Three-day Intervals Research Articles

Bambusa vulgaris leaf extract inhibits the inflammatory and oxidative pathways in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Ethnopharmacological relevanceTraditional and medicinal plant treatments for diabetes mellitus (DM) include Bambusa vulgaris (Shrad.), but little is known about the mechanism. Aim of the studyThis study investigated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of B. vulgaris. Materials and methodsDM was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). Thirty (30) male Wistar rats were then divided into six groups: control; diabetic control; metformin (100 mg/kg); 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of B. vulgaris (BV) treated. Fasting blood glucose and weights of rats were monitored at three-day intervals and sacrifice was done after twenty-one days. The activities of SOD, CAT, and liver marker enzymes were investigated. The expressions of insulin-sensitive (TGR5, GLP-1), pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, ICAM), and antioxidant genes (SOD, CAT) were investigated using RT-PCR. Schrödinger suites and Auto-Dock Vina were used for docking B. vulgaris phytocompounds identified from works of literature with TGR-5. The liver's histology was also assessed. ResultsBV increased antioxidant activities and reduced liver marker activities in the serum. BV downregulated the expressions of genes associated with inflammation and upregulated antioxidant and insulin-sensitive genes relative to diabetic control. BV regenerated the liver architectural tissue degenerated by inflammation due to STZ. B. vulgaris phytocompounds like farobin A (−11.493 kcal/mol), orientin (−12.296 kcal/mol), and rutin (−12.581 kcal/mol) have better binding energy with TGR5 than metformin (−1.961 kcal/mol). ConclusionThe hepatoprotective and ameliorative effect of B. vulgaris in DM could be due to its ability to boost antioxidant status and insulin secretion and reduce inflammation.

Harnessing Hemp: A Natural Solution for PFAS Removal in Water

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a class of synthetic organofluorine compounds characterized by numerous fluorine atoms bonded to an alkyl chain. These chemicals are extensively utilized in the manufacturing of materials resistant to oil, heat, grease, stains, and water. The persistence of PFAS in the environment, coupled with their bioaccumulative nature, poses a significant threat as they can contaminate drinking water supplies. Our primary objective is to investigate the ability of hemp plants, when placed in a hydroponic system, to extract PFAS from water. This study leverages the bioaccumulative properties and hydrophilic nature of hemp, which make it well-suited for hydroponic growth. Specifically, we aimed to determine the extent to which hemp plants can extract perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOAs) from water. The experimental procedure commenced with the germination of hemp seeds using the wet paper towel method, where the seeds were placed between damp paper towels until sprouting occurred. Subsequently, we established a positive control comprising 228 microliters of PFOA diluted in 3 liters of spring water, along with a negative control consisting solely of 3 liters of spring water. Sixteen hemp plants were divided into two groups, with half assigned to the positive control hydroponic system and the remainder to the negative control hydroponic system.Throughout the experiment, samples were collected at three-day intervals to monitor the reduction in PFOA contamination. We anticipate that the hemp plants will significantly reduce the levels of PFOAs in the water. Results from the negative control group, which contained no PFOAs, should confirm the absence of PFOAs in the plants. Conversely, results from the positive control group, featuring a predetermined quantity of PFOA, are expected to indicate PFOA presence in the plants, signifying a decrease in water contamination. In conclusion, our research represents a crucial step towards ensuring access to clean water for all, addressing the pressing need as millions of people are projected to lack access to essential services by 2030 unless progress is substantially accelerated. By employing hemp hydroponics to eliminate harmful chemicals from water sources, we present an innovative and scalable solution with the potential to improve global water sanitation and public health.

The Selection of Lettuce Seedlings for Transplanting in a Plant Factory by a Non-Destructive Estimation of Leaf Area and Fresh Weight

Selecting uniform and healthy seedlings is important to ensure that a certain level of production can be reliably achieved in a plant factory. The objectives of this study were to investigate the potential of non-destructive image analysis for predicting the leaf area and shoot fresh weight of lettuce and to determine the feasibility of using a simple image analysis to select robust seedlings that can produce a uniform and dependable yield of lettuce in a plant factory. To vary the range of the leaf area and shoot fresh weight of lettuce seedlings, we applied two- and three-day irrigation intervals during the period of seedling production and calculated the projected canopy size (PCS) from the top-view images of the lettuce seedlings, although there were no significant growth differences between the irrigation regimes. A high correlation was identified between the PCS and shoot fresh weight for the lettuce seedlings during the period of seedling production, with a coefficient of determination exceeding 0.8. Therefore, the lettuce seedlings were classified into four grades (A–D) based on their PCS values calculated at transplanting. In the early stages of cultivation after transplanting, there were differences in the lettuce growth among the four grades; however, at the harvest (28 days after transplanting), there was no significant difference in the lettuce yield between grades A–C, with the exception of grade D. The lettuce seedlings in grades A–C exhibited the anticipated yield (150 g/plant) at the harvest time. In the correlation between the PCS and leaf area or the shoot fresh weight of lettuce during the cultivation period after transplanting and the entire cultivation period, the R2 values were higher than 0.9, confirming that PCS can be used to predict lettuce growth with greater accuracy. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the PCS calculation from the top-view images, a straightforward image analysis technique, can be employed to non-destructively and accurately predict lettuce leaf area and shoot fresh weight, and the seedlings with the potential to yield above a certain level after transplanting can be objectively and accurately selected based on PCS.

Effect of Zinc and Vitamin E on Blood Testosterone and Inflammatory Markers in Male Patients Undergoing Heart Surgery

Background: Zinc and vitamin E affect the metabolism of testosterone and inflammatory factors. We aimed to evaluate the effect of zinc and vitamin E supplementation on plasma testosterone levels and inflammatory markers in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of a previously published randomized controlled trial in a subsample of male patients undergoing CABG surgery. Patients in the zinc-vitamin E group (n = 27) received oral zinc (120 mg) and vitamin E (1200 international units) one day prior to surgery, followed by 30 mg of zinc and 200 units of vitamin E per day for three weeks after surgery. Patients in the control group (n = 25) received a placebo. Plasma levels of total testosterone, cortisol, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and white blood cell toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) gene expression were determined at three-day and three-week intervals following surgery. Changes in these markers were analyzed using a repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: A comparison of the groups revealed no significant difference in the concentration of plasma total testosterone levels (P = 0.059) or cortisol. Three weeks following the surgical procedure, a positive correlation was observed between the change in plasma zinc concentrations and the change in plasma testosterone levels (r = 0.32; P = 0.025). The administration of zinc and vitamin E supplements resulted in a reduction in plasma IL-6 levels on postoperative day 3 (P = 0.025), while no significant effect was observed in week 3 (P = 0.091). The expression of the TLR-4 gene in WBCs was found to be lower in the zinc-vitamin E group compared to the placebo group on day 3 (P = 0.051) and week 3 (P = 0.025). Conclusions: The administration of zinc and vitamin E to patients undergoing CABG was associated with a relative improvement in postoperative inflammatory markers. Plasma zinc levels demonstrated a correlation with testosterone levels, suggesting a potential avenue for further research in these patients.

Influence of Interval Hypoxic Training in Different Regimes on the Blood Parameters of Rats

The development of ways to increase the adaptive reserves of the body and resistance to negative factors continues to be an urgent problem for physiology, which has a significant translational potential in the fields of healthcare, sports, cosmonautics and the national economy. Long-term authors studies have proved the promise in this respect of hypoxic hypobaric conditioning in a pressure chamber. In the present study, the principles of hypobaric conditioning were transferred to the model of normobaric intermittent hypoxia/normoxia caused by the inhalation of gas mixtures, which is widely used in practice for human interval hypoxic training. A comparative experimental analysis of molecular and cellular changes in the blood of rats in response to three-day interval hypoxic training at 9, 12, or 16% O2 in the mixture was carried out using an automated setup. It was shown that the most intense and effective 3 × 9% O2 regimen, in terms of duration and amplitude, had the greatest effect on the parameters of the clinical blood test of rats, initiating an increase in the number of erythrocytes and a decrease in the variability of their volumes, and causing a shift in the balance of lymphokine and monokine effects towards a calm activation reaction. On the first day after training at 9 and 12% oxygen, the total antioxidant capacity of serum significantly decreased, followed by rapid normalization, which fits into the dynamics of the reaction of pro- and antioxidant systems to non-damaging hypoxia. The stimulating effect of all the studied regimens of interval training on the basal and stress activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system, characteristic of conditioning, was revealed. All detected post-training changes can be attributed to the basic adaptive mechanisms that increase resistance to adverse factors.

Seedbed management, transplanting methods and irrigation regimes influence the growth, productivity and economics of summer rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi (winter) seasons of 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 at the Central Research Farm under Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India, to study the effects of planting techniques, irrigation regimes, and nursery bed management on the growth, yield, nutrient dynamics, water productivity, and economics of summer rice (cv. Shatabdi) production. The experiment was performed in a strip-split plot design with twelve treatment combinations, which were replicated three times. The design consisted of two types of transplanted rice establishment methods (viz., puddled transplanted rice (PTR) and nonpuddled transplanted rice (NPTR)) allocated to the main plot, three irrigation regimes (three-day intervals; six-day intervals; nine-day intervals) allocated to the subplot, and two nursery bed management practices (conventional seedbed and improved seedbed) allocated to the subplot. Higher growth attributes, such as plant height, tiller count, biomass, and LAI, were found under nonpuddled conditions at the time of harvesting. Similarly, a three-day irrigation interval and improved seedlings led to better growth traits. The yield attributes and yield varied nonsignificantly among the crop establishment methods. However, the lowest irrigation intervals accounted for 53.78% and 43.02% greater grain yield than did the nine-day intervals in two consecutive years, respectively, and produced statistically similar yields with six-day intervals. The percentage of seedlings transplanted from improved seedbeds was 4.01 and 4.13% greater than that from conventional seedlings. A similar trend was observed for both input and irrigation water productivity, except that the nine-day irrigation interval resulted in significantly greater water productivity than did the other intervals. The treatment consisted of nonpuddled transplanted rice along with six six-day irrigation intervals and improved seedbed management, resulting in the highest net return and benefit:cost ratio due to the low production cost. Thus, it can be concluded that transplanting seedlings into nonpuddled soil from an improved seedbed with intermittent irrigation might be the most judicious and recommended in terms of productivity as well as profitability for summer rice production.

Acute Effects of Two Different Concurrent Training Models on Physiological Parameters, Explosive Strenght and Balance Performance in Soccer Players

In the study, the acute effects of two different concurrent training models including high intensity interval training (HIIT) and high intensity interval functional training (HIFT) plus strength training (S) on physiological indicators (lactate and heart rate) and performance (balance and explosive power) parameters were examined in soccer players. A total of 13 moderately active young soccer players (19.92; ±1.44 years) participated in the study. In the study, body composition measurements, heart rate, lactate, explosive strength measurement and balance testing were measured. Training models (S+HIIT-S+HIFT) were applied sequentially with a crossover design. The training sessions were conducted with a three-day interval. Parameters were analyzed with SPSS24 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Repeated Measure Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for repeated measures and Bonferroni Correction was used for pairwise comparisons. Significance level was accepted as p

Storage and Packaging Material Effects on Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Arils Quality Attributes during Storage

Background: Minimally processed ready-to-eat pomegranate arils have become popular due to their convenience, high value, unique sensory characteristics and health benefits. The main objective of this key research is to understand the effect of packaging materials and the quality profile of pomegranate arils (Bhagwa) storage at 5-7°C, 85-90% RH till 18 days was tested. Methods: Minimally processed arils at three-day intervals throughout storage, the antioxidant and phytochemical characteristics were assessed. There has been a variable change in the ascorbic acid concentration level, phenolic, antioxidant and anthocyanin content due to the packaging material with minimum processed arils in sensory analysis. Result: When the pomegranate Arils packed in breathable film indicated high retention of phenols antioxidants, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid and total than arils packed in LDPE or PP. Breathable film shown better quality attributes for minimally processed arils over an 18-day storage period as compared to other packaging materials.

Aggregate stability responses of three derived-savannah soils to poultry-droppings manure at different pulverisation-to-sampling time intervals

Organic inputs to tillage-pulverised soils could, by facilitating soil structure reformation with time, enhance environmental quality. This study examined the aggregate stability responses of three texture-contrasting soils from the derived savannah of southeastern Nigeria to poultry-droppings (PD) manure over time. The soils from Nsukka, Ukehe and Adani with clay contents of 53, 100 and 260 g/kg had antecent organic matter concentrations of 18.77, 29.73 and 16.23 g/kg, respectively, with sandy Nsukka/Ukehe being more stable than loamy Adani. Pulverised soils were amended with PD at rates equivalent to 0, 10, 20, 40 and 70 t/ha, watered and open-incubated under glasshouse conditions. They were augmented to field capacity at three-day intervals and sub-sampled at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 20 weeks after incubation (WAI). Treatment effects were highly soil-dependent. For all three soils, water-stable aggregates, mean-weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates and sand-corrected water-stable aggregates were highest with 70 t/ha at 20 WAI which showed similar MWD of aggregates as 0 t/ha at 20 WAI. Also, 70 and 20 t/ha each at 20 WAI consistently had similar effects (Adani only). Treatment effects on soil bulk density were irregular, with the highest values mostly at 20 WAI across rates. Thus, soil bulk density related inversely with aggregate stability only during 2-12 WAI, owing to their concurrent increases with soil pH beyond 12 WAI. These soil structure indices were not influenced by PD-induced fluctuations in electrical condutivity which always peaked 4 WAI. Heavy and modest PD addition, respectively, to tillage-pulverised sandy and loamy tropical soils promote their re-aggregation after 20 weeks; however, such soils even without manuring could re-structure into aggregates of sizes as though PD-amended over this long interval. Rather than PD-induced salinisation, it is soil pH that influences macro-aggregation up till the 20th week, when soil pH should be ≤ 6.65 to avoid soil densification above 1.71 Mg/m3.

Pemanfaatan Kombinasi Poc Azolla microphylla dan Ampas Teh Terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Produktivitas Tanaman Selada (Latuca sativa L) dengan Metode Hidroponik

This research aims to determine the benefits of using a combination of POC A. microphylla and tea dregs on the growth and productivity of lettuce plants using the hydroponic method. The research method used was an experiment with a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 2 factors including the volume of POC administration consisting of three levels (V1=150 ml, V2=200 ml, and V3=250 ml) and the time interval for POC administration consisting of level prayer (I1=once 3 days, and I2=once 6 days). The research results show that the combination of A. mycrophylla liquid organic fertilizer and tea dregs can effectively increase the growth of lettuce plants using the hydroponic method which includes the parameters of plant height, number of leaves and wet weight of the plant. The most optimal growth of lettuce was in the V2l1 treatment (volume of 200 ml POC given at three-day intervals) with an average plant height of 14.3 cm, an average increase in the number of leaves was 9 and the plant's wet weight was 0. 26 grams. In conclusion, applying liquid organic fertilizer with a combination of A. mycrophylla and tea dregs is effective on the growth of lettuce plants.
 Keywords: Tea Dregs, A. Microphylla, Liquid Organic Fertilizer, Lettuce

Effect of Different Post-Harvest Treatments on Quality and Shelf Life of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Fruits During Storage

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is a widely consumed vegetable crop worldwide. The perishability of fruits increased due to the high level of moisture which reduces quality and shelf life. Thus, this study was conducted in Kanchanpur, Nepal from 11th July to 1st August 2022 to investigate the impact of postharvest application of various chemical substances and plant extracts on the post-harvest life of tomatoes throughout the storage. The pink stage of the Heemsohna variety of tomato fruit was harvested and dipped in various treatment solutions; 0.1 % Gibberellic acid (GA3), 1.5% calcium chloride (CaCl2), 10% Aloe vera gel, and 15% Neem leaf extract (NLE) or distilled water as control. After that, the fruits were air-dried and kept at ambient temperatures. The experiment was set up using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 replications and 5 treatments. At three-day intervals throughout storage, the physicochemical properties and shelf life of tomato fruit were examined. The different postharvest treatments caused the changes in total soluble solids, titratable acidity, decaying loss, and weight loss to be delayed compared to the control. With 0.1% GA3 and 1.5% CaCl2, fruit had the lowest decay percentage followed by aloe vera gel and NLE. Similarly, the fruits dipped in 1.5% CaCl2, had shown maximum shelf life of 21 days. Hence, it was determined that postharvest treatment with GA3, CaCl2, Aloe vera gel, and NLE possesses the capacity to keep quality, extend shelf life, and delay spoilage.

Arginine: a useful treatment to delay enzymatic browning of fresh-cut pear and apple

This study examined the effect of arginine treatments on the prevention of enzymatic browning in fresh-cut apples and pears. For this, 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM, and 0-, 50-, 100-, and 200-mM arginine solutions were prepared for apples and pears, respectively. Slices of both fruits were dipped in these solutions for 5 min and dried for 20 min. Then, they were packaged and stored at 5±1oC temperature and 80-90% relative humidity for 18 days for pears and 12 days for apples. Browning index, color values, weight losses, firmness of slices, and total soluble solids were examined at three-day intervals during storage. The results showed that arginine treatment retarded the enzymatic browning of both apple and pear slices. While arginine suppressed browning at increasing doses, especially at 200 mM in pears, it retarded browning in apple slices at all concentrations. In addition, the fact that the L values were higher than the control and water control applications showed that both apple and pear slices remained lighter in color. Hue values supported both the L and browning index results. Arginine treatment decreased the weight loss; however, it did not affect the firmness of the slices. In addition, arginine treatments did not have a significant effect on the total soluble solid content of apple and pear slices.

Drought Tolerance in Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) Genotypes during the Flowering Stage of Development

Aims: To access the responses of 22 soybean genotypes under drought stress during the flowering stage of development.
 Study Design: A completely randomized experimental design (CRD) was adopted in this study. Five seeds of each of the 22 soybean genotypes were planted in 12-liter (L) plastic buckets (with holes at the bottom) containing sandy loam soil. There was one genotype per pot with three replications. The setup was repeated to represent experimental (drought-stressed (DS) and control (well-watered (WW) groups.
 Place and Duration of Study: Teaching and Research Farm of the School of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana in 2019.
 Methodology: Twenty-one exotic soybean genotypes and a local variety were assessed for their responses to drought stress at the flowering stage of development using pot experiment in the greenhouse. One group (experimental) was exposed to drought stress by withholding water for 15 days whilst the other group (control) was watered regularly at three-day intervals. Data collected were the number of leaves, plant height, stem girth, leaf area, and number of flowers, at 5, 10, and 15 days after treatment (DAT) and relative leaf water content at 15 DAT. The number of days to permanent wilting of the genotypes was also recorded.
 Results: Drought stress reduced the number of leaves and plant height significantly (P-values = 0.033, 0.000) and (P-values = 0.004, 0.000) at 10 and 15 days after drought treatment respectively. Also, stem girth, leaf area, and number of flowers were significantly reduced at all sampling dates (P-value = 0.002, 0.000, 0.000), (P-values = 0.004, 0.000, 0.000) and (P-values = 0.009, 0.000, 0.000) respectively. At 15 DAT, drought significantly (P < 0.001) reduced relative leaf water content. Genotypes TGX-1989-11F and TGX-1987-62F were the first and last to wilt at 7 days and 16 days after rewatering respectively.
 Conclusion: The pot screening method revealed that the number of leaves, plant height, stem girth, leaf area, number of flowers, relative leaf water content, and days to permanent wilting differed significantly (P = 0.05) at 15 days of drought exposure.

Sequential Conditioning Does Not Improve Outcomes of Allogeneic Stemcell Transplantation in CMML Patients

Background: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is potentially curative therapy for patients with CMML. Data on optimal allo-SCT conditioning in CMML Patients is scarce. Methods: This retrospective study from the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation at the University Medical Center Hamburg, Germany, compared allo-SCT outcomes in CMML patients across three conditioning regimes: Thiotepa-Busulfan (TB), Sequential FLAMSA-Busulfan Fludarabine (FLAMSA-FB), and Treosulfan-Fludarabine (Treo-Flu). TB consisted of Thiotapa ( 5mg/Kg; a total dose of 10mg/Kg) on day -6 and -5 and Busulfan (3.2mg/Kg; total dose 6.4mg/Kg or 9.6mg/Kg) on days -4 and -3 or -4 to -2. FLAMSA-FB regimen consists of fludarabine (30 mg/m 2 ; total dose 120 mg/m 2 ), amsacrine (100 mg/m 2 ; total dose 400 mg/m 2 ), and cytarabine (1 g/m 2 ; total dose 4 g/m 2 ) therapy from days -11 to minus -8, followed by a three-day interval without therapy and Busulfan from day -4 to -2 with a total dose of 6.4mg/Kg and Fludarabine on day -4 and -3 (30 mg/m 2, total dose 60mg/m 2 ).Treo-Flu regimen consisted of Treosulfan (12 g/m 2 , total dose 36 mg/m 2 ) on days-6 to -4 and fludarabine (30 mg/m 2 ; total dose 150 mg/m 2 ) on days -6 to -2. Results Sixty-nine consecutive patients with CMML who underwent allo-SCT between the years 2006-2022. Twenty-two received TB, 27 received FLAMSA-FB, and 20 received Treo-Flu conditioning. Transplant sources included matched related donors (MRD, 8 patients), mismatched related donors (MMRD, 8 from TB), matched unrelated donors (MUD, 31), and mismatched unrelated donors (MMUD, 23) with significant group variations (p<0.001). Most Patients received ATLG for GVHD prophylaxis (TB 68%, FLAMSA-FB 93%, Treo-Flu 85%, p=0.08). Regarding CPSS-mol scores, the TB group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of high (46%) and intermediate-2 scores (32%) than FLAMSA-FB (11% high, 7% intermediate-2) and Treo-Flu (40% high, 20% intermediate-2) (p=0.001). One TB patient experienced primary graft failure, but engraftment times were comparable across groups. Although not statistically significant (p=0.07), the TB group showed a trend towards improved 3-year OS rates (84%) compared to FLAMSA-FB (37%) and Treo-Flu (49%). The TB group also displayed significantly higher 3-year PFS rates (79%) compared to FLAMSA-FB and Treo-Flu (both 30%), (p=0.03). (Figure 1) No significant differences were observed in 3-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) across the TB (17%), FLAMSA-FB (30%), and Treo-Flu (26%) groups (p=0.7). Interestingly, no TB patients relapsed at 3 years, contrasting with the FLAMSA-FB (41%) and Treo-Flu groups (43%, p=0.02). Lastly, cumulative incidences of acute GVHD grade II-IV (TB 41%, FLAMSA-FB 35%, Treo-Flu 30%, p=0.75) and all-grade chronic GVHD (TB 50%, FLAMSA-FB 65%, Treo-Flu 40%, p=0.35) were similar across groups. Conclusion Our study suggests that sequential conditioning with FLAMSA-FB does not improve Transplant outcomes in patients undergoing allo-SCT for CMML.

Sperm replacement in sperm-storage tubules causes last-male sperm precedence in chickens

ABSTRACT 1. This study elucidated the last-male sperm precedence (LMSP) mechanism in chickens by examining replacement in storage tubules (SSTs) after multiple artificial inseminations (AI) and the effects of seminal plasma (SP) and male breed on sperm replacement in SSTs. 2. Hens were artificially inseminated with fluorescent dye-labelled spermatozoa from White Leghorn (WL) chickens. Secondary AI was conducted 3 d later with sperm labelled with different nuclear fluorescent dye. Percentage of first and second inseminated sperm in SSTs and their logarithmic odds were calculated. The effect of SP on LMSP was examined using (1) Lake’s solution-washed sperm before second insemination, and (2) SP injected continuously after first insemination. Effect of breed difference on sperm replacement was investigated using Barred Plymouth Rock (BP) sperm. 3. Successive WL-sperm inseminations at three-day intervals caused > 70% stored sperm replacement in SSTs. Although SP removal from sperm from second insemination significantly decreased replacement, its intra-vaginal injection did not affect release. Secondary insemination using BP sperm significantly increased replacement. 4. Sperm replacement is a major factor favouring LMSP in domestic chickens. Two fluorescent staining of sperm, and intra-vaginal multiple AI technique have enabled visualisation, differentiation, and quantification of multiple inseminated sperm stored in the SSTs.

Comparison of the Reliability and Validity of Math Anxiety Scale with Different Scale Formats

The study compared the reliability and validity of the Math Anxiety Scale (MAS) in different scale formats: 5-point scale, checklist, visual analog scale, and 4-point scale. Specifically, it sought to assess the student’s level of math anxiety, determine the reliability coefficients of each scale format, test the concurrent validity against the standardized scale, and compare the extracted factors with the original MAS. The respondents were 67 students, a total enumeration from two sections of a laboratory school in La Trinidad, Benguet. The standardized MAS (5-point scale) was adopted and transformed into a checklist, visual analog scale, and 4-point scale. The tests were administered at three-day intervals. The findings indicated that students experienced a moderate level of math anxiety, with cognitive dimension substantially contributing to their anxiety. The visual analog scale demonstrated the highest reliability coefficient, followed by the 4-point scale, checklist, and 5-point scale, respectively. Concurrent validity analysis revealed that the visual analog scale exhibited the highest concurrent validity, followed by the 4-point scale and checklist, respectively. Based on the results, the majority of the students are experiencing a moderate level of math anxiety. Among the four scale formats, the visual analog scale provides the most reliable and valid responses to be used in measuring math anxiety among junior high school students with ages ranging from 11 to 13 years old.

Effects of coach encouragement on psychophysiological responses and technical actions in different small-sided soccer games

ABSTRACT This study examined the effects of coach encouragement (CE) on psychophysiological responses and technical actions in different small-sided soccer games (SSGs) in young soccer players. Twenty male soccer players (17.3 ± 1.4 years of age) performed four bouts of 2, 3 and 4-a-side SSGs with two minutes of rest between bouts at three-day intervals. Heart rate (HR) responses and technical actions were continuously monitored and recorded during all SSGs. The rating of perceived exertion (RPE), enjoyment (PACES), and mood (Profile of Mood of States: POMS) were also determined at the end of the last bout of each SSGs. Results demonstrated that CE + SSGs induced higher psychophysiological responses such as HR, RPE, and PACES responses (p ≤ 0.05, d values ranging from 0,76 to 2,25 [moderate to very large effect]). Furthermore, the CE + SSGs demonstrated significantly higher technical actions in terms of successful passes and shots (p ≤ 0.05, d values ranging from 0,84 to 3,25 [moderate to very large effect]) when compared to SSGs without CE (CE-SSGs). Conversely, the CE-SSGs induced higher unpleasant mood responses in terms of tension, anger, and fatigue in young soccer players. The results of this study suggest that if coaches want players to perform under higher-intensity conditions, they should encourage players in game-based training.

Evaluation of effectiveness of osteopathic visceral manipulation in patients with chronic mechanical low back pain: A multi-center, single-blind, randomized-controlled study.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of osteopathic visceral manipulation (OVM) combined with physical therapy in pain, depression, and functional impairment in patients with chronic mechanical low back pain (LBP). A total of 118 patients with chronic mechanical LBP were assessed, and 86 who met the inclusion criteria were included in the randomized-controlled study between January 2021 and August 2022. The patients were randomized to either Group 1 (n=43), which underwent physical therapy (5 days/week, for a total of 15 sessions) combined with OVM (2 days/week with three-day intervals), or Group 2 (n=43), which underwent physical therapy (5 days/week, for a total of 15 sessions) combined with sham OVM (2 days/week with three-day intervals). Both groups were assessed before and after treatment and at the fourth week post-treatment. Seven patients were lost to follow-up, and the study was completed with 79 patients (25 males, 54 females; mean age: 46.87±14.12 years; range, 19 to 75 years). Pain, depression, and functional impairment scores were all improved in both groups (p=0.001 for all). This improvement was sustained at week four after the end of treatment. However, improvement in the pain, depression, and functional impairment scores was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p=0.001 for all). The results suggest that OVM combined with physical therapy is useful to improve pain, depression, and functional impairment in patients with chronic mechanical low back pain. We believe that OVM techniques should be combined with other physical therapy modalities in this patient population.

Reduction of epinephrine in the lumbar spinal cord following repetitive blast-induced traumatic brain injury in rats.

Abstract Traumatic brain injury-induced unfavorable outcomes in human patients have independently been associated with dysregulated levels of monoamines, especially epinephrine, although few preclinical studies have examined the epinephrine level in the central nervous system after traumatic brain injury. Epinephrine has been shown to regulate the activities of spinal motoneurons as well as increase the heart rate, blood pressure, and blood flow to the hindlimb muscles. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the impact of repeated blast-induced traumatic brain injury on the epinephrine levels in several function-specific central nervous system regions in rats. Following three repeated blast injuries at three-day intervals, the hippocampus, motor cortex, locus coeruleus, vestibular nuclei, and lumbar spinal cord were harvested at post-injury day eight and processed for epinephrine assays using a high-sensitive electrochemical detector coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography. Our results showed that the epinephrine levels were significantly decreased in the lumbar spinal cord tissues of blast-induced traumatic brain injury animals compared to the levels detected in age- and sex-matched sham controls. In other function-specific central nervous system regions, although the epinephrine levels were slightly altered following blast-induced traumatic brain injury, they were not statistically significant. These results suggest that blast injury-induced significant downregulation of epinephrine in the lumbar spinal cord could negatively impact the motor and cardiovascular function. This is the first report to show altered epinephrine levels in the spinal cord following repetitive mild blast-induced traumatic brain injury.

A Comparison between Single and Double-Dose Intravenous Ketamine Administration in Bipolar Mood Disorder: A Double-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial.

Objective: As glutamatergic system dysfunction is involved in bipolar depression pathophysiology, the glutamate receptor modulators such as Ketamine have been applied as complementary medication for mood stabilizers. While the treatment is currently just the intravenous injection of a single dose, and there is no robust conclusion on Ketamine effectiveness or its side effects in bipolar patients, this study aimed to consider single- and double-dose intravenous injections of Ketamine in bipolar patients compared to the placebo. Method : In a randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial, 30 patients diagnosed with bipolar I and II disorders according to DSM-IV-TR (SCID-I) were randomly divided into three groups: the first group received an intravenous injection of Ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) and placebo with a three-day interval, the second group received two doses of Ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) in the same interval, and the third group received two placebo injections. Patients were assessed for depression, anxiety, and mania at various time points, including before the injection, 60 minutes after the injection, on the first, third, fifth, seventh, and 14th day, as well as at the end of the first month using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Young Mania Scale, respectively. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Repeated measure tests. Results: The mean age of patients was 36.8 ± 7.9 years, with 18 females (60%) and 12 (40%) males. Depression and anxiety showed significant differences in both the single- and double-dose Ketamine groups over time (P < 0.01). Moreover, mania displayed significant changes during the study time in the single- and double-dose Ketamine groups, as well as the in the control group. However, during the study time, there were no significant differences observed in depression, anxiety, and mania among the three groups (P = 0.198, P = 0.416, and P = 0.540, respectively). Patients did not indicate any side effects during the study. Conclusion: Intravenous Ketamine administration may relieve depressive manifestations in bipolar patients. The findings suggest that a double dose of Ketamine does not lead to greater improvement than a single dose.