University of Wisconsin–Extension

Vitamin (Vit.) D is an essential nutrient that is both synthesized by the body and supplemented via diet. Vit. D deficiency has been found to correlate with an increase in a variety of musculoskeletal injuries. Lower levels of serum Vit. D would be associated with an increased number of musculoskeletal injuries in collegiate athletes. Routinely collected data were reviewed for 284 student athletes at a Division I Big10 University. Level 4. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were obtained on athletes via chart review and classified as normal (≥32 ng/ml), insufficient (20-31 ng/ml) and deficient (≤19 ng/ml). Vit. D was analyzed both as a continuous variable and based on the 3-level classification. The odds of injury were estimated with mixed effects logistic regression models. Results showed that 47.2% of athletes were Vit. D insufficient, with 17.6% being deficient. The odds of sustaining an injury at any point during the collection period were 13% higher for each 5 ng/ml decrease in the athlete's Vit. D level (odds ratio [OR], 1.13 (1.00-1.27); P = 0.05). There was no significant difference in injury time based upon Vit. D class. There was a significant negative correlation between Vit. D level and max jump height/max jump force (OR, -0.50 (-0.99, -0.02), P = 0.04; -0.20 (-0.37, -0.04), P = 0.01 respectively), which are clinically insignificant changes. Many collegiate athletes had insufficient or deficient Vit. D levels. Our results showed for each 5 ng/ml decrease in an athlete's Vit. D level, there was a 13% increase in odds of injury. Finally, there was no significant association between Vit. D level and athletic performance or injury recovery length. Vit. D deficiency and insufficiency is highly prevalent in collegiate athletes.

Abstract Forage legumes provide a wide range of ecosystem services to grasslands. Improving legume proportion and species diversity of meadow fescue [ Lolium pratense (Huds.) Darbysh] pasture‐based systems can increase the sustainability of a given farming system. This study compared no‐till or frost‐seeding methods to incorporate clovers ( Trifolium spp.) or chicory ( Cichorium intybus L.) into an established meadow fescue sward as pasture‐improvement strategies. No‐till planting occurred in the fall or spring of 2022 and 2023, and frost seeding occurred during the winter of each year. In addition, this study aimed to quantify biological N 2 fixation (BNF) from the interseeded clovers. Chicory failed to establish in both years of the study, comprising less than 2% of the botanical composition. While no‐till planting in the fall or spring, or frost seeding during the winter were successful at establishing clovers, frost seeding may be a more attractive method provided that it may be more economical, requiring less specialized equipment. No‐till interseeding in the fall or spring are also adequate strategies. Overall, red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) was more productive than white clover ( Trifolium repens L.) in the first year after planting. Further evaluations into persistence after the first year of clover planting are warranted. As a whole, interseeding clovers into meadow fescue pastures is indeed valuable for improving pasture systems by increasing forage accumulation and fixing up to 20 kg N ha −1 year −1 .

Loneliness has emerged as a robust risk factor for adverse cognitive outcomes, including accelerated cognitive decline and increased dementia risk. However, accumulating evidence suggests that the cognitive consequences of loneliness may be sex-specific, with women experiencing disproportionate exposure, vulnerability, and downstream effects across the life course. This mini-review synthesizes epidemiological, psychosocial, and neurobiological evidence linking loneliness to cognitive aging in women, highlighting sex differences in prevalence, social role exposures (e.g., caregiving, widowhood), stress responsivity, and neuroendocrine and inflammatory pathways. Findings from longitudinal cohort studies are reviewed, demonstrating stronger associations between loneliness and cognitive decline in women, alongside emerging mechanistic research implicating hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, immune activation, and hippocampal vulnerability. Critical gaps in aging neuroscience, including limited sex-disaggregated analyses and undermeasurement of relational and social variables, require urgent attention. A sex-sensitive framework for integrating loneliness into cognitive aging research and prevention strategies, emphasizing targeted assessment and intervention approaches that reflect women’s lived social contexts, holds promise for advancing precision prevention in women’s brain health. Framing loneliness as a modifiable, sex-specific risk factor offers a novel avenue for precision prevention in women’s cognitive aging.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kondempudi conducted 30 Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) on organic paddy cultivation covering 12 ha over three consecutive years (2022–23 to 2024–25) in farmers’ fields of Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district to evaluate the performance of an integrated organic farming package in comparison with traditional farmer practices. The demonstrations followed the organic package of practices developed by Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), comprising green manuring, farmyard manure (10 t ha⁻¹), biofertilizers (Azospirillum, PSB, KRB), neem cake application, seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens, and soil application of liquid organic formulations, whereas farmers’ practice involved the sole application of FYM at 6.25 t ha⁻¹.Pooled analysis revealed that the demonstrated organic package recorded a significantly higher mean grain yield of 34.2 q ha⁻¹, representing a 29% increase over farmers’ practice (26.5 q ha⁻¹). The integrated organic approach also resulted in superior economic returns, with an average net income of ₹40,790 ha⁻¹ and a benefit–cost (B:C) ratio of 2.12, compared to ₹28,179 ha⁻¹ net income and a B:C ratio of 1.91 under traditional practice. Yield enhancement under demonstrations was attributed to improved nutrient availability, better crop growth, and enhanced soil biological activity due to the combined application of multiple organic inputs rather than FYM alone. The study clearly demonstrates that adoption of an integrated organic nutrient management package can substantially enhance productivity, profitability, and sustainability of paddy cultivation in tribal farming systems.

Abstract Background Mulberry is an economically important sericulture crop, however, root-knot nematodes (RKNs) infection pose a serious threat to the production of mulberry. We found a high density RKNs parasitizing mulberry in Yunnan, China. In order to clarify the pathogenic species, the morphometric traits and measurements, rDNA/mtDNA-based phylogenetic relationships of this nematode and SCAR-PCR analysis were used to identify RKNs, and the mulberry healthy seedlings were inoculated artificially with second-stage juveniles to research pathogenicity. Results The perineal pattern of females is round to ovoid with a moderately high dorsal arch and two large and prominent phasmids, similar to Meloidogyne vitis . The morphological characteristics and morphometric values of females, second-stage juveniles and males were similar to M. vitis . The nucleotide sequence of rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, mtDNA coxI and coxII of this nematode were highly similar to M. vitis , with a similarity of more than 99%, and all were clustered within the same clade with those of M. vitis with a high support rate of 100%. Moreover, species identity was further confirmed using M. vitis -specific primers Mv-F/R, a single specific fragment of 174 bp was obtained. Artificial inoculation showed that the RKN isolated and purified from mulberry could complete its life history in the roots of healthy seedlings of mulberry, and produced typical root-knot and egg masses. Conclusions The RKN parasitizing in mulberry was confirmed as M. vitis based on the morphological features and molecular results. This is the first report of M. vitis attacking mulberry. M. vitis could infect and damage mulberry and may constitute a potential threat to mulberry production. The results of this study providing a theoretical basis for accurately identifying and implementing future effective and integrated nematodes management strategy to safeguard mulberry cultivation.

ABSTRACT Introduction Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a degenerative condition of the tendon. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has shown promise in treating tendinopathies. Shear wave elastography (SWE) can assess tendon elasticity in patients following treatment. This study investigated PRP treatment efficacy compared to control for pain and function, conventional sonographic measures, and tendon shear wave speed (SWS) in AT. Methods Twenty participants were randomized to PRP treatment (n = 10) or the control group (n = 10). Baseline and 24 wk pain and function were assessed using the Victorian Institute of Sport–Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire and visual analog scale (VAS). Tendon thickness, echogenicity, and hyperemia were measured. Tendon SWS was obtained in passive neutral, dorsiflexed, and plantarflexed positions. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess differences between treatment groups over time. Kruskal–Wallis tests were performed to assess between-group differences in tendon echogenicity and hyperemia. Results PRP had greater improvements in VISA-A (31.9 (5.7) vs 9.7 (7.0) points; P = 0.03) and VAS scores (−5.6 (0.8) vs −1.4 (1.0); P = 0.01). No differences were observed between groups in tendon thickness (PRP: 10.8 (0.54) mm; control: 9.9 (0.61) mm; P = 0.32), echogenicity (PRP: 0.11 (0.60); control: 0.14 (0.38); P = 1.00), or hyperemia (PRP: −0.56 (1.1); control: −0.14 (0.69); P = 0.44). No between-group differences in SWS were observed in neutral (P = 0.96) or dorsiflexed (P = 0.24) positions, but were observed in the plantarflexed position (PRP: 6.5 (0.38) m·s−1; control: 7.8 (0.43) m·s−1; P = 0.04). Conclusion PRP improved pain and function compared to a wait-and-see control group with no between-group differences in conventional sonographic measures or material properties assessed via elastography. Improvements in clinical measures appear unrelated to sonographic measures. PRP alone may not accelerate healing and may be best used in conjunction with other conservative treatments.