Resting Research Articles

The effect of 12-week high-dose Colostrum Bovinum supplementation on immunological, hematological and biochemical markers in endurance athletes: a randomized crossover placebo-controlled study.

Bovine colostrum (COL) is assumed to be one of the strongest natural immune stimulants. Regular ingestion of COL may contribute to improved immune response in athletes exposed to high training loads. Twenty-eight endurance-trained males aged 31.1 ± 10.2 years (body mass 81.9 ± 9.0kg; height 1.82 ± 0.06m) completed this randomized double-blind placebo(PLA)-controlled crossover study aimed at investigating the effect of 12-week COL supplementation (25gCOL·day-1) on resting (REST), exercise-induced (POST-EX), and short-term post-exercise recovery (REC; 1h after test exercise) changes in selected saliva and blood immunoglobulins (Ig), white blood cell (WBC) count and differential; as well as blood hematological, nutritional status and muscle damage indices. The protocol assumed 4 study visits - before/after supplementation with COL (COLPRE and COLPOST ) and PLA (PLAPRE and PLAPOST ). During testing sessions, incremental rowing test to exhaustion and swimming-specific performance test were introduced as exercise stimuli. At COLPOST visit the secretory IgA (SIgA) concentration in saliva was significantly higher at POST-EX and REC compared to REST (p<0.05). COL supplementation had no effect on blood IgA, IgE, IgD, IgG, and IgM concentrations. Furthermore, after COL supplementation decrease of hematocrit at REC (p<0.05) was revealed. 12-week supplementation with 25 gCOL·day-1 in endurance-trained male athletes resulted in a favorable increase in post-exercise concentration of salivary SIgA. COL seems to be a potential stimulator of local immune defense after exercise-induced homeostasis disturbances. Nevertheless, the lack of effect on blood markers indicates the need for further research in the area of mechanisms underlying the effect of the supposed COL immunological capacity.

Impact of surgical aortic valve replacement and transcatheter aortic valve implantation on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular controls: A pilot study.

Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are options in severe aortic valve stenosis (AVS). Cardiovascular (CV) and cerebrovascular (CBV) control markers, derived from variability of heart period, systolic arterial pressure, mean cerebral blood velocity and mean arterial pressure, were acquired in 19 AVS patients (age: 76.8 ± 3.1 yrs, eight males) scheduled for SAVR and in 19 AVS patients (age: 79.9 + 6.5 yrs, 11 males) scheduled for TAVI before (PRE) and after intervention (POST, <7 days). Left ventricular function was preserved in both groups. Patients were studied at supine resting (REST) and during active standing (STAND). We found that: (i) both SAVR and TAVI groups featured a weak pre-procedure CV control; (ii) TAVI ensured better CV control; (iii) cerebral autoregulation was working in PRE in both SAVR and TAVI groups; (iv) SAVR and TAVI had no impact on the CBV control; (v) regardless of group, CV and CBV control markers were not influenced by STAND in POST. Even though the post-procedure preservation of both CV and CBV controls in TAVI group might lead to privilege this procedure in patients at higher risk, the missing response to STAND suggests that this advantage could be insignificant.

Passive leg raising modulates low-frequency oscillation propagation in peripheral atherosclerosis: A pilot study.

Low-frequency oscillations (LFOs) observed in the periphery may reflect physiological processes. The aim of this study was to investigate these processes' effects on LFOs and the differences between healthy subjects and those with peripheral arteriosclerosis disease (PAD). 14 PAD patients and 25 healthy controls were studied in resting (RS) and passive leg raising (PLR) states. We simultaneously measured LFOs at the peripheral left earlobes (LE), right earlobes (RE), left fingertips (LF), right fingertips (RF), left toes (LT), and right toes (RT), along with coherence and phase shift analysis processing. The coherence coefficients in the PAD group were lower than those in the healthy group (p < .01), and the phase shifts in the PAD group were higher than those in the healthy group (p < .01) in a resting state. Mild to moderate PAD patients had greater coherence coefficients and smaller phase shifts than severe PAD patients. 0.05Hz PLR LFOs originating in the LT can be observed in other peripheral positions. The proportion of occurrence times for 0.05Hz PLR LFOs peaks observed at different peripheral positions was different in healthy subjects, patients with bilateral multiple lower limb arteriosclerosis, and those with left or right lower limb arteriosclerosis. The coherence coefficient and phase shift characteristics of LFOs were different between healthy subjects and PAD patients. LFOs have the potential to provide valuable physiological process information associated with atherosclerosis in the periphery.

PSIV-23 Activity Classification of Grazing Cows on Desert Rangeland in the Southwestern United States

Abstract Monitoring cattle on rangelands is a daunting task that can be improved by using wearable sensors that are capable of transmitting motion and position data in real time and at low cost. This study tested the performance of machine learning (ML) classifiers to discriminate among foraging activities of cows based on triaxial accelerometer data collected in real-time by LoRa WAN networks. Trials were conducted at the New Mexico State University Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center and the USDA Jornada Experimental Range in Doña Ana County, NM. A total of 24 Brangus, Brahman, Raramuri Criollo and Angus x Hereford mature cows fitted with LoRa WAN tracking collars housing GPS and triaxial accelerometers were monitored across four periods during the 2022 summer and fall seasons on desert rangeland pastures. Trackers integrated and transmitted activity count (Ac) data from accelerometers at one-minute intervals. Video recording of focal cows (n = 24) was undertaken during daylight hours (0630 to 2000 h) from a distance of ~30 m to minimize interference with natural behaviors. A total of 168 hours of video were recorded and inspected by an experienced observer to label video files according to a classification tree of four main activities: grazing (GR), walking (WA), resting (RE) and ruminating (RU), and two states: active (AC) or static (ST). Individualized activities and states were considered when cows performed the same predefined activity or state for more than 30 secs. Retrieved sensor data from collar trackers were labeled by state and activity according to labels collected from video records. This classification resulted in a dataset containing 9,222 events, including 3,928 for GR, 2,286 for WA, 2,032 for RE, and 976 for RU, as well as 6,214 labels for AC and 3,008 labels for ST. Deep learning through Multilayer Perceptron Classifiers (MLPC) were coded and implemented using a split configuration of 70% of the data for training and 30% for testing, respectively. In preliminary runs, models had reduced ability to properly discriminate among RE (F1 = 0.42) and RU (F1 = 0.43) Thus, RE and RU were merged on subsequent tests, resulting in 3,928 labels for GR, 2,286 labels for WA, and 3,008 labels for merged RE. Deep learning models successfully classified between AC vs. ST behavior with an overall F1 performance score of 0.96. Further use of the same deep learning models successfully classified among GR, WA, and RE activities with an overall F1 performance score of 0.91, suggesting satisfactory application of the trained models to monitor cattle grazing activities on desert rangeland.

371 Effect of Calcium Magnesium Carbonate And/Or Tylosin Phosphate Supplementation on Behavior, Rumination Activity, Feedlot Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics in Yearling Beef Steers

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of calcium magnesium carbonate (CMC) and/or tylosin phosphate (TYL) supplementation on behavior, rumination activity, growth performance and carcass characteristics of yearling beef steers. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial including CMC and TYL. Beef steers (n = 156; 469 ± 18 kg) were randomly assigned to treatment pens (7 to 8 steers/pen) with pen (n = 20 pens total, 10 pens/main effect mean, and 5 pens/simple effect mean) as experimental unit. Cattle were transitioned from a 30% roughage diet to a 7% roughage finishing diet based on dry-rolled corn, dried distillers grains plus solubles, liquid supplement, and oat silage over the initial 20 d period. The CMC was included at 1.5% of the diet (DM basis) in replacement of dry-rolled corn and TYL was provided at 90 mg·animal·d-1. Behavior and rumination activity were monitored during a 24 h period on d 42. Data was collected on a pen-basis, every 10 min from 0800 h to 0750 h the next day and included minutes spent drinking (DR), eating (EA), active (AC), ruminating (RU), and resting (RE). Cattle were shipped for harvest on d 105 to a commercial beef abattoir. Growth performance was calculated on a carcass-adjusted basis (HCW/0.625). Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with fixed effects of CMC, TYL, or their interaction; block was a random effect. An interaction was observed between CMC and TYL for time spent DR (P = 0.03) and RU (P = 0.01). Control steers ruminated 28% longer compared with CMC/-TYL steers (P = 0.05) and 20% longer than -CMC/TYL steers (P = 0.05). The main effect of CMC tended to increase time spent EA by 19.3% (P = 0.06). Dry matter intake was decreased (P ≤ 0.02) by 4.57% when CMC was fed and increased by 1.96% when TYL was fed. However, no difference (P ≥ 0.26) was observed for G:F or gain efficiency in either treatment. No differences (P ≥ 0.28) were observed in any dietary net energy utilization outcomes in either main effect treatment. Carcass weight tended (P = 0.07) to be lighter with CMC supplementation compared with CON (432 vs 439 kg). Supplementation of TYL resulted in a 11.7% reduction (P = 0.04) in percentage of abscessed livers. No differences (P ≥ 0.12) were observed in DP, marbling, YG, or EBF in either main effect treatments. These results indicate that supplementation of CMC did not result in any appreciable improvements in growth, carcass or dietary net energy utilization performance, but TYL supplementation resulted in a positive effect on liver abscess prevalence.

PSI-6 Effect of Calcium Magnesium Carbonate And/or Tylosin Phosphate Supplementation on Behavior and Rumination Activity in Yearling Beef Steers Fed a Finishing Diet

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of CaMg(CO3)2 (MIN-AD, Papillon Agricultural Company, Easton, MD; MA) and or tylosin phosphate (Tylan, Elanco, Indianapolis, IN; TY) supplementation on 24-hour behavior and rumination activity of yearling beef steers fed a finishing diet. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used resulting in 4 dietary treatments: no MA and no TY (-MA/-TY), MA and no TY (MA/-TY), no MA and TY (-MA/TY), or MA and TY (MA/TY). Beef steers (n = 158; 469 ± 18.0 kg) were randomly assigned to dietary treatments with pen (n = 20 pens total, 10 pens/main effect mean, and 5 pens/simple effect mean) serving as the experimental unit. The MA was included at 1.5% of the diet (DM basis) in replacement of dry-rolled corn and TY was provided at 90 mg·animal-1·d-1. Observation began at 0800 h and ended at 0750 h the following day, resulting in a 24-hour observation period. Observations were recorded on a pen basis, with number of animals/type of activity recorded every 10 minutes on d 42 on feed (22 d on finisher). Activity categories included number of animals drinking (DR), eating (EA), active (standing; AC), ruminating (RU), and resting (RE) per pen. Chewing (CHE) was determined as the sum of eating and ruminating activity. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with the fixed effects of MA, TY, and their interaction; block (pen location) was considered a random effect. An interaction was noted between MA and TY for time spent drinking (P = 0.03) and ruminating (P = 0.01). Steers from -MA/TY spent more time drinking compared with the -MA/-TY and MA/TY steers; steers from MA/-TY were intermediate (P &amp;lt; 0.10). Steers from -MA/-TY ruminated 28% longer compared with MA/-TY steers (P = 0.05) and 20% longer than -MA/TY (P = 0.05), steers from MA/TY ruminated 16% longer than steers from MA/-TY (P = 0.05), while steers from -MA/TY were intermediate (P &amp;gt; 0.10). The main effect of MA tended to increase time spent eating by 19.3% (P = 0.06); however, no differences (P ≥ 0.28) were noted for the main effects of MA or TY for minutes/day spent chewing, resting, or active. These results indicate that supplementation of MA may alter feeding behavior, resulting in increased minutes/day spent eating. In addition, supplementation of TY and MA may result in increased water intake, and alter time spent ruminating per day.

Body Fluid Estimation Via Segmental Multi-Frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Following Acute Resistance Exercise

Segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (S-MFBIA) estimates body composition and fluids by passing electrical currents through the body and can separate the body into distinct segments. The minimum required abstention from exercise before S-MFBIA is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to monitor changes in total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), and extracellular water (ECW) estimated via S-MFBIA following acute, localized bouts of resistance exercise (RE). METHODS: Thirty-two female (n = 18; age: 22.7 ± 1.4 y; height: 167.5 ± 7.5 cm; body mass: 66.6 ± 14.5 kg; body fat: 30.3 ± 6.2%) and male (n = 14; age: 24.2 ± 2.9; height: 178.7 ± 5.3; body mass: 85.7 ± 7.8 kg; body fat: 19.6 ± 6.9%) resistance-trained volunteers completed three randomly assigned conditions in a crossover design. Each RE protocol (REUPPER or RELOWER) consisted of three exercises and began with two warm-up sets of 12-15 repetitions per exercise. This was followed by a RE circuit of 5 sets of 10 repetitions per exercise with a one-minute rest interval between circuits. In the resting (REST) condition, participants did not complete any physical activity. S-MFBIA was performed at five timepoints: pre-exercise, immediate post-exercise, 15-, 30-, and 60-minutes post-exercise. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with a random intercept for participant. In all models, REST was the reference condition, and pre-exercise was the reference time point. RESULTS: Although body mass did not differ between conditions, condition by time interactions were observed for TBW, ICW, and ECW (p < 0.001 each), with the higher values observed at post-exercise time points in REUPPER as compared to the REST condition. Mean differences between REUPPER and REST for TBW, ICW, and ECW ranged from 0.6-1.0 kg, 0.4-0.6 kg, and 0.2-0.4 kg, respectively. Conversely, RELOWER did not alter fluid estimates. CONCLUSIONS: An acute increase in TBW, ICW, and ECW is detected by S-MFBIA after a single bout of upper body, but not lower body, RE. This could be due to the smaller initial diameter and greater relative change in diameter of the arms as compared to legs. Due to the potential of artificial body fluid changes, users should avoid exercise - particularly upper body exercise - prior to S-MFBIA assessments.

Dynamic cerebrovascular autoregulation in patients prone to postural syncope: Comparison of techniques assessing the autoregulation index from spontaneous variability series.

Three approaches to the assessment of cerebrovascular autoregulation (CA) via the computation of the autoregulation index (ARI) from spontaneous variability of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and mean cerebral blood flow velocity (MCBFV) were applied: 1) a time domain method (TDM); 2) a nonparametric method (nonPM); 3) a parametric method (PM). Performances were tested over matched and surrogate unmatched pairs. Data were analyzed at supine resting (REST) and during the early phase of 60° head-up tilt (TILT) in 13 subjects with previous history of postural syncope (SYNC, age: 28±9yrs.; 5 males) and 13 control individuals (noSYNC, age: 27±8yrs.; 5 males). Analysis was completed by computing autonomic markers from heart period (HP) and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) variability series via spectral approach. HP and SAP spectral indexes suggested that noSYNC and SYNC groups exhibited different autonomic responses to TILT. ARI analysis indicated that: i) all methods have a sufficient statistical power to separate matched from unmatched pairs with the exception of nonPM applied to impulse response; ii) ARI estimates derived from different methods might be uncorrelated and, even when correlated, might exhibit a significant bias; iii) orthostatic stressor did not induce any evident ARI change in either noSYNC or SYNC individuals; iv) this conclusion held regardless of the method. Methods for the ARI estimation from spontaneous variability provide different ARIs but none indicate that noSYNC and SYNC subjects have different dynamic component of CA.

Respiration is a Confounder of the Closed Loop Relationship Between Mean Arterial Pressure and Mean Cerebral Blood Flow.

This study tested the hypothesis that respiration (RESP) is a confounder or suppressor of the closed loop relationship responsible for the cerebrovascular dynamical interactions as assessed from spontaneous variability of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and mean cerebral blood flow (MCBF). The evaluation was carried out in the information domain via transfer entropy (TE) estimated through a linear model-based approach comparing TE markers computed solely over MAP and MCBF series with TE indexes accounting for the eventual action of RESP over MAP and MCBF. We considered 11 patients (age: 76±5 yrs, 7 males) undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) at supine resting (REST) and during active standing (STAND) before and after SAVR surgery. The decrease of the predictive ability of MCBF to MAP when accounting for RESP compared to the one assessed when disregarding RESP suggested that RESP is a confounder of the link from MCBF to MAP along the Cushing reflex instead of being a suppressor. This result was more evident in POST when autonomic control was dramatically depressed and in an unchallenged condition such as REST. RESP did not affect significantly the link from MAP to MCBF along the pressure-to-flow relationship. Clarification of the type of RESP influence on the MAP-MCBF closed loop relationship could favor a deeper characterization of cerebrovascular interactions and the comprehension of cerebral autoregulation mechanisms.Clinical Relevance- This study suggests that respiration is a confounder of the closed loop relationship between MAP and MCBF, especially of the flow-to-pressure causal link. This result might open new possibilities in elucidating the mechanisms of cerebral autoregulation in healthy and pathological populations.

RA pressure waveforms as a means for describing right ventricular diastolic stiffness

Introduction Exercise-induced changes in right atrial (RA) pressure associates with morality in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Increased right ventricular (RV) diastolic stiffness impairs right ventricular filling during atrial contraction. Right atrial waveforms consist of the a-wave (atrial contraction) and v-wave (RA passive filling), as well as x and y descents representing atrial relaxation and ventricular filling, respectively. Ventricular distensibility has been associated with the difference between the x- and y-descents (x-y difference) in RA pressure. A positive x-y difference correlates with increased ventricular stiffness. The study aim was to investigate the relationship between RA pressure waveforms and RV diastolic function in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We hypothesized that exercise-induced increases in RA pressure associate with increased RV diastolic stiffness and a positive x-y difference. Methods Participants (n = 52) with a right heart catheterization (RHC) and invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test were selected from the University of Arizona Pulmonary Hypertension Registry. Resting (REST) and peak exercise (EX) measurements of RA pressure (RAP), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), cardiac output (CO), and heart rate (HR) were analyzed. Raw RA waveforms were analyzed to identify the a-wave, v-wave, and x- and y-descents using a custom MATLAB program. Single-beat methods were used to calculate end-diastolic elastance (Eed) a measure of RV stiffness. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used test differences between rest and exercise conditions (R version 4.0.3). Data is presented as mean ± standard deviation or median [IQR]. A p< 0.05 is considered significant. Results Forty-three participants with pulmonary arterial hypertension diagnosis (age: 53 ± 13, sex: 73% female) and 9 participants without PH (age: 61 ± 13 years, sex: 100% female) were included. At rest, patients with pulmonary hypertension have increased PAP (37 ± 11 vs 16 ± 5 mmHg, p < 0.001) but no significant differences in RAP (2.7 [0.5-4.7] vs 0.1 [-0.1 – 3.0] mmHg, p = 0.4). There is a non-significant increase in Eed (0.61 [0.34-0.93] vs. 0.31 [0.26-0.53] mmHg/ml, p = 0.07) compared to controls. At peak exercise (PAH: 20 [10-50] W and controls: 30 [10-60] W), RA pressure significantly increased (Figure 1A). Participants with PAH had an exercise-induced increase in RA x-descent (Figure 1B) and y-descent (Figure 1C). There was an exercise-induced decrease in the x-y descent in participants with PAH but not Controls (Figure 1D). The x-y difference did not correlate with resting Eed at rest (p = 0.58) or peak exercise (p = 0.22). Discussion/Conclusion Exercise significantly increased average RA, x-descent, and y-descent pressure. The RA x-y difference did not correlate with end-diastolic elastance, another measure of ventricular stiffness. Overall, exercise decreased the x-y difference in participants with PAH that suggests an exercise-induced increase in ventricular distensibility. Further investigations are needed to determine if exercise-induced changes in RA pressure can unmask structural or pressure induced changes in RV diastolic function.

Novel Functional Indices of Masticatory Muscle Activity.

The aim of the present study was to analyze novel functional indices of masticatory muscle activity and compare them to existing and commonly used indices in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and healthy adults. Based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, 78 adult women qualified for the study. Subjects were divided into two groups: diagnosed TMDs (n = 36; mean age: 23.4 ± 2.6 years) and healthy adults (n = 42; mean age: 22.4 ± 2.3 years). Measurements of the bioelectric activity of the temporalis anterior (TA), superficial masseter (MM), and anterior bellies of the digastric muscle (DA) were carried out using the BioEMG III ™. Functional Clenching (FCI) and Functional Opening (FOI) indices were obtained as the ratio of the difference between the mean muscle root mean square (RMS) potentials during functional activity, including clenching (CL) and opening (MMO), and mean muscle resting (REST) potentials. Next, based on FCI and FOI indices, the Functional Clenching Activity Index (FCAI), Functional Clenching Symmetry Index (FCSI), and Functional Opening Symmetry Index (FOSI) were obtained. The statistical analysis showed significant differences in activity index left-sided (AcIL) and Activity index both-sided (AcItot) between TMDs and healthy women during rest measurements. The significant differences between both groups were noted in terms of all Functional Clenching Indices except Functional Clenching Index for MM right-sided (FCIMM-R). In all analyzed FCI indices, the control group showed higher values compared to the TMDs. Moreover, a significant difference between TMDs and controls was observed within Functional Clenching Activity Index left-sided (FCAIL) (14.56 vs. −0.45, p = 0.01). Both functional indices, and asymmetry (AsI) and activity (AcI) indices seem to be reliable in assessing symmetry and activity within masticatory muscles. Further studies should be performed to verify the effectiveness and suitability of the assessment of masticatory muscles using functional indices.

Planned morning aerobic exercise in a fasted state increases energy intake in the preceding 24\xa0h

PurposeWe previously observed increased energy intake (EI) at the meal before planned afternoon exercise, but the proximity of the meal to exercise might have reduced the scale of the pre-exercise anticipatory eating. Therefore, this study examined EI in the 24 h before fasted morning exercise.MethodsFourteen males, experienced with gym-based aerobic exercise (age 25 ± 5 years, BMI 23.8 ± 2.5 kg/m2), completed counterbalanced exercise (EX) and resting (REST) trials. On day 1, subjects were told the following morning’s activity (EX/REST), before eating ad-libitum laboratory-based breakfast and lunch meals and a home-based afternoon/evening food pack. The following morning, subjects completed 30-min cycling and 30-min running (EX; 3274 ± 278 kJ) or 60-min supine rest (REST; 311 ± 34 kJ) fasted. Appetite was measured periodically, and EI quantified.ResultsAfternoon/evening EI (EX 7371 ± 2176 kJ; REST 6437 ± 2070 kJ; P = 0.017) and total 24-h EI (EX 14,055 ± 3672 kJ; REST 12,718 ± 3379 kJ; P = 0.011) were greater during EX, with no difference between trials at breakfast (P = 0.761) or lunch (P = 0.071). Relative EI (EI minus energy expended through EX/REST) was lower in EX (EX 10,781 ± 3539 kJ; REST 12,407 ± 3385 kJ; P = 0.004).ConclusionThis study suggests planned fasted aerobic exercise increases EI during the preceding afternoon/evening, precipitating a ~ 10% increase in EI in the preceding 24-h. However, this increase did not fully compensate for energy expended during exercise; meaning exercise induced an acute negative energy balance.

Changes in Muscle Hardness from Resting to Mid-Range Lengthened Positions Detected by Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) with a Novel Protocol of Ultrasound Probe Placement

Muscle hardness and its relationship with different muscle lengths/positions are important for understanding its underlying physiological status, and yet remained unclear. This study aimed to detect the local muscle hardness at different muscle lengths and identify the influence of muscle position on muscle hardness in healthy adults. A total of 26 healthy adults participated in this study. Shear wave elastography (SWE) was used to measure the muscle hardness of the Rectus Femoris (RF), Tibialis Anterior (TA) and Gastrocnemius Medialis (GM). Each muscle was tested at both resting (RST) and mid-range lengthened (MRL) positions. A novel ultrasound probe placing method was introduced, applied, and evaluated in this study. Moderate to excellent intra-/inter-rater reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, ICC ≥ 0.70) was found for muscle hardness measurements. The muscle hardness significantly increased from the RST to MRL position for all three muscles (p &lt; 0.001). This study found that the muscle hardness increased at its mid-range lengthened position from the resting position. The mid-range lengthened muscle position of TA and GM could also be sensitive enough to reflect the age-related changes in local muscle hardness. This study also highlights the importance of placing the assessed extremities in an appropriate and consistent position when assessing muscle qualities by ultrasonics in clinical practice.

Consumption and ingestive behaviour of lambs fed varying levels of babassu mesocarp bran

Voluntary consumption (VolC) and ingestive behaviour (IB) of lambs fed diets containing different percentages (0.0; 7.5; 15.0 and 22.5%) of babassu mesocarp bran (I-BMB) were evaluated. The trial was at the Federal University of Tocantins, Campus de Araguaína-TO. Twenty lambs were evaluated using a completely randomized design, and five replications were performed. VolC data was obtained by measuring total volumes of both food supplied and food remaining after feeding. IB was evaluated throughout two, non-consecutive 24-h periods, with observations were recorded every five minutes that described the following behavioural variables: resting (REST), rumination (RUM), intake (INT) and chewing (CHEW). The particle size was also measured using a Penn State particle separator. All VolC parameters (dry matter intake, DMI; crude protein intake, CPI; neutral detergent fibre intake, NDFI; and acid detergent fibre intake, ADFI) increased linearly with I-BMB intake. I-BMB consumption did not interfere with water intake, nor did it affect I-BMB did not affect the duration of DMI, NDFI and ADFI. However, linear increases of rumination and chewing activities associated with DMI, NDFI and ADFI were observed as I-BMB levels increased. In summary, effects of inclusion I-BMB in diets of lambs included increased voluntary consumption, and reduced rumination and chewing, but not ingestion, efficiency. When economically favorable, these data suggest that inclusion of up to 22.5% I-BMB within balanced diets should be applied.

Planned Aerobic Exercise Increases Energy Intake at the Preceding Meal.

Effects of exercise on subsequent energy intake are well documented, but whether preexercise energy intake is affected by future planned exercise is unknown. This study investigated the effect of planned late-afternoon exercise on appetite and energy intake before (breakfast and lunch) and after (evening meal/snacks) exercise. Twenty healthy, active participants (10 male; age, 23 ± 5 yr; body mass index 23.7 ± 3.2 kg·m; V˙O2peak, 44.1 ± 5.4 mL·kg··min) completed randomized, counterbalanced exercise (EX) and resting (REST) trials. After trial notification, participants were provided ad libitum breakfast (0800 h) and lunch (1200 h) in the laboratory, before completing 1-h exercise (30-min cycling, 30-min running) at 75%-80% maximal HR (EX, 2661 ± 783 kJ) or 1-h supine rest (REST, 310 ± 58 kJ) 3 h after lunch. Participants were provided a food pack (pasta meal/snacks) for consumption after exercise (outside laboratory). Appetite was measured regularly, and meal and 24-h energy intake were quantified. Ad libitum energy intake was greater during EX at lunch (EX, 3450 ± 1049 kJ; REST, 3103 ± 927 kJ; P = 0.004), but similar between trials at breakfast (EX, 2656 ± 1291 kJ; REST, 2484 ± 1156 kJ; P = 0.648) and dinner (EX, 6249 ± 2216 kJ; REST, 6240 ± 2585 kJ; P = 0.784). Total 24-h energy intake was similar between trials (P = 0.388), meaning that relative energy intake (24-h energy intake minus EX/REST energy expenditure) was reduced during EX (EX, 9694 ± 3313 kJ; REST, 11,517 ± 4023 kJ; P = 0.004). Energy intake seems to be increased in anticipation of, rather than in response to, aerobic exercise, but the increase was insufficient to compensate for energy expended during exercise, meaning that aerobic exercise reduced energy balance relative to rest.

Aktivitas dan Perilaku Pasangan Owa Jawa (Hylobates moloch) di Javan Gibbon Centre

Since 2008 Javan Gibbon’s ( Hylobates moloch ) status is endangered due to the capture of gibbons in the wild to be used as pets which are increasingly prevalent. Conservation efforts of Javan Gibbon population have been conducted at the rescue populations of Javan Gibbons in Javan Gibbon Centre (JGC). Javan Gibbon are the result of voluntary surrender of the community and confiscation of quarantine officer. Rehabilitation in JGC aims to restore the wild instincts of Javan Gibbon before being release d in to the wild environment . This study aimed to identify the daily activities and behavior patterns of Javan gibbon pair and to analyze the abiotic factors that influence them in Javan Gibbon Centre (JGC) as one aspect of the ir readiness to be release d into the wild environment . The study focused on three pairs of Javan Gibbons namely Boby-Jolly, Willie-Sasa , and Asep-Dompu. Based on the observation of three pair s of Javan gibbon, rest ing is the most dominant activity with the percentage of 60 - 80% followed by traveling (8 - 20%), feeding (7 - 13%), social (0 - 4%) , and aggressive behavior ( <1% ) . The most common social behavior s of Javan Gibbon pairs were allogrooming, courtship , and vocalization. Ambient temperature and rainfall were abiotics factors the most affecting the activity and behavior of the Javan Gibbon pair in terms of vocalization. Javan Gibbon will stop vocalization if the ambient temperature is low and when rainfall is high. Based on the observation data, Willie-Sasa was considered to have fulfilled one aspect of the assessment for the ir release into the wild environment . The dominant aspect of this pair is the frequency of socialization and vocalization that approaches frequency of Javan Gibbon behavior in the wild environment .

Daily Activity of Elephant Allomothers (Elephas maximus sumatranus) in Tangkahan Conservation Response Unit (CRU) Area, Langkat, North Sumatera

Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) is a social animal living in groups. A group of elephant is called herd consists of male, female, allomother and calf. Non-parenting females are called allomother with the role of maintaining calves from other females. In daily activity, allomother may also display a typical infant handling which is valuable for studying interaction between them. This study will describe the daily activity of elephant allomother in Tangkahan Conservation Response Unit (CRU) Area, Langkat, North Sumatera. Methodology used was focal animal sampling with continuous sampling of data record. Object in this study were two allomothers, namely Ardana and Sari with three calves, namely Christopher, Albertina and Eropa. Daily activities of allomothers were recorded as Defecating (DF), Urinating (UR), Mudding (MU), Resting (RE), Mating (MT), Salting (ST), Feeding (FE), Parenting (PR), Drinking (DR) and Walking (WK). We recorded 19,569 sample points from allomother daily activities with Ardana having 10,838 points and Sari having 8,821 points. The longest duration of activity recorded were: Parenting (PR) with 5,807.13 min, Walking (WK) with 5,695.50 min and Feeding (FE) with 3,842.71 min. The shortest duration recorded was Mating (MT) with only 18.96 min while remaining activities lasting between 346.25 to 614.63 min. Duration of daily activities is directly proportional to the percentage of frequency performed by allomothers.

The additional impact of type 2 diabetes on baroreflex sensitivity of coronary artery disease patients might be undetectable in presence of deterioration of mechanical vascular properties.

Both deterioration of the mechanical vascular properties of barosensitive vessels and autonomic derangement lead to modification of baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in coronary artery disease (CAD) individuals. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) reduces BRS as well even in absence of cardiac autonomic neuropathy. The aim of the study is to clarify whether, assigned the degree of mechanical vascular impairment and without cardiac autonomic neuropathy, the additional autonomic dysfunction imposed in CAD patients by T2D (CAD-T2D) decreases BRS further. We considered CAD (n = 18) and CAD-T2D (n = 19) males featuring similar increases of average carotid intima media thickness (ACIMT) and we compared them to age- and gender-matched healthy (H, n = 19) subjects. BRS was computed from spontaneous beat-to-beat variability of heart period (HP) and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) at supine resting (REST) and during active standing (STAND). BRS was estimated via methods including time domain, spectral, cross-spectral, and model-based techniques. We found that (i) at REST BRS was lower in CAD and CAD-T2D groups than in H subjects but no difference was detected between CAD and CAD-T2D individuals; (ii) STAND induced an additional decrease of BRS visible in all the groups but again BRS estimates of CAD and CAD-T2D patients were alike; (iii) even though with different statistical power, BRS markers reached similar conclusions with the notable exception of the BRS computed via model-based approach that did not detect the BRS decrease during STAND. In presence of a mechanical vascular impairment, indexes estimating BRS from spontaneous HP and SAP fluctuations might be useless to detect the additional derangement of the autonomic control in CAD-T2D without cardiac autonomic neuropathy compared to CAD, thus limiting the applications of cardiovascular variability analysis to typify CAD-T2D individuals. Graphical abstract Graphical representation of the baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) estimated from spontaneous fluctuations of heart period and systolic arterial pressure via transfer function (TF) in low frequency (LF) band (from 0.04 to 0.15Hz). BRS was reported as a function of the group (i.e., healthy (H), coronary artery disease (CAD) and CAD with type 2 diabetes (CAD-T2D) groups) at REST (black bars) and during STAND (white bars). Values are shown as mean plus standard deviation. The symbol "*" indicates a significant difference between conditions within the same group (i.e., H, CAD, or CAD-T2D) and the symbol "§" indicates a significant difference between groups within the same experimental condition (i.e., REST or STAND). BRS cannot distinguish CAD and CAD-T2D groups both at REST and during STAND, while it is useful to distinguish experimental conditions and separate pathological groups from H subjects.

Distiller’s dried grain with solubles (Zea mays L) in the diet of sheep reared in the tropical region of Brazil: ingestive behavior and physiological parameters

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of inclusion of different levels of distiller’s dried grain with solubles (DDGS) in the diet of sheep raised in the tropical region of Brazil on ingestive behavior and physiological parameters. We used four sheep with mean body weight (BW) of 25 ± 2 kg, distributed in a Latin square design, with four periods, and four DDGS inclusion levels (0, 8, 16, and 24%). The sheep were placed in metabolism cages, and received two meals per day. The data on ingestive behavior and physiological parameters of the sheep were analyzed with analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the observed differences were tested using regression equations at 5% probability. The inclusion of DDGS levels in sheep diets did not change the time spent on ingestive behavior, such as dry matter intake (DMI), rumination (RUM), resting (RES), water intake (WAI), and other activities (OAC) expressed in minutes. However, during the night period, there was an increase (p &lt; 0.05) in the time spent ruminating in relation to the daytime period. However, there was a reduction (p &lt; 0.05) in the time spent on the activities of RES and WAI of the sheep. The inclusion of DDGS in sheep rations did not change (p &gt; 0.05) the physiological parameters measured. However, we found that the afternoon period influenced (p &lt; 0.05) the physiological parameters evaluated, such as body temperature of the front (BTF), body temperature of the rear (BTR), rectal temperature (RET), and respiratory frequency (REF), which were higher in relation to the values observed in the morning. Thus, we conclude that the inclusion of up to 24% of dried distillery grains with solubles in the feeding of sheep in the tropical region of Brazil does not alter the ingestive behavior and physiological parameters of sheep. However, sheep raised in confinement in the tropical region of Brazil spent more time ruminating at night. During the day, sheep spent more time on resting activities and water intake. In addition, sheep raised in a tropical environment need to be monitored for thermal stress during the afternoon, due to the increase in rectal temperature and respiratory frequency. In addition, sheep raised in a tropical environment require greater monitoring of thermal stress during the afternoon, due to the elevation of physiological parameters such as rectal temperature and respiratory frequency in this period.

Effects of Two Combined Exercise Designs Associated With High-Fat Meal Consumption on Postprandial Lipemia, Insulinemia, and Oxidative Stress.

Farinha, JB, Macedo, CEO, Rodrigues-Krause, J, Krüger, RL, Boeno, FP, Macedo, RCO, Queiroz, JN, Teixeira, BC, and Reischak-Oliveira, A. Effects of two combined exercise designs associated with high-fat meal consumption on postprandial lipemia, insulinemia, and oxidative stress. J Strength Cond Res 32(5): 1422-1430, 2018-Impaired postprandial lipemia (PPL) response after the consumption of a high-fat meal (HFM) is linked to diabetes, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to investigate lipid and glucose metabolism and oxidative stress responses of 2 different combined exercise designs associated with HFM consumption. Eleven healthy and physically active men (27.36 ± 5.04 years) participated in this study. After the pretrial visits, participants were randomly assigned to perform 2-day trials in 3 different conditions (interspaced by at least 1 week): resting (REST), circuit combined exercise (CIRC), or traditional combined exercise (COMB), on the evening of day 1. On the morning of day 2, an HFM was provided and blood samples were obtained before and after 1, 3, and 5 hours of HFM consumption. No differences were found with respect to glucose, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, or total thiol levels in between time points or conditions. One-way analysis of variance demonstrated a difference between REST and CIRC (p = 0.029; reduction of 35.29%) and between REST and COMB (p = 0.041; reduction of 33.41%) conditions with incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for triacylglycerol levels. A difference between REST and CIRC (p = 0.03; reduction of 34.22%) conditions in terms of iAUC for insulin was also found. Both CIRC and COMB exercise designs can reduce PPL associated with HFM consumption. Moreover, CIRC reduces the iAUC for insulin, suggesting additional benefits for prescribing this type of exercise.