Male chicken thigh meat quality from fast and slow growing breeds from an organic free-range system

Significant effects of Genotype and Age on several of the technological meat quality attributes measured were found. In general, the meat from fast growing birds (JA) was darker, more tender, had a higher water-binding but a higher cooking loss. Birds with a higher age at slaughter was more red, less tender and had a higher cooking loss. Regarding the protein concentration of the feed, no significant effects could be found on meat quality attributes, however a high protein concentration in the feed showed a tendency towards more tender meat

Changes in glomerular thromboxane A2 receptor expression and ligand binding following immune injury

Changes in glomerular thromboxane A2 receptor expression and ligand binding following immune injury.BackgroundThromboxane (Tx) A2 is a potent vasoconstrictor eicosanoid that attains high levels within nephritic glomeruli and mediates a drop in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In the course of nephritis, however, GFR recovers despite high intraglomerular TxA2 levels. We hypothesized that this recovery indicates a reduced responsiveness of the glomerular vasculature to TxA2, and explored whether changes in TxA2 receptor protein expression and receptor-ligand binding are underlying mechanisms.MethodsGlomerulonephritis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats using an antibody raised in rabbits against rat particulate glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Changes in Tx receptor levels were assessed in protein lysates of glomeruli on days 3 and 7 after a single intravenous injection of the anti-GBM antibody. Ligand-binding studies were performed at the same time points using isolated glomeruli and the TxA2 receptor ligand [3H]-SQ-29,548. GFR was measured as the clearance of endogenous creatinine.ResultsThere was a marked increase in Tx receptor protein in the lysates of nephritic glomeruli on days 3 and 7. In contrast, binding sites (Bmax) of [3H]–SQ-29,548 decreased, indicating that the excess receptor became either inaccessible to its ligand (sequestered) or desensitized. Daily administration of the Tx synthase inhibitor Furegrelate starting prior to injection of anti-GBM antibody prevented the decrease in [3H]–SQ-29,548 binding. Furegrelate treatment starting in an established stage of nephritis had no effect. In these animals, GFR was lower than nephritic controls not treated with Furegrelate.ConclusionsThese observations indicate that in the course of glomerulonephritis, there is a marked increase in glomerular Tx receptor expression. The enhanced intraglomerular TxA2 synthesis causes either a sequestration or desensitization of its receptor. As a result, access of unbound TxA2 to efferent arterioles may become facilitated, and constriction of these arterioles may preserve GFR

Plasma-cell-rich infiltrates in paediatric renal transplant biopsies are associated with increased risk of renal allograft failure

BACKGROUND: Increased plasma cell infiltration in renal allograft biopsies is a rare finding associated with poor outcome in adult renal transplant recipients. The clinical impact of increased plasma cell infiltrates in paediatric renal transplant recipients (pRTR) remains unknown. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control study from April 1996 to March 2014 comparing the outcome of pRTR with increased (>10 % of infiltrate) plasma cells in renal transplant biopsies to a control cohort of pRTR without increased plasma cell infiltration but similar grade of rejection according to Banff classification. RESULTS: Increased plasma cell infiltrates were present in 14 of 162 (9 %) reviewed pRTR aged 3.2-17.5 (median 13.4) years at time of transplantation. Compared with 14 pRTR renal transplant biopsies without significantly increased plasma cells, there were no significant differences in mismatch and baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Plasma cells were present in case biopsies at a maximal density of 14-116 (median 33) plasma cells/HPF. Increased plasma cells were associated with decreased eGFR at biopsy (22 vs. 49 ml/min/1.73 m(2); p < 0.001) and 4 weeks post-biopsy (26 vs. 56 ml/min/1.73 m(2); p < 0.001) despite comparable eGFR 4 weeks prior to biopsy. Increased plasma cells were further associated with significantly increased frequency of renal allograft loss (71 % vs. 7 %; p < 0.001) at 0-27 (median 2) months after biopsy. CONCLUSION: Increased plasma cell infiltrates in pRTR are uncommon but associated with significantly reduced renal allograft survival as well as significantly reduced allograft function in surviving grafts

EFFECTS OF BACKWARD WALKING AS A MODALITY FOR LOW BACK PAIN REDUCTION IN ATHLETES

The therapeutic effectiveness of backward walking for treatment of low back pain (LBP) was examined among athletes experiencing LBP and healthy non-athletes. All participants were pre-tested walking backward, performed 10-15 mins of backward walking three days/week for three weeks and were post-tested. Low back sagittal and coronal plane range of motion, shock attenuation (SA), stride length (SL), stride rate (SR), velocity and LBP were evaluated (&#945;=0.05). All variables were significantly different between groups, excluding SA. Velocity, SL and SR were significantly different pre vs post. Owing to the clinical nature of this study, single-subject analyses were performed and identified unique individual responses to the intervention. Results suggest that backward walking may assist some athletes presenting with LBP

A generalized Townsend's theory for Paschen curves in planar, cylindrical, and spherical geometries

In this work, we focus on plasma discharges produced between two electrodes with a high potential difference, resulting in the ionization of the neutral particles supporting a current in the gaseous medium. At low currents and low temperatures, this process can create luminescent emissions: the so-called glow and corona discharges. The parallel plate geometry used in Townsend's (1900) theory lets us develop a theoretical formalism, with explicit solutions for the critical voltage effectively reproducing experimental Paschen curves. However, most discharge processes occur in non-parallel plate geometries, such as discharges between grains or ice particles in multiphase flows. Here, we propose a generalization of the classic parallel plate configurations to concentric spherical and coaxial cylindrical geometries in Earth, Mars, Titan, and Venus atmospheres. In a spherical case, a small radius effectively represents a sharp tip rod, while larger, centimeter-scale radii represents rounded or blunted tips. Similarly, in a cylindrical case, a small radius would correspond to a thin wire. We solve continuity equations in the gap and estimate a critical radius and minimum breakdown voltage that allows ionization of neutral gas and formation of a glow discharge. We show that glow coronae form more easily in Mars's low-pressure, $CO_2$-rich atmosphere than in Earth's high-pressure atmosphere. Additionally, we present breakdown criteria for Titan and Venus. We further demonstrate that critical voltage minima occur at 0.5 cm$\cdot$Torr for all three investigated geometries, suggesting easier initiation around millimeter-size particles in dust and water clouds and could be readily extended to examine other multiphase flows with inertial particles

Modifying the Diabetes Prevention Program to Adolescents in a School Setting: A Feasibility Study

The growing epidemic of overweight children has led to a higher prevalence of youth being diagnosed with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. The current study modified the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for use with 7th–10th graders in a school setting. The DPP is an evidence-based lifestyle intervention program that has been translated successfully in various adult settings. Yet the feasibility of modifying the DPP for use with middle and high school students has not been documented. A multidisciplinary university research team collaborated with a local charter school to include a modified DPP as part of the curriculum for one semester. Pre- and posttests included food knowledge, health locus of control, BMI, and performance on the 12-minute Cooper walk/run test. Findings suggest tentatively that the modified DPP was successful at increasing food knowledge and awareness of more rigorous physical activity as well as their association to improved health outcomes. Equally as important, results demonstrate that it is feasible to conduct interventions targeting healthy weight among adolescents in school-based settings by incorporating them in the curriculum.</jats:p

Structural, Electronic, and Magnetic Properties of MnO

We calculate the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of MnO from first principles, using the full-potential linearized augmented planewave method, with both local-density and generalized-gradient approximations to exchange and correlation. We find the ground state to be of rhombohedrally distorted B1 structure with compression along the [111] direction, antiferromagnetic with type-II ordering, and insulating, consistent with experiment. We show that the distortion can be understood in terms of a Heisenberg model with distance dependent nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor couplings determined from first principles. Finally, we show that magnetic ordering can induce significant charge anisotropy, and give predictions for electric field gradients in the ground-state rhombohedrally distorted structure.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review B. Replaced: regenerated figures to resolve font problems in automatically generated pd

The problem of a metal impurity in an oxide: ab-initio study of electronic and structural properties of Cd in Rutile TiO2

In this work we undertake the problem of a transition metal impurity in an oxide. We present an ab-initio study of the relaxations introduced in TiO2 when a Cd impurity replaces substitutionally a Ti atom. Using the Full-Potential Linearized-Augmented-Plane-Wave method we obtain relaxed structures for different charge states of the impurity and computed the electric-field gradients (EFGs) at the Cd site. We find that EFGs, and also relaxations, are dependent on the charge state of the impurity. This dependence is very remarkable in the case of the EFG and is explained analyzing the electronic structure of the studied system. We predict fairly anisotropic relaxations for the nearest oxygen neighbors of the Cd impurity. The experimental confirmation of this prediction and a brief report of these calculations have recently been presented [P.R.L. 89, 55503 (2002)]. Our results for relaxations and EFGs are in clear contradiction with previous studies of this system that assumed isotropic relaxations and point out that no simple model is viable to describe relaxations and the EFG at Cd in TiO2 even approximately.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, Revtex 4, published in Physical Review

Weak ferromagnetism with very large canting in a chiral lattice: (pyrimidine)2FeCl2

The transition metal coordination compound (pyrimidine)2FeCl2 crystallizes in a chiral lattice, space group I 4_1 2 2 (or I4_3 2 2). Combined magnetization, Mossbauer spectroscopy and powder neutron diffraction studies reveal that it is a canted antiferromagnet below T_N = 6.4 K with an unusually large canting of the magnetic moments of 14 deg. from their general antiferromagnetic alignment, one of the largest reported to date. This results in weak ferromagnetism with a ferromagnetic component of 1 mu_B. The large canting is due to the interplay between the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction and the local single-ion anisotropy in the chiral lattice. The magnetically ordered structure of (pyrimidine)2FeCl2, however, is not chiral. The implications of these findings for the search of molecule based materials exhibiting chiral magnetic ordering is discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure