Abstract Background Despite reports of reduced physical fitness in children with congenital heart disease (CHD), no specific performance evaluations for activities of daily living have been conducted. Objectives The aim was to compare the activities of daily living, quality of life, posture, physical fitness and physical activity levels of children with CHD with healthy controls (HC). Methods The study included 30 children aged 6-14 diagnosed with moderate or severe CHD and 30 age-sex-matched HC. The sociodemographic and clinical data of the participants were recorded. All participants went through several tests, namely the TGlittre-P test for activities of daily living, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) for functional capacity, the Fitnessgram test battery for physical fitness, the hand dynamometer for measuring grip strength, the pedometer for measuring physical activity, and both the child and parents reported the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) for evaluating the quality of life, in addition to posture analyses. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results Individuals with CHD had a longer TGlittre-P test completion time and a shorter 6MWT distance than HC (TGlittre-P: CHD 3.45 [3.24-4.02]min vs. HC 3.10 [2.57-3.23]min, 6MWT: CHD 514.00 [412.50-566.00]m vs. HC 591.50 [533.00-631.00]m). For the CHD group, sit-ups, push-ups, trunk lift, and sit-and-reach test scores within the Fitnessgram battery, grip strength, posture, and quality of life scores were lower than those for the HC group. Physical activity levels were similar in the groups. Conclusions The performance of activities of daily living, functional capacity, physical fitness, posture, and quality of life of children with moderate and severe CHD were affected compared to healthy peers.

Resumo Fundamento Apesar dos relatos de redução da aptidão física em crianças com cardiopatia congênita (CC), não foram realizadas avaliações específicas de desempenho para atividades de vida diária. Objetivos O objetivo foi comparar as atividades de vida diária, qualidade de vida, postura, aptidão física e níveis de atividade física entre crianças com CC e controles saudáveis (CS). Métodos O estudo incluiu 30 crianças, de 6 a 14 anos, com diagnóstico de CC moderada ou grave e 30 consideradas CS pareadas por idade e sexo. Os dados sociodemográficos e clínicos dos participantes foram registrados. Todos os participantes realizaram diversos testes: teste de TGlittre-P para atividades de vida diária; teste de caminhada de 6 minutos (TC6M) para capacidade funcional; bateria de testes Fitnessgram para aptidão física; dinamômetro de mão para medir a força de preensão; pedômetro para medir a atividade física; além disso, a criança e os pais completaram o Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) para avaliação da qualidade de vida, além de análises posturais. Valores de p < 0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significativos. Resultados Indivíduos com CC apresentaram um tempo de conclusão do teste TGlittre-P mais longo e uma distância de TC6M mais curta em comparação com o CS (TGlittre-P: CC 3,45 [3,24-4,02] min vs. CS 3,10 [2,57-3,23] min, TC6M: CC 514,00 [412,50-566,00] m vs. CS 591,50 [533,00-631,00] m). Para o grupo CC, os resultados dos testes de sit-ups, flexões, elevação do tronco e sentar e alcançar, dentro da bateria do Fitnessgram, além de força de preensão, postura e qualidade de vida foram menores do que os do grupo CS. Os níveis de atividade física foram semelhantes entre os grupos. Conclusões O desempenho das atividades de vida diária, a capacidade funcional, a aptidão física, a postura e a qualidade de vida de crianças com CC moderada e grave foram afetados em comparação com seus pares saudáveis.

ABSTRACT Layer hybrids are more superior in the egg yield than pure breeds. But this superiority causes some problems in the bones during the production period. There are a lot of differences among genotypes in the production period that have been examined extensively, however, the differences throughout incubation period aren’t known yet. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in femur properties of pure breed and layer hybrid embryos during the incubation period. A total of 354 fresh hatching eggs were used from one hybrid (Lohman White) and two pure breeds (Denizli & Gerze). The eggs were incubated. Hatching eggs from each genotype at the beginning of embryonic days (E) 19 and E21 were examined. At these embryonic ages, 12 eggs were selected from each genotype. The eggs were opened and embryos were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Both femurs were dissected from each embryo and then structure, mineral composition and mechanical properties of femur were determined. The genotype affected the length, width and Zn level in the femur of embryos. Weight, length, width, load of yield and ultimate, ash and all examined minerals increased with embryonic development. These results showed that some femur properties of embryos were influenced by the genotype and layer hybrid embryos are beginning to be advantageous in terms of Zn level in the femur at E21. This study leads to better understanding femur development during the incubation period in layer hybrid and pure breeds.

ABSTRACT Pure breeds are important due to the fact that they adapt well to poor husbandry conditions. However, gene expression of digestive enzymes and nutrient transporters of pure breeds and layer hybrids have not been studied yet. Therefore, this study was directed to detect the gene expression of digestive enzymes and nutrient transporters in the yolk sac membrane and small intestine of the embryos in layer hybrid and pure breeds. A total of 354 hatching eggs were collected from 29 wk old Denizli, Gerze and Lohman White (LW) breeder flocks. Twelve eggs from each genotype were selected at embryonic day 19 (E19) and day 21 (E21). APN, SI, PepT1, EAAT3, CAT1, B0AT, SGLT1 and GLUT5 mRNA expressions were evaluated in the yolk sac membrane (YSM) and small intestine of the embryos from different genotypes. Expressions of APN and EAAT3 in the small intestine of Denizli embryo were upregulated from E19 to E21. B0AT, PepT1 and SGLT1 expressions were upregulated in the small intestine of pure breed and layer hybrid embryos with increasing embryonic age. SI expression in the small intestine of the LW embryos was upregulated from E19 to E21. APN, B0AT and EAAT3 expressions in the YSM of Denizli embryos were dowregulated from E19 to E21. EAAT3 and SGLT1 expressions in the YSM of Gerze embryos were upregulated at E21 and compared to E19. Taken together, our results indicate that genotype and embryonic age influenced the expression of digestive enzymes and nutrient transporter genes in the small intestine and YSM of embryos.

The prediction of rock properties from indirect testing methods is important, particularly for preliminary investigations since indirect tests are easier and cheaper than the direct tests. In this study, we investigate the predictability of the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and Brazilian tensile strength (BTS) of rocks from the indentation hardness index (IHI) obtained using point load apparatus. Forty-six different rock types, 14 of which were igneous, 15 were metamorphic, and 17 were sedimentary were tested in the laboratory. The UCS and BTS values were correlated with the corresponding IHIvalues and the results were statistically analysed. The influence of rock classes on the relationships was also investigated. A strong correlation between UCS and IHI was found for all data. The correlation between BTS and IHI is not as strong as the correlation between UCS and IHI. However, it is in the acceptable limits. When the regression analyses were repeated for igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, the correlation coefficients were generally increased. The results show the UCS and BTS can be estimated from IHI. In addition, the effect of rock classes on the relationships between IHI and both UCS and BTS is important.