EFFECTS OF MILD, MODERATE AND INTENSE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON KNEE JOINT PROPRIOCEPTION IN HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS

Aim: To evaluate the immediate effects of various activity levels on knee joint position sense. Methodology: Sixty males aged between 19 and 24 years, without any complains of discomfort or pain in the knee joint were selected from Bakhtawar Amin Hospital, Multan using convenience sampling, between April 2nd, 2019 to July 28th, 2019. Group A participants walked on the treadmill at a speed of 4 km/h for 5 min (n = 20). Group B participants ran on a treadmill at 6.4 km per hour for five minutes (n = 20). Group C participants sprinted on a treadmill at 8.5 km per hour for five minutes (n = 20). Results: Mean age of the subjects was 21.18±1.77. In the moderate physical activity group, the difference in the means in passive reproduction of the knee flexion angle of 20o observed was 1.40±2.39, (p-value 0.013), and similarly in intense physical activity was 1.75±3.58 (p-value 0.020). For the knee flexion angle of 40o, the difference in the means for moderate was 1.35±1.84 (p=0.002), and for the intense activity was 2.35±2.27 (p=0.012). However, in the group with mild physical activity, the difference in the means was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: The study indicated that physical activities of moderate level and intense level decrease the joint position sense appreciation at the knee joint in less active healthy individuals.

Mobility and Uptake of Phosphorus by Rice and Wheat in Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Amended Oil

Phosphorus (P) is a key element in the environment and its availability can have major impacts on ecosystem’s functioning and structure. Among nutrients, P is an essential macronutrient and its deficiency can adversely affect diverse plant functions and has been known to be the yield limiting factor in many soils. Phytoavailability of naturally bound soil inorganic phosphorus (Pi) has always been a great concern for the sustainable crop production. In recent decade, nanoparticles (NPs) have been considered as a factor for improving plant nutrition. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to investigate the potential of TiO2 NPs to improve the phytoavailability of P in soil medium, their impacts on plant growth and the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon. For this purpose, different types of soil medium were used for plant cultures to investigate the effects of TiO2 NPs on the mobility and uptake of P. Both rice (Oryza sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) plants were exposed to TiO2 NPs at concentrations ranging from 0–1000 mg kg-1 over the full crop cycle. The responses of these NPs in soil medium were monitored considering plant biomass, shoot- root length, pH of rhizosphere soil, phytoavailable P in soil and plant''s P uptake along with other nutrients. In case of rice, TiO2 NPs application in paddy soil significantly improved P concentration in rice (roots, shoots and grains). Translocation of NPs from soil to rice grains could not be established (Not detected with ICP-OES) thus reducing the risk of entering into the food chain through diet. A number of metabolites exhibited same trends as P compounds in TiO2 NPs treated groups, regulating the metabolic pathways with multiple contributions. In the present study, P improvements in grains were observed, same could be expected for several nutrients to be influenced via this methodology. Moreover, using metabolomics approach, NPs can be used for modifying the seed traits in early generations by selecting the metabolic biomarkers for nutrients management. In case of wheat plants, full life cycle was studied which helped to fill the knowledge gaps related to the behavior of TiO2 NPs in different textured soils i.e., loam xii and sandy loam. P concentration in shoots was significantly increased up to 2.1-fold and 1.6 fold in response to 150 and 50 mg kg-1 of TiO2 NPs along with the phytoavailable P in soils compared to their respective controls. At the highest tested level of TiO2 NPs (1000 mg kg-1), P concentration, plant growth and biomass along with other tested parameters were not improved in wheat while phytoavailable P was decreased in both the soils because of nanotoxicity. In brief, TiO2 NPs amendments can mobilize the bound P in soil at specified concentrations depending upon the plant species, soil properties and exposure duration. To understand the mechanisms involved in the mobility and uptake of P in response to TiO2 NPs exposure, another study was performed based on the experimental, statistical and computational analysis. For this purpose, range of nutrients present in soil-plant continuum were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and UV spectroscopy and studied in detail to explore the mechanism in response to TiO2 NPs. At molecular level, the effects of TiO2 NPs treatment on metabolic profile of wheat were determined using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). P speciation in soil upon TiO2 NPs application undergoes various modifications that were determined via 31P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (31P NMR) Spectroscopy. The dominating species at 50 mg kg-1 of TiO2 NPs treatment including inositol P, monoester P and myo-inositol P increased, while pyrophosphates were decreased. Similarly, the P fractions extracted by NaHCO3, NaOH and HNO3-P which represented labile, Al/Fe-bound P and residual P, respectively were increased at 50 mg kg-1 of TiO2 NPs treatment in soil compared to the control. In conclusion, TiO2 NPs increased P uptake in plants through improved mobility in soil at low dosages (i.e., 50 mg kg 1) along with metabolic alterations. In nutrient uptake mechanism, the NPs affinity to induce improved root exudation, adsorption and desorption of phosphate ions and P speciation dynamics are the traits responsible for P mobilization. These traits could be further utilized to improve nutrient management in agricultural soils.