Influence of core stability exercise on lumbar vertebral instability in patients presented with chronic low back pain: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Excessive lumbar vertebrae translation and rotation in sagittal plane has been attributed as an associated factor of lumbar segmental instability (LSI) and low back pain (LBP). Reduction of these abnormalities improves back pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of core stability exercise on the translation and rotation of lumbar vertebrae in sagittal plane in patients with nonspecific chronic LBP (NSCLBP). Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 30 patients with NSCLBP due to LSI were included. The participants were randomly divided into two groups of treatment and control. The treatment group received general exercises plus core stability exercise for 8 weeks whereas; the control group received only general exercises. The magnitude of translation (mm) and rotation (deg) of lumbar vertebrae in the sagittal plane was determined by radiography in flexion and extension at baseline and after intervention. The primary outcome measures were to determine the mean changes from baseline in translation and rotation of the lumbar vertebrae in the sagittal plane after 8 weeks of intervention in each group. The secondary outcome was to compare the two groups in regard to translation and rotation of the lumbar vertebrae at the end of the study period. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and independent t-test. Results: Thirty patients aged 18-40 years old with clinical diagnosis of NSCLBP entered the study. Compared with baseline values, mean value of translation and rotation of the lumbar vertebra reduced significantly in both groups (P<0.05), except L3 translation in the control group. At the endpoint, mean translation value of L4 (P=0.04) and L5 (P=0.001) and rotation of the L5 (P=0.01) in the treatment group was significantly lower than the control group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that in patients presented with NSCLBP due to lumbar segmental instability, core stability exercises plus general exercises are more efficient than general exercises alone in the improvement of excessive lumbar vertebrae translation and rotation

Interrelationships among morphological traits and seed yield in garden cress under two environmental circumstances

Background. This study aimed to explore the morphological traits associated with seed yield in garden cress and to recognize the direct and indirect effects of agronomic characteristics. Analyzing the relationships between traits and seed yield with understanding their causal effects helps breeders choose the best combination of yield components to improve economic performance.Materials and methods. A total of 64 accessions, including 60 international and 4 local Iranian genotypes, were evaluated across two locations (Ardabil and Eyvanki) using a randomized block scheme.Results. Biomass consistently emerged as the most influential trait across both environments, followed by leafand pod-related characters. Categorizing traits into primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary orders helped reduce multicollinearity and clarified the structure of trait interrelationships. Path analysis indicated several optimal selection pathways, such as LB → PP → PB → BIO → SY in Ardabil, and FLO → LW → LL → SY in Eyvanki. The bootstrapped estimates confirmed the stability and reliability of the identified trait effects.Conclusion. Finally, indirect selection based on biomass, leaf traits, and yield components can improve seed yield in garden cress. Also, simultaneous improvement of seed and leaf yield is feasible and should be considered in future breeding programs

The effect of the starting nitrogen dose under different irrigation regimes on the yield of Kabuli chickpeas

Background. The aggravation of the water shortage problem caused by climate change in drought-prone areas emphasizes the use of climate-smart plants and climate-smart agriculture practices. Thus, the management of nitrogen fertilizers and controlling the amount of water consumed by crops seem very important issues.Materials and methods. A field trial was aimed to evaluate chickpea phenology, morphology, and yield under different doses of nitrogen (0, 20, and 40 kg ha–1) and irrigation regimes (I1: well-watered, I2: rainfed, I3: supplemental irrigation during the flowering, I4: supplemental irrigation during the flowering and seed setting) in chickpea drylands of Kermanshah, Western Iran. Results. Although N application slightly delayed the phenological stages, soil moisture deficiency significantly accelerated flowering and maturity. The highest rooting depth was recorded for I2 + N40, and the lack of soil moisture increased the longitudinal root growth. However, the number of root nodules (created by symbiotic relationship) under rainfed (I2) and one-time supplemental irrigation (I3) showed the lowest values of 7.30 and 6.70, respectively. Supplemental irrigation (SI) improved the grain yield components compared to the rainfed condition, but the difference in grain yield between SI and I1 was still evident. The highest amounts of vegetative growth and yield were recorded under I1 + N20 and I1 + N40. The highest values of water-use efficiency for grain yield (WUEG) resulted under I2 + N40.Conclusion. WUEG under rainfed conditions was 41%, 17% and 24% higher than I1, I3, and I4, respectively. The highest biomass-based water use efficiency (WUEB) was obtained under I1 + N40 and I2 + N0 or N20. Although I4 produced a lower grain yield than well-watered conditions (ca. 400 kg ha–1), due to the water scarcity in the semi-arid regions, I4 with the N application of 20 or 40 kg ha–1 is still recommended for small-scale farmers as an efficient smart-agriculture practice

Effect of a visual tracking intervention on attention and behavior of attention deficit hyper activity children

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is characterized by several cognitive and behavioral problems such as inattention and impulsivity, abnormal control of eye movements and relocation, visual fixation and visuospatial perception. There is a link between core motor functions such as oculomotor function and cognition to the extent that the oculomotor system acts as a mediator between the motor and cognitive functions. Therefore, the effects of eye-tracking intervention were investigated on attention in these children. Thirty - nine boys with ADHD, 6 to 10 years of age were recruited and randomized to receive current occupational therapy (control group), or occupational therapy accompanied with eye-tracking exercises (experimental group). They were evaluated using the Conner's Parent Rating Scale, the Continuous Performance Task-2, and the Test of Visual-Motor Skills-Revised before and after the intervention. Significant improvements in the mean scores of cognitive problems (F=9/22), coping behavior (F=6.03) and hyperactivity (F=9.77) were detected in the posttest between the two groups (p<0.05). Furthermore, in the Continuous Performance Test scores, detectability (F=5.68), omission errors (F=17.89), commission errors (F=19.45), reaction time (F=8.95), variability (F=7.07), and preservation (F=6.33) showed significant differences between control and experimental groups (p<0.01). It appears that eye-tracking interventions designed based on the isolation of neck and eye movement might have an important role in improving cognitive function and coping behaviors in these children. It seems that these exercises could increase eye movement control; improve cognitive function and response inhibition

John Searle on Institutional Facts

One general categorization by some of the contemporary analytic philosophers divides the facts into institutional and brute. The characteristic of institutional facts is that they are constituted by collective recognition. Typically, these facts follow the constitutive rules formula: "X in C counts as Y". These facts have raised some important questions for philosophers: How is it possible that some facts are realized only through human recognition? What is the nature of institutional facts? Can we count them as objective? If yes, in what sense? Here we argue that the essence of institutional facts is status functions. Humans recognize these functions which contain a set of deontic powers through collective intentionality. Therefore, institutional facts are ontologically subjective and epistemologically objective. Nevertheless, objectivity of institutional facts totally depends on language which itself is a fundamental institution for other institutions

Influence of rhizobacteria inoculation and lead stress on the physiological and biochemical attributes of wheat genotypes

Contamination of soils by lead (Pb) is of widespread occurrence as result of human, agricultural and industrial activities. A pot study was carried out to evaluate physio-biochemical responses (chlorophyll content, soluble protein, proline content and activities of enzymatic antioxidants) of 10 bread wheat genotypes to inoculation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (combination of Azospirillum brasilense and Azotobacter chroococcum) under Pb stress (0 and 65 mg kg-1). Result revealed that lead stress averagely decreased grain yield of wheat cultivars by 41.4 %. Lead stress increased lipid peroxidation and induced a significant accumulation of proline in leaves. Protein content decreased from 8–25.4% in different cultivars in Pbcontaminated soils. Activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly increased in the presence of lead. An increase in total hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content was noticed under lead stress in all cultivars, which was similar to production of malondialdehyde (MDA). However, promotion of growth was evident in most cultivars as a consequence of rhizobacterial inoculation, since plant growth promoting rhizobacteria could improve grain yield, proline content and membrane integrity, while significantly reduced the production of MDA and H2O2. Total chlorophyll content considerably declined with Pb stress. Between cultivars the best performance under lead stress was observed in Sardari, Shahriyar and Gaspard which had the highest yield and antioxidants activity. Obtained results showed that inoculation with Azotobacter and Azospirillium possibly through bioremediation strategy can stimulate plant growth under adverse environmental conditions, such as heavy metal contamination

Influence of Rhizobacteria Inoculation and Lead Stress on the Physiological and Biochemical Attributes of Wheat Genotypes

Abstract Contamination of soils by lead (Pb) is of widespread occurrence as result of human, agricultural and industrial activities. A pot study was carried out to evaluate physio-biochemical responses (chlorophyll content, soluble protein, proline content and activities of enzymatic antioxidants) of 10 bread wheat genotypes to inoculation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (combination of Azospirillum brasilense and Azotobacter chroococcum) under Pb stress (0 and 65 mg kg-1). Result revealed that lead stress averagely decreased grain yield of wheat cultivars by 41.4 %. Lead stress increased lipid peroxidation and induced a significant accumulation of proline in leaves. Protein content decreased from 8-25.4% in different cultivars in Pbcontaminated soils. Activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly increased in the presence of lead. An increase in total hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content was noticed under lead stress in all cultivars, which was similar to production of malondialdehyde (MDA). However, promotion of growth was evident in most cultivars as a consequence of rhizobacterial inoculation, since plant growth promoting rhizobacteria could improve grain yield, proline content and membrane integrity, while significantly reduced the production of MDA and H2O2. Total chlorophyll content considerably declined with Pb stress. Between cultivars the best performance under lead stress was observed in Sardari, Shahriyar and Gaspard which had the highest yield and antioxidants activity. Obtained results showed that inoculation with Azotobacter and Azospirillium possibly through bioremediation strategy can stimulate plant growth under adverse environmental conditions, such as heavy metal contamination.</jats:p