'Khaosokia caricoides', a new genus and species of Cyperaceae from Thailand

'Khaosokia caricoides', D.A. Simpson, Chayam. & J. Parn., a newly discovered genus and species of Cyperaceae is described and illustrated. The genus is characterized by a narrowly paniculate dioecious inflorescence with 2–4 nodes, each of the nodes having a leaf-like inflorescence bract that exceeds the inflorescence. Spikelets in both sexes are linear-cylindric and each flower has seven perianth bristles. The nutlet was immature in the specimens examined. The photosynthetic pathway... 'Khaosokia' is endemic to limestone cliffs in peninsular Thailand; its conservation status is assessed as Vulnerable (VU B1a + 2a). It has affinities to tribes Cariceae, Dulichieae and some members of Scirpeae, but the exact nature of these relationships has yet to be determined. A revised key to the genera of Cyperaceae in Thailand is presented

A 2 week routine stretching programme did not prevent contraction-induced injury in mouse muscle

abstract: Most athletes stretch as part of their training regimen and it is commonly believed that this practice prevents muscle injury. We tested this belief using an animal model, in situ mouse extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle. One lower hindlimb was slowly stretched for 1 min on alternate days for 12 days; the other leg served as a control. The mouse was lightly anaesthetized during the stretching protocol (isofluorane). Both legs were tested in situ by measuring maximum isometric force and maximum work before and after an eccentric contraction that was designed to cause a contraction-induced injury. The difference between a contraction before and after (i.e. the deficit) was used as a measure of damage caused by the eccentric contraction. There was a threshold for force deficit at a peak to peak eccentric excursion amplitude of 19.5 % (i.e. L-o +/- 9.75 %, where L-o is muscle length at peak isometric force). There was a significant increase in force deficit, work deficit, and curve shift with an increase in eccentric excursion amplitude above the threshold. There was no statistical difference in the force deficit, work deficit, or curve shift between the stretched leg and the control leg (P > 0.05). A routine stretching programme, at least at the intensities employed in this experiment, did not prevent contraction-induced injury in the in situ mouse EDL muscle