The dramatic rise in health care and economic costs as well as increases in morbidity and mortality related to lifestyle behaviors and non-communicable diseases have resulted in an increasing emphasis on research and intervention initiatives aimed at primary prevention. As there is growing evidence that the antecedents of adult diseases such as obesity and osteoporosis have roots in early childhood, physical activity interventions in early childhood (4 to 6 years of age), which has been identified as a critical period, may influence the development of fat and bone mass at this young age and have a potential impact on adolescent and young adult health status and thus improve population health. The intent of this study was to investigate the effects of structured physical activity, specifically early involvement in gymnastics, on early childhood body composition development.<P>Sixty three (25 male and 38 female) 4 to 6 year old children participating in gymnastics programs were compared to 95 control (49 male and 46 female) children. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure whole body bone density and fat mass. Physical activity, physical inactivity, dietary intake, and birth weight of the participants as well as parental heights and weights were also obtained. <P>No significant differences were found, at any age, between the groups in height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, skinfold thickness, physical activity, physical inactivity, dietary intakes, and birth weight or in parental heights and weights (p>0.05). Additionally, there were no significant differences in fat and bone parameters once the confounders of age and size were controlled (p>0.05). <P>This investigation found that young children entering a gymnastics program did not differ in either bone mass or fat mass compared to controls. This was surprising as differences in these parameters have been found in adolescent gymnasts. Thus my results indicate that the potential effects of gymnastics training may have not yet manifested themselves. To answer this question longitudinal measures are required to ascertain whether the body composition differences observed in adolescent gymnasts are due to prolonged exposure to gymnastics involvement.

The dramatic rise in health care and economic costs as well as increases in morbidity and mortality related to lifestyle behaviors and non-communicable diseases have resulted in an increasing emphasis on research and intervention initiatives aimed at primary prevention. As there is growing evidence that the antecedents of adult diseases such as obesity and osteoporosis have roots in early childhood, physical activity interventions in early childhood (4 to 6 years of age), which has been identified as a critical period, may influence the development of fat and bone mass at this young age and have a potential impact on adolescent and young adult health status and thus improve population health. The intent of this study was to investigate the effects of structured physical activity, specifically early involvement in gymnastics, on early childhood body composition development.<P>Sixty three (25 male and 38 female) 4 to 6 year old children participating in gymnastics programs were compared to 95 control (49 male and 46 female) children. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure whole body bone density and fat mass. Physical activity, physical inactivity, dietary intake, and birth weight of the participants as well as parental heights and weights were also obtained. <P>No significant differences were found, at any age, between the groups in height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, skinfold thickness, physical activity, physical inactivity, dietary intakes, and birth weight or in parental heights and weights (p>0.05). Additionally, there were no significant differences in fat and bone parameters once the confounders of age and size were controlled (p>0.05). <P>This investigation found that young children entering a gymnastics program did not differ in either bone mass or fat mass compared to controls. This was surprising as differences in these parameters have been found in adolescent gymnasts. Thus my results indicate that the potential effects of gymnastics training may have not yet manifested themselves. To answer this question longitudinal measures are required to ascertain whether the body composition differences observed in adolescent gymnasts are due to prolonged exposure to gymnastics involvement.

Apart from its slender appearance, four main factors lead to questions regarding the bone density, mineral content and morphology of the giraffe skeleton: X A rapid vertical growth rate ¡V especially in the neck and metapodials X Biomechanical considerations pertaining to the tall and slender shape of the skeleton X A proportionally larger skeleton in relation to body mass X A seemingly abnormal mineral balance in their diet with possible signs of mineral deficiency (i.e. osteophagia) In this study the skeleton of the giraffe was compared with that of the African buffalo with regards to bone density, skeletal calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) content and certain femoral and metacarpal morphological characteristics. The aim was to establish if, compared to buffalo, the features of the giraffe skeleton differed in any unique way. Fourteen similar bones or parts of bones were collected from carcasses of six adult giraffe bulls and nine adult buffalo bulls. These bones were cleaned, weighed and their volume determined through water displacement, from which their density could be calculated. Hereafter, Ca and P content were analysed in 10 bones from each carcass. Morphological characteristics of cross-sections from femoral and metacarpal shafts were also measured. No significant differences between the density or mineral content of bones in the two species could be found. In both species 19,5% Ca and 9,5% P were measured in defatted bone. Although similar in mineral concentration, the giraffe skeleton contains three times more absolute Ca and P, which translates into a 1,5-2-fold higher dietary requirement for these minerals compared to buffaloes. A gradation in the volume and weight of cervical vertebrae was also seen in giraffes. This could hold biomechanical advantage for the carriage and manoeuvrability of the long neck. Bone wall thickness of the giraffe femur and metacarpus is increased compared to buffaloes. This could hold biomechanical advantage for the slender legs that are subjected to increased vertical forces. Adequate Ca seems to be acquired through very specific browse selection, which seems to be of evolutionary origin, while the acquisition of adequate P seems to be critical and a possible cause for osteophagia. This study is the first of its kind in these species and therefore also provide valuable baseline data for future work in this field. / Dissertation (MSc (Veterinary Science))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Production Animal Studies / unrestricted

<p>Astronaut diets on the International Space Station (ISS) depend on resupplied packaged food. However, missions to Mars of 3-5 years will not accommodate re-supply. In addition, many human macro and micronutrients degrade during long-term storage. Thus, growing nutritional plants aboard ISS is essential for providing astronauts with fresh, healthy produce. NASA is usingan experimental vegetable- production unit called VEGGIE to grow fresh salad crops aboard ISS to provide astronauts with healthy diets. VEGGIE is a small plant-growth chamber designed as a garden for astronauts that is low in mass and has a low power requirement. Veggie is equipped with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) but is exposed to the ISS cabin environment. Plants are grown with roots in a baked-ceramic substrate (arcillite) incorporating controlled-release fertilizer (Nutricote) and wicks delivering water by capillary action from a reservoir.</p><br><div>The fertilizerprills release nutrients into arcillite slowly over time. Different controlled-release types have the same amount of fertilizer but release it over different time periods. The Purdue Mitchell lab in collaboration with NASA is testing growth of salad crops within VEGGIE analogs under ISS-like environments in a growth chamber. Specifically, we are evaluating effects of different controlled-release fertilizer treatments as well as different substrate particle sizeson “cut-and-come-again” harvest scenarios, comparing productivity and quality of Lettuce as well as anAsian salad crop called Mizuna.<br></div><div><br></div><div>SS environments being mimicked include temperature: 24/21°C D/N, CO2: 2800 PPM D/N, RH: 45-50% D/N, and photoperiod: 16hours.Arcillitemedium contained one oftwo different fertilizer mixes: 7.5g18-6-8 T 70 + 7.5g 18-6-8 T100, or 7.5g18-6-8 T70 +7.5g 18-6-8 T180fertilizer/liter medium. LED Light treatment provides atotal PPFDof 330µmol m--2s-1 PAR; with 270µmol m--2s-1Red(R), 30µmol m--2s-1Blue (B), and 30µmol m--2s-1Green (G). Plants are grown under those conditions for 8 weeks, and harvested three times at 28, 42, and 56 days from planting. At each harvest, yield parameters as well as tissue mineral content have been measured for optimum fertilizer treatment selection.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Lettuce and Mizuna plants grown in a mix of 100% fine substrate particles (Profile) and fertilizer treatment of 50% T100:50%T70 had the higher yield as well as nitrogen contentcompared to those grown in 50%T180:50%T70. Growing mizuna plants in 100% profile resulted in higher shoot fresh weight; although no significant differences occurred for shoot dry weight. In addition, there was no significant interaction between substrate and fertilizer, which is reported by other research as one of the advantages of using controlled-release fertilizer<br></div>

Unauthorized reproduction of this 8 article is prohibited. Objective:To examine differences in bone mass between children and adolescents swimming competitively at nonelite levels (locally and regionally) and nonathletes and to assess changes in bone mass in these 2 groups over 24 months after taking into consideration several known confounders of bone mass.Design:Observational prospective study.Participants:White nonelite swimmers (n=128) and nonathletes (n=106) 8 to 18 years of age from Memphis, Tennessee, USA.Main Outcome Measures:Participants underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry to assess total body and hip bone mineral content (BMC) at baseline and 12 and 24 months later.Results:At baseline, swimmers had 4.2% and 6.1% higher adjusted BMC for the total body and hip, respectively, compared with nonathletes (P values < 0.027). Averaging across assessment points, swimmers had 73.5 and 2.2 g higher BMC for the total body and hip, respectively, than nonathletes. Although there was a significant annual increase in total body and hip BMC in both groups (33.5 and 0.7 g, respectively), there was no difference in annualized bone accrual between swimmers and nonathletes for either total body BMC (swim by time effect; P=0.213) or hip BMC (P=0.265).Conclusions:Competitive swimming at nonelite levels during childhood and adolescence does not seem to compromise bone accrual.

Twenty-five piston cores 6 to 12 feet long were obtained from the deepwater sediments of Bear Lake, Utah-Idaho. Analyses of these cores revealed that the deep-water sediments of the lake are divided into two major S('f]Uflnces: a younger sequence rich in carbonate minerals, here called the carbonate sequence, and an older sequence rich in silicate minerals, referred to in this paper as the silt sequence. The carbonate sequence is composed of clay-sized quartz, aragonite, calcite, dolomite, montmorillonite, illite, kaolinite, chlorite, and amorphous material. The silt sequence consists of both silt- sized and claysized particles of quartz, calc ite, dolomite, montmorillonite, illite, kaolinite, chlorite, and amorphous material. Aragonite is absent in the silt sequence. The carbo nate sequence is rich in ostracod exoskeletons and pollen grains. Small quantities of woody material and dark, organic-rich wnes occur within the silt sequence. Chemical analyses for Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, K, Zn, Na , and Sr were reformed on the sediments. Unusually high concentrations of Fe (8.25 percent) were found in the silt sequence, and of Sr (0 .110 percent), in the carbonate sequence. Isotopic analyses for o18 and c13 in the lake sediments indicate that formation of the authigenic carbonate minerals occurred under normal lake-bottom conditions. From the data collected, the following conclusions or inferences are made. The carbonate sequence was deposited in water depths similar to, or grea ter than, those of the present. Within this sequence, aragonite is precipitating at present from solution in such quantities that it is responsible for the inversion of the average Ca/ Mg mole ratio of inflowing water of 2:1 to a Ca/ Mg mole ratio of 1:5 in the lake water. The high concentration of Mg +2 and possible high concentration of Sr+2 in the lake water have resulted in conditions favorable for development of protodolomite. Atypical X-ray diffraction patterns for calcite and dolomite, and the relative abundances of aragonite, calc ite, and dolomite reveal that protodolomite probably is, or has been, forming in Bear Lake. The silt sequence was deposited in water shallow enough for rooted plants to establish themselves . In this shallow environment detrital sediments rich in kaolinitic clay derived from the· Bear Lake Plateau were altered to sediments rich in montmorillonitic clay and amorphous materials. The sharp contact between the silt sequence and the overlying carbonate sequence apparently represents abrupt termination of widespread swampy depositional conditions in the Bear Lake graben, caused by flooding, which possibly resulted from the most recent major episode of downfaulting of Bear Lake Valley.

Early life factors such as birth weight have been associated with the risk of disease in adulthood, including osteoporosis. In the United States, an estimated eight million women have osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone mass and associated with increased risk of fracture. Peak bone mass, achieved during early adulthood, is a key determinant of risk of subsequent osteoporosis. Prior studies have suggested that an individual's birth weight is positively associated with bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) but results have differed depending on site of bone measurement and other factors considered. We assessed the relationship between birth weight and BMC and BMD using data from the University of Massachusetts Vitamin D Status Study, a cross-sectional study of 186 US women aged 18 to 30 years. Birth weight was assessed via self report and BMC and BMD were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Multivariable linear regression and multivariable logistic regression were used to model the association between birth weight and BMC and BMD, adjusting for established risk factors for low bone density. After controlling for important factors, birth weight was positively associated with BMC and BMD, in large part due to the strong relationship between birth weight and body size. A better understanding of the physiology of the association between birth weight and adult body size and peak bone mass is needed to determine if birth weight is independently associated with peak bone mass.

Rice is an important human staple food for over half of the world’s population. Amylose content (AC), gelatinization temperature (GT), grain protein content (GPC), percentage grain chalkiness (PGC), and mineral content are important parameters for evaluating rice quality, which attracts customers and breeders. Only limited genes or QTLs (OsAAP6, OsGluA2, OsASN1, Chalk5, OsHMA3, etc.) are reported regulating rice GPC, PGC, and mineral content due to the lack of genetic knowledge and molecular markers. To dissect the genetic architecture of rice grain quality regulation, genome wide association studies (GWAS) were performed using two populations (USDA-mini core collection and a panel of 662 rice accessions from the 3K Rice Genomes Project). A total of 28, 11, 4, 3, 40, 3, 4, 3, and 10 QTLs were identified associated with Cd, Co, Cu, K, Mo, Ni, Rb, Sr, and Zn under flooded environment, while, 23, 7, 7, 7, and 3 QTLs were detected to be associated with Cd, Fe, Mo, Ni, and Zn under unflooded environment, respectively. Moreover, 6, 5, and 2 significant QTLs were tightly associated with kernel length, kernel rate, kernel width, respectively. Furthermore, 44, 7, 27, and 20 QTLs were identified associated with AC, GT, GPC, and PGC, respectively. Overall, 53 (~ 20.08%) of the 264 QTLs were coinciding with previously reported QTLs/genes, and 211 (~ 79.92%) were novel QTLs. A candidate gene, OsPCAT (putative cationic transporter), associated with GPC in the dry season was selected for further analysis. The OsPCAT gene belongs to the amino acid transporters (AATs) family with nine closely related members reported in Oryza Sativa. The classification and evolution of the CAT family (a subgroup of AATs family) using 61 species were studied. The over-expression lines (OsPCAT-OX) and CRISPR-Cas9 knock-out lines (OsPCAT-KO) were developed to study the function of OsPCAT gene. The preliminary results showed the GPC in OsPCAT-OX lines was increased and OsPCAT-KO lines were decreased compared to WT. Overall, a large number of new and reported QTLs associated with rice grain quality have been identified. This work lays the foundation for marker development in breeding and further investigation on rice grain quality regulation.

No description available.

Bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD), measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry are used clinically to diagnose osteoporosis and estimate risk for fragility fractures. Bone mineral explains up to 70% of bone strength; however, it does not take into account bone geometry. Mechanical Response Tissue Analysis is a method of non-invasively measuring the bending stiffness (EI) of bone which is determined by the product of Young's modulus of elasticity (E) and the areal cross sectional moment of inertia (I). The aim of the current study was to determine if high intensity strength training will increase ulnar bending stiffness in young women. Forty-nine women aged 19.9 ± 1.7 yrs, trained their nondominant arm either concentrically or eccentrically in the Isokinetic modality on the Biodex® system III 3d/wk for 32 wks. The dominant arm served as the control limb (untrained). Analysis of all subjects regardless of training mode demonstrated a significant increase in ulnar EI (22% ↑, P=0.01) with no significant difference in the untrained arm. When EI results were assessed by training mode, subjects who trained eccentrically showed a significant increase for ulnar EI in the trained limb (40% ↑, P=0.01) with no significant effect on the untrained limb while concentric training demonstrated no significant gain in either the trained or untrained arm. There was no effect of time x mode of training interaction for either the trained or untrained limb. Bone mineral density and bone mineral content of the ulna increased significantly in the trained arm in both concentric and eccentric training modes (P<0.05). These findings suggest support for the hypothesis that a critical threshold of mechanical bending loads may be necessary to effect an adaptation in bone strength and thus, eccentric training may be a novel approach to increase ulnar EI in young women. / Master of Science