Small Changes Research Articles

Effect of exercise-induced body fluid redistribution on body composition in males using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry

ABSTRACT We studied the effect of exercise-induced body fluid redistribution on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition scores. Thirty males completed 30-min of upper-body exercise (UBE), lower-body exercise, and seated non-exercise control (NEC). ANOVA determined interactions between experimental conditions and measurements on body composition variables. For UBE, mean pre to post differences were found on tissue fat (M = 0.35 ± 0.12%; CI95%diff = 0.10 to 0.59%; p = 0.007), region fat (M = 0.32 ± 0.11%; CI95%diff = 0.09 to 0.55%; p = 0.008), lean mass (M = 0.27 ± 0.01 kg; CI95%diff = 0.18 to 0.37 kg; p ≤ 0.0001), and total mass (M = 0.27 ± 0.05 kg; CI95%diff = 0.17 to 0.36 kg; p ≤ 0.0001). Mean tissue pre to post differences were found for the total body in the NEC (M = 0.10 ± 0.04 kg; CI95%diff = 0.03 to 0.18 kg; p = 0.008), UBE (M = 0.19 ± 0.03 kg; CI95%diff = 0.14 to 0.24 kg; p ≤ 0.0001), and LBE (M = 0.31 ± 0.04 kg; CI95%diff = 0.24 to 0.39 kg; p ≤ 0.0001) conditions. High absolute reliability was found within experimental conditions. These findings have practical implications for technicians, since acute exercise elicited small changes in body composition scores using DXA.

Age as a predictive factor for reduced intracranial compliance in patients with headache.

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) consists of a set of signs and symptoms related to changes in intracranial compliance (ICC) and ICP. This study presents a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent non-invasive monitoring of ICC based on complaints of headache, correlating decreased brain compliance and increased intracranial pressure. Noninvasive ICC monitoring was performed using a Brain4care device, which contains a strain gauge and a recorder connected to a mechanical device that touches the scalp surface in the frontoparietal area lateral to the sagittal suture. This tool monitors the ICP by identifying small changes in skull measurements that are caused by pressure variations, i.e., skull deformation is associated with the detection of changes in mean ICP. A clinical evaluation of 32 patients with complaints of headache occurred from the analysis of their medical records. Of the 32 patients initially chosen, it was possible to complete the analysis of 18 due to the availability of data in the medical records. From the non-invasive monitoring of the ICC, the following data were collected: time-to-peak, P2/P1 ratio, age, and gender. From the statistical analysis of age and P2/P1 ratio, it was noted that as age increases, ICC tends to decrease regardless of sex (p < 0.05). This study concluded that there is a correlation between changes in intracranial compliance and headache complaints in outpatients. There was also a relationship between age and decreased intracranial compliance but without a specific pain pattern.

Sex Differences in the Association of Age at Hypertension Diagnosis With Brain Structure.

Sex differences exist in the likelihood of cognitive decline. The age at hypertension diagnosis is a unique contributor to brain structural changes associated with cerebral small vessel disease. However, whether this relationship differs between sexes remains unclear. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate sex differences in the association between the age at hypertension diagnosis and cerebral small vessel disease-related brain structural changes. We used data from the UK Biobank to select participants with a known age at hypertension diagnosis and brain magnetic resonance imaging (n=9430) and stratified them by sex and age at hypertension diagnosis. Control participants with magnetic resonance imaging scans but no hypertension were chosen at random matched by using propensity score matching. For morphological brain structural changes, generalized linear models were used while adjusting for other vascular risk factors. For the assessment of white matter microstructure, principal component analysis led to a reduction in the number of fractional anisotropy variables, followed by regression analysis with major principal components as outcomes. Males but not females with a younger age at hypertension diagnosis exhibited lower brain gray and white matter volume compared with normotensive controls. The volume of white matter hyperintensities was greater in both males and females with hypertension than normotensive controls, significantly higher in older females with hypertension. Compared with normotensive controls, white matter microstructural integrity was lower in individuals with hypertension, which became more prominent with increasing age. Our study demonstrates that the effect of hypertension on cerebral small vessel disease-related brain structure differs by sex and by age at hypertension diagnosis.

Tracking Centimeter‐Scale Water Level Changes in Swedish Lakes Using D‐InSAR

AbstractLakes are valuable water resources that support aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and supply fresh water for the agricultural, industrial, and urban sectors worldwide. Although water levels should be tracked to monitor these services, conventional gauging is unfeasible in most lakes. This study applies Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (D‐InSAR) to estimate small water level changes, less than 2 cm, in Swedish lakes over 6‐day intervals. We validated the method across the shores of 30 Swedish lakes with gauged observations in 2019. We used Sentinel‐1A/B images with a 6‐day temporal separation to construct consecutive interferograms and accumulated the phase changes in pixels of high coherence to build a time series of water levels. We find that the accumulated phase change obtained by D‐InSAR replicates the magnitude of water levels in seven lakes in Southern Sweden, where water levels change slowly, less than 2 cm per 6‐day period, as validated by in‐situ gauges. In addition, this study demonstrates the application of D‐InSAR to estimate the long‐term direction of water level change (i.e., increase or decrease) in all 30 lakes. This work reveals the utility of high temporal resolution water level observations in support of other satellite water level instruments such as conventional altimeters and the recently launched Surface Water and Ocean Topography Mission.

Last Deglacial Environmental Change in the Tropical South Pacific From Tahiti Corals

AbstractOn glacial‐interglacial time scales, changes in the Earth's orbital configuration control climate seasonality and mean conditions. Tropical coral skeletons can be sampled at a sufficient resolution to reconstruct past seasonality. Here, last deglacial Porites skeletons from Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 310 to Tahiti are investigated and, supported by a modern calibration, monthly resolved time series in geochemical proxies (Sr/Ca, δ18O, δ13C) are constructed. For most of the deglaciation, Sr/Ca seasonality was similar to modern (0.139 ± 0.010 mmol mol−1; 2.8 ± 0.2°C) reflecting the small change in insolation seasonality. However, during the Younger Dryas, high values in Sr/Ca seasonality (0.171 ± 0.017 mmol mol−1; 3.4 ± 0.3°C) suggest a reduced mixed layer depth and enhanced influence of the South Pacific Subtropical Gyre due to South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) inactivity. Furthermore, high amplitudes in Younger Dryas skeletal δ18O (0.40 ± 0.22 ‰) and δ13C (0.86 ± 0.22 ‰) seasonality compared to modern (δ18O = 0.29 ± 0.08 ‰; δ13C = 0.27 ± 0.08 ‰) point to elevated winter‐summer discrepancies in rainfall and runoff. Mean coral Sr/Ca variability suggests an influence of Northern Hemisphere climate events, such as the Younger Dryas cooling (+0.134 ± 0.012 mmol mol−1;−2.6 ± 0.2°C), or the Bølling–Allerød warming (+0.032 ± 0.040 mmol mol−1; −0.6 ± 0.4°C). Deglacial mean coral Δδ18O (δ18Oseawater contribution to skeletal δ18O), corrected for the ice volume effect, was elevated pointing to more saline, thus dryer conditions, likely due to a northward migration of the SPCZ. Seasonal cycles in coral δ13C were likely caused by variations in linear extension rates that were reduced during the last deglaciation (1.00 ± 0.6 cm year−1) compared to today (1.6 ± 0.3 cm year−1).

An investigation of the differential therapeutic effects of romosozumab on postmenopausal osteoporosis patients with or without rheumatoid arthritis complications: a case–control study

SummaryThe impact of ROMO on the width of anabolic windows and the increase in BMD was reduced in the RA group compared to the non-RA group, and this reduction was associated with correlations to RA-related factors.PurposeTo investigate the effects of romosozumab (ROMO) in postmenopausal osteoporosis, with and without comorbid rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsIn this retrospective, case-controlled, multicenter study, 171 postmenopausal patients who did not receive oral glucocorticoid, comprising 59 in the RA group and 121 in the non-RA group, received uninterrupted ROMO treatment for 12 months. Propensity score matching was employed to ensure comparability in clinical backgrounds, resulting in 41 patients in each group. Baseline characteristics were as follows: overall (mean age, 76.3 years; T-score of lumbar spine (LS), − 3.0; 45.1% were treatment-naive for osteoporosis); RA group (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) positivity, 80.5%; titer, 206.2 U/ml; clinical disease activity index (CDAI), 13.6; health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI), 0.9). Bone mineral density (BMD) and serum bone turnover markers were monitored over a 12-month period.ResultsThe rate of increase in the bone formation marker, PINP, and the rates of decrease in the bone resorption marker, TRACP-5b, exhibited a trend toward smaller changes in the RA group compared to the non-RA group, implying a smaller anabolic window. After 12 months, the RA group displayed lower BMD increases in the LS (9.1% vs. 12.6%; P = 0.013) and total hip (2.4% vs. 4.8%; P = 0.025) compared to the non-RA group. Multiple regression analysis in the all RA group (n = 59) for the association between RA-specific factors and 12-month BMD changes revealed negative correlations between ACPA titer and LS BMD and between HAQ-DI and femoral neck BMD.ConclusionsThe efficacy of ROMO may be attenuated by RA-related factors.

Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Systolic Function in Lymphoma Patient After Initial Dose of Chemotherapy in Baghdad Teaching Hospital

Despite cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) can be initially asymptomatic, if not detected and properly managed, it may progress to severe and irreversible heart failure. Therefore, identification of high-risk patients and early detection of subclinical myocardial dysfunction are fundamental tasks for the management of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, involving both cardiologists and oncologists. LVEF has low sensitivity for the detection of small changes in LV function. LVEF calculated by conventional 2DE often fails to detect small changes in LV contractility because of several factors. These factors include LV geometric assumptions, inadequate visualization of the true LV apex, lack of consideration of subtle regional wall motion abnormalities, and inherent variability of the measurement. Accordingly, strategies using newer echocardiographic technology, such as STE-derived strain imaging for the early detection of subclinical LV systolic dysfunction. GLS being the most robust and reproducible among the myocardial strain parameters, this parameter has raised the interest of the investigators to detect early and subclinical myocardial dysfunction in patients at risk of CTCRD

A Study on the Software Development Life Cycle–Waterfall Model at a Aviation Management Consultant

We have selected the study of software development life cycle- waterfall model, herein after is referred to as SDLC for brevity purpose. We have been allowed to study in the software firm - Aviation Management Consultants. The researchers studied the software named –“Routonomics” developed by the firm. The software enables the airlines to prepare the business plan with 5 years perspective. The purpose of selection of this subject is that SDLC- Waterfall Model is the reference model of any software related work. Many SDLC models evolved from this basic concept. Further, the firm introduced a small change in one of the reports to enable us to understand the practical perception of the SDLC. The researchers were involved in the simulated development of small change in the report.

An automatic arrival time picking algorithm of P-wave based on adaptive characteristic function

The accuracy of arrival time and picking speed are significant issues in terms of micro-seismic identification, location, travel-time tomography, as well as source mechanism. In order to detect small changes in signal amplitude and frequency with different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), the Allen's characteristic function (Allen's CF) was modified to an adaptive characteristic function (ACF) by relative time series and relative energy coefficients which was compared with the Allen's CF, Baer's CF, and Sedlak's CF. Then, an algorithm for S/L-AIC picker based on ACF for automatic P-wave arrival time picking was presented by the short-term-average to long-term-average ratios (STA/LTA) picker and the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). In addition, the algorithm was applied to a dataset acquired by a local micro-seismic network at the Jing-Gong coal mine in Shanxi, China, which was compared with a two-step AIC picker, using the original manual selection as a reference to verify the reliability and robustness of the algorithm. Furthermore, the influence of five basic parameters on the accuracy of the S/L-AIC picker based on ACF was discussed by orthogonal tests. The results highlighted that: 81 % of the automatic picks processed by the S/L-AIC picker based on ACF were within +4 ms of deviation, while 66.3 % of the automatic picks processed by the two-step AIC picker were within the same error range; Compared with the other CFs, the ACF applied to the S/L-AIC algorithm performs better for low-SNR data and confirms more accurate and stable results. This study highlights that accurate automatic P-wave arrival time determination is feasible when using the S/L-AIC picker based on ACF.

EFFECTS OF STAFF HOUSING ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GOVERNMENT-AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS AT PRIMARY LEAVING EXAMINATIONS IN KAKUMIRO DISTRICT.

Background: The general objective was to explore how staff housing affects the performance of government-aided primary schools at Primary Leaving Examinations in Kakumiro District. Methodology: The study used a descriptive case study design with both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A sample of 373 respondents participated in the study with 302 teachers, 56 head teachers, and 15 District Education Officials. Simple random, census, and purposive sampling techniques were used. The response rate was 97.8%. Structured interviews. Results; The study results from the correlation show a weak, positive, and statistically significant relationship between staff housing and performance of government-aided primary schools at PLE at .351(*) given by Pearson correlation (p-value) of 0.003. The regression results further revealed that staff housing accounts for a change in the performance of government-aided primary schools at PLE at 1.9% which is a small change. Conclusion: It is also concluded that both variables change in the same direction whereby better staff housing is related to improved performance of government-aided primary schools at PLE, and poor staff housing leads to poor performance of government-aided primary schools at PLE. Recommendations: Kakumiro District local government should allocate more money in its budget estimates for the construction of teachers’ houses in primary schools to solve the staff housing problem. It is important to note that building or improving staff housing would be to the benefit of pupils to easily access their teachers.

Spectral analysis of non-contrast fluoroscopy for evaluation of pulmonary perfusion: Feasibility and sensitivity testing with a phantom.

Oscillating x-ray attenuation in the lungs provides an opportunity to evaluate pulmonary perfusion without contrast. Recent intensity-based methods have been compared to pulmonary scintigraphy and CT angiography but lack rigorous phantom studies. A new method to quantify the periodic signal amplitude was employed using spectral analysis. Performance was characterized using a water phantom capable of creating an oscillating x-ray attenuation at physiologic amplitudes. Feasibility in detecting abnormal perfusion was performed on a volunteer with pulmonary vascular disease and compared to pulmonary angiography, the clinical gold standard. For each fluoroscopic acquisition, the normalized temporal signal from each pixel was decomposed into its frequency components using Fourier transformation, and the spectral amplitude, defined as the x-ray pulsatility index (XPI), was determined at the desired frequency using a band-pass filter. XPI was displayed as a pixel-wise parametric colormap. Based on XPI maps generated using two human volunteers, a water bath phantom was constructed with a fluctuating fluid height and a 1cm diameter pulsatility defect. Contrast-to-noise (CNR) of the defect was measured using fluoroscopy images acquired at variable fluid height fluctuation (0.1-1.9mm) and oscillation frequency (30-60bpm). Various sampling frame rates (3-30 fps) and acquisition durations (1.8-8s) using truncated datasets were reconstructed from full datasets. Fluoroscopic images were obtained in a patient just prior to pulmonary angiography in the same projection. XPI maps in human subjects showed high signal to background contrast with high central XPI measuring up to 0.5. Phantom experiments revealed CNR was linearly correlated to fluid height change (r2=0.998). CNR is proportional to increasing sampling frame rate and increasing acquisition duration as expected with Fourier analysis. XPI map displayed multifocal perfusion defects in good agreement with pulmonary angiography. Spectral analysis is an accurate and sensitive method to detect small changes in periodic x-ray attenuation using a short fluoroscopic acquisition. This method demonstrated good agreement to pulmonary angiography and shows promise for clinical imaging of pulmonary perfusion using standard fluoroscopic methods.

Long term methionine restriction: Influence on gut microbiome and metabolic characteristics.

The Methionine restriction (MR) diet has been shown to delay aging and extend lifespan in various model organisms. However, the long-term effects of MR diet on the gut microbiome composition remain unclear. To study this, male mice were started on MR and control diet regimens at 6 months and continued until 22 months of age. MR mice have reduced body weight, fat mass percentage, and bone mineral density while having increased lean mass percentage. MR mice also have increased insulin sensitivity along with increasing indirect calorimetry markers such as energy expenditure, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and glucose oxidation. Fecal samples were collected at 1 week, 18 weeks, and 57 weeks after the diet onset for 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to study the gut microbiome composition. Alpha and beta diversity metrics detected changes occurring due to the timepoint variable, but no changes were detected due to the diet variable. The results from LEfSe analysis surprisingly showed that more bacterial taxa changes were linked to age rather than diet. Interestingly, we found that the long-term MR diet feeding induced smaller changes compared to short-term feeding. Specific taxa changes due to the diet were observed at the 1 or 18-week time points, including Ileibacterium, Odoribacter, Lachnoclostridium, Marinifilaceae, and Lactobacillaceae. Furthermore, there were consistent aging-associated changes across both groups, with an increase in Ileibacterium and Erysipelotrichaceae with age, while Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group, Ruminococcaceae, Peptococcaceae, and Peptococcus decreased with age.

Charge‐Transfer Modulation of Emissivity in Polarized Diketopyrrolopyrroles

AbstractStrongly polarized donor‐acceptor‐donor′ diketopyrrolopyrroles, differing in the type of key donor moiety, were designed and synthesized to examine how this affects the non‐radiative decay. Dyes possessing less electron‐rich N‐carbazolyl substituents are characterized by strong yellow emission from a locally excited (LE) state, whereas replacing this donor with more electron‐rich N‐phenothiazinyl substituent changes the relative position of charge‐transfer (CT) and LE states, leading to weaker, reddish‐orange fluorescence. As a result, there is solvent‐dependent charge‐transfer emission shifted to as far as 700 nm. The opening of the intersystem crossing channel to the triplet state possessing CT character is the most likely cause of the fluorescence quantum yield variation in some cases. These results reveal that the fate of molecules in their excited state can be fine‐tuned by very small structural changes.

Magnetic Sensor Angle Adjustment to Improve Corrosion under Insulation Detection

A large portion of the pipe infrastructure used in the chemical processing industry is susceptible to corrosion under insulation (CUI). Eddy current-based magnetic sensing is one of the methods that can be used as an early detector of this corrosion. However, the large sensor-to-pipe distances used in this method, due to the presence of insulation, limits the sensitivity to corrosion. This paper will describe the development of instrumentation and methods based on eddy current sensing with thin-film magnetic sensors. In particular, it focuses on the influence of the sensor angle relative to the radial magnetic field. The influence of this parameter on the amplitude of the measured signal was investigated by both finite element simulations and experimental observations. The measured magnetic field was found to be highly sensitive to small changes in sensor angle, with the estimated depth of a defect changing at a rate of 11.2 mm/degree of sensor rotation for small angles. It is also shown that a sensor aligned with the radial direction should be avoided, with an optimal sensor angle between 0.5 and 4 degrees. With the sensor in this angle range, the simulations have shown it should be possible to resolve the depth of corrosion to a resolution of 0.1 mm.

Effect of Embedded the Post-Training Recovery Services following Resistance Training on Muscular Strength in Vietnamese National Para Powerlifting Athletes – A Case Study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the muscular strength with bench press test and dominant hand-grip test between pre-intervention and post-intervention. Methods: Two male para powerlifting athletes from Vietnam National Team were recruited and volunteered to participate in this study. The intervention scheme of this study consisted of resistance training program specially designed for the para powerlifting athletes were carried out for a duration of 8 weeks, three times a week, training load was set from 65% to 85% of the 1 Repetation Maximum of the participants, repetition and set of training was from 8 reps/3 sets to 10 reps/6 sets. The embedded post-training recovery services consisted of sport massage sessions, sauna bathing, High Intensity Laser Therapy and Kinesio taping. Results of current study revealed that significant improvement of Bench Press and Hand-Grip strength tests between pre-intervention and post-intervention (p&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusions: The para elite athletes from Vietnam, in the case of the elite sporting environment where small changes in their performance often represent a meaningful difference for performance outcomes, informed decisions surrounding the context of post-training recovery services is of utmost importance.

Nanomaterials Based Micro/Nanoelectromechanical System (MEMS and NEMS) Devices.

The micro- and nanoelectromechanical system (MEMS and NEMS) devices based on two-dimensional (2D) materials reveal novel functionalities and higher sensitivity compared to their silicon-base counterparts. Unique properties of 2D materials boost the demand for 2D material-based nanoelectromechanical devices and sensing. During the last decades, using suspended 2D membranes integrated with MEMS and NEMS emerged high-performance sensitivities in mass and gas sensors, accelerometers, pressure sensors, and microphones. Actively sensing minute changes in the surrounding environment is provided by means of MEMS/NEMS sensors, such as sensing in passive modes of small changes in momentum, temperature, and strain. In this review, we discuss the materials preparation methods, electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of 2D materials used in NEMS and MEMS devices, fabrication routes besides device operation principles.

Breast cancer but not the menopausal status is associated with small changes of the gut microbiota.

Possible relationships between gut dysbiosis and breast cancer (BC) development and progression have been previously reported. However, the results of these metagenomics studies are inconsistent. Our study involved 88 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and 86 cancer-free control women. Participants were divided into groups based on their menopausal status. Fecal samples were collected from 47 and 41 pre- and postmenopausal newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and 51 and 35 pre- and postmenopausal controls, respectively. In this study, we performed shotgun metagenomic analyses to compare the gut microbial community between pre- and postmenopausal BC patients and the corresponding controls. Firstly, we identified 12, 64, 158, and 455 bacterial taxa on the taxonomy level of phyla, families, genera, and species, respectively. Insignificant differences of the Shannon index and β-diversity were found at the genus and species levels between pre- and postmenopausal controls; the differences concerned only the Chao index at the species level. No differences in α-diversity indexes were found between pre- and postmenopausal BC patients, although β-diversity differed these subgroups at the genus and species levels. Consistently, only the abundance of single taxa differed between pre- and postmenopausal controls and cases, while the abundances of 14 and 23 taxa differed or tended to differ between premenopausal cases and controls, and between postmenopausal cases and controls, respectively. There were similar differences in the distribution of enterotypes. Of 460 bacterial MetaCyc pathways discovered, no pathways differentiated pre- and postmenopausal controls or BC patients, while two and one pathways differentiated cases from controls in the pre- and postmenopausal subgroups, respectively. While our findings did not reveal an association of changes in the overall microbiota composition and selected taxa with the menopausal status in cases and controls, they confirmed differences of the gut microbiota between pre- and postmenopausal BC patients and the corresponding controls. However, these differences were less extensive than those described previously.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaf juice induced whey protein gelling: Unveiling the potential of endogenous proteases in novel applications

Tomato leaves are by-products of tomato production and a potential source of proteins. Part of these proteins are proteases that carry out important functions for the plants. These endogenous proteases can bring challenges in downstream protein extraction, and can alter protein functionality. The aim of this study was to characterize the endogenous proteases in tomato leaf juice and to investigate the hydrolysis by these proteases on both endogenous leaf proteins and WPI. In addition, we characterized the gelation behavior, rheological properties and structural and thermal properties change of WPI by the juice proteases. 38 different proteases were identified in the juice, along with 4 protease inhibitors. The proteases hydrolyzed both endogenous leaf proteins and WPI, with predominantly an endopeptidase manner for the latter. The protein hydrolysis was positively affected by the incubation time and temperature. The protease activity in juice could not be fully eliminated by heat deactivation or the addition of protease inhibitors. The protein hydrolysis however remained limited (max. 43 %) under all conditions below 60 °C. This hydrolysis resulted in small changes in both secondary structure and thermal properties of WPI. Limited hydrolysis led to WPI gelation at lower protein concentration. Gel formed with WPI after limited hydrolysis had higher gel strength and more brittle structure than the gel with intact proteins. To conclude, the complex and active nature of proteases in tomato leaves poses challenge for downstream protein extraction. Alternatively, juice from tomato leaves could be used as natural gelling agent for WPI.

Overcoming ecological feedbacks in seagrass restoration

Overcoming ecological feedbacks is a major limiting factor reducing the success of many seagrass restoration projects. Negative feedbacks occur when biotic or abiotic conditions of a site are changed sufficiently after the loss of seagrass to prevent its recovery, even after the original stressors are remediated. While negative feedbacks in seagrass restoration are common, there remain limited studies of ways to reduce them and kick‐start the necessary positive feedbacks to promote recovery. We used field and laboratory experiments to investigate key ecological feedbacks in seagrass (Zostera marina) restoration by testing the role of hessian bags and seed burial in reducing seed predation and promoting plant development. We used a double‐hurdle model approach to predict “seagrass emergence success” and “seagrass growth success” across planted field plots. We found that planting seeds in hessian bags and burying them in the sediment improved the likelihood of seeds developing into mature plants. We recorded an average 13‐fold increase in shoot density for seeds planted in buried bags relative to raked furrows. This could be the combined result of reduced predation as well as bags mimicking emergent traits of mature seagrass to withstand physical impacts. We supplement these findings with laboratory evidence that hessian bags provide protection from predation by green shore crabs. Overall, we found a low and variable success rate for seed‐based restoration and indicate other feedbacks in the system beyond those we controlled. However, we show that small methodological changes can help overcome some key feedbacks and improve restoration success.

Ruminal modulator additive effect of Stryphnodendron rotundifolium bark in feedlot lambs.

The study aimed to evaluate the inclusion effects of Stryphnodendron rotundifolium (barbatimão) extracts in substitution of the lasalocid sodium on the ingestive behaviour, intake, ruminal parameters, and digestibility of feedlot lambs. Twenty-four pantaneiro lambs were used, with an average age of 150 ± 4.59days and an initial body weight of 21.2 ± 3.63kg. The lambs were distributed in three treatments in an experimental design with randomized blocks. The treatments correspond to the additive supplements: LAS (0.019g of lasalocid sodium/lamb/d); DGB (1.50g of barbatimão dried ground bark/lamb/d); DHE (0.30g of barbatimão dry hydroalcoholic extract/lamb/d). The DHE increased 59.74min in the time spent for ingestion per day, resulting in an efficiency reduction of dry matter (DM) ingestion (127g of DM/h of feed). There was a reduction of 1.8mg/dL in the ammoniacal nitrogen concentration with extract supplementation compared to LAS. The DGB reduced total volatile fatty acids by 48.9% compared to the control treatment. The inclusion of barbatimão extracts (DGB and DHE) reduced 12.05% of ruminal butyrate content. The supplementation of barbatimão extracts replacing lasalocid sodium in the diet of feedlot lambs did not affect intake and caused small changes on ingestive behaviour.