In a naturalistic pre-post design, samples of saliva were collected from the members of a professional chorale during an early rehearsal (n = 31 ) , a late rehearsal (n = 34) and a public performance (n = 32) of Beethoven's Missa Solemllis. As measures of immune system response, mean levels of secretory immunoglobulin A increased significandy, as a proportion of whole protein, 150% during rehearsals and 240% during the perfor mance. Cortisol concentrations decreased significandy an average of 30% during rehearsals and increased 37% during performance. As measured through performance perception rating scales, a group of emotions and other experiential states that singers associated with professional singing were highly predictive of changes in level of secretory immunoglobulin A during the perfo rmance condition, but the results for the rehearsal con ditions were not significant. The best multiple regression model for per formance level of immunoglobulin A (p < .0015) included seven emo tional, cognitive, and evaluative variables generally associated with choral singing, including levels of mood before and during singing, stress, relax ation, feeling "high," detachment/engagement, and specifi c satisfaction with the immediate performance.Received May 27, 1999; accepted March 15, 2000.T HE purpose of this study was to determine whether choral singing is associated with physiological changes in the immune system. A pro fessional chorale was studied during a period in which they rehearsed and performed Beethoven's complex choral masterwork, Missa Solemnis. As described by its practitioners, the successful choral singing experience in public performance is a peak experience during which, in the face of per fo rmance challenges and anxiety, the performer has transcendent feelings

Cultivar evaluation and mega-environment identification are the most important objectives of multienvironment trials (MET). The objective of this study was to explore the effect of genotype and genotype 3 environment interaction on the grain yield of 19 barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes via GGE (genotype plus genotype 3 environment) biplot methodology. Experiments were conducted using a randomized complete block design with four replications for 3 yr at 10 locations. The biplot analysis identified three barley mega-environments in Iran. The first mega-environment contained locations Khoy, Mashhad, Miandoab, Karaj, and Nyshabour, where genotype Bahtim7-D1/79-w40762 was the winner; the second mega-environment contained locations Tabriz, Hamedan, Ardabil, and Arak, where genotype Walfajre/W1-2291 was the winner. The location of Zanjan made up the other mega-environment, with 73-M4-30 as the winner. Genotypes Bahtim7-D1/79-w40762 and Walfajre/W1-2291 had the highest mean yield and genotype K-201/3-2 had the poorest mean yield. The estimated relative yield of genotypes at Karaj station shows that genotype Bahtim7-D1/79-w40762 had the highest yield and genotype Owb70173-2H-OH had the poorest. The performances of genotypes Star/Alger and K-201/3-2 were highly variable, whereas genotypes Cossak/Gerbel/Harmal and Toji"S"/Robur were highly stable. The results of this study indicate the possibility of improving progress from selections under diverse location conditions by applying the GGL (genotype plus genotype 3 location) biplot methodology.

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27The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of 28 pioglitazone (PGT), a specific ligand for PPARγ, on metabolic dynamics, milk production, 29 and reproductive performance of transition dairy cows. Eighty multiparous Holstein cows in 30 their second or more lactations were blocked by the calving date and parity and assigned 31 randomly to four dietary groups (n=20 cow/treatment) including control (no PGT-/-), 32supplemented with PGT (6 mg PGT/kg body weight) from day -14 to +21 relative to 33 parturition (PGT+/+) or only during prepartum (PGT+/-) or postpartum periods (PGT-/+). 34Postpartum body condition score and body weight loss decreased (P < 0.05) in all PGT 35 supplemented groups. Milk yield was not affected by PGT supplementation (P > 0.05). 36Percentage of milk fat decreased (P < 0.05) in all PGT-treated groups; however, milk fat 37 yield was lower (P < 0.05) in PGT (+/+) and PGT (+/-) groups compared to PGT (-/-).

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