Research on the effects of seeding rates (SDR) and row spacing (RS) on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed composition is almost nonexistent. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of SDR and RS on soybean seed protein, oil, fatty acids, sugars, and minerals using four soybean cultivars (P 93M90 and AG 3906, maturity group[MG] III; P 94B73, MG IV; and V 52N3, MG V) tested in 2006 and 2007. Seeding rates for P 93M90 and AG 3906 ranged from 247,000 to 592,800 seeds ha⁻1 and for P 94B73 and V 52N3 ranged from 60,000 to 180,000 seeds ha⁻1. Row spacings were 38 and 76 cm. Protein, oleic acid, sugars, P, and B concentrations increased with the increase of SDR in P 93M90 and AG 3906. However, after the maximum concentrations of these constituents were reached, a decrease was observed at the highest SDR. This trend was mainly observed in 2006 and depended on RS. In 2007, the opposite trend of protein and oleic acid concentrations was observed, where the protein and oleic decreased with SDR. In cultivars P 94B73 and V 52N3, results showed that protein concentration increased with SDR in 2006 and 2007 for both 38 and 76 cm RS. Oleic acid increased and linolenic acid decreased with SDR in 2006. The different trends of protein and oleic concentrations between years may be due to temperature and drought stress differences. This research showed that SDR and RS can alter seed constituents, and the magnitude of this effect depended on cultivar and environmental factors, especially temperature and drought.

Experimental objectives were to measure the effect of ovulation rate on litter size at 86 d of gestation and at farrowing in 110 unilaterally hysterectomized-ovariectomized (UHO) gilts and in 142 intact, control gilts and to evaluate postnatal survival and development of progeny. Surgery (UHO) was performed on gilts 8 to 12 d following first estrus. Control and UHO gilts were mated and then randomly assigned to be slaughtered at d 86 of gestation or allowed to farrow. Gilts scheduled to farrow were observed by laparoscopy on d 40 of gestation to count corpora lutea (CL). Ovulation rate (number of CL) was similar for control (12.1 CL) and UHO (11.9 CL) gilts, thus indicating that compensatory ovarian hypertrophy had occurred in UHO gilts and resulted in a near doubling of ova per uterine horn relative to control gilts. Average litter size at 86 d of gestation and farrowing was greater (P less than .01) for control than UHO gilts. At farrowing, litter size for control and UHO gilts was 9.0 +/- .3 and 5.7 +/- .3 pigs, respectively. Fetal losses were greater and pig weights at birth were less in litters by UHO gilts. Postnatal pig survival, growth rate to 14 d of age and 14-d individual pig weight did not differ for progeny of control and UHO gilts, and performance of UHO pogeny did not appear to compromise the usefulness of this animal model. Regression of litter size on ovulation rate was .41 +/- .15 pigs/CL for UHO and .60 +/- .12 pigs/CL for control gilts at d 86 of gestation. Regression was .07 +/- .17 pigs/CL for UHO and .42 +/- .14 pigs/CL for control gilts at farrowing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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A randomized clinical trial was performed to evaluate a psychological treatment intervention and a social support program, compared with a control program in which no adjunct treatment was rendered, and their effects upon pain behavior, affect, and disease activity of 53 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The psychological intervention produced significant reductions in patients' pain behavior and disease activity at posttreatment. Significant reductions were also observed in trait anxiety at posttreatment and 6-month followup. Relaxation training may have been the most important component of the psychological intervention. The social support program produced a significant reduction in trait anxiety only at posttreatment. This is the first well-controlled study to demonstrate reduced pain behavior, disease activity, and trait anxiety following psychological treatment. Several recent reports have described the effects of various psychological interventions upon the ~~