Sunn Hemp as an Alternative Forage in the Texas High Plains Region

Forage production in the Texas High Plains, a semi-arid region, is critical to sustain the local cattle industry. However, the main source of water for irrigation is the highly depleted Ogallala Aquifer, making forage crop water productivity (CWP) of high importance. In this one-year study, three types of forages were cultivated under deficit irrigation treatments of 80% and 50% of full crop water use. The forages were: a non-brown midrib forage sorghum; a legume, sunn hemp; and a sorghum/sunn hemp mix. The experiment was conducted in Bushland, Texas in 2019. Treatment plots were arranged in a split plot design with four replications under a 6-span variable rate irrigation center pivot sprinkler. Above ground biomass samples were taken by hand from a 1 m2 quadrat in each of the 24 plots on Jul 23, Aug 6 for forage analysis, and on Aug 19 to assess biomass yield and CWP. Crude protein was significantly higher at the first and second cuttings in the sunn hemp monocrop, but not significantly different between irrigation levels. The final biomass yields and CWP were similar between the sorghum (23.6 Mg ha-1) and sorghum/sunn hemp (25.1 Mg ha-1) forages, irrespective of irrigation level. The sunn hemp monocrop produced significantly lower biomass (9.75 Mg ha-1), which reduced CWP

Electrochemical study of H3PMo12 retention on Vulcan carbon grafted with NH2 and OH groups

In this work, we show a comparative study based on the effects of specific chemical functional groups (–OH, –NH2), grafted on Vulcan carbon (VC) with the incorporation of a specific polyoxometalate (POM), PMo12 (H3PMo12O40), to improve electrochemical performance. We observed a decrease in the specific surface area of the grafted matrices (VC-OH and VC-NH2) [1], and the same trend was observed for PMo12 (POM) incorporation. Our electrochemical studies showed low concentrations of POM in unmodified VCs and higher POM concentrations for grafted matrices (VC-OH and VC-NH2) after 500 voltammetric cycles, especially for the VC grafted with –OH groups (VC-OH-POM). Mechanisms have been proposed for POM interaction with the grafted groups in carbon, emphasizing the role of aqueous medium and redox activity of POM. Cyclic voltammograms suggested the POM anchoring through –OH groups with a strong interaction as a covalent bond, resulting in a surface coverage of 1.66 × 10−11 mol cm−2. Surface modifications could be extrapolated to other carbons, and the materials could be employed for different potential applications such as photocatalysis, amperometric sensors, fuel cells, and supercapacitors.Fil: Cuentas Gallegos, Ana Karina. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: López Cortina, S.. Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon; MéxicoFil: Brousse, T.. Université de Nantes. Institut Des Materiaux Jean Rouxel; FranciaFil: Pacheco Catalán, D.. Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán; MéxicoFil: Fuentes Quezada, Eduardo. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica; México. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mosqueda, H.. Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon; MéxicoFil: Orozco Gamboa, G.. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica; Méxic

Reliable Multihop Broadcast Protocol with a Low-Overhead Link Quality Assessment for ITS Based on VANETs in Highway Scenarios

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) have been identified as a key technology to enable intelligent transport systems (ITS), which are aimed to radically improve the safety, comfort, and greenness of the vehicles in the road. However, in order to fully exploit VANETs potential, several issues must be addressed. Because of the high dynamic of VANETs and the impairments in the wireless channel, one key issue arising when working with VANETs is the multihop dissemination of broadcast packets for safety and infotainment applications. In this paper a reliable low-overhead multihop broadcast (RLMB) protocol is proposed to address the well-known broadcast storm problem. The proposed RLMB takes advantage of the hello messages exchanged between the vehicles and it processes such information to intelligently select a relay set and reduce the redundant broadcast. Additionally, to reduce the hello messages rate dependency, RLMB uses a point-to-zone link evaluation approach. RLMB performance is compared with one of the leading multihop broadcast protocols existing to date. Performance metrics show that our RLMB solution outperforms the leading protocol in terms of important metrics such as packet dissemination ratio, overhead, and delay

Proactive and integrated primary care for frail older people: design and methodological challenges of the Utrecht primary care PROactive frailty intervention trial (U-PROFIT)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Currently, primary care for frail older people is reactive, time consuming and does not meet patients' needs. A transition is needed towards proactive and integrated care, so that daily functioning and a good quality of life can be preserved. To work towards these goals, two interventions were developed to enhance the care of frail older patients in general practice: a screening and monitoring intervention using routine healthcare data (U-PRIM) and a nurse-led multidisciplinary intervention program (U-CARE). The U-PROFIT trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions. The aim of this paper is to describe the U-PROFIT trial design and to discuss methodological issues and challenges.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The effectiveness of U-PRIM and U-CARE is being tested in a three-armed, cluster randomized trial in 58 general practices in the Netherlands, with approximately 5000 elderly individuals expected to participate. The primary outcome is the effect on activities of daily living as measured with the Katz ADL index. Secondary outcomes are quality of life, mortality, nursing home admission, emergency department and out-of-hours General Practice (GP), surgery visits, and caregiver burden.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>In a large, pragmatic trial conducted in daily clinical practice with frail older patients, several challenges and methodological issues will occur. Recruitment and retention of patients and feasibility of the interventions are important issues. To enable broad generalizability of results, careful choices of the design and outcome measures are required. Taking this into account, the U-PROFIT trial aims to provide robust evidence for a structured and integrated approach to provide care for frail older people in primary care.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p><a href="http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=2288">NTR2288</a></p

Low doses of caffeine reduce heart rate during submaximal cycle ergometry

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to examine the cardiovascular effects of two low-levels of caffeine ingestion in non habitual caffeine users at various submaximal and maximal exercise intensities.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nine male subjects (19–25 yr; 83.3 ± 3.1 kg; 184 ± 2 cm), underwent three testing sessions administered in a randomized and double-blind fashion. During each session, subjects were provided 4 oz of water and a gelatin capsule containing a placebo, 1.5 mg/kg caffeine, or 3.0 mg/kg caffeine. After thirty minutes of rest, a warm-up (30 Watts for 2 min) the pedal rate of 60 rpm was maintained at a steady-state output of 60 watts for five minutes; increased to 120 watts for five minutes and to 180 watts for five minutes. After a 2 min rest the workload was 180 watts for one minute and increased by 30 watts every minute until exhaustion. Heart rate (HR) was measured during the last 15-seconds of each minute of submaximal exercise. Systolic blood pressure (BP) was measured at rest and during each of the three sub-maximal steady state power outputs. Minute ventilation (V_E), Tidal volume (V_T), Breathing frequency (Bf), Rating of perceived exertion (RPE), Respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and Oxygen consumption (VO₂) were measured at rest and during each minute of exercise.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Caffeine at 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg body weight significantly lowered (p < 0.05) HR during all three submaximal exercise intensities compared to placebo (range – 4 to 7 bpm lower) but not at rest or maximal exercise. BP was significantly higher (p < 0.05) at rest and after the 3 mg/kg caffeine vs placebo (116 ± 13 vs 123 ± 10 mm Hg). Neither dose of caffeine had any effect on BP during submaximal exercise. Caffeine had no effect on V_E, V_T, VO₂, RPE, maximal power output or time to exhaustion.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In non habitual caffeine users it appears that consuming a caffeine pill (1.5 & 3.0 mg/kg) at a dose comparable to 1–3 cups of coffee lowers heart rate during submaximal exercise but not at near maximal and maximal exercise. In addition, this caffeine dose also only appears to affect systolic blood pressure at rest but not during cycling exercise.</p

Kinematic analysis of the daily activity of drinking from a glass in a population with cervical spinal cord injury

Background Three-dimensional kinematic analysis equipment is a valuable instrument for studying the execution of movement during functional activities of the upper limbs. The aim of this study was to analyze the kinematic differences in the execution of a daily activity such as drinking from a glass between two groups of patients with tetraplegia and a control group. Methods A total of 24 people were separated into three groups for analysis: 8 subjects with metameric level C6 tetraplegia, 8 subjects with metameric level C7 tetraplegia and 8 control subjects (CG). A set of active markers that emit infrared light were positioned on the upper limb. Two scanning units were used to record the sessions. The activity of drinking from a glass was broken down into a series of clearly identifiable phases to facilitate analysis. Movement times, velocities, and the joint angles of the shoulder, elbow and wrist in the three spatial planes were the variables analyzed. Results The most relevant differences between the three groups were in the wrist. Wrist palmar flexion during the back transport phase was greater in the patients with C6 and C7 tetraplegia than in the CG, whereas the highest wrist dorsal flexion values were in forward transport in the subjects with C6 or C7 tetraplegia, who required complete activation of the tenodesis effect to complete grasping. Conclusions A detailed description was made of the three-dimensional kinematic analysis of the task of drinking from a glass in healthy subjects and in two groups of patients with tetraplegia. This was a useful application of kinematic analysis of upper limb movement in a clinical setting. Better knowledge of the execution of this movement in each of these groups allows therapeutic recommendations to be specifically adapted to the functional deficit present. This information can be useful in designing wearable robots to compensate the performance of AVD, such as drinking, in people with cervical SCI

Endothelin-1 as a neuropeptide: neurotransmitter or neurovascular effects?

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is an endothelium-derived peptide that also possesses potent mitogenic activity. There is also a suggestion the ET-1 is a neuropeptide, based mainly on its histological identification in both the central and peripheral nervous system in a number of species, including man. A neuropeptide role for ET-1 is supported by studies showing a variety of effects caused following its administration into different regions of the brain and by application to peripheral nerves. In addition there are studies proposing that ET-1 is implicated in a number of neural circuits where its transmitter affects range from a role in pain and temperature control to its action on the hypothalamo-neurosecretory system. While the effect of ET-1 on nerve tissue is beyond doubt, its action on nerve blood flow is often ignored. Here, we review data generated in a number of species and using a variety of experimental models. Studies range from those showing the distribution of ET-1 and its receptors in nerve tissue to those describing numerous neurally-mediated effects of ET-1