The Morphology of the Seminal Vesicles, Accessory Glands, and the Ejaculatory Canal of Melanoplus Differentialis (Thomas) and an External Morphological and a Histological Study of the Seminal Vesicles, Accessory Glands, and Ejaculatory Canal of this Grasshopper

The purpose of this thesis is to record the results of an investigation, by the writer, upon the reproductive system of Melanoplus differentialis (Thomas) with special emphasis placed upon the external morphology and the histological study of the seminal vesicles, accessory glands, and the ejaculatory duct; and also to record conclusions as to the probable function of these organs

Best Practice in International Service Learning (ISL): Aspects of Risk and Impact

This article outlines the difference between international service learning and short term mission trips. It then proposes six features of effective international service learning that are likely to minimise risk while resulting in demonstrable impact

The Merged Reflect/Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP) in the South Pacific - A Pilot Study

Background/Aims: Chronic diseases (CDs) have reached epidemic proportions in Pacific Island countries. Unhealthy lifestyle is one of the major risk factors and lifestyle interventions have been shown to be efficacious for primary, secondary and early tertiary prevention. However, there is a paucity of evidence regarding effective community-based lifestyle interventions in the South Pacific (SP). This study examined the effectiveness of a contextualised version of the evidence-based CHIP intervention, utilising the low-literacy REFLECT approach. Methods: A 30-day cluster-RCT of 48 adults with elevated risk (waist circumference _ 92 cm for men and _ 80 cm for women), in two rural Fijian villages was conducted. Intervention participants (n ¼ 24) met three times a week to receive the program. Control participants (n ¼ 24) received only country-specific Ministry of Health literature. Outcome assessments at baseline and 30 days included BMI, WC, blood pressure, lipids and glucose. The extent of the change in each measures between intervention and control villages was assessed using mixed betweenwithin ANOVA. Results: In 30 days, significant reductions were recorded for intervention participant’s BMI (2%), SBP (10%), DBP (8%), T-cholesterol (6%), LDL (12%), HDL (15%) and blood glucose (10%), while triglycerides increased 35%. Only DBP (7%) and T-cholesterol (8%) decreased in the control group. Conclusions: This is the first lifestyle intervention using the REFLECT approach to target CDs in the SP. Significant reductions in selected CD risk factors were observed in 30 days, being comparable to cohorts in first world countries. Larger scale research is warranted to assess broader delivery of this lifestyle intervention across the SP. Funding source(s): N/

\u27Live More\u27: Study Protocol for a Community-Based Lifestyle Education Program Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases in Low-Literacy Areas of the South Pacific

Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have reached epidemic proportions in Pacific Island countries. Unhealthy lifestyle is one of the major risk factors and lifestyle interventions have been shown to be efficacious for primary, secondary and early tertiary prevention. However, there is a paucity of evidence regarding effective community-based lifestyle interventions in the Pacific Islands. The Complete Health Improvement Program for high-income countries was contextualised for rural communities with relatively low-literacy rates in low-income countries using the REFLECT delivery approach. This study will assess the effect of this ‘Live More’ program to reduce participant’s NCD risk factors and improve lifestyle behaviours associated with health and wellbeing, in low-literacy communities in countries of the South Pacific. Methods/Design This study is a 6-month cluster-randomised controlled trial of 288 adults (equal proportions of men and women aged 18 years and over) with waist circumference of ≥92cm for men and ≥80cm for women in four rural villages in each of Fiji, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. Participants will permanently reside in their village and be able to prepare their own meals. Two villages will be randomised to the ‘Live More’ intervention (n=24) or to control receiving only country specific Ministry of Health literature (n=24). Intervention participants will meet three times a week in the first month, then once a week for the next two months and once a month for the last three months. Themes covered include: NCDs and their causes; and the benefits of positive lifestyle choices, positive psychology, stress management, forgiveness and self-worth, and how these influence long-term health habits. Outcome assessments at baseline, 30-days, 3-months and 6-months include body mass index, waist circumference, blood lipids, blood pressure and blood glucose. Secondary outcomes include changes in medication and substance use, diet, physical activity, emotional health and supportive relationships, collected by lifestyle questionnaire at the same time points. Discussion This is the first lifestyle intervention using the Reflect approach to target NCDs. The findings from the study will be used to guide broader delivery of a lifestyle intervention to improve health and wellbeing across the South Pacific

Sex Differences and Physical Activity Status on the Hamstring: Quadriceps Ratio, Activities of Daily Living, and Functional Movement in Older Adults

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 1228-1243, 2023. The study aimed to investigate sex differences and the effect of physical activity on the hamstring:quadriceps (H:Q) ratio, activities of daily living (ADLs), and the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) in older adults. Thirty older adults (72.56 + 6.22) completed maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs), ADLs, the FMS, and three closed-kinetic chain exercises (CKCs); front lunge (FL), side lunge (SL), and bilateral squat (BLSQ). Electromyography was recorded from the biceps femoris (BF) and vastus lateralis (VL) on the dominant and non-dominant limbs during the MVICs and CKCs. Raw EMG recordings were normalized to MVICs and analyzed for root mean square (RMS). The H:Q ratio was calculated using RMS as BF/VL. It was determined that males had significantly higher H:Q ratios during the FL (p = 0.002), SL (p = 0.012) and BLSQ (p = 0.023), as well as higher RMS of the BF during the FL (p = 0.031), SL (p = 0.01), and BLSQ (p = 0.042). Females scored higher on the ADLs and FMS. A significant positive correlation was observed between ADLs and RMS of the VL (p \u3c 0.05, r \u3e 0.40), whereas a negative correlation was observed between ADLs and RMS of the BF (p \u3c 0.05, r \u3c -0.5). The results suggest that males may activate their hamstrings more effectively than females and that females may tend to remain quadriceps dominant. High motor unit recruitment of the hamstring muscles may coincide with reduced functional ability, whereas high motor unit recruitment of the quadriceps may coincide with enhanced functional ability

Chronic fluoxetine treatment increases daytime melatonin synthesis in the rodent

Circadian rhythm disturbances can occur as part of the clinical symptoms of major depressive disorder and have been found to resolve with antidepressant therapy. The pineal gland is relevant to circadian rhythms as it secretes the hormone melatonin following activation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling cascade and of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT), the rate-limiting enzyme for its synthesis. Cyclic AMP is synthesized by adenylate cyclases (AC) and degraded by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Little is known about the contribution of the PDE system to antidepressant-induced alterations in pineal cAMP signaling and melatonin synthesis. In the present study we used enzyme immunoassay to measure plasma melatonin levels and pineal cAMP levels and as well as quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to measure pineal expression of PDE, AC, and AA-NAT genes in rats chronically treated with the prototypic antidepressant fluoxetine. We found elevated melatonin synthesis with increased pineal AA-NAT gene expression and daytime plasma melatonin levels and downregulated cAMP signaling with increased PDE and unchanged AC pineal gene expression, and decreased content of pineal cAMP. We conclude that chronic fluoxetine treatment increases daytime plasma melatonin and pineal AA-NAT gene expression despite downregulated pineal cAMP signaling in the rodent