Electrocardiography and Echocardiography Findings in Contemporary Dancers

Metadata onlyAlterations in cardiac structure and function as a result of chronic training have been extensively reported in the literature. To date, there is limited data on dancers. This study attempts to define cardiac electrical, structural, and functional characteristics of the heart in female contemporary dancers. Forty-four female full-time contemporary dance students (age: 23.0 ± 5.6 years, height: 165.2 ± 7.9 cm, body mass: 59.2 ± 7.2 kg) volunteered for the study and underwent 12-lead electrocardiography and twodimensional echocardiography. Echocardiographic results were compared with 30 age-matched and gendermatched controls. Sixteen percent (7/ 44) of dancers presented with sinus bradycardia (1.0mV) were observed in 14% (6/44) and 4% (2/44) of the dancers respectively. QRS and QT duration were within normal limits for all dancers. Echocardiography revealed no significant differences between dancers and controls for all structural and functional indices. It is concluded that contemporary dancers demonstrate limited cardiac structure and function changes compared to matched controls

Assessing refrigerating and freezing effects on the biological/chemical composition of two livestock manures

Assessing storage impacts on manure properties is relevant to research associated with nutrient-use efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We examined the impact of cold storage on physicochemical properties, biochemical methane-emitting potential (BMP) and the composition of microbial communities of beef feedlot manure and poultry broiler litter. Manures were analysed within 2 days of collection and after 2 and 8 weeks in refrigerated (4 °C) or frozen (–20 °C) storage. Compared with fresh manure, stored manures had statistically significant (p < 0.05) but comparatively minor (<10%) changes in electrical conductivity, chloride and ammonium concentrations. Refrigeration and freezing did not significantly affect (p > 0.05) BMP in both manure types. We did not detect ammonium- or nitrite-oxidising bacterial taxa (AOB, NOB) using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). Importantly, the viability of microbes was unchanged by storage. We conclude that storage at –20 °C or 4 °C adequately preserves the investigated traits of the studied manures for research aimed at improving nutrient cycling and reducing GHG emissions

Assessing refrigerating and freezing effects on the biological/chemical composition of two livestock manures

Assessing storage impacts on manure properties is relevant to research associated with nutrient-use efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We examined the impact of cold storage on physicochemical properties, biochemical methane-emitting potential (BMP) and the composition of microbial communities of beef feedlot manure and poultry broiler litter. Manures were analysed within 2 days of collection and after 2 and 8 weeks in refrigerated (4. °C) or frozen (-20. °C) storage. Compared with fresh manure, stored manures had statistically significant (