Effect of Diet on Metabolism of Laboratory Rats

In previous studies when rats were fed a processed, semipurified, extruded rodent food bar (RFB) developed for space science research, we noted a difference in the appearance of gastrointestinal tissue (GI); therefore the following study evaluated GI characteristics and growth and metabolic rates of rats fed chow (C) or RFB. Two hundred and twenty-four rats (78 g mean body weight) were randomly assigned to 28 cages and provided C or RFB. Each cage was considered the experimental unit and a 95 percent level of significance, indicated by ANOVA, was used for inference. After each 30-, 60-, and 90-day period, eight cages were shifted from the C to RFB diet and housing density was reduced by two rats per cage. The two rats removed from each cage were sacrificed and used for GI evaluation. Metabolic rates of the rats in each cage were determined by indirect calorimetry. No differences in body weight were detected at 0, 30, 60 or 90 days between C and RFB. Heat production (kcal/hr/kg), CO2 production (L/hr/kg) and O2 consumption (L/hr/kg) were different by light:dark and age with no effect of diet. Respiratory quotient was different by age with no effect of light:dark or diet. Rats on the C diet ate less food and drank more water than those on RFB. C rats produced more fecal and waste materials than the RFB. GI lengths increased with age but were less in RFB than C. GI full and empty weights increased with age but weighed less in RFB than C. Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) numbers increased with age with no effect of diet. No differences in ileum-associated GALT area were detected between C and RFB. Switching C to RFB decreased GI length, GI full and empty weights, with no changes in GALT number or area. We concluded RFB decreased GI mass without affecting metabolic rate or general body growth

Effect of double density caging during Space Shuttle transport of laboratory rats

Male Sprague Dawley rats were housed in groups of four in polycarbonate cages at recommended density and thermal environmental conditions for 14 days prior to testing to ensure uniform acclimation to those conditions. Body weights averaged 286 +/- 7 g at the end of acclimation. Rat cages were assigned randomly to three treatments: (1) 4 rats/polycarbonate cage (877 sq cm, 20.3 cm high, 220 sq cm/rat), (2) 4 rats/mock AEM (MAEM) (620 sq cm, 155 sq cm/rat), and (3) 8 rats/MAEM (620 sq cm, 77.5 sq cm/rat). A comparison between the MAEM-DD and MAEM-SD treatments was done to determine if doubling rat density in AEM's stressed the rats. A comparison among MAEM treatments and the PC treatment was done to determine if any stress indications were due to the AEM. During this density challenge phase, all treatments were maintained at the same thermal environmental conditions (22.5 C and 50 percent RH) for 10 days. After the density challenge phase, half the rats from each group were sacrificed for body tissue and fluid analyses. The remaining half of the rats were housed at a density of 4 rats/cage in polycarbonate cages at normal thermal environmental conditions for an additional 10 days to determine if there were any differences in responses between treatments after a recovery period. The remaining rats were examined and sacrificed for body tissue and fluid analyses at the end of the recovery phase

The effects of prolonged wear of textured shoe insoles on gait, foot sensation and proprioception in people with Multiple Sclerosis: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background: Many people with multiple sclerosis experience problems with walking, which can make daily activities difficult and often leads to falls. Foot sensation plays an important role in keeping the body balanced whilst walking; however, people with multiple sclerosis often have poor sensation on the soles of their feet. Wearing a specially designed shoe insole, which enhances plantar sensory information, could help people with multiple sclerosis to walk better. This study will explore whether long-term wear of a textured insole can improve walking in people with multiple sclerosis

CIGR E-Journal Volume 3

Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M UniversityTECHNICAL ARTICLES: (1) P. Bruscoli, E. Bresci and F. Preti. Diagnostic Analysis of an Irrigation System in the Andes Region. Vol. III, February 2001. (2) T. Fischer, M. Gaderer, P. Lamp, W. Schoelkopf, and R. Ziegler. Processes and Economics for Energetic Use of Cotton Plant Residues. Vol. III, February 2001. (3) B. G. Kakou, H. Shimizu and S. Nishimura. Residual Strength of Colluvium and Stability Analysis of Farmland slope. Vol. III, March 2001. (4) P. N. Rodrigues, L. S. Pereira, A. Zairi, H. El Amami, H. A. Slatni, J. L. Teixeira, and T. Machado. Deficit Irrigation of Cereals and Horticultural Crops: Simulation of Strategies to Cope with Droughts. Vol. III, March 2001. (5) H. El Amami, A. Zairi, L. S. Pereira, T. Machado, A. Slatni, and P. Rodrigues. Deficit Irrigation of Cereals and Horticultural Crops: Economic Analysis. Vol. III, March 2001. (6) T. Tomson and A. Nova. Geographically Dispersed Wind Turbines on the West-Estonian Coast. Vol. III, April 2001. (7) L. Wiset, G. Srzednicki, R. Driscoll, C. Nimmuntavin, and P. Siwapornak. Effects of High Temperature Drying on Rice Quality. Vol. III, May 2001. (8) M. Horynski. The Effects of Field Intensity and Pneumatic Pressure on the Dielectric Constant of Rye Kernels. Vol. III, May 2001. (9) S. Lynikiene. Carrot Seed Preparation in a Corona Discharge Field. Vol. III, July 2001. (10) V. Anbumozhi, K. Matsumoto, and E. Yamaji. Sustaining Agriculture through Modernization of Irrigation Tanks: An Opportunity and a Challenge for Tamilnadu, India. Vol. III, August 2001. (11) A. Munack, O. Schroeder, J. Krahl, and J. Buenger. Comparison of Relevant Exhaust Gas Emissions from Biodiesel and Fossil Diesel Fuel. Vol. III, August 2001. (12) K. Maertens, M. Reyniers, and J. De Baerdemaeker. Design of a Dynamic Grain Flow Model for a Combine Harvester. Vol. III, September 2001. (13) D. Shitanda, Y. Nishiyama, and S. Koide. Performance Analysis of Impellor and Rubber Roll Husker Using Different Varieties of Rice. Vol. III, September 2001. (14) T. Nishizu, Y. Ikeda, Y. Torikata, S. Manmoto, T. Umehara, and T. Mizukami. Automatic, Continuous Food Volume Measurement with a Helmholtz Resonator. Vol. III, October 2001. (15) A. Sumorek and W. Pietrzyk. The Influence of Electric Field on the Energy Consumption of Convective Drying Processes. Vol. III. October 2001. (16) T. Nagano, H. Horino, T. Mitsuno, and N. Shimizu. Changes in Surface Runoff Due to Crust Formation and Land Conservation Techniques: The Case of On-Farm Study in Niger, West Africa. Vol. III, October 2001. (17) J. Li and M. Rao. Crop Yield as Affected by Uniformity of Sprinkler Irrigation System. Vol. III, October 2001. (18) K. Imou, M. Ishida, T. Okamoto, Y. Kaizu, A. Sawamura, and N. Sumida. Ultrasonic Doppler Sensor for Measuring Vehicle Speed in Forward and Reverse Motions Including Low Speed Motions. Vol. III, October 2001. (19) D.M. Bulanon, T. Kataoka, Y. Ota, and T. Hiroma. A Machine Vision System for the Apple Harvesting Robot. Vol. III, December 2001. (20) R. Medjo Eko and G. Riskowski. A Procedure for Processing Mixtures of Soil, Cement, and Sugar Cane Bagasse. Vol. III, December 2001. (21) A. Pozeliene. Influence of Electric Field on the Quality of Flaxseed. Vol. III, December 2001. (22) Y. Kaizu, T. Okamoto and K. Imou. System for Automatic Separation of Ex Vitro Micropropagated Sugarcane. Vol. III, December 2001. (23) M. Gebreselassie, O. Kaufman, and J. Hahn. Optimization of Transport Capacity for Fodder-Straw in Syria. Vol. III, December 2001...INVITED ARTICLES: (1) A-L. Raoult-Wack and N. Bricas. Food Sector Development: Multifunctionality and Ethics. Vol. III, January 2001. (2) I. Naas. Precision Animal Production. Vol. III, January 2001. (3) W. Chancellor. Synergistic Cooperation in the Food System. Vol. III, February 2001. (4) L. Cortez, I. N??s and O. Braunbeck. Agricultural Engineering Education Programs in Brazil. Vol. III, April 2001. (5) A. Munack and H. Speckmann. Communication Technology is the Backbone of Precision Agriculture. Vol. III, May 2001. (6) T. Friedrich. Agricultural Sprayer Standards and Prospects for Development of Standards for other Farm Machinery. Vol. III, May 2001. (7) W. Chancellor. Global Energy Flows and their Food System Components. Vol. III. December 2001. (8) B. Stout and G. Best. Effective Energy Use and Climate Change: Needs of Rural Areas in Developing Countries. Vol. III. December 2001