Land-Based Exercise and Its Effect on Quality of Life Outcomes in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review

Background: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine effectiveness of land-based exercise interventions for improving quality of life (QOL) of individuals with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A systematic search included PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Academic Search Premier, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Inclusion criteria included land-based exercise interventions aimed to improve lower extremity strength and QOL, published since 2000. Exclusion criteria included OA of joints other than the knee, and aquatic-based and surgical interventions. Studies were evaluated using a modified version of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) methodology score. Results: Level of evidence for 11 studies ranged from I strong (I-S) to IV. There were 1200 total participants 57.5 to 69.8 years of age with a mean of 64.5. Three common treatment groups were used; exercise, yoga, and education. Twenty outcome measures were used with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), Short Form 36 (SF-36) and strength being most common. Discussion: Inconsistencies in reporting outcome measures and their subgroups, data, and statistical analyses prevented further data analysis to compare individual intervention effectiveness. However, many articles reported significant improvements in varying QOL subgroups and strength measurements. Conclusions: This review suggests treatment approaches involving physical activity will be beneficial across all levels of the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF), including QOL

Punctate vascular expression1 is a novel maize gene required for leaf pattern formation that functions downstream of the trans-acting small interfering RNA pathway

The maize (Zea mays) gene RAGGED SEEDLING2-R (RGD2-R) encodes an ARGONAUTE7-like protein required for the biogenesis of trans-acting small interfering RNA, which regulates the accumulation of AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR3A transcripts in shoots. Although dorsiventral polarity is established in the narrow and cylindrical leaves of rgd2-R mutant plants, swapping of adaxial/abaxial epidermal identity occurs and suggests a model wherein RGD2 is required to coordinate dorsiventral and mediolateral patterning in maize leaves. Laser microdissection-microarray analyses of the rgd2-R mutant shoot apical meristem identified a novel gene, PUNCTATE VASCULAR EXPRESSION1 (PVE1), that is down-regulated in rgd2-R mutant apices. Transcripts of PVE1 provide an early molecular marker for vascular morphogenesis. Reverse genetic analyses suggest that PVE1 functions during vascular development and in mediolateral and dorsiventral patterning of maize leaves. Molecular genetic analyses of PVE1 and of rgd2-R;pve1-M2 double mutants suggest a model wherein PVE1 functions downstream of RGD2 in a pathway that intersects and interacts with the trans-acting small interfering RNA pathway

Examining the effectiveness of place-based interventions to improve public health and reduce health inequalities: an umbrella review.

BackgroundLocally delivered, place-based public health interventions are receiving increasing attention as a way of improving health and reducing inequalities. However, there is limited evidence on their effectiveness. This umbrella review synthesises systematic review evidence of the health and health inequalities impacts of locally delivered place-based interventions across three elements of place and health: the physical, social, and economic environments.MethodsSystematic review methodology was used to identify recent published systematic reviews of the effectiveness of place-based interventions on health and health inequalities (PROGRESS+) in high-income countries. Nine databases were searched from 1st January 2008 to 1st March 2020. The quality of the included articles was determined using the Revised Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews tool (R-AMSTAR).ResultsThirteen systematic reviews were identified - reporting 51 unique primary studies. Fifty of these studies reported on interventions that changed the physical environment and one reported on changes to the economic environment. Only one primary study reported cost-effectiveness data. No reviews were identified that assessed the impact of social interventions. Given heterogeneity and quality issues, we found tentative evidence that the provision of housing/home modifications, improving the public realm, parks and playgrounds, supermarkets, transport, cycle lanes, walking routes, and outdoor gyms - can all have positive impacts on health outcomes - particularly physical activity. However, as no studies reported an assessment of variation in PROGRESS+ factors, the effect of these interventions on health inequalities remains unclear.ConclusionsPlace-based interventions can be effective at improving physical health, health behaviours and social determinants of health outcomes. High agentic interventions indicate greater improvements for those living in greater proximity to the intervention, which may suggest that in order for interventions to reduce inequalities, they should be implemented at a scale commensurate with the level of disadvantage. Future research needs to ensure equity data is collected, as this is severely lacking and impeding progress on identifying interventions that are effective in reducing health inequalities.Trial registrationPROSPERO CRD42019158309

Using a Modified \u3ci\u3eIn-Vitro\u3c/i\u3e Procedure to Measure Corn Bran Buoyancy

An in vitro procedure was modified to estimate rumen buoyancy of corn bran and fiber types. Inoculum was obtained from two beef heifers and mixed with McDougall’s buffer then distributed to the in vitro tubes for 30 hours incubation at 100 °F. Fibrous material formed a matte layer which was measured to describe buoyancy. Tubes contained 6g of a feedlot-type diet with 7.5% fiber type (alfalfa hay, grass hay, corn silage, or corn stalks), with no replacement or 25% replacement of the remaining corn with corn bran. Buoyancy declined over time. Alfalfa hay had the most positive effect on buoyancy of corn bran. This new method offers promise for describing rumen buoyancy

Fluctuation Dominated Josephson Tunneling with a Scanning Tunneling Microscope

We demonstrate Josephson tunneling in vacuum tunnel junctions formed between a superconducting scanning tunneling microscope tip and a Pb film, for junction resistances in the range 50-300 k$\Omega$. We show that the superconducting phase dynamics is dominated by thermal fluctuations, and that the Josephson current appears as a peak centered at small finite voltages. In the presence of microwave fields (f=15.0 GHz) the peak decreases in magnitude and shifts to higher voltages with increasing rf power, in agreement with theory.Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX, submitted to PR

Evaluation of Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles Inclusion on Performance and Economics of Finishing Beef Steers

A 167-d feedlot study was conducted to evaluate feeding increasing levels of dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) to finishing cattle and the impact on performance and profitability. Crossbred steer calves (n = 240, BW = 306 ± 24.5 kg) were used in 30 pens with dietary treatments of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% DDGS dietary inclusion (DM basis). Quadratic relationships (P \u3c 0.05) were observed for final BW and ADG as dietary DDGS increased, with the greatest ADG observed at 20% inclusion. The DMI was not affected (P \u3e 0.15) by DDGS level, but G:F tended to be quadratic (P = 0.10) as 20% DM inclusion had the greatest value, although steers fed all levels of DDGS had numerically greater G:F compared with steers fed no DDGS. Carcass characteristics, other than hot carcass weight, were not affected by DDGS treatment. Energy value of DDGS at 10 to 40% dietary inclusion resulted in a quadratic trend (P = 0.10) and remained above corn, with the highest values at 10 and 20% inclusion averaging 127% of corn. When DDGS was priced equally to corn, all levels of DDGS from 10 to 40% inclusion resulted in higher profits compared with a dry-rolled corn based diet regardless of corn price. The greatest returns were observed when cattle were fed 20% DDGS. These data indicate that DDGS can be fed up to 40% DM to improve cattle performance and result in economic profits, with optimum levels at 20 to 30% diet DM

Evaluation of Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles Inclusion on Performance and Economics of Finishing Beef Steers

A 167-d feedlot study was conducted to evaluate feeding increasing levels of dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) to finishing cattle and the impact on performance and profitability. Crossbred steer calves (n = 240, BW = 306 ± 24.5 kg) were used in 30 pens with dietary treatments of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% DDGS dietary inclusion (DM basis). Quadratic relationships (P \u3c 0.05) were observed for final BW and ADG as dietary DDGS increased, with the greatest ADG observed at 20% inclusion. The DMI was not affected (P \u3e 0.15) by DDGS level, but G:F tended to be quadratic (P = 0.10) as 20% DM inclusion had the greatest value, although steers fed all levels of DDGS had numerically greater G:F compared with steers fed no DDGS. Carcass characteristics, other than hot carcass weight, were not affected by DDGS treatment. Energy value of DDGS at 10 to 40% dietary inclusion resulted in a quadratic trend (P = 0.10) and remained above corn, with the highest values at 10 and 20% inclusion averaging 127% of corn. When DDGS was priced equally to corn, all levels of DDGS from 10 to 40% inclusion resulted in higher profits compared with a dry-rolled corn based diet regardless of corn price. The greatest returns were observed when cattle were fed 20% DDGS. These data indicate that DDGS can be fed up to 40% DM to improve cattle performance and result in economic profits, with optimum levels at 20 to 30% diet DM