Effects of low-magnitude, high-frequency mechanical stimulation in the rat osteopenia model

In this study, short-term, whole-body vertical vibration at 90 Hz improved trabecular bone quality. There was an improvement of bone quality and density in both osteoporotic and control rats. This treatment may therefore be an attractive option for the treatment of osteoporosis. Aside from pharmacological treatment options, physical exercise is known to augment bone mass. In this study, the effects of whole-body vertical vibration (WBVV) on bone quality and density were evaluated using an osteoporotic rat model. Sixty female Sprague Dawley rats were ovariectomized (C) or sham (SHAM) operated at the age of 3 months. After 3 months, both groups were divided into two subgroups that received either WBVV at 90 Hz for 35 days or no treatment. After sacrificing the rats, we evaluated vertebral bone strength, histomorphometric parameters, and bone mineral density (BMD). Treatment with WBVV resulted in improved biomechanical properties. The yield load after WBVV was significantly enhanced. According to yield load and Young's modulus, the treated OVX rats reached the level of the untreated SHAM animals. In all measured histomorphometric parameters, WBVV significantly improved bone density. Treatment with WBVV demonstrated greater effects on the trabecular bone compared to the cortical bone. The ash-BMD index showed significant differences between treated and untreated rats. Using WBVV as a non-pharmacological supportive treatment option for osteoporosis demonstrated an enhancement of bone strength and bone mass. This procedure may be an attractive option for the treatment of osteoporosis

Bone mechanobiology in mice: toward single-cell in vivo mechanomics

ISSN:1617-7959ISSN:1617-794

Impact of Tillage Methods on Environment, Energy and Economy

ISSN 2210-4410, eISBN 9783319990767Soil tillage involves the mechanical manipulation of soils used for crop production. Tillage is done to prepare an optimal seedbed, to loosen compacted soil layers, to control weeds, to increase aeration, to incorporate plant residues into the soil, to facilitate water infiltration and soil moisture storage, and to control soil temperature. Nonetheless, soil tillage is one of the highest energy-consuming, environment-polluting and expensive technological processes in agriculture. Conventional tillage with ploughing is the most widely used practice. Conventional tillage has low efficiency, requires high-powered tractors with high fuel consumption and greenhouse gases emissions. Moreover, the cost of conventional tillage is high, and the influence on the soil structure, degradation, leaching of nutrients and the most fertile soil is negative. Here we review the impact of tillage methods on soil quality, environment and economy. Due to the disadvantages of conventional tillage, sustainable tillage area increases each year by 4-6 million ha worldwide. Under sustainable tillage such as minimal or no-tillage, the total soil surface modified by the wheels of agricultural machinery is 20-40% lower than for conventional tillage. Sustainable tillage preserves better soil physical properties and biological processes. A comparison of tillage methods show that no-tillage has the highest energy efficiency ratio of 14.0, versus 12.4 for deep ploughing. The most expensive tillage operation is deep ploughing. The use of agricultural machinery under sustainable tillage conditions and preparation of soils without using a plough can reduce costs from 25% to 41%, compared with conventional tillageVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij