and/or psychological stress

Kyiv plots of Volodymyr Lyubimenko’s letters to Oleksandr Fomin

The article analyzes the plot lines of the letters of the outstanding botanist, specialist in the field of plant physiology V. Lyubimenko to the director of the Botanical Garden of Kyiv University and the Institute of Botany of the All-Ukrainian Academy of Sciences O. Fomin. Epistolary documents make it possible to reveal the role and significance of Kyiv, as a scientific and educational center, in the scientific, scientific-organizational and pedagogical activities of V. Lyubimenko. The letters refer to the organization V. Lyubimenko of research on plant physiology at scientific institutions in Kyiv, in particular the Institute of Botany of the All-Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. The letters reveal V. Lyubimenko’s efforts to create and organize the activities of a plant physiology laboratory in Kyiv and the scientist's desire to move to the city on the Dnieper to establish research in the field of phytophysiology. Epistolary documents show that the establishment of a laboratory of plant physiology in Kyiv at the All-Ukrainian Academy of Sciences was V. Lyubimenko’s dream. It is shown that the laboratory of plant physiology in Kyiv was created thanks to the energy and perseverance of V. Lyubimenko and the scientific genius, organizational skills and pedagogical talent of the scientist. And thanks to the efforts of V. Lyubimenko, Kyiv received a leading scientific botanical center, in which the ideas of the outstanding scientist were embodied and the traditions of his physiological school were developed for decades. The letters also reveal professional and friendly relations between V. Lyubimenko and O. Fomin. Epistolary documents are stored in the personal archival fund of Academician V. Lyubimenko at the Institute of Archival Studies of the V. I. Vernadskyi National Library of Ukraine and are being introduced into scientific circulation for the first time.

Analysis of student engagement and learning using real-time assessment strategies in a remote Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory course

Analysis of student engagement and learning using real-time assessment strategies in a remote Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory course

Оцінка морозо- та зимостійкості сортів і гібридних форм обліпихи крушиноподібної (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) в умовах північної частини Лісостепу України

The authors present the results of researching the potential level of the common sea buckthorn 11 cultivars and 17 hybrid forms frost-resistance and winter hardiness with applying the laboratory freezing method on the basis of the Laboratory of the Plant Physiology and Microbiology of the Institute of Horticulture (NAAS of Ukraine). The microscopial analysis has determined the damage level of shoots and buds tissues under the temperatures -15°С and minus 17°С (in the natural conditions) as well as -25°С and 35°С. Cv Necra and the hybrid 1-15-11 have the highest summary point of the slight freezing under the temperature – 25°С – 10.8 and 10.7 respectively while the hybrid form 1-15-17 and control variety Chuiska the lowest degree – 4.6 and 5.2. Under the mentioned temperature the shoot tissues have suffered from greater freezing on the cut off through the bud and in the upper part of a one year increment. When temperature decreasing to -35°С the given tendency somewhat changes. Most of the studied samples have stronger shoot apical part damage. Under the temperature -35°С all the strains have a rather low summary point of the shoots tissues damage – from 6.3 to 13.9. This does not exceed even a half of the thresh-hold level (30 points). On the level of the tissues it is hardwood and heart-bark that have appeared the most susceptible to the above mentioned temperature regimes (within 0.7-1.5 points). Among all the investigated cultivars and temperature regimes the greatest damage has been fixed in the heart-back, however slight this tissue freezing almost does not influence the total plants state. It is a bark that is the most resistant tissue irrespective of a shoot part and under -35°С the hybrids 1-15-17, 5-17-144, 1-15-8C and cv Chuiska. Somewhat less fros-resistant ones are the forms 1-10-11 (Surpryz Baltyky), 1-15-9 (Karotynna) and 1-15-15. The hybrids 2-15-173, 2-14-4, 1-15-11 and the variety Necra have suffered from the greatest damages, although lower than the threshold level. The sea buckthorn plants buds are also characterized with the high temperatures resistance level. Under the experiment conditions the bud of all the strains and hybrid forms have endured the effect of the temperatures both -25°С and -35°С without critical damage. The buds of the plants of the hybrids 1-15-17, 1-15-9 (Karotynna), 1-15-8C and the cultivar Chuiska have suffered from the slightest freezing. The high resistance has been displayed by the hybrid forms 5-17-144, 1-10-11 (Surpryz Baltyky), 1-15-11 and cvs Yeva and Nivelena, lower by 2-14-4, 2-15-173 and varieties Mikki (male and female forms) and Leikara. Even under the maximum freezing temperature (-35°С) the degree of the slight freezing of the explored samples buds does not exceed 36 % The extraordinarily high potential frost-resistance of all the studied strains has been established as well as of the forms. The most frost-resistant hybrids 1-15-17, 1-15-9 (Karotynna), 1-15-8C, 1-10-11 (Surpryz Baltyky), 1-15-11, 5-17-144 and cultivars Chuiska, Yeva and Nivelena have been selected on their background. As a result of the field researches the most winter-hardy cvs Nivelena and Moskvichka and forms 1-15-50 (Adaptyvna), 1-15-9 (Karotynna) and 1-10-11 (Surpryz Baltyky) have been selected which endure, better reflexive low temperatures after thaw (the average damage point is not higher than 0.5). On the whole according to the comprehensive estimation of the common sea buckthorn varieties and promise hybrids it is 1-15-9 (Karotynna), 1-10-11 (Surpryz Baltyky) and strain Nivelena distinguish themselves for the nigh winter-hardiness and frost-resistance in the natural and laboratory conditions.

Адаптивність зарубіжних сортів абрикоса (Armeniaca vulgaris Lam.) до дії низьких температур в умовах Київської області

The authors present the results of determining the winter hardiness and frost resistance of the three introduced cvs Ledana, NJA-19 and Leskora, grafted on the rootstock Pumiselect, by means of combining field and laboratory methods. The research was conducted in the apricot of the orchard educations training laboratory "Fruit and Vegetable Plantation" NULES of Ukraine and in the Laboratory of the Plant Physiology and Microbiology of the Institute of Horticulture NAAS in the cold periods of 2019 2021. One-year increments with buds were frozen in the refrigerator CRO/400/40 by means of reducing the temperature gradually to -25 and -30 ºC. The evaluation was carried out on the basis of the microscopic analysis according to the six-point scale (from 0 to 5 points). The critical damage of the generative buds of the plants of all the investigated varieties was detected generative (3.4-5.0 points) in laboratory conditions under the above mentioned freezing temperatures. The damage of the Leskora and NJA-19 trees shoot tissue under -25 ºC was not critical, at the same time under -30 ºC the damage of all the strains mentioned organs was rather more severe. On the average during the explorations years in was Ledana that appeared the most susceptible under freezing to 25 and 30 ºC. In the cultivar Leskora plants were high winter – hardy while the Ledana trees were the least resistant ones. Under the temperature below -20 °C the researched crop trees generative buds proved to be frozen, especially in the increments lower part. The weather conditions in the investigations period caused the considerable introduced cvs harvest loss and the vegetative organs freezing but the plants renewed quickly during the vegetation period. The explorations have shown that the weather conditions in the Northern part of the Lisosteppe (Kyivshchyna) are critical for the apricot growing because of the low temperatures effect, their fluctuations in winter and possibility of the late spring slight freezes during flowering. It is strains Leskora and NJA-19 that are the most favorable for the cultivation in the similar conditions. They will ensure high crop under the suitable cultivation conditions and high agrotechnics.

FROST RESISTANCE OF THE COLUMNAR APPLE TREE THE METHOD OF DIRECT FREEZING

Frost stress strongly affects the spatial distribution of plants. Among various weather hazards, frost causes the greatest economic losses in agriculture. Among various environmental hazards, it is frost that causes the greatest economic losses in agriculture. Although frost severely limits life forms and creates enormous economic losses, it has not been studied as thoroughly as other biotic or abiotic stresses. Frost resistance can be affected by many factors, including microclimate, soil condition, plant height, but they must be studied in a complex. The purpose of the research was to select frost-resistant cultivars and hybrids of the columnar apple tree under the conditions of the Forest Steppe of Ukraine. The research was carried out during 2021–2022 at the V.L. Symyrenko Department of Horticulture of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. The experimental basis for conducting research was the columnar apple tree plantations of the Training Laboratory «Fruit and Vegetable Garden». Frost resistance was determined during the period of deep rest by the method of direct freezing of one-year increments. Freezing was performed in the laboratory of plant physiology and microbiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. In the researched plantations, when the test samples were frozen at temperatures of -25 and -30 °C during deep rest, different resistance of varieties and shoot parts to low temperatures was found. In all cultivars and hybrids of columnar type apple trees, the apical bud and generative buds were the most vulnerable, and the tissues of the middle and upper part of the shoot were the most resistant to frost. The damage index during general freezing was the lowest in the cultivars Valuta’, Sparta’, Favoryt’, Bilosnizhka’, as well as in the hybrids 9/110 Mykhailivske’, 11/15(2)’ and 9/78 Viktoriia’; it was the largest in the Bolero’ cultivars. Freezing of experimental samples at temperatures of -25 and -30 °C did not result in frostbite, critical for plants. All studied cultivars and hybrids of columnar apple trees are recommended for further research and production. The obtained results will be interesting for both experienced gardeners and amateur gardeners who plan to grow columnar apple trees in their garden.

Usefulness of Simulation Based Learning in First Year Medical Students: A Quasi-experimental Study

Introduction: Auscultation of chest is an important part of clinical patient assessment and the skills required to interpret it are traditionally learned by listening the heart and lung sounds of many different patients. It may be difficult for the students to compare actual heart and lung sounds with similar findings. Therefore, use of simulated heart and lung sounds in teaching and training of medical students may be helpful in such scenario as it allows the repetitive and individualized oriented training in support of learning in real scenarios. Aim: To evaluate the usefulness of simulation in understanding various respiratory and cardiovascular sounds, to assess the learning gain of students by pretest and post-test and to evaluate the perception of students towards simulation based learning. Materials and Methods: The present quasi-experimental study was carried out on 100 first year MBBS students at Clinical Skills Laboratory and Department of Physiology, at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra, India, from April 2018 to September 2018. Pretest was taken before intervention from all participants. Students were randomly divided into two groups. Group I had undergone clinical examination of Cardiovascular System (CVS) and Respiratory System (RS), where as, group II had undergone clinical examination of CVS and RS as well simulation based learning. Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), post-test and feedback was obtained from all participants. Data was analysed using Microsoft excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 software. Results: Both groups had 50 subjects each,with age group of 18-20 years and mean age 18.3±1.9 years . There were 21 male and 29 female subjects in both groups. Mean scores of OSCE in group I and II were 7 and 8.18 respectively. Mean score of pretest in group I and II were 5.04 and 5.02 respectively, whereas mean score of post-test in group I and II were 6.66 and 7.54 respectively. Comparison of OSCE and post-test scores in two groups was found to be statistically significant (p-value &lt;0.0001). Conclusion: Understanding of cardiovascular and respiratory sounds was better in group II where simulation based learning was used compared to other group. Hence, it was concluded that simulation based learning is useful additional tool to learn clinical examination of cardiovascular and respiratory physiology. It helps first MBBS students to enhance their clinical knowledge, skills and attitude.

ASSOCIATION OF DURATION OF TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS WITH HEART RATE VARIABILITY AMONG NEWLY DIAGNOSED PATIENTS

AIM:To nd out any correlation of HRVparameters with duration of disease among newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted for one year span from September 2020 to August 2021,in the Department of Physiology, R.G. Kar medical college in collaboration with Department of Endocrinology, R.G. Kar Medical College,Kolkata.56 Patients diagnosed to have T2DM within the age group of 30 and 64years (both genders) attending DIABETIC CLINIC run by the Department of Endocrinology at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital were screened to the Autonomic Function Research Laboratory of Physiology in the Department of Physiology, R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Computer with software for HRV analysis Physiograph Polyrite-D instrument with bio-ampliers, 4channels and accessories(RMS latest software-Version 3.0.16) was used to analyse time domain and frequency domain parameters of short term heart rate variability of 5 minutes duration. RESULTS: Pearson correlation study showed signicant positive correlation of LF:HF ratio with duration of T2DM among newly diagnosed cases and statistically signicant negative correlation was found between duration of T2DM with SDNN. CONCLUSION :we can conclude that duration of disease of diabetes mellitus is associated with sympathovagal imbalance.So CAN screening should be routinely done in all patients even if type 2 diabetes mellitus is newly diagnosed.