All-optical control of skyrmion configuration in CrI 3 monolayer

The potential for manipulating characteristics of skyrmions in a CrI3 monolayer using circularly polarised light is explored. The effective skyrmion-light interaction is mediated by bright excitons whose magnetization is selectively influenced by the polarization of photons. The light-induced skyrmion dynamics is illustrated by the dependencies of the skyrmion size and the skyrmion lifetime on the intensity and polarization of the incident light pulse. Two-dimensional magnets hosting excitons thus represent a promising platform for the control of topological magnetic structures by light.

Toward making a high-quality silage from common reed (Phragmites australis)

The effects of the addition of molasses (5 and 10% of dry matter: DM basis; M5 and M10 respectively) with or without urea (2%; U2, U2 + M5 and U2 + M10) on chemical and mineral composition, silage quality, microbial populations, buffering capacity and fermentation/digestion characteristics of common reed (Phragmites australis) ensiled under anaerobic conditions were investigated. The additives changed the silage quality of common reed compared with the control. Crude protein content was significantly (p < 0.0001) increased in urea-containing silages, whereas ash-free neutral detergent fibre concentration decreased in M10 compared with the control (p = 0.05). Treatment with 2% urea (U2) resulted in the reduction of most measured minerals with a severe decrease in iron concentration. The amount of gas produced after 96 h of incubation was, respectively, higher for U2, M10, U2M10, U2M5 and M5 compared with the control (p < 0.0001). Although the greatest in vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro organic matter digestibility (96 h) were observed in U2 (p < 0.0001), no significant differences were found between U2 and M10. Supplementation with 10% molasses (M10) significantly increased lactic acid concentration, aerobic stability and total bacteria compared with other treatments (p < 0.0001). Moreover, DM loss (p = 0.0004), total yeast and mould (p < 0.0001) were significantly decreased as a result of 10% molasses treatment. Overall, it can be suggested that treating silage with 10% molasses (M10) has the potential to efficiently improve the nutritive value of common reed.

In vitro ruminal-microbial fermentation pattern: nutritional insights about some agricultural crop mesocarps (peel) in ruminant nutrition

Different agricultural crop wastes (ACW) such as mesocarps (peel) are annually produced after consuming their edible parts in the world without any scientific information about their nutritional potential. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the ruminal-microbial fermentation pattern and nutritional potential of some crop mesocarps (peel) including different species of melons (Watermelon, Galia melon, Rockmelon, Til sabz, and Til atashi) as well as cucumber and eggplant using common and standard laboratory methods. The amount of crude protein (CP) varied from 7.19 to 19.1% of dry matter (DM) for Til sabz and cucumber mesocarps, respectively. The highest (34.1% of DM) and lowest (15.4%) content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were related to eggplant and Til sabz peels, respectively (p < 0.05). The content of non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) varied from 38.7% for eggplant peel to 66.6% for Til sabz. All mesocarps had a low DM percentage (4.88% of DM for cucumber to 8.45 for eggplant). Rockmelon peel had the highest amount of calcium (5.25 g/kg DM) and magnesium (5.75 g/kg DM) compared with the other mesocarps (p < 0.05). The highest amounts of potassium (33.4 g/kg of DM), sodium (7.15 g/kg of DM), and zinc (21 mg/kg of DM) were observed in the peels of watermelon, Til atashi, and cucumber, respectively (p < 0.05). The potential of ruminal-microbial gas production also differed from 55.6 ml/200 mg of DM for eggplant to 63.1 ml for Til sabz peel. Except for cucumber (8.75 MJ/kg of DM) and eggplant (8.71 MJ), other mesocarps (different melon species) had almost similar metabolizable energy (ME, 9.06-9.50 MJ/kg of DM). Among the studied mesocarps, the lowest ruminal-microbial DM and organic matter (OM) digestibility was also observed in eggplant and cucumber (p < 0.05). Gallia melon had the highest acid-base buffering capacity (267 mEq×10- 3, p < 0.05). According to our findings, the mesocarps of melons showed a higher nutritional value than the cucumber and eggplant. In general, Til sabz exhibited a notable favorite and superior nutritional characteristic compared with the other mesocarps.

Assessing construct validity of the Beighton Score as a measure of generalized joint hypermobility in varsity athletes

The Beighton Score (BS) is a tool that dichotomizes those who have generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) and those who do not. Unfortunately, the BS is often used in populations that it was not originally developed for, including athletes for screening purposes. The construct validity of the BS remains unknown in this population. This secondary analysis investigated the construct validity of the BS by comparing varsity athletes' passive shoulder and hip ranges of motion (ROMs) to their respective BS and individual forward bend tests (FBTs). There were statistically significant but weak correlations between shoulder ROMs and the BS (r=0.142, p=0.021). Mean hip ROMs were greater by 5-degrees in those with positive FBTs compared to those with negative FBTs. This difference falls within typical measurement errors that occur in practice. Therefore, our results do not support the construct validity of the BS as a measure of GJH in healthy athletes.

Can conventional forages be replaced with cotton plant (Gossypium hirsutum) wastes in fattening lambs? Laboratory and animal studies

The cotton plant (Gossypium hirsutum) is a shrub native to many arid and semi-arid regions around the world, while the nutritional value of its wastes has been less scientifically investigated. Different components of whole cotton plant wastes (WCPW) including leaf blade, cotton pod, stem, root, bract, petiole, and cottonseed were evaluated for their nutritional values by standard laboratory methods. After that, we tested the WCPW for partial substitution (0, 20, 40, and 60% substitution or 0, 10, 20, and 30% of dietary dry matter (DM)) with dietary common forage in a completely randomized design with 32 feedlot male lambs for 90 days. A diverse range of chemical and mineral compositions was found among the different WCPW's components. The cottonseed had the highest crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) contents, while the lowest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were observed in the leaf blade (P < 0.0001). The highest contents of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, and iron were also observed in the leaf blade (P < 0.0001). Higher potential gas production, in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD), in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD), and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) were also related to the leaf blade (P < 0.0001). Bract had the highest acid-base buffering capacity (P < 0.0001). The lambs fed on 30% of dietary DM with WCPW exhibited lower final body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), CP or NDF digestibility, ruminal TVFA, propionate, plasma total protein, and higher feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group. Generally, WCPW can be substituted up to 40% of common forages (or 20% of diet DM) without any adverse effect on growth performance and blood metabolites of feedlot lambs, especially during feed shortages.

Eubiotic Effect of a Dietary Bio-Aqua® and Sodium Diformate (NaDF) on Salmo trutta caspius: Innate Immune System, Biochemical Indices, Antioxidant Defense, and Expression of Immunological and Growth-Related Genes

The present study investigated the effects of combined and singular oral administration of Bio-Aqua® with different dosages of sodium diformate (NaDF) on biochemical indices, innate immune responses, antioxidant effects, and expressions of immunological related genes of Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius). Fingerlings Salmo trutta caspius (n = 1800; initial weight 15 ± 3 g) were randomly allocated into five groups (120 fish group-1 in triplicates). Control diet: without any addition, G1, G2, G3, and G4 received diets containing 0.2 g kg-1 commercial probiotic Bio-Aqua® combined with 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% NaDF to the basal diet for 60 days according to recommended dosages reported in previous studies. Results indicated that serum bactericidal activity (G3 on day 60 and G1 on day 30) and classic complement in all groups (on day 60) (G1 and G2 on day 30) were significantly elevated (P < 0.05). The serum lysozyme, glucose, globulin, and albumin levels showed no significant differences between all groups compared to the control group (P > 0.05). On days 30 and 60 of the sampling, no significant difference was observed in the amount of superoxide disotase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) between the treatments (P > 0.05) but activity of malondialdehyde (MDA) was lower in G1 than the control (P < 0.05). The expression of the immune-regulating genes IL-10, IL-1β, GTP, FATP, and IGF was significantly improved in all probiotic + acidifier-treated groups (P < 0.05). The current findings showed that mixture of Bio-Aqua® and NaDF (1.5% + pro) is beneficial, as it effectively improves some immune parameters and expression of immunological and growth-related genes in Caspian brown trout.

Molecular Mechanisms Driving and Regulating the AAA+ ATPase VCP/p97, an Important Therapeutic Target for Treating Cancer, Neurological and Infectious Diseases

p97/VCP, a highly conserved type II ATPase associated with diverse cellular activities (AAA+ ATPase), is an important therapeutic target in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. p97 performs a variety of functions in the cell and facilitates virus replication. It is a mechanochemical enzyme that generates mechanical force from ATP-binding and hydrolysis to perform several functions, including unfolding of protein substrates. Several dozens of cofactors/adaptors interact with p97 and define the multifunctionality of p97. This review presents the current understanding of the molecular mechanism of p97 during the ATPase cycle and its regulation by cofactors and small-molecule inhibitors. We compare detailed structural information obtained in different nucleotide states in the presence and absence of substrates and inhibitors. We also review how pathogenic gain-of-function mutations modify the conformational changes of p97 during the ATPase cycle. Overall, the review highlights how the mechanistic knowledge of p97 helps in designing pathway-specific modulators and inhibitors.

Waveguide-integrated silicon T centres

The performance of modular, networked quantum technologies will be strongly dependent upon the quality of their quantum light-matter interconnects. Solid-state colour centres, and in particular T centres in silicon, offer competitive technological and commercial advantages as the basis for quantum networking technologies and distributed quantum computing. These newly rediscovered silicon defects offer direct telecommunications-band photonic emission, long-lived electron and nuclear spin qubits, and proven native integration into industry-standard, CMOS-compatible, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) photonic chips at scale. Here we demonstrate further levels of integration by characterizing T centre spin ensembles in single-mode waveguides in SOI. In addition to measuring long spin T₁ times, we report on the integrated centres' optical properties. We find that the narrow homogeneous linewidth of these waveguide-integrated emitters is already sufficiently low to predict the future success of remote spin-entangling protocols with only modest cavity Purcell enhancements. We show that further improvements may still be possible by measuring nearly lifetime-limited homogeneous linewidths in isotopically pure bulk crystals. In each case the measured linewidths are more than an order of magnitude lower than previously reported and further support the view that high-performance, large-scale distributed quantum technologies based upon T centres in silicon may be attainable in the near term.

Can Alhaji maurorum as a halophyte plant be ensiled with molasses and Saccharomyces cerevisiae well?

Alhagi maurorum (Caspian Manna, AM) is a species of legume found commonly in the semi-arid region of the world. Nutritional aspects of silage prepared from AM have not been scientifically investigated so far, therefore, in this study, chemical-mineral composition, gas production parameters, ruminal fermentation parameters, buffering capacity, and silage characteristics of AM were investigated by standard laboratory methods. Fresh AM was ensiled in the mini-silos (3.5 kg) and treated with (1) no additive (control), (2) 5% molasses, (3) 10% molasses, (4) 1 × 10⁴ CFU of Saccharomyces cerevisiae [SC]/g of fresh silage, (5) 1 × 10⁴ CFU of SC/g of fresh silage + 5% molasses, (6) 1 × 10⁴ CFU of SC/g of fresh silage + 10% molasses, (7) 1 × 10⁸ CFU of SC/g of fresh silage, (8) 1 × 10⁸ CFU of SC/g of fresh silage + 5% molasses, and (9) 1 × 10⁸ CFU of SC/g of fresh silage + 10% molasses for 60 days. The lowest concentrations of NDF and ADF were related to treatments no. 6 and 5, respectively (p < 0.0001). The ash content as well as sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium were highest in treatment no 2. Silages containing 10% molasses (no. 3) had the highest and lowest lactic (p < 0.0001) and butyric (p < 0.0001) acids, respectively. The highest amount of potential gas production was observed in treatments no. 5 and 6, respectively (p < 0.0001). Total yeast was decreased with increasing molasses in the silages (p < 0.0001). Acid-base buffering capacity was also highest in treatments no. 6 and 5, respectively (p = 0.0003). In general, due to the fibrous nature of AM, it is recommended to add molasses at levels of 5 or 10% when ensiling. The silages containing SC at a lower level (1 × 10⁴ CFU) along with higher levels of molasses (10% of DM) had better ruminal digestion-fermentation characteristics compared to other silages. Also, the addition of molasses improved the internal fermentation characteristics of AM in the silo.

Food cravings during the first week of concussion

The brain utilizes glucose as its main source of energy. Traumatic brain injuries may alter the brain's ability to shuttle glucose effectively; therefore, the symptoms experienced may be a signal of the dysregulation. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the presence of any specific food cravings during the first week post-concussion and if the consumption of such a food decreased the symptoms of concussion. The link to the survey was posted on 4 Canadian organization websites from November 2020 to February 2021. Any individual over 18 years old who had suffered one of more concussions in the past 12 months was included. 73 females and 24 males, the majority aged 18-40 years, completed the survey. Participants with combined carbohydrate and sweet cravings reported significantly more symptoms of increased emotions (p=0.04), irritability (p=0.03), sadness (p=0.04), nervousness (p=0.03), and sleep disturbances (p=0.05) than those without these cravings. Consumption of the craved food did not change the concussion symptoms.

Yogurt and molasses can alter microbial-digestive and nutritional characteristics of pomegranate leaves silage

Fewer studies in recent years have been conducted on the nutritional potential and fermentation quality of silage prepared from pomegranate leaves (PL). So, we investigated the nutritional-fermentation quality of PL before and after ensiling with or without yogurt containing mainly lactic acid-producing bacteria (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophiles) and molasses (at two levels of 2 and 4% of dry matter) in the polyethylene microsilos for 60 days. A range of dry matter (29.1–39.1%), crude protein (3.85–4.83%), ash (5.33–8.60%), and non-fiber carbohydrates (53.2%–58.6%) contents were observed among the treatments. A significant increase in calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, iron, and zinc was observed in PL after ensiling compared to before ensiling (p < 0.05). The PL ensiled with 4% yogurt exhibited the highest ammonia nitrogen, lactic and acetic acids, but the lowest butyric acid among the ensiled PL (p < 0.05). The ensiling of PL without additive (control) significantly decreased potential gas production, dry matter digestibility, organic matter digestibility, total volatile fatty acids, metabolizable energy, net energy for lactation, base-buffering capacity, titratable alkalinity, and acid–base buffering capacity compared to before ensiling (p < 0.05). According to the present results, the nutritional value of PL before ensiling was higher than after ensiling. The addition of yogurt and molasses to PL at the ensiling process especially at 4% of dry matter, improved the fermentation and nutritional characteristics. In general, the addition of yogurt or molasses as two cheap and available additives is recommended to improve the digestive-fermentation parameters of PL in silo and ruminal environments.

Evaluation of Stress and Cognition Indicators in a Puzzle Game: Neuropsychological, Biochemical and Electrophysiological Approaches

Video games have significant and diverse effects on stress and cognitive systems based on the game style. The effect of this media on the central nervous system is significant because of its repetition. Nowadays, video games have become an important part of human life at different ages, and therefore, assessing their effects (good and bad) on stress factors, cognition, and behavior can be an important help in understanding the nature of these games and managing their impact on humans. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the effect of a puzzle game on the player's stress and cognitive indicators in neuropsychological, biochemical, and electrophysiological approaches. A total of 44 participants were entered into the study and randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. Our interventions were watching (control group) and playing (experimental group) the game. Salivary biomarkers (cortisol and alpha-amylase) were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Electrophysiological assessment of attention and stress was performed using electroencephalography. Neuropsychological assessments for the evaluation of mental health, mental fatigue, sustained attention, and reaction time were conducted using paced auditory serial addition test. All tests were administered before and after the interventions. The findings revealed that the salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase significantly reduced after playing the game. There were significantly higher levels of attention after playing the game. Mental health and sustained attention significantly increased after game playing. It can conclude that puzzle-style computer games can strengthen and empower the perceptual-cognitive system and suppress the stress system of players. Therefore, they can be used purposefully as a positive cognitive therapy approach.

Chemical, mineral composition, in vitro ruminal fermentation and buffering capacity of some rangeland-medicinal plants

A diverse group of rangeland-medicinal plants are being used by ruminant whilst some of them have not been assessed for their nutritional value. This study was aimed to evaluate the chemical and mineral composition, buffering capacity, and in vitro fermentation of some rangeland-medicinal plants including Thymus kotschyanus, Ziziphora persica, Lallemantia royleana, and Scutellaria litwinowii in the family Lamiaceae, and Hypericum scabrum, in the family Hypericaceae. The results indicated that crude protein (CP) content ranged from 8.66% (S. litwinowii) to 12.17% of DM (H. scabrum). It was found that Z. persica had the highest potential gas production, metabolism energy (ME), relative feed value (RFV), and dry matter digestibility (DMD) values of 53.44 (mL 200-1 mg DM), 5.84 (MJ kg-1 DM), 170.66 and 70.88%, respectively. Mineral content differed among plants; Ca ranged from 5.79 to 41.96 g kg-1 DM. The concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Co were highest for L. royleana. Total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) and propionate concentrations were highest in the culture medium cultured with Z. persica, however, acetate, and butyrate were highest in H. scabrum. Acid-base buffering capacity was lower in T. kotschyanus and H. scabrum compared to other plants, while it was higher in S. litwinowii. Overall, it can be concluded that among plants evaluated in this study, Z. persica had higher nutritional value for sheep feeding.

The one-week prevalence of overuse-related shoulder pain and activity limitation in competitive tennis players living in Toronto: a feasibility study

Objective

We aimed to determine the feasibility of conducting a cross-sectional study to estimate the one-week prevalence of overuse-related shoulder pain and activity limitation in competitive tennis players.

Methods

Eligible for the study were competitive adult tennis players who reside in Toronto. Using a convenience sample, the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Overuse Shoulder Injury Questionnaire (OSIQ) was administered online to provide preliminary estimates of the prevalence of shoulder pain and activity limitation, injury severity and pain intensity. Feasibility outcomes included evaluating participation rate and missing data in the questionnaire.

Results

Forty-three tennis players were included in the questionnaire (68.3% participation rate, 100% completion rate). There was no missing data. The one-week proportion of those with shoulder pain and activity limitation was 41.9% with a mean injury severity of 33/100. Mean pain intensity was 1.9/10.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that it is feasible to conduct a cross-sectional study to measure the one-week prevalence of shoulder pain and activity limitation in tennis players.

Preparation and Characterization of Nanoliposome Containing Isolated VP1 Protein of Foot and Mouth Disease Virus as a Model of Vaccine

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute and highly contagious disease in livestock, such as cattle, sheep, and pigs, leading to a lot of economic losses. The current FMD vaccines formulated by inactivated whole-virus and adjuvant successfully reduce disease outbreaks in many regions of the world. Immunological studies on FMD viruses revealed that the dominant epitope in arising neutral antibody response is amino acid residues constructing the G-H loop, constituting a surface loop of the structural protein, termed VP1. Liposomes as one of the most well-known vehicles are considered an important carrier in vaccine development, and their function is used to encapsulate purified VP1 protein based on their size, charge, and lipid content. Accordingly, the VP1 protein was isolated from the FMD virus. This study aimed to compare four methods of VP1 protein encapsulation in the liposome and the extruding effect, as follows: 1) VP1 protein was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and added to the lipid film hydrated by ethanol, 2) the lipid film was hydrated by VP1 protein with 7M urea, 3) the lipid film was hydrated by VP1 protein and freeze-thawed, and 4) the lipid film was hydrated by VP1 protein. The highest encapsulation efficiency was 91% in the second method which purified protein-containing urea. The VP1 protein in the prepared liposome (1, 2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine: 1, 2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine: cholesterol) released more than 90% of protein content after 240 h.

Improvement of Cognitive Indicators in Male Monkeys Exposed to Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields

Today, the production of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) has significantly increased. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the ELF-EMFs on the structure and function of the brain in male rhesus monkeys in terms of visual learning (VL), visual memory (VM), and visual working memory (VWM). To conduct the study, four monkeys were selected, of whom two monkeys were irradiated by 12-Hz ELF-EMFs with a magnitude of 0.7 microtesla, and two monkeys were tested without irradiation (control group). A blood sample was taken in three stages, namely pre- and post-irradiated and the recovery phases. Changes in the plasma levels of sodium, potassium, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were evaluated. Moreover, gene expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors was assessed. The anatomical change of the brain's prefrontal area was measured by magnetic resonance imaging and Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine LiteBox file. The abilities of VL, VM, and VWM significantly improved after the irradiation. Furthermore, the expression of the NMDA receptors gene and the plasma levels of sodium, potassium, and ACTH significantly enhanced after the irradiation. However, the prefrontal area was not significantly affected by the irradiation. No significant differences were observed in any of the studied factors in the control group. Our findings suggested that ELF-EMFs irradiation at 12 Hz positively affected VL and VWM. Consequently, 12-Hz ELF-EMFs irradiations can be widely applied to improve cognitive abilities in monkeys.

A study on the nutritional characteristics of some plants and their effects on ruminal microbial fermentation and protozoa population

We designed this project to determine the nutritional potential and ruminal microbial fermentation properties of eight rangeland plants (Dracocephalum moldavica L., Melissa officinalis L., Ruta graveolens L., Perovskia abrotanoides Kar., Cichorium intybus L., Borago officinalis L., Peganum harmala L., and Teucrium polium L.) collected from the semi-arid region of Iran at two consecutive years (2019 and 2020) for ruminant diets. Medicago sativa as a common forage was also considered as control. We determined the chemical-mineral composition, buffering capacity, in vitro gas yield, ruminal fermentation, and protozoa population in a culture medium with the standard laboratory methods. A significant difference in chemical-mineral compounds was observed among the studied plants (p < 0.05). A lower crude protein range (6.28% for Cichorium intybus L. to 18.4% for Melissa officinalis L.) was observed rather than Medicago sativa (20.3%). The amount of calcium was highest in Peganum harmala L. (23.5–24.2 g/kg DM) and lowest in Ruta graveolens L. (1.15–1.25 g/kg DM). Dracocephalum moldavica L. exhibited the highest acid–base buffering capacity (235–242 mEq×10⁻³) among other plants. The highest decrease in total protozoa and other protozoan populations was observed when Perovskia abrotanoides Kar. was added to the culture medium. Teucrium Polium L. had the greatest potential gas yield and its total volatile fatty acid was comparable with Medicago sativa. It seems that eight plants are nutritionally suitable for partial replacement of the conventional plants such as Medicago sativa in diets of small ruminants, however dietary supplementation of Peganum harmala L. due to its alkaloids content should be done with caution.

Concussion knowledge among North American chiropractors

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the degree of knowledge North American chiropractors have in regards to concussion diagnosis and management.

METHODS

A Concussion Knowledge Assessment Tool (CKAT) survey was administered to North American chiropractors through SurveyMonkey.com. This survey was sent to all practicing members of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA).

RESULTS

1321 surveys were completed and analyzed (response rate of 3.3%). The average score of the CKAT amongst North American Chiropractors was 4.82 out of 9. Using our modified scoring method, chiropractors scored 39.44 out of 48.

CONCLUSIONS

North American chiropractors who participated in this study demonstrated concussion knowledge and management using the CKAT tool. Further investigation is recommended in order to address learning gaps and updating the CKAT based on current literature and guidelines.

A clinical crossover trial of the effect of manipulative therapy on pain and passive and active range of motion of the painful hip

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to determine whether manipulative therapy of the hip joint can increase range of motion (ROM) and/or decrease pain in individuals experiencing symptomatic hip pain.

METHODS

Non-disabled young adults were recruited on campus of a chiropractic college for this randomized crossover study. Subjects' hip active and passive ROM and pain perception were measured. Subjects then received a drop-piece hip manipulation (DPHM) or an alternative treatment, followed by measurement of active and passive ROM and pain.

RESULTS

Eight males and 12 females (n=20) between the ages of 21-32 years completed the study. Statistically significant improvements in numeric pain scale (NRS) and passive abduction were observed for the manipulation group when compared to the alternative treatment. No significant change was observed for all other hip ranges.

CONCLUSIONS

DPHM of the symptomatic hip joint in a small sample of young adults resulted in statistically significant improvements in pain and passive abduction when compared to sham manipulation. Due to low sample size, further research is recommended.

Characteristics of adolescent athletes seeking early versus late care for sport-related concussion

OBJECTIVES

1) To determine which characteristics of adolescent athletes with SRC are associated with 'early' versus 'late' presentation for multimodal treatment; 2) to build a propensity score to investigate the effects of treatment timing during the management of SRCs.

METHODS

Associations between early (0-7 days) versus late (8-28 days) presentation for treatment and pre-specified sociodemographic, pre-injury and injury characteristics were investigated in a historical cohort study of 2949 multi-sport athletes across Canada aged 12-18 years diagnosed with a SRC in community-based healthcare clinics.

RESULTS

Early presentation was associated with being male, completing a pre-injury baseline assessment, and responding 'yes' or 'no' to having a diagnosed learning disability. Older athletes who reported previous SRCs were less likely to present early. The propensity score demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.69 to 0.73).

CONCLUSIONS

Male athletes with a completed baseline assessment were more likely to seek early treatment following a SRC, and older athletes who reported a greater number of previous SRCs were less likely to present early. External validation of the propensity score is needed before examining the impact of treatment timing on adolescent athlete recovery outcomes.

Immunity Evaluation of an Experimental Designed Nanoliposomal Vaccine Containing FMDV Immunodominant Peptides

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals. The particular virus causing FMD disease is called FMD virus and is a member of the Aphthovirus genus in the Picornaviridae family. The FMD virus has an 8500 nt long single strain positive RNA genome with one open reading frame (ORF) trapped in an icosahedral capsid protein. This virus genome doesn't have proofreading property which leads to high mutagenesis. It has seven serotypes, including O, A, ASIA, SAT1, SAT2, and C serotypes, as well as many subtypes. Iran is an endemic region for foot-and-mouth disease. Vaccination of susceptible animals with an inactivated whole-virus vaccine is the only way to control the epidemic in many developing countries. Today, conventionally attenuated and killed virus vaccines are being used worldwide. In Iran, animals have been vaccinated every 105 days with an inactivated FMD vaccine. Although commercially available FMD vaccines are effective, they provide short-term immunity requiring regular boosters. A new FMD vaccine is needed to improve immunization, safety, and long-term immune responses. A synthetic peptide vaccine is one of the safe and important vaccines. Peptide vaccine has low immunogenicity, requiring strong adjuvants. Nanoliposomes can be used as new adjuvants to improve immune response. In the current study, nanoliposomal carriers were selected using Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), dimyristoyl phosphoglycerol (DMPG), and Cholesterol (Chol) as an adjuvant containing two immunodominant synthetic FMDV peptides. The liposomal formulations were characterized by various physicochemical properties. The size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency were optimized, and the obtained nanoliposome was suitable as a vaccine. The efficacy of vaccines has been evaluated in guinea pigs as animal models. Indirect ELISA was used to detect FMDV-specific IgG. The obtained results indicated that although antibody titer was observed, the amount was lower compared to the groups that received inactivated virus-containing liposomes. In addition, the results showed that liposome was an appropriate adjuvant, compared to other adjuvants, such as Alum and Freund, and can act as a depot and induce an immune response.

Coordinated energy management strategy in scheme of flexible grid-connected hubs participating in energy and reserve markets

This paper uses the coordinated energy management strategy for different sources and storages in the framework of flexible grid-connected energy hubs that participate in the day-ahead (DA) energy and reserve markets. In the base problem, this method maximizes the difference between the expected revenue of hubs gained by selling energy and reserve power in the proposed markets and the expected cost of lost flexibility (COLF). Also, it is subject to linearized optimal power flow (LOPF) equations in the electricity, gas and district heating systems, as well as hub constraints including different sources, storages and reserve models. This problem contains uncertainties of load, market price, reserve requirement, renewable power and hub mobile storages parameters. Therefore, the hybrid stochastic/robust optimization (HSRO) is suitable to model these uncertain parameters and obtain robust capability for the hub to improve the system flexibility. Accordingly, the bounded uncertainty-based robust optimization (BURO) is used in this paper to model the uncertainty of hub mobile storages to achieve the hub robust potential in improving the system flexibility, and other uncertain parameters are modeled according to scenario-based stochastic programming (SBSP). Finally, the proposed strategy is implemented on a standard test system. The obtained numerical results confirm the capability of the suggested scheme in improving the economic status of sources and storages using the coordinated energy management strategy in the form of an energy hub, as well as enhancing economic conditions, operation, and flexibility of energy networks thanks to hubs for having access to optimal scheduling.

Use of Bentofeed and Persian Melon Peel Biochar in the Decolorization of Water Contaminated with Methylene Blue and their Effects on In vitro Ruminal Fermentation

This study conducted two experiments to evaluate the effects of two cheap adsorbents, including bentofeed (a commercial name of bentonite) and Persian melon peel biochar (PMPB) on the decolorization of water contaminated by methylene blue (MB) and ruminal fermentation pattern. The decolorization efficiency of bentofeed and PMPB at three levels of 0, 4, and 8 mg per 10 ml of 0, 3, 6, and 9 mg/L MB solutions mg/L after 3 and 24 h of incubation was evaluated by its absorbance at 660 nm. At all dye concentrations, PMPB, and bentofeed showed high potential in removing MB from water with an efficiency of 60%-99.5%. In both incubation times, the addition of 8 mg bentofeed had the highest effect on the removal efficiency when the dye concentration was 6 or 9 mg/L. However, the removal efficiency was declined with increasing MB concentration (p &amp;lt;0.05). Experiment two evaluated the effects of various levels (same as experiment one) of MB, bentofeed, and PMPB on in vitro gas production (GP) and volatile fatty acids (VFA) in two individual 4&amp;times;3 factorial experiments. The potential GP (b), rate constant of gas production (c), metabolizable energy, organic matter digestibility, and total VFA were significantly decreased with increasing MB in the medium (p &amp;lt;0.05), while all parameters were increased when bentofeed or PMPB was added to the medium containing MB (p &amp;lt;0.05). The amounts of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids were not affected by PMPB; however, they changed when bentofeed was added to the medium (p &amp;lt;0.05). The NH3-N concentration was decreased significantly following the increase of MB; moreover, it was increased when PMPB and bentofeed were added to the medium. MB, as a water contaminant agent, had negative effects on ruminal fermentation parameters. Both adsorbents (i.e., PMPB and specially bentofeed) were efficiently able to remove MB from the water. The negative effects of MB on fermentation parameters were also alleviated as a result of using bentofeed or PMPB. It seems that bentofeed has the higher adsorption property of MB, compared to that of the PMPB.

An investigation on chemical/mineral compositions, ruminal microbial fermentation, and feeding value of some leaves as alternative forages for finishing goats during the dry season

Finding new fodder resources with moderate to high nutritional value that are cheaper and available is one of the most challenges in livestock industries. Hence, the nutritive value of some tree leaves (quince, pear, olive, mirabelle plum, greengage, sour cherry, and persimmon) was investigated by different laboratories and in vitro methods. Also, partial substitution of alfalfa and corn silage (50%) with these leaves was investigated using forty-eight goats in a randomized complete block design in vivo. Highest total phenol and tannin contents were obtained in quince (p < 0.001). Greengage (146.37 g/kg DM) and persimmon (136.96 g/kg DM) exhibited the highest crude protein, respectively (p < 0.001). Calcium content (19.82 g/kg DM) was highest in persimmon leaves (p < 0.001). Greengage (66.07 mmol/L) and mirabelle plum (65.58 mmol/L) produced more total volatile fatty acids in the culture medium, respectively (p < 0.001). Potential gas production ranged from 39.65 mL for pear to 55.32 mL mirabelle plum. Sour cherry had the highest acid-base buffering capacity (183.73 mEq × 10^-3, p < 0.001). Highest dry matter intake (1087 g/day) and crude protein digestibility (70.80 %) were observed in diets containing greengage (p < 0.001). Total antioxidant capacity of serum increased when olive, quince, and persimmon were considered in goats feeding (p < 0.001). Although all studied leaves can be fed in diets of goats without deleterious effects on performance, serum, and hematology parameters, in vivo and in vitro results indicated that greengage in terms of nutritive value was superior to other studied leaves.

The nutritional value of some fruit tree leaves for finishing lambs

The nutritional value of some tree leaves (grape, common fig, barberry, sweet cherry, apricot, peach, and oleaster) was investigated by in vitro and common laboratory methods. Also, thirty Baluchi male lambs were randomly divided into five groups, including one control group (alfalfa) and four experimental groups, which received diets containing different leaves (barberry, apricot, peach, and grape). The crude protein content ranged from 128 for the sweet cherry to 164 g/kg DM for grape. Common fig and barberry had the greatest and lowest calcium (29.3 vs. 11.5 g/kg DM), respectively (p < 0.001). The greatest total volatile fatty acids, dry matter and organic matter digestibilities, as well as potential gas production, were observed in barberry leaves (p < 0.001). Apricot had the greatest acid-base buffering capacity (245 mEq × 10^-3) (p < 0.001). Lambs fed with barberry had a greater average daily gain (179 g/day, p = 0.013). The results of in vitro and in vivo indicated that barberry leaves had a greater nutritional value among the studied leaves. It is concluded that alfalfa can be replaced with barberry, apricot, peach, and grape leaves up to 250 g/kg DM in diet without deleterious effects on performance, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, and hematology.

Prediction of Hospitalization Length. Quantile Regression Predicts Hospitalization Length and its Related Factors better than Available Methods

BACKGROUND

Length of hospitalization is one of the most important indices in evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of hospitals and the optimal use of resources. Identifying these indices' associated factors could be useful. This study aimed to investigate effective factors of the length of hospitalization in Zanjan teaching hospitals in 2018 using the Quantile regression model.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,031 patients. The study population consisted of patients in orthopaedic, pediatric, internal, surgical and intensive care units. The samples were selected by multistage random sampling. The information was collected by a pre-designed checklist. The Quantile regression model and ordinary regression model were performed on the data.

RESULTS

Of the 1,031 patients admitted to different units, 624 (60.52%) were male. Mean and standard deviation of length of hospitalization for men, women and all patients were 7.25±5.48, 8.09±6.35 and 7.58±5.83 respectively. For 90 percent of patients the length of hospitalization was less than 14 days. Twenty-five percent of patients in pediatric and orthopedic units and ten percent of patients in internal and surgery units were hospitalized less than three days. In all quantiles, patients' length of hospitalization in surgery and orthopedic units, compared to the intensive care unit, and patients hospitalized for injuries and poisonings compared to other causes, had a statistically significant difference. (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Due to the heterogeneity (skewness) of the length of hospital stay in different units of the hospital, the quantile regression model predicts the length of hospital stay more precisely than the ordinary regression models.

ENRICH: A fast method to improve the quality of flexible macromolecular reconstructions

Cryo-electron microscopy using single particle analysis requires the computational averaging of thousands of projection images captured from identical macromolecules. However, macromolecules usually present some degree of flexibility showing different conformations. Computational approaches are then required to classify heterogeneous single particle images into homogeneous sets corresponding to different structural states. Nonetheless, sometimes the attainable resolution of reconstructions obtained from these smaller homogeneous sets is compromised because of reduced number of particles or lack of images at certain macromolecular orientations. In these situations, the current solution to improve map resolution is returning to the electron microscope and collect more data. In this work, we present a fast approach to partially overcome this limitation for heterogeneous data sets. Our method is based on deforming and then moving particles between different conformations using an optical flow approach. Particles are then merged into a unique conformation obtaining reconstructions with improved resolution, contrast and signal-to-noise ratio. We present experimental results that show clear improvements in the quality of obtained 3D maps, however, there are also limits to this approach, i.e., the method is restricted to small deformations and cannot determine local patterns of flexibility of small elements, such as secondary structures, which we discuss in the manuscript.

Releasing and structural/mechanical properties of nano-particle/Punica granatum (Pomegranate) in poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid/fibrin as nano-composite scaffold

The effect of poly(lactic‑co‑glycolic acid) (PLGA) on structure, degradation, drug release and mechanical properties of fibrin/pomegranate(F/POM)-based drug‑eluting scaffolds have been studied comprehensively.

METHODS AND MATERIAL

Nanoparticle-fibrin is prepared from thrombin and fibrinogen dissolved in NaOH and HCl. Then pomegranate powder is added to it. Nanoparticles/pom are provided by freeze drying and freeze milling. The 3-D scaffold of poly(lactide-co‑glycolic acid) (PLGA) was prepared via salt‑leaching solvent/casting leaching method and impregnated with nanofibrin-pom. Structural and chemical component of the scaffolds were evaluated by transmission and scanning electron microscopy and furrier transmission infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Moreover, the scaffolds were characterized from the degradation rate and drug releasing rate points of view of human Adipose Derive Stem Cells (hADSCs). Cytotoxicity effects of the scaffold were evaluated on hADSCs via MTT assay.

RESULTS

The results showed that the size of nanoparticles was about 100 nm. The scaffold had a slow degradation rate and it caused a sustained release pattern of pom. MTT assay indicated that nanoparticles had no cytotoxicity and fibrin-pom nanoparticles increased compressive strength of PLGA/scaffolds dramatically and also caused a proper compressive modulus.

CONCLUSIONS

By adding F/POM nanoparticle to PLGA and fabricating a three‑dimensional nanocomposite scaffold (PLGA/F/POM nanoparticle), special physical and mechanical properties also suitable for drug release and cell behavior were achieved, which makes it suitable for cartilage tissue engineering applications (Tab. 1, Fig. 7, Ref. 53) Keywords: hybrid composites, drug delivery, carrier, nanoparticles, scaffold.

Multi-modal management of sport and non-sport related concussion by chiropractic sports specialists: a case series

This case series describes the multi-modal treatment plans delivered by two chiropractic sports specialists for the management of post-concussive symptoms (PCS). Three concussion cases are presented each with different mechanisms of injury (two sportrelated and one non-sport-related) and each within a different stage of recovery (acute, sub-acute, and chronic). Treatment plans included patient education, sub-symptom threshold exercise, soft-tissue therapy, spinal manipulation, and cervical spine as well as visual/vestibular rehabilitation exercises. This series highlights three important observations: (1) the efficacy of individualized, multi-modal treatment plans based on suggested clinical profiles for patients with PCS of various stages; (2) that the delineation of concussion literature based on mechanism of injury (i.e. sport- vs. non-sport-related) may be unnecessary; and (3) these cases provide encouraging evidence to support the inclusion of manual therapists with advanced knowledge of concussion treatment, such as chiropractors, as part of the interdisciplinary healthcare team when managing patients with PCS.

The use of a multi-modal approach in the rehabilitation of a pre-operative grade 3 ACL tear in a world-level Poomsae athlete: a case report

OBJECTIVE

This case is designed to aid practitioners in understanding the potential role of multi-modal care with vibration rehabilitative exercise for a complete ACL tear in a high-level Poomsae athlete.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 16-year-old male world-class Poomsae athlete presented with a right ACL rupture and LCL sprain. An extensive clinical examination and imaging confirmed a right grade 3 ACL tear. Due to the complete tear and impending participation in World Championships, a pre-operative rehabilitation strategy was implemented with treatment modalities aimed to accelerate return-to-play.

SUMMARY

An appropriate clinical history and physical examination of the knee is required when instability is present. Imaging is indicated when testing criteria are positive. Clinicians should be aware that multiple therapies can each serve a role in conservative care to better suit patient demands, especially at high levels of sport. In the article, the author proposes a tailored protocol using vibration rehabilitative exercise, bracing, vibration therapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and laser to improve healing and sport-specific outcomes.

Construct validity and reliability of the Concussion Knowledge Assessment Tool (CKAT)

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the test-retest reliability and construct validity of the concussion knowledge assessment tool (CKAT) as a measure of knowledge of concussion and its management among chiropractic subgroups and to compare these properties for two scoring strategies for the CKAT.

METHODS

Three chiropractic subgroups (first year students, interns and sports chiropractors) completed the CKAT via SurveyMonkey with as second administration two to six weeks later for a subset of respondents. Scatter plots and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) were used for test-retest reliability. A priori hypotheses regarding the relationship of CKAT scores across known subgroups, and with concussion knowledge self-rankings were established prior to data collection. Distributions of CKAT scores were compared across the subgroups using boxplots and ANOVA for known groups validity, and correlation of CKAT scores with concussion knowledge self-ranking was examined.

RESULTS

Test-retest ICC for the revised scoring was 0.68 (95%CI 0.51-0.80). First year students had a mean revised CKAT (out of 49) of 36.9 (SD= 4.7), interns 39.9 (SD=3.0) and sports chiropractors 41.8 (SD=3.2) which are significantly different (F_2,125=17.54; p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The CKAT distinguished between chiropractic subgroups expected to have different levels of knowledge, supporting construct validity, however, it did not achieve adequate test-retest reliability.

Exposure to heavy metals and the risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The relationship between heavy metal exposure and risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis has biological plausibility, yet it remains inconclusive; therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the associations between exposure to heavy metals (i.e., cadmium, lead, and mercury) and the risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis. Databases of MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched through November 2019, to identify studies that evaluated the relationship between exposure to cadmium, lead, and mercury and risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis in adults. Fourteen eligible studies were included. Effect sizes expressed as pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using weighted random-effect models. Exposure to cadmium (OR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.56; P ≤ 0.001) and lead (OR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.32; P = 0.05) was associated with an increased risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis, unlike mercury. Subgroup analyses showed cadmium exposure increased the risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis in older (> 65 yrs.; OR = 1.43; 95%CI: 1.08 to 1.88, P = 0.01) compared with younger (18-65 yrs.; OR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.52, P = 0.03) adults. Also, lead exposure increased the risk in men (OR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.15 to 2.09, P = 0.007) unlike in women. By contrast to urinary levels, blood (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.47, P = 0.003) and dietary (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.28 to 1.67, P < 0.001) levels of cadmium were associated with an increased risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis. Exposure to cadmium and lead may be associated with an increased risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis, although high heterogeneity was detected.

The effect of a six-week plyometric training on dynamic balance and knee proprioception in female badminton players

OBJECTIVE

Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most common severe injuries among female badminton players. Dynamic balance (DB) and knee proprioception (KP) are critical in preventing this injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a six-week plyometric training (PT) program on DB and KP in female badminton players.

METHODS

Twenty-two healthy beginner female badminton players were randomly assigned to either control (CG) or experimental group (ExG). The ExG went through PT for six weeks. Pre- and post-intervention Y balance and photography tests were used to assess DB and KP, respectively.

RESULTS

There was no difference between groups prior to PT in DB (p=0.804) and KP (at 45°, p=0.085 and at 60°, p=0.472 angles; p>0.05). However, after the PT only ExG improved significantly in DB (p=0.003) and KP (at 45°, p=0.004 and at 60°, p=0.010 angles; p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Female badminton players' dynamic balance and knee proprioception improved significantly after plyometric training (PT). These results may be important in preventing non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which requires further investigation.

An Asymmetric Opening of HIV-1 Envelope Mediates Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity

The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) (gp120-gp41)₃ is the target for neutralizing antibodies and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). HIV-1 Env is flexible, sampling different conformational states. Before engaging CD4, Env adopts a closed conformation (State 1) that is largely antibody resistant. CD4 binding induces an intermediate state (State 2), followed by an open conformation (State 3) that is susceptible to engagement by antibodies that recognize otherwise occluded epitopes. We investigate conformational changes in Env that induce ADCC in the presence of a small-molecule CD4-mimetic compound (CD4mc). We uncover an asymmetric Env conformation (State 2A) recognized by antibodies targeting the conserved gp120 inner domain and mediating ADCC. Sera from HIV+ individuals contain these antibodies, which can stabilize Env State 2A in combination with CD4mc. Additionally, triggering State 2A on HIV-infected primary CD4⁺ T cells exposes epitopes that induce ADCC. Strategies that induce this Env conformation may represent approaches to fight HIV-1 infection.

Effects of local vibration therapy on various performance parameters: a narrative literature review

INTRODUCTION

The therapeutic effects of local muscle vibration (LMV) remain controversial due to a lack of specific protocols. This review was conducted to better understand the effects of various LMV application protocols.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed based on title and abstract and a set of predetermined inclusion criteria. Study quality was then evaluated via the PEDro scale.

RESULTS

23 articles were returned initially, and 21 studies were evaluated. The average PEDro score was 5.97/10. Reported outcome measures included muscle activation, strength, power, and range of motion / flexibility. The frequency and amplitude of LMV ranged from 5 - 300 Hz and 0.12-12 mm respectively, and duration from 6 seconds - 30 minutes.

CONCLUSION

Most studies found that LMV elicits beneficial changes in the mentioned outcome measures. However, the methodological procedures used are quite heterogeneous. Further research is needed to understand the optimal application of LMV.

Map challenge: Analysis using a pair comparison method based on Fourier shell correlation

This document presents the analysis performed over the Map Challenge dataset using a new algorithm which we refer to as Pair Comparison Method. The new algorithm, which is described in detail in the text, is able to sort reconstructions based on a figure of merit and assigns a level of significance to the sorting. That is, it shows how likely the sorting is due to chance or if it reflects real differences.